I heart Skype!

Ok...I know I am a little delayed when it comes to technology but I can't say enough about how much I love Skype.

The girls and I were able to "talk" with Mr A and my parents using Skype. Oh my goodness if you could have heard the girls yell "Daddy" when they saw him on the screen. Yes they are 15 and 12 but still screamed for their Dad. He has been in CA since the 13 of August and this is the longest he has been away! They were so happy to see him...so was I! :)

I love being able to see the family and see the house I grew up in the background. It was just cool. We talk on the phone every week but there is something about seeing the person that makes it that much more special.

We heart skype!

School has begun

It's that time again! Time for the school supply lists and packing up all of those items in a book bag that cringes due to the amount of stuff getting crammed in it.

This year, Ky is a sophomore in high school. Where does the time go? It is crazy how fast time flies. She has a crazy semester again. 1) Honors Composition, 2) Honors Civics and Economics, 3) Spanish 1, and 4) Honors Algebra 2. She loves the pressure and is excited about the classes for the most part.

My only complaint so far - due to budget cuts she has 2 temporary contract teachers. One for Honors Comp and the other for Spanish 1. The sad thing is the Spanish 1 teacher doesn't even know Spanish. Seriously!!! How can you put someone in to teach Spanish who doesn't know Spanish. We are hoping that things will work out. They are hoping to have a permanent teacher in sometime in the next 3 weeks to 3 months. Thank goodness I have taken 3 years of Spanish and kept some of my old books. I am teaching her a lot more at home then she is getting so far in class. Ky says there is a boy in class who is helping the teacher with her pronunciation.

AJ is starting 7th grade. Her class load is pretty standard with the exception of her electives - chorus and band. She had chorus last year and absolutely loved it so that I am not worried about. The band on the other hand is a sore subject in our house. Ky took band in 6th and half of 7th grade. The teacher was the biggest jerk of all time! She stuck it out and we are proud of her for following through. We made a decision that AJ wouldn't take band due the issues we had previously.

However, when we saw her schedule band was there. Luckily the teacher has changed and this teacher seems very happy to teach and pretty enthusiastic which is a happy change from the previous teacher. The bad thing is due to our financial situation the rental of an instrument is some thing we really have to think about. Unfortunately there are no other classes for her to transfer into. This was her absolute last choice on her electives but all the other elective classes are completely full that they are forcing kids to take band and chorus because those are the two classes that still have room. We might just have to bit the bullet and get her an instrument for now and see what might open next semester.

The bonus for AJ is she only has 1 teacher that Ky had in middle school. I like that AJ has been able to have other teachers than what Ky had. That way there is no preconceived ideas about AJ or comparisons to Ky. They are both great students but their personalities and learning styles are so different to compare them would be an injustice to them both.

As they walked out of the house this morning my only regret was I didn't take picture for the first day. Mr. A has the camera in CA and I didn't feel like trying to find the girls cameras or take photos on my phone. I have a standard cell phone and the photos are pretty much junk!

No photos for their memory books but the memories will always remain in my mind and heart.

Exotic food weekend

This weekend was a fun one with my girls. We chilled out since this was the last weekend before school started.

The weekend started on Friday night with Ky having band practice with the youth department. AJ and I headed to the grocery store to pick up some things to get through the next week. When we got back to pick her up, the group had decided to go out for ice cream after rehearsal. Talk about fun! We had fun coversations with friends, a nice evening and the best ice cream. I had Graham Station - Graham cracker ice cream with chunks of graham cracker and chocolate pieces. AJ had white turtle - vanilla ice cream, pecans, carmel with white and dark chocolate. I don't even remember what Ky had but it was good too! Update: Ky had Butter Pecan! My classic girl through and through!

Saturday night we decided to have Indian food. We found some naan and other Indian food items at Trader Joes. Let me say, it was so yummy! We ate our food while watching our favorite Bollywood movie - Bride and Predjudice. That was so much fun and something we will definitely do it again!

