Gone Fishing

Yesterday we went fishing. 

We came, we saw, we conquered! 
It was a special day hanging out as

 a family at the lake.

Josh worked very hard keeping 

everyone's poles in the water,

baiting the hooks, cleaning the fish,

putting new lines on the poles, 

and  teaching the kids how to

reel in the fish!

He's quite the fisherman!

Allie's First Time Fishing!

Allie reeling in her VERY FIRST FISH!!!

 

 

 

  

Marcus told her SHE HAD to KISS the FISH!

Of course, she listened to her big brother and joined the fishing club!

...I haven't joined the club yet...

...I watched in awe with my camera, under an umbrella,
handing out the food, and making sure everyone was
safe and happy.  

A great day for all of us!

Daddy Date

Awhile ago Josh began reading a book by James Dobson 

called Bringing Up Girls and it really convicted him of 

his impact in his daughter's life. It clearly stated that

a dad is the greatest influence in a girl's life.

After reading just a few chapters in this book he began

taking Allie on "Daddy Dates" to stay close to her,
 so when Allie is older she'll talk to him 

about her life and the issues of her heart. Josh doesn't want 

some guy to swoop in and woo her when she's older. 

He wants her to know that she's valuable, important to him,

and worthy of love and respect.

Before a date with her Daddy she goes to her room and puts on her

princess crown (a tiara) because she's Daddy's princess. 
She wears it out on her date, the entire time.

Today they went to Target-Allie got a slurpee and Josh got coffee
at the Starbucks in the store. Then they shopped and found a toy
 horse that looks just like the one she takes riding lessons with. 
She got her very own Mazzi!

Today she did something new. They were getting ready to 
go out and she pulled out a princess book she got at the library 
and asked her daddy if he would wear this outfit on their date, 
as she pointed to the book and picture of Snow White's Prince 
Charming. Josh did his best. He doesn't have that outfit in his 
closet. But, to me and Allie, he's better than that Prince Charming.

Today, Allie was one happy, princess girl that felt the 

love of her hero...her Daddy.

All tuckered out after her special afternoon.

Got the TICKETS!

We are SO excited! Earlier this week we got our tickets

to see Tim Hawkins performing live here in Utah 

(I think for the first time)! We only have to

wait three more weeks until the show.

 I think Marcus has memorized most of his jokes.

Since, Marcus likes to make people laugh,I think 

Tim Hawkins is one of his heroes.

 We have definitely found that in life and ministry

laughter is such good medicine for the heart!

Here's one of the songs he wrote :)

Cody the Cat is Loved

 

I didn't have to guess who did this when I walked downstairs to 

do the laundry.

Allie loves Cody. She has the biggest heart for animals in our family.

She is sensitive to Cody's needs. She sleeps with a little blankie

every night...so Cody must want a blankie (or two or three) to

cover him during his nap.

She grabbed a couple cleaning rags out of the laundry room closet

and gently laid them on Cody.

 I grabbed my camera to take a picture of this because I thought 

it was too cute. Allie saw me taking a picture and had to 

re-adjust the blankets just right. So I took a few more

and caught her in the act.

Wordless Wednesday

I love today

I love the days when it's warm outside. I love the days 

when the kids can play in the backyard, Josh is off for 

a day, and Marcus can help him mow the lawn.

I love the days when my kids can eat outside 

and spend time talking to each other on the swing set. 

 I love today.

Bootcamp

This morning I went to Josh's bootcamp at the 

the gym he manages and does personal training at. 

I have been going to his Monday morning class for the 

last four weeks.I love it! It's such an awesome workout. 

Last week we focused on legs and I was sore all week! 

Two days later, it made my 20 mile bike ride (half of it 

climbing a serious mountain UPHILL), even more challenging. 

I love the feeling that I really pushed myself when 

I workout. What's the point if I don't?

Josh is such an incredible trainer!!! I love to be able 

to see him at work. It makes my day so much happier.

Marriage Inspiration

We saw this video posted on John Piper's blog
and were really touched by it

...thought we'd share it with you, too.

The Story of Ian and Larissa

Few First Things

Today was a special day...a few first things happened here!

#1)  Rob has lost his FIRST tooth!

If you look closely there is a hole in his gum where the baby tooth was.

However, it's hard to tell because his ADULT tooth grew in so fast

behind it. I was just planning on calling the dentist today to schedule 

it to be pulled. Thankfully, today Rob was chewing gum and 

accidentally bit down on his loose tooth. It practically came out.

 He kind of had a cool "shark" look going for awhile! 

Our Baby Rob is growing up.

#2)  I now have my FIRST vegetable garden!

#3)  It has now survived its FIRST day of life 

in my backyard!

I'm SUPER nervous! I've never done this before. I'm from 

Santa Monica-not Utah. I need some help here. The only 

assistance I got with my garden back there was the occasional 

intoxicated man that needed to relieve himself on my plants next 

to the sidewalk. Unfortunately, this is true. Any advice for 

the amateur gardener?

