Life is moving forward

It's been super crazy 'round here!  I've had so much to share and the time has quickly slipped away!  Not only have we been busy with all the fun that accompanies juggling three kids, but I (Dai) traveled to South Africa in the middle of the sale of our home and the purchase of a short sale!  Needless to say, life has been amazing and hectic, sad and exciting, thrilling and exhausting.  The past few months have been a whirlwind and things are beginning to settle a little, but it'll still be a few weeks before we move into our new home.  I will try and post on my Africa trip, but for now here is the update on our family:

We have moved out of our home of 13 years.  I have cried lots of tears this week moving out.  I think about the day I drove up to that house thirteen years ago, with only a car full of stuff.  I came from the Delta Gamma House and was beginning my life with J.  I had so much to look forward to there!  I think about bringing home each one of my babies to that house.  The quiet 2 am feedings, rocking my babies to sleep in the glider and feeling all their fingers and toes.  As I was cleaning the house I looked over each wall and it brought so many memories to the front of my mind!  I think about all the parties, showers, birthdays that we've celebrated there over the past 13 years.   The lines on the closet wall measuring the heights of my children beginning at six months old.  It's been a wonderful home full of love and joy!  I will treasure the few neighbors that took care of me while J traveled when the boys were little.  I am so thankful to the Lord that he provided such an amazing home for our family.

Through lots of prayer, we took a leap of faith and asked God that if it was His will, we'd find a home with a little more space for our family, closer to school and church and easier for J to get to in his commute from LA.  We prayed that if it's was His will, we'd find a home that wasn't much more than what we could get for our home that we love so much!  We put an offer in on a short sale and were told it could be months before we heard.  We listed our house and it sold in 5 days! What on earth were we to do?  Was this God's will?  The day after we accepted the offer and only 20 days after we made our offer on the new house, we got a call that the bank accepted our short-sale offer!  We couldn't believe it - both houses worked out!  We are excited about the new chapter in our life that we are going to create!  We are excited for the new memories we will make in our new home.  We close escrow tomorrow and our home will officially belong to a sweet lady and her husband.  I am thankful for the new residents and know they will treasure such an amazing house!  A new chapter our lives has begun and we can't wait 'til we are owners (officially) on our new house.

We are thankful for Jeff's brother and his wife - they are taking us in until the 15th. We are equally thankful to my baby bro and sis who are loaning us their 5th wheel trailer so we can live in it for a few weeks while we make our new house our home!  Lots of fun stuff ahead and life for us is moving forward!

Happiest Birthday to me! EVER.

On the 21st E and I celebrated our birthdays together!  We decided a few months ago we wanted to have a party and introduce our friends to Acres of Love.  We invited the co-founder to come and share about ins and outs of this amazing ministry that blesses and loves on aids orphans in South Africa.  I can't wait to step on South African soil next march when I get to be roomies with E and meet those beautiful children!  In the meantime, I must say, this was really my best birthday EVER!  E and I arrived early to set up our food and get the tables and chairs set up.



We set up a little section to have our guests take pictures for the children of our "Safari Sisters" home.
We wanted them to know that we care about them  all the way from the US!



Our favorite friends and family showed up and shared a light dinner, yummy dessert and learned about Acres of Love!









We had a little area set up for all things Acres!



I was so happy two of my sisters came down to celebrate with me!






Thank you to all my amazing friends and family!  With your generosity we were able to raise an amazing amount of money for our designated house!  We love each of you and feel extremely blessed by each and everyone of you!


Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress...."  James 1:27a

Capitola or Bust!

The first week in August, My baby sister, Nancy and I took a road trip to Capitola, CA.  It's a small sleeper-town just south of Santa Cruz.  We spent a few days together with our 5 kids in tow.  We enjoyed our 6 hour drive north and back.  We laughed a lot, played a lot of competitive dominoes (Pixar Cars dominoes to be exact), we watched our kids play together and enjoy the company of cousins.  We had a great time and the time went by so quickly that our kids (and honestly, us too) didn't want to go home.  Thanks sis (and Uncle Joe's Grandma Anna-Mae for letting us use your sweet cottage by the sea).

