French Braiding

Growing up I used to french braid hair all the time. I learned how to do it for the first time when I was in the third grade and then I never stopped. Of course, being on a softball team made the opportunities come rolling in one after the other. Every tournament we were in I had girls ask if I could braid their hair before games. I also did my own hair until it got too long. So needless to say, I was super excited to be able to actually french braid my daughter's hair. She squirmed a lot, so it's not perfect, but it's her first of many more!





Added the little clips in for the cuteness factor ;)



Yes, those are little tears. She cried when I would put the ties in - that was always my least favorite part of getting my hair braided too. The little hairs on the neck being pulled are not comfortable to say the least. She was such a trouper.

California native...

Aunt Char, I tried to email this to you, but it was too large to email. So...I just decided that it was rendered "cute"-material (picture finger twisting pointing at my cheek), so I figured why not put it on the blog. I hope you don't mind everyone hearing your beautiful singing voice... XOXO ME

Robbie's Birthday...

I can't say this year Robbie's birthday was all that exciting for the poor guy - literally! We made the most out of a particularly downer time for us! His day included time preparing for his mom to go into surgery, a financial meeting with our pastor, picking up his car from the shop ($900+ later), a quick dinner after a full day of work, and thank goodness, the highlight of the day, a win by the San Diego Chargers. Luckily, we were able have the meal at Island's on a giftcard (thank you mom & dad) and Robbie was able to get his favorite cake in the world - red velvet cake (thank you to our fabulous friend, Shae Jacobsen)! We sang him Happy Birthday and Abby even joined in! So, overall, the day was fun, but uneventful. But, we like to always find the positive end of the situation and play that out the most - Robbie is celebrating another birthday and is looking forward to the excting things that will happen within this next year!!

It was difficult to see the positive end of things this birthday, because his day hit at a particularly awful time for us. Robbie is still out of a "permanent" job from teaching, every day hoping that he'll pick up a sub job, which is still pretty competitive, and we're watching our savings slowly decrease each month. We have finally hit that point where we don't know what is going to happen in the next month, besides that we're ready to see the amazing ways God is going to provide for us, as He always has, but now just in a time where it's desperately needed!! We count our blessings and try to let those permeate our minds when we go to pay the next bills, and begin to step into the "extreme" areas of savings/making money that will drastically change the way we live right now.

The thing that has settled my mind, and which allowed me to focus on Robbie's birthday, is from Philippians 4:6-7 where we are reminded to "...not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present our requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding , will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

I know God is going to provide for my family - He always has! He's the only one that truly can! Jesus is my reminder that all things are possible if I believe in Him. So I'm going to continue to enjoy my husband, wish him a Happy Birthday, even in our circumstances, and enjoy my daughter who delights in just watching a beautiful caterpillar crawl along our deck. Perhaps after this experience in our life, we too, will be transformed into something more beautiful and feel like we've got the wind beneath our wings and can fly free of these burdens. I can't wait to see what God has in store...because I believe in Him!

My Mom Rocks!

Ha Ha....this is what I get when I leave my daughter home alone with her daddy for a whole day...Robbie seriously needs to get a job ;)







Do I see a serious attitude forming? In therapy, we'll have to explain that it was her daddy's fault!