The day before the rain…

Weather Forecast:

Tuesday: Rain

Wednesday: Rain

Thursday: Cloudy/Rain

And since we’ve been cooped up in our home with the flu-bug which attached itself to Ichi, we decided to go OUT for the day. 

 And by “OUT” I mean we ran errands at Target and Save-Mart, with a nice playground break in between.

Here are some pictures of our time in the last bit of sunshine, while dark clouds hovered and crept into view. Though I wanted these photos to turn out slightly different, I like the outcome.   It’s one thing to picture in your mind how you want a photo to turn out and another to get a 4 year old to cooperate.  haha! 

 

Autumn has come more rapidly than I anticipated.  Hopefully Spring will come just as quickly!

Work, the double-edged sword?

Yes, going “back” to work has it’s perks and downfalls.

PERK: paycheck (paying off some debt is good)

DOWNFALL: Feeling exhausted every day.

PERK:  Making friends with new people.

DOWNFALL: Missing out on family time.

 

And that’s when I focus on all the unexpected benefits of working again….

 MY HUSBAND:

 Makes us dinner (and it’s not BBQ’d _________!!)

 Washes the dishes (YES! ALL of the dishes)

 Helps Ichi with homework

Takes the boys out to the aquarium, a movie, the park and the beach! 

 

He gets to do all the things he hasn’t been able to do in years (father and son bonding time). 

 

Though I am sad that my involvement in these areas has been decreasing, for the time being, I’m happy to see my husband have the opportunity to have an increased involvement with the boys.

 

I’m certain that, as the months wear on, the Lord will accomplish many more works in the hearts of our family- and I’m excited to see what those will be!

Details.

Today I decided to splurge and buy something new for our home.  .  .  .

the small things...

Can you guess what it was? 

 

 

close-up

 

And now we’re the owners of new down pillows, with WASHABLE cases.  Our old pillows have served us well, but have the battle wounds of 6+ years around two rambunctious boys! 

 

AND I also found four white cereal bowls, to replace the ones that have chips and dings that we use each day….

AND  I can hardly contain the fact that I found them for 89¢ EACH (bowls, not pillows) !!!

AND even BETTER still….   I paid with CASH and not my CREDIT CARD.  

 

 

 

This was my “fun” for today, picking up a few things for the home that need replacing.  Hope you all had a wonderful start to your week as well!

No pictures this time.

Working. 

 

Need I say more?

 

I like my new job, enjoy the people I work with (though I am starting to see a bit of “cattiness” between the younger girls).  Everyone closer to 30 seems oblivious to it though, lol !

The people are nice, the atmosphere is so much nicer than a previous job *cough*COFFEESHOP*cough*. 

My boss is nice, the people coming in are fairly nice…  time seems to go by quickly (well, until the last 2 hours anyway).

So I am happy with my new job.  I’m anxious to have a more set schedule though- so that our family can settle into a routine with my working.

My mother-in-law is awesome and is a babysitter for us once (and sometimes twice) a week.  She’s been a blessing to our family in a billion different ways, and if it weren’t for her- I don’t know what we’d do.  Ok, I know what we’d HAVE to do… but I really don’t like that option, lol.  So I am thankful we have loving-willing family around =-)

SO a big THANK YOU! to my Mother in law.  And a BIG THANK YOU to God for meeting and supplying our needs!

 

Hope everyone is doing well, and enjoying life.  I can see from the blog-o-sphere that everyone is having fun and enjoying the last of their summer weather!  =-)

 

X’s and O’s from our little speck on earth!

slight update…

It’s been 3 weeks.

    Generally speaking- I’ve been busy.

 

I’m grateful for many things, living in the cool and VISITING the heat, is one that I am beginning to appreciate all the more! (literally and figuratively)

I’m also grateful for the life of George Muller, a witness to the Lord. (Almost finished reading a book titled “Answers to Prayer”).

 

  I stopped during a part of this book (and my life) that spoke about the storm before the calm. And at the time, I was going through such a storm that I was quite certain the boat would sink before the storm lifted. (Sound familiar? See Luke 8:22-26)

I prayed and prayed, and then I SERIOUSLY poured out my heart. 

 

 My trial felt hard and I felt selfish for even considering it such a trial when compared to what others go through.  But the Lord showed me that I don’t have to be the poorest, the most in need, in the biggest trial, or living the MOST faithful life  in order for Him to love me, to listen to me, consider me, or save me. 

 

  I believe that’s an important lesson to understand.

 

I realized a few things through this experience (that I am willing to share):
1. I’m incredible impatient
2. I’m incredibly selfish and spoiled
3. My comfort outweighs many things on my priority list
4. God still loves me even though my list of faults reaches far beyond #3.
5. Answered Prayer is a beautiful gift!

 

Yes, the Lord knows my needs before I even come to Him! Yet I still pray and pour out my heart to Jesus and know He is listening.

 And, once again, I learned a lesson that showed me the importance of  ”casting all your care on Him, for He cares for you.” [1 Pet 5:7]

 

I planned on sharing exactly what happened, but at this moment- I couldn’t begin to tell you ALL that the Lord is doing!

Answering prayer? You bet!  Because I’m reading George Muller? haha, no.

My help comes from the Lord. And I will put my trust and faith in the only One who can truly save!  (And boy does He save!!!!)

  

  Thank you Jesus for all that you have done for me on that cross, and all that you do for me and teach me in my little life… from peanut butter to my salvation- your love for me is great!

Thursday’s Memory

MARK 9: 50

“Salt [is] good, but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another.”

