What a slow day this has been. I really have nothing to share, but in reading blogs and in commenting on how fun my kids are I remembered a story. A while back the kids had me rolling in the floorboard. I didn't tell the story because at the time Gab was blogging and she is much better with the written word. She never told the story so I'm going to try now.

We live on a military base so we have to go through the guard gate to get to our house. I heard Michael explain to some one the other day that we live in a gated community. :) Any how, one day as we came through the gate, off to the side I saw the strangest contraption; reminded me of a deer stand. So when the guard (kid) stopped me for ID, I ask him what it was. The kids said that I asked about the hen house. This I don't remember, but I did ask if they were hunting deer. The kid told me that it was a sniper hut and that I was in their sites as we spoke. To which I commented that they were just hunting a different kind of deer. At this point my kids were rolling at my expense. The guard himself was having a hard time keeping a straight face. As we roll on through the gate we are just laughing and carrying on. Then we actually past the deer stand/sniper hut, Kevin makes a noise and slumps over in his seat as though shot. I was laughing so hard I was crying.

You know the retelling just doesn't quite do it justice. You had to have been in the car with us. My kids feed off each other. It was great.

On a different note all together: Some one had suggested a web site for us to visit on Creationism. ICR.com In going to that site I found that there is going to be a seminar Jan 20th in Bakersfield. So, Monday I will be signing us all up to go and Quincy has agreed to go with us. I think we'll have great fun. I don't know anything about the seminar other than what I've just said. Even Michael is excited about going.

I need to stop blogging about Mr. Quincy out of respect to Gab. However, since I did ask all of you guys to pray I will update you as to the latest. It seems that he does know the Gospel and that at age 12 he prayed to receive Christ. Gab is ecstatic and Michael's belief is once saved always saved.

I think I'll go make cookies and bread. Then I will prepare myself for Sunday. Have a great day!

Guess what I learned how to do?!

Ain't we all so pretty!

The Living Desert

My first comment: Wanna hug?

Kevin's first comment: Don't fall down he's ready for lunch.














Gabrielle and Quincy










Wanna neck?
If you look really, really close you can see two camels with their necks wrapped around each other. It was quite interesting and amusing to see.








Doesn't he make a cute butterfly?

It's a Dog's Life

Meet Tyke the Beagle and Roxie the Chu, oh I can't spell that. They have such a rough life. ;)

Kevin has been teaching them to stay off the living room furniture and out of the kitchen. So the dog bed lives in the living room now. Then they found this other chair by the computer. Looks pretty cozy to me. At night we have to flip the cushions up on the living room furniture to keep them from sneaking.

I just read about how Boston loves to help with the laundry at her house. Tyke knows just how to get our attention. If he's howling talk is ignored then he'll find a sock and toss it up in front of us. If this doesn't work he'll take it into the back yard via the doggie door. I thought that door was just the greatest invention of all time. Now I shudder to think what I'm going to find out there next. My neighbor promised to call me right away if and when she sees our underwear decorating the back yard. We try to keep the door to the bedrooms and laundry room shut, but you all know what that's like. Life gets busy.

Have a wonderful relaxing day.

End of the Day

I had a busy productive day. Sat down to create a new post and post some pictures. First though I wanted to check in and see what you guys have been up to. My how time flies. Now I must be off to bed! I have been staying up way too late and getting up has been less than fun.

My husband cooked supper for me tonight! My oh my can that man cook. I told him he could put food on my table anytime he wanted. I'd buy the food and clean up the mess. He assures me that I am quite capable of cooking a meal just as nice. "you just have to cook and NOTHING else." See when I cook I'm doing at least 5 other things at the same time. When Michael cooks he is totally focused. Unbelievable. You don't even talk to him.

One time years ago my mom was in for a visit. She and I went out to do some shopping and while we were gone my husband cooked dinner for us. When we came in the front door the table was set with the most beautiful baby back ribs and fixings you'd ever seen. As we came to the table my mom just couldn't stop going on about how impressed she was and how good it taste. Then she looked into the kitchen. I thought the woman was going to pass out. Michael had managed to use every dish and utensil in the house. At the time he hadn't learned the concept of clean as you go. Great meal, but man WHAT a mess.

