365-110 & 111

Seriously? Those are the most beautiful ears in the world! You have to see me sometimes with them...I'm like the Italian mother that squeezes their cheeks in awe of how stinkin cute they are....Wait! I am that Italian Mother....LOL!

365-109

I don't know what kind of plant, flower, or bush, this is but I think it's pretty cool looking!! Any dibs on what it is?

Always an Adventure!

So again we went on the same hike as Friday, yet this day was exceptionally different.  I was accompanied by my BFF, her kids, their grandma, a friend, and my BFF’S pastor’s wife and her kids…My husband was able to come along this time…Blessing…It’s so funny to me how he can hang with a bunch of woman and still take hold of his manhood…Although, he did walk a quarter mile ahead of us…Ha!

The adventure for the day was to get to the waterfall again for swimming… Everyone was ready to go with their swimsuits until we got out of the car… It was a wind storm waiting for us…We were wrapping the towels around us that were supposed to be used for drying our kids off, because the wind made it chilly…Really it wasn’t that bad it was only about a mile to the waterfall…

The adventure continued on our way home…We see 2 hitch-hikers…My oldest son said, “Mom, that’s illegal.” “Yes, son it is.”  “So babe, should we pick them up?, Do you have your gun, I say to my husband?” We both smirked undecided and I said, “Nah, you have to get to work.”  These hitch-hikers looked exactly like their label…They were hikers and needed a hitch…U-turn! When we pulled up they had big white smiles and seemed excited to see us…We then found ourselves excited to see them…It was soo cool…The one guy Jordan, is a photographer!! Can you believe it?  I was drooling with questions, but didn’t want to seem like a fan wanting an autograph… When I told him I’m a wanna-be photographer he didn’t even flinch, as if I was a nobody and he was a somebody, he humbly seemed excited for me…I asked him if he was a “famous” photographer that I didn’t know and if he was, I’m embarrassed because I don’t know any “famous” photographers…Humbly, he said no…His friend on the other hand smiled and said, “I wouldn’t agree.” 

Skander is his name and he, my friends, is an avid rock climber, ice climber (whatever that is. Ha! ) hiker, skier and probably more than that, kind of guy! Just as sweet as Jordan… Apparently, their car broke down and they needed to hitch a ride to the auto shop to pick it up…The conversation flowed like we knew each other for years…The experiences these young guys had, have and will have was so interesting, I felt myself on the edge of my seat listening to where their next stop would be…I believe Utah… We dropped them off at the auto shop, said our goodbyes, and headed on our way… Before our journey ended I did ask about their Salvation…My family and I prayed for their safety, and Salvation for one of them, the other was saved… My prayer for them is that they saw JESUS in us, and not just a nice family doing a nice thing... I thank them for letting us be a part of their journey...

If you want to know more about these adventurous guys check out their website  http://www.jordansiemens.com/ and http://stickthefeeling.wordpress.com/

And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God. Hebrews 13:16 

365-108

I always wanted to do this...I was waiting for my husband in the car with my kids and we were playing around with the camera...The 1st shot I realized my side mirror was dirty so my boys helped me clean it...Even cleaning a dirty mirror with my boys is fun...Blessed!

365-106 & 107

The Birthday Girl...No, not mine, although I wish she was...I am her udder mutha, thou...So I think...Ha!
And NO, I did not make the cake or the cupcakes, her mom did...So basically nothing belongs to me in these photos, except the extra weight on my "beeeeppppp" after eating that yummy, sweet cake & cupcakes! Hope that didn't offend anyone... I kind of thought it was funny as I typed it...You would too if you saw it...LOL!!

Faith like a child, huh?

I often want to be a child again just to have the amazing faith they do…We as adults are so conditioned to this world we often get distracted and don’t have faith at all in certain circumstances…For those of you who may not know what that means, it basically says in the Bible to humble yourself to the KING, surrender and let it all go, give it to HIM, and that is faith like a child...Ya, think you can do it? Can you give it all up for the Kingdom? EVERYTHING and EVERYONE if HE was to ask? Pretty tough, huh…I say I do and hope I would…The funny thing is, JESUS knows us and how weak we are! Thank HIM for Grace & Mercy...

Faith like a child reminded me of my child today…Such faith...So simple, so honest, so innocent… Easy for them, right?

So, I’m on this awesome hike today with my home school group…We’re enjoying this incredible waterfall that was in the middle of the desert (Only GOD can do that). I met this new girl in my group, she is awesome…Her son asked her for something without using his manners…And here is how the conversation went…

MY SON:    “You shouldn’t talk to your mom like that, you should say, may I    

                please have some.”

THE MOM:  “That’s right, son.”

I SAY:         “Don’t worry Sweetie, sometimes my son corrects me when I

                  don’t use my manners.”

MY SON:     “Yeah, the other day, my mom said the “S” word and I told her

                     Mom, your scaring me…Then she told me to “shut up.”

I SAY:          ----------------------------------------------

Faith like a child, huh?  Honesty too…I actually laughed when he threw me under the bus to this new friend...How could I explain myself to her?  I'm glad she graciously understood where I was coming from...LOL...

I was so frustrated the day it happened too...The beauty of this whole story, is I really was not embarrassed or ashamed when he told her…I had already been embarrassed and ashamed when my LORD heard it come right out of my mouth…I cried out to the LORD begging for forgiveness and asking HIM to strengthen me to be a godly example to my precious boys…Faith like a child, huh? They are so forgiving, so sweet and so quick to put a smile back on their faces when they see Mom repenting and praying to the LORD…I thanked the LORD for that moment with my kids to pray with them and ask them for forgiveness too…What a sweet life! I can't think of another place I would rather be...On earth that is...

Matthew 18:2-4  He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them.  And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.  Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. 

365:102-105

Another great day with my boys! We went on this awesome hike today...In the middle of the desert with no shade, the sun beating down, and 1 mile in, we hit a beautiful waterfall...Isn't GOD awesome with HIS creation?  The pictures are not the best quality, and I was having a hard time with to much light coming in my photos...I still don't know what I am doing yet, but I am trying...And guess what? Even though I don't take the best quality pictures all the time, I RARELY shoot in auto ;) Oh yeah, that's right, uh huh, you know it!