Thanksgiving a little late

i didn't realize how long it had been since i uploaded pictures from my camera, sooo Thanksgiving weekend is coming a little late.

Billy (the guy living in our spare bedroom until he finds a house) had his girlfriend fly in from IL for the weekend. Lets just say, I was worn out after it was all over.

Thursday (Thanksgiving) we started out my getting all the food ready in the morning. Then around 2 Micah and I headed over to spend thanksgiving with the wonderful Debbie and Ben (and their whole family :o). For those of you who do not know, Ben was the leader of our Fireproof bible study that we were apart of starting in September. Then after Fireproof was over we joined the Home Improvement sunday school class that Ben teaches. He is now the pastor of Mens Ministry at Shadow Mountain (Horray Ben we are sooo happy for you!) and has played a HUGE role in our adjustment to CA. He and his wife Debbie have been wonderful friends since we met and we are incredibly grateful for them. They knew we don't have anyone in CA to spend thanksgiving with so they invited us over for a wonderful meal and some card games with the family. It was such a blessing and we are going to miss them So much when we move!

After dinner and games we headed back home to spend some time with Billy and Mallory. We had a very interesting meal with a makeshift table for 4. Once dinner was over, we attempted to go to a movie but there were NO seats together so we left and rented one instead.
Then on Friday we decided to be adventurous and head to Sea World. This was not the smartest decision as the day after Thanksgiving turned out to be a VERY popular day for Sea World visitors. But, since i now have the whole park memorized, we made our way around from exhibit to exhibit quite efficiently. Then it was time for dinner at our favorite Mexican restaurant, followed by gelato at our favorite gelato shop :o) yummy

Billy and Mallory enjoying the dolfinsSHARK

Sea World Gang.

My 2 year old husband got tired and needed to be carried to the car. Seriously I think God gave him to me to prepare me for having children of my own.

The rest of the weekend was spent enjoying the beautiful weather, oh how i Love San Diego!

Proud....

I must say that when I was a kid I always wondered Why God gave us siblings. Having two brothers, it was constant fighting and teasing. ‘Annoying’ brothers was a complete understatement. And although we still have our moments of tormenting, I cannot imagine ever asking God “Why”.

Life is always full of trials and my two constant supporters are my brothers Bryce and Zach. Doesn’t matter what ups or downs approach, they are always there for me. Moving away for college was not as difficult as moving to CA. The hardest thing about moving was not having my brothers around. Even when I would come home from college and visit for a weekend, the boys were the ones I usually hung out with rather than friends. Sibling dates were not uncommon but still too few and far between. There were even times they were gracious enough to allow me to hang out with them and their girlfriends when I myself didn’t have my Micah in town. Friends are not as plentiful after you go away to college, but I always had my brothers.

I am used to Zach being a ‘grown up’ since he has always been the older one, but now my little baby brother is reaching that mark as well. It’s hard to think back 17 years when he was born and I was only 6…furious that I had yet another brother when I would have given anything for a sister. Had I known then what I know now, I would have been jumping for joy just knowing he was going to turn into such an amazing young man.

Coming from Metamora, Football is a way of life. Zach played for a few years, I cheered for my 4 years, and then Bryce came along. He didn’t just play or cheer, he dominated. Starting out in Junior Football League he was a born football player. (possibly the aggressive side shining through) And then took Metamora football by storm freshman and sophomore year. I have never seen someone work so hard to be the best that they can be whether they are the star of the team or not. He was in the weight room more than anyone, I am positive. Going into his junior year he was starting Varsity (I got home from England just shy of his first game.) As I got off the plane I remember Micah telling me that Bryce had been injured, only to find out he tore his ACL at the beginning of the first game of the season. This is a tough situation as is, but knowing how hard he had worked for that starting position, it was heartbreaking.

But it didn’t hold him back. He had surgery and endured rehab with the vision of getting back on that field. He stood (crutched) on the sidelines for each and every game cheering on his teammates. He stood watching HIS team (which he had worked so hard for) win State. Rather than pity himself for not getting to play he was just as proud as he would have been if he carried the ball. He is a true team player.

