Mini-Vacation Here We Come!

Walter has next week off work. We decided to get away for the weekend.

We are headed to Long Beach. We have friends there and there's a great church there.

We thought we'd try to do some sightseeing since we never think or plan to do it. We've lived here for almost 11 years and haven't seen much of this very vast and beautiful state.

We checked on admission prices at Aquarium of the Pacific. The cost was a bit too much for the cash we had. So we thought we'd check out some state parks or the beach or just plain anything!

I was talking to one of our friends that live in Long Beach. I asked her for sightseeing destinations there. She told me she knows someone who works at the aquarium and they might be able to get us discounted tickets.

I talked with the gentleman today and guess what!!!!!!! He got us 4 complimentary tickets to the aquarium! We only have to pay for one of the boys to get in! Is that not incredible!? Praise the Lord for his goodness to us!

My husband wants to make the most of the day and that means we are leaving bright and early tomorrow morning (not my favorite way to get up, but oh well :) ).

We are supposed to go camping next week sometime, too. I'm a bit iffy as to whether or not I'll go. My idea of camping is the Marriott! *smile* The weather might not cooperate for us. But we'll find something to do. We're not staying home and doing nothing. Walter has been searching the internet for places to see that are fairly close to home so we will be busy, busy, busy. Yay!

We certainly don't have too many more days left with Lyndsey at home before she leaves for college. We need to make the most of it!

Overheard

Yesterday was Tyler's 10th birthday.

We had a couple of boys spend the night Sunday night and then another friend surprised us and called out of the blue to spend the day with us.

Anyhow, the boys started out sleeping in the living room. They moved into the bedroom later on. They woke up somewhat early (at least is wasn't 5:15 a.m. like it has been in the past) and I heard them talking.

Lawrence is one of the funniest kids I know. He's very quick witted. He has a great sense of humor. I heard the following:

Lawrence: Phyllip, I thought this was a boys' room.

Phyllip ignores/doesn't hear him.

Lawrence: Phyllip, I thought this was a boys' room.

Phyllip: It is.

Lawrence: Get out!
(just in case you don't understand, he was calling Phyllip a girl)

Tyler gets in on the conversation.
Tyler: Mr. George says we're all girls so we all have to get out!

Lawrence: Mr. George is an old, ancient woman and he's not allowed in here, either!

They were all laughing and I was laying in my bed laughing.

It was a very rainy and cold day yesterday. That didn't stop the boys from playing outside. Tyler came in to ask if he could get some shovels from the garage.

I looked at his jacket and noticed how wet it was and the following conversation took place.

Me: Tyler, it's pouring down rain outside. You guys need to come inside. Your jacket is all wet.

Tyler: Mommy, it's not pouring. It's just raining big drops!

Me: (puzzled) It's not pouring?
I looked outside and it was indeed pouring. I pulled rank and made every one of them come inside!

It's Really Exciting When You Start To See a Change...

in your children for the good.

I've been praying for my boys to start having their own personal devotion time daily. I realize that they might still be a bit young to be conscious about their spiritual walk. However, I want them to have a walk with the Lord at a young age that I didn't have. My desire is for them to know Him on a very deep, intimate level even at a young age.

I didn't tell anyone except the Lord.

This morning I knew Tyler was in his room. I thought he was doing some of his schoolwork. I asked him what he was doing and he said he was praying. He had asked me earlier about reading the Bible and I didn't think too much about it. But he had read a chapter in his Bible as well. He did this all on his own.

I am so thankful that my children are exhibiting a desire to walk with the Lord.

In case you might be wondering why I don't mention Lyndsey here, it's because she's been having her own personal devotions for about 5 years now every morning. She has a very strong relationship and walk with the Lord. And I am soooo thankful for that as well.

You'll Never Guess...

who Tyler got to talk to today!

He talked to the one and only "Patch the Pirate."

Walter was talking to a friend of ours on the phone when he motioned to Tyler to come to the phone. Tyler got on the phone and the VERY real "Patch the Pirate" was on the other end. He only got to talk with him for a few seconds but he thought it was great! That was probably a once in a lifetime thing.

I felt kinda bad for Phyllip because he didn't get to talk to him.

