6 Months

He is growing up so fast, I almost can't believe my nephew is already 6 months. He is such a joy and I blessed greatly that God has brought him into our lives and family. Amy and Eric are good parents.

Junior Giants

I'm a little late with the pictures of Trin and Joey playing in their little t-ball and hit, run, catch and throw baseball league they were in this year. They both were placed on Giant's teams. Very fitting for our family this past year with the Giant's winning the World Series!

Jen and I had to laugh seriously at the ball caps the league gave the kids. They are like some truck drivers hats from the 1980's or something Jen and I wore when we played on the elementary baseball league at our school.












Joe Joe was a crack up. He loved watching his sister play chanting, "Go Giants Go!" and "Here we go Giant's, here we go!" It was adorable to watch. He was pretty good with the orange and black pom pom.

What was super cute was watching a bunch of 3 year olds (but Joe Joe was only 2.10 yrs. old at this game) attempting to play the game of baseball. Most of the kids were watching the butterflies float on by, when running ran the wrong way to no base, and at the same time each thought they had the whole game down and that they were pro's. Hilarious!



























Our little Junior Giant is baby Eric. He is such a cutie and loves to laugh. I really love his one-zie that Amy put him in, "My Auntie is #1".

Jen does this little gig and dance to baby Eric and he giggles and giggles. It is pretty cute to see him giggle. I can get him to giggle a little but not with the gig and dance Jen does. I try but he looks at me like, "nice try Auntie, you can't dance!"

Good One Girls!

Great job Mom, Jen and Amy on pulling off this wonderful surprise for my dad's birthday. We did it good this time! Wonderful surprise. Three cheers for the women in my family!

My friend Nathan (thanks Nathan!) owns a plane and he was gracious to take my dad up for a ride for his birthday and it was a complete surprise for my Dad.

From the pictures you can see that we took off from a local airport, flew over the Carquinez Straight, over the San Francisco Bay, the Bay Bridge, the Golden Gate Bridge, and up to Somona Valley to the Charles Shultz Airport. Nathan allowed my dad to fly the plane. What a thrill for my Dad. He flew the plane like a pro! Fun time. Amazing to see God's creation from 3,000 feet up.

Way to go girls with this wonderful surprise for Dad's birthday!

Summer Yum

The last few years my garden lacked a good yield. Partly due to my lack of attention in the garden (sore back which leads to inability to weed, water, and tend the garden) and weird weather. I can't say the weather has changed much this year but my back is behaving better. For about a month I have been getting various types of squashes. They are yummy.

















Finally, the tomatoes are turning red. Both of these in the picture should be ready eating (I mean picking) within a day or two. Last week I started eating my little golden cherry sized tomatoes- yum, they never make it inside.






















The garden is very green and lush. My tomato plants are tall, maybe 4' tall. The one thing that is different this summer is I have been fertilizing the plants once a month. Ohhhh, they like getting fed. Now if the weather would turn a tiny bit warmer, the tomatoes will turn from green to yummy red.















My front yard is exploding with color. Anyone need some English lavender? I will harvest some soon. I love color in my yard.

The huge bummer in my garden this year was the NO fruit production from the apricot and plum trees. Both received a very good trimming in February. Maybe the trees needed a rest this year. I still have in my freezer fruit from last year. Time to jam and pie!














I so love daisy's. They remind me of God's unfailing and tender hearted love He has for me. Unlike what the world says about daisies, "he loves me, he loves me not. . . ." With God choosing me as His own, dying on the cross for me, it is, "He loves me, He will always love me. . . ."- and that will go on for eternity!

Small World

Sorry in advance that I don't have a picture, it is on a few Facebook accounts somewhere (but currently I'm not on Facebook). Last night my dad and I went to a Giant's baseball game at AT&T Park. My mom told me before we left that her cousin Kerry and husband would be there and for me to look for her. I chuckled and told her, "might be close to impossible to run into her, but with God all things are possible". Little side note here, if you don't follow Giant's baseball, every game at AT&T Park has been sold out this year which is around 42,000 + people at each game.

