My Weekend

My weekend took me back to Women of Faith. I haven't been to a convention in 8 years. It was time to reconnect with these women with so much wisdom. Our church went as a group, but I went on my own Friday morning. This was my favorite session, quite possibly because I was alone, and could sit and relish what God was saying to ME, sitting among thousands.

I can not tell you all of the lessons that I walked home with in 36 hours of time. I can not express the ways that God reached out and touched me. Funny how such a short time really can make it seem like a weeks worth.

I CAN tell you, that when God tells you to go somewhere, and prompts you to step out from your comfort zone, so that HE can speak.........He doesn't disappoint.

I encourage you to find a conference near you during this season. They are coming, and man ol man is it worth it.

Back in the Saddle..........

This week I got back in the Teaching Saddle ~ again............
(If I were savvy enough, I would have Gene Autry singing it to you.....)

Back in my life this week were: staff meetings, planning meetings, agendas, long range plans, room cleaning and decorating, and even Back to School Night.

This time around, I am not in my comfortable saddle of classroom teacher. Now, I am in a new saddle, one that hasn't been broken in, or worn in all the right places. Going back as an Educational Therapist is different. Much like Western and English saddles are different. Some things are VERY different, and some I just have to adjust.

I am excited to begin this year with new students, new expectations, and the launching of a whole new career. There is so much that is different and new, yet the comfort of some things that are the same. The smell of chalk and coffee are still a comfort. Excitement in the air, of fresh beginnings and a new school year, for everyone.

However, as great as this week has been. I am SUPER excited to be able to sleep in, enjoy the last taste of summer with my kids, and relax with friends and family. For Tuesday will be here before I know it, and the start of a breaking in this new saddle. Giddy-Up

Great is Thy Faithfulness..........

Growing up I sang hymns when I visited my Grandmother's church. Something about them though always spoke such clear and simple truth that drew me in.

Then my hubby and I started dating and although the church we attended together still didn't sing hymns, when we attended church with his family, there they were. As an adult, I was introduced to BSF, if you know what that is......enough said about hymns, but I loved it.

Lately the Hymn that won't leave my mind is one of my favorites....."Great is Thy Faithfulness.." I have been singing it for almost a complete week. This morning on my run with the puppy, I realized the significance of why I have been singing it all week. It is because, if God is nothing else, He is Faithful. He is faithful in punishments that are promised and well deserved. He is faithful in blessings ~ promised or not, and usually never deserved. He is Faithful, in taking us to places we never would have considered, if it were left up to us, but not letting us fail either. He is Faithful to never leave us, forsake us, or stop loving us. He continues to be Faithful, even if and when we stop or falter in our own faithfulness.

What struck me this morning about God's Faithfulness, is that He is faithful for getting us through any situation. He IS there, whether or not we feel, see, or recognize it. His Faithfulness is also not limited to what it is that I want, but providing for me what I NEED. This is a huge difference. What I NEED is so much less, than what I may want.

As I prepare for the weekend, my prayer is that I continue to see more of His Faithfulness, for it is there.

Wonderful Week

This week, Bubba has been away at camp. That means it has been a girly week all week focusing on Missy. For the first time she and I watched one of my absolute favorite movies, The Wizard of Oz. She LOVED it, and loves the soundtrack we downloaded.

We went to the beach with other moms and friends, where the kids played and the moms chatted. It was a wonderful afternoon, where I was having so much fun in the moment, that I forgot to take the camera out and capture the moment. Maybe, this was better to be part of it, instead of trying so hard to capture it. We saw a great,big, dark red jellyfish near the shore. We also enjoyed watching a California Sea Lion playing right by the pier.

We went to Disneyland with Nana and Papa, where she was Queen Bee and chose all of the rides and activities. We stayed in Adventureland the ENTIRE day, because it worked out that way, and we were having fun. We watched Pirates sing, and took our time on Tom Sawyer's Island. We did eventually leave Adventureland to head over to Princess Fan Faire, to hear not one, but two princess tell us stories. She was enchanted, and we were relaxed.

I introduced her to Beignets. Fresh, hot, wonderful pockets of sugary dough....... What started this adventure was a cookbook based on the Princess and the Frog, which she loves! We also visited the bathroom in this restaurant that is painted like a New Orleans Bayou and Swamp. Strange to have a bathroom as a destination, but she really loved it! The only downer here was we weren't in New Orleans with my beloved friend.

She had a play date with her two best friends from school. Here they are having lunch in their "Clubhouse". They did everything Girly.....painted nails, played Barbies, made jewelry for themselves and each other. They enjoyed summer as girls and the Three Musketeers that they are.

This morning we get to go pick up Bubba, and hear of his adventures. I have missed him, but I have enjoyed just being with her. I am looking forward to next week, when we go away as a family, enjoying summer before it ends.

Nightly Visitors

We have nightly visitors. They play and flirt and entertain us.

This pair come every night, without fail.

They come for these. Luckily our yard is filled with these colorful explosions of blooms. The nector is sweet for our friends, and they are happy.

We eat here every night and enjoy the show. We hear them chitter and chatter, see them fly and flirt. We see them happy in our little slice of Heaven, and in return they make us happy.

Deployed..........

Later this week, our brother is being deployed to Iraq. We have said our good-byes, and had fun at the family BBQ. It was a mix of tears, that the reality of his year long deployment brings to our family, and laughter, as we tried to keep things normal. There was lots and lots of laughter, and Wet Willy's ~ gross but a great tension breaker.
Missy LOVES her uncle that is never too busy to share a hug, push her on the swings, or avenge her against her teasing brother. One to help out when we need him, and one to be carefree on the trampoline with the kids.
Always one to bring a smile to Bubba, and helping train my son to be a stronger man. Funny that when I came into this family, this now man and soldier was younger than both of my kids. He was younger than Bubba in our wedding. They both share a love of Legos and he can be found on Bubba's floor with new creations they have quietly built together.
The baby of the family is now a soldier and a man. It is hard to see him as such especially when he is so carefree and easy going with the kids. We will miss him. I will miss him and pray for his safety daily.

Take me out to the Ball Game......

The family at Petco Park, watching the Padres vs the Dodgers. This checks off one of Bubba's Summer bucket list items: to visit a different baseball park. As you can see, our efforts to not be in the sun, backfired a bit, as our seats and the day were chilly! Good thing we thought to bring jackets to a day game! This is So Cal for goodness sake, who would have thought? I didn't have a jacket, and hubby left his in the car, but I was SO glad I had jeans on, and that the kids were covered. Although we are still avid Angel's Fans, it was a great day watching amazing baseball.

Pure delight to a Mother's eyes. Bubba patiently explaining baseball to his sis, who frankly doesn't care right now. She was there for the snacks.

The hilarious Padre that dances around the stadium in between innings. This is the only baseball park, I have been to that has a Mascot that dresses up and gets the crowd going and excited. With a rivalry between the Padres and Dodgers who are battling for first place, it wasn't a hard day on the job for the Padre. We sure enjoyed his antics though.

Camera malfunction here, but the picture is worth a thousand words. We got to the stadium early to hopefully meet players and get our baseballs signed. This is Bubba getting his baseball back and having a conversation with the Padres' right fielder. Later in the game, we got to see this player make some amazing catches and plays. It was fun being able to personalize who it was with his signature in our hands. Missy didn't talk to him, but loved the experience all the same. Having the balls, on their respective nightstands and the gleam in their eyes when it was over: Priceless.