Be Adventurous!

Follow our family on our daily adventure on this thing called "life" as we try to be God's hands and feet to the world around us. Matthew 28:19-20







Friday, February 29, 2008

Pictures I promised

Here are the pictures I promised two weeks ago or so from the Kid's Worship Explosion (see entry from Feb 11th - Fun Weekend). Here is AJ doing the human video to Stacie Orrico's "In your shoes." They learned this human video with dance moves in about 2 1/2 to 3 hours. They did awesome! Sorry some of them are blurry. The lighting was low and the kids were moving a lot even with my action setting on my camera.


Working the dance floor



She was rocking it!


Introducing herself

Thursday, February 28, 2008

Need a house?

This will be our miracle this year! (See post below).

We have had our house on the market since June 07. We are trying to move closer to the church where we attend and serve. Right now it takes us about 45 minutes to get there. This has made it hard for us to connect on some levels as we are so far away from the community and people we are trying to reach. We know this is what we are suppose to do so it hasn't been a question of is this right, but at times the commute gets old.

We are on our second real estate agent and no bites. We have had a few lookers - 8 in 8 months - but no luck. We have done everything we can to make it appealing, but I know the market isn't the greatest.

However, I have a God who is the greatest despite the market. I have a God who cares about the stress that this is putting on us. I have a God who is in control when everything else doesn't seem to be. I know that God's timing is perfect despite my inpatience.

But is it a lack of faith and trust when we continue to pray and ask? Or is it obedience because we are asking and trusting when we could try to do it on our own? This is something I go back and forth on all the time.

For now, I continue to ask. I trust that it is going to happen when it is suppose to happen and believe that it will be soon.

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

2008 the year for miracles

Our church started off the year like most with prayer and fasting. Our prayers were like many of the prayers being lifted up in churches around the US - for the election, for our communities, for our families and for revival.

We are a small congregation (6 families strong) so when someone is in need, we all know it. For being a small church we had some big needs - jobs, financial help, health, family issues, etc. Our pastor encouraged us to begin praying and believing for miracles. He felt like this year was going to be a year where we would see miracles happen.

So far, I can say God is a miracle worker! Since the beginning of January, we have had:

  • A job offer come in after 7 months of no luck
  • A business given - yes - just given to a family
  • Relationships restored between family members
  • Protection from an accident that could have been fatal
God answers prayers! He is faithful!

Do you still believe He can do anything? I do.
I am believing for many more miracles to happen this year. What about you?

Friday, February 15, 2008

Valentine's Day = Pizza and a movie

Well, I am glad I don't take Valentine's Day too seriously!

Mr. A & his dad got stuck at the VA until after 6 pm yesterday. They went in around 11 am. They had to review his chart, do a CT scan and on and on and on. Poor Mr. A & his dad didn't even have lunch. Mr. A said they got something out of the vending machines at one point...M&M's, a pop-tart and some kind of granola bar made of pretzels!?

He was the one going to pick up the flank steak w/mushrooms so when he called at 4:45 and said that they were still waiting for something, I knew I needed to just call in for delivery. Hello Papa Johns?! Pizza was delivered, sodas and chocolate lava cake mix was picked up and home I went.

He called around 6:15 and said they were on their way to the parking garage. Mr. A & his dad didn't make it home until after 7 as the VA hospital is at least 45 minutes away from our house. They had microwaved pizza as it had been delivered an hour before. I didn't make the lava cakes as they need to be eaten right out of the oven to have the desired effects. Oh well...the girls and I had a blast watching movies and eating hot pizza.

I hope your Valentine's day was memorable for the right reasons! I love the quote that won on my friend (Christelle) Beloved Mama's blogspot contest http://www.belovedmama.blogspot.com/. It was about "Embracing the moment." I love that!

It isn't always about the special days, but about the every day moments that we need to grasp on to and treasure! Those goofy times where everyone is laughing but they don't remember why they started laughing in the first place. The cuddle times on the couch when your teenager wants you to play with her hair as she lays her head on your lap. The winks in the kitchen as you and your husband pass each other for the 100th time that day with out being able to stop and talk. Those are all embraceable, irreplaceable moments.

If you haven't had any moments to embrace or treasure today, try and create one with those you love. It might be acting goofy with your kids and seeing the laughter in their eyes, it might be gentle touch between you and your child or you and your spouse, or it might be calling someone you haven't in a while and hearing the smile in their voice as your begin to catch up.

I am going to make it a point to have an embraceable moment with my family - treasuring the small things and letting go of the stuff that isn't important.

Thursday, February 14, 2008

Happy Valentine's Day!

