A Summer With A Mission....

It's already been a full summer around our house. I was fortunate enough to go with a team to Houston to do hurricane/storm relief. We were a small but mighty team of seven people. 

Because the news moves on so quickly to new stories, people believe that everything is back to normal for people who have lost everything in hurricanes, tornados and fires. But the truth is people are still living in trailers in their backyards, hotels or with family because the repairs have not been done. So much need in one place creates the problem of burn out.

Scott and I got to work along side Josh who is a senior in high school and had to be rescued from his second floor window in the middle of the night. Watching his cell phone vidoes was unreal realzing we can't wrap our brain around that amount of water that fast where we live.

We met with and partnered with some really amazing people I will never forget. The prayer walks over the neighborhoods, the long conversations sitting under trees during our breaks, the fun working together even in the hot humid non air conditioned homes was life changing for me.

Like I said our team ended up being small but big in heart. We memorized Hebrews 12:1-17 together and Jim being our fearless leader challenged us daily in our faith and being authentic. We took a little detour the last night to San Antonio river walk and the Alamo which is always fun to walk around.

I got home around 12am on Sunday morning of Father's Day and then Monday morning bright and early we had our old floors torn out....

It was loud and dusty and just a lot but so worth it....

Our entire house has these floors now so we love it!!!

Four days after I got back we drove Morgan to the airport and said good to her and Naomi for the summer. 

They are now in Quito Ecuador on an internship through our church. They are already making friends...

Doing some site seeing.....

Experiencing new foods, bus routes, grocery stores and also shadowing the missionaries there.

I'm trying not to count down the days but man I miss her!

Right after she left, me and Ryanne and my mom volunteered at kids camp for the week. We met some amazing kids and helped in some really fun classes.

The day after camp ended we drove Ryanne and her team to LAX and put them on a plane for Portugal. They will be doing a kids camp there and working with the missionaries for ten days. UGH! Both my girls so far apart!! I'm okay, really I am.. sniff..sniff...

Before everyone went their seperate ways we went to Big Bear for dinner and coffee and just some fellowship. Jacob (Morgans boyfriend) just got back from a Romania mission trip so we are thankful for his safe trip and that  he is back so we can bug him while Morgan is gone. Ha!

Oh and did I forget to mention Ryanne broke her thumb straight through the knuckel right before she left? Sigh....Ya. So are you exhausted yet? ha! And it's only July 1st!!! Be blessed friends!

Almost Summer!!!!

As our school year comes to an end and our weekends seem to have slown down some, we have been trying to do something fun with the girls every weekend before we all go different ways this summer for missions. Dan found this place out in the middle of nowhere and I mean nowhere. Past the saltin sea, over two hours from here in the middle of the desert. It's called Salvation Mountain and it's really crazy. Years ago this man decided to cover this moutain with paint and make a tribute to God. It's got paths to clmib, tunnels to duck into and scrupture everywhere. He painted everything even the ground. 

Here we are in one of the underground rooms. I told the girls that if their was even the slightest earthquake I was out becuase let's just say it was not structurally sound ha!

Kind of one of those things you have to see. I woulnd't recommend going in the midle of summer as it is HOT out there and not a single tree for shade. 

It doesn't cost anything and when you can look it up on Trip advisor. When you get there you will see cars with license plates from all over the United States who are just passing through to check it out.

This is another fun date night idea. We have done it twice now and it never disapoints. Rooftop cinema club shows movies in Hollywood and LA and its outdoors on the roof of old buildings. It's for 18 years old and over only and they sell food and alcohol. We always chose to go early and walk to a hole in wall taco place becuase HELLOO it's LA and the food is freaking amazing! Ha! We took Morgan & Jacob with us for a date night and then met up with Dan's cousin and her boyfriend and his son and girlfriend so it was a party! Taco Fest next weekend..stay tuned!! Be blessed friends!

 

Spring Fever...

Spring is in the air finally!! Morgan was in her friend Erica's wedding and it was such a blast. To see this sweet girl grow up down the street from us and then in a wedding dress about did my heart in. Really fun day.

We have been enjoying some girl time when Morgan comes home on weekends....

Ryanne is about to wrap up her first year of high school and so we decided to take a day and drive out to Simi Valley to the Ronald Regan library. My friend Lisa went with me since we took Ryanne's friend Breanna...I didn't want to be out numbered with teenagers ha!

I competely geeked out when I saw Air Force One and realized we could go inside.  If you get the chance, you should really go for a day.

I had the privelage of going on a missions trip to Mexico for 5 days and working at Rancho Casita for Hands of Mercy. It was really good but I missed my family for sure. 

Dan & I find we have more and more time alone so we have been getting outside and walking, hiking etc.

