Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Happy Thanksgiving to you, my faithful readers!!

I pray that you and your families enjoy this day of giving thanks and praise to the One who provides everything for us!

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."

-James 1:17-

"Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His Name."

-Psalm 100:4-

"This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."

-Psalm 118:24-

I am SO thankful for you....and I am blessed by your comments and encouragement!!

Much Love,

Kristi

Feelin' Pretty Thankful....

Over the past month....I have been feeling extra thankful, specifically in the area of homeschool(ing). When people ask me how it's going....I say it's going pretty well, that it's a lot of work, that I do meet some daily opposition (not namin' any names), and that it is challenging....but I always follow that up with...."But I know- without a doubt- that this is where the Lord has our family right now!" And that, my friends- is the truth!

As I get more used to my "new job"...I see how blessed I am to be able to do this. Not everyone has the opportunity to homeschool (for various reasons). Many say...."Oh, I could never do that".....and many say...."Oh, I'll pray for you!" Well, I welcome the prayers and I must say that there have been days I could 'feel' them! (So, if you are one who has prayed for us- I thank you!)

The boys are doing really well and I will even say that they're thriving. Hudson is flying through his Kindergarten work, and will probably be doing first grade curriculum soon. I am thankful that, so far, he has no trouble grasping concepts. Hudson loves to learn and he usually welcomes the daily paperwork. Hudson likes to please....and he is creative and loves to draw and write.

Bryson is so smart....and is working at a steady pace. Bryson has recently found some books that he loves, and he has spent hours reading! Nothing makes me happier!! I love to see my boy choosing to read....on his own....without me "making" him! There are a few subjects that are not on B's 'favorites' list...but he continues to do well in all areas. He loves to draw...and he loves science....and he is often a good helper to/for his brother.

I am so blessed to be able to see my kids' daily progress. I am blessed to be the boys' primary influence...and I do not take my job lightly. I love going to bed each night...next to Josh...who thanks the Lord that we have this opportunity to homeschool. I didn't think I would enjoy it this much! Now that we are getting into the groove, I am feeling more secure in our decision. I definitely have days where I begin to feel totally overwhelmed...and I feel the weight of being the one responsible for all that my kids learn- or don't learn. I feel worried that I won't teach them some very important essentials that they need. I feel inadequate at times...especially when I compare myself to other homeschooling moms. But- I know that those feelings and worries aren't from the Lord!

I am thankful that Josh and I came by this decision prayerfully. Part of me wonders why we didn't make it sooner. However, our kids have been so blessed by ALL of their teachers over the past several years....and we wouldn't trade that, or those experiences, for anything!! I know that this is God's perfect timing....and that He has allowed all of our past experiences- and our present ones as well.

Over the past few months, we have been able to get annual passes to the Discovery Science Center....and we have gotten to go to Sea World and the San Diego Safari Park. The prices have been super cheap (...and I mean....super cheap! Sea World cost less than $20 for me and the boys!) and we have been able to spend some incredibly fun days with friends, enjoying God's amazing creations!! I have been able to school the boys at the park, and as I write- we are at Starbucks....! Hey, don't judge me and I won't judge you! :) Bryson is loving his art classes and Hudson has enjoyed football (somewhat...ha ha!). We haven't had to rush out the door in the mornings and school can last all day, if need be. Yesterday, the boys wanted to have breakfast on our trampoline, in their jammies. I love that we are afforded these privileges and these joys. Not every day is "fun" and not every moment is "joyful"....but even in those not-so-fun moments, there is a deep satisfaction and joy in knowing that this is where the Lord has placed our family..."for such a time as this."

I am blessed and I am thankful.

Our 13th Anniversary Trip (in photos)

Josh and I celebrated our 13th anniversary on 10.17.11 and my parents were kind enough to keep the boys for us, so that we could enjoy some "couple" time! We got to sneak away for FOUR whole days and THREE whole nights...woo hoo! Josh and I could NOT come up with any great ideas for our trip...until...we remembered that my friend (Rebekah) had told us about a trip that she and her hubby had taken, to the Grand Canyon.