Here's my sis...isn't she adorable?


We had an impromptu photo shoot on the train tracks in the cool morning as we walked.  The kids were so happy that they  were able to get some nails out of the old track.

We drove into Santa Cruz and enjoyed the boardwalk with the kids (Tuesday evenings is $1 per ride night from 5-7 p.m.) We also enjoyed the tons of Sea Lions on the wharf. It was chilly and fun and we had a blast together!

It was hard for me to pick only a few to blog...so if you want to view the entire set in a slideshow format...click below and check them all out!

Add another notch on the beltloop of life....

Last Sunday I turned 36.  

I feel like I'm still a young lady, the only difference is that I am NOT!  

I don't feel depressed about my age, just can't believe that I am on the other side, nearing 40.

I have been with Jeff for half my life...HALF MY LIFE!  We met when I was 17 and started dating after I turned 18.

I have had an amazing life so far...healthy kids, strong marriage, supportive family and truly wonderful friends.

I share my birthday with one of my best friends, Jenni, and love it!

I am having a party to celebrate me and one of my best friends, E, on the 21st.  We felt like since we are so blessed, we'd like to throw ourselves a party and let the children of Acres of Love be the ones who receive our gifts!  I hope you can make it and join us. E-mail me if you are interested in celebrating me and learning more about Acres of Love!



(On Sunday we went to Sapphire Restaurant in Laguna Beach with Jon and Court to celebrate my birthday before going to Pageant of the Masters.  Thanks for a great evening, Jon and Court!)

How the week ended for me last week

Thanks to you all who reached out an reassured me that we all have those kind of weeks.  I always want to be real when I blog.  I want to show how my life really is, not just the good stuff.  I want to be HONEST.

I lost my wallet Friday night and spent an hour watching the poor kid at the Regal Cinema sift through bags and bags of trash 'til he finally found it and I broke out in tears. Seriously, Dai, tears over that. I felt a little ridiculous, honestly.

I realized that cried a lot last week.  I cried while praying for Daisy and her cancer.  I cried when I found my wallet.  I cried when I left and my boy wasn't with me.  I cried when I found out that a dear couple close to my heart is getting a divorce.  A divorce.  I was in SHOCK and after the week I had, I simply couldn't take it.  This was a couple that I thought would make it through anything.  I don't know why they are getting a divorce.  I don't know how long they have been separated.  I love them both so much.  My heart was devastated.  Devastated for their family.  Devastated for their marriage.  Devastated.

Tantrums. Sadness. Cancer. Divorce.

I realized something about myself this weekend....I am the kind of person who really feels pain when others suffer.  I take it on.  I cry as though it's my burden.  Why?  Why am I like that?  Why do I put myself through this?  I DO NOT know.  I can't help it.

And yet, I find joy in all the blessings around me. .  I know I have a strong marriage.  I have amazing kids.  I have amazing friends.  I have an amazing family.  I have so much to be thankful for and so much to be happy about.  I sat in church Sunday with my friends on my mind and heavy on my heart.  I will pray for them.  That really is all I can do.   I know I have Jesus and thank heavens I have Him!  He is the light in all this darkness, boy am I glad I have Jesus to lay all my burdens upon.  I am lucky to have him.

Here is to a better week ahead!

It's been one of those weeks...

It's been one of those weeks where the days simply slipped away!  It's Thursday and I don't know where the the week went. I spent most of Monday disciplining my middle child for being mouthy and disrespectful to his sister.  I spent most of the evening dealing with Curly and Cupcake fighting - prying them apart from one another.  I miss my husband - he's home, but he's been working a ton and when he gets home at night, he says hi to the kids we eat dinner and back to work.  Although I adore my oldest child, he's been rolling his eyes at me a lot this week and it's driving me NUTS!  At Karate yesterday, my daughter decided to have a complete melt down because she left her white belt at home.  I'm tired.  I'm in a FUNK.  Maybe it's this strange summer weather. Maybe it's just me.