The deal with my dad and I going to a ball game is that I purchase the tickets and he pays for the food and fun. Usually (I would say 9 out 10 times), we go to the Irish Pub and get fish and chips. Neither of us last night wanted fish and chips, so we headed out to the center field arcade for something different. On our way to check out food (and it was an hour and half before game time!) my dad says, "I don't think I will recognize Kerry", I said, "I am pretty sure that I will recognize her if I see her but I think it will be close to impossible to run into them here". Not but 30 seconds later I see Kerry and her husband Steve and I call out to her. We had a nice chat for 10 minutes and then were on our way. All of us were amazed that we were able to run into each other, especially since none of us knew where the other were sitting.

Small world, all things possible with God!

BTW- Giants beat the Dodgers 5-0!

Thanks National League

The National League won the 2011 All Star Game. Second year in a row that the N.L. has won, seriously has turned the tide as how the games have gone in the recent past. Last year's win helped my Giant's have home field advantage in the World Series. Let's Go Giants!!! Repeat again this year.

It's All Worth It!

My pool is such a hassle. Hassle is an understatement too. My pool needs constant love, care and so much time. Chemicals, brushing, filter cleaning, skimming, vacuuming, and the list goes on. I hate dealing with the surprise that it is green and cloudy. At some moments in time I have thought that I would like to be done with it and fill it in.
UNTIL, I have family or friends over and they truly are enjoying the pool. This past week was such and example. Jen and the kids were up this week and we were in the pool for 4 or 5 days straight. The kids seem to just love being in the pool. This past week, everyone was in the pool. My mom, Jen, Trin Trin, Joe Joe, baby Eric, Amy, my cousin Cheryl, Olivia, Angie and I have all been in the pool. What fun we all had. Today is the first day in 6 days that I have not been in. Think I will pull the cover back and get in (after the Giant's game).

So, even though the pool is a complete hassle and uses up a good amount of my time, when people I love and care about enjoy my pool, it is all worth it.

A complete side note here about the pool: on Tuesday Amy brought over baby Eric to get him used to the pool. He cried and cried just getting the tips of his toes in. The next day, Amy had him in on her legs, he fussed a little. On Thursday (and Friday and Saturday too) he got completely in the pool. He so enjoyed himself. He laughed at his cousins and did not mind a little splash on his face.

I thank God for the blessing of a pool and to use it for His glory!

image taken from google images

Happy Summer

Happy 1st day of summer! Summer for me starts the first day I go on summer vacation from work and ends abruptly the day I go back to work in August. A sampling that it is summer for me:

• I could sleep in if I wanted to, but I don't.
  
• I stay up way too late for getting up at 5 am, but I don't have to go to work.
• Getting up early is helping me to have a quiet time, my precious time with my Lord and Savior. So nice to do this over the course of the morning and not having to rush off to work, or anything really for that matter.
• Walking with some dear women from church before the heat of the day sets in.
• Tending my garden more faithfully. Have already eaten a few yummies.
  
• Doing yard work.
• Getting the pool ready for a few lessons and for leisure. A pool is a great way to be hospitable to people.
• There is a big project to do list around the house. This summer I really need to clean out my bedroom closet.
  
• Jamming!
  
• Eating lots of fresh fruit and vegetables.
  
• Swimming/floating around in the pool.
• Watch the entire Giants game (or not).
• Read a good book or a few at the same time.
• Catch up with family and friends.
• Cook something yummy on the BBQ, cook the whole meal on the Barbi.
• Reflecting on the past school and preparing for the new school year.
  

Summers are just as busy for me but I don't have such a set schedule. Have a wonderful summer. May God be glorified!

Heart Attack Wilson

Fans thought the torture was over with winning the World Series. The drought of winning a series yes was over but the day to day torture of day to day wins in the 9Th inning is not over. The torture is alive and well. My friends and family know that I call Brian Wilson, "Heart Attack Wilson". It almost never fails that when Brian comes in to close up a game and give us a win, that I think he is going to blow it big time. Somehow, he can still pull off a win even though he loads the bases, has a run scored or gets his home crowd going from screaming that we are going to win to complete silence (at opposing games, he gets their fans screaming that they might win). Brian is also known as "Fear the Beard". What I think of this is that fear the beard really means, when the beard comes in, he just might give me a heart attack. Come on anyways, how close can you get to the edge of the Grand Canyon and not fall over?

picture taken from Google images

Lunge

One of the stretches I have the students do at work is the lunge stretch (but we do it standing more upright with our hands on our hips, unlike the photo-saves the back). I do the stretches with my students and I always do them in the same order. It never fails with one of my 1st grade classes (which happens to be right after my lunch time), when we finish our tricep stretch, I say, "Lunge". The students say, "Miss W. did you have a good lunch?" I reply, "yes I did thank you for asking". They then ask, "what did you have?" My usual response is, "a yummy healthy salad!" They make me crack up almost every time. Lunge and lunch.

image taken from Google images

Spring Break (Easter Break)

Easter break always refreshes my soul, attitude, body, and God allows me to take a new look at what Christ did on my behalf on the cross. My precious Savior died the most horrific and painful death and took the full wrath of God for me, ME, my sins. Hallelujah what a Savior!

