Planes, Trains & Automoblies

I inherited my love of travel from 2 people...my mother & my Aunt Lynda. I remember at various times in my childhood, my mother expressing a desire to "see America". She used to talk of renting an RV, before the passing of my grandparents, & taking all of us (including Nanie & Grandpa) on the grand adventure of seeing our great country. Then there was my very "trendy" aunt from Chicago who became an Airline Stewardess (now we know that profession by the PC term Flight Attendant) back in the glamorous days of travel. For many years that was "what I wanted to be when I grew up" because of the many benefits of flying for free. Soooo, here I am (and we've already established that I'm grown up) with that same inner bug to travel. And not so much just for myself (my heart always hears Europe calling), but a desire to give the gift of travel to my children. Dan has a much more practical outlook, "Why see another country when you haven't first discovered your own?" I didn't have a good answer, so for now the only stamps in my passport are the ones I get watching "House Hunters International". Instead, I started mapping out "Road Trips" to get in as many states as possible during these last years available with the kids. "Available?" you may be thinking, "Your kids are young!" Yes, they are, but time to travel seems to be slipping away from our calendar years and instead filling with things like sports & friends. Don't get me wrong...loooove sports & totally get the social adolescent years...I guess I just want to go for it before high school life kicks in:) My resources include Our 50 States by Lynn Cheney, Top 10 Places to visit, The Food Network website (TripleD, Giada's Getaways, Chef vs City & The Road Tasted) & our own family history. We'd only checked off California & Oregon until last Christmas, when the gift to our kids was luggage with an airline ticket to Chicago inside. The look on their faces was priceless...our trip an amazing success...so begins our adventure to Discover America!

Mission Impossible

Your mission,should you choose to accept..."Train up a child in the way he should go & when he is old he will not depart from it" Prov.22:6, in other words...Motherhood! "Yes!" we say without hesitation. Since the beginning of time women have embraced this honorable role & relished in this ministry. I have tried, in the more recent years to see my family as not just a duty, but my pre-imminent ministry & put them before my other personal endeavors. The reality of that goal is not always the case because let's face it...sometimes it's easier & more enjoyable to serve anyone but your own family. BUT switching my perspective to a Mission Field (which we are doing this summer by looking how the Great Commission includes very practical & somewhat overlooked locations) helps me be mindful that this is work...work that will in due time produce a glorious harvest. We've just survived the baby/toddler years (we are exhausted, somewhat spiritually dry from missing fellowship as a result of the ever appearing runny nose, with the exception of a few, lacking in personal style & missing some brain power-I always think "I used to be smart?") We keep hearing "Oh, just wait for those latter teen years." Our brains can't even go there yet because we are in the Here & Now... the Trenches I call it...AKA our Mission Field! It's a place where I have no furlough, no increase of attendance, and (because I'm a woman)constant comparisons of other missionaries who are doing things differently than I am. It's daunting! I think we can all agree that the reality of raising up this next generation is very different than the way we pictured or imagined it before we had children. Yet I'm sure we all have the same goal, that our children would "grow in grace & knowledge of our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ" II Peter 3:18. I am always struggling to find the balance between teaching them a "works based motivation for living" because your house has to have rules & a "love/grace relationship" with the Father who is waiting for them to just COME-minus the finger pointing which I tend to do. I have to remind myself that they are trying to work out their salvation also, BUT with their age brain & experience. Oh, how we need to be in prayer for their salvation & prayer to properly represent the Lord to our kids! I have been stretched, exhorted, & humbled by my children. I do things that I swore I would never do, like yell or freak out on my kids. I know I love my children, but I struggle with the "like" part. Some kids are just more difficult to raise than others, not worse just different. To which my mother reminds me that the Lord gave each one of us our specific children because they needed us, with all our quirks, faults & strengths, as their mother to point them to Christ. We can't do it in & of ourselves, "it's by My Spirit says the Lord" Zech 4:6 and when we don't have the answers (which is often) we need to go back to what we know...the Word. Deut 6:4-9 I view as our directive. "Here, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, & with all your might. And these words which I command you shall be in your heart; you shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, & when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, & they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house & on your gates." How that plays out for each of us will be different. Oh, how we need prayer to be faithful to the call on our house & our children! This mission field is also crazy-busy...our day it seems is filled with morning routines, school, homework, sports/activities, dinner & evening routines...add a pet, some kid's friend drama, discipline, work, & church...and whoa! Then get up & do it all again:) We need to make sure that we don't get so wrapped up in our kids schedules or our extra ministries that we overlook our husbands. "Marriage is honorable among all" Heb 13:14a & the world says otherwise. I've seen in the past & present, divorce creep in during these school years because of unintentional drifting apart. One of the greatest gifts we can give our kids is a healthy marriage, because it mirrors Christ's relationship with the church. Oh, how we need prayer to be faithful to our marriage! One of the things I love is when women, especially the ones who have gone before us, share with each other their true struggles & needs and then PRAY for each other...authentic fellowship. It breaks down barriers & perceptions and gets us off our "Pity Party Island". Let's face it, none of us have it all together...that's just an "OC Legend". Oh, how we need to stop being afraid of asking for prayer...it's our greatest weapon! I am a constantly humbled mother of three...saved by GRACE. When it comes to mothering school age kids, "I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living." Ps 27:13. I'm still living, God is faithful, & His Words are true. Sooo I accept & go forth a M. O. M. with a refreshed perspective... a Mom On a Mission!