 I am going to visit my sister tonight and hold her little week and a half old Golden Retriever puppies that I am sure I'll fall in love with.  I am looking forward to having my kiddos play with their cousins and have some time with my sister.

A good friend recently told me she thought my life was so put together..she reads my blog and can't believe how put together my life and my family are - well, friend, this post is for YOU!  My life is just the same as yours.  I don't have it all together.

I find myself wishing for more.  I look at other people's blogs and wonder "HOW?".  How do they do it all? I wish I could sew.  I wish I had a craft room. I wish I was more creative.  I wish I could read better and faster. I wish I had more time to bake.  The reality is....I can only do so much.

There are only 6 weeks of summer left and my heart is getting sad that my girl will start Kindergarten and my husband will be traveling the globe the week the kids start school.  I guess it's just been one of those weeks.  I'm rambling my thoughts all over the place, but I wanted you to know that I am nowhere near being put together.

Dreaming of Africa

I often dream of Africa. I dream of meeting the beautiful boys and girls there. I dream of meeting my Lord there through the faces of those little ones who have endured so much and have been blessed by His grace. I have been praying for many months and have waited patiently for the Lord to direct my path and to show me why Africa has been so heavy on my heart.

In the past few years I have come to love an organization called Acres of Love. Acres of Love provides Forever Homes to orphaned and abandoned children. These homes are NOT orphanages...they are home like the ones you and I live in. They are homes with house parents. I love so much about them, I cannot even begin to write it all down. I recently attended a luncheon with the Safari Sisters and got a chance to meet Gerda Audagnotti who (along with her husband) is the founder and CEO/Vice-Chairperson of Acres. What struck me most about meeting her was that as we went through a roll-call of the Forever Homes that Acres has, she could name each child in each of those homes. She loves each one of them as if they were her very own children. I was in AWE. She knew each one of the 118+ children by name, she knew each of their stories, she knew what was going on in each of their lives! The love she has for these children is amazing - she loves them and cares for them because she calls them her own.

Tuesday my husband gave me a tremendous gift. My husband gave me his blessing to go on this amazing trip to meet these beautiful children and see first-hand what Acres of Love is all about. I wasn't able to think much about it all day being that it was Kate's birthday. But, tonight, as I sit here in my quiet house and my husband gone, I am overwhelmed with emotion. I am thankful that the Lord has provided this opportunity for me to go. I am thankful that Jesus gave me an answer to my heart's desire. I am grateful and humbled by my husband's generosity and love to give me his blessing. I will travel next March for 10 days. Would you all please join me in praying for this trip over the next 9 months. Please pray for God to continue to prepare my heart for this trip. Please pray for Jeff's job and all the stress that it brings, that the Lord would ease his burdens and stress by the time next March rolls around.  Please pray for Acres and the children who are blessed by this ministry.  And, finally, please pray for all the women who will be going on this trip. I am so excited and overwhelmed by this and wanted to share with all of you! I hope you will take a few minutes to click on the link and learn more about Acres of Love.

In the meantime and for the next 9 months...I will be dreaming of Africa!

Overload

I don't know where to start.  I struggle to write all the jumble going through my head.  My mind is racing and is filled with so many things right now (photography web-design, launching my business, training my misbehaved dog, shepherding my children, supporting a husband who's tank is empty and it's his job that is draining it, dealing with a strong desire to go to Africa and see what Acres of Love does firsthand and to visit the children who have captured my heart, to be a good friend to all the amazing women I love so much, to listen to others, to enjoy these crazy days with my kids, to savor every minute of Springtime and the summer days ahead, to just BE).

