Tuesday's Treasure

My treasure this morning is our church's annual Marriage Getaway. Even though it is a lot of work, it also is very fun and very rewarding. It is a time for marriages to be healed, refreshed and renewed. Friday night is a fun dinner party. Saturday is meetings, but with a three hour lunch (to relax by the pool, or have a leisure lunch with friends), followed by date night.

This year's topic for the whole conference was about TREASURE. What do we treasure, what does our lives reflect that we treasure? How is God being reflected in our marriages as a treasure?

Some of the sessions were easier than others to hear. Some were down right hard to realize just how selfish we can be with our time, finances, and lives. It made me ponder what is truly being reflected through my life as a treasure. Are others seeing my ONE true treasure of Jesus?

On the sad note, Mr. C. and I didn't get one picture of us dressed up! NOT ONE!!! There are pictures of our friends as couples, but not one of us. I did however treasure that he took the time to coordinate with my dress, you just can't see it :(

And the Winner Is.......

Sandal's Marriage Getaway!!!! Yep, you guessed it, it has won the contest, okay not really. The truth of the matter is though, that if I didn't have my hand-me-down new phone, I wouldn't have had the time to go to the fabulous places you have introduced me to. I spent a few minutes looking at blogs while waiting for fireworks at Disneyland, while Mr. C. was on rides with the kids. SOOOOO.....the contest is

EXTENDED!!!!!

One more week, of submitting your fabulous favorite places to see blogs. I like what I see so far though!

In the mean time, here is a Pointless Poll for you......................

• Are your toes painted for summer or fall, and what color are they?

For those of you coming to the Getaway, can't wait to party with you. For those who I won't be seeing there, pray for my sanity......it might be slowly leaving. I actually had to pause when asked my husbands name. I PAUSED!!!! WOW is my brain happily fried.

More to post, when there is a moment of calmness.............

Celebrate 100

With Tuesday's blog, I have reached 100 posts!!!!

WAHOO!!!

Who would have known? I sure didn't when I started on this journey, that if for sure. The best news is that you could CELEBRATE too! Here is my challenge........

• Over the next week, introduce me to a blog that you love, that I don't know about.
• Tell me why you love them, and why you think I will, or should.
• The winner, of my favorite will celebrate with me and WIN A PRIZE!!!
• The contest will end August 19th, and yes, you can submit more than one!
• Tell your friends, they can win too!!!
  

Happy celebrating, and thanks for going on this blogging journey with me.

Tuesday's Treasure ~ Best Friends

My Treasure is my kid's relationship. They have always gotten along. They have always been nice to each other, with reason. But this summer, they have blown me away. My kids have had a LOT of time where it has been the two of them only. They have only had each other to be entertained by. This summer has been magical, and I know it won't always last. Instead of TV in the morning, they are quick to play with each other. Every afternoon and night, they veg out with each other playing a game or deciding together the movie they want watch. They have literally been in each other's back pocket, and liked it.

Now, don't get me wrong, there have been moments. But it has been just that, moments, that are quickly fading, and never lasting long. I will treasure this summer, for the pure joy that my kids have been, for I know that this too may be a only a memory next year.

Be Strong and Courageous

A few months ago, I blogged about the journey our church was on to find a church home. In the words of our pastor yesterday......."God ALWAYS shows up. It may not be early, yet NEVER is is late, but rather, it is on time, in HIS time, right when we need HIM the most." Well, God has shown up. We now officially have a building!!!!

However, we NEED a home. In order to make the building a home, certain things have to happen. Permits need to be obtained, parking needs to be found, and the church body needs to cough up some dough to make the transition on the inside of the building from an industrial shell, into a church home.

Again, I am reminded of the Israelites crossing into Canaan. They were promised the land. They knew it was theirs. However, there were kings who wanted to fight for what was at the moment THEIR kingdom, and fight they did. Joshua had to lead the people in victory, but victory had it's price, and had a lot of hard work in the mix. It took courage, faith, sweat, sacrifice, and a belief that God was indeed on their side, and that the Israelites would be victorious.

I am left with the encouragement for Joshua: "Be strong and courageous." These words are echoed four different times, in Joshua 1. No matter what the challenge was that God was preparing them for, HIS words at the end were: "Be strong and courageous". This is what our church needs to do now. We need to prepare for the battles ahead, and

"Be strong and courageous.

Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged,

for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."

Joshua 1:9

Hostess Gift

Tonight we had our good friends over for dinner. We did the traditional "What time should we be there? Can I bring anything?" Yada Yada.

Here is when you KNOW you have great friends.......They show up with your favorite beer that you were just craving, that they introduced you to. I didn't ask them to bring it, they just brought it on top of the salad that was requested. Then they also brought brownies to go with the ice cream that I had promised for dessert! Who doesn't like brownies and ice cream together?????

The topping of the cake was the hostess gift that was hidden away for me to find. I am SURE that my friend didn't want me to make a big deal over the gift and get embarrassed. I am POSITIVE that her humble and kind spirit, knew that I would appreciate such a gesture and wanted it to be a surprise. What did I find? None other than this fabulous Louis Vuitton handbag. Some friends are just worth keeping for lifetimes!!!! Man oh man, am I going to enjoy this generous gift!!! ;)

Tuesday's Treasure

San Francisco is my treasure, a true highlight for the summer. When we first got married, my parents gave us this word of advice: Every year, starting now, go away for your anniversary. Now, we do not always go away during our anniversary, especially now that we have kids and got married on a holiday weekend, however we do go away. So on Saturday, we packed our bags, dropped off the kids and puppy at Nana's, and headed to the airport. We spent four days in San Francisco being a couple, not parents. We got the opportunity to sleep in, dine out, eat lots of fish, and just be adults without an agenda, or kids. I love my kids, but this was bliss and truly needed for our relationship. We rode on a go-car, a rocket boat, and of course a trolley car. We had a blast just being us and remembering what "us" is. I didn't leave my heart in San Francisco, as the song goes, but I did renew my heart! Love you Babe!!!