A day at the park

Playing with Adam & Rachel
Hannah & Rachel best friends
My happy son
Hannah & Adam feeding the ducks
Josh & Adam walking & talking

Wednesday Hannah had 1/2 day at school so we met up with Cheryl, Adam & Rachel and had lunch at the park then we played and fed the ducks. The weather was so beautiful and the kids had a great time.

Malachi 3:3

I received this tonight from a dear friend of mine and it was quite an encouragement to me so I thought I would share it with all of you.

Malachi 3.3 "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." Malachi 3:3 This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God. One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible Study. That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver. As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities.The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot; then she thought again about the verse that says: "He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver." She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined. The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, "How do you know when the silver is fully refined?" He smiled at her and answered, "Oh, that's easy -- when I see my image in it".> > If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God has his eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image in you. Pass this on right now. This very moment, someone needs to know that God is watching over them. And, whatever they're going through, they'll be a better person in the end.

Fashion & golf

Joshua has really enjoyed our putting green lately here are a couple of pictures he is doing good for just starting however his fashion sense needs some help.

Will you marry me?

Yes 10 years ago tonight Brian ask me those words every woman waits to hear one day from the man of her dreams, "Will you marry me" and so our Journey to the altar began. You see I had waited years for this amazing man to ask that question and the time finally came, and with tears in my ears and excitement in my voice I said "Yes, Yes, Yes" and 5 1/2 months later we got married. What an amazing time it was for us and oh what fun it has been since. We will be celebrating our 10th anniversary on 08/08/08, isn't that cool. I wish I could marry this man all over again, it was so much fun we had the best wedding and reception ever. All of this to tell you all I love this man he is the greatest gift from God and I am the most blessed woman in the world.

I love you sweetness you are my good and perfect gift from God. I will love forever and like you for always as long as we are living my best friend you will be.

The making of new friends

Silas & Joshua
Silas trying to put on Joshuas watch
Asking for help from his new friend
The boys were so cute together, looks like the beginning of a great friendship.

Hannah's Basketball Game

Hannah & the boys
Go Hannah run

I don't know what she was doing
She is watching in amazement
She is on her way to the other side of the court

Today her team lost but it was a good game and she played really well. Her team is now 3-2

Happy Valentines Day

Happy Valentines Day! I pray you all have a great day today celebrating with the ones you love the most. This morning when Joshua awoke the first thing out of his mouth was "Happy Valentines Day Jesus and God" He just blessed my heart. Brian and I decided going out on Valentines Day is too stressful so we make a family dinner, give out gifts then have dessert and just spend time being a family. I even buy some Martinellis sparkling cider and serve it for dinner in champagne glasses and we have a toast. It's a fun night and the kids enjoy being part of it. So whatever you do tonight don't forget the one who loves us most.

Happy Valentines Day Jesus!

Words that hurt and words that heal

Last night we started our new bible study we're are going through a book called "Words that hurt and words that heal" as you can tell from the name of the book it's not going to be an easy study. Here are the names of the chapters in this book 1) "A fountain or a babbling brook?", 2) "Aren't I terrific?", 3) "Woe is me!", 4) "Don't give it a thought!", 5) "Aha!", 6) "That makes me mad!", 7) "Lord help me think!", 8) "How can you say that!", 9) "Easy does it!", 10) "The sacrifice of praise". So as we as a group of women and I take this journey of searching our hearts and harnessing our mouths we will need lots of prayer to overcome the enemy. Please keep us especially me in your prayers as the Lord continues to mold us into the women of God he desires for us to be. If you are not already part of this I challenge you to join us and let us grow together and keep each other accountable. So to coin a phrase from my sister "Let's keep chasing righteousness" God bless you all.

Parker is back at school

Parker returned to school yesterday, he will be in a wheelchair until the end of the month until his knee gets stronger. Hannah was so excited you see Parker sits right next to her and she got to help him out all day (she loves helping) she came home so excited that he was going to be fine and that she got to help him out all day. Thank you all for your prayers our sweet Lord heard them all and honored them.

Family Night out

Hannah & Brian at Johnny Rockets

Brian and Dan Gable

Brian & Tom Brands Iowa head coach

Friday night is our family night so last night we had dinner at Johnny Rockets at Westgate then on to see the Iowa Hawkeys wrestle the Arizona Sundevils. This was the fist time Hannah & Joshua went to a wrestling meet, Hannah wasn't feeling really well so she wasn't too impressed and just wanted to go home but Joshua enjoyed it and wanted to be down there wrestling. (I told him to hold on he would be soon enough) Much to our happiness Iowa won 36 -3 (not that this was a surprise they are ranked #1) they took 9 out of 10 matches and only lost the 1 match in overtime. However Arizona has a guy who wrestles at 125lbs who only has one leg he was pretty amazing what a great wrestler he barely lost to Iowa but oh what a match very impressive. When we first got there and walked in Dan Gable was standing at the door and struck up a conversation with Brian who was wearing his Iowa Hawkeye wrestling t-shirt, now you need to understand Dan Gable is the best wrestler ever and one of Brian's hero's in the sport this was quite a moment for Brian to be carring on a conversation with this man whom he has admired since he was a kid. Tom Brands who is now the head Iowa coach (also an amazing wrestler in his day) took time to say hello to Brian and pose for a picture. This was a very fun family night probably more for mommy & daddy but glad were able to be there.

Intamacy with the Lord

I came across a letter tonight that brought me great conviction. It was written by our Pastors wife at Calvary Chapel East Anaheim 13 years ago to the women in our body and I wanted to share it with all of you:
Beloved Sisters in Christ:
I wanted to take a few minutes of your time to share some thoughts with you that are heavy on my heart. Let me explain. I have been comparing the times in my own life when I have experienced real intimacy with the Lord with the times that I have felt far from Him. During those times of intimacy with God I am able to experience a joy that is not dependant upon my circumstances. On the flip side of that coin, I find that during the times that I am not experiencing a close intimate walk with my Lord, my joy and peace swing with my moods and I am very much dependant on my circumstances for how I look at life and how I feel.
Realizing this my qeustion to myself is then, "What is it that determines whether or not I am experiencing a deep and personal intimacy with the Lord?" The answer is spending Time In God's Word! When I am setting time aside to meet with the Lord through His Word, I find that He is always faighful to speak to me through it. I find that it is the only thing that has the power to cut straight through to my heart and change me from within.
The times I have come to God's Word trusting that it will be the vehicle He will use to teach me of Himself, I have never been disappointed! He not only teaches me of Himself but He also blesses me with Himself. I find that the Christian life I so desire, one of walking moment by moment, aware of the presence of God in me and with me is always available to me if I am in His Word.
I am so amazed that something that was written 13 years ago could still be speaking to my heart today. I love the way the Lord sends reminders to us sometimes. Thank you for your gentle reminders Lord.

God's unfailing Love

I trust in God's unfailing love for ever and ever. Psalm 52:8 NIV
As I read this verse today during my quiet time I had to ask myself "Do I believe in God's unfailing love & do I trust it?" You know reading scripture is easy but when you really look at it and ask yourself if you truly believe it and walk it, that is a little harder. I then looked up the word Unfailing- lasting, eternal then I looked up Everlasting- infallible, incapable of error WOW! How do you even question that, all I could say is Thank You. I am so undeserving of any love from God especially his unfailing love. God's grace, love and Mercy he bestows on me daily is humbling and I am so gratefull.