On Sunday, we decided to do sushi. Ky had been looking forward to this for awhile. AJ wasn't as excited until we told her she could have something else other than sushi. She settled on Sesame Chicken while Ky and I did a sushi plate special. It was the chef's choice of 5 pieces of negri. Luckily it was all stuff we had tried before and liked. We left stuffed and were so happy that we were able to do that as a special treat!

We had such a fun weekend eating our way through it. I can't wait to do some of these things again. I am so happy that my girls aren't picky for the most part and are willing to try new things. I am so thankful for their adventurous spirits with life!

Sings my soul Saturdays - Beautiful

This song is by an amazing worship band called Unhindered. If you haven't found them, do so! You will be so blessed! They are just passionate about Our Savior and passionate about worshipping Him. Their latest album is BE. Definitely a must have! Hope you enjoy this song.

Another update on Jonah

This is the best update of all!

Jonah is home resting comfortably in his own bed as of Friday, August 20th! The doctors were so pleased with his progress that they let him go home!

How awesome is that! A little over a week and a half after having a major surgery - a kidney transplant no less - and the sweet boy is now home with his family.

We serve an miraculous Savior! I am in awe of this whole situation.

Just had to come by and share the news. Thanks for all of your prayers.

Quick update on Jonah

Look who is doing so much better!

He has been moved out of ICU. He is slowly gaining back his strength. Mr. A says that he is a hit with all of his nurses (he always has been a little flirt!)

He will be in the hospital a little while longer to monitor everything and get his parents trained on how to live with a child who has had a transplant. They have to be extremely careful with him for the next 3 months. No rough housing, jumping, falling, etc. All I have to say is good luck with a 2 year old!

Continue to pray that there is no rejection of his kidney and for wisdom and understanding for his parents as they learn all the new medications and procedures needed to help him in his new life.

On behalf of the family, we thank you so much for all of you who have been praying for this sweet boy! We love this kid so much and wish you could all meet him. He would have you a putty in his little hands within seconds.

Updates on Jonah

Jonah is doing amazing! He is a living miracle. Mr. A got out to CA on Friday and they had started bringing him out of sedation. Mr. A was able to hang out and help the nurses which made him feel very useful already.

Saturday was a huge day - his breathing tube was removed. HOORRAAY! He is breathing on his own and was able to be out of sedation totally. Poor kid looked extremely confused as to what had happened but was doing remarkable.

By yesterday (Monday) he was already standing with assistance and playing with his toys. I know people say that kids bounce back quickly, but I know that everyones prayers have helped to. We serve an awesome, mighty Healer!

I haven't heard anything recently but it is just a matter of time before this precious boy is able to be back home with his family. I will keep everyone posted on the progress as I hear it.

Keep praying that there will not be any rejection of the kidney or complications.

Thank you for your prayers!

Pajama Day with the girls

Have you ever had one of those days where you are just a total bum? We are having one of those days today. I asked the girls what they wanted to do and they wanted to chill. Not like they haven't been chilling all summer but I get it. Mr. A's away and it is just the three of us. We decided let's make it a chill day and be couch bums.

We caught up on a few shows, watched a couple of movies and just hung out under some blankets in our pjs. I love being able to just hang out with my girls. No crazy agendas, no big projects, just a chill time before school starts. I think we all needed this day to just be bums.

These are memories I will treasure. Just me and my girls hanging out, laughing and discuss movies, just being still and enjoying each others company.

Sings my Soul Saturdays - All in the Serve -

I chose this video today because my girls and I watched the movie "Second Chances" and this is song is from the soundtrack. When KA heard the song in the credits stated that this is one of her favorite by Michael W. Smith. Personally I love this movie and if you haven't watched it, it is a must see.

The movie shows what is our family's heart cry. It is all about serving those around you. Being Jesus to those who don't know Him. Living our lives as daily sacrifices for him. This is why our family's blog is titled "Our Adventurous Life." We are choosing to live our lives as God's hands and feet to the world around us.

Enjoy the song that includes clips from the movie "Second Chances."

Prayer for Jonah

This beautiful blue-eyed babe is my nephew Jonah, Mr. A's sister's son. This gorgeous kid has had a rough life. I blogged about his birth and what a roller coaster that was. Just after his 1st birthday, he was diagnosed with Denys-Drash Syndrome and which affects his kidneys. He had to have his kidneys removed in December 2009 so they would not start forming cancerous tumors, which is a side effect of Denys-Drash Syndrome.

