Vacation-Modesto

Visit with the Hess'

After a wonderful visit with Greg's grandparents, we began working our way back down south. We made the short drive from Sacramento to Modesto.....about an hour and a half. In Modesto, we spent time with the Hess family, long time friends of Greg's. In fact, they are really like family! Ron, Patsy, Adam, and Samantha were like a second family to Greg growing up and now they're my family too! We love them so much! They are a really TALL family so it's easy to think that Greg belongs to them! Adam, Greg's best friend in high school, stands at seven feet, two inches. At least, that's how tall he was in high school.....he may have passed that up. Anyway, we had a superb visit with them.

We also spent time with Greg's mom, Judy! I am so upset that we don't have any pictures of Greg with his mom. We ended up running out of memory on our camera, so pics from this segment of our trip are sparse. Greg's mom was able to download all of our pics onto a disk so that we could empty our camera, but that was the last time Greg saw her! Bummer!

At the Hess', we celebrated Ethan's birthday again. It was a wonderful party and we were so grateful for their thoughtfulness! The kids also spent time playing pool and swimming in their pool. They had a blast!

It was wonderful getting to be with Greg's mom. We hung out all over Modesto, revisiting old hangouts. We walked around the mall, went to the park, ate lunch and ended our day at Funworks, a place with tubes and tunnels, go-carts, a golf course, and bumper boats! The kids didn't want to leave Modesto......they just had too much fun!

Well, here are the few pics we have from that visit. The first one is of Sam and me! Didn't I tell you she was TALL!!! ;-)

Happy Birthday Celeste

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CELESTE!

On this day, June 22, 1995, at 9:46pm, our sweet Celeste was born at Shannon Hospital in San Angelo, TX.

We are so blessed to have this precious girl as our second daughter. It has been a privilege to watch her grow into a young lady with such a sweet and sensitive spirit. There are many qualities about her that have richly blessed us as parents, for which we are truly grateful. We love you Celeste and pray that this day will bring you much joy and happiness!
HAPPY 12TH BIRTHDAY, BABY!
Psalm 139:14

Another Agape Story

Yesterday, while counseling at Agape, Linda (our new director) shared with me this wonderful story!

Last week a young lady came into the center knowing she was already pregnant. She was DEAD SET on having an abortion for pretty much every reason you can think of. Amazingly enough, she had already been to Planned Parenthood, but was not satisfied with the vague information given to her. It's a blessing in itself that she came into the center seeking more information even though she was determined to have an abortion.

Linda spent time giving her lots of info and lots of love and understanding. Although we do NOT refer for abortions, we do give abortion-minded clients a patient's rights form. We tell them that if the doctor performing the abortion is not willing to sign this form, taking responsibility for any complications, she needs to get out of there. Linda also let her know that she could have a free ultrasound to find out how far along she was.

The girl was very interested in finding this out, so Linda called Dr. Chen and got her an appt for that same morning. (We LOVE Dr. Chen!) Later on that day, Linda called Dr. Chen's office to find out if the girl had made the appt. They told her that she had just left, but that they couldn't give any further information. Linda tried calling the girl but could not get a hold of her. Linda spent the rest of the day and weekend praying for this young lady and asked others to pray too!

Finally, on Monday morning, in walks this young lady. Linda was SO happy to see her. She asked her how the ultrasound went and to her surprise, the girl announced that she found out she was having TWINS! Linda reluctantly asked her what she was going to do, and with a smile on her face she replied, "I'm keeping them!"

God is so good! I can't tell you how exciting it is when we get to hear these stories or be directly involved with these girls, seeing first-hand, how God can change their hearts. Please keep praying for this ministry always! And also, pray for Dr. Chen! God has used him in mighty ways and we are privileged to have him working with us! We are so thankful for all that he does!

To God be the Glory!

Photo Credit

Sacramento Zoo

More Vacation Pictures

After having a great time at Uncle Gary's, we headed about seven hours north to Greg's grandfather and step grandmother's house in Sacramento. We had a wonderful visit with them. The kids played outside most of the time while the adults spent time catching up. We BBQ'd, played games and visited the Sacramento zoo. It was quite nostalgic being there because that's the zoo I grew up visiting. We also celebrated Ethan's first birthday. He ended up with two birthday parties on the trip. Here are some pics of our two days in Sacramento!

The Beach

Better Late Than Never.....Hermosa Beach

We ended up going to the beach three separate times, so these pics are from each trip. The first day we went, it was kind of cool and windy, so we just walked in the sand and let the kids put their feet in the water. We had a great time and we already miss the beach....and Uncle Gary!

Hermosa Beach...

First day on the beach....

Daddy and the crew...

The girls weren't bothered by the COLD water...

Uncle Gary had fun with Ethan...

Ethan loved the sand...especially eating it!

Seth enjoyed being buried by Gramie...

Hermosa Pier...

A friendly beachcomber took our picture..

Home Sweet Home

Ahhh........Home Sweet Home


After a wonderful, fun-filled vacation, it sure does feel great to be home. We made it in at about midnight last night. There's nothing like sleeping in your own bed and being in your own environment after living the vagabond's life for two weeks.

