Our last few days in Cali

The last week we were in Cali was spent cleaning and preparing for the movers, however, we left some time for fun. I was working 2 of the days and we didn't get to do everything we had hoped, but the important things happened.

We had a nice night out with Debbie and Ben...Fondue. It was probably the best meal I had while living in San Diego!! (Thanks so much Ben and Debbie) We then said goodbye to Home Improvement (Sunday School) and Church...the two things we will miss most, including the friends we have made there.

Us with Ben and Debbie! You two are the best and we will be sure to visit ASAP. Or you could just come play in our cold snow :o)

Then we hung out with Billy and Mallory. Went to see Seven Pounds (amazing) and of course found time for food. The hit place in San Diego is called the Hash House. People wait for house to get the OVERSIZED meal. I didn't think it was too yummy and my tummy didn't either. BUT we went, and that is all that matters.

My eggs and a biscuit with some mashed potatoes. I basically enjoyed the potatoes and fruit because everything else just didn't hit the spot.

Mallory's pancake. Yes it is really THAT big. I think she ate about a fourth of it.

Micah and his 1 pound burger. Hopefully this is make him never want a burger again :o)

Possibly the reason i didn't enjoy my food at all....I was thoroughly disgusted...ugh and just thinking about it now makes it all come back. YUCKY.

We will definitely miss Cali and our friends there. But we plan on making MANY (sorry Micah) trips to visit all the wonderful people we have met. A little San Diego is always in our heart.

Rady Children's Christmas Party

Since we live in CA and the weather is BEAUTIFUL, Christmas is quite exciting. Working for Rady Children's definitely has its perks. Their Christmas party this year was a boat cruise. Normally you can take a boat cruise for about $70/person, but we got to go for $10!! It was a wonderful evening of eating and dancing with wonderful coworkers. I have been so blessed to work with such wonderful people. I will miss them all greatly.

This is the boat

Micah and I getting our "Christmas picture" taken (by a not so good photographer ;o)The not so good photographer, Melinda

My lovely ladies. Seriously this is the greatest group of women EVER. I work closely with each of them as we assist the therapists. We didn't take a department pic because that would have added about 100 people :o) I will miss you all so much!

Time to go home after a tiring night:o) But it's always fun to dress up and hang out with friends.

Can't wait for girls night/my going away party....sooooon soon soon

Christmas at Shadow Mountain

normally Shadow Mountain charges for their Christmas program, but this year they decided not to charge due to many people have financial trouble. It was such a wonderful blessing! They started out giving away tickets to 2 Sunday evening shows and those were gone within a few hours. So they decided to add two more shows to the program so more people would have a chance to go. I believe there were about 2000 people at each program (at least). We had a wonderful time listening to star like Christmas music. It was dark and the pictures don't do the celebration justice. I wish everyone could have enjoyed it with us! Shadow Mountain has been such a wonderful blessing to us, no matter how brief our time here is CA.

The AMAZING ChoirLittle kiddos in their tuxes and dresses, so incredibly sweet

Pastor Jeremiah and his wife by the gorgeous Christmas tree. Ugh i love decorations

Gotta get a picture of THE guy! Haha, it is weird having a 'famous' pastor preach every Sunday. People in CA really don't know who he is which is the great part. The pastoral staff at SMCC is one of a kind and we will miss it greatly.

The nativity. beautiful costumes, wish the pic came out better. Didn't want to use a flash since they videotape everything at this church. I would totally be the one to screw it all up :o)

Merry Christmas

Fun at Home

Micah needed a haircut....when you are poor you will let anyone do it. Sooo Billy earns his rent as follows:

And then Micah plays with the hair he has lost....boys will always be boys.

He also earns his rent by allowing us to enjoy his fat kitty. This cat is no ordinary cat. He is AMAZING. His name is Leo and he likes to play hide and seek. You may not believe me, but i swear. You will hide behind a door and shortly he will come running in meow at you saying "found ya" and then run away and hide from you. It is hilarious. I usually play every morning...gives me some good laughs. Someday I will have children to play with :o)

Leo is HUGE and he doesn't always realize that his whole body isn't hidden. So he kinda sticks out.But then it's easier to find him....

And cuddle the little fat kid. When I say fat...I mean it (20 lbs fat!!)

There is always entertainment, even on a rainy day

Working with the wee ones

Small world....So we had thanksgiving with our friends Ben and Debbie from church. Come to find out, their grandson goes to therapy at Rady Children's in the same office where I work. SOO for his next therapy session I got to work with him and his therapist. he is such a beautiful little boy and we had a lot of fun exploring. Thanks Ben and Debbie for letting me hang out with the wonderful little guy!

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!

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!

Proof of answered prayers....

So most people know that my two loves in life are children and studying medical sciences. I graduated from Carthage with a BA in Biology and Chemistry hoping that would be enough science background to get me into any Medical School, Physician's Assistant School, or Physical Therapy School. Over the summer I then slaved over getting licensed as an EMT. Basically being an EMT would allow me to get hours in the medical field to enhance my applications to schools in the future. I knew I would enjoy it, but I feared the off shifts, driving big ambulances in a HUGE city, being on call constantly, working weekends, and basically having no life other than EMT. But I applied everywhere anyhow. I knew I would miss working with children so I also placed a request into a local children's hospital to volunteer on my off days to get my kid fix and help little sicklings.

