Ever wonder what your pets are doing when you aren't around...

Probably similar to things your children do when you aren't looking. ; ) Uncle Jack snapped these photos for evidence. Josh got up pretty high on the last pic.

Hanging with my cousins ...

HOT MAMA !

My dear friend Michelle just had her baby boy Tyler Matthew last Friday. Here she is beautifully pregnant at her baby shower. I can't wait to meet him! Congratulations Foster and Michelle. You guys are going to be such wonderful parents to Ty.

Waiting... Trusting in Him

On one of the days I picked Josh up from school, I needed him to wait by the car before getting in because I needed to clear space in the car for him to hop into his seat. While, I prepped his path, he stood obediently by the car near the left rear tire. As I was in the car moving items to the trunk, I could clearly see a car quickly on it's way out of the school parking lot and would be driving right past us. I stuck my head out the car door and instructed Josh to stay right where he was and to not take a single step forward because there was a car approaching and for his safety, he needed to heed my warning. His response was, "No there isn't. Mom, there isn't a car. I don't see a car. " Because of his height, his perspective was skewed and thus was unable to see the car at all. Our car had completely blocked his view of this vehicle. Moments after his comment, the car whizzed by. "Oh, there it is." He concluded.

I got out of the car and knelt down to talk to my son. I told him that he needed to believe me and trust me even when he can not see that anything is wrong. He needed to believe that what I was saying is true without questioning it for his sake. I told him that I loved him and that I would never instruct him to do anything that would bring him harm. In fact, my instructions are there to protect and to love him. We got in the car and the whole incident may have been more powerful to me than to my son... at least for now. I was struck by the parallel situation in my own life of waiting for a baby. I've been waiting for quite some time now for a little bundle of joy to come our way. We've prayed and so often, I believe that "this is the month", the perfect month... the right month. But God has answered clearly. It isn't right now. From my perspective, it seems like the perfect time to add to our family of three. There are days I wish I could see every perspective... that there would be a clear view of God's perfect Plan for me. And yet I know that this very process is here for me to grow in my faith in HIM. And it is during these times of waiting that I cling onto God' promises.

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for wholeness and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me. When you seek me with all your heart, I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile." Jeremiah 29:11-14

Thank you God for these trials. Thank you for the grace and mercy you pour upon me every day. I love you Lord.

May I Have This Dance ...

My parents have recently taken up ballroom dancing again.  They are having a wonderful time.  I'm so proud of them.  My dad is retired and my mom has a few more years before she retires.  It's easy to just become a couch potato and slowly remove yourself from society.  But, my parents are staying active at church and enjoying their time together on hikes near their home with friends as well as taking these ballroom dance classes.  Aren't they cute! 

 MOM and DAD, I love you!  Thank you for all of the sacrifices you made through our lives.  It's nice to see you enjoying life and each other during this season of your life.  

Up Up and AWAY !!!

Josh and I, along with our friends hit yet another museum this past week, the California Science Center.  Josh had already been to this museum several times.  But every time we visit, we leave pondering all the different exhibits we wished we could have spent more time on.  

The Air and Space exhibit is always a favorite.  It seems we've made it a tradition to always see this one first.  Then we journeyed over to the World of Life exhibit where Josh and his buddy Adam waited and waited for a chicken egg to hatch.  When he finally broke through(poor little guy), he was so exhausted.  There was also a really cool Hurricane Simulator booth that the Jensens were able to take in.  Josh and I will have to try it next time!  

Josh you are growing up so fast!  I can hardly believe how you've grown.  I love all the little antics you've acquired, from the explosive sounds you make while you play, to the sweet things you say to me and the lovin' you give me when we're  just hangin'.  For the last couple of years, you've fixated on rockets and things that explode.  You seem to love fire and blowing up things. *sigh*... so good to know you're normal.  And yet with all your boyish ways,  you demonstrate the ability to consider others. We've enjoyed all of your cute little comments.  For instance, yesterday you declared as you ate pieces of apple, "Mom, I really don't CARE for apples... BUT, I eat them anyway.  "  

Your Dad and I love you more and more everyday.  

Pumpkin Time

It seems like just yesterday... how time flies.