September Fun

We had a fun family day yesterday at Disneyland...really California Adventure, Disney's sister park across the walkway! Jacob and Lauren are big fans of California Screamin, an upside down, very fast and furious roller coaster! Zac is finally tall enough to try many new rides, so it was a fun day for everyone! We have season passes, so it is easy to go .or 4 or 5 hours, instead of the entire day! It's a great reward for the kids, and Eric thinks it is relaxing......

Lauren and Jacob on the first day of school....Lauren was so excited because Jacob was put in her favorite teacher's class, Mrs. Pizzi! She has a weekly raffle for students to win a dollar, and Jacob has won three weeks in a row!
Lauren missed the second day of school to travel with her daddy to Catalina Island for a weekend of fun with Adventure Princesses. She LOVES her special time with her daddy...paddling the kayak was something she loved. She wrote in her scrapbook, "I love kayaking and Catalina, but most of all, I love my dad."

When Lauren and dad were at Catalina, I took the boys to church for the opening of our high school building. The boys LOVE Kyle Loza, gold medalist winner of the X Games, and he was performing his motorcycle EXTREME sports, and the boys loved it! (tattoo guy with the boys). They call him "church guy." He has grown up at Saddleback, and is very involved with the kids there.

The next weekend, dad and the boys headed south to San Diego to Camp Surf. Even Zac, age 3 1/2,and Jacob, 6, both got up on a real surfboard! They also did a rockclimbing wall, a treasure hunt, and fun camping on the beach. They are Pioneers in the Adventure Guide program.

I noticed a loose tooth in Jacob's mouth last week, and he lost it at school just five days later! He has also decided he LOVES salad with ranch dressing. He will eat a big bowl of lettuce with cheese, turkey or chicken, and ranch!

Daniel is quite a funny little boy. He is 19 months, and wears a size 2. He is very solid, and very strong, both in might and in will. He bites to defend himself, and loves to mess up any project the big kids are working on. He can be such a sweet, happy baby, too. He loves to run as fast as he can, and has quite an arm on him!

Happy Fall, Ya'll!

Well, school is back in session, and it has yet to cool off! We set near record highs on Wednesday with 104 degrees! I thought fall meant jeans, long sleeves, and maybe even coats??? Not in Southern California! And I do miss rain! We had our first thunderstorm in five years last week, and it lasted 30 minutes. But, we never have to worry about our plans being siderailed by rain, that's for sure.

Lauren scored her first soccer goal last week, and she was so proud of herself! She and Jacob are playing AYSO, and it's fun to watch them. I don't think this will be their life passion, but it is fun to be on a team and meet new friends.

Zachary started preschool, and is going three mornings a week. It has been quite an adjustment for him, but he is enjoying school and meeting new friends. Today he did such a good job listening, he was given an award! (he has gotten in trouble for plenty these past few weeks, so this was so nice to hear!)

Daniel is a funny little baby, and he loves to bite! He is trying to eat my toes right now as I type this note!He loves to laugh and play, but he also likes to get his way! I am amazed when I look back at the halloween photos from last year...they have all changed so much! We're excited about our costumes for this year....stay tuned to find out more!

Well, tomorrow is the last day of summer! I'm sad, I'm excited, and I'm ready! The kids are ready to learn and I'm ready for a few minutes alone! (well, with one at home!) Zac will start preschool in a week, and he will attend 3 days a week for 3 hours. Lauren and Jacob will both be at school from 8-2, so that will be nice not to have a kindergarten pickup as well.

We've had a super summer, with a fun family vacation to Yosemite and Mammoth, weekly trips to the beach, daily excursions to the pool and just time to be together. The kids attended a few camps, and we all enjoyed a fun week at vacation bible school. It's so nice to relax and not have a schedule, but it will be nice to get back into a routine. Soccer starts this weekend, and Eric and Lauren are heading out to Catalina early Friday morning for hiking, swimming, kayaking, snorkeling, etc. I wish I could go!

Tomorrow we are heading over to the nursing home to deliver cookies in the afternoon, then it's off to school to find out who the kids have for their teachers! I am looking forward to earlier bedtimes but dread homework and constant busyness.

I look forward to keeping in touch with many friends I've reconnected with this summer, and am excited to do more digital scrapbooking when time allows.

Enjoy your day!