Well for 18 years Dan avoided this day but it finally came. Morgan is dating someone. Jacob and Morgan ran in the same circle all through high school but after graduation went to different colleges in different cities. They stayed in touch though and would hang out as friends on occasion when he was home. They decided to take it past friendship and give it a go so Jacob talked to Dan while we were on a hike and Dan said "Ugh..yah." Ha!

He's a great kid who loves the Lord and fits into our family really well.

For my birthday last weekend I wanted to go hiking in Palm Springs so we did and had a great hike with great weather and then a great lunch out. A really blessed time for this mamas heart.            

Catching Up...

Ryanne has been working hard in her surgery recovery and met her goals for her 6 month check up. The surgeon released her back to rollerskating which is her first love. I almost started crying when I saw her doing something she loves so much. She has also been doing water color book marks and selling them to help pay her way to Portugal this summer. She will be doing mission work there in July. She is getting back to the things she loves like worship team, leadership at church and babysitting. It's hard to believe when I look at her that she was in such bad shape in August. So many prayers and Gods healing has been such a blessing.

And of course just being a teenager is an adventure ha!!

Some exciting news I can finally share..Dan was offered and accepted the job as Fire Chief of Loma Linda. It's been a crazy year for our family moving departments again but this does feel like home. Everyone has been so kind and supportive.

A lot of the guys who have been with us all the way back at San Bernardino City Fire came out with their wives to Dan's promotion dinner to support our family.

It was so good being with old friends and now new ones. I'm excited for this new chapter in our lives...

Happy 18th bday sweet girl!!! I cannot believe I am old enough to have an 18 year old. What the heck!! HA!!!

On her way to visit friends at Biola Morgan was in her first car accident and needless to say her first "adult" life lesson. Ugh! She's fine, the car not so much.

Thankfully the full coverage insurance paid off and after much looking she found a used car she could afford.

I enjoyed a few warm sunny days before the cold snap....I'm ready for summer.

It's been fun watching Morgan and her friends grow through High School and make life choices...

Morgan really hated living on campus and all the room mate drama and not being able to get a job by school so she moved off campus to a job in the Mountains working with kids and shifted her classes to the distance learning. I took pictures of the three best friends as Naomi decided to study in Europe this semester. They were so sad to all split up but face time everyday. Can't wait until she's back in May.💓

My mom was volunteering at a horse rescue ranch last week when a horse was spooked and ran her down. It trampled her and broker her left foot and hip. She had to have emergency hip replacement surgery and we spent last week in the hospital. It was super scary and traumatic but she's at our house now and hopefully on the mend. Long hard recovery for her for sure. 😟

Dan & I drove for a High School event up to Sacramento and were able to sneak away and have dinner with my brother and his family which was nice. The kids are getting so big and it's sad we all live so far away.

Some of our college kids went to St Louis for a conference and made it back frozen but safe.

Terrible picture but we we took the girls to see Wicked and man it was good! I also got to go see CATS with my mother in law last weekend which was interesting ha! Not sure I understand CATS....but still had fun with Betty and always something new I haven't seen. Be blessed this week friends as you seek Gods face.

 

When I Became a Man || Spoken Word

Merry Christmas

We tagged our tree back in October and went back to cut it down not anticipating the 2" growth from all the rain...so needless to say it was a BIG one! 😝

Morgan completed her first semester of college and we were literally counting down the days until break when she got to come home and stay...we miss her in all the little daily things that go on around our home. 

Dan & I got to have a fun date night at a work party....

Every Christmas break since the girls were very little, we have gone up to Big Bear to a BBQ spot for dinner and then walk to a coffee house we love. We have friends who live up there who we stop and visit as well. Something simple but something we love to take the time to do together. 

We baked a lot! Like a lot a lot! Which I love! 

Dan's aunt hosted the cousins' party and even though we missed his uncle so much, it was good to be back at the house and with all the family together. 

Cousin's party-2018

More baking....

No Ryanne isn't mad at me ha! She said "Mom! I had a cookie in my mouth!"

We had a really cold wet storm on Christmas morning which called for a hot chocolate bar of course

Every year since the girls were about 2 years old, I have made a memory book for them to open and read and look at the pictures from our year together. 

I surprised Dan & the girls and did a waffle bar for Christmas morning. Both of our moms were with us early to eat and exchange gifts and enjoy the rain....

We spent the 26th down in San Diego with Dan's brother and sister and their families. The kids are all getting so big. Fun watching them grow up. 

Then at 4am on the 27th I drove Morgan and some other college kids to LAX and they headed to St. Louis for a missions/ministry conference. We will miss ringing in the new year with her but watching her chase after what God has for her is a sweet time. Praying you all have a blessed New Year.