We had an AMAZING time seeing our precious family and friends. We SO appreciated every one's hospitality and love. It's not easy putting up a family of eight, but they did it and did it with love and generosity. Thank you to those who welcomed us into your homes and took such great care of us!

In the next day or two, I will begin posting pics of our trip and writing about some of the highlights (like the beach and Yosemite National Park)! We'll have to weed through them all and pick the best ones. So until next time....

New ticker........It's exciting to be able to delete one ticker and exchange it for a new one. We look forward to meeting this precious baby in January. I'm just about 10 weeks along and this pregnancy has been much different from the others. My morning sickness has been very minimal. I usually feel pretty good in the morning, and then by mid day it starts to creep up and I usually feel sick in the evenings, but still mild compared to what I usually feel. I've only had one bad night so far so I am thankful. I pray that the rest of the pregnancy will be the same and that the sickness will taper off in the coming weeks. God has been so merciful and gracious and I thank you for your prayers!

Having a Blast

Wow.....I can't believe that this is the first time I've had the chance to sit down and write. We have had such a great time so far and have been kept quite busy.

Yesterday, we arrived at my brother Jason's house in Sonora, CA. It's absolutely beautiful up here and we're so enjoying our time with Jason and his family.

Our first stop was Redondo Beach to see Uncle Gary. My mom flew in and we picked her up from the airport. We had a BLAST at Uncle Gary's! We spent three days at the beach where pretty much all of us left with sunburns! I'm still waiting for mine to turn into a tan! ;-) The ocean was amazing and it was so hard to drive away from the coast. I understand why people pay the money they do to live near the ocean..........I would too if we could afford it!

We also had a sweet time with Greg's grandparent's and our close friends, the Hess'. We had the opportunity to take the kids to the Sacramento Zoo, and they enjoyed hours of swim time in the Hess' pool. The kids have been surprisingly wonderful on this trip. All the little ones have adjusted well to all of the changes and have had great attitudes and manners. Hopefully, they'll maintain this throughout the remainder of the trip. Ethan is the only one who has a meltdown every time we get back in the car. I guess I can't blame him!

Shortly after arriving at Jason's yesterday, we headed up to Mariposa to see my grandma. We're going up there again later in the week, but my dad and grandpa wanted the whole family to gather while my parents were still in town. It was so special seeing my grandma and the rest of my family. We all enjoyed a huge meal and just spent time catching up with everyone. My Uncle got a beautiful photo of everyone that was there. I'll have him email it to me so I can post it later.

Well, that's all for now........I can't wait until I'm able to post pictures of the trip.......probably not until we get home. We miss all of our dear San Antonio family and thank you for your prayers while we're away. Oh yeah, I have not been too sick at all. I'm feeling a bit yucky in the evening, but NOTHING compared to how I normally feel. I am praising God every day for His mercy and grace and thank you all specifically for praying for my morning sickness while I'm away!

Until next time..........

Juicing

This is what I got for Mother's Day this year. I had always been interested in the concept of juicing fresh fruits and veggies, but I wasn't sure how often I would actually use a juicer.

During a visit with my friend Shannon, she juiced some carrots and offered me a taste. It was delicious! I didn't think I'd like just straight carrot juice but I did!

I got this juicer at Sams. It was a cheapie, and probably not a great one by juicing standards, but it works for me. I have used it nearly everyday, juicing pretty much everything! One of my favorite drinks is carrots, celery, and a tomato. I made this yesterday and then saved all the nutrient-rich pulp and added it to my spaghetti sauce.

Another good combination is an apple, a pear, and a piece of ginger. This one even helps with queasiness, something I really need help with at the moment.

There are two downsides to this juicer. One, is it's very large and it takes up a lot of counter space. Two, it's quite a clean up job. There are about six or seven pieces that have to be cleaned after each use. But the overall benefits have out weighed the downfalls.

I love my juicer!

Family Udates

Grandma

I am very happy to report that my grandmother is resting comfortably at HOME! She is already improving wonderfully from her stroke. She can walk with some help and her speech has improved as well. I was able to speak with her very briefly yesterday and it sounded like Grandma, but different! Her speech was a bit labored and slurred, but I know she is improving each day! God has been so merciful and gracious and we are so thankful for His love and comfort! My family thanks each of you who have been lifting them up in prayer. They have felt the prayers and ask that you would continue prayer for healing and strength.

Pregnancy

Well, morning sickness is slowly creeping upon me. I have been so thankful for each day I've had with minimal sickness. I'm still praying and hoping that this pregnancy will not be as bad, but also preparing myself for the worst. Mainly, I'm just tired and have that slight "off" feeling so far. My sense of smell has heightened a bit and my saliva glands are starting to misbehave, but still holding strong. Please pray for a more tolerable pregnancy and pray for God's mercy and strength to cover me throughout the pregnancy. I'm so thankful for this new life being carefully knit inside of me and would not change a thing, even knowing what I may be in for! I am 7 weeks and 2 days along......just 33 weeks to go! Wow, that sounds like a long time!  ....sigh....

