(In Hannah's words) "bye california, hello colorado", (or Austin;s) "ladolado"

We are here! I can't believe it, it still feels like vacation I keep waiting for the time when we have to go to the airport. Today we are looking for houses and areas we would like to live. Jake doesn't start work until next monday so we have a week to look and get everything in order. Maybe by then it will sink in and I will realize how much our lives have changed and how I miss you all so dearly. Pics and more info to follow, we love you all

Maximus (max) a.k.a furball!

We finally got a dog! Yes I know he isn't a big lab or saint bernard or bull mastiff like we wanted, but he is so sweet and perfect for us right now. He is great with the kids and just wants to be loved, I mean come on how cute is he? Pretty darn cute right!

So why? Well as I briefly mentioned earlier the trip to Colorado re-birthed our desires, not only to be in Colorado but for things we had stopped desiring because it was to painful for us. A dog being one of those desires. Ever since we came back I have been desiring a dog again, yet this time it was different I laid it in God's hands and allowed Him to pick the dog and when we would get it. I do have to admit I didn't think it would be this fast, but we are loving it. We have had him for one week and he is adjusting great. We got him from a rescue shelter so he is 5 years old and already trained. We just have to train him to our needs as a family, and he has greatly improved in just 7 days! Well that's all I have time for right now I will tell you more about everything else soon (I hope). bye for now

God's Amazing Grace

So lately I have been down and out, just so tired, weak, exhausted, in every way. I feel God calling me closer to Him and me wanting with all my heart to go, then getting scared and pulling away. I know I need to rest in Him and trust in Him and I find I am having a hard time. I allow my physical health, and just everyday life get in the way. Then before I know it I am worn out and dry!
Just recently our church put a video monitor in the back for families with kids so I was actually able to hear the service today (well part of it at least, hee) and this is what I heard.....

" My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me."

2 Cor 12:9

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Phil 4:6-7

Ahhh! It was all I needed to hear! God is right there, God wants us to lean on Him and God loves us so much! I feel so revived (yet still tired) and ready to face whatever may come our way. Thank you all for supporting me and loving me me through everything

Colorado, ahhhhh I'm in love!

We're back from Colorado, the best vacation ever! Let me tell you it was so hard to leave, being in the mountains with the crisp, clean air was (I know this will sound funny, but..) healing. Both Jake and I felt rejuvenated and felt our dream of living in the mountains restored. It was like God was affiriming that yes this is a reality, yes I put that desire there and yes I will give it to you! AHHH it was wonderful! We are already planning our next trip :) Here's the pics

At evergreen, a cute little town in the mountains about 20min from denver. We walked along this path (behind us) that went all the way around a frozen lake with ice fishing (seriously I thought they did that only in Alaska) ice skating and hockey. In the middle was this adoreable little community center equipped with restrooms and hot chocolate.

Along the way we saw this and just cracked up!

After that we went to Red Rocks which was only 10 min from evergreen. It was amazing, we hiked down to the stage of the amphitheatre (boy that was a mistake, talked about tired! my lungs were burning) Then we stopped to climb in some caves, but had to convince Hannah that there were no polar bears in Colorado and therefore could not be in the caves, it was pretty funny.

The next day we went to church and it was also great.God taught me so much (and still is actually) through this trip. During the whole church service I was feeling horrible thinking all these bad thoughts about myself, then God ever so gently pulled me close and I felt I was in His arms. He is so amazing! I'm still processing everything, but I will update you on that as well. Then we went to Breckenridge and let me tell you, wow! It was so beautiful and cold, there was a wind chill factor of -1. My sister was fine, but we californians were cold! So we didn't take Hannah snowboarding (she'd turn into an icicle) but we went ice skating, and she was so good! Just look at how cute she is!

This is just us hanging out in my sister's apartment, which is so cute and homey. These are some of my favorite pictures, not the best technically but we were having so much fun when we took them, it makes me smile just looking at them.

Curious George

If any of you have not seen the new animated curious george movie it is way cute!!! I first saw it last year right after Austin was born and I loved it. One of the reasons I loved it so much was that Austin totally reminds me of curious george (which is funny since i hate monkey's) his smile and cuteness are so similar. The relationship between george and Ted (man in the yellow hat) also reminds me of us. It just makes me happy inside:) Here are some pics, let me know if you think so too.....

Not only is it Austin's cuteness I love but his overall attitude. He has helped me to get back my sense of humor, to look at life not so seriously and to just lay back and let God take control. I know it sounds silly that a baby can teach you those things, but it is true. I am just blown away by my kids and by the teaching, healing and love God brings me through them. I feel so inadequate to be their mom yet I know they wouldn't have it any other way. They have already taught me so much about God, about myself and what astounds me the most, about love. They love so much better then I ever could, they show me true unconditional love. I know they will get mad at me and I know I am not perfect, yet they seem not to care, they still love me. I did not become a mom to get love, but rather to give love, but here are my kids giving me all their love, teaching me how to love and accepting me. I am so blessed!

Hidden Blessings

We have been really busy lately and I couldn't really tell you why, but I can tell you it has been good, not the kind that leaves you stressed and tired, but the kind that revives you and gives you strength and encouragement. I feel like God has been bringing people into our lives to disciple and be discipled by, giving us the energy and desire to do all these things. In this past month so much has been added/changed in our lives and it has been great! I have made friendship with the most unlikely people, shared secrets I thought I would never share, and discovered things about myself I thought were never there. They all have been hidden blessings and I thank God for the way He runs my life and the friendships He gives me, it really makes me feel so loved and yes..... blessed!

My Sister, My Best Friend

I am so excited!!!!! We just booked our tickets to go see my sister, and we leave in a month, I can't wait!!! My sister and I have been best friends ever since I was born (or so I am told,we loved each other from the first minute we met). For the past 6 years we have lived far away from each other, seeing one another about every 4 months or so. She was able to come down for a whole week for Christmas, which was so great. Not only is she my favorite person but she is Hannah's favorite as well. We had so much fun together, here are some pics from the visit

What I love most about my sister is her caring spirit. She has such a big heart and whenever I am in her presence I feel comforted, at peace and safe. She is so much fun to be around because she allows you to be yourself. It doesn't matter if you are in a bad mood or really hyper or just melancholy, she doesn't expect anything except you. It is so freeing to be around her, not only because she knows me so well but because she understands. I am so thankful for her in my life, I know I would not be as caring, selfless or serving if she wasn't, she was the one who taught me those things. I just want to say thank you to my sister for being there for me and with me through everything, and to God for blessing me with such an amazing sister!