California Adventure On A Whim: Part l

It was around 6:00. The kids had eaten and gone downstairs for their movie. We had decided it was the perfect night for a quiet, adult-only dinner. We indulged in our slow-cooked pork ribs and, in between our moaning over the goodness, we had uninterrupted grown-up talk... it was wonderful. 

We found ourselves talking about that trip to California we said we would take once the kids were older.  Our conversation when something like this.

Nana: "We need to do Disneyland."

Me: "Totally!"

Nana: "Gosh it would be so great to go before the bus opens."

Erik: "I wonder when Disneyland's busy season really starts?"

A little research took place.

Me: "It starts to get busy June 1st."

Looked at the calendar.

Me: "We should go now, as in like right now."

Papa: "Let's do it."

Nana: "I wonder how much it would cost to rent an RV?"

Me: "Na, we'll just hook-up the pop-up."

A call to Aunt Becky finalized the plans and we were off and running like chickens without heads. And then our conversation went then something like this.

Nana: "We need to clean-up the rib mess before we leave!" 

Me: "Don't forget the sun-screen and toilet paper!"

Nana: "I don't have any clothes, there all in the bus!" 

Us: "Well stop at the bus on our way out of town in the morning so you can get your underwear!"

Erik and Dad: "The Suburban really needs new tires."

All of us agreed: "Well do that on the way out of town too!" (Never got done, we just prayed the whole time).

The kids: Oblivious.

Papa: "I'm going to make that meatloaf!" (Yes, because what is a road trip without meatloaf sandwiches! And they were yummy!)

We pulled out at 8:00 the next morning!

The huge meatloaf and the view off our deck the morning before we left. Goodbye snow and hello beautiful warm sunshine!

Utah is so beautiful. We took our time and stopped to enjoy the view.

Eight seats and eight people makes for a cozy ride! We had so much fun and the kids did amazing, especially since all they thought was that we were going camping.  It was one long trip to find the perfect camping spot. 

"We just haven't found it yet kids, lets keep looking! Who wants another meatloaf sandwich?"

It is really hard to keep a secret that long. Oh. My. Goodness. We all slipped at times and said the D-word. We all failed, but thankfully no one caught on. Not even the eight year old. 

When we reached the California sign we asked the kids, "Hey since we are this far do you want to just go the rest of the way and camp at the beach?"

"Yeah!!!"

We had the best set-up! I would take this over a nice hotel any day!

The view from the camper.

Uncle James and cutie pie Walker hanging with us!

Shaving on the beach. Erik and I also took advantage of the showers on the beach. Don't worry we wore our suits. Shivering cold, but free!! It's so fun watching people look at you funny, haha!!

Aunt Becky revealed the big secret!!!! 

She gave each kid a note. 

The notes read 

Matty: "WE." 

Jon: "ARE." 

Ella: "GOING TO." 

Abby: "DISNEYLAND!!!!!!!"

And as if that wasn't enough she spoiled them even more with ears, toys and candy!  

Thank you Aunt Becky!

I'll post all our Disneyland fun next time!

Matty-Moo's Chocat Birfday

"Matthew your birthday is coming up soon, what do you want to do for your birthday?"

"Chocat birfday!"

And every time we asked him, that was the answer he stuck to. He didn't want anything else but a Chocolate birthday. Okay, you got it. He couldn't have made it any easier on us. 

Matthew is the kid that will make your heart melt with sweetness one minute and then drive you to the point of insanity the next. He will make you laugh until you cry with his perfect comedic timing. He loves life and it shows through is adorable, animated face. We can't go somewhere without him talking to someone he doesn't know; making new friends comes very easy for him. He his stubborn and passionate. Food is a very big deal to him. He is drawn to music. He is fearless. 

He's full of excuses.

His new excuse when asked to do something he doesn't want to do is, "My doctor said I can't."

An excuse he uses to change the subject at the dinner table or when we ask him to do a chore is, "I not Hulk, I Nacho."

If we were to guess his future, he might end up in musical comedy and would probably be remembered as the crazy linebacker in high school that streaked across the field at the homecoming game. 

Abby and Papa made him a special birthday breakfast

Love this little stinker.

"How old are you Matt?"

We went to the store so he could pick out a toy for the top of his cake. Something to decorate the top and something he could play with afterwards... we are all about maximizing useage in this house. But Matt informed us, by putting the transformer up to his ear, that his transformer didn't want to go on top of his cake. Okay, whatevs. It's your birfday.

Two boxes of cake mix, four containers of fudge frosting and chocolate ice cream on the side. You want chocalate, Nana will give you chocolate!

"You want some?" 

He loves to share his food.

It's sort of a Matthew birthday tradition to let him eat his cake with his hands. It all began with his monumental first birthday cake episode. 

Papa decided to join in the fun!

We all went to the movies to see "The Avengers", and then we came home and devoured the ginormous chocat cake. Such a fun day celebrating our baby boy! 