Trip

My goodness!  Just five days until we are CA bound! We are so excited, but I have to admit that I am absolutely dreading all the packing I have to do for our family! I am slowly mentally preparing and trying to write things down so I won't forget anything important. I'm sure I will forget something, being that I get serious "pregnant brain", which seems to get worse with each pregnancy! Today, I will unearth all of the suitcases and lay them out in my room. Each day I will add a few things to each suitcase so I won't have to rush at the last minute. We'll see how it all turns out!

I guess that's all the updating for now. I hope you all have a wonderful week!

A Surprise Party

I know I seem to brag about my older girls a lot, but I just have to do it again!

Yesterday was my birthday and my sweet girls, with the little ones' help, threw me a surprise birthday party! While I was out for a birthday lunch with Greg, the girls cleaned the house, baked a cake, and decorated the house with balloons and streamers.

I am constantly amazed by my girls.  How did I become so blessed as to have these thoughtful, kind, and hard-working children? I'm just not that good of a mother to have produced them!  :)

Okay, back to the party.......

As I entered the house, I was greeted by Celeste, taking a picture of the surprised look on my face! When I rounded the corner into the kitchen, all of the kids were seated around the table and shouted, "Surprise!".  Then they all sang Happy Birthday! It is a moment that will forever be imprinted in my mind and heart! It was precious!

After the song, we ate cake and I opened my cards.

It was the best birthday EVER! Thank you, my sweet girls! I love you!!!

Good News and Bad News

This morning I listened to two messages on my machine that I somehow missed yesterday. The first was Linda from the Agape center letting me know that a young woman I had counseled last week came back in. She was VERY abortion minded and by the time she left the center, I still wasn't sure what she would do!

Yesterday she came back in to get a Medicaid form because she had chosen LIFE for her baby! I am filled with joy, and praising God for softening her heart and opening her eyes to the truth!

Thank you, Father, for allowing her to hear your words! To God Be The Glory!!!

Now the bad news.......PLEASE pray for my precious Grandmother! The second message I missed yesterday was my dad calling to tell me that Grandma had a stroke! As of yesterday, she was completely incoherent and didn't have use of her left side. They transported her to Merced from Mariposa.

I'm so worried about her, and as of now I can't get a hold of anyone since it's only 6:00am in CA.

Although I am very worried and scared for her, I know God is holding her tightly in His hands, and that He is the Almighty Physician. I take comfort in His perfect will for my Grandmother's life! Please pray for my dad and the Skinner family as they come together to be with Grandma!

Thank you all so much for your prayers! I'll update as soon as I hear something! My Grandma's name is Barbara and she is 74 yrs old.

Update:  It's been four years since my grandmother's stroke.  She recovered fully and is doing well.  Soli Deo Gloria!

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all of you dedicated Mommies!

I would like to wish my mom, especially, a happy Mother's Day and share some wonderful things about her!

Linda Marie Skinner, My Mom

The facts........

*Wife for almost 36 years.
*Mother for almost 35 years.
*Mother of four, including a set of twins.
*My mom is number six of fourteen children (go Grandma!).
*My mom is an artist. She can draw anything!
*My mom is very creative, a trait I did not inherit.
*My mom is a master sewer.
*My mom is one of the hardest workers I know.
*My mom is very frugal and she knows how to stretch a buck.
*My mom is a fabulous cook.
*My mom makes the best Thanksgiving Dressing (stuffing) in the world!
*My mom loves to read.
*My mom loves to plant flowers.
*My mom is very funny.

Growing up, I remember......

*Every Sunday after church, my mom would iron while watching her "Cowboy Shows".
*The year we couldn't afford a Christmas tree, she made one on the wall......out of branches she collected.
*I used to love sneaking into her room in the morning after she left for work because I could still smell the faint scent of her lingering perfume. It was comforting.
*My mom would always dance with us. Our favorite was when she would brake into the "Mashed Potatoes".
*I always knew when she was talking to one of her siblings on the phone.......the whole conversation consisted of rolling laughter........that's still the same to this day!
*I loved holding my mom's hand as a child.
*I was a total Mama's Girl!
*On occasion, I would get to go to work with my mom. I loved it because I got to be with her all day.

I love.......

*That my mom is my friend.
*That my mom's motto is "The more Grandchildren, the better!"
*That my mom is helping to raise three of her grandchildren.
*That we imitate funny lines from movies.
*One of our (mom and me) favorite movies is "The Incredible Shrinking Woman". We call each other "Concep-si-own because of the movie.
*A few years ago, while at a store, the two of us talked with a British accent the whole time we were there. We drew lots of attention and people actually believed we were British and asked us questions about England. I could hardly contain myself watching my mom "role play"! I've never laughed so hard in my life!
*My mom LOVES Poinsettias and places them all over her house around Christmastime.
*One of our traditions, when I would come home for a visit, was to go to Cinnabon in the mall.
*Drinking coffee with my mom in the morning.
*Our Saturday phone calls.
*She thinks I'm a great mother and encourages me in our homeschooling.
*I love that even though I'm a grown up, I still need my Mommy!

