Wednesday, April 30, 2014

a night out.



We went to a concert on Saturday night. It was here in town...a local band...boys we've known since they were little guys playing Little League. Their dad sent me a message Friday night on Facebook, "Would you like to come to the show Saturday night? You and Chris and the boys?"

Would we? Sure!

What a nice surprise...and it was even better since Seth was home for an unexpected weekend visit.

So, Saturday night we got cleaned up and headed downtown to see a show. And they did not disappoint...they were great.

Wanna hear a bit of what we heard? Have a listen to Cheating Daylight. Or maybe you'll like this one better.

(Oh...and hey guys? If you're reading this...we are SO PROUD OF YOU!!)

Wednesday in the Word





Tuesday, April 29, 2014

volunteering time



My cousin, Megan, works for The March of Dimes. Recently, she worked tirelessly to organize The March for Babies held last Saturday in Sacramento at the State Capitol.

She asked if I'd volunteer my time taking candid photos of the event. I said yes.

I got up before the alarm on a Saturday and headed to the Capitol, camera (and coffee!) in hand.

It was a big deal...vendor tents, t-shirts, balloons everywhere, a huge stage, a great DJ, kids and dogs (and a parrot!) and people, young, old and in between.

I wandered around snapping photos of teams in their matching shirts, dogs wearing purple bandannas, kids getting their faces painted and eating cotton candy, volunteers passing out free fruit and water bottles, the hosts on stage, the Sac State mascot, the Hornet (who loved the camera, by the way), officers on horseback...I snapped away.

At 9am it was time for the walkers to head to the starting line. I positioned myself on a side lawn where I could get some photos of the teams walking. The start was announced and the crowd began to move...and to my surprise, I began to cry! It was so moving...so many babies, so many families, so many miracles...all there to come together and support one thing...helping premature babies and their families. It was awesome.

At that point my work there was done. My cousin gifted me free t-shirts for my family and I gifted her 400 photos to choose from. And now...I can't wait for next year! Count me in!

(If you feel moved to donate to the March of Dimes, please follow the links above to give. Thank you)


Monday, April 28, 2014

the garden is in.



The garden is in...tomatoes, peppers, cucumber, zucchini and onions from starts. Then green beans, carrots, sunflowers, nasturtiums, chives, more cucumbers, more zucchini and cantaloupe from seed. We popped the bean seeds and onion starts in the ground Saturday evening before heading to a concert. 

The grapes are doing great and have so many clusters of tiny grapes on them! I'm doing some reading to see how we can get them to grow nice and plump...wish us luck. Anyone have any pointers?


We moved some things around in the garden this year...rotated, if you will. We are challenged a bit when it comes to sunlight due to our gargantuan pecan tree so we have to get creative with where we plant and limits us as to where we can plant some sun-loving plants. So far we've done OK...hopefully this year won't be any different.


I sure am looking forward to fresh tomatoes from the garden...and fresh onions. Have you ever grown onions? We did on a whim two years ago and I loved it. Not sure what it is about going out to the backyard to pick an onion fresh from the earth, bringing it in, washing it, chopping it up and tossing it into a pot. But it sure did make me happy. 


Have you seen August in Osage County? At the very beginning the husband talks of simple pleasures..."...like finding wild onions by the side of a road, or requited love.” 


Yes...it reminded me to plant onions again this year.


Sunday, April 27, 2014

what a week!


where I sit and talk with you...
I was off all this past week...it was glorious!

I spent some time at home...I spent some time away.

I was blessed by a surprise visit.

I enjoyed sunshine, rain and snow.

I spent time with family and spent some time alone.

I slept in on the weekdays and got up before the alarm on the weekend.

I made a big decision this past week...one that's been a long-time coming.

I'll share more later...xo


Sunday afternoon...



xoxo


Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Wednesday in the Word


Psalm 91:1-2, 14-16

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
    my God, in whom I trust.”
“Because she loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue her;
    I will protect her, for she acknowledges my name.

She will call on me, and I will answer her;

    I will be with her in trouble,
    I will deliver her and honor her.
 With long life I will satisfy her
    and show her my salvation.


The bible says "him". I changed it to "her". Sometimes it's good, and OK, to personalize scripture...because sometimes God's word speaks to you so personally that you can't help but say, "this is just for me".