Ok, I have to say I didn't know how much fun it would be getting on facebook! After prompting from a few friends, Eric and I both joined last week and we've had so much fun connecting with people from high school, college and everywhere else! It's funny to see who pops up on a daily basis...if you haven't tried it, you should!We seem to have a friendly contest going to see who "wants to be my friend." I guess it's time we joined the younger world.My energy from entertaining the kids for the summer is about drained, but I have one last hurrah in me. With only one week of summer left, we are celebrating with "Mommy Camp." I have a different outing planned every day and themed activities to go with it (thank you, familyfun.com). Yesterday was hiking in the canyon, going on a treasure hunt, identifying butterflies and leaves, and then root beer floats after dinner. Today is water day, tomorrow is Movie day, Thursday is "help others" and cooking day, and Friday will be beach day! We did this last year and the kids had a blast. I'll post photos soon.We went to Walking with Dinosaurs on Saturday (free tickets from Eric's co-worker) and it was pretty amazing. Life sized dinosaurs roamed the floor of the Honda Center in Anaheim (where the Ducks play). They told the story of the dinosaur, and were very realistic looking. All of the kids enjoyed it, and they really didn't get scared. When the t-rex roar filled the stadium, it made me want to crawl under my seat! That's about all in our world. I hope you are all enjoying the end of summer/beginning of school. Halloween will be here before we know it!

Living The Dream

This morning, as I sit here in Laguna Beach listening to the surf, watching people play and just enjoying the sunshine and peace around me, I am reminded of the bumper sticker I saw yesterday that has really made me think. It simply said, “Living the Dream.” My first thought was, “who is she and what dream is she living?” My questions quickly turned to myself as I thought of how I would define for myself, “living the dream.” I look down the coast, and just 200 yards away is a perfectly fit 50-year-old man who is running in and out of the surf, lifting boulders with his hands as a workout, and is now leading a team of people down the beach in lunges and knee lifts. And I wonder....is this man living his dream?

I often think of what I want my life to be like. What is the dream that God gave me?What does he want me to do with the gifts He gave me? For the past six months or so, I have been listening too much to the lies that Satan has put in my head…you aren’t good enough, you stink at being a mom, why can’t you be more organized? But God’s words are now resounding once again in my head…What about living the way I want you to live or doing what I want you to do? God made each of us in His image, unique in every aspect, so that we could glorify Him. By listening to the lies Satan has put in my head, I’ve been distracted from doing the things God made me to do.

When it comes to my purpose in life, I do know that my number one goal is to share the word of Christ and His love for everyone in the world. I know he has given me 4 busy, wonderful children to love, instruct and guide in His ways. It is your ways, Oh, Lord, that I want to follow. What greater gift to give your kids than eternal life?

There are so many unanswered questions in life, and so many hard times, good times and difficulties. Today, I feel great. I am happy, encouraged and loved. Tomorrow might be a different thing. But knowing that no matter what, Jesus died for me and He loves me, I can’t ever give up on that.

My dream is to have Jesus look at me on judgement day and say “well done, good and faithful servant.” I want to follow his will, follow his ways and bring others to Him. I want to live the life he has for me. I want to be in tune with his wishes, his dreams and his plan for my life instead of thinking I know best.

The waves never stop, the sun always rises and sets, and His love is always there for me. I just have to ask for it, enjoy it, and understand the gift of life he is giving me.

Many people are searching for “something more.” They feel like this life here isn’t enough, whether it is staying at home being a mom, or working 80 hours a week in a high profile job. Even famous, successful people who everyone wants to emulate struggle with their own identities and goals, their own search for significance. Pastor Rick always talks about the difference between success and significance. You can be successful in so many earthly ways, but so insignificant in your own eyes or that of others. How do you go from being successful to being significant? What are you doing today to make a difference in the life of someone else? What significant thing have you done that will mean so much to someone? To the world, you may be one person. But to one person, you may be the world. Are you choosing daily to make a difference to those around you? What about your kids? Are you so busy cleaning, cooking and taking care of others that you forget the gifts God gave you? What can you do today to change their lives, to make an eternal difference?

Well, my 40 minutes of peace and quiet has gone, and I must turn off the computer, say goodbye to the beach and head back into my life and a visit to the Dr. My prayer today is that I will quit looking for significance in other people’s opinions of me, in my crossed off to do list, or things that don't matter. I want to find significance in the way I interact with others, the people who I am involved with every day, so that I can live the life Christ wants for me, accept Who I am and How God Made me, and let His love shine through me.

God, please bless me today as I talk and teach my children, as I interact with others, including friends family and strangers. May your love shine through me and may I feel the love and acceptance you give me. I need to remember that in the end, all that matters is you and what I did with you. Let me make that difference today.

In Jesus name, amen.

Natalie
July 24, 2008

Lauren Celebrates Her Eighth Birthday!

Make a Smilebox photobook