Playlists

I have thought a lot in the past few days about seasons of life. I am obviously coming to a close of my current season of life, and I have pondered how this change will affect me.

I am realizing more and more how excited I am about this change. I am also learning how to live in my moment, enjoying each bit of it, because, before you know it--life changes again. I have learned the brevity of life, of time, of seasons. This six and a half year season, of Cheston and I enjoying one another alone has been a sweet time. I wouldn't change it for the world. Getting up and surfing when we want to, staying out gardening till it's dusk, heading to our friend's house to watch American Idol, going on trip after trip, seeing Europe for 7 weeks, all that has been sweet. God has given us a desire to bring a little life into our family and include him in all of this. Now I know, or so I have been told, life changes immensely when a baby comes into the picture. We are ready for this. We open armedly accept all the things that come with parenting. And we're excited for life to get that much sweeter.

Now I entitled my blog post "Playlists". This also flows with my thoughts. Each phase or season of life, certain songs have been significant during that season of life. For high school, the songs I remember were "The Time of Your Life" by Greenday, "Your Love Will Go On" by Celine Dion, and "Secret Garden" by Bruce Springstein. When I was with Cheston, it was a whole other playlist. I related to beautiful songs of love, and the emotions involved. Most of that playlist was inhabited by Coldplay, Dashboard Confessional, The Jealous Sound, Weezer. When we lost four members in our family within four months, the playlist was filled with songs of hope and comfort. I couldn't stop listening to "Hiding Place" by Jars of Clay, "Raging Sea" by Michael W. Smith, and "Only Hope" by Mandy Moore.

There is a new season in our life. My playlist is one of new life, cheerfulness, upbeat songs. This is an exciting time for us. I am thrilled for the playlist that is about to form.

In My Arms
by Plumb

Your baby blues
So full of wonder
Your curly cues
Your contageous smile
And as I watch
You start to grow up
All I can do is hold you tight

Knowing clouds will rage
And storms will race in
But you will be safe in my arms
Rains will pour down
Waves will crash all around
But you will be safe in my arms

Story books full of fairy tales
Of kings and queens and the bluest skies
My heart is torn just in knowing
You'll someday see the truth from lies

Knowing clouds will rage
And storms will race in
But you will be safe in my arms
Rains will pour down
Waves will crash all around
But you will be safe in my arms

Castles they might crumble
Dreams may not come true
But you are never all alone
Because I will always
Always love you

Clouds will rage
And storms will race in
But you will be safe in my arms
Rains will pour down
Waves will crash all around
But you will be safe in my arms

Poppies

For Part II of my Mom's "birthday-ish" celebration, we took her to the Poppy Festival in Lancaster, California. We thought, "Hey, it's her favorite flower, this oughta be fun!" Well, it turned out to be a little bit of a let down for Chet and I, because--go figure, there were no poppies. It was a fair just like all the other fairs in Cali. Fried twinkies, funnel cake, people dressed in Roman period costumes, in character?! Let me tell you what I learned, the company you are with makes all the difference! We were with our family friends, Ron and Beth Hood, who flew all the way from Washington to see my Mom for her party. (They knew my parents since I was a toddler.) We had a blast. Then we drove out to the Poppy Reserve, about 20 + minutes out. Again, a surprise to us: it was a reserve minus the poppies. We asked the ranger where the poppies were. (I'm sure he doesn't get that question fifty times a day.) He said they were out of season, it was a bad year for them. We chuckled at his lack of enthusiasm, and drove back to a tiny patch of poppies we had seen on the way in. We had so much fun in the cold wind taking those pictures! Then we headed toward the freeway. On our way to the freeway, we came upon a lovely meadow of poppies, not even on the reserve! Praise the Lord for His little goodnesses to us! My Mom got her poppies! Enjoy the pictures. What a breath of fresh air to not only enjoy God's creation, but refreshing fellowship with dear friends.

"Her children will rise up and call her blessed."

Her children rise up and call her blessed;
Her husband also, and he praises her:
“ Many daughters have done well,
But you excel them all.”
Proverbs 31:28-29

Tonight my mother was honored with a surprise 60th birthday party, in our humble little backyard in Somis. The party was lovely and around 40 people graced us with their presence. It was amazing to see people from every season of my mother's full life. My favorite was the beautiful slideshow that my dear friend, Stacie worked on. It was beautiful, emotional, deep. All in the form of pictures. Listening to the soundtrack, watching the images, touched me at how many lives my Mom has touched with JOY. She truly is, in essence, the name she was given.

My Mom has been an example of what it means to be a woman of prayer, and being committed to reading the Word consistently. As I shared about who my Mom is to me, I read the Proverb that speaks about how the woman's family rises up to call her blessed. I can truly call my Mother blessed, as she is an outpouring of the grace of God to those around her. May she be honored on this day.

My Jogging Stroller

I forgot to post about this, but awhile back God answered a very specific prayer. This causes me to think that every time I go before His throne, He hears my call and grants me what He wills is best for me.

I had been praying for a jogging stroller. Now I wasn't going to register for one, because, put simply, it's an extra. I'm registering for a normal stroller that I can take everywhere. A jogging stroller is a bonus. Also, I don't jog. So sue me. But I determined that I would jog if I had one and it would be an extra blessing to have to work out when I can't get to the gym or when I have to drop my gym membership. I have been registering for most everything in grey colors, because it's a very good color for either boy or girl, if we ever were to have a girl too. I like it to all be very practical. Oh, and I LIKE the color grey.