Valentine's cards, candy, flowers, red, pink, white....all of these say that today is Valentine's Day.

My husband & I don't really get into the whole Valentine's Day "thing." The restaurants are too crowded, flowers are over-priced and the last thing I need is more candy (although a little today wouldn't hurt :)! I know we sound like Valentine's Day Scrooges but the hype is so big it can actually be disappointing.

Not to say we don't celebrate...the girls still take V-day cards to school along with candy. I usually get a card for each of the girls and try to put it somewhere in there bags where they will find it later during the school day. Then for dinner we usually do something at home for the whole family. We usually cook something that we don't have often - steak or some type of special seafood. Then we usually watch a movie as a family and have a fun dessert.

Well today we are suppose to have this flank steak that is rolled up with portabello mushrooms in it. We get it from Costco and it is so good. I think I might stop by the store and pick up those chocolate lava cakes. We had them one year for Thanksgiving when it was just the 4 of us. They are awesome! I can't wait.

Mr. A has to take his dad to the hospital today to get him signed up with the VA out here and do a re-check from the accident. Hopefully it won't take all day.

For everyone else, I hope your Valentine's Day is a blessed one! Spend it with some one you love - your spouse, your children, your parents, your animals, or better yet your Savior!

Have you told God you loved him recently?

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Most awesome thought

I heard this on the radio today...I am claiming it as my quote for 2008 (and life).

"Don't tell God how big the storm is.
Tell the storm how big God is."

Isn't that awesome!

God is so much bigger than anything I am facing.

Monday, February 11, 2008

Fun weekend

The girls and I had a fun weekend. We went with some of our kids from Adventure Life to the Kids Ablaze Worship Explosion on Friday and Saturday. It was for students who wanted to learn more about different types of worship and avenues to express their creativity. Friday night was more of a get to know what is going on and Saturday was all the practical hands on learning.

The worship was extremely fun. I have been singing "Big God-O" for the last few days. We were able to dance, sing, jump around and have a blast worshiping. I know the kids have missed it too. At Adventure Life the kids are in with us during worship, but there is something about singing songs with goofy actions yet still having a great message.

On Friday night, Randy Thompson did a great talk about the kids not have a "small attitude." Just because they are kids does not mean they cannot do great things for God and the kingdom. It was really good.

Saturday we were able to go to our groups - KA and I went to clowning/balloon sculpture and AJ went to Drama I. KA and I learned how to make balloon hearts, dogs and swords and AJ learned a human video where she was the lead.

After both the morning and afternoon sessions, they had a showcase for all the parents and family to come see what had happened. Let me tell you our kids rocked it. Some of the kids from Adventure Life were in the black light puppetry group. That was awesome! It looked like a ride at Disneyland with all the characters dancing and singing.

But the highlight was watching AJ as the lead in the human video. SHE ROCKED IT! WOW! I was blown away. This song was perfect for her and she was amazing. I just wished we had a video camera because it was amazing. I have lots of pictures which I will have to post later.

If you ever have the chance to go to the worship explosion done by Kids Ablaze, it is well worth it!

Friday, February 8, 2008

"You told me to get home"

Imagine my surprise this morning when I heard the alarm on my house go off at 4:30. I ran to the staircase and there stood my husband. I said I loved him and he replied "You told me to get home." Mr. A & his dad had driven straight through from Shreveport, LA to home in about 20 hours.

This week has been really hard on me. The girls have had issues at school (big trouble), our home computer crashed, work has been the most intense it has been in awhile and it just has taken its toll. I had let him know that.

I am thankful I have a husband who knew I was at the end of my rope and drove almost a full 24 hours to come home and make sure we saw him. I am thankful that my husband and his father are home safely. I am thankful that everything is as back to normal as possible (for now). I am so thankful for God having His hand on this whole thing.

Monday, February 4, 2008

Carolina on my mind

Well huge praise, Mr. A's dad was released from the hospital this afternoon and cleared for travel. They are hoping to make it to Tucson by tonight. Hopefully things will go a lot smoother than yesterday. They have a new mini-van all loaded up and are going to be on the road for the next couple of days.

Sunday, February 3, 2008

What I was dreading

Well what I was dreading happened today. Mr. A & his father were in an accident. For those of you who know San Diego, they weren't even out of El Cajon yet. Apparently some guy rear-ended them pretty bad. He said that the car window in the back of th mini-van was totally blown out and the back of the car was shoved in about two feet.

Unfortunately, my father-in-law hurt his head and had to be taken to the hospital so it doesn't look like they are leaving California today.

I am finding out more as the day continues.