Pictures-Pictures and More Pictures...

I have been meaning to post pictures for a very long time- this week is the kids 2nd week on Summer vacation! I plan to catch my blog up the next couple of days- I haven't posted any events or picture updates since February!!! Wow- that is a long time. Be prepared for tons of photos. :)
After Shiannes' 11th birthday in January she chose to get her ears pierced with some of her birthday money...

5th Grade Colonial Day! I remember when Shianne was in kindergarten at Cole Canyon Elementary, watching all the 5th graders celebrate this event- It really never dawned on me that this day would get here so fast! Wow!!!




In February Shianne and I took a day trip to Palm Desert; where my Sister, Mandy and Seth took us out to lunch at Tommy Bahamas- Beautiful Place.
See Tiger Woods there to the left of us- lol- That is actually my very handsome nephew Seth- no kidding though - everyone takes double takes at that boy I swear they think he's the Tiger. ;) So many laughs and just pure fun catching up on each others lives were had on this lunch date. It was a great day!


Yes I look like I'm squeezing the life out of this girl- Of course theres nothing like messing with the coloring of a photo... ;)


Brendens' Spring 2011 Baseball Season...



Don't you just love how they spelled Lapierre- "La Pierde" Thats a first! :)









Temecula Youth Baseballs Sluggers for a Cure Game! This event was near and dear to our hearts as a real dear friend of ours is a Survivor!!! She knows who she is and to watch her Faith be built by God through such a difficult time has absolutely touched our lives!!! BRING ON THE PINK!!!





And then there is March! St. Patties Day...check out this Leprachaun Trap map the kids created before going to school...


And then there is our Soloist!!! Shianne had a solo in her chorus musical...as you can tell she loved every minute of it- and so did we!!!





Spring Break- It included Sleepovers, Playtime & what is Spring Break without some Beach fun? Michael came over and had a sleepover with the boys!




Brenden & Michael ready to race!!!







This girl LOVES HER DOG...


Sleepover with their cousin Megan...





Beach trip with the Roddas... Yes it was cold- The kids however did not care! :)
Our last trip with them was before our family moved to Northern Cal. I just sat there on that beach so happy to be back home...











This is Michael- and I am so proud of these pictures...I told his Mama he needs to be submitted to Tilleys and all the other Surf Shops...




And in April- Jimmy lost his 1st top tooth!!!


Easter '2011 These kids are the greatest!!!



Stay tuned for even more- Like Jimmys Young Author Award and Shiannes 5th grade Graduation and awards- Brendens motocross racing updates etc.

"Faith is not the Force I generate"

Well it's been a little over 30 days and God has revealed so much about Faith to me- if you read my previous post you will see the bulk of it. :)
Last Sunday at our church service; we began a series in the book of Hebrews- the focus verse was in Chapter 11 verses 1-3. What a way to finish off the faith journey I have been on (which of course is by no means ever really finished) when I turned to Chapter 11 I saw I had written from a previous time "The Faith Chapter"!!! I love when that happens- Clarification- and an even deeper understanding.

Here is the key quote that finished off the sermon-
"Faith is not the force I generate"!!!
I just love this quote I had never heard it put that way before- so simple- yet so profound!
I am now taking a step on the "GOODNESS" Journey- not alone of course ;) - can't wait to see what He has to reveal.
Blessings.

My Faith Journey...

So far I have to say I'm surprised at how often I need to remind myself to be faithful. I guess it's good- because I've become more aware of the lack of faith I have in many areas of my life.

God is reminding me that through the circumstances and trials in life that He is molding our family into something I cannot yet see. I have to be raw for a moment here, I'm gonna do it- I'm gonna expose a major flaw; only because I know I can't be the only one who has felt this. Why is it, that when our sin and anger gets the best of my family I feel as though I am completely losing control over my household and the people that dwell in it? I will admit I have a major fear; that if I don't do everything "just right"- that my entire family will fall apart. Okay I said it. I sometimes live in guilt thinking I should be wanting to be more active in the keeping the family together role- but find myself just flat out exhausted!
I'm realizing through this journey everyday just how much I hurt emotionally in this area- and just how much more I need to STAND FAITHFUL! But just what does standing faithful mean exactly?