I Am My Mother

So here I am, the grand old age of 36 & I am officially my mother. I've seen it coming. There have been signs, but I along with my husband have been in denial. I mean really, does anyone ever want to A: grow up or B: become their parents? It was 2 years ago, walking down the halls of MCA to register my kids, when it first hit me. I was walking down the same hall, working in the same office & my kids were the same ages-my mom was just here twenty-something years ago-very surreal! Then there's the occasional "I rebuke that in the name of Jesus" when my kids are just spouting off at the mouth. The minute I say it (so naturally I might add) I think of my mom. She always tells it like it is & I find myself doing the same. I'm still determined to be more steadfast then my kids...I do get weary, but then there's mom's voice saying, "the Lord gave you those children with their personalities because He knew they needed you as a mother the same way He gave me you!" I love being reminded & being retold stories about my colorful childhood. You're probably wondering...the garden photo? Well, I remember my mom saying, "Every child should grow their own vegetables." We attempted it in our GG home during my elementary years-fond memories! So here I am, ironically with children who are pickier than me, attempting to "grow my own vegetables". We've got strawberries, melons, pumpkins, sunflowers, lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, zucchini & spinach (corn, sugar snap peas & 2 dwarf fruit trees are elsewhere in the yard). Granted I'm probably growing it all at the wrong time, BUT this is an experiment:) What I realized through all this "growing" is how much my mom "sowed" into our lives. So, my prayer is that I do the same for my kids. Some seed may scatter by the wayside, some may fall on tough soil, but some may take root and grow slowly for twenty-something years before they sprout. I hope she is enjoying the fruit of her labor. I have been blessed with a mom who loves my dad, loves us, but loves the Lord more. Sooooo... I think I'm finally okay with becoming her in my own unique way!

Slug Bug Green

So here it is...our very own '66 VW Bug. Who knew life would come full circle? Dan's first car was a bug. A little beat up, painted rims, could see the asphalt when you looked down & eventually stolen for parts BUT a Bug nonetheless. More importantly, it had an owner with the vision to fix it up. My first car was a Bug also. White convertible with black top (great for blasting early 90's rap-Yikes & U2) which basically turned into a carpool vehicle for my sisters & friends. When I met Dan, he informed me (after our relationship was secure) that my Bug was a horrible year & didn't really count from a vintage stand point. I have to say after some VW education, I agree. 1979...My Bug's identity was a little conflicted:) Needless to say, here we are now, the proud owners of a classic...wooden rack and all! It has been our second family car for a little over 4 years. It's fun to cruise around in. We have enjoyed date nights cruising down to Pedro's Tacos, day trips on PCH & the ever popular evening at Balboa (kids favorite & we always fit into a parking spot). I especially love how traffic just politely understands. It's as if everyone on the road acknowledges, "Hey, we know you were made for cruising, that you have a limited speed & therefore we will put aside our impatient & rushed driving skills and just... go around you. We might even glance over & smile." Now, I never get that reaction in the Sub (little insight into OC living) It serves us well, our little daily driver. It was possibly up for a promotion when the Sub died...thankfully it was resurrected, so that pressure was removed. BUT it's gotta last because the boys have dibs on it for when they can drive. Olivia wants to drive one too, except hers has to be "rainbow sparkle"-double Yikes! Sooo... Slug Bug Green! The game lives on...

Carpinteria... Take Me Away!

So... I fell in love with camping... mind you it's "foo-foo camping", but camping nonetheless. We have upgraded from the camping gear we received for our wedding (tent, sleeping bags & stove) to a well-loved hand me down of a tent trailer (now owned by some precious friends who cherish Carp as we do) and finally to a new tent trailer in 2004 (after proving to ourselves that beach camping was the life for us). We affectionately refer to it as "Our Beach House". We are particular though as to where we camp and have to say that our favorite spot is Carp! For the longest time the kids thought the only beach nearby was Carpinteria... ironically we live 15 minutes from the ocean, but it's just NOT the same. We began camping 4 to 5 times a year (Veteran's Day, Valentine's/Presidents Weekend, Easter, July & August). So glad I married into a family with camping traditions. Traditions that have, over the past fourteen years, become our own and made some of our best memories with precious friends. Around this time every year, I start to feel the need to get away. There's only one place I want to be... and these are just a few of my favorite reasons why... not to mention there's an amazing church around the corner from the campsite!!!