Thanks for being such a wonderful Mom! I love you and I miss you and can't wait to see you in two weeks! Have a blessed Mother's Day, Mom!

Photo Credit

Agape Pregnancy Help Center Banquet

Thursday night was Agape's 10th Annual Fundraising Banquet. I can't even begin to express how powerful the evening was to do it any justice! I wish I had pictures to share, but I will just try to give a quick synopsis of the evening!

It was our privilege and honor to have Dr. Alan Keyes as our keynote speaker. He was dynamic, funny, and hit the nail on the head as far as the message! He truly drove home the point of how we as Christians should be on the front lines of saving precious lives. We need to speak for the unborn, who have no voices. And when did taking human life become acceptable in our eyes, simply by changing the word "baby" to "fetus"! Again, my words cannot do justice to the words he so eloquently brought fourth! I know we were all touched very deeply and I was encouraged to work harder for the  unborn and the precious mothers who are tricked (by the world) into believing that there is no other choice!

Shirley Thompson, the Agape Executive Director, did a magnificent job of conveying her thoughts for this ministry. Her words were very personal, very honest, and she challenged each of us, especially pastors and churches, to offer their support to this ministry.

We also had two client testimonies as part of the program. I think the testimonies are my favorite because they're the reason we're here. Only they can tell us how God has worked in their lives through Agape. I am so blessed and privileged to be a part of this ministry!

Pastor Steve Branson was our MC again. He's done this for several years and always does a wonderful job! I think this year, though, was the best. He shared a wonderful story of how God used him in a difficult situation and then applied it to Agape and how God can use each of us even in the most difficult situations! His words throughout the night were important, relevant and heartfelt!

Dr. Scott Farhart sang a song called Blue Eyes Like Janey's. I have no words.........I will say that we were deeply touched by the message in the song!

God truly blessed the evening and blessed Agape with the resources needed to sustain two centers. He is always faithful to provide every year and I give Him the honor, glory, and praise!

Photo Credit

Sunday Service by the Lake

We had such a wonderful time Sunday! We joined our church family out at Canyon Lake where the men and young men were already enjoying a camping trip. We had a sweet service under the pavilion and then had a great time of fellowship during lunch. All of the kids had a blast playing near the water and exploring the waterfront. Even though it was cloudy, windy and slightly cold, we all had a blessed time! Here are a few pics from the day:



The pavilion where service was held...




Seth throwing rocks into the water...

John, Cheyenne, and Celeste on a snake hunt...

Mommy and Sophia...

Kids having fun...

Random 7 Meme

I was tagged by Granny so here goes. I may just go over seven since there are more than seven cool things (or not) about me that you should know. ;-) I'll try not to go overboard!

*I LOVED sports as a kid! And since I was a total tomboy, I was the only girl to play on my high school JV football team. I made the front page of our local paper, which was actually quite uncomfortable for me. I just wanted to play football, not stand out in the crowd!

*I lived in the Arctic Circle from the ages of 6-7. We lived on a small sandbar called Kotzebue. It was GREAT! In the summer it was light all day and in the winter it was dark all day! During one blizzard, our house was completely covered and my dad had to dig us out! Very cool!

*I climbed Half Dome in Yosemite National Park at the age of fifteen. I didn't climb the face, I climbed the side. When I got to the top I crawled to the face and dangled my head over to look down! I still get the chills at the thought of doing something so DUMB! Hey I was fifteen and daring!

*When we lived in San Angelo I was in a restaurant commercial and three magazines.....and not by accident, I was chosen.  Yeppers. San Angelo is small potatoes, but it was fun!

*I've had two major political encounters that don't exactly afford me any bragging rights. First, I shook hands with President Bill Clinton during the 50th D-Day celebration in Cambridge, England in 1994.......it was a beautiful ceremony! Prime Minister John Major and Walter Cronkite were also featured that day. The second, I received a personal letter from Assemblyman (at the time) Gary Condit, you know the "Chandra Levy conspiracy" guy, congratulating me on my "football endeavors"! Think I could get anything on eBay for it?

*My brother and I were extras in an independent film in Los Angeles starring Henry Winkler (The Fonz). It was a funny story that I will share another time. We had a blast! I even got to go to "wardrobe"!

*I went to six elementary schools, three junior highs and three high schools, and still managed to be nominated for homecoming queen twice, my junior and senior years. Trust me, I was not overly thrilled! I was an athlete, not a girlie homecoming queen. Needless to say, I wasn't heartbroken over not winning.

*In high school, during the President's Challenge, I did 78 full sit ups in one minute, beating out all the girls.......and the boys!

*Also in high school, my third and biggest high school, I won the girls triathlon, Greg won the boys! We were meant to be! :-)

*The most exciting thing about me currently is that I am expecting baby number seven, due to arrive in early January!

UPDATE:  Genevieve Julee was born January 7, 2008.

