Memories of Yesteryear

So, I'm feeling kind of nostalgic today. Thinking about when Gray was first born and even before that. It's hard now to remember what life was like without him. I've been kind of sad lately seeing how much he's maturing. He's really not a baby anymore. There's only a couple of baby traits left, and they're the ones you want him to grow out of. Children grow up way too fast! I love looking at old photos! Sorry for the overload...

THE WONDER YEARS

Young Love

Honeymoon

Simple Pleasures

Along came Gray and our life will never be the same

I loved you before I met you

First moments

Sweet Angel

Little Man

1st trip to the beach...San Diego

cuddly bear

Revival in Rancho

After our two o'clock service today, we grabbed a quick bite to eat, ran home and freshened up then headed to Rancho Cordova to preach at Way of Life for Bro. & Sis. Tempke. We were beginging to wonder if we would make it before the service was over because we got lost trying to find the place. But someone saw us driving around and led us in the right direction. I don't think the devil wanted us to be there tonight. It was a blowout service! The presence of God was so powerful in that place. God spoke so many things to individuals and the church as a whole. What a great church full of great people! Rancho Cordova is definitely ready for revival!

Fun with Friends

We had a great time tonight with our friends...The Tempke's. Great food and fellowship with great people who have similar goals in life. They made grilled tri-tip sandwiches and baked beans and we brought some potato salad (my mom-in-love's recipe of course) and a peach cobbler for dessert!










We always have a great time together. Gray loves going to their house because they have so many toys and a BACKYARD.

This is their youngest Dawson, isn't he just the cutest thing.

I am so thankful for the new friends we have made!

Sis. Tempke and I

I also have some really exciting news about our church planting endeavor! Gordon went door to door doing a survey about why people don't go to church today ending the survey with asking if they want a bible study. He knocked 9 doors and talked to about 5 people and got Bible studies scheduled for 3 of them. Thank you Jesus for the possibilites we see ahead!

Sorry for the rant!

Okay, I don't want to use this blog to gripe and complain, but it's about our life and sometimes you just gotta! I have to tell this story about our experience at a restaurant tonight. First of all, I won't say the name of the place, but I will say it was a Chinese restaurant. We had been there once before and remembered them being slightly rude, but we were with a lot of people so were too busy to really pay much attention. Well, after tonight, let's just say we won't be going back. When we walked in the hostess said, "Do you need a booster seat?" I said, "No, I need a high chair." She looked at Gray (his size) and back at me then proceeded to go get a booster seat and brought it to us. We said, "We need a HIGHCHAIR." She gave the same look and went and got it. You have to understand. Gray is big for his age, so people often mistake him for a 3 year old. But that's not the point. I don't care if he's 5, if we want a highchair, that's what she should bring us. Then, the waitress takes our drink order. I tell her Gray doesn't need anything because he has a sippy cup. She ignores me and asks him what he would like to drink, naming off his options. By this time, we're completely annoyed. Then to top it off, we're pretty sure she told him to shush because he was being loud. I mean, we've had our share of bad service, but never had them try to override our parental decisions!

"Aww man...workin'"

In case you're wondering what my title is all about. Those are the words I've heard ALL DAY from a two year old! It was no doubt the phrase of the day. Everything he would try to do but couldn't, he would say "Aww man...workin'" In other words it's NOT working! Gordon said we need to time Gray to see how long he will continue to say the same thing over and over until you give in and say what he wants you to. We made it 6 minutes and broke!

The picture you see to the above is Gray eating his dinosaur PB&J sandwiches. I found this cute little gadget at Wal-Mart for two bucks. It cuts the crust off and cuts the sandwich into two dinosaur shapes. Adorable I must say!





We didn't do too much today. Finally around 4 o'clock, I decided to go to the grocery store. And as I was getting Gray ready to walk out the door he starts saying "let's go swing", "let's go park" I wish it was possible to type in a tone of voice. Then you would understand why I adjusted my plan and we went to the park. :) You just can't resist his sweet little voice filled with excitement!

I made applesauce meatballs for dinner tonight...sorry no pic!

Time for another haircut already!

Today Gordon did the Bible study with the young man I mentioned the other day. It went well. We all went to lunch afterwards. We're praying for more opportunites to be a witness to him.

