Blessings fall in the shape of Mouse Ears!

We had a huge blessings of taking our kids to Disneyland on Sunday for $20! We had volunteered for, "A day of Service" in February by making Linus Blankets for children in hospitals and received two passes to Disneyland for Chad and I. The kids where to young to qualify for the passes, so we were going to pay for them to go. So how did we mange to get into the park for $20(parking the RV)?

We were invited to The Rock Church in Anaheim, CA after meeting Pastors Todd and Erin Funk at Catalyst West last week. So we thought that we would go to church on Saturday night and wait to go to Disneyland on Sunday, giving ourselves a day to rest. Pastor Todd and I where having a conversation about how expensive it is for a family to go to Disneyland after church. I told him how great it was that Chad and I had passes and that we just had to pay for the kids. He mentioned that they have people in their church that could possibly get passes for the kids.
We had enough money to pay for the kids and parking, but beyond that we couldn't do anything else while at Disney. So I thought, Wow! What an answer to prayer!

Pastor Todd couldn't get a hold of anyone on Saturday night, but he was going to keep trying find someone who might be able to get passes. Well, Sunday morning rolls around and he had a church member the works at Disney ready to meet us at the gate with passed for the kids! How amazing is that! We got into Disneyland by only paying for parking, and had enough money to get the kids Mickey Mouse Ice cream sandwiches, dinner, and two Disney autograph books for Emily and Dillon to have all the characters sign.

We had a blast and spent well over a full day enjoying the "Happiest Place on Earth!" Thank you to the Rock Church in Anaheim,CA and to Disneyland for giving out "A Day of Service" tickets!! Check out the photos at http://bit.ly/96B3lg

Saying hi to the kids from Nashville NRB!

It has been a year now since the launch of iQuestions.com! Last year at this time we were freezing in Orlando. I think it was one the coldest temperatures they had in a long time. Well now we are here in Nashville and it snowed yesterday. There is something with being at the NRB (National Religious Broadcasters) conference that makes the weather cold or it just us Idahoans bringing some snow with us. Thank you Grandma Linda for taking care of the kids for us!!

5 weeks to Depature!!

I can't believe that there is only 5 weeks until Chad and I take off for Ghana, Africa. Knowing that it has been over 4 to 5 years since we wanted to go the first time, it's hard to grasp what reality is, the flights are booked and the visas and passports are in hand! Now it's time to plan what I will be doing with the school children and preparing for all the unknown things. I pray that God will lead me and give me wisdom in what the needs are and how to prepare. I am so excited that I will get work with the children and be able to be apart of their day. I am realizing that as much as I can mentally prepare, I still will not know what to expect until I set foot on African soil. I have dreamed many times of what it will be like, now I finally get to experience first hand. What will be needs of these children, some of them who don't have a mom or dad? I know it will be hard be not to cry when I see some of these kids, may God give me peace so I can minister in the way He wants. I look forward to sharing more with you when we get there. His Grace be sufficient in every way!

Boz our new green friend

Wow! I did not realize how much fun a green bear could be for my children. My husband recently brought home four BOZ videos to the kids to watch, they love them. I love them too! The green bear lives next to two cute kids and they share fun times together by learning about God's world through examples of helping each other, sharing, and praying. It is made for preschoolers and moms and dads like it too. My kids are starting to realize they can share with other kids by giving away toys they don't play with anymore. I am seeing them act like the little brother and sister on the video. I am so glad, having a safe video for them watch on their own is hard to find. So I it is on my list for best children's videos that include God for preschool ages. Including Boz the Bear into your child's life is one thing they will love!

WHAT A YEAR OF GROWTH

It is so hard to believe that one year has gone by!

Look at the difference between Emily and Dillon from last Oct.(2005) to this Oct.(2006). People always say your kids grow up way to fast. I am starting to realize how true that is! I have only see a little glimpse of that with Dillon being one and Emily two. What is goning to happen to them in five years?

Help! I am not ready for school day yet! Emily is already asking to go to school. We go places in the car and she has to point out all the buses that drive by. I do believe as generations move along our kids are learning more at an earlier age. Technology has improved learning toys like never before. I remember playing with dolls, but not dolls that could tell me how to dress them or count with them. I told Emily when I put her to bed, I couldn't go to bed yet because had some things to do first. She replied,"Are you going to your office?" I said, "yes."Then she wanted to go to her office. I asked her where her office was, she said, "it's in MY house!" Wow!Emily is really growing up, next thing she'll be asking for is a rolling briefcase like dads. I wouldn't be surprised, she went from a small purse to a backpack already. Look out it's time to go from Crayolas to a Palm. No, not the tree....You know the thing we use to communicate with. The funny thing is our kids will not know what life was like without cell phones, laptops, or flat panel TV's. That means their kids will have a new generation of technology that we will not even begin to understand! Cybre school anyone (pod cast classes)??

Hair today, Blonde tomorrow

Do you ever feel like your world just flies by you?
These days life is changing on a daily basis. Sometimes I wonder if my kids can have more mood changes then the ever rising current temperature outside. I love summer because of late nights out on the patio with a big glass of ice tea and a good conversation, wait I am dreaming... The kids are in bed finally and I am trying to collect my thoughts on what exactly I did today. How does fourteen hours go by so fast?

Well it starts with two eating breakfast witch leads into play time. One lays down for a nap, the other is still playing. Then we have the battle of the second one not taking a nap which then wakes up the first sleeper, well now its lunch. After lunch the second one is now the sleeper and the first one the player. Now the player is tiered and wants to be the sleeper and the second sleeper wants to be the player, oh yah dinner. Ok, catch your breath...The first sleeper is back napping and the second is back playing and the mom??? Ok, It seems a little crazy, but it is still under control...I think?? The first sleeper is now an eater along with the second player. Now we have the first and the second eaters ready to be players, no please, help, make them sleepers!!!!

That's a wrap, call it a day! I have one last thing. As you turn in for the night as a sleeper, remember it started with eaters that turned into players, that turned into playsleepers, that turned into sleeppayers, that turned into eaters, that turned into players into sleepers. Yes to you moms out there, if you are like me, I am starting to get those mature looking hairs on my head. I could very well be blonde by tomorrow. If you know what I mean...

The Value of Family

As a wife and a mother sometimes life tends to slide right by you. Sometimes I hardly get all the things done that I want to. I've had to look at things a little differently lately, other wise my mind would be clustered with unsorted thoughts. Chad has been gone three times in the last couple months for work, wich means one less helping hand around the house. I am really blessed to have a wonderful husband that puts every effort into helping me when he can. Since he has been gone, I have tried figure out a way to play mommy and daddy at the same time! I do not know how single parents do it. There has been days that I have wanted to scream into a pillow, of course that's when I thought I had enough for that day. I can only wonder how single parents get when they had a bad day at work and then come home to the only thing that needs the most of their attention, their kids. Even then that parent has needs of their own, but no one else to turn to for support. Lately I have been tested by Emily. She is at this stage of being very stubborn. I know (T.T.S.P.) This To Shall Pass! The only thing I have been able to do is to pray for wisdom and patience in handling the kids, and to ask God to keep me from looking at it as situation or a negative thing. It is yet another chance to prove that He is the only way that I can truly do the things I do on a daily basis. It is possible to do all things when you know its not by your strength , but by the strength of God. I am so thankful that I have everyday to look forward to. I know no matter what comes of it, its worth every minute that I have to give as much as I can to make it a positive day. Thank you Chad for giving me this opportunity to find out that I am capable of," doing it on my own." Not that I that I want it to be regular thing. That wouldn't be my choice but, what ever is ahead of us, lets value every moment that we have together as a family.