~ Happy Birthday Nani ~

I know I have posted about my grandma before, but I cannot let her birthday go by without wishing her a Very Happy Birthday. It is these days that make it hard to live away from family. I am thankful for pictures and phone calls, but I am anxious for the day I get to have a real genuine hug from one of the people who means the very most to me, My Nani. I love you and hope you have a very happy birthday and know that you are in our hearts and loved more than you could ever imagine.

PS. Thank you Auntie Connie for the pictures. I will post for Kelley and the newest member of our family, her husband Gregg later.

~ Christmas Time ~

One of my favorite things about Christmas is the cards. I love seeing how everyone has grown and changed, how the Lord has worked in their lives, and all the news from the last year. I love catching up with friends and sharing our lives together if only in a glimpse.

I want to wish all our family and friends a very Happy New Year and to say that we love you all very much, from our Parents, Sisters, Brothers, Nieces and Nephews, Grandparents, Aunts and Uncles, Cousins, " Our Kids, "and all of our friends you are thought of daily. Thank you for all of your love and support. You are all our gifts from the Lord and we can never fully communicate how much each one of you means to us. We pray that this coming year the Lord will reveal Himself to you in ways that will grow your faith beyond what you can imagine, and that your lives will be full of His Joy, Peace, and Love. Know you are always in our hearts and prayers.

I have decided that this coming year I want to use my blog as a way to thank the different people in my life that have made such a difference. So for all my friends and family don't be surprised to find your name as one of my next headings.

We were just blessed with a visit from my family. It's been 9 months since I last saw my dad, sister, and brother, and 3 since mom's last visit, so it was a great way to spend the Christmas holiday, catching up.

As you can see from all the pictures we had a great time, from eating ribs at the river walk to taking in the shows at Sea World, it was a great time. We love you all and hope you have a wonderful New Year. To our families, we wish we were with you all tonight and know that our hearts are with you and our tummies as you eat all the snack food our family does so well.

Daddy, thanks for taking the pictures. Love you all!!!!!

~ Blessed ~

I have to admit that right now life is absolutely wonderful. Tim and I spent the day putting up Christmas lights. Actually Tim put up the lights while I ran back and forth to the stores exchanging all the lights I bought wrong. Eventually we got all the right ones and they are now up and beautiful. I love Christmas time in general, but tonight I am feeling especially happy and blessed. As I sit and write this my husband is in the living room writing a song, the cat is asleep on the bed after her 2 minutes of petting when she heard the computer clicks, and Maggie is asleep on my feet. Life can be so peaceful.

The other night Tim took me Christmas shopping which for him is a true act of love. He didn't complain or drift once while I wandered the isles not quite sure what I was looking for but knowing I would know it when I saw it. We finished half of my list which was wonderful since this year I am determined to get everything shipped on time and not at the last second like usual. What a blessing to be married to and loved by a such a Godly man.

Last night we took Maggie, who loves going for a ride, out and looked at the Christmas lights. That is one of my favorite Christmas activities. Daddy and Mom always used to take us out a few times during the season to view all the lights around town. We have finished each night watching our favorite Christmas movies. Tonight will be "It's a Wonderful Life."

As I go through these days of the holiday season remembering all the wonderful memories and traditions from my childhood and the new traditions and memories my husband and I are making, I am truly thankful for all the blessing God has brought into my life. The small ones and the big ones. The Bible tells us that " All good gifts come from above." Thank you Lord for your many gifts. I am truly blessed.

~ Super Woman ~

With today being her special day I thought I would take a few moments to share with you a woman who most in our family refer to as Superwoman. Our very own Auntie Connie.

Auntie Connie has always been the kind of aunt who makes you want to be better, who makes sure you know you are loved, and is always there. Whether it's watching you walk down a church in a huge pink book costume, cleaning your bedroom because it is messier than the city dump, doing your hair and make up for what ever special day you may be having, listening with care to the life of a teenager who needs a few words of advice, taking off an entire day of work to make sure your wedding day is special, or any one of the many other ways she shows her love, there is only one word for it : Blessing.

Auntie Connie is a woman, who even though she may be tough on herself, makes everyone around her feel safe, enough, loved, and better. She is as beautiful on the inside as on the outside, truly a "woman after God's own heart." I know I gravitate toward her simply because she leaves you feeling happy and loved. She also happens to be one of the most talented women around. I have yet to see her try her hand at something and not be absolutely great at it. She is one of the people who make our family complete and I want her to know that she has been a special blessing in my life and I am so grateful for her and thankful for a future with her in it.

