Westward Ho!

In just a few weeks, Brent will be the new Children's Pastor at Bayside Church of Citrus Heights in Sacramento, California. It is not lost on us how we started out in Florida as newlyweds and have been slowly making out trek westward across the Unites States. So now perhaps we have reached our own Manifest Destiny? :-D

   While we are excited about new opportunities, I can't think of another decision that was as hard to make as the decision to leave Arizona. We so love Arizona and the people here.  Almost 4 years ago we came here broken and jaded, and I have to admit I was not  at all excited about living in a desert. With tears, I want you to know how much this place has been our literal oasis in the desert- and I was dead wrong about a desert being ugly!  The people here have loved and accepted us. We've made deep friendships that will always be with us, we've been healed and renewed. For the first time in years we haven't been defined by our losses, but have been able to move past our pain and unleash our passion for the fatherless. Thank you Paradise Valley Community Church for your love.  What a huge difference you have made in the lives of the kids in foster care and I am excited to see how you will continue to change the lives of these precious children so loved by our God. 

 So with hearts overflowing, goodbye Arizona, these have been the happiest years of our lives and we look forward  to  being used in California for the glory of God. 

First Day of School!

Yeah! big day. first day of school and for the first time, ALL my kid are in school! The big girls went off to their class because they are old pros and I took Lucy to her class with a heard of other parents taking their Kindergartners. We all acted like paparazzi, crowding and bumping as we snapped pictures and videos of our treasures as they played and lined up. Even when the kids filed into their class and the parents had to stay outside, we pressed our noses and cameras against the windows to get one more glance, and one more shot of the kids.

Jack is in preschool at the same school as all the girls for just 2 hrs a day. He really liked  his class, I peeked in his window and watched his teacher read a story to the kids and he was the wiggliest kid in a room full of boys! That's our Jack!



And now, 2 hours to myself every day. Ahhhh...

Hawaii Part 3

We spent our whole week near and around Hilo. We took one day and traveled to the other side of the island to Kona for a Luau. We loved the Hilo side much better. Less commercialized, and frankly more beautiful. than the side that doesn't get any rain. But it was another great day of wandering and seeing the sites.

On our last day in Hawaii we spent the entire day in our bathing suits on the beach. We snorkeled (waiting to get those pictures back from my underwater disposable camera.), rode the waves, played in tidepools and springs. Such a wonderful way to end the day even if I did get very sunburned.

Amazing.

Hawaii Part 2

   On the second day we used a groupon we had bought for an all day tour to the Volcano National Park and different sites around the island. We were supposed to meet our tour guide under a big Banyan tree named Babe Ruth. We never did find that darn tree. Turns out it was in a grove of trees all named after the famous tree that planted them. Neat but hard to drive and read the tiny plaques at the same time.  Honestly we thought it was a bit boring after seeing the lava flow the night before. We traveled around in a tour bus with a bunch of other people. Constant stops all day long with "ok 20 minutes here then come back to the bus."

Standing on an active volcano. Yikes!

Hot Steam vents from the volcano

The day after that we spent half the day at a farmer's market. That was a lot more fun. So much exotic foods we hadn't tasted before and so many local vendors selling their handmade goods. 

That afternoon we went to the botanical gardens to use another online deal we bought and rode Segways. that was a riot. And the plants and waterfalls we saw there, so exotic! We visited Akaka Falls on our way back to our house. So glad we did!