What happened within hours of Trav leaving for a week

Jonah ran into his room, the rug slipped out from under him, and he landed with his nose on the frame of his bed. I walked in to find him on his stomache with his back arched and his face on the frame of his bed. He bled out both nostrils, his nose swelled up big, all I could think about was "why now when I'm by myself?" It didn't look crooked, his pupils were responding to light properly so we waited it out at home. He just has some nasty scabs and bruising and a great story to tell every time someone asks, which Jonah loves.

Some favorite pics from our D-land trip

It has been my dream forever to stay at the Disneyland Hotel with the kids, and this summer it came true! Thanks to our dear family, we were treated to one night at the hotel and a day at the park. It was wonderful from start to finish. As we pulled up to the hotel Payton was hanging out the window saying, "This is too good to be real!" Jonah contributed, "This is amazing!" It was a treat to experience it all through our kids' eyes. They are memories I'll cherish for years to come.

The view from our hotel room. We had a major waterfall right outside our sliding doors!

The Neverland pool was a highlight for us! It was the first thing we did once we got to the hotel. Davey rocked the pint sized waterslide and was very bold floating around in his life vest.

We spent two hours there and the kids would only leave with the promise of being able to go back after dinner, which they did!

Dinner at Goofy's Kitchen was amazing. All you can eat buffet. The kids were thrilled that after they ate a healthy dinner they could have whatever they wanted. They went back 4 times for desserts. I beat them with five desserts. I finished all but two, but ate most of the last two. I LOVE a good dessert.

Jonah and Davey were up by 6:30am of course, so the boys and I snuck out for early morning hot cocoas and a latte by the pool while Payton and Trav slept. The boys then watched old disney cartoons in the lobby while I read the paper and sipped my latte. Heaven!

Davey is seriously the best autopia driver there is, except for maybe Jonah. I think he hit the center divider twice before he realized how to avoid it and it was smooth driving the rest of the way. This was one of his favorites, along with Splash Mountain.

I love going to Disneyland with my family. It never gets old for me.

One song, four memories

"Play that Funky Music" by White Cherry seems to be a consistent theme song to various moments of my life. I love this song, it has to be played loud, and always requires some dancing or at least some vigorous head nodding if you're driving.
Here are my four memories:
1) My wedding. We dedicated this song to my dad at our wedding reception and the whole party danced "the Bob" which is this funky dance my dad has always done ever since I can remember. I can't help but smile at the memory of this crowded, sweaty, happy dance floor giving props to my dad. We loved our reception, I was a terrible host, I think I greeted maybe one guest and stayed on the dance floor the rest of the time. Where is that crazy girl now?

2) Choir Tour with the VCC High School Group. We were on an insane trip covering California from top to bottom in about four days with 40 something kids. We were pulling into Paradise, CA, it was over 100 degrees, the church van was overheating so the heater was on full blast, windows down, White Cherry turned all the way up. Somehow that song made it all bearable, even fun. This is also the same trip we went tubing down the river and almost lost about five kids to the rapids. I was also overturned in my tube and dashed upon some rocks. I pulled myself crying and sniveling out of the water into the arms of my friend Laila. Adam still laughs at the memory of Laila holding me crying on the side of the river. Good times!

3) VCC High School Summer Camp at Alpine. We had a 70's disco party one year, and for some reason I thought it'd be great to wear a nasty gold lame (sp?) dress for the occasion. Obnoxious dancing, loud music, again, my dear friend Laila was there. I cherish my memories with the youth group so much now, I miss them terribly still. At times it overwhelms me.

4) My own three children now love and dance to the song all the time. (picture at the top) I was outside washing my car the other day and came in to White Cherry at full volume and my three kids happily contorting their bodies to the music. Another generation picks up where we left off. Perhaps I shall dance to this song again at their own weddings one day!

What $5 buys at the Farmer's Market

This big bowl of organic raspberries! Berries should always be so cheap. We bought these Tuesday and they were gone by this morning. Anything we buy at the Farmer's Market doesn't last longer than two days b/c it's so good the kids and I eat it up.

My "High" for the Day

Jonah grabbing my butt with both hands while I'm bagging my groceries at Trader Joe's and singing "shake shake shake, shake shake shake, shake your booty!" I didn't even look around or try to give the embarrassed grin at people. I just shooed him away and kept bagging like nothing happened. It was a beautiful moment.

My Beautiful Fight

I'm reading this amazing book by Gary Thomas that I'm learning so much from. Any of you who know us well know that we are struggling with what our future plans might be. Where does God want us? what does he desire for our lives? What's are our next step? It has consummed our thoughts and shadowed our days. We wonder if God is speaking to us or are we not listening well. I read this quote by Augustine from this book that changed my heart. In speaking to God Augustine says,

"The man who serves you best is the one who is less intent on hearing from you what he wills to hear than on shaping his will according to what he hears from you."

Just like that, flip, my heart began to accept this floating place that we find ourselves in. I could feel myself relax into it more, grateful for the peace that comes with accepting the circumstances you find yourself in and not fighting them with everything you've got. I'm finally starting to get it, shape my will around what God has chosen to reveal to me rather than demanding He reveal something different or what's to come next.
I know I will need to continue to learn this lesson, you don't get stuff like this once and then keep it for good, at least I don't. But I'm so grateful to begin to grasp it, to rest in what God has for me today, be attentive to the people and circumstances I find myself in, and leave tomorrow and its decisions to his care and timing.
Yay for Augustine and the wisdom he shared with me today!

My budding artist

Jonah painted this amazing picture at pre-school that he entitled "The storm coming to the House". His paintings are becoming more elaborate and defined, it is so cool to watch your child's skills and talents develop. I love this kid, he has been my biggest challenge and my greatest teacher. He reflects right back at me who I am and how I represent myself. Sometimes, it's not too pretty like when he slammed down his yogurt yesterday and said, "I'm so sick of this!" And yet there's moments of true grace, love, and patience that he'll display, especially with Davey who tries constantly to rule Jonah's world.
Last night I hit my head on Jonah's bunkbed and yelled which Jonah LOVES. Anytime someone screams in fright or in injury Jonah thinks it's the funniest thing in the world and will talk about it and re-enact it over and over laughing every time. He had the biggest belly laugh for like five minutes last night, and I'm sitting in the dark, grinning at his response, but trying to be a little miffed that he won't ask me if I'm ok. I kept asking him to check and see if I was all right and he seriously couldn't get it out inbetween his giggles. He asked me to hit my head again this morning to relive his amusement.