Happy Anniversary my love

August 27, 1994
Just 18 years ago....we wed

A beautiful day in August.....at 23, so young and yet by God's grace, I chose well!

Thank God!

We celebrated by going out a day early and headed to our little town of Carmel.  It was very enjoyable, we have not spent time just the two of us downtown.  We ate a meal at Vesuvio and desert at Casanova's.

Casanova's

(table made famous b/c

Love this mirror image....Andrew and I had a morning run together with Bobo riding along!

Later in the afternoon we had our dear friend Joy watch our kids and we headed back downtown for a coffee and chat for a few hours.  Then the evening was dinner celebrating with the kiddos. 
A good weekend of lots of conversation.  I continue to realize how compatible we are in many ways and how much we enjoy each others company.  I also see our differences, which challenges us and how we don't let each other get away with much  We have a growing relationship that is dynamic, exciting, moving, challenging...I am still amazed at how much I learn from my relationship with Andrew and how much I still see areas of growth for us and for me as a wife.
I love being with Andrew.  I feel both so comfortable with him and at the same time, he is still "other".  I have confidence we will weather the storms of life together.  There are times we allow the weeds to grow and it is easy to allow distance to creep in....marriage can survive on "auto pilot" but not thrive! 
I want amazing...I want more and that is good!  It takes time and intention. 
I want to grow as a wife and love him in richer ways!
I love this man and I am blessed indeed!



Two are better than one



Complete

"I cannot make myself right with God.  I cannot make my life perfect.  I can only be right with God if I accept the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ as an absolute gift.  Jesus is not beginning to save us, He has saved us, the thing is done and it is an insult to ask Him to do it.  The real business of your life as a saved soul is intercessory prayer.  Wherever God puts you in circumstances, pray immediately, pray for that His atonement may be realized in others lives as it has been in yours.  Pray for your friends now, pray for those with whom you come into contact now. "

"Pray on the realization that you are only perfect in Christ Jesus, not on this plea-'O Lord, I have done my best, please hear me..'"

"How long is it going to take God to free us from the morbid habit of thinking about ourselves?  We must get sick to death of thinking about ourselves?  We must get sick unto death of ourselves until there is no longer any surprise at anything God can tell us about ourselves.  There is only one place where we are right, and that is in Christ Jesus.  When we are three, then we have to pour out for all we are worth in this ministry of the interior."  (of course....Oswald Chambers)

Some California Friends

We have been so blessed by our growing friendships....again, God provides...abundantly!

Deveraux has a new friend, Emeline.  Deveraux has shown how wonderful she is with younger kids, they really look to her for direction and she is good at mediating conflicts, watching over them, and playing!

Our sweet friends, the Sollazo's came for an overnight stay.  The kids played a lot!

Our sweet Bible study now meets in our home.  This is the end of the study where all the mamma's are holding their babies who were growing restless.  A snapshot of mothers!

This is Deveraux's Sunday school teacher, Ms. Judith, who came to dinner.  We are blessed she has been Deveraux's teacher!

A peacock who visits our friend Joy's house daily, a silly sort of friend!

Elijah, a friend of Bobo's...sharing raspberries



A great day with friends at Earthbound Farm



Some friends from Maui moved to CA, the kids had fun with their moving boxes.

It is great to see Maui friends!

My sweet friend Joy and her daughter Emeline!

Our Bobo

Bobo and I went on a date for new shoes!  I am so glad he liked these!

Bobo had a marker and was smelling it.  I asked him to put it up and he asked, "Can I hide to smell it?"

Mondays with just mama and dada!

After school one day, Bobo said, "Deveraux, guess what?  Jesus is not on the cross anymore, He rosedid!"

Bobo wanted a picnic.  So one of his new things is, "close your eyes...Open them!!!"

One of my most favorite things is when it is silent and I go looking for Bobo and I find him looking at books!

Another new favorite...flipping pancakes! 

One night he came out of the shower looking like this....it was funny. 

Bobo loves to hold onto my neck sometimes to go to sleep, it is like he wants to make sure I won't go anywhere!  I always wanted a "cuddler".  Deveraux grew more into that role, Bobo has always had that "cuddleness".

On this day last week, we went to Del Monte beach.  A new beach we had not been to and Bobo wanted his wet suit.  He was in the water more than he has been since we moved here.  It was fun jumping the waves with him!

One of a kind you are!

Time

"Time moves on, its moments are holy

Pay attention to the moments with Thanks!" -Ann Voskamp

Time will move no matter what.

It is what we do with it.

What we do with the moments.

I know in my life I need more thanks. 

To focus on what is instead of what isn't...

  I wrote yesterday about challenging myself to be more unhurried.  Last night, I tried it out at Costco.  Now it helped having Andrew do the shopping.  But I just followed the kids into the toy section and let them lead the way.  It was nice to follow and not to feel so rushed even if for 10 minutes.  Then when it was my turn, their following seemed easier, they had a turn.

 

What is it in spontaneity?  It seems we enjoy the moments more.  We aren't so calculated.  We are surprised.  We end up thankful because we weren't expecting.