Party Time!!!

Hope decided on a Minnie Mouse theme for her birthday party. We made Minnie cupcakes, had a Minnie bouncer, and even tried to play a Minnie game.

I have decided that I love little kid birthday parties because they involve a lot of playing and very little planning! The plan was that her friends would come over, they would jump and play, we'd eat some cupcakes, and open gifts...simple and easy and just perfect for a 3 year old girl!

Hope's favorite friends came: Caleb, Collin, and Ryan and we got to invite a new friend, Autumn, from our church. The kids all had fun playing together and I think Hope was thrilled to have each one of them there, along with their parents!


Both sets of Hope's Grandparents came and even Great Grandma was there!

Hope somehow convinced her Grandpa to jump with her in the bouncer and it was so fun to watch them play! I am so thankful for the relationship Hope has with her Grandparents!

She almost convince Great Grandma to jump...but Great Grandma won that discussion!

Happy 3rd Birthday Hope!

Our birthday celebrations began at home when Hope woke up. We put up her Minnie decorations all over the house and had her presents wrapped and waiting for when she woke up. She was a happy girl to wake up to everything!
We spent the day at Disneyland, just the 3 of us. This is quickly becoming one of my favorite traditions! Hope's to-do list for the day included:

1. The Circus Train