Just 3 weeks or so left of school...then it's Wild Rivers Tuesdays, beach days, sleeping in and summer fun!  Here's to the next few weeks finishing up all this grunt work so I can enjoy summer with my little people!

The Cirlce Tour

call us CRAZY!  Call us Die Hard Fans, if you wish!  But, it's true - J and I are Bon Jovi Fans.  He hasn't missed a show since the Slippery When Wet Tour in 1986 and I haven't missed a show since 1993's Keep the Faith tour.  This past Friday, J took JT to his first Bon Jovi Concert!  The boys had a blast and JT came home with a new T-shirt and a smile from ear-to-ear.  J said our boy knew all the words and was in awe of the whole experience.  His favorite part of the show was when Jon Bon Jovi gets on this platform that moves...


J came home Friday night and said this is one of the top two shows he's ever seen!  We already have tickets for March 4 at the Staples Center, but J couldn't wait.  We looked online last minute and found some amazing seats for last night's 2nd show in Anaheim.  I decided since we were so close I would bring my good camera.  I took some fun shots and LOVED the concert!  I had a blast, J had two nights in a row of Bon Jovi and we are headed to Staples on Thursday for our last show of this tour....Call us crazy if you will!  Thanks for an awesome date, Babe.





You can view the rest of my shots on my Bon Jovi Slideshow Here

Here is a video from Friday night when JT was with Jeff

The owner needs some training

We recently started training Lulu. She is going to be one year on the 25th of this month and the bolting out the front door and the lack of heeling and pulling during our walks was too much. She also was worrying us when she's go after dogs on walks - at the Dog Park she is great, but put a leash on her and she's a very different dog.  She is a strong boxer and hyper at times.  We are finding out so many things that we wish we had known before getting our furry friend.  Sure, she is a beautiful boxer, but there is so much more.  We learned from our trainers that a lot of research should go into the parents of your furry friend.  Lulu's mom is a hyper boxer and her dad is a scared, shy guy who cowers from everything...the result when you put those two things together - a wild, insecure dog that is afraid of everything.  When I got her at 11 weeks I took her every where with me.  I am finding out now that if I hadn't done that, Lulu would be worse off.  She is afraid of everything when we are out and she is on a leash. She is not friendly with other dogs and she is insecure and afraid.  When we are home, she is a completely different dog - she is safe and secure here.

Apparently, I need a "mean pill" because I am not firm enough with her....I am learning though.  I am learning that I need to watch my dog at all times when she is on a leash, I need to go left if she wants to go right, I need to stand tall and be firm.  I need to learn when to correct her and when to just distract her.  I need to read the signs of her body language to know when she is building up her anxiety and ready to defend herself.  I've got a long way to go and so does Lulu.  I am so thankful for the amazing trainers we are working with...they are doing so much to teach me and help train Lulu.  If there is one thing I've learned through this process the past few weeks...DO NOT BUY a dog from a family that is just selling pups to make money!  Buy a puppy from a BREEDER that puts in the time to research mates, looks into the dogs personalities and breeds dogs that will not only come out beautiful, but also with great personalities!  We love our pup and we are praying that we can train her because our fear is that as she gets older, if she becomes more and more insecure, she could be a liability and we would need to get rid of her.  So, in the meantime, Mom needs training and Lulu needs some Prozac!  Wish us luck!



P.S.  Looking for some amazing trainers - Contact Tackett Service Dogs.  They hold group classes on Saturday mornings in Orange and also do private training and boarding.  Tom or Nikki are my dog whisperers!

My New Blog...

I am doing it..I'm starting a small business...a photography business.  Something I LOVE sooo much!  I just created my blog, head over there and check things out and tell me what you think?

http://leedomphoto.wordpress.com

It's exciting and nerve wracking at the same time!

Enter in the New Decade...