He worked all summer to get back to where he was just a year before and once again landed a starting position on the Metamora Varsity! Playing like a Rockstar is what I like to say. Since we moved at the beginning of the season, I missed every game and longed to see him play since I didn’t get to watch him the season before. Then Micah sent me to Peoria early so I could watch his Senior Night game….freezing. Freezing is an understatement….rain and then freezing temperatures were enough to make anyone want to leave, but there was no way I was going to miss a moment. Surprising him with my trip home was the most thrilling part! Off to the playoffs they went…of course this was no surprise to Metamora. And to my delight I was able to listen to it on the radio via the internet. And then, off to state. Like last year Metamora was at the top of their division. I didn’t get to go to the game but I was lucky enough to watch it over the internet. They deserved the title….maybe that’s just the proud sister in me, but I know how hard those kids work during the on and off season. They deserve to win every year, but it just didn’t happen this year.

Despite the loss, I just cannot express how proud I am of my little brother. He’s my little Rockstar and I could not be any more thrilled to call him my brother. He has the heart of a champion…on and off the field. I know what life has been like for him and I know how much he has grown up. I am just so proud of him.

Bryce…I am so glad that God gave me a second brother almost 18 years ago. You have such a kind and compassionate heart that is hard to come by these days. Your love for God is visible in your every day life. I am so proud of your determination and ability to overcome adversity. I hope to someday become as strong as you are in your young age. Win or lose I will always be one of your biggest fans (don’t think anyone can top Aunt Georgia or Mom and Dad). I cannot wait to watch you graduate and go off to conquer college. You are still an ornery stinker but I would not trade you for anything in the world. Seeing you play your little heart out on the “internet TV” was such a blessing. Never lose your determination and love of life.

Now go get your senior pictures taken so I can show you off! Love you little brother. (also love you Big brother, but this is Bubby’s moment to shine). So thankful for you both!

Click here for the Metamora Football Fan Song

I Believe

I love Music. I'm horrible at singing but I could listen to others sing 24 hours a day. I have been fairly caught up in my CD's lately and don't listen to the radio. San Diego has ZERO Christian stations...so I rarely flip through, thus the reason I never know when there are awesome new artists in the world. HOWEVER, in our Sunday School class we always sing....with a CD. But this week we had a young man come lead us in worship via guitar. And now....I'm in love....

No not with him, with his music. It is honestly beautiful. I would love to add his CD to my collection (Hint Hint Micah, Christmas present....it's all I want :o)

One of the songs he sang for us was "I Believe"....probably a favorite of mine:

I believe I’m gonna make it out of here
I believe I’m gonna make it through these years
Gonna close my eyes and fly someday
Then I’ll see my loved ones face to face
Oh I, I believe

I believe in faith and love
I believe in grace above us
I believe that right will win
And some sweet day we’re gonna sing again
Oh I, I believe

Let this love lead us on the way
And let this love lead us home to stay
Oh, If the roads too long
And you can’t find your way home
Just believe
Just believe

I believe that when this life ends
I’m gonna see my saviors face and then
I feel the tears wet on my face
And they’ll be wiped away by his warm embrace
Oh I, I believe

Let this love lead us on the way
And let this love lead us home to stay
If the roads too long
And you can’t find your way home
Just believe
Just believe

Oh can you see heavens light
Oh can you feel the love inside
If you seem to feel
Like there’s no hope left here
Just Believe
Just Believe


You can listen to it when you go to his website. The controls for the music are at the bottom of the page....so you have to skip through the others to get to it.

Scott Kemper

Enjoy

Another favorite is Scars:

You know I’m not a perfect man
You know I’ve tried my best to be
But I’ve got brokenness in these bones
I’ve got regret as deep as the sea

Everybody hurts sometimes its ok

‘Cause everybody has their scars
Everybody has pieces of a broken heart
So, give it up and let it go
‘Cause you’re not alone
We’ve all walked this road
So come back home

You know this life can break your dreams
Leave you standin in the pourin rain
You wonder is somebody watching over me
Is somebody there, can He set me free

Everybody hurts sometimes its ok

‘Cause everybody has their scars
Everybody has pieces of a broken heart
So, give it up and let it go
‘Cause you’re not alone
We’ve all walked this road

With the sun shinin bright
Makes it easy to find your way out
You’re not running scared
If the darkness should find you
And there’s no where left to turn
Hold on cause you’re not alone, on this road

‘Cause everybody has their scars
Everybody has pieces of a broken heart
So, give it up and let it go
‘Cause you’re not alone
‘Cause We’ve all walked this road
So Come back home
So Come back home
‘Cause you’re not alone

All Things Great and Small

The Lord has made them all....