Another Example...

of God's amazing provision!

I bought some clothes a while back. After I started wearing them I just wasn't very comfortable. They just weren't 'me.' But I continued to wear them because they were cute. Somewhat fashionable. I liked the way a friend of mine dressed and so I had her go shopping with me and help me pick out the clothes. I don't know why I ever cared about 'in style' clothing because I just wear what I'm comfortable in.

The Lord had been dealing with me about these particular clothes. When I bought them, they were borderline too short. And I couldn't wear them anymore because, ahem, they were too small. They've been just sitting in my closet collecting dust. I had told the Lord that I would get rid of all of the clothes but it was getting around to doing it that was the problem.

Last week, I finally decided to clean out my closet. Four days later I was approached by a lady in our church. She asked me if I wanted some clothes. They weren't just Kmart clothes. They're designer clothes! I've never had designer clothes. She brought me 'some' of the clothes last night and it's just about a closet full to include 2 leather jackets, a suit jacket, some skirts, blouses, cashmere sweaters, and lots of everyday sweaters and shirts. She told me if they fit, there's plenty more she can bring me. Wow!

I did need some clothes because I didn't have very many since my weight gain. The Lord knew. I didn't tell anyone except for Him and even at that I only prayed about it once or twice pretty much just in passing.

I can't help but think that because I finally decided to obey, the Lord met one of my needs. But He went way above my thinking on this one! He provided beautiful things that I never would have paid the price for and it is all FREE!

Why is it so hard to just obey the things God asks of us? I don't know but He continues to prove to me that He knows and cares about me in every single area of my life.

Hunting?

Yesterday we had another guest speaker at church. His name is Jeremy Picker. He and his family were with us all day at church.

We spent the entire day with them. They have 3 kids. Their son, Travis, is basically the same age as Phyllip and Tyler. The boys were instant friends.

L to R - Phyllip, Travis, Tyler

After lunch, both families came back to our house. The boys wanted to play outside and we told them to have a great time.

Apparently, Travis is quite a hunter. He's killed snakes, quail, bunnies, deer, etc. He's even skinned the animals, too. Of course, his dad has taught him these things.

We let all six of the kids go play in the fields. The boys were trying their best to get a quail or bunny. But, to no avail.

Fast forward to this morning.

The first thing out of Phyllip's mouth this morning was the following:

Phyllip: "Mom, after school can we go into the fields and hunt quail?"
(notice that he didn't even say good morning to me!)

Me: "What are you going to hunt them with?"

Phyllip: "Rocks."

Me: "You need to talk to your dad about that."

A few minutes pass by and he decides he wants to talk to his dad and the conversation went like this:

Phyllip: "Dad, can we go in the fields after school and hunt quail?"

Dad: "What are you going to hunt them with?"

Phyllip: "Rocks."

Dad: "That's going to be pretty hard to kill a quail."

Phyllip: "Then can we take your gun?"

Dad: "NO!"

I just about busted a gut laughing because the conversation went from rocks to guns in about 2.2 seconds!

Dad went on to tell the boys that he will take them target shooting to get their skills sharpened. The boys don't realize yet that it's going to take a while to get the hang of shooting again.

Travis invited the boys to go camping with him and his dad over his birthday in May. They're going hunting during the trip. I guess we better get to teaching these boys a thing or two about the great outdoors before then!

Chalk Another One Up To the Kiddos

My sister (Nancy) called me today and shared this story with me.

She had to take one of her cats to the vet today and have him put down. He was just too sick to keep anymore.

Nancy's two girls, Rebecca and Katie, wanted to go to the vet with her so they could say their last goodbyes to Sylvester.

Both of the girls were understandably upset on the drive home. However, both girls grieve completely opposite of each other. Rebecca cries quietly. Katie cries very loudly. Nancy couldn't hear Rebecca crying although she knew she was. Katie let everyone know she was upset.

Here's where the funny part comes in.

On the drive home, while Katie was boohooing loudly, she would suddenly yell out, "Slug bug blue" and continue boohooing. Then another, "Slug bug silver." All the way home!

Apparently, Katie wasn't upset enough to keep her from playing any games!