Pray and cry

Kira called me this morning with very sad and heartbreaking news about one of her best friends. We cried together on the phone, at times my heart physically ached as I listened to Kira explain the situation. My mind quickly went to prayer and with that came uncontrollable tears.
It's been a tough day, not sure what to think, I go from sadness to madness and then quickly hit my knees. Kira is extremely rocked to her core and as we can't fix things, I tell Kira how important it is to pray, pray and pray some more.

    When I logged into Facebook, I was greeted by this message. Thank you Jesus for always letting me know that you are with us. no matter what. I could not raise my head off the pillow without having faith, hope and peace knowing you are fighting for us.

Where did the summer go??

It's the first week of fall here and I LOVE fall....but where o where did summer go??
Man, I was in complete denial the first part of August when I realized Olivia would be starting Kindergarten at the end of August...NOT September like I told me brain over and over....sigh...bittersweet. Lot's of tears, worry and I would have to say almost a type of mourning. Mourning that I would no longer have my 5 year old sidekick by my side 24/7. Mourning that we wouldn't have time to snuggle after breakfast and watch Nick JR or her favorite cartoon Tom & Jerry. I was sad that we wouldn't spend the days drawing, playing with play-doh or watching Finding Nemo for the 74,41541515,15416512561 time!
   On the flip side I am blessed beyond words to be able to take her to and from school. I am blessed that I can volunteer and help her teacher, or the school. Now that's a blessing that I am so so grateful for. So as she  went to school on that first day, it was completely overwhelming for us both....what would I do with my half day "Olivia free"? What would she do without me not next to her to help her?
  We both managed. We both shed tears that day, neither one knowing the other one was crying. Then the next day got easier, and so on.
 Now Olivia looks forward to her new friends, her library time and her 3rd grade buddy named Olivia they visit on Friday's. I look forward to my days during the week that include a small moment of peace and quite to pray and thank God for all I have.



                                                           (4th of July 2012)

How is that I JUST discovered Ro?  (Ro Philippsen)
I found her blog today and I have been in love!!!!

http://www.scrapbyrophilippsen.blogspot.com/

Here's a sampling of her delicious work!!!
So happy, so cheerful, great colors, awesome placement....I love it all!! 

And a layout....who knew!?!?

Last year the bridesmaids & the two maid of honors in my sisters wedding made a layout each and put them in an album to give to her on the day of her AMAZZZZING wedding.......... I finally got to take a picture of the layouts Kira and I did......only a year later! HAHA!! The first one is the layout I did of my sister and I and the second one is the one Kira did of her and my sister.

Kira's Graduation 2012!

It's amazing how fast these last four years of high school just flew by. I have missed getting school drawings, or school projects to save for many years now, and I also miss when I would pick her up from school and she would tell me, "Did you know......" where I would learn something new about a state of something about an animal or something in history. Kira has always been a fast learner, excelling in math and challenging herself in things like history or science. She hit road blocks and worked through them, she learned from her mistakes, she grew into her own personality and became a beautiful, smart and kind young woman by the time she finished her high school years. I am blessed that Kira has a strong faith in God and is in love with Jesus, she has been a blessing to her family and continues to amaze me! She makes me laugh daily and even though she out grew that small child giggle, her laugh still makes my heart flitter every time I hear her laugh and smile. I pray God continues to bless her, that she continues to follow His path and always look to Him for her answers. 

Olivia's Preschool Graduation!!

I still find it hard to believe that Tod and I have an ALMOST five year old. It still blows me away when I look into her eyes and when I hear her sweet small voice that God had plans for us that we had nooooooooooo idea were coming. Yet, her she is ALMOST five years old and my precious little baby girl. We were blessed that the preschool in Seaside was just perfect for her, it may have been a longer drive for us, but the pay off was wonderful. She had a team of four great teachers, they were kind, nurturing, they were helpful, funny and patient. I loved each one of them!!!!

     Today when she graduated I was so emotional- It's a thing I have, God knows all about my tears of joy! I cried when she was lined up to walk down the isle and she saw us and waved so hard and proud with a big big smile! Then she leaned over to her one teacher and told her, "My momma and Kira are here!" (She couldn't see her daddy yet because he didn't stand up yet) As she walked down the isle and she saw her dad, she beamed and got so happy and smiled and waved so big at him!

    Thank you Jesus, thank you for your PERFECT plan, even when WE think we have it all under control and things figured out, you bring us this beautiful, healthy, happy, funny, spunky gift and I am able to call her mine.
I am blessed everyday by the love and joy she brings us daily. Thank you Jesus for giving me the responsibility and joy of being her momma. Amen.

Happy Easter!

This is my favorite holiday. It's my favorite time of year! Spring! :O)
First, this season is to celebrate Jesus and His unconditional love for us, how He has risen from the grave and is at God's right side. Because if Him, we are free, no matter what our circumstance, n matter where we came from, no matter how dark of places we were in, Jesus loves us and will ALWAYS love us, He has never turned His back, we just call on Him and He will help.... I in fact call in Him about 8k times a day! To keep me strong, to keep me focused, and to draw me closer to Him.