People ask me, "So, are you going anywhere on break" and the response I love saying, "Thankfully, I am just staying home and getting some things done and spending time with my family. Love Easter break!"

The week has flown on by and thankfully I have been able to accomplish a few things on my "to do list". My pool is looking incredible, the weeds are all almost pulled (weeds never end though), the ground is tilled and amended, and the summer vegetables are bought and awaiting to be planted. Cleaning my bedroom closet remains on the list to be done. Next vacation.

The end of my break has been spent with my family. All 3 of my "loves" are at Nana and Papa's house. Jen and Amy surprised Nana and took to her have the grand kids pictures taken.

Baby Eric is figuring out his smile (and oh is he a charmer) and can mimic your tongue movements.

Trinity and Joey are so adorable and love to play with their Aunties. Trin Trin and I would have been bossom buddies if we grew up together. She has collected all the slugs and rollie pollies in Nana's yard, she loves being outdoors and running around and she scored many goals with me playing goalie. Joe Joe is a love bug and is so funny. He loves running around outside and playing football.

Love these kiddos. Praying they will one day understand all that Christ did on the cross and that God will break their heart with His love and that they would call Him Savior.

My Loves

Here are my cutie pies! The picture is about a month old and baby Eric has changed so much already. There might be a new picture taken this weekend as we all will be together. I think I will bring my camera this time. Love these blessings that God has given me.
Eric 3 months, Trinity almost 5 1/2 years, Joey almost 3 years.

Waiting to See the Doctor

Yesterday I needed to go to the doctor to see if they could help me figure out what is going on with not feeling well for several days with a fever for 5 days. I don't want to discuss my health in this post but the wait to see the doctor in the exam room.

There are so many posters and fact sheets all over the walls of the exam room. I am determined they make you sit on the cold exam table until you have had enough time to read everything on walls. You have to leave more informed or more confused. Here are a few glimpses what passed from my eyes to my brain.

• if I used an inhaler, it is much better to use an extender chamber
• saw the differences between a cold that is bacterial vs. viral (my case could be either)
• figured my current BMI
  
• the hospital offers many classes for people with diabetes
• and that if you have diabetes, you should have your shoes and socks off for the visit with the doctor
  
• from now, age 42, until age 100, I know what appointments I should making (not looking forward to a few of the future screenings)
• if I found myself in an emergency the sign by the phone told me how to call the nurse's station
• what a fetus (little human being) looks like at 9 weeks past conception. I am always awe struck at the incredible complexity of the development of a human. Truly an amazing work of God
  

Pop of Color

Happy Spring! My yard is filled with incredible displays of God's painting pallet. Boy I needed a pop of color today. I am home ill today because my strep throat has either lingered or has decided to re-visit my throat.




You seriously can't go wrong with planting bulbs in the fall that are going to brighten your yard in the spring. Costco sells bulbs in bulk, 100 in a bag. I bought a tool a few years ago that I attach to my cordless drill and it bores my bulb holes just like that.

The sad thing, that in about 2 weeks the bulb color will be gone and the stems will be drying up for their appearance next year. But I will enjoy it now while I can.

Let's Do It Again!

This year, my San Francisco Giants, start out as World Champions! I don't think I will ever tire of celebrating what happened in 2010 with the Giants! I would love the orange and black to kiss the world championship trophy again this year. Tomorrow my boys are back at it and I am ready with my chant, "BEAT LA, BEAT LA".

GO GIANTS!!!