Sewing Lessons

Over the last year, we've gotten to know a sweet family from around the corner. They have recently begun homeschooling their two older children, and now love the idea of them having more time on their hands to learn new skills. When their oldest daughter, Erin, heard that Cheyenne and Celeste knew how to sew, she asked if they would teach her! The girls were thrilled! Here are some pics of the first lesson!








Here is Cheyenne teaching Erin the very basics.....threading the machine!
















Now Celeste is showing her how to install and thread the bobbin.














Some of the other things the girls covered: Winding the bobbin, how to read a pattern, cutting out a pattern, basic stitching and trouble shooting the machine! Erin wants to make a skirt, so they took her measurements and pinned the pattern. Next week they'll have her cut her pattern and begin sewing it together.







It was so neat watching them work together......my heart smiled!

Picnic in the Park

Yesterday started out like any other day! We schooled in the morning, did chores, and then I had to take Greg to a valet job over at Southwest Research. Fortunately, it was a short job and he was finished by 2pm.

It was such a beautiful day that we decided to pack a picnic dinner and take the kids to the park! The little ones had been asking, for some time now, to have a picnic and we knew this would be the perfect day to do so! I made grinders (my HUGE sub sandwich with EVERYTHING on it) and then just packed some crackers and a variety of drinks. I loaded up the ice chest while Greg went to pick Cheyenne up from work.

When they got home, we headed for the park.

We walked there to extend our time in the beautiful sunshine! We ate as soon as we arrived. The meal was simple, but yummy! Then, the kids had fun playing and climbing trees. Even Mom joined in on the fun.....I spent some time on the swings where Sophia got a kick out of the "spider"! She laughed and laughed as we swung together! Then some of us formed a train and slid down the twisty slide......what a blast. Greg kept Ethan occupied over at the baby swings. He loves swings! He giggled every time he felt that tickle in his belly! It was a perfect evening!

When we were all worn out, we walked home and enjoyed some fresh baked Banana Bread that Celeste had made before we went to the park. It was still warm and scrumptious!

What a perfect ending to a wonderful day!

This morning, on the other hand, has begun with an explosive, leaking poopy diaper. Wow! Good feeling gone. 

Thank you, Lord, for giving us good days and not-so-good days, for we know each day with our family is a gift from you!

Poll Results

Thank you, sweet ladies, for helping me in my potty training decision! I really appreciated each opinion and perspective. I knew I could count on you for solid advice! So......with the poll resulting in a unanimous "WAIT", that's just what I'll do!

Now I won't even have to think about it until June!  ;-)

Opinion Poll

Potty Training Poll


Okay, so here's what's on my mind.........I think I may be ready to potty train Chloe. As many of you know, I wasn't in any hurry to potty train her because I had been feeling somewhat overwhelmed by "Ethan issues" over these past few months. He wasn't eating food and he was waking up many times during the night. I was pretty much nursing around the clock and I was exhausted all day, every day! So, even the thought of potty training stressed me out! I was perfectly fine with her turning three and not being potty trained!

Well, I'm happy to report that Ethan is finally eating solid food.......three whole meals a day! AND, most importantly, he's sleeping like.......well......a baby! This means that I am finally feeling like a human being again, and feeling like I can handle normal life.

So, why the poll you ask? Well, here's my next dilemma! Our vacation to California is next month.  Part of me wants her to be potty trained before our trip. It's still a month away and it would save us some room (and money) not having to pack diapers for her. But, the other part of me doesn't want the troubles of a newly potty trained child on the trip. You know, frequent stops to take her potty, likely accidents (in other people's homes), long days on the beach with no bathrooms nearby, the list goes on!

What do you all think? Should we potty train her BEFORE the trip and trust that she'll be just fine? Or do we wait until AFTER the trip to potty train, which would be mid June? What would you do? I know all children are different, but maybe some additional insights will push me over the fence either way!

Thank you in advance for your help in this matter! ;-)

They Grow Up So Fast

Our Oldest and Youngest Babies

Cheyenne was blessed with opportunity to play Fairest Lord Jesus during service last Sunday. This picture was taken while she was practicing. I had no idea a picture was even taken but I'm glad to have it!


Ethan is now 10 1/2 months old and walking everywhere! He also just cut his 7th tooth. Before we know it, he'll be fourteen and we'll wonder where the years went!

Christian Youth

Are Our Christian Teens Set Apart?

Thursday night, Shirley (Agape Director) and I had the opportunity to address a group of teens about the very serious topic of abortion. This was a Christian youth group of around forty kids. Upon entering the home, my first encounter was with two angry young ladies who didn't mind saying bad words in my presence. Pressing forward, I entered the home and met with Shirley to discuss the night's agenda. As I glanced around the room, my heart became heavy upon realizing that, had I not known this was a Christian group, I wouldn't have guessed so based on general countenances and attitudes.