Love you Matt-Moo!

A little recap of his three's

Selfless Love: A Husband Guest Post

My husbands ability to paint with words always amazes me. When I read this it felt like he had displayed my heart in that moment. Marriage is amazing in that even though we are individuals we are often going through the same things, especially when it comes to spiritual matters. At least that's the case for us.  I had to share, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. 


Selfeless Love


It is so refreshing to hear someone put life's responsibility in God's hands. Some live this way, in a sense of wonder covered by the miraculous care of God's grace. Every day is a new adventure and life is about the journey in the minds of people who live by a vibrant and real faith. I write this because there is a couple of people that I consider close to my heart and they exemplify this mindset with ease.

Today was the first day my In-laws, Carrie and Tom, spent in Colorado. We had a great time running errands together. Carrie spoke words of truth on Godly dependence that rolled off her tongue like the instructions for making a PB and J sandwich. Tom shared simple prayers with tangible answers that solidified foundations of faith shaken by years of a heart deferred. How small I feel; how good it feels! Hearing the perspective on life from people who truly enjoy every day is a real gift for any listener, regardless of perspective. I hope, deep within my heart, that I can hold the same perspective. This appetite for spiritual substance is a conquering force that I have missed for many years.

Years of struggle seasoned with an absence of God's presence that was almost tangible; it was like a numb Hell. Feeling like someone isn't there anymore is a complicated feeling to illustrate. Love can grow into complacency but I speak of my hollow, shallow love. How is a selfish love refined? By an unconditional force stepping aside and waiting for the selfish, self-righteous, prideful fool to die from exhaustion. Can you put loneliness, frustration, apathy, despair, and regret into a blender? What kind of cocktail is the result of this bitter concoction? What kind of person goes bottoms up with a drink akin the last request of a condemned man? I do, did, and died drinking that cup. Those feelings vanished with death convulsions yielding a peace and surrender that could only come by trekking through the Valley of the Shadow of Death.

What does a traveler find as he spreads the last branches stained with bitterness and guile at the exit of a Godless death march? He sees the expectant eyes of dear people who have traveled that path before, waiting for him on the other side. He sees the scars from a hard road and under their welcoming smile he can still see the pains of their journey. With arms spread wide those seasoned travelers reach out to the returning prodigal without judgment; just love. The accompanying embrace breaks open flood gates from heaven and something happens.

Jesus appears. Tears flow… Regrets begin to float on those tears to a river of forgiveness. More tears now… Brokenness, failure, fear all floating away. Who knew such small drops could wash away such devastating sins? Those embracing arms belong to someone that loves me with a selfless love, an eternal love. Those eyes were clouded with blood as he bore my guilt and shame. Those eyes spoke "It's okay, I still love you." Love waited me out and won.

Where do I go from here?

To walk with a limp. A reminder that I can’t do it on my own. The cross proves He will handle my needs. Even if it means to Hell and back. Wow, rest in that truth!

Tonight, as I write this, I don't know what tomorrow will bring. There are things written on my calendar; we'll see how that works out. The two people sleeping downstairs help me see Christ more clearly; they ask for daily bread. They live life and enjoy the journey. I want that too.

I want life to be an adventure without regret. Over the past months I have learned things that have attached themselves to my soul forever. I have looked failure in the face and seen purpose waiting in the backdrop.  I'm done begging for a cache of bread. Instead, I will wait for He who loves me and start trusting Him again for the first time. He said he would take care of us. And if I fail believing that, He also says:

"It's okay, I still love you."

I Heart Faces Contest | Hey Girl

"Hey Girl"

My "In The Moment" Moments

Life would be such a disappointment if it always stayed the same. It's very comforting to know that life is always evolving, changing, and taking me by surprise. Yes, there are those things that stay constant; God's love, my morning coffee, and that fact that I'll always be a klutz. But most everything else could change at any given moment. I want to remember what this season looks like and so I'm going to start an "In the Moment" series. It's actually just a way of being able to post random facts about my life, that don't really have a home... and have it sound chic.

So here are a few of my, "In the Moment", moments.

* I have been seeing numbers consecutively and it's starting to freak me out... 1:11, 2:22, 3:33, 4:44. Sometimes I will do it every hour, three hours in a row. What the heck? At the wedding I shot on Friday I pulled my phone out to check the time and it said 11:11. I think I have a problem. Does this happen to anyone else?

* I am addicted to diet coke. It's terrible for me. I know this. The chemicals, the addictive properties, the fact that it hinders me from drinking what my body really needs; water. But I can't stop the madness.

* Socks do not belong on sleeping feet. Did that sound confusing? What I meant was I won't wear socks to bed. To a nap maybe, but never at night.  Claustrophobia will eventually attack my feet and I will wake up in a fury trying to rip them off. 

*  One time Erik fell asleep with his fingers in my tangled hair. He decided to turn over and take me with him. I screamed loudly and then slugged him. We are adventurous even when we are unconscious.

