Barefoot in the Park!

Well, only Ni'ke decided to go barefoot, but the rest of us kept our shoes on!

How the time flies! Already a week has passed and I'm back to work tomorrow, wow! I truly cherish these little breaks to have some time with the kids. We've had lots of adventures this week: driving to the beach for a quick salt water taffy run, movies and popcorn night, Wal-mart of course, eating out a few times, lots of walks to school to pick up Ma-lak (thanks, Lord for the great weather allowing us to do that!) and lots of park time and back yard time! And boy, are we ever ready for summer?!?! Bring it on!

Monkeying Around!

Future Heavy Equipment Operators!

Avon Walk for Breast Cancer July 11-12, 2009

Well, goals should always be BIG, right?!

While this is one of my bigger undertakings, I'm definitely up for the challenge! I have always wanted to participate in a marathon, and why not make it a little more personal? In the 12 plus years of my career as a nurse (and longer), I've witnessed the attack of cancer on many of the brave patients I care for everyday, but also on my own family and friends.

I've never been directly involved in a fund-raiser event like this, but I find I'm passionately excited about what the next few months will bring. I have until July 11-12, the weekend of the San Francisco Avon Walk, to raise $1800. I've already started training for the 39 miles that we'll cover over the weekend, and I'll keep you posted on my progress!

I ask mostly for your prayer support in the next 2 1/2 months!! Please pray not only for endurance and strength and the reaching of my goals, but for the healing of this city, this nation and this WORLD from this disease. While this IS a fund-raising event with proceeds going towards cancer research, this is much more personal for me on a spiritual level. Walking is merely a physical statement on earth of what I'm declaring to the heavens:

"Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's." (Psalms 103: 2-5)

Since the early 1990's, breast cancer has trended upward steadily and has been found to be most prevalent in the San Francisco Bay Area more than anywhere else in the state. The reasons for this are widely debated, but many commonalities include high instances of alcoholism, hormone replacement therapies, wealth, extensive education, and homosexual life-styles.

For me, this walk is an opportunity to declare to the heavens that we the church are fighting to take back our city!!

I do have a personal fund-raiser page set up on the website www.avonwalk.org that I will keep updated. If you would like to make a monetary donation, you may do so on the website by clicking on the "make a donation" tab, type in my first and last name, click the pink tab that says "find a walker", and then choose my name.

I thank you for your prayers and support in this HUGE endeavor, but remember that God is so much BIGGER than all of this!

Happy Birthday, Mom!!

Happiest Birthday to you today, Mom!

I was looking back at all these pictures, smiling, and thinking how even 2083 miles has nothing on us! I love you near or far, all the same, and more everyday. I'm so grateful that my children know their Grandma just as if she's 2 blocks away, and that my husband calls you "Mom". I've always wanted to be "just like you" when I grew up, and while I'm still working on that one, you've at least pointed me in the right direction! And I'm a doofus b/c I called you this morning and forgot to tell you Happy Birthday! (I'll fix that!) Have a great day, and you and Dad go eat some lobster! I love you!

Sheila

Color Wonder

I recently found a huge jumbo coloring book at a local Longs or Walgreens - Sesame Street, of course! Everyday for the past WEEK Ni'ke and Ya'shar have literally spent hours at a time, sitting just like this, politley sharing the book and coloring away to their heart's content! I overhear little comments like, "No, I don't want his nose to be pink, Ni'ke" or "Stay in the lines, Ya'shar!" But never have they argued or fussed at one another when coloring... Something about working on a project TOGETHER, maybe? Or they just found something they both love and there's nothing to fight about... Yes, it's Mommy's favorite new pastime now too! :)

Old Friends, New Friends!

Last week we received one of those unexpected, pleasant/surprise phone calls: "Hi! We're in the neighborhood about 15 minutes away from you, can we stop in?!" "YES!!!!" Was our immediate answer, and we were blessed to fellowship with some "old" and dear friends from Iglesia de Cristo, Nuevo Pacto (Church of Christ, New Covenant) in San Francisco.

Apostle Enrique and Prophetess Anna and their three little ones, Debora, Estefan, and Sarah, brought lots of joy to our home as well as fun playtime with our children, who were delighted to make some new friends. Our children are similar in ages, and we always laughed at how we kept getting pregnant at the same times, but were just happy to listen and obey what God was calling us to do and just watch and see what would happen. This is the first time we'd all been together in over two years, and truly it was perfect in His timing. We love you, Friends, and pray God's richest, abundant blessings on you all and your ministry.

Full House, Warm Hearts

When the kids realized we had company, they of course were very excited for some new playmates. The funniest thing was that as soon as Ma-lak saw Estefan, whom he'd never met before,come through the door, he RAN to him and threw his arms around him and shouted, "It's my brother! My brother! You're finally here!" We laughed about that for hours! It was such a blessing to visit and relax and watch our children play together and enjoy one another. Thank you Lord, for the blessing of friendships... We are grateful!

Thank you, Grandma Linda!

Everyone wore their outfits that my mom made them for Christmas to church today! She made the girls' dresses and the boys' shirts - WOW! Mom, you're amazing and we miss you and love you soooo much! Thank you for your thoughtfulness, your creativity and your patience! Can't wait for the next "shipment" to come in! :)

The Bunny, The Bunny, Ooh, I Love the Bunny!

(So, you'll only appreciate my title if you're a Veggie Tales fan...)

Soccer season is over! (Whew!) The past 12 Friday mornings have been spent watching our "L'il Kickers" run off some energy, learn some new skills, and make lots of new friends!

To celebrate the last day, they got a visit from Kicker, the soccer-loving rabbit, who as you can see from the pictures, was not so loved by Ya'shar... (I'll try to post some videos, but have been having trouble doing that on blogger. If I can't, I'll post some on Facebook instead.)

Hoops, Bubbles and Soccer Balls!

Soccer Friends!

Coach Elena and Ya'shar

Soccer Circles!!