Happy 2010 to you!  I have been thinking a lot about the last decade. Where was I on the eve of the year 2000?  Remember when everyone was talking about the mass chaos that would occur that midnight?  We were all waiting to see what would happen as different places around the globe entered the new millenium.  I remember that year so clearly.  It's been 10 years and a lot has changed and so much has happened.  I have lots of ups and downs.  It's been a great ride and I am looking forward to another great decade ahead!  So, here's my list of events that stand out to me from the last decade-

1. I became a mom in 2000 and now have 3 amazing kids! I celebrated NYE in 1999  three months pregnant with my JT and remember laying on the sofa listening to my husband light firecrackers outside with my two brother-in-laws and my niece sleeping upstairs.


2. Lived in the same house the entire decade.


3. I watched the twin towers go down on television - devastated and frightened for the future of my child, what kind of world was he going to grow up in!


4. Was happy to see a Conservative in the White House who defended life, marriage and all the things that our founding-fathers believed in.


5. I entered my 30's.  I had no problems turning 30...it was being in my "thirties" that was tough to grasp.


6. I was the proud owner of a mini-van.  I loved driving that door-sliding vehicle around.  I now watch my brother-in-law drive so proudly.


7. I went on 4 cruises in the last decade - Mexican Riviera, Southern Caribbean, Northern Caribbean and Ensenada


8. I traveled to Hawaii 3 times and loved each visit.


9. I visited New York 3 times - my very first time was in Feb. 2002 while Jeff was out there doing a job after 9-11.


10. Saw Yosemite for the first time


11. Watched my children (all 3 of them) start preschool and leave home for the first time.  Watched my boys start elementary school (my cupcake will start next Fall - new decade)


12. Watched my kids find their own friends and cherish those friendships.


13. Went to see the Nutcracker for the first time (with my Cupcake)


14. Visited Canada for the first time.


15. Watched my husband make Partner at PwC - in a time and economy that most people are losing their jobs, my husband attained his ultimate career goal.


16. Got to travel to Argentina in 2004 to visit my grandfather for the last time.  I am so thankful for the 5 days I got to spend with him, holding his hand, hugging and kissing him.  He was a gem and there is noone out there like him and I am so blessed to have had him in my life.  We lost him just 6 months after his 90th birthday.  I will always miss you, Abuelo.


17. Said good-bye to my Tio Luis - I can't tell you how many days we spent at his house as a child - lots of wonderful memories there!  Love you, Tio.


18. Welcomed 11 nieces and nephews into my families (2 from Jeff's side and 9 from mine)


19. Watched my parents celebrate 38 years of marriage and my in-laws celebrate 43 years - if that isn't a picture of marriage lasting I don't know what is!


20. We left Rock Harbor and became members of Calvary Church, Santa Ana - church feels like home and we've settled in nicely to our new home...here's to another decade with CCSA!


21. Met the most amazing, wonderful, women of my life.  In the past 7 years I have made friendships that I know will last a lifetime and I cannot imagine my life without these beautiful women!  Thank you, girls, for all you've given to me in the last decade...Here's to another decade!


22. Saw my Husband grow comfortably into the man I knew he would become.  I am so proud of the Man he is in all aspects of his life - he is an amazing husband, wonderful dad, great boss (according to those who work for him), devoted son and a great brother.  I love you, Babe, and simply cannot imagine my life with out you!  Thank you for being the person that you are!


23. I ran my first half-marathon in this decade (and hope to run a marathon in the next)- started running at 31 and can't imagine my life without it!


24. Said good-bye to two miniature schnauzer's and welcomed our crazy boxer Lulu to the family - we can't imagine this house without her now!

Those are just the things that stand out to me, but I hope they were able to give you a picture of how wonderful my life has been these past 10 years.  Will you post and let me know what your favorite memory of the last decade is?  I would love to hear it.

I want to wish you all a safe and Happy 2010.  May the Lord bless you and keep you!