As Shirley began speaking, I immediately began praying for wisdom and guidance in this situation. I had to think hard about how I was as a teenager and try and extend grace upon this group. But as I listened to Shirley fight for their attention by speaking louder and louder, I found it difficult to be gracious! I mean, this is supposed to be a Christian group discussing serious topics such as abortion, and the need to have a firm Christian worldview! Shouldn't we expect more from this group of professed christian teens? 

Many of them were carrying on their own conversations, some were snickering, and when the doorbell rang, most of them were more interested in who was at the door rather than what Shirley was saying! I remember thinking to myself, "I would never let my teenager come to a group like this!" Whether a Christian or not, there's still such thing as manners!

As I sat there waiting for my turn, I was trying to think about what I was going to say. I continued praying for God's words to flow through me, because quite frankly, I was too mad to say anything! Before I knew it, the gentleman leading the group asked me to make my way to the front. My heart sped up several hundred beats over what I was about to say!

After a short introduction, I was on! The first words out of my mouth happened to be...

"Do you all take this seriously?"

Most of them said "yes".

I replied, "I don't think so!"  (gulp!)

With utter shock in their eyes, I proceeded to point out their level of disrespect, especially at a Christian gathering! Shirley told me later that you could hear a pin drop while I was speaking to them.

I praised God for giving me the courage to call them on their behavior! Once I had their attention, I shared with them the hurt and consequences which result from abortion, and how many women claim to be pro-life until they are faced with an unwanted pregnancy. I also spoke of the importance of abstinence, and reiterated Shirley's words about being firm in your Christian worldview; not just knowing what you believe, but knowing why you believe it. Shirley did a wonderful job of explaining this and stressing the importance of knowing God's word. Shirley and I also spoke of God's grace, love, and forgiveness!

Although the night started out a little rough, I believe the message was heard. Several kids asked great questions afterwards, and we even had the opportunity to minister to a few. To God be the Glory! I know He works in all situations, no matter the circumstances.

My main reason for writing this was not merely to point out what we spoke of Thursday night, but point out the painful observance that these teens, in my opinion, were not set apart from the world. I think that when we start to expect less of children, and don't require basic levels of respect, their hearts and attitudes reflect our lowered expectations.
Lest you think I'm being too harsh in my opinion of these kids, I'll concede that I was not any better than they as a teen. But, I was taught respect for your elders and to listen when others were talking.  The youth group I attended as a teen would NEVER have tolerated such behavior. And simply being held accountable for our words and actions IN youth group, exhorted us to be mindful of our words and actions outside of youth group!

May we all be wise in our decisions as we work diligently to raise our children in the training and admonition of the Lord!

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:2

Fettuccini Alfredo

This is one of our new favorites! Celeste, our 11 year old, made this for us a couple of weeks ago and it was SO good that we've made it a permanent menu meal! Give it try.....you'll love it!

Fettuccine Alfredo

18 oz fresh fettuccine (trust me, go fresh!)
2 1/2 cups heavy cream (ohhhh yeah!)
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
12 tablespoons butter
2 cups freshly grated Parmesan
2 teaspoons grated lemon zest (this really helps to cut through the heaviness of the dish)
Pinch freshly grated nutmeg
Salt and white pepper to taste
(shrimp optional)

Cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling water until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 3-4 minutes. Drain.

Stir two cups of the cream and the lemon juice in a heavy large skillet to blend. Add the butter and cook over medium heat just until the butter melts, stirring occasionally, about three minutes. Remove from heat.

Add the pasta and toss. Add remaining 1/2 cup of cream, and Parmesan to the cream sauce in the skillet. Add lemon zest, nutmeg, salt and pepper. Toss the pasta mixture over low heat until the sauce thickens slightly, about 1 minute.

Serve with crusty garlic bread. Enjoy! Serves 6-8.

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Jesus Is Risen

We are so blessed to worship a Risen Savior! I am especially thankful to be feeling better after a week's long stomach bug attack! It was great to be a part of a beautiful Resurrection service with my family.

After a hearty lunch, Greg led the kids through the reading and viewing of our Resurrection eggs. They love putting their hands on those tiny reminders of how we came to have a Savior. Then, the kids had fun putting together a craft project that Gramie sent them! Thank you, Gramie!




Have a blessed day and enjoy a big Easter kiss from Ethan!

A Funny Conversation

Conversations With Sophia


One of my favorite times with Sophia is at night while tucking her into bed. This is when she turns into a chatter box. Not because she's trying to get out of going to bed, but because she's got my undivided, with-no-interruptions, attention. We talk about anything from "how much she likes Ethan" to "what can she wear the next day" to "ice cream cones" to "God questions".

The other night we talked about the beach and how excited she was about our upcoming vacation. She had lots of questions about the beach and just our trip in general, but here was her most burning question:

"Mommy, will there be socks at the ocean?"

Puzzled, I said, "No, we won't wear socks to the beach, we'll wear sandals."

She said, "No, are there soooocks at the ocean?"

Thinking this was a funny thing to ask I again replied, "Well, we can wear our socks and shoes, but it's better to just wear our sandals."

A bit frustrated, she tried one more time, "Noooo, will there be shaaaaaaawwwwks?"

