Our trip story begins... on July 31st

The kids and I took off last Thursday on our own mini vacation up in Reno as we waited for Daddy to fly in.  Above are pictures from the hotel. Yes, I let the kids jump on the beds and have a ball!! They played what Gabriel called "jump tag" from bed to bed. And Annalina came up with a "speeding bullet slide jump"!! Sounds cool, huh?

After all that fun the kids and I watched the X Games with BMX bike tricks and skate boards. The kids LOVED it! We also got to see some Bull riding on another channel. That was fun!

Friday morning Ross got up and went over to the table where I had put the brownies we had made before we left town for our trip and I heard him say "bekfast, bekfast". Yep, we had brownies for breakfast. A true vacation!!!

After our nutritional "bekfast" we went down to the pool and swam. We had a very nice time the weather was so nice for it. I bought the kids swim vests to help me out some. Ross pulled out $50 the other day at the store, second time he's done that. He pushes the $50 cash button when I am checking out of the store and they can't reverse it!! Anyway, extra cash for vacation and stuff like pool safety stuff! An elderly man swimming laps in the pool stopped swimming just long enough to say "you have well behaved children".

Misc. about Daddy coming and going

When Babe came home about 2 weeks ago Gabriel said to his Daddy that he was glad he was home and that "I knew you would come back". That is a comforting thought!!

Saturday night Babe tucked Annalina into bed and I could hear him telling her that he would be flying back next Saturday and that we would come pick him up from the airport. Annalina very matter of factly said "I don't worry about that Daddy". What a personality. I don't need to worry about it so I won't!!!!

Babe's workups for cruise are done! Hallelujah!!! This week he is at an Intel conference. Then he will be home some weeks with us before cruise.

True Quote

"There's nothing that can help you understand your beliefs more than trying to explain them to an inquisitive child." --Frank A. Clark

A few weeks back Brian was watching a war commentary on the War of 1812 and Gabriel asked "Why are they fighting when the Bible says we are to love our enemies?" Brian explained to him that the Bible was speaking personally not country against country. I was thankful that Gabriel was analyzing what he was watching with what he knew Scriptures to say! I may have already blogged this but the quote above is right kids will want to know WHY about what we believe!!

The Tao Kwon Do Kids!!

Gabriel and Annalina have started up TKD and are really enjoying it!! We'll see how it goes! They are in the class with their friend Austin. Annalina can now "Tao Kwon Do Gabriel".

Just love this picture!!

Psalm 4

Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer . . . . 

(vrs.3)But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the Lord will hear when I call unto him.

 Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.

 

Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord. 

There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? Lord, lift thou up the ligh o they countenance upon us. Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased.

 I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.

I don't need to rehash the circumstances of late but just state God's goodness in carrying me through and my families support when I felt like fainting. It has been an intense 24 hours but the Lord has been so good. Last night things came to a head , and it was difficult to bear. IN devotions I read Psalm 4 and it was just perfect. The chapter is just great but verse 5 was sent from God for this time. "Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord." I loved this because I told people yes we do have to "trust the Lord" and sometimes that is a passive thing we wait and trust but that was not my position I had to be making very important decisions and be active. This verse was just great if basically said do the right thing that which is honoring to God and put your trust in God. I just love it. Well, it seems today to come together! Funny, how that happens! LORD WILLING this should basically be over tomorrow morning! God's ways aren't mine and this has taken some wierd turns but it really looks like it is coming to an end.

I am leaving town on Thursday to spend Mommy/kid time with my amazing children. Just me and them no houses, difficult people, unending work. We are gong to swim in the hotel/motel pool and hang out till Brian flies in. We don'tknow when that is but if it is late we will head up to Tahoe and wait for him there. I can't wait to drive out of town with the kids and with the brownies we are going to make before we leave!

During this vacation may the "Lord, lift up thou countenance upon us (especially me!) . . . .and put "gladness in my heart!" Also, out of Psalm 4.  In an email to family and friends I asked them to pray this over me for the next week and a half.

Fort Lysne

Since torturing the dog was not allowed Gabriel and Annalina moved on to Fort building this afternoon. This is their fort. They are having a "party" in it. The teddy bears are the GUARDS!! Menacing, huh? Maybe not but very cute!! Has God blessed me with a Beautiful Girl or what?!!!!