What's a Mom to do

When her boy has had a fever of 103.5 and all he wants is her?  What is a mom to do when she's been training for a marathon and her boy says he doesn't want her to leave, but he wants her to run her race?  I won't be running my marathon this weekend.  It is a big let down for me, but the bottom line is my boy needs me and he's got a bad case of the flu.  We are pretty sure it's the swine flu and he doesn't seem to be getting any better.  Thank you to all who have cheered me on....I will run a marathon, just not this one. It's sad and unfortunate for me, but I am my boy's mama and he needs me right now.

God is so good to me!

God is so good to me!  J was able to cancel his trip to Asia this week.  I am feeling so much relief not having to worry about getting everyone ready to go off to different places!  I gave my anxiety and worry to God and he took care of me.  He is always so faithful to me!  I just wanted to share that praise with you all!

The Busy week ahead

I am having a little bit of anxiety over the busy week ahead!  It's here.  It's finally here, MARATHON WEEK!  I signed up for this marathon last January.  And, it's now here.  J is leaving for Asia on Tuesday for a week.  I leave for Oregon on Friday.  My kids are all going their separate ways for the weekend.  I am having so much anxiety over the week.  The week has just begun and I've got a million things to do.  I now have to pack all 3 kids and myself.  Get in a few last runs.  Eat right so I can store the right energy for this race on Saturday.  I am excited and nervous for the marathon.  I'm ready and I'm not.  Will my body be able to handle the 26.2 miles it will need to run on Saturday?  More importantly, will my brain be able to withstand the mental torture?  Will all my kiddos be okay?  How on earth will I be able to repay my amazing friends and Jon and Court for taking my kids and my puppy (who by the way was a very bad puppy today and ate my whole batch of pumpkin cakies)?  I realized tonight that I have to give this to the Lord.  I have to let go and let God take care of the details this week.  It's going to be a long week that I am sure will fly by much too quickly.  I've got a busy week ahead, that's for sure.

Bachelor Girls Annual Birthday Dinner

We started out when Curly was a baby - we watched The Bachelor together every Monday night.  We went to a taping of the "After the Final Rose" and we started a tradition that we love.  We meet once a year to celebrate our birthdays.  We work extremely hard to find a date that works for all 8 of us and we all stick to it!  We have enjoyed these birthday dinners pregnant, nursing, post-partum and exhausted from newborn babies and summer activities.  One thing we know for sure, we can't wait to celebrate our birthdays together when we are old, grey grandmas!  Thanks, girls, for being such wonderful friends and for keeping this tradition going!

Summertime, Summertime...

We've been eating ice cream and s'mores. We've been sleeping in and staying up late. We've played 'til the suns gone down. We are enjoying our summer and can't believe it's starting to wind down. We love our lazy days and are savoring every moment!

Hanging out with all the couins



the two curly boys in our family



Some Beach Fun




we visited all our friends who were camping in Carpenteria this week:





playing catch the flag with all the kids:





The kids wanted to take the raft out:

Check out the bottom of the boat from the waves:


Getting to spend the day with some of my favorite girls:


Then we went to visit Auntie and meet her new pups.....
Meet Oliver:


And Annabelle:



And, getting in some good laughs with our pup...she is definitely part of this family and we are loving every minute of it!

Birthday Weekend Fun....

Saturday I celebrated my 35th Birthday! I don't feel like I'm in my mid 30's, but I am! I had a great weekend celebrating.

Saturday night J and I went to dinner with Jon and Court and the Beasley's to celebrate. Jenni and I share the same birthday and after 7 years of knowing each other, this was the first time we were able to celebrate together! We had a great dinner at Maggianos and enjoyed some wonderful conversation!

The Birthday Girls....


Sunday we headed South to the Del Mar Races for Family Day. We had a Fantastic Day and the kids loved it!









It was a fabulous birthday weekend celebration despite my lingering chest cold!  We all had a great time!