"OH!! SHARKS!" I said (as I'm trying not to laugh over the miscommunication). "No, honey, there won't be any sharks where we'll be. Don't you worry."

Poor, sweet thing.......she tried so hard to get that tricky "R" sound to work for her. But at least her worrisome question was answered and she could finally sleep in peace!

We're Goin' Back to Cali, Cali.....

A Much Needed Vacation Coming Soon


We are eagerly counting down the days until we return to our homeland. Although we have grown to love Texas, my heart is still in CA. What can I say, I'm a CA girl and always will be. If you can get past the liberal domination, the traffic, and the silly wanna-be-laws like "no spanking your children", it's really a beautiful place.

The mountains, the beaches and the desert (if you like the desert) are at your beck and call. There is such a spiritual awe when you're standing at the edge of the ocean, watching the waves come rolling in over your feet. Or smelling the fresh aroma of the tall pine trees as you're hiking through the mountains of Yosemite National Park. My heart is welling up with joy as I think of the beauty of where I was born and raised. And, to top it all off, I will be reunited with family, whom I miss so very much!

Here's what our itinerary will look like:

Saturday, May 26th we begin our long journey through Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and into CA. We will probably drive straight through, mostly because that's what we've always done out of pure eagerness to just get there. Our first stop will be Uncle Gary's in Redondo Beach. We will spend three or four days with him, but will be driving back to San Bernardino and the surrounding area during one of those days to visit my Grandmother and many aunts, uncles and cousins. My mom will be flying into LA to meet us, and to visit all of her family as well. Another one of those days at Uncle Gary's will be reserved for the beach! Ohhhhh yeeeaaah! The kids are already talking about the beach.....they're very excited!

From Redondo Beach, we will travel to Sacramento to spend time with Greg's sweet grandparents. After we drive them crazy, we'll head to Modesto to see Greg's mom, the Denbraves and the Hess Family. It will be so good to spend time with precious family and friends. From Modesto, we will head up the mountain to the quaint town of Sonora, where my brother Jason, my dear SIL Tara and their three beautiful children live. I am SO excited about seeing my brother and his family.

After having a wonderful time with my brother, we'll end our trip in Mariposa to stay with Grandma and Grandpa. We'll also be seeing Uncle Andy and Aunt Julie who also live in Mariposa. My grandparents live on a beautiful ranch bursting with trees and mountain views.

With my grandparents, we will spend a day in Yosemite National Park, where they lived and worked for sixteen years. I practically grew up there.  I also had the privilege of working in the park when I was fourteen and fifteen years old. I've probably explored, hiked, or swam in every inch of this beautiful creation. I even hiked up Half Dome (about a 12 hour hike) at the age of fifteen. Whenever visiting Grandma and Grandpa in the summer, I would sleep outside on a lawn chair so that I could stare at the stars all night long! The stars were so thick and glorious.....it was like getting a small glimpse of heaven. Actually, just BEING in the park was like getting a tiny glimpse of heaven. I can't even fathom how much MORE beautiful heaven will be!

I'm so thankful that my children will get to see so much family after such a long time, and see all the wonderful places we will be revisiting. I'm positive we will create memories for our family that will last a lifetime!

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Family Update

To Our Family...


I haven't posted in some time about family happenings, so here goes.......

Greg is as wonderful as ever. He's still with the Lackland Fire Dept and recently finished an EMT class. He'll be taking the BIG exam very soon to finally be certified as an EMT. It's a long story as to why he's not already certified, so I'll spare you the details. At his last pacemaker check up, they discovered a rapidly malfunctioning lead wire going into the upper chamber of his heart. Fortunately, it's the "least necessary" lead so he can afford to just let it be until his battery change surgery. We expect that to happen in a year or so. Other than that, he's just being the great husband and father we know and LOVE!

Not much new with me. We're slowly winding down our school year and looking forward to our vacation in May. I'm still counseling at the Agape Pregnancy Help Center and also serve on the board. Right now, we are working diligently on our annual fundraising banquet.

Cheyenne is growing up so fast! She's fourteen and finishing her 8th grade year. She has finished all of her subjects except for Algebra 1 and Grammar and Composition II. Since she's done well this year and has been diligent in her work, we allowed her to take on a part time position at our friend's resale shop for children. She is SO excited to have this job and being able to earn some extra money. She also enjoys working with her friends. She's still playing the piano. Her former piano teacher moved away (we miss you Kim), but the Lord provided another teacher for her very quickly. Her good friend, Shelley, is teaching her. They happen to be the same age. Cheyenne was glad that Shelley was willing to teach her and it's working out well.

