Love Letter to Bear Love, Sami

(Bear is our wonderful Labrador who recently turned 13. When Sami read her "love letter" she promptly pointed out that I had forgotten Bear!)

Bear~
I love you because you are cute. You are funny when you chase us and jump up and bark at us like this "arf." I like to give you a treat and see you so excited.

Happy Valentine's Day Bear Bear!

My Loves

As Valentine's Day is quickly approaching, I thought I would take a minute to write a little love note to each of my loves. Time seems to fly by...I get caught up in the tasks and responsibilities of the day. I've found that all too often I haven't taken the time to tell my loves how much I love them. So, bear with me, here comes the sap!

First and Foremost..My dear husband: I love you more than I ever dreamed imaginable. We were so young when we got married and I can remember thinking I was so in love. Not that I wasn't, but I really had no idea what love meant. Now..I can say with full understanding that I love you. You have transformed before my eyes into this amazing man who can balance it all with dignity and faith. You put every last ounce of your being into this family and our marriage. Your efforts do not go unnoticed..you are making an impression on each of us every day. Thank you for the leadership, faithfulness and fun you bring to my life!

Sami: Oh my dramatic girl! When did you become a "girl", what happened to that baby? You are full of imagination, enthusiasm and kindness. Yesterday you had your first tea party with a friend. I loved watching you get everything ready and seeing the care you put into each detail. You spent so much time making it perfect not for you but for your guest...I love that about you. Your smile is contagious (as is the silly laugh you seem to have gotten from me-sorry!) and you find joy in the small things. Each day you amaze me and I am so lucky to be your mom!

Matthew: You are my wild child and I love everything about that. I love how you take life by the horns with no fear...ready to experience anything and everything. You are adventurous and full of spontaneity which both exhaust me! You are the strongest person I have known and have endured more than I would ever wish you to, but you have done it with a smile on your face that reassured me everything would be OK. Yes...I wish you wouldn't spray the TV with carpet cleaner or pour your milk on top of your dinner or cover your train with powder so it could be snow. But I must say - you always keep life interesting and I love you for that!

Disneyland and Beyond

I promised Disneyland pictures...so enjoy! It wasn't the vacation we had hoped for and planned but it was definitely a memorable time nonetheless. The drama, the details don't really matter; most important is we went, we saw, we conquered! We survived the big signs reading "Park sold out", 2 hour waits for rides and even rain. We were determined to salvage this trip as my only chance to enjoy Christmas since I spent every bit of it sick with the flu!
So, now here were are starting 2010! I can't believe a new year is already here and the first month is half over! This is going to be an interesting year with the new business, Matthew starting preschool and routine changes. We are starting it off this week with my job now going to full time. I will be working Monday through Thursday, 7:30-4:00pm. It is a good change but any change is always difficult, especially for the kids. Sami especially reacts to change and she has had her fair share this year. We are prayerful that it will all go smoothly, I know that the Lord has provided this opportunity at this time for a reason. So...with a deep breath, long prayer and lots of hope - we are going to kick of this year of change!

Christmas Is Over?!

I cannot believe that the holiday season has come and gone...where did it go?! We had the perfect Christmas planned but sometimes even the best made plans don't work out! The week of Christmas Sami and I both got a horrible flu. Fortunately, Sami was much better come Christmas Day but I was still sick for several more days. So the family went to my parents house Christmas Day instead of us hosting and I had to miss out on all the festive fun! I was still able to watch the kids on Christmas morning but we have no pictures and the rest of the day was on the couch. Not exactly the best holiday ever but the kids had a great time - that is the most important part anyway! We still went to Disneyland as the kids Christmas gift but we had to rearrange plans and go a little later...pics of that will be coming soon. So now...all the decorations are put away, the tree is down and we are back to the routine. I feel like I'm still waiting for Christmas to come!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

"Ch...Ch...Changes"

Our season of change continues. About a month ago, after long discussions and lots of prayer, Cory and I put Sami on the waiting list for St. Paul's School. We didn't expect any openings until the next school year, but God had other plans as He usually does. Last Tuesday I got a call from the school saying they had an opening and would like Sami to come in for her assessment. I told them we would be there but I was hoping to wait to start her after Christmas break. After her assessment they asked us what the plan would be and when Sami heard me say "Start in January" she almost jumped out of her seat. "January...January?!?! I don't want to wait until January, I want to come tomorrow!" was all Sami could say. Cory and I looked at each other in dismay and quickly decided to make the change while she was excited. So the next day we let her teacher and principal know of the change. On Friday we had a "Going Away Party" with the kids...goodie bags with cookies, lots of pictures and hugs. I was fully expecting a tear or two...but none! Each day she kept asking, "Can I go to St. Paul's today???". We had known one of the girls in her new class but hadn't seen her in a long time. So on Saturday we had a lunch date with her, her sister and of course Mommy. We met at Red Robin and by the time we left the girls were hugging goodbye! Then, this Monday she made the switch and had her first day at her new school. Again, expected tears and a little anxiety...none! The teacher had put her desk next to our lunch date friend and had told the kids all about her. When I walked away Sami was literally skipping to chapel! Any hesitation or anxiety we had about switching schools was wiped away with that smile on her face! God is good!

Trick or Treat

Spiderman and Hannah Montana had a successful Halloween this year...way too much candy and even more fun!

Season of Change

Where to start?! Season of change is putting it mildy for us lately. Since my last post we have had Matthew's 3rd birthday at Boingos, my birthday getaway in Monterey, going back to work 4 days a week and Cory starting a business! Did you catch that last one?? Yes, you read right...Cory's business. Let me back track a little for all who don't know the story. Late August we found out that Master Pools by Paul Haney, where Cory had worked the last 6 years, would be closing their doors and the owners retiring. We were shocked and scrambling for what to do next. Well, God is good! Cory, along with much guidance and help from Master Pools, opened the doors to Genesis Pools just after Labor Day. There are 3 employees, all former Master Pools employees, that are trudging through this with him. At that same time my employer, Cypress Surgery Center, offered me double the hours I was already working! See what I mean? God is good! The business is going better than anyone could have expected and we can only hope it continues to thrive. It has been a wild ride these last 8 weeks ... we are just now starting to settle into our new routine and adjust. I truly feel God has been leading us and I hope that a year from now we will look back and say, "it was worth it!". I do miss the park play dates, story times and benefit of daily nap time. But the sacrifice of now will be worth it later! I am so proud of Cory and all he has accomplished...I have no doubt he will have long term success.

In the midst of all of this chaos we also had the engagement and then wedding of my brother and Kari. They were wed on October 17th in a beautiful wedding at her parents home in Woodlake...it really was gorgeous! As said above, season of change is putting it mildly! Thankfully, we have had all GOOD change and can only be thankful for all we've been blessed with! I am going to embrace this season of change and all it has to offer!

Make a Smilebox slideshow