On to other things... Yesterday was salmon season here on the West Coast, so Tod and the girls went out at 3am and were back by 9:30 am. The waters were rough, but both Kira and Aiko landed really nice salmon!!! Tod was super proud, and even though he didn't catch one on that trip, it was awesome to have them pull in their own salmon for the first time! God told me the night before that There would be 6 salmon. They came home with 2 and I told Tod, "I wonder why He told me 6....?" Tod said, "Well maybe if we had stayed out longer we would have gotten the other 4 like He said"....AMAZING....Well, for my Tod to say that, to show faith...AMAZING- Thank you Jesus! :O) So we took the 2 salmon praised God and were blessed He provided those for us!

This morning Tod and his two buddies are fishing and will be home soon for Easter lunch. God told me last night Tod would catch two salmon(limit out) but I couldn't get info on the friends and if they would catch any... Tod called just about an hour ago to tell me he had a fish and as we were talking he said, "OH! I GOT ANOTHER FISH ON- GOTTA GO!!!" Hahahah! I laughed at God and how He worked it out, His timing, His sense of humor and His graciousness!! God is good! ALWAYS!!!!

Easter Blessings to all,

Jen

It's official- She's on the cover!!!

How awesome is that!??! She was thrilled beyond belief! She got a call from her uncle saying that he went into a 7-11 in the Bay Area and saw Kira's picture on a fishing magazine....no big deal! hahah!

We then searched high and low in our area and nothing....sad, we live 10 minutes from the Pacific ocean yet there isn't a fishing magazine for 80 miles along the coast...what's up with that?? Our friend Tom found a few at a bait and tackle shop in Moss Landing, so we have a couple now...and then, Tod checked the mail today and our subscription to the Fish Sniffer started today- so he walks in with a nice copy of Kira on the front! (God's awesome!!!) His perfect timing!

Isn't she a cutie pie!?!? I am so proud of her!!!

Perch Derby 2012

This year we all signed up for the Annual Perch Derby in Santa Cruz. Normally it's Tod, Tom and Tony and last year paul, Tony's son joined them. This was the day after the Tsunami and fishing was kinda odd. The guys reported that the fish were there but they were small.... which in turn ment all the winning fish were on the smaller side.... Tod told Kira and I that a woman had one with a small perch, ounces...not pounds. Kira and I vowed that night we would join them for the 2012 Derby and we did! Along with Pauls girlfriend Trish and Tom's wife Carolyn. We headed to our spot at 3am and set up. The first catch was Tod, a small leopard shark. Later Tom and Carolyn arrived and set up their gear. It was cold, dark and windy. Carolyn was smart and relaxed in their warm car till about 8am, after the sun had come up and the wind and cold had finally died down. Soon after Paul, Trish and Matt arrived....no Tony this time, his wife had been super ill and he was at home with her.

I didn't mention anything to anyone, but the night before the Derby God had told me Kira and Matt were going to win. I kept it to myself....until Tom and Carolyn were on fire, their poles were getting hit by perch left and right! Tom landed a BIG perch, 2.8 pounds. Shortly after I told Kira what God had told me...she was surprised....like I was. Kira and Matt had no fish as of yet.....

As I was watching our four poles in the water, I glanced at the one to the right, which was Kira's, it had done a funny little quick shake, and Tod started to reel it in...."Did he notice it was shaking as if a fish was on the line?" That was my thought, and then he said, "Kira, come get your fish, you got a bit" Kira jumped up and ran for her pole. She was nervous afraid her fish would come off as she reeled him in...."Some one take the pole, I'm gonna throw up,I'm too scared he's gonna come off!" ha! No one took it from her, and she did it all by herself!!!! He was a beautiful perch and weighed 2.6 pounds!!! Thank you Jesus! I winked up at the beautiful Blue California skies and said "Thank you".

Later I was talking to God saying...."Matt, really? he hasn't even had a fish over .4 ounces"....and just as I finished that statement to God, "Matt!!! Grab your pole before it goes in the water!!" Matt jumped up and reeled in his winning fish. I knew then that there was no need for either of them to keep fishing, those were the winning fish God had provided.

Back at weigh in, Kira weighed her fish and then got her picture taken over and over for several magazines....then we made our way to eat our dinner there and relax while we waited for everyone to make their way to the weigh in. Tony showed up after his wife was feeling better and was able to eat dinner with us and sit with us as we waited for results of who won.......

Tom won 3rd place men's division, Matt won 1st place jr's division boys, Carolyn won 3rd place woman's division, Trish took 2nd place woman's division, and Kira won 1st place woman's division. It was amazing, it was a blast and to know God told me Matt and Kira would win humbled me....why not info about Tom, Carolyn, and Trish...? I think maybe it was Him telling me the 1st place winners would be Matt and Kira...I just know it was amazing to watch it all unfold and it was a blessing He told me.

Sharon's giveaway!

So I have been following Sharon for years now and I adore her work, I love her style and her videos!!!

Take a look at this more than generous GIVEAWAY she has!! Swoonnnn!!!!

She makes me wanna get off of blogger and get a layout made!!!

P.S. Thank you for the wonderful inspiration Sharon!!! Muah!

xoxoxo

Jen