Celeste (11) is as sweet as ever. She's my little helper bee and is always willing to serve the family. She's also had a good schooling year, but still has most of her subjects to finish up. Her strong subject is Math. She's advancing fairly quickly through it and next year will be taking Algebra 1 as a 7th grader. The girl loves numbers and absolutes like her dad! She pitches in with schooling Seth in his math at times. She's also discovered a passion for cooking and baking this year and wants to attend culinary school when she's older. Isn't she already attending culinary school? ;-)

Sethman (5): He's great! His interests include anything Star Wars and sword fights with the Russell boys. He's done a wonderful job with Kindergarten this year. He's reading well and jammin' right through math. Another math junkie so far. He flew through his Kinder math book and is about half way through the first grade math book. We'll just keep him going in it through the summer. He's also a VERY helpful little boy. One day, while he was supposed to be in bed for rest time, he went to Sophia's room, where she also was supposed to be having rest time, and decided to help her out of a bind. She got a round brush all tangled up in her hair, so, he thought he'd help her out by CUTTING the brush out of her hair!!!! Yeah.....talk about busted! In the meantime, we're having fun trying to come up with creative hair styles to cover the missing chunks in Sophia's hair. We love him so.......

Sophia (4), is a pretty neat kid. She LOVES to play dress up and is convinced that she is a real princess. She is doing pre-K stuff this year. We just started her in Phonics Pathways and is enjoying it. Our goal is to speed her up some so that in the next year or so, she and Seth can do much of the same work. Subjects like History, Science and Logic. She also recently learned how to ride her bike without training wheels. She is SO excited about that.....can't keep her off the bike when we're outside.

Chloe is 2 1/2 now. We're thinking about potty training her and thinking about taking her binky away from her. Yes....just thinking about these things! Some day we'll decide, but for now, I'm comfortable with the thinking phase. Other than that, she enjoys hanging out with her siblings, pretending to "do school" with the big kids and talks about her friend Abby all the time.

Little Man Ethan is 9 1/2 months. He's taking several steps and will be walking fully any day now. He doesn't like food much and will probably nurse until he's five, but he's a big, healthy boy! He's a joy to our family and we look forward to seeing him grow into a young man!

So, I think that covers everyone. Just remind me if I've missed a kid. ;-)

My Girls, My Heros

I'd just like to share with you about how much I appreciate my older girls. Of course, I appreciate and love ALL of my children, but this post is reserved for Cheyenne (14) and Celeste (11). I've always said that God knew I needed the two older girls to help me manage all of the younger ones. We say it with a joking connotation, but most days, there is so much truth in the statement. Today was no exception.

Over the past couple of weeks we've had a string of illnesses pass through most of the kids. The one it affected the most, of course, was baby Ethan. It's impossible for a 9 month old baby to sleep with a congested head and a nagging cough.....so, he didn't......which meant WE didn't.

After several nights of almost no sleep, the dynamics of our household had become a bit short-tempered and irritable. Okay, MOM had become short-tempered and irritable, mostly just the days Daddy was at work.

Cheyenne and Celeste have always been huge helpers in my life and they always seem to find unexpected ways in which to minister to Momma. Chey is really good about offering to watch the little ones so I can lie down for a bit. Celeste is always good about secretly setting up my foot bath massager while I'm putting the little ones to bed. Then, while my feet are soaking, she'll rub my shoulders or brush my hair.

Once again, they both managed to show me the love and service of Jesus while I was having a difficult/tired morning. Ethan actually slept all through the night, which was GREAT, however, the storm kept me up for several hours. Nonetheless, I felt pretty good and was geared up for a great day of schooling (even during spring break).

Well, as soon as Ethan woke up, he fussed and fussed and fussed. This usually doesn't bother me, especially since I know he just doesn't feel well.  But today, I just didn't have it in me to cope with all of the fussing and whimpering.......for hours.

He wasn't happy playing and he wasn't happy being held. He didn't quite know what he wanted, he just knew he didn't feel well. I decided to put him to bed hoping that he just needed a nap. That didn't work. At this point, I'm on the verge of tears out of sheer exhaustion, so I put him back into his crib and flopped onto my bed. 

He just cried and cried. So I prayed and prayed! I prayed that the God would give me what I needed to get through the day.

Just then, Cheyenne came into my room and said, "Mommy, would you like me to give Ethan a bath? That usually makes him feel better." I told her that that was a good idea and thanked her for taking him. Then, Celeste came in and immediately began to assist Cheyenne, and then went to get fresh clothes for Ethan. I heard Celeste tell the little ones to "play quietly so Mom can rest".

I can't tell you how blessed I felt at that moment. Just the mere fact that my sweet girls were ministering to me with a caring spirit, I suddenly gained a second wind and a renewed desire make this a joyful day. I thanked the Lord for blessing me with them and hopped out of bed, ready to be mom again.

They are so special and I am truly thankful for them. Not only are they sweet girls, but they were also setting a tremendous example to the younger ones by their sweet service. I hope and pray that our little ones will follow in their footsteps, not only by serving our family, but serving others as well.

Thank you, Cheyenne and Celeste for ministering to me in such a special way and helping me get through our "daddyless days" with joy! I love you!

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Family In Germany

Homeschooling In Germany.........


Stories like this one remind me to be thankful for the freedoms we have here in America to homeschool our children. Let's always remember to pray for the families in other countries suffering much persecution for simply being obediant to God's call.

Do you think the US (government) is heading in this direction?