Rabbit Trail: Josh, the kids, and I had visited the Grand Canyon for the first time last summer....but it was kind of a "doozy" of a trip. We had to drive three hours in torrential rains....to arrive and see that the canyon was all covered in fog (and it was rainy). I remember saying to the Lord...."Lord....I would really love to see Your beauty! We did not drive all this way to see fog- covering up Your creation! Take it away, Jesus! Please open it up so that we can behold Your glory!" I must tell you that He was faithful that day (as He is everyday, even when we don't get the answers we want)....and we were able to behold the Grand Canyon's beauty. We stood there in awe (in 52 degree weather- wearing only flip flops, tank tops, and shorts!)....and tried to take it all in. We only got to stay for about an hour and a half, before we made the long drive back to our campground (in Zion, Utah).

Anyhow....as our anniversary approached this year, we kept trying to come up with an original idea. It was when we remembered what Rebekah had told us about her trip that we decided we'd try it, too. We booked a package deal...where you drive to Williams, AZ and stay a night (at the GC Railway Hotel)....then board a train that takes you into the GC. Once you're at the GC, you stay a second night at a lodge there. While you're at the canyon, you get a motor coach tour, and then you have about 24 hours to do whatever you want! On the third day, you board the train which takes you back to Williams. Several meals are included, and the Railway Hotel has a little Wild West Show, before you board the train! We upgraded our train tickets to "first class" and enjoyed comfy seats and finger foods!

The Grand Canyon is incredibly breathtaking. Josh and I both said that it seems "fake"...even when you're standing right above it. It is so vast and so beautiful. It's just like our God to create something so fabulous! Josh took his "good camera" and got some amazing shots. These photos are just from my phone, so I will post some of the professional ones soon! :)

The two of us had such a great time....relaxing, enjoying the jacuzzi at the hotel, driving into Flagstaff to see Courageous (a must see!!), eating without children for four days straight, taking the shuttle tour, watching the sunset over the GC, dining at a 5-star restaurant atop the GC, hiking down into the canyon, getting ice cream (more than once) at the GC, meeting new people on the same tour, watching the view(s) on the train ride, walking along the many trails, people watching, and just "getting away from everyday life!"

When the whole GC tour was over, we drove about three hours, to spend our last night away in Las Vegas. We aren't gamblers and we rarely drink....so why go to Sin City?! We went for the posh hotel room and the fantastic pools! We got a GREAT deal on a suite at THEHotel@Mandalay Bay! By the time we arrived in Vegas, it was after 9 pm. By the time we found our way to the "front desk"....it had to be 9:45! By the time we showered and got ready to go out for a LATE dinner, it was after 11:30. We walked through the large hotel for over an hour, in search of good food. We couldn't find anything that was open past midnight....so, at about 1 am, we decided to go back to our room and order room service. I must say....it was quite fun to eat dinner at 2:30 am!! I mean....when will we ever do that again?! We had pizza, salad, and ice cream...in bed....while we watched TV.....and it was pretty fun! We got to sleep in the next day....which was awesome! We got ready and spent our last hours away- at the pools....laying out and swimming....reading and eating.

It was a wonderful trip and the two of us really enjoyed the time away together! We are so thankful to have had 13 incredible years together. God has been so faithful and He has blessed us tremendously!

Bryson's Art

This past month, Bryson started attending an art class each week!

He is LOVING it and he's so proud of his art work. We are proud of him, too!

It's so fun to see what he brings home each week! This is his latest....

2, 4, 6, 8....Who do we appreciate?!

Hudson has been playing flag football with a Christian organization out here. He's getting the hang of it and made some contact with the ball this past Saturday! Woo hoo! God's Warriors are undefeated! It's fun to watch the little ones in their uniforms....grabbing flags and running all different directions on the field! Bryson played last year, and so we thought we'd give it a go with Hudson this time around. We aren't convinced that this is "the sport" for him, but we are all having fun for now!

GO, God's Warriors!!!

On guard = sober + vigilant!!

A few weekends ago, I attended our church's Women's Retreat. What an incredible weekend it was!! I got to spend time in the Word....alongside many of my closest friends, at the Bible College in Murrieta. Laurie Cole was our guest speaker (so anointed)...and the Lord revealed some AMAZING things to me! I came back refreshed and renewed....

However....