We have been waiting for a match for him. The family got tested and his father was a match and began the process of getting everything done to get ready for donation. We finally had a date, August 18th for the transplant. Mr A booked his tickets to leave on the 13th to hang out with everyone prior to surgery and be there as both his nephew and brother-in-law go in for surgery.

HOWEVER….we serve a big GOD and yesterday morning, they received a phone call that a match had been found. Jonah had been on a donor list since his kidneys were removed but nothing had ever come up which is why his father was going to do it. Some one had passed away and was a match for Jonah. Then began the mass scramble of things.

WELL…he has his new kidney. Surgery went well. Doctors could not be more pleased with how well it went. I cannot say how happy I am for this family. They have been through some roller coaster events this last year so this was so worth it all.

Now we need to pray for a speedy recovery! He will be sedated for 2-3 days while his little body begins to heal. Then it is a matter of time to get him home. Mr. A is still heading out as planned and going to hang out and do whatever he can.

Please continue to pray for the Loader family, Jonah, Dwayne and Katherine. Pray for financial peace, healing and no rejection of the kidneys. Please pray for the family who lost their family member so Jonah could have life. What a selfless gift in a horrible time. I cannot say thank you enough to this family.

Mountain top experience vs our valleys

I heard this on the radio recently and it struck me in the heart. I have never heard it explained this way but it something my heart has been clinging to.

We all long for those mountain top experiences. You know the ones like where you go to camp and you "meet" God. You have such a peace, a fire, a renewal. You are so "high" on God that you are on the top of the world (or top of a mountain).

Then there are the times were you don't know what is going on. Things just aren't working, God seems distant, life just keeps coming at you and you grow weary. We "Christians" call this "our valley". We long for our mountain top when we are in our valleys times.

But if we stop and look around at the top of the mountain, there is nothing growing. At times there is nothing there but snow. No trees, plants, just rocks. If you look around, it is pretty bare compared to the valleys. The valleys are full of growth - trees, flowers, grass are all in bloom. Life is growing in the valleys.

It is in "our valleys" where we grow. God is pruning, seeding, growing our faith and belief during these times. We cannot grow on the mountain top. It is a moment in time to meet Him.

But it is in the valleys where we grow! Our faith becomes in bloom. The roots of our faith can grow deeper into the rich soil of these times.

While we may long for the top of the mountain, let's not forget the beauty of God in the valley!

Being at peace with where God has me

As I sit here and write, one of my best friends is making her self comfortable "at home" in CA. This is the third of my friends who have moved back to California in the last year. There were a lot of us who made a mass exodus from California about 6 years ago or shortly there before. Many of us were called to by God to move to other areas. Others moved for economic reasons. California is just so darn expense to live in. I had heard that growing up but it isn't until you leave and live somewhere else that you see just how expensive it really is.

As I talked to her while they were driving cross country it kind of made me home sick. She was talking about some of the places she wanted to take her kids and have them experience. Places we hung out and have memories of. Another of my friends who moved back within the last year was posting pictures on her blog of their stay-cation. They were just hanging out and being tourist in our hometown. I found myself longing to do that with my girls. Wanting my girls to experience some of the places, things and sights that my husband and I experienced growing up.

I guess it's not helping that right now I am in a funk. Things aren't bad, there is just a lot of stuff going on financially, spiritually and emotionally that sometimes you want to go back to what you know, what you are comfortable with. I will admit there have been times I have longed to go back to CA. Most of those times are when I am missing family or when an event is happening and I know there is no possible way to be there.

The grass is always greenier on the other side. The logical and practical side of me knows that nothing would really change or be better if we moved home. Same problems, prettier location to have them in. We would have family close and that is always a bonus. But when it comes to friends, I was the first in my group of friends to have kids. All of the girlfriends I mentioned have young kids. Kids that are infants or that have barely started elementary school while my kids are in high school and middle school. It's not like we wouldn't have things to discuss because we do, it is just we are in different phases in our lives.

