Joys of learning new things!

So, while I have been stressing, pondering and trying very hard to be myself and learn what I am supossed to Hannah and Austin (yet again) show me how it is done!

Austin learned to ride his bike this week, and it only took him 5 minutes!! Now he is riding eveywhere. Although he was scared at first, not of the bike or of failing/falling but becasue we were riding in the parking lot and he was afraid of the cars. Once I explained to him that I was watching for the cars and would inform him of their presence, and once he trusted my ability to do so he rode... and rode and rode. With no hesitation, nothing holding him back. Meanwhile Hannah rode next to him cheering him on singing a song about him being bumblebee (from transformers) and telling him "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (phil. 4:13). I just sat back and smiled (well actually I ran alongside austin, but) truly kids sometimes have all the answers. Just trust in God, sing a song, and do it! That's what they were saying to each other and how I wished I could be like them. It is these moments that I remeber and am so impossibly proud to be their mom, and next time I will be singing a song along with them!

What Colorado has taught me (so far)

There were so many reasons we wanted to move to Colorado, the mountains, snow, outdoors, and just feeling at peace here. But what I didn't expect was that I would find myself again! For the first time in a long time I feel like myself, I feel free to be me without being ashamed or embarassed or afraid of huring anyone's feelings. Being in a new place without all the things I usually have to hide behind or run to, leaves me two options.. 1) run away and continue hiding and being afraid or 2) trust, in every sense of the word, trust in God to provide, to help, to comfort, to restore and to fulfill the promises He's given us.

So often when I am faced with dilema's, new changes or anything really my first reaction is to reason, "well this is why this happened", or "this is why I should/shouldn't do this". I realized this while hiking and exploring Colorado, when I am outside doing these things I don't reason, I don't fear, I am simply at peace and I am myself. It is then I hear God saying "I am here, I have you, Do not fear, Do not worry or reason, I will fulfill My promise to you, You are mine!"

That is all I need! Watch out world this is me!

The things you learn from kid movies :)

I have always been a fighter, no matter what it was I fought it. If my mom wanted me to do something I fought her, even if I wanted to do it. For the longest time I just thought that was how I was. But then I started not liking it so I stopped fighting altogether, Well little did I know the kids (yet again, they are so much smarter then me!) taught me a lesson about myself.
We were watching Kung Fu Panda, which is very cute and recomended, anyway these animals are Kung Fu warriors. Kai Lung is the best, but he fights to prove evryone wrong, he wants to be the best and will do anything to get there, to prove he is strong enough, he is good enough. While viper (one of the five warriors) is very sweet, and a fighter. She fights for justice and truth, for protection. She is dangerous, yet controlled. While I was sitting there watching this, God was saying "That's you, you were meant to fight, fight for truth, fight for your family, yet not out of rebellion or proof of anything, just because that is who you are."
Wow,

Well I won't finish the story for those of you who haven't seen it, but viper isn't the "hero" of the story, she isn't the best, yet she is essential. So next time you are watching "Cars, or Cinderella" for the tenth time, just listen God may be teaching you something too, that you are loved, you are essential, and you are His

(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.