(image taken from Google images)

Picker Upper

Sometimes after work, I need a picker upper, a Peet's coffee drink. Today was one of those days. First real day of warmth for 2011 (what a contrast from the gloomy last several weeks of rain, rain, rain). So, I stopped off at "Peete Boys" and got an iced half calf coffee, a less expensive drink. The barista handed me my drink on the counter right next to the tip container and then handed me my nickle change. Clunk, splash. "Did you see what I just did?" "You put your nickle in your coffee drink, didn't you?" "Ahh, I thought I dropped it in your tip jar".

Guess I really needed a pick me upper to think correctly.

Notes From Far Away

Over the last several weeks, I have received an email and a hand written card from dear friends, one from San Diego and one from Canada. God ordains those notes to get to my mailbox right when I need them. There is something special when you hear from precious kindred spirits who I don't get to see very often at all. Thank you Jesus for the encouragement (they may not have even planned to be encouraging but even just sharing what is going on in their lives and what God is doing) you send through dear people.

I love this song too and it nothing to do with the notes my friends send except for the Savior that has saved us and has bonded our hearts together. To listen click here.

Jesus, Thank You by Pat Sczehel

The mystery of the cross I cannot comprehend
The agonies of Calvary
You the perfect Holy One, crushed Your Son
Who drank the bitter cup reserved for me

Your blood has washed away my sin
Jesus, thank You
The Father’s wrath completely satisfied
Jesus, thank You
Once Your enemy, now seated at Your table
Jesus, thank You

By Your perfect sacrifice I’ve been brought near
Your enemy You’ve made Your friend
Pouring out the riches of Your glorious grace
Your mercy and Your kindness know no end

Lover of my soul
I want to live for You

The Desire is There but Energy is Not

I'm not one of those bloggers that blog every day, every week, or even every month. My blog is not the whirling of theological discussion but just what is going on in my life and what God is doing in my heart. To be honest, a thought of something to post comes into my mind every day but to sit and actually post does not happen (as you are well aware of).

The LORD has been refining me greatly with my new job. There are several refining rods He is using with this job but the one I will mention today is sickness. From September to a few weeks into January seemed like I was with a cold or recovering from a cold and this cycle seemed to repeat itself constantly. New job, new germs. Guess the saying could go, "what is yours will be mine". Last week the season of better health came to a halt with a positive test for strep throat. Thankfully, today I am past the feeling of swallowing dry gravel.

The last 2 days I have been laying it pretty low key. In times like this I have to fight the feeling that I am being lazy. Thankfully, I don't have children and a husband to take care of. So, I am thankful that in this round of sickness, I had the desire to spend more time with God. Yesterday I read a fiction book based on the life of Tamar. Today I read several chapters in Genesis to see how the author came up with her thoughts of Tamar's life. I was then able to spend some time preparing for tomorrow's sermon from John chapter 5 and to pray to my Father in Heaven.

Regardless of what goes on in this life, God will never leave or let you down. He is ever faithfully working out His plan. He is good. Need to wait upon the LORD!

Here is a song we sang last week in church. If you would like to listen click here.


Everlasting God
Chris Tomlin

Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord (repeat)

Our God, You reign forever
Our hope, our Strong Deliverer

You are the everlasting God
The everlasting God
You do not faint You won't grow weary

You're the defender of the weak
You comfort those in need
You lift us up on wings like eagles

My Home's New Look

My parents and my grandma decided that I needed a serious update of my sofas. The old sofas served their purpose and I got 8 1/2 good years out of them and that was 8 1/2 years longer after my sister had them for a time and her college roommate had them before that. The pictures don't really put the new look in the best light, I took them early this morning before I went to church. They are so beautiful and completely change the look of my great room. I am so very blessed. Thank you Mom, Dad and Grandma, I love them!

Baby F!

Wow, can't believe that Baby Eric Walter will be 2 weeks old tomorrow. Poor Amy had a hard delivery, 39 hours. Thankfully, she only had to push for 18 minutes. Baby Eric (I might end up calling him Ric Ric love- like Trin Trin love and Joe Joe love) is named after his daddy and Walter is after my grandfather on my mom's side. His name is real special for me. So, here are the details: Eric Walter, 6 pounds 6 ounces, 19 1/2" long, full head of dark handsome hair and so cute. What a honor to be present for the delivery. I don't think Amy even knows this, one of the items on my bucket list was to be in the delivery room for the birth of a baby of my family. Thanks Amy- check. I praise the LORD for the blessing of being an auntie again. My prayer is that I will be able to share the love of Jesus with him.