Beautiful sunsets on the beach with the ones you love!

The official spot for our Scrabble ritual and coffee!

Happy kids and Padero Grill!

Bike rides into town!

Farmer's Market & Candy Store!

Girly Mermaid time on the Beach!

Their own version of the Endless Summer!

Children who finally sleep in!!!

Great Family Memories!

Are we there YET???

Change is Good!?!

I've come to realize that I am a creature of habit & not so much the poster child for Try New Things. I used to think I was "with the times", "up to speed with reality" & definitely NOT "stuck in a rut" (all delusions I apparently told myself). Because when I turned 29, my dear friend & husband threw a surprise party for me. The invite was a rewritten version of The Sound of Music's These are a Few of My Favorite Things (adorable concept & spot on I might add) It got me thinking, could I have done that for any of my friends. I could compile a couple things for different people in my life, but not enough to complete the lyrics. Over time I kept seeing more and more ways I was such a predictable person. I have worn the same perfume since I was 16-Obsession (praise the Lord they still carry it & so much time has gone by it's not so scandalous anymore), the same lipstick since I was 18-MAC Spirit (I even asked the gal at the counter if there was a chance they wouldn't carry it anymore. She sensed my panic & answered me with "Ma'am, it was one of the first colors so I think your safe...we do have others?"), my hair has been parted on the left since forever (I tried it on the right one night & felt soooo just off), Pepsi is the only soda in my life (to the point if a restaurant serves Coke, I'll have water), every place we go to eat I will typically order the same entree/meal (my issue is will I enjoy the new choice as much as I know I will love what I always get?), not to mention favorite colors, flowers, places & things. Which when you think about it, if you always give the same answer, over time people will pick up on it. All this to say, that when change, in a big way came to our home, it wasn't welcomed at first. The kids were little (Olivia had just turned 1), I was still coaching & Dan was laid off from his sales job. The kicker was he really felt the Lord say not to go back into sales. I was like, "Really? Are you sure He said that?" He felt like God had something different for him & us. Our God is faithful to complete what He begins in our lives. If I didn't know that I know that His Word & promises are TRUE and had the prayer support I had (love my ladies), I don't think I could have embraced that year of change. There was amazing peace that carried us through me going back to work, Dan's handyman months, & us surviving the Academy. Now I can only sum up a year, that at the time seemed like an eternity, in two sentences because I'm reflecting on it & my opinion on change. We came out refined in so many ways, I wouldn't have had it any other way. And in that sense, change IS good. When whatever it is, presses you in to our Lord... embrace it...you'll come out of the fire shining! As to My Favorite Things...if it's not broke, don't fix it!?!

It Ain't Easy Being Green

You might think, given the current politically correct society we live in, that I am referring to protecting the planet. It's very much a trend... again, but not just in regards to waste. Everything you do should be "green". So "they" say. I'm all for living responsibly, but don't you just love it when the burden falls on the common man. So I drink from a water bottle. I recycle it. If it's really going to end the world, "they" should stop making them. Am I alone on this... anyone? Anyway, my original issue with green in our home is none other than the the Green Giant himself-vegetables! Now, I'm the first to admit (and those who know us will concur) that Dan and I don't have the widest food repertoire known to man. Mushrooms, onions and tomatoes don't usually make a showing in their purest state on our table. Although, we do enjoy their flavor in things. I think we both have issues with "chunks" (childish I know, but what are you going to do-at least we found each other) So, in attempting to feed our children, one has to know that we are offering a simpler menu than most. This is why the astonishment. The early signs were babies spitting out green baby food. People said, "Oh, that's just because it's baby food. Once they have finger food it'll be fine." So then, we reached the finger food stage and attempted to dip green veggies in almost anything. No success. So we try to disguise them in casseroles and what do my children do? They take a bite and then magically spit out the green part of the bite. How do they know? It's masked in creamy goodness. So we take parenting classes, research our peers techniques and then flounder our way through meal time. There's the "take as many bites as you are years in age" method. The setting of the timer-always accompanied by the child who watched in anguish as their fate ticked away. The "serve it to them for the next meal" -a personal favorite of mine. Especially when my child would come to the table and announce, "he'd be having this for breakfast". Wait... wasn't this supposed to be taking the control away from the child. How'd he just twist that? And lastly, the humbling admission of "just plain old losing it". I mean really. Eating shouldn't be this hard. I've come to the conclusion, there is no magic formula. Every meal provides new challenges and new discussions. I never know what will trigger what reaction. But what I do know is that I want peace at the table. So, now my precious husband dismisses them to their rooms. Oh they resist, eventually go, and then come back to ask "what they have to do to stay at the table?" "It's easy," we say... "Eat your vegetables!"