I hope that my own nieces and nephews get to feel the love and acceptance that you have always shown me. After all, you are one of the ones that taught me how to be an aunt and I can't think of a better mentor. I know Uncle Joe was blessed the day he found you and we were blessed the day he brought you into our family. I love you Auntie Connie, have a special birthday filled with wonderful memories to treasure.

~ The Gift of a Hug ~

Today we can " reach out and touch someone" with the touch of a button. I love reading blogs to keep up with family and friends, checking facebook to see new pictures, getting emails and phone calls, and while I love the fact I can keep in touch with those I love, I miss the warmth of a hug that I can't feel through the phone line. Last weekend we had some wonderful friends come for an unexpected visit. I loved seeing the smiles, feeling the touch of a hug, hearing the stories, and enjoying awesome ribs from the Roadhouse and fabulous steaks grilled to perfection by my husband, along with lots of laughter ( and an occasional soft whine from Maggie who was hoping someone would share with her).

It made me stop and ponder ....

I love that God loves us enough to give us His word to read and follow, but He doesn't stop with that. He actually reaches down and gives a personal touch to His children, whether through a sunrise or sunset, a friend He prompts to reach out, a miracle that only He can arrange, or one of the many other ways that he reaches our hearts.

Please don't get me wrong, I love receiving phone calls, emails, letters, and the rest, but I hope that we don't forget just how important the human touch is. I am amazed at just what that touch can bring. The right touch filled with love can turn an insecure teen into a teen who knows he matters, it can take an abandoned child who feels worthless and help her know she is valued by the King of Kings who made her himself, it can take a widowed woman without a family and bring her into an adoptive family that God chose, and it can take days that seem lonely and remind us that we are not alone. I am convinced that God has given us the calling of being his hands to a world that is lonely and to bring hope to those who need His gentle touch of love.

One of my favorite quotes is from Linda Smith who founded the ministry Shared Hope Int., which brings little girls around the world out of brothels and into loving families with a future full of hope. "Touch them for me." God gave her the call to touch these girls for Him and the change that it brings is amazing. One of the encouraging things to me is that He doesn't stop there, He loves all his children and wants each of us to know how much we matter and how great His love is for us. He allows us to be a part of this mission to the world and each other.

I plan to continue to keep a blog, email friends, call family, and enjoy reading your blogs, emails, and hearing from you, but I am going to remember that a hug is a very amazing gift to be shared and treasured. So when I see my family and friends next, remember I will be looking for those hugs, and until then I will hug those that God puts in my path to share His love with.

~ My Puppy~

I thought I would share some pictures of my favorite puppy, Maggie. She is my companion during the day and I thought I would share her friendly face with you. I know I will be posting more pictures of her as time goes on.

~Our Kids~

Today as I sit and think about life I am so grateful for the blessings that the Lord has brought. Some of them have not been given the way that I thought or originally would have asked for, but I would not change any of them for the world.


Tim and I have been married for 11 yrs and as of today God has not brought children that share our dna into our home. However, He has brought many who share our hearts. It is truly a blessing from the Lord to have children, I have often watched mom's with their kids and thought what a special and wonderful gift. I used to even sometimes feel less than because I didn't have that special relationship. Today however, after many years of growing our family and watching "our kids" ( they know who they are ) grow we truly feel blessed beyond words.

This year one of our kids called to wish me a Happy Mother's Day and even though she has a wonderful mom, she wanted to thank me for loving her and being her " second mom." As I hung up the phone I sat and cried as I thanked the Lord for giving me such wonderful relationships with so many young and special "kids". I am also eternally grateful for all the parents that have so unselfishly shared their children with Tim and I. I know in my heart that as these kids continue to grow into beautiful adults and begin their own families, we will continue to be blessed by sharing in these moments with them.

All in all sometimes prayers are not answered the way that we originally want, but I am finally learning to trust that God truly does have my best in His Heart and that always it is a blessing I could never have imagined myself. Someday the Lord may bring children that share our dna and that will be an additional blessing, but I want all "our kids" to know that they will always share Our Hearts. We love you all and you are the answer to many of our prayers. Anywhere life takes you know you are never more than a phone call away and you are always in our hearts, thoughts, and prayers.



PS. These are some pictures of our kids, not all are pictured, but they are all loved and in our hearts just the same.

Family

Today I was in Subway and I overheard two women chatting about their mother in laws. They were complaining about the way they are treated by them. It started my thinking about my own mother in law.

The first time I met her she walked up gave me a huge hug and from that moment on I was one of her children. I am so blessed to be loved and accepted by her. As a matter of fact I have never heard anything uncomplimentary toward any of her sons or daughters in law from her. I know I have some huge footprints to walk in, but I wouldn't have it any other way. Thanks mom for all your love and acceptance. I Love You!