 

 These were some pictures I took at CA State Park- Pt Lobos.  I had never seen this before, and wanted to share it with others.  There were dozens of these little “Salt holes” as we climbed some boulders looking for tide-pools.  Each one was uniquely shaped, and forming salt crystals at different rates.  If California still has a park system in another month, I would recommend going to see this, among other wonderful creations, at Point Lobos. 

Summer Read #1

I don’t know why, but I’m glad I did.

The thought to look at the lending library table at church, seemed out-of-place as I was running around before service getting things in place and ready for the children’s Sunday school room. I glanced at all the titles, nothing stood out- but I knew I was looking for “something” that was going to help. I saw “The Autobigography of George Muller” and signed it out. I had no idea how much this book would mean to me, and now know that the Lord ABSOLUTELY led me to this book.

I started it Monday morning, and had finished before lunch on Tuesday. It was THAT good.

My faith is refreshed, knowing that the Lord hasn’t left my side even through my own thoughts that perhaps this time, just this once, I had been overlooked. How silly I can be!

I have never had the desire to read an autobiography, and I’m not much of a reader (other than the Word, and occasionally a book every year). But I am anxious to read more about this man of God, and can honestly say I have been blessed by this book and this man’s life.

So- Do I recommend it?
You bet!

Seriously, go read this book right now.

Old Town with Sunshine

I’m looking for a job.  Another pay-cut on the tail end of a minimum raise for Husband… the fact we’re majorly in debt just trying to survive our lives…  it’s depressing.  I have to give up my all-time favorite job in the world… to who-knows-what.  I hate “budget crisis” and “pay-cuts” and “furloughs”….      ugh @ mylifecircumstances. 

Depression is not my friend. 

To jazz this blog up some:

Today, Ichi is 7 years old!!   I decorated 20 cookies with royal icing for Ichi’s birthday today- well, it’s for his birthday- but his class will enjoy the cookies tomorrow, since their end-of-school party is tomorrow, and the teacher and I agreed that there wasn’t really time today to do cookies for his birthday (there’s alot planned for this minimum day).  So tomorrow there will be iced cookies for the class, along with a little party.  I’m sure it’ll be fun. 

Yesterday we were able to go to Gilroy to purchase a couple of much needed clothing items for Ichi, though we’ll still need to figure out how to buy shoes for him.  Still, he now has a couple of shirts that actually fit and don’t have holes. YAY!   We also went downtown and spent time as a family walking around and enjoying some sunshine.  And we let Ichi open one present early, from my Aunt and Uncle- and so we took a couple of pictures of the kidlets playing with the bubble-wand.  Enjoy some photos of our day:

Obviously.

We’ve been busy.

Wish there was something to report, some kind of reward for the effort that I could share, but I’m fog-brained and have nuffin. 

As usual…

 

pictures will tell it for me. 

 

(Pics include: Lover’s Point, Filoli Gardens, Ichi in a class/school performance for President’s Day, Backyard shenanigans with Nibon, Ichi playing the Wii Fit, and the pool?  The future!  Teach your kids to swim so they can go down the waterslide! haha)

Short

The Outting

“Grande Mocha, no whip, extra hot” was called into the overstuffed punching bag of a coffee shop.

The more I come into these places, the more I realize how addicted to coffee we must all be.   

My thoughts wander to escape the frenzied madness.  Faces are grim, impatient, feet are tapping and large sighs can be heard.

“Grande Mocha, no whip, extra hot” called the barista once again.

Perhaps they left.  Maybe they are trampled under foot and nobody can hear their grumbling protests as each high heel or loafer treads over them to get an extra inch toward the magical counter which holds the object of their affection. Maybe we should be sending a search party out- my thoughts run over an old comedy routine I heard once where a- ”Tall Soy Chai Latte!”  My thoughts are interrupted. 

 Movement occurs through the sea of people.

“Grande Vanilla Latte, extra foam” calls another.

“That’s me” I can hear myself mutter.  As though they could hear me over the roar of impatience settling into this place.  I squeeze past some patrons who are oblivious to their surroundings, staring blankly until they hear their order called.  

Someone walks to the counter, and grabs two drinks.  

“Hope I’m not stuck with the soy latte,” my pessimistic mind spits out.

  ”Mary?  Mary?” a voice calls out.  Impatience must be contagious I tell myself.

One or two people glanced up from their intimate conversations with their blackberry and low-fat cappuccinos.

My thoughts were still trying to comprehend if such a common name could be linked to me.  It was of course.

“Yep, I’m on my way,” I think to myself as I smile and hold up my hand as though the barista will throw my drink over the hurdles of people.

I get my drink, and scramble as quickly as I can to get out of that place.  The cool air rushes in as I open the door and escape the madness.

Who signs themselves up to stand in line 10 minutes, to order a coffee dripping in sugar and milk, only to wait another 5 until your order is called out.  Who willingly goes through this, pays for this experience, and does it again?  Grumpiness is taking over my mind.

I sip my vanilla latte- extra foam, and walk down the path.

“Mmmm, so good.”  I take another sip and begin to relax.

With each step and each sip, I slip further and further from the coffee-pit insanity.  My eyes take in the weather, the birds, the clouds, distant sounds and rustling of the wind.

“What a beautiful day!” as a smile and another sip of latte crosses my lips.

“What a great latte,” I confirm as I toss the cup into the garbage.

 And as I walk, a seemingly harmless thought travels through my mind… “Tomorrow, I think I’ll try the mocha.”

 

 

The End