We took Gray to get a haircut this evening. His hair grows SO fast! Which isn't good considering how much he dislikes having it cut! He did better this time because I sat in the chair, and he sat in my lap. Plus, she didn't use clippers (he's terrified)! By the time it was over I was covered in hair and dum-dums!

Afterwards, we went to eat at Strawhat pizza and took Gray to Lakeshore Learning Store.

My baby got a boo-boo!

So, Gray slept through the night last night...THANK GOD. It seems he's been reverting back to infancy lately. Who knew a two and a half year old would STILL keep you from sleeping. I certainly did not. Anyway, we went to the park when Gordon left for work today, and as soon as we got there, he anxiously ran (too fast) to the playground and fell on the cement and scraped his knee.

Between that and the heat (only 85 degrees...I could have sworn it was 95, guess I've been spoiled to the 75 with a breeze) we didn't stay too long.

I had my 4th music lesson tonight with Sis. Schexnayder. She's teaching me to play the keyboard. I thank God for people like her, who give of themselves expecting nothing in return other than the blessing that is sure to come their way because of their generosity.

As I type, I am eating some delicious, fresh picked, ripe California strawberries. Oh how I'll miss them when the season is over!

It's Summer time

So, Today was the first day of summer...our first summer here in Rocklin. And I must say it was quite a bit hotter than it has been lately. But still nothing compared to the humidity in the south. It was a good day though. I cleaned like a mad woman with the help of some good music and Gray's extra long nap. Hopefully we won't pay for that tonight. I took him out to ride his tricycle when he woke up, but not for very long since it was so hot. He's so funny. He's just now really learning to ride it and he doesn't want to have to give too much energy pushing the pedals. He would much rather someone else push him especially when it comes to going uphill. And when he needs to turn, he gets completely off and tries to turn the whole tricycle in the right direction instead of just turning the handle bars.

Later on, I made tacos for dinner...YUM! Then we all went for a walk which turned out to be rather exciting. First of all, there was some type of gnat or other flying bug that was everywhere tonight so they kept flying into us the whole time, then we saw two deer probably a hundred feet from where we were walking on the sidewalk. We stopped and looked at them as they looked at us for about five minutes, then we turned around and headed back. On the way back I stepped on a cherry that had fallen off a tree above my head and it splattered all over my leg and scared me to death...pretty funny.

We also received a much needed financial blessing in the mail today! Thank you Jesus! He IS an on-time God...that's for sure!

A skittle stuck to your shoe kind of day

Have you ever had a day like this. A day where all the little things seem to be out to get you and nothing seems to be going right. And then...right in the middle of it you notice you have something stuck to your shoe and who knows how long it's been there! Well, today was one of those days! First off, I ironed my skirt for church, then realized there was something on the ironing board that transferred onto my skirt during the ironing I had COMPLETED! So, then I had to pick out something else to wear and hope that whatever it is will come out when I wash the skirt. So, then we go to church and Gray decides it's one of those days he will "help" a little too much with the setting up/taking down of our equipment. He drops one of our speakers after being told several times to leave it alone. We make it home and we're walking up the stairs to our apartment, Gordon says, "What's that on your shoe?" Me, being too tired to even care to look, says "I don't know, what's it look like?" He says "A smashed skittle!" We both die laughing! A little later Gray drops a drink and spills it and it splatters all over the place. So, by the way things had gone so far, we decided I would just cook Gordon's favorite..."Cheeseburgers" instead of punishing ourselves by going out to eat for Father's Day.

I probably sound ridiculous whining about these unimportant things, but it was just one of those days. But don't get me wrong, the day wasn't ALL bad. We had a great morning celebrating Father's Day.

Then, later while I was out and about, I gave out a few church cards and before I made it home, one of the guys called Gordon. He was asking if we would let him talk to us about something he is selling, so we said sure if you'll let us give you a Bible Study...he agreed :)

Besides, who could stay mad at this little guy?

So I guess it's about time...

Well, I finally decided to start a family blog. I've blogged before, but mostly about little life lessons from God and that sort of thing. I want this blog to be kind of like a journal, but a public one. One we can look back on to remember things that happened in our life....raising children, starting churches, etc. It's a little foreign to me right now, so please bear with me as I try to make sense of the blogging world!