Last night at bible study we were praying for a sister who just needed to be surrounded by her sisters in Christ and covered in prayer. As we were praying, Psalm 91 popped into my head. Not the whole chapter. Just the address..."Psalm 91", clear as day.

After the prayer I wrote "Psalm 91" on a slip of paper and gave it to her. It was for her.

But this morning, as I'm getting ready for the day, getting ready to go to a friend's for brunch, getting ready to hit the road with Ian later to visit my aunt and uncle at their cabin, I realized that Psalm 91 was also for me. And for you, too. For everyone, should we choose to listen and believe.


Monday, April 21, 2014

grateful.



Feeling grateful for...

  • Family...so many good people that surround me and have influence in my life. I am blessed.
  • Good food...this was our Easter meal at my aunt's house yesterday...salad, green beans, cheesy potatoes, ham and ambrosia with homemade marshmallows. SO.GOOD.
  • Time...I'm off this week. And I am grateful. There will be a little work, a little play and a little rest. 
  • Peace...knowing how to deal with anxiety and depression in a healthy way, and knowing how to stave it off and not let it have power over me is a HUGE victory. I am grateful every day that God has shown me that I don't have to live at the mercy of my fears and emotions.
  • My job...I like what I do, make a decent wage and get to spend my days with good people.
  • Benefits...such a relief knowing we have medical coverage. After not having it for far too long, there is a peace in knowing that we're covered.  
  • My hubby...he is a good man with a good heart who has stood by me through good and bad. I love him.
  • My boys...they are amazing. They make me laugh, the make me proud, they make me think, they make me grow. And they bless me every single day. 

Friday, April 18, 2014

The right thing is rarely the easy thing...



We had to say goodbye last week to our sweet boy, Reggie. He was 15. He lived a good, long life. But the time came when his legs began giving out on him and his breathing became more and more labored.

And we knew...it was time.

We were blessed in that the vet came to our home making the transition as comfortable and stress free as something like that can be. Having had to do "the right thing" for two pets now...one in a sterile and uncaring vets office, and one at home...at home is the only way to go.

I mean, in the end, it is what it is; one of the hardest things you'll ever have to do. Ever. It sucks. But as I watched Reggie limp around the backyard the night before, struggling to relieve himself, hesitating going up the garage steps, and then needing our help to get him in the house, get him out of the house, get him up, lay him down...he was miserable. And I realized as I watched him tough it out, struggling with every single thing he had to do, that it was my responsibility to do "the right thing". I couldn't put it off any longer.

Our pets rely on us for everything...food, water, a safe place to sleep, warmth, shade, love, comfort, kind words...and yes, in the end, mercy.

Rest in Peace, Reggie. 
You were my good boy...
I love you and will miss you always.


Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Wednesday in the Word

source unknown

I cannot imagine my life without Jesus. 
I lived without Him in my life for a lot of years. 
I wouldn't go back to that darkness for anything in the world. 

Thank you, Jesus, for plucking me out of the mud and mire.
Thank you for guiding me, loving me, saving me.

Some people get uncomfortable with the name Jesus. 
Don't be.
He is good. 
He loves you.
And He will bring you out of the darkness, too.
xo




Monday, April 7, 2014

just a lot.



It's been a busy, busy week or so around here...

  • Seth headed back to SLO. It was nice having him home. It's always good to have us all under one roof. 
  • To ease our heavy hearts after he headed back, Chris and Ian and I headed to Mt. Diablo for a hike. It was amazing and I showed some fears who was boss when I climbed this.
  • I started a new bible study last week. 
  • I've been work, work, working, of course. 
  • Friday night I took my mom to our school musical...we went to dinner first with a friend from work and her family then headed to the show. It was a nice evening...
  • Saturday I got up early and headed to a women's conference...a friend and her church hosted a Priscilla Shirer simulcast and it was good. Really good. I needed that, for sure.
  • My heart has been heavy the past couple of days...five local teens got in a terrible car accident Saturday evening...two died and three are in critical condition. So, so sad.
  • Also making my heart heavy is the fact that Reggie isn't doing so great these days...I know the time is coming, soon. It's just such a hard decision to make. 
Sometimes there's so much to say you just don't know where to start, ya know? 


Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Wednesday in the Word


do you need this?
A WHOLE lot...a whole, whole, WHOLE lot.