*  Matt's quote of the week:

He was picking his nose and Erik gave him the "You shouldn't be doing that!", glare. He asked, "Did you get it buddy?"

Matt's reply, "I couldn't, it's a fast one." Hahaha

*  The night after I do a wedding, I dream wedding. All. Night. Long. Erik said the other night I woke him up because I was talking in my sleep. Something about how all the groomsman were not standing in the right order.

*  Jalapeño string cheese! When you go to reach for your afternoon snack and you think to yourself, "I'm so bored of this simple white stick of cheese. I wish I had a little spice in my life." Remember this very small, but very powerful piece of information. Spice it up. Get crazy. Have two! 3:00 will never be the same!

* I like a clean house, but one odd thing about me is I don't make my bed. Something I didn't inherit from my mom, the bed-making queen! I will make it if it's your first time to my house, but that's all you get. Remember it how it was because you will never see it like that again, unless you happen to be over when another newcomer is visiting.

*  What is it about us parents and wanting our kids to have the same childhood experiences we did. Lucky Charms has to be one of the worst cereals in a, "start your kids out on the right foot, with good brain food," kinda way. But, we have to let them indulge in the delight of the charms, we have to let them taste the rainbow (oops, Skittles reference!); they are magically delicious after all. While the kids were sugaring up one early morning, Erik and I were reminiscing of the days when we would eat all the marshmallows first and then the rest just tasted like sugared cardboard. Ella pipes up, " You mean they had Lucky Charms all the way back then?" 

Oh my goodness, nothing like making you feel real old, real quick. "Yes dear, all the way back then!"

*  With all the advanced technology we have, why is there still a delay when two news reporters are talking to each other? Just sayin'.

*  This girl needs a vacation. I mean, like, really needs a vacation. With that said, I will never vacation here. Are you kidding me, sleep underwater? I love that God made all the fish an incredible home, but there is a reason he didn't give me the ability to breath underwater. I will let them enjoy their home in peace and quiet and will find myself a nice cabana on the beach, thank you very much! 

I talked a lot about sleeping, I think it's time for a nice bath and good night's sleep!

The Worst Feeling In The World

I will never forget that feeling of helplessness. It was a moment when I literally could do nothing but cry out for help. In that moment I felt so small, so useless. I’d like to be able to say I relied on my faith, experience, or calm personality in that moment of distress but I admit that I failed miserably. I hope that I never see that panicked side of myself again.

Matt was completely gone and in that twenty minutes, the most horrific scenarios flashed into my mind. “Somebody took him!” was my first thought. He was playing in the woods, fell down the hill, and is lying somewhere unconscious. Or maybe A wild animal took him away. My thoughts were racing out of control!

Even the most bizarre stories don't seem so bizarre in a moment of panic.

I called 911 immediately and then questioned as many neighbors as I could find. I ran all through the house thinking, “Could he have fallen asleep somewhere? Is he hiding from me?” After I tore the house apart, I quickly put on my running shoes and started covering as much outside ground as possible. I started screaming, praying, crying my eyes out, and I even tried to get the dog to help. "MATT! MATTY! LUKE WHERE IS MATTY? MATTY WHERE ARE YOU? I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO! DEAR JESUS, HELP ME FIND HIM!"

After what seemed like an eternity, I got a call from one of our neighbors wondering what was going on. At first she thought I had called looking for Luke, but I had managed to tell her that Matt had gone missing through my uncontrollable tears. Almost immediately I heard her scream, "Oh my goodness I see him under our picnic table in the backyard!"

Then I completely lost it out relief and joy. My baby is okay!!

He had walked three houses away, somehow got into our neighbor’s backyard, and was hiding under her picnic table. This was unusual behavior for him; he has always liked to stick close to the house. He had never done anything like that before and it became the perfect storm of panic.

I actually had a hard time disciplining him because I was just so happy that he was okay.

Don't worry he got a good talking too and he also got a visit from the officer that came by our house. After all was said and done, he's now scared to death about being eaten by a wild animal if he was to venture out on his own again!

I have learned that I panic easily in extreme situations and that the thought of losing a child is the worst feeling in the world. I’m just glad that Matty is okay and never wants to scare his mommy like that again (at least for the rest of this week).

I mean it when I say that this child is going to give me a heart attack (Next week)!!

Easter In Our Jammies

I really love the days when we have an excuse to do absolutely nothing. Jammies are mandatory, yummy food a must, and the only to-do on the agenda is the nap that’s been planned since ten that morning. That's what Easter looked like for us this year... the day couldn't have been more perfect! 

Grandpa and Grandma Wilt were in town. We had a great time laying around, watching the kids sugar level go up and down all day! Of course we dyed eggs and hunted for them, which is always a fun Easter tradition. The Easter bunny came and spoiled the kids with an abundance of cavity inducing treats and we spoiled ourselves with a prime rib dinner... yum!