Needless to say, I LOVE it when my man cooks; even if I do get stuck with the dishes. :)

0830 HA!

We finally rolled out at 0930 and got on the road at ~1100, putting us in San Diego at ~ 1430. (2:30). The alarm went off at 0600, but I turned it off. LAZY Also, stubborn and/or rebellious. I'm tired of being the first one up and having to get the rest of the crew going. They were all told to set their alarm and figure out the bathing order of the morning. WHAAA! Do you hear the woe is me? The martyr just dying to be noticed? We did make it to the Air Museum. My husband is amazing. A walking encyclopedia on air planes. I was trying to read the markers only to realize he was telling me every thing that was written. He amazes me. The kids were off and on their own program. Gab had the camera and was having a hay day with it. She got some good pictures of Michael and I. I'll try to post later. They would cruise by and check in with us. Every now and then I noticed them actually enjoying and reading the exhibits. When we left the museum we went to Anthony's. Wonderful seafood. It was on the water and we watched a cruise ship leave port. Then back in the car fro the ride home. Kevin is quite the comedian. I told my kids that when they grow up they were going to be famous and well off and it would be all my fault. See they fuss at me because I'm always talking about food and therapy. I constantly read self help books and spout all my learned knowledge. As a result Gab has decided to be a psychologist and Kevin is a natural stand up comedian; his material: me and food.
Oh, I forgot to share that Gabrielle drove all the way!! She did a GREAT job. I was proud. Course Michael was in the front seat and I was in back with my head in a book.

Speaking of books, a good friend gave me an Elizabeth George Bible study on James.
So far I've been reminded to go to the feet of Jesus BEFORE calling (or blogging) a friend; even if it is to ask for prayer, to bridle my tongue, and to ask for wisdom with no doubts. After reading this I self talked to this tune:
It isn't God I doubt, I know He'll give me wisdom when I ask. I just don't trust myself to receive it and apply it. Hmmm, the verse doesn't say don't doubt God, it says do not doubt. So I have to change my thinking. I always ask for wisdom, but since I'm doubting when I ask I am a double minded woman and unstable in all my ways. How sobering.

I suppose I should go to bed. Tomorrow it is back to the rat race. Kevin is back to school, his favorite place to be. :) Gab doesn't start back until Jan 16th. I hope to do a marathon house cleaning tomorrrow, maybe she'll help. In all fairness to her there are times when I want to do it all myself. It is my way of ordering my world and feeling centered. Course that in no way helps her or trains her to be a good house wife. :(

Happy New Year!

We started the new year by sleeping in late and then going to a movie and dinner. We had a really nice time together. Tomorrow we're going to San Diego, Michael wants to go to the Air Museum. We will supposedly leave at 0830. I'll believe it when it happens. :)

I have read several blogs that mention goals for the New Year. I always have the same 2.
1) be in my Bible more often and more consistently
2) lose weight. This year I'm changing it to making healthier food choices and the whole family
has volunteered to join me. YEA!

This year I'm adding a 3rd.
3) open my home to friends for food and fellowship

In years past Michael and I have always talked about having people over for dinner. We decided that the magic day would be when we owned our own home. Well, that day has come and gone. We bought and sold the house and are now living 45 mins from most of our friends, in base housing. There is always an excuse for why this week end doesn't work; bottom line is I'm lazy and a perfectionist. What a combo huh?! See, in order to have guest the house has to be in perfect order and the meal grand. When you work and travel at least 1 and 1/2 hours a day, keeping house falls to the bottom of the priority list. (lazy)

We have made some very wonderful friends in the 5 years that we have lived in the area. Friends that have opened their homes to us, invited us in for Bible study and fellowship, helped us fix our cars and transported us when needed. I know that these friends are true friends and didn't extend themselves to us expecting anything in return! However, in reflection it saddens me to remember how often I didn't say thank you or to realize that I've been too wrapped up in me and mine to open my own home.

So, though my timing is a bit off, there is no time like NOW to follow through with something we have always WANTED to do. We may be leaving in July and the tendency is to start pulling back and focusing on what comes next. I do not want to do that! Like I said we've made some good friends and I would like to solidify that friendship. Besides God and The Marine Corps seems to find great humor in moving us away from 29 Palms for a spell only to bring us right back! I always wondered what it was I wasn't learning that caused us to keep coming back.

Those are my goals.