We made it to Colorado!

We left AZ on Friday, spent the night in Santa Fe and made it to Ft Collins, Colorado on Saturday. Hard to believe it hasn't even been a week yet, because it feels like we've already done so much! Chris is in class Monday thru Friday from 9-11:30 and 1-3:00 and drops Logan off on his way. Logan loves making new friends and can't wait each day to go to "school"!

So far I've been able to work out each morning (either Billy Blanks workout video or power walking), shower, clean up, spend some time with the Lord, and eat lunch all before picking up Logan at 1:30. It's been fun spending time with Rachel without Logan getting jealous, and then I have a lot of energy left when he is home to run around or go swimming (there is a pool a few hundred feet from our door).

Each evening Chris has had to study, so I've been able to hang out with some of the other wives/moms' from our region and a few from other regions that I know from college. This is one of my highlights so far because it feels like being in college again (well, except we're married and have kids with early bedtimes so one of us has to stay back with the kiddos).

Tomorrow is our 5 year anniversary! I can't believe it has already been 5 years! WOW! Two of our good friends (Jeff & Robyn) are going to watch the kids so we can go out on a date. I seriously think we haven't gone out on a date since September or so, so we are both VERY excited to get away together. We are going out to dinner and to a movie, so nothing too crazy, but something we really enjoy! A year ago we found out we were pregnant with Rachel, so that's fun to think about too!

Anyway, I know this blog post is a bit random, oh well! Also, decided to chop my hair off. May not look "chopped" but considering how long it was it feels like it is. I got a few red hairlights and did an all over color to get back to the roots. Fun, feels like a mini makeover, which reminds me I want to paint my toe nails before tomorrow...better go!

Stress & laugher hand in hand

I do love my sweet family, and my darling kids...but there are some moments of complete stress.  Just this morning I was trying to take care of Rachel who was crying and didn't want put down and Logan who thought he would cry too b/c that seemed to get mommy's attention.  After what felt like hours (it was probably only minutes) I told Logan (in a surprisingly calm voice) that I thought Mommy was losing it. His response?  He stopped crying and told me he would find it!  If only it was the simple.  I asked if he knew what I had lost, to which he gave me a quizzical look and simply said he would find it.  I told him I didn't think he would find it because mommy had lost her mind.  I told him if he did find it to let me know because I imagine it is very useful not to lose.  

I have to keep telling myself that this is only a season of life, and that it will go by quickly so I need to cherish each moment.  I look at some other parents who seem to have it all together, for example: a lady at the doctor's had 4 girls: 2 twins that looked to be about 5, 1 who looked to be about 1 1/2 or so and a 9 day old.  I asked her how it was with four, and she said so calmly and sweetly that it wasn't that hard and that her girls were so helpful (and not only did she look like she really believed that, but she had a 9 day old baby and she didn't look like she had ever been pregnant!).  Ha!  How easy it is to compare my life to others, but that's not what it is all about either!

I guess (as I ramble on and on and really have no point to this blog post really, except I thought I'd add our latest family photo and then found myself typing) what I'm realizing is that I just desperately need Jesus!  I imagine that finding peace and joy in Him in every stage or phase or season of life would help me enjoy it better.  Easier said then done, mainly because I keep trying to do everything in my own strength instead of relying on Him. Prayerfully I will figure this out in my heart soon and not just in my head!

Lillian Ray...what former students are up to!

Facebook is great for reconnecting me with so many people from grade school, high school, college, my days of interning at UC Davis with Campus Crusade for Christ, friends from our years on the central coast, and everyone else in between up until our lives here on staff with CRU at the Uof A!

One of the girls I met when I was at UC Davis is Beth.  Recently (thanks facebook) I learned about one of her many adventures (besides starting a wedding/event planning business with her mom and being an awesome wife to Tim), and wanted to share it with you.  

First, check this out:

This is one of the many hand made (crazy awesome huh?) jewelry designs she has made.  If you are into jewelry (or know someone who is), you should check out her etsy site: 

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6827707

She also makes pillows that are uber cute, and we all know how much I am into sewing these days!  So, here's to Beth using the creative gifts God has given her!!!