Dan's Day!!!

Wednesday was Dan's birthday so I surprised him with a boulder crawling tour in Big Bear....

One daughter came home from a trip and one left for a trip to summer camp so it was just me, Dan & Morgan on this adventure...

These tours are AMAZING because you basically get to drive these completely awesome jacked up jeeps and follow a leader over some crazy terrain and well, hope you stay alive ha!

Our guide was crazy as he would jump up on top of rocks and take our picture as we were driving by..he had WAYYYY to much energy. It was like a 4 1/2 hour long drive through the back country and it was beautiful the entire way.

I'm so glad we could get away for the day and bless Dan on his day. We love you honey and are so lucky to have you in our lives. Every adventure no matter how big or small is better with you by our side. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Morgan came home super late Monday night and we were so happy to see her sweet face and hear all of her stories....

Sadly Ryanne missed her sister by one day as we dropped Ryanne off at summer camp. I'm so thankful to finally have them both home under one roof together after almost a month. They were so home sick for each other.

In other news my brother and his wife had their first little girl on Sunday; Allison Avery is happy and healthy as is mama. I told him to snuggle her lots because in a blink of an eye she will be packing her suitcase to leave on some adventure or slinging her backpack over her shoulder and kissing you good bye as she heads off to camp for the week. Be blessed this week. 

1-2!

Ryanne it's your birthday! You are 12!! When did this happen? We celebrated with Dan down in Laguna Beach on Sunday. A little lunch....

A little sun, sand and water.....

"Mom stop taking pictures!"

Today we picked Ryanne up from her bible study and headed to lunch, then got our nails done.

You are a light sweet girl. Your heart is so genuine and in love with the Lord and your family. 

You are sweet and sassy and creative. You speak your mind but go out of your way to guard other peoples hearts. You love an adventure and I'm not kidding when I say you rescue every moth that flies into our home or bee that floats by you in the pool at the water park...you never miss a beat kid! You want to grow up faster than we will let you but at the same time you want to be held and cuddled and swing from the trees out back. There is never a boring moment when you are in a room and you attract people like crazy with your sunny personality. When I asked you what you wanted to do tonight you said,"Mom I'm going to serve at the soup kitchen...I don't care if it's my birthday." So I dropped you off with your youth group and at the soup kitchen you are, loving on people and making sure they see Gods mercy and grace. I cannot wait to see how God uses you to care for the people that the world calls unlovable or has thrown aside. You don't see people's social status, color or financial value. You see them like our Lord sees them and that is a huge testimony to me and your daddy. We love you sweet girl! HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Be blessed this year sweetie!

Prayer for Team...

I remember before we had kids someone saying to me,"You will never pray in your life like you pray after you have kids walking around on this planet." I could not fully comprehend that statement until after we had kids of course but even more so when they got older and started spreading their wings; learning to drive, leaving for week long camps, traveling far from home for missions trips etc.
Morgan left this morning for her missions trip and my heart seriously went with her. It's funny how when they are little you have some resemblance of control but it becomes abundantly clear that if you don't have faith in God knowing our exact days then you will very quickly. If you don't pray like your life depends on it, you soon will. If you have never seen half your heart walk out the door at 4am with backpack flung over their shoulder, a skip in their step and young hope alive and well in their hearts.....if you have kids you soon will. You quickly realize that this is what you are raising them to do, go into the world and make disciples of men. But it's such a BIG world and she's still like 3 right? Sigh...no. Please be praying for Morgan and her team.  Here are a few specifics we are praying for: Health (a few of the kids including Morgan woke up fighting sickness)
Safety in their travels
That God would place people in their paths that need to know they are loved and valuable and children of God.
Protection in their building projects (I said,"Do you have to be on the roof Morgan? Really?")
For the group to be patient and have mercy for one another as they will be exhausted and hot and missing their own routines.
And specifically for Morgan we are praying that God confirms some things in her heart about missions and music so that she will have a direction and peace in her heart about where God wants her after graduation. She has been talking about serving in the mission field since she was 5. And she has a heart for all things music and serving in that capacity as well.
Blessings!