The volunteer process takes 6 weeks...they are serious about this stuff! But while cruising the hospital website I came across a job that sounded interested BUT didn't think I was quite qualified. I figured the worst that could happen was my application would get trashed and I would move on. So I went for it and got a call within 2 days asking me to come in the next day for an interview.

Off I went nervous as can be, but it went well. The problem was...they had at least 6 more interviews after me and had plenty before me. So I basically just let it go and kept applying elsewhere.

Friday I got another call. I figured it would be them telling me that i was not what they were looking for....however that was not the case. I GOT THE JOB!!!

Now I am employed by:
The largest children's hospital in CA. And I will be working full time DAYS with KIDS! Seriously a huge answer to prayer. I am a Physical Therapy Aide and will be assisting the physical therapists and occupational therapists with their treatment of lots of little lovely children. What could be better. Getting paid for something i was 100% willing to volunteer for. Seems like this happens to me all the time because that is how I got my job at COCUSA back in 2003. Called them just wanting to volunteer my time and they hired me. Now i got to Rady just wanting to volunteer my time and they hire me :o) Maybe if I try to volunteer to get into a Masters or Doctorate program they will just accept me. haha

When that time comes we will see, but for now I am just thrilled to have a wonderful job with wonderful people in an AMAZING city!

Thanks for all the prayers!

Wild Animals...Beware

Micah and I took advantage of our year pass to the San Diego Zoo which includes the Wild Animal Park as well. So we went on a little Safari ride (not half as awesome as England BUT the park was beautiful), checked out animals, watched a Gorilla battle, and just enjoyed the beautiful sunshine.

White Rino....only 8 left in the world. 6 in the Czech Republic and the other 2 are located here in San Diego. How special

Getting ready to hop in the jeep.

These vultures creeped me out. If you click on the pic and blow it up, look at the eyes of the bird on the lower branch. Umm death.

Pretty bird

Pretty waterfall in the middle of the park

Overlooking the Safari park. Beautiful area for sure

All of the lady lions in the pride. Feasting

Do not wake a sleeping Lion....seriously. I felt like in a move and it was going to jump out and eat me, but he didn't. He feel back asleep

Momma Black Rino and baby Black Rino....the baby was so stinking cute.

One of my favorite zoo findings...seriously how cool would it be to be a giraffe

Look at the sweet little baby with the HUGE head and little tiny legs. precious

My pet Gorilla.

The bird....

Yes this is a bird. that white circle is it's eye...and the little TINY pointy thing on the lower left side is it's beak. Weird little thing

This is PROOF that Dinosaurs and birds are related. seriously. if this is not a raptor i don't know what is. It actually made my scream a little when it flew over. CREEPY little guy

Feeding the birdies

This little guy cracks me up because his feathers on his head puff up and look like a mohawk

In case you didn't know, I'm a turtle

and so is the man I married apparently, but the best part is....This picture captures the moment Micah stuck his hand in bird poop :o)

Sweetest little deer ever. taking a bit of a nap while I pet them.

USS Midway

Living in San Diego....there is no dull moment. If anyone ever lives here and says that there is nothing to do, they are crazy. Peoria...has NOTHING to do, San Diego has just about everything you could possibly imagine.

Our adventure this weekend was downtown....There is a Naval aircraft carrier parked and used as a museum. Basically, you pay $17.00 per person, get individual headsets that are your tour guides throughout the day. You can then wander around the three levels of the ship and put buttons on your head set to hear info about it. I think we took about 150 pics, so these are just a few that don't do the ship justice. If anyone comes to visit this is a MUST SEE. Even I liked it! It really makes you appreciate the men in uniform...

First little plane you come to when you enter the ship.

Micah waiting for me to take a picture so we can go through the LONG hallway of doors... not for claustrophobic people!!

Beds where everyone slept....this picture makes the beds look twice as big as they really were. basically, if you sleep on your side, you probably would not fit.

People would not move for this picture but in case you cannot tell it reads "(Pratt) & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp Engine The Engine that won the war" I just wanted to make sure people knew that I won the war....

There was a jail under the main floors and there were bathroom facilities for the prisoners. Micah couldn't help himself.

This dude is in trouble

The Engine room. I cannot imagine how hot this place would be while the engines were running....it was a big tangled mess of machines and big things. crazy

Birds eye view of the ship. If you can read it, Sayonara is spelled out. There were actually navy men in uniform forming the letters to say goodbye to Tokyo Bay.

Uhh i just liked the fact that a lot of the piping was pink or purple haha.

The top deck was loaded with planes and jets and helicopters. You could enter some of them and look around. Amazing!

Statue in the park next to the Midway...you can tell just how big it is by looking at the people next to it.

View from the ship. Coronado bridge is across the way.

My favorite pic of the day.

My two stud muffin pilots. Micah was jealous

Midway, half of it.

The other half of the Midway.

Walking back to the car, Micah and i sat to watch a cruise ship leave....sun was setting as it pulled away.

This is another boat in the harbor that you can tour. People are dressed as pirates. Kinda interesting but the boat looked cool.

Sunset over the harbor....seriously....I could live here. Oh wait, I do.

If you like it....you better come visit us :o)