Working in a children's hospital allows me to see all the little blessings that God creates and places here on this Earth. They are beautiful little creation, each and every one. Since I am working in the Physical/Occupational Therapy department, I get to be with children who may be labeled "disabled" by everyone else in the world, but are just so perfect in God's eyes. I see these sweet little faces, eager for attention. Little eyes that cry out to be able to communicate but can only point or scream or cry out in frustration from not being able to speak. Kids who look longingly at everyone else walking while they sit in a chair waiting for someone to push them. They are beautiful.

The kids who cannot focus and seem distant, but when there is any connection at all a smile beams across their face. Precious beings who experience being 'different' daily. They work so hard to correct those differences, but what if that is just how God wants them to be? What if God made their limbs shorter for a reason? But then I look at the miracles that God allows our doctors to perform. They may get all the credit, but in all honesty there is only One who can grant the gift of surgery, or the ability to maneuver the body in a way to make it move better.

God's creations are so incredible.

I am not allowed to post any confidential information and cases, but i have seen them all. Eating issues, sensory issues, not able to walk, not able to talk, distant, attached, malformations, autistic, cripple....Children born with one normal leg and the other 6 inches shorter and not aligned. With the modern medicine that God has given to our surgeons, this child now has a metal nail holding two chunks of bone together with a 6 inch gap. You can literally watch the bone grow together to replace the missing section (via x-ray). Kids who were told they would never walk are walking. Never underestimate the power of God.

I see His little Miracles every day. Their scars are just marks of God's handy work.

Yesterday I was playing with a little guy. Goofy little kid. Running around, doing the opposite of what you told him, and laughing at the fact. But then after hearing that he has been enduring therapy for 8 years, didn't have a chance to walk while he was little, and now he is in Tai Kwon Do, Incredible. He was bowling with me (using the legs that used to be dead weight), like a child with two normal legs.

You forget about how much easier your job would be if the kids would just listen and do what they are told. You forget about how you wish they were not screaming or crying. You forget all of their faults and just sit in awe of the miracles. The Lord made them all!

my newest favorite inspirations....

“You’re a little mover and a shaker. You’re going to change the world.”

Princess Diana
“You can’t comfort the afflicted without afflicting the comfortable.”

Mother Teresa
“The hunger for love is much more difficult to remove than the hunger for bread.”

Dr. David Jeremiah
"Stay ready so you don't have to Get ready"

My Best Friend's Wedding

My beautiful Katie is no longer my little Katie Emlen...she is now Mrs. Buckley. Back in August Katie stood up as my Maid of Honor and I had the honor of being her Matron of Honor this past weekend. Katie has been such a blessing to me since we met my senior year of high school. Our story goes like this:

Basically it was my last spring break and my mom and step dad offered to take me on vacation with them and the family. So of course I consented...but my excitement soon faded when i found out that we were going with another family...which contained an individual I wanted nothing to do with...Miss Katie Lynn Emlen. She was a freshman at Metamora and I really didn't know her, but knew of her. And I knew I didn't want to be going on vacation with a freshman let alone sharing a room with her. She felt the same and gave her mom just as much grief, if not more.

But to no avail we flew to Gulf Shores and shared a room. It started tense and then we were told that we had to go out to dinner with the family. Both of us threw a fit and got to stay home. By the time our parents returned....we were inseparable.

So after 1 amazing vacation we found that we were more alike that we would have ever thought and our friendship grew. Today Katie and I are rarely found apart (if in the same state) and if we are apart you can bet we are either texting or talking on the phone multiple times a day. We have both been through difficult times and know that we can fully rely on the other for support.

I would not trade my friendship with Katie for anything in the world. Who would have thought 6 years ago that we would be standing up in each others weddings with the highest honor.

I love you Beautiful B!

Myself and Micah getting sleeeepy at the reception

Mr. and Mrs. doing the First Dance thing

I thought i had a big wedding...Katie decided to do it a little bigger with 10 bridesmaids and 10 groomsmen, 2 flower girls, and a ring bearer.

Two of my favorites....Liz and Amber. So glad I got to spend the day with you both.

My beautiful Mrs. Buckley....