We hear it everywhere, see it everywhere, it's become just a simple word that makes people feel better. If that's the case it's only temporary-and just a word with no life changing meaning.

I prayed and wrote in my journal about this...and this is what God has brought me to so far...

I've learned it is very hard to stand Faithful when I don't include God in my trials- ALL OF THEM! I cannot be faithful in my own power, I can only be faithful with Him as my "constant" guide.
It's crazy to me how easy it is when trying to stand faithful to find myself attempting to stand faithful in my own power- that kind of faith fails me everytime; and that is where all the fear, guilt,exhaustion & frustration comes in. Catching myself being faithful in my own power makes it extremely difficult to live out what standing on faith really means.

Faith ultimately is in the ONE who carries ALL the answers- and because we learn to believe and be faithful in this alone we can begin to learn how to truly be faithful in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Prayer
"Lord you have a plan and I know I need to trust you in this area. Lord I pray that you will build my Faith in your plan, knowing your ways are perfect. Show me and walk with me on this journey in which you have called me. - Amen"

I'm going on a Faith Journey

I am about to embark on an 8 month journey. It begins with Faith. In our parents of adolescents group last night someone made the comment of making an honest effort to build on the traits in the following verse.

2 Peter 1: 3-9
His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self control; and to self control; perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge
of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.


He asked; "Can you just imagine what our homes would be like if we could really get this verse and characteristics therein; in our heart soul and minds? To make an honest and conscious effort to build on these traits on a regular basis?" A light bulb went off he suggested 30 days per trait and I am so there! I need this journey to keep me focused on Gods goals for my life and not my own. Mine; time and time again, fail; but His love and plans never do. I want to be prepared for whatever He has in store. Please keep me in your prayers as I seek Him more on this journey and that my eyes be opened to the many things He wants me to see.

1. Faith- 2. Goodness- 3. Knowledge - 4. Self Control - 5. Perseverance - 6.Godliness - 7. brotherly kindness - 8. Love

My journey begins with Faith; I'm not too surprised; looking at the list it is clear It will require a ton of Faith to effectively be prepared for what is to come.

My Mom gave this beautiful gift to me last year...

Emotional Environment...

I have been taking a class at church for the past 3 weeks in raising adolescents. It has been confirmed by our pastor that at about the age of 11; parenting becomes a whole new ball game. I was thinking I was losing it as a parent- losing the relationship all together that I've wanted to have with our daughter and most importantly not realizing the kind of relationship she desperately needs from us at her age and going forward.

I wont get into any detail about the different techniques I have been learning on communication because quite frankly they are still sinking in. Our pastor said at the beginning of this class to come prepared to learn and prepared to change. I am changing...and I am seeing results.

This past week stuck out to me enough to write about- because I know my friends will probably relate; and might even decide to ask themselves to wrestle with the same question.

It was about our emotional environment. The emotional environment of our marriage determines the emotional environment our kids live in. Interesting and so true.

We were told to think this week in detail about the emotional environment we want our children to grow up in.

The emotional environment I seek for our family...

The 1st statement that comes to mind is to be Emotionally Secure.
When in an emotional state to stand Faithful!

Isaiah 40: 29-31
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like Eagles;
they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not grow faint."

I heard this verse read by Charles Stanley and described as "Our Faith is our set of wings"! :) That just makes my heart smile. He also said "God wants us to soar...not sit".
It is my prayer that our family will live by and soar on our faith!

Allow tears, learn to take those tears to our Lord and pray. To be the kind of family that can also take those tears to each other and lift each other up in prayer.

Teach empathy no matter how little someone's problem may seem to us.

To have Patience to go through with one another what we may not have the patience to understand- the patience to make ourselves take the time to try and understand.

Allow God to open our eyes to see how each other deal with emotions differently, so we can be a family that lifts and builds one another up - to be encouragers & motivators of
each other REGARDLESS of what we "feel" like doing.

It is my prayer that one day with continual seeking of Gods word, prayer, work and effort that these attributes will come naturally.

I feel so blessed to be part of such a family building church!
It's not only a place to come and learn, but a place to be motivated and inspired to change- I thank God for placing our family here!