family vacation

i can't believe that our vacation was nearly a month ago. we got to spend five nights in palm desert- at our friend's condo. we love to spend time there! our vacation was filled with....swimming, BBQing, eating, going to see cars 2, celebrating the 4th at a fireworks display, going to soak city, visiting the windmills, sleeping in, playing wii, reading, playing games, and taking the gondola/tram ride. i got to celebrate my birthday on our trip, and my parents even came and stayed for a night...to help us celebrate the 4th and my birthday!

the boys had their own room...and they even napped one day!

eating a yummy breakfast!

exploring...down at the windmills!

leaving the "station"....going 8,500 feet up!

the boys loved the gondola ride...the floor spins the entire time and it's a 10 minute ride to the top. each gondola fits 80 people!

when you arrive at the top, you're in san jacinto state park....

trails, hiking, camping, look outs....we wish we had planned better and given ourselves more time up at the top, before the sun set!

on the fourth of july, my parents came down. we swam and laid out. my dad and josh got to golf that afternoon, and then we BBQd...before heading out to a fireworks show at the college.

probably the best show i've ever seen! (even better than disney)....

relaxin' and enjoying the show!

my parents spent the night on the 4th....and we all went to soak city on my birthday. it was actually a belated celebration/field trip for hudson's birthday. my dad went and got us donuts and coffee, before we took off for the day!

i got to open some gifts before we left. i also got my card from josh. i had to share it with you! here's the back story...i always tell josh that we have "jungle fever"...because in the summer, i get pretty tan...and he...well....he doesn't. so...he found this card and whited-out one hand! :) i got a good laugh out of it! the wording was pretty funny, too...."straight up, baby girl...."

we had a BLAST at soak city!!! the boys went on every slide...and so did we! it was really fun to see my mom and dad on the slides. we enjoyed time in the wave pool and in the lazy river, too. it was very hot out that day (duh)....but we loved getting to play! soak city (palm springs) is clean, fun, and well-attended. we can't wait to go back!

my boys loved this slide!

silly faces....

we all had sooo much fun!

after soak city, we went back to the condo and showered. then, it was off to hibachi steakhouse, for a yummy birthday dinner!

hudson and papa

mimi and bryson

my special dessert...and they even sang to me!

i love my family...and i felt so blessed that day! (i still do)

we came home on the 6th, and we stopped near cabazon to get some lunch. we love ruby's! the weather was so weird that day...thunder and lightning...and pouring rain. it had let up a bit once we finished lunch!

this guy surprised me...big time! for my birthday "present," josh had our backyard planter filled with fruit trees, roses, ground cover, hedges, and climbing vines! we left a planter full of weeds and overgrowth...and came home to a beautiful yard!!! we have lived here for over five years...and have had the hardscape done....but we had never finished the landscaping! what a special gift!! thank you, jose...for your lovely work!

it's always nice to be home again, but we had a great time away. i love vacations that are relaxing...where there's really not a whole lot on the agenda. josh definitely needed some time to "get away"...and we needed that special time as a family.

Monday Mornin' Devo :)

Hey all! I have soooo missed my blog!! I will be back soon, with tons of pics from our vacation, June and July birthdays, VBS, and more! For now, I leave you with this devotion(al)...by my awesome pastor! It's an incredible reminder for us all! Enjoy and be blessed today.....

What Have You Been Designed to Do?

"The joy of the LORD is your strength!" One morning, I saw something that made me think of this verse. It was a runner going down the street. There was a light rain falling and the morning was still dark, but this runner was committed. He was in good shape and wore the best running apparel. By the look of his pace, he took running seriously. As he ran, I noticed that he had a companion alongside him. It was a beautiful German Pointer, you know, one of those sleek bird dogs that you see in a painting of hunters in an English countryside. As the runner ran, determined and disciplined, his dog could not have been more excited and happy to be involved. The dog seemed to glide along as the runner pounded the pavement. He would look up at his master every few steps, seemingly sending a message to him, "aren't we having fun?" The dog was delighted, tongue out, head up, back straight; if dogs could smile, this dog was. And why shouldn't he? He was doing what he was designed to do . . . it was early and he was with his master. He was running for the sheer pleasure of it and with every step that dog took, he looked and seemed happier. The runner may have had to run for his own benefit, but his dog was just glad to be along for the experience.

I sometimes think we make our lives something they were never intended to be. It's possible that we can get away from being with the Master daily. When that happens, we lose our confidence. Our pace slows and we begin to look around at other things rather than look up at Him. We can quickly feel lost and alone. When we're near Him, there's a glide to our step. We don't seem to get so tired and we are overjoyed just to be along for the experience. Is the joy of the LORD your strength today? If not, take a walk with Jesus and as you do, you will be pleasantly surprised to find yourself running with Him, delighted, joyful and strong. After all, it's what you've been designed to do!

Pastor Jack