So I just have to be thankful for where God has placed me. I can't be moving forward if I am constantly looking back. God has brought us to this place for a reason. There are times we scratch our head and wonder because we haven't seen "it" - the reason for coming. God has shown us little things along the way to confirm that this is where He wants us for now. Until God shows or provides another way, home is here. Home is where my God and my family are.

Love of musicals

Ok...one of the blogs I follow is a friend of mine, Nancy Ray Photography. Recently she posted that she is in love with the classics. I couldn't agree with that more. She was absolutely made for another time where women wore tailored suits, white gloves and beautiful hats. She has a sophistocated grace about her. Classic, elegant and beautiful. I love that woman!

She got me thinking. I love, love, love the fashion of the 1940's. There is something so beautiful to me about that decade. I know we had a war going on and things were bad but there was something so beautiful how people came together to help each other. People became creative, inventative and resourceful with what they had. Maybe I have watched too many hours of old war movies.

I too love another era - the era where musicals reigned supreme. I could watch some of these musicals over and over. I absolutely love Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. I also love Showboat, Kiss Me Kate, State Fair, Oklahoma and so many others. Every Christmas season we have White Christmas playing while we put up our Christmas tree. There is something about a classic musical - the outfits are to die for, the men are handsome, the women are beautiful and built like "normal" women of all shapes and sizes and the added bonus the songs are songs that you will find your self humming days after you have watched.

The best part is my girls now have a love for musicals. They love these classics as I do but have started expanding into modern day versions of musicals. Their new love - Bollywood musicals.

As cheesy as they can be, we find ourselves trying to sing along. The best thing about most Bollywood movies is they are extremely clean by today's standards. There is not a lot of language or sex. For the most part it reminds me of some of the classic musicals from yesterday. I love that this is something we can all share together. I love that the girls can watch something and for the most part not have to worry about the content.

If you haven't watched any musicals or any Bollywood musicals, give them a try.

Sing My Soul Saturday - If We've Ever Needed You

This song is amazing and so true for today! I have it playing on my MP3 all the time.

How much more?!

Back in January, I blogged about My One Word. I mentioned that my word for 2010 was trust. I knew that word was going to mean stretching beyond my comfort level but I am to the point of "How much more?"

I know a woman who when asked how she is doing will reply everytime "Blessed. Blessed. I am blessed." Sometimes I want to just say "Really?! How is that possible? You can't feel blessed all the time. How do you really feel?" I say this all because right now I don't feel blessed. I feel scared. I am angry. I am confused. I am so done with it all.

I mean I know I am blessed - I have my health, my family, a job, a house...I am blessed. Just sometimes when you are faced with bills, appointments, uncertainity...you really don't feel blessed.

I know it is more of a mental thing. I need to believe that things will be better than they are right now. I need to get it into the marrow of my bones so it becomes a part of my being.

I am blessed.
I am loved.
I am His.
I can trust Him.

More milestones - Drivers Ed

To even think that I have a child who is old enough to get her drivers permit is scary! But the truth is smacking me in the face today as my oldest, Ky, is heading to her first day of driver's ed. Luckily for her the classroom portion will be over by the end of the week. Then comes the best part for her and the true test of patience on our end - behind the wheel training.

I let her try and move my car once from one side of an empty parking lot to the other side with me in the car. I thought "how bad can this really be?!" Good gravy, she freaked me out! I told her to slowly put her foot on the gas. I don't know what she heard but it was like Dale Earnhart took over her body. She floored it and took off. All I could see was a telephone pole heading closer to my side of the vehicle. I screamed, "Take your foot off the gas!" After that she was only allowed to steer the vehicle from place to place. Yes, it may have taken us 5 minutes to get from one side of the parking lot to the other but at least I wasn't worried about my life.

Luckily for us, the school will give her behind the wheel training at some point in the next few months. Unfortunately her drivers ed teacher is also the HS football coach. With football season just around the corner, his time is extremely limited to do behind the wheel training. It could be November before she actually has time in the car with the instructor. I guess that means at some point we will take her out and let her get more familiar with everything. There is no reason to have her freaked out with an instructor yelling at her. At least she is used to us yelling!