God answered that prayer when I was over at Michelle's a few weeks ago, and she told me she had something in her garage.

I walked in, and there sat a beautiful grey jogging stroller, with orange writing. It was beautiful and I jumped up and down and "jogged" with it in Michelle's backyard. Michelle's neighbors were moving and they didn't want to take the stroller with them, and so they asked if she wanted it or knew anyone who might need it.

Now, I'm just saying, remember this story when you cry out to our Father, not just for things you are asking for, but in your prayers, that He answers even what we think are the silliest requests.

Doug Wilson's Blog on the Resurrection

Wake, O Sleeper

This is the word of exhortation for an Easter morning, and so what shall that exhortation be? I do not exhort you to believe in the resurrection, for you already do. I do not exhortation to be raised with Christ in your baptism, for you already are. What shall the exhortation be then?

The apostle Paul says that we are to live in the light in such a way as to reprove the filthiness that the world gives itself to in the dark. Note how he puts it: "But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light" (Eph. 5:13-14).

We have been raised because Christ was raised. But we are not to spend our time congratulating ourselves over our resurrection state. Having been raised, we are charged to turn to the world and say to them, as those captured in a deep sleep—awake. You that sleep, awake. Your sleep is death, and so we come to you with a gospel call. Christ is risen, we are risen, and now you must rise. And when you rise, the Lord Jesus, the risen Christ, will shine upon you and give you light.

The resurrection declares that Jesus is the Son of God. The resurrection declares that God will judge all the nations through Him. And the resurrection declares that He is the Sun of righteousness, warming a once frozen world. Rise O sleeper, rise from your death. Rise from the comforts of all your sins, and Christ will shine upon you.

Posted by Douglas Wilson

Registered

Well I have been asked a bit, so I figured I would probably finally post a link for both registries. We tried to keep it narrowed to one, but found a lot of things on Amazon.com that Babies R Us didn't have. We are big on books, Amazon has endless amounts. I am not fully decided on our Amazon Registry, so there are like five baby carriers on there. I am not asking for that many. :) I'll have my mind decided in the next few days.....

Here are direct links to the registries per your requests....

babiesrus.com

amazon.com

(under Cheston's name)

My Bracelet

I received this bracelet from my friend Summer Roughton last Friday. She was in the middle of grieving the loss of her father, Gary, and in the midst of preparations for his memorial. Even through all that, she made me this bracelet. I was blown away, because it looks like a Tiffany's bracelet. Let me tell you, it feels like one. (Not that I ever owned one, but boy this is better!) I jumped around excitedly because it's unbelievable and perfect.

Oh, and I will not take it off for anything, but surfing and maybe Disneyland rides.

Thank you, Sum.

Check out her company's amazing stuff:
lisaleonardonline.com

The Key

Main Street

Mom, our rescuer!

The infamous key!

Ready for surf!

Not just posers.

The search continues...

The search.

Funny thing happened again today....

Amidst all the busy-ness of life at this moment, I took a break to have a day with my dear friend and the ocean. We set out with our matching boards, hit the water, and enjoyed a good day of surf. I actually pulled off a reverse drop nose, MANY TIMES. Quite a feat for me. I hollered for every wave Allie took, and for the older generation paddle-boarders barreling down the line. A lady bug even rode on my shoulder for most of my surf.

As we got out, we went to put our boards away so we could lay in the sun for a few before heading out to eat lunch. As we got to the car, I pulled out the little key from my wetsuit and began to put it through the lock. Long story short, I had taken our OLD ACCORD KEY, and not my new Pilot key. We were locked out of the car. I quietly tried again and again to shove that key into the lock. I got flustered. Allie looked at me and asked, "That's not the right key, is it?" She began to chuckle her jolly laugh. It was so good to have that humorous perspective, because, well, what could we do anyways???? I asked an older man if I could borrow his cell to call my husband. (He was very kind and gave us some water, too.) Cheston couldn't make it but would call someone who would have to go by our house, get the extra key, then drive it over to us, unaware of where we were laying on the beach. Alright, so we walked back across the hot pavement, put our boards face-down in the sand, since the wax was melting on mine, and we laid down in the sand to catch some rays. That was the only choice we had!:)

Allie took a nap, I searched for seashells. No clue how much time had passed. Suddenly, I'm looking up towards the road, where passers-by can watch surfers, and there my Mom's head pops out! She saved us! She found us at the beach and brought our key!

Needless to say, we all had a much needed bite to eat at Nature's Grill, and chuckled over the events of the day.

Construction on the Hizz-ouse.

Okay, yes I actually did add that "iz" to my word. I don't know what came over me. Maybe it's the constant "Indiana Jones"-type battle my Dad and I had yesterday with GIANT earwigs (I'm not kidding, 50 at a time running around) or the coming face to face with many black widows, but I'm a little loopy, and overly self confident when it comes to hauling stuff. I mean, my Dad and I (and Susie) filled the truck up THREE times yesterday and dumped two of it at the dump and one of it at Denny's (firewood). My backyard is looking amazing, the house is coming along amazing.

There is movement again on the addition, that is all thanks to God's provisions to us. I am so excited to see so much done. Seeing windows on the addition is huge. It's helping make it so much more final. It's been hard work. We literally do not go to sleep until around 10:30 or 11, but the reward is great.

I am so grateful for my husband who works so diligently to make this home our dream home. He has labored so hard, to save us money by doing a lot himself. The help is so appreciated from friends and family. Without all of them, we could not have done so much.