~ Nani ~

The other night Tim and I were watching The Andy Griffith show (which is a regular in our home) and we started talking about Aunt Bea. I know she is a make believe character, but we decided that everyone needs an Aunt Bea in their life. As we were discussing this, I realized I already have one. To be more exact she is a perfect blend of Aunt Bea, Mrs. Clause, and Donna Reed. However, she is known to all of us as Nani. As I look back over my life I realize that she has always been their with a loving smile, a warm encouragement, a welcoming hug, and always a fresh baked goodie or two. Whenever I think about Nani a smile comes to my face. She is one of the most loving, giving, and wonderful women I have met and I have the privilege of being her granddaughter.

Nani - it's amazing how one person can mean so much to so many. She is the heart of our family and I know that each person, whether related by blood or by love, is blessed to have her in their life and on their side. All my life she has been one of my greatest sources of comfort and love, from laying my head in her lap as a little girl , to skipping school to hang out with her, to the way she welcomed my husband into the family and loves him simply because he loves me, to chatting with her on the phone today from 2000 miles away and feeling the warmth from here, I know I am loved more than I can imagine. I hope that she knows how much she is loved by all of us ( in our family that is quite a few).

All of my life I have been told how much I resemble my grandma from her pictures over the years and I consider myself blessed. I hope that as I continue to grow I begin to resemble her in spirit too.


I love you Nani more than I can express, I am thankful for your love, support, prayers, spirit, grace, and the example you have set. You are truly one of my greatest blessings and a gift from the Lord.

~ SeaWorld ~

This weekend Tim and I went to one of my absolute favorite places, Sea World. I love walking around watching the dolphins, sea lions, orcas, and the kids as they look at these magnificent creatures. I love watching their faces as they touch the dolphins for the first time or watch the sea lions do their tricks. This trip however I had an experience I think that will rank as one of my favorite. I often watch the orca whales and marvel at their power and strength and at the same time their gentleness and grace. I know that God must have had fun creating these beautiful creatures, I know I could sit and watch them all day.




Sunday we were sitting behind a family on their first trip to Sea World and you could see the excitement on the parents faces, the kids on the other hand didn't look all that excited. The boys were young, about 4 yrs and under a year. The music started and the older son looked on with curiosity until Shamu made the first jump into the air. Both boys faces lit up and for 20 minutes they both sat and watched every move Shamu made. To watch the wonder on the little guys faces made me think about all the first experiences in life and I am once again so grateful for our creator who made all of these things for our enjoyment. I hope that one day these little guys grow to know Our Creator too. Thank you Lord.

~Family~

I just received a package from my mom and am once again reminded what a blessing family can be. We have been in Texas for 2 1/2 years and every now and then I get a little homesick. I love Texas, but I think Washington will always be home in my mind. I am so grateful for technology that allows us to keep in contact with each other. My sister always lifts my spirits, my brother keeps me in the know as to what is cool ( currently High School Musical) and makes me smile, my mom always reminds me how much I am loved, and my dad, just the sound of his voice and laugh brings such comfort ( and sometimes a few tears). It is amazing to me how we could all come from the same home and yet God has created us all so differently. One thing that is the same though is that through thick and thin we all love each other and are no more that a phone call away. I love you all. Thank you for loving me. I am going to go have the scone my mom just shipped me from the Puyallup fair. ( Yes, I know I am spoiled. Thanks Mom!)

Starting Out

Hi! This is the first time I have done this, but I have enjoyed my Aunt's blog, so I thought I would try one of my own. I think it will be neat to write down some of my thoughts and experiences. I have also heard that sometimes you can find support for things in your life. I am excited to see what happens.

I will start out with a small tidbit about me. I am 31 years old and have been married to the love of my life, Tim, for 11 of those years. He is my prince charming. I also have a cat named Grace and a 7 month old Golden Retriever named Maggie. We moved here to the San Antonio area a little over two years ago. We left the Seattle area where I had lived my whole life and came south. It was an emotional and exciting journey. God was so faithful during the whole move. My husband has asthma and needed a warmer climate, so we sold our home in Washington, loaded everything in a moving van ( which Tim drove, I drove our truck with the dog we had then in the back- a 100lb rottweiler named Ben), and headed south. We had never been here before, but the Lord went before us as always and within 3 weeks of leaving our home in Washington, we were moved into our home here in Texas. I miss everyone back home, but I absolutely love Texas. I love being a follower of Christ and watching Him guide, direct, and work in my life.

Well I guess for now I will take a break, but am looking forward to writing more fun tidbits later.
Talk to y'all soon!