Some of my friends and I decided to use our "free" time on Saturday afternoon to venture off of the {retreat} campus...and on over to the Temecula mall. We walked around (leisurely!!) for quite some time, before heading to dinner at the Lazy Dog Cafe. As we were walking toward one of my favorite restaurants....I was "busy"...talking to two of my friends. I walked straight into a 20-foot light pole- with my face! I didn't know what hit me....and I remember opening my eyes and everything was blurry. When I regained focus (in a matter of seconds)....I noticed a nearby cart vendor looking at me...and then all (four) of my friends came rushing toward me. I immediately started crying...and I looked at the two girls I had been talking to....

"Why didn't you tell me I was about to hit a pole?" was my teary-eyed question for them. Obviously, they didn't notice it either...and I later had to apologize for "blaming" them for my accident. My eye (right along my eyebrow bone) started to swell instantly...and my head and neck started to hurt worse than they did prior to the impact! I had already had a headache that day, and I had taken some aspirin a few hours before. One of my friends rushed ahead to the restaurant, to ask for some ice. I couldn't stop crying. It hurt quite a bit, and I was a little embarrassed. When we got to the restaurant, ice was waiting for me...but I was too embarrassed to sit at the table with it on my face...so I escaped to the bathroom- to ice my head and cry some more. I finally finished crying...and I was able to enjoy a yummy dinner with my sisters in Christ (who were all so helpful and sympathetic!).

Why tell you the story??? Well....though I am a college grad, I often have some pretty elementary analogies!!

Here's my "deep" thought for you:

We need to be on guard (paying attention)...all the time!

The Bible tells us- in John 10:10- that the enemy (that'd be satan) comes to steal and to kill and to destroy (us). If we are not paying attention and on guard, he will attack us. We can be totally caught off guard...and we can allow him to gain a foothold in our lives! We have to be on guard at all times. We have to be in the Word...seeking the Lord's will for our lives! We need to be in a constant attitude of prayer, gratitude, and worship. If we are not...the enemy can (and will) come along and, ever so slyly, attack us where he knows we are weak!

That day...I wasn't paying attention...and smack!....I walked right into that pole! It has been nearly two weeks, and the bruise is pretty much gone, while the bone is still a tad bit tender. The enemy can leave us reeling for weeks- after an attack. He can lead us into temptation, and then on into sin...if we are not careful. This is a warning....to anyone who is reading this!

Pray- all the time. Read God's Word and seek Him first. Gather with other believers. Serve the Lord by serving others. Stay connected to the body of Christ.

In 1 Peter 5:8, we are told....

"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour."

Don't get eaten! And...don't smack into a pole because you weren't paying attention and/or on guard! Maybe you need prayer for something....a sin you're thinking of committing (or recently have committed)....maybe you're being tempted and you can't see a way out and you're about to give in and give up....or maybe you're just walking along, doin' this thing called life...without Christ at your side! I would love to pray for you, or with you.

Email me: 2boys2love@gmail.com

see josh.

see josh swim.

see josh cycle.

see josh run.

see josh cross the finish line!

on september 25th, josh competed in a triathlon (his first one in over 17 years!). it was fun for us (the boys, my sis- kelly, and i) to go and watch him....and cheer him on.

about five months ago, josh bought a road bike, started donning (way too much) spandex, and began training for triathlons. many of josh's friends from church meet to cycle, swim, and/or run each week....and they all like to enter various competitions. josh has really been enjoying the training...and it gives him something to do for "fun."

we were all so proud of josh! he did a great job! he's competing again in the "turkey tri"...on 11/27/11...so he is training hard to beat his time from the sept. race!

*many of my friends run and compete as well...and my close friend, joanna, kept urging me to sign up for the turkey tri relay (where you make up a team of three and each person completes one leg of the triathlon). now, if you know me- you know that i haven't exercised since the 90's (except for a short stint back in '09)...so every time she'd say this to me- i'd laugh. real hard. well....she gave me some suggestions of friends to ask...and she kept prodding me (she sure is pushy :)!)...until...finally....i relented. turns out that kristi (yes, thats me) is signed up for the turkey tri! now i have about 7 weeks to train for a 4.5 mile run. should be real interesting!*