 

 What's been planted?

2 cherry tomatoes, 1 Roma tomato, 1 squash,

1 zucchini, 1 cucumber, 1 cilantro, and 1 basil

Popsicle Stick Prayers

This is our POPSICLE STICK PRAYER JAR.

 I came across this idea and decided to do it myself.
I happened to have a jar on hand, as well as jumbo 

popsicle sticks. I got the kids together right after 

breakfast to make our jar full of popsicle sticks with our family,

 friends, pastors, and church members names on them.

I let them think of people to write down on a stick, and I 

of course, suggested people, too.

As soon as we were done writing names down we prayed.

We took turns drawing one stick out of the jar at a time.

You can't peek when you are pulling a stick! Then we go around 

with our stick in hand and pray for that person. When we are all done

we put our sticks back in the jar and do it again. It's really cool

when we get the same person two or three times. I believe and

told the kids that it's because God knows they need extra 

prayer today. 

The first time I did this I felt a little pressure to keep moving

 on with our day because we hadn't started school. 

BUT, I thought "Wouldn't I want them praying rather than doing 

anything else-and especially when they are SO excited to do so?"

 I agree, so we kept praying. We did it SEVEN times! That's a total 

of 28 people we prayed for! I couldn't believe the joy my kids had

in praying for people they knew. Honestly, they didn't want to stop.
It was THE MOST excited I have seen them to pray.

Our popsicle stick prayer jar sits in the middle of our

table. We see it every meal. Many times the kids want to

pull one out and pray for someone while they are eating.

We've also done this a few times after dinner. It amazes 

me to hear what my kids pray for people. For example, 

we prayed for someone and then a few days later I heard

that something Rob specifically prayed for them is an 

exact need they have right now! God is so good. He leads 

us as we pray and I am so thankful He hears us!
We've probably prayed for you!

My Mother's Day Yesterday

Here are a few snapshots of my day. I was so very blessed. 

I thank God He gave me the gift of being a mother.

Banana Chocolate Chip Pancakes in bed-I put peanut

butter on my pancakes (ever since I was a kid)

My three kids hanging out, watching me eat on my bed

They each gave me something-a TRI shirt, cycling shirt 

& tinted chapstick...can't go on a ride without it.

Oh and Josh blessed me with new cycling shoes, too!!!

Me and my terrific trio

Josh and Zack bbq'd carne asada and it was so delicious.

Josh knows the way to my heart...food! He made a 

homemade sheet cake for dessert.

Needed to do a close up of this one...the frosting melts into

the cake right after it comes out of the oven. It was his 

best one ever!

I was very blessed this Mother's Day! A HUGE thank you to

Josh and my three kids for going all out to make me 

feel so special! You all inspire me to be a better mother.

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

1. Sidewalk

I couldn't believe my eyes. When we arrived at the 

horse show on Friday afternoon I told the kids to wait 

in the area right in front of our car. Marcus plopped himself 

down on the sidewalk and Allie joined him (without being told
to pose). These spontaneous, affectionate moments make
motherhood so special. 

2. Inspiring

My daughter's faith is so inspiring to me. She 

planted a flower in her class at church on Wednesday night.

 She got home and pulled up the window shade and set her 

little flower pot on her window sill. The next morning she woke

 up and announced to everyone, "It grew!!" Whether the flower 
grew or not, I don't know. But, I do know she taught me in 

that instant about childlike faith. Oh, how I need more

of that. Thank you, my sweet Allie.

3. Time

On Friday night, the kids had such a fun time sleeping 

on our pullout sleeper sofa in the front room. They 

thought it was a special treat. They are too cute!

4. Close up

This is a close up picture of the box of donuts Josh brought 

home with him on Monday. He usually gets home on Mondays 

in the early afternoons. However, he had a client that needed to 

reschedule, which meant he came home a little later. So, she knew 

this and brought me and the kids a "peace offering" to bless us. 

We happily received it and ate all of these delicious donuts...
then went into sugar shock!

5. With Mirror

I heard running water. When I looked in the bathroom  

mirror, this is what Allie was up to. She was filling an itty bitty 

mint container (now emptied) with water to fill up her itty bitty

 baby bottle for her dolls. No, I don't understand the thinking 

behind this, but that's ok. She understands what I was

 thinking and said right away, "Don't worry Mom, I'll clean 
up the mess." That's my girl!

Mother's Day

 

Happy Mother's Day to our 

Three Wonderful Mothers!

We love you more than you know!

Amazing Revival at Church

We had an amazing revival this past weekend at our church.
It actually went from Wednesday night through Sunday night.
There was a powerful presence of God. It was so exciting to see
 people giving their lives to Jesus at every service.

Pastor Carnegie powerfully preaching!

Fellowship after church service

Over forty people gave their lives to Jesus in the outreach and 

revival services. Many were healed in their bodies and felt a renewing

 in their walk with God. We are so thankful for what God has done 

in this time, personally and in our church. God is so good!