Tuesday's Treasure

We are blessed to be given Annual Passes to Disneyland. I am truly grateful. I love Disneyland. I love the beauty of the park, and their ever changing flowers. I love that the buildings always look freshly painted, and that the staff is for the most part helpful, friendly, and wearing a smile. Yesterday, we went and celebrated with my nephew for his birthday. It was fun to go for the afternoon and leave after dinner. We are blessed to be given a gift that feeds our family with quality time and many, many memories. Thanks Nana and Papa!

New Doo part Deux

So we went back to Miss Christina. A little shorter, a whole lot more sassier, and this time......

NO TEARS!!!! Missy was so excited, and I am happier. Katie Holmes ~ watch out!!!

The New Do!

So Missy has been asking for weeks to cut her hair. Her beautiful, thick and gorgeous locks, she wanted short. I have been hesitant, knowing that this could go SO wrong. However, she has stayed persistent. She knows what she wants, and has been patient. So last night she declares in her 5 year old wisdom "Mom, tomorrow I want to cut my hair when I don't have school."

Today, was the usual hussle and bussle out the door. We were running late, videos to return to Blockbuster, kids to pick up for carpool, field trip for Bubba today (I got picked to go), remember camera, you know the drill. In this I forgot the phone number for Miss Christina, who I was hoping could fit Missy in today. OH well, another day I guess I can call.

After the field trip, I ran into Target really quick for a few things (See Tuesday's Post!). Who would be standing there, trying on sunglasses ~ none other than Christina! We started chatting about my morning and how I wanted to call her. She informed me that she had a cancellation this morning and was really bummed about it. I honestly feel like God was telling me "Ask her" So I imposed on her trip to Target and asked "Could you fit Missy in today?" She was excited to be cutting her hair and said, "Meet me at the salon at noon!" PERFECT!!!!

We go to the salon, Missy is excited to be going on this adventure. She gets her wrap, hair washed, all with smiles! The cutting starts, we still have smiles. We are done, and her hair is getting styled (ooh la la, so fancy) and the tears start to fall. Next come the sobs. I spring from my seat, and gather her up. She tearfully says "I wish I didn't cut my hair!" OH BOY!!!!

We leave the salon, and start walking back to our car. I try and explain that yes, she can still do small pigtails, a small ponytail is still possible (thanks to the wisdom of Christina). I am trying my best to hype it up ~ no avail. Then God speaks again........."Ask her" so, I let a five year old decide for me, I if I should cut my own hair, a decision I have been wavering about for over a month now. NO joke, two seconds later, she is smiling and wants to go back NOW and ask if I can also cut my hair.

Christina is amazing, she has an opening, and is so willing to do it. So alas, I have a matching hair cut to Missy Lu. The whole time, she was smiling, telling me to smile too. I coincidentally (divinely) had the camera for the field trip. Missy was taking pictures of my haircut just like I did for her. She was in Heaven, and took over 30 photos (a photographer like her Daddy!) Here are the results........She is happy, and so am I!

Mr. C. had NO idea what we had been up to, today. His vote ~ "IT LOOKS AMAZING AND BEAUTIFUL!" I married a good man, who knows the right answers when his two girls cut off a combined total of over a foot of hair. We are blessed!

Journey to Canaan

We are all on a spiritual journey. Whether or not we accept that reality in life or not, it is still there. Moses was on a journey that started when he was a son of Pharaoh and ended up lasting more than 40 years with the Israelites. We are on a journey that lasts our lifetime as well.

Our church has been doing 40 days of prayer for the submission of a building and a home. It has been a journey I am sure for everyone who is participating. The general mission of it all is for us to bend and be willing to see God's vision for our church, not just our own. To be willing to submit and be used by God no matter where this journey takes us. But then something happened, I know NO ONE expected.........

Coincidentally, we are in the beginning of Marriage Getaway sign ups. Leaders as well as myself were praying for sign ups to go well. We prayed for couples to be leaders, so that hopefully this year we wouldn't have to beg people to sign up for the conference or for leaders. God has provided every year in the past, we were confident He would provide again. What I didn't expect (okay, most of us didn't) was for God to show up in the way that He did. The Marriage Getaway sold out before the end of third service the very first Sunday. People were on the waiting list and yes, people were freaking out at the magnitude and craziness of it all. Then we got more rooms (35 to be exact) and guess what, those were filled without even blinking an eye, and there are still 50 people on the waiting list. God showed up. God answered our meager prayers while we are still waiting for the big prayer of a home to be answered.

This morning while Koda and I were on a run, I realized that our journey right now, is much like that of the Israelites long ago. While praying for a Promise Land, they received miracles along the way. In essence a way of God saying, Here I am, I am with you, TRUST IN ME, and I WILL PROVIDE all you need. We are waiting for a home, yet we see God in an OVERFLOW of couples that want to enrich their marriage in a time, when we thought the economic position of the nation, would affect us. He showed us that our expectations, undermine His ability to get people to move and move in HIS direction. He is showing us that HE is HERE, but we need to WAIT for our Promise Land, but in the mean time, HE is still the Everlasting God.

It reminds we of the song by Chris Tomlin: Everlasting God:
"STRENGTH WILL RISE as we wait upon the Lord.
We will wait upon the Lord,
We will wait upon the Lord.
Our God You reign forever,
Our Hope, our strong deliverer.
You are the everlasting God, The everlasting God.
You do not faint,
You won't grow weary.
You're the defender of the weak,
You comfort those in need.
You lift us up on wings like eagles."

I am holding on to the promise that our strength will rise as we as a church wait upon the Lord.He showed up for the Israelites, our Marriage Getaway sign ups, and He WILL show up for a home for us as well, we just need to wait, and keep praying. And keep focusing on HIS attributes and all HE is.

Tuesday's Treasure

My treasure this week, many of you share. In fact if you look at the first Pointless Poll, all of you share (that is if you voted!) My treasure is none other than Target. I love this store. Where else can you get a clean store, carries toys, shampoo, cute clothes, movies, and shoes! Don't even get me on the garden section. Sometimes Missy and I just go to look at the flowers before I take her to school. You can basically find it all, and if you are in need of something that a smaller store has, we have the benefit of having all three sizes here in town!

I love Preschool

I am a huge advocate for preschool. I love the practice that it has given my kids for the "real world" of school. I love that they have little friends whom they learn with and have to learn to get along with. I love the growing process of it all.

This year has been a bitter sweet time, as I am coming to a close with our preschool. This month, I made my very last payment to the school, in all likelihood for my lifetime. We have been to our last Costume parade, Thanksgiving Feast, Christmas program, Daddy's pancake breakfast, and Mother's Tea. We are gearing up for our End of Year program.

Today was Mother's Tea in honor of Mother's Day. It made me cry. The kids worked so incredibly hard on place mates, center pieces, and a gift that I can treasure. The teachers are the waitresses, as if they need to serve us more. The kids sang about 6 songs that honored us and told us how much we are loved, with hand motions!! We could if we chose, consume the terrible kid made butter (experience tells you to stay away) and the legendary handmade mints (that actually are not that bad). Missy remembered which color of mint she had made just for me, and just for her. They are learning through this process that it is the little things that matter and make the Mom's cry. The kids didn't need to be reminded to use their manners, because again that is something they have worked on all year in class.

This morning was the last time, I will sit in a chair that is too low to the ground, where my legs aren't coming close to fitting under the table, all with my child on my lap, while sharing a space ment for one, and I will miss it. I treasure today and all that went into it. The biggest disappointment in it all ~ I forgot the camera! There is a professional photographer there, but as for Missy singing, or us together, I will have to rely on friends to share with me the moments they got to capture.

Treasure

A week or so ago, my friend, e-mailed a group of us to join her for our own Mother's Day celebration. You see, at this spa on Wednesdays for the month of May, we thought every mother got in for 1/2 price. Who couldn't use a spa day for 1/2 price???? Bonus for me, because it was Wednesday, I would have childcare / kids in school until 2:45. What a blessing I thought.

We get to the spa, after Starbucks (of course) and we sadly learned that the deal is not quite what the add made it seem like. We got in, but only the second person was 1/2 price, not every Mom which after reading the add 50 bazillion times, it makes it sound like. Oh well, we were at the spa. We spent the day lounging, sun bathing with sunscreen, and just being. It was great, relaxing and a welcome relief from the stresses of life. The part Mr. C. loved is that I had a gift card from Christmas, so it cost us nothing out of pocket.

So for all the Moms out there, who live near here (sorry Cathy!) if you want to go to the spa and take another Mom, or your Mom, know that one of you is getting in 1/2 price, and the pools are waiting for you. The Club Mud is refreshing (my skin is still glowing) and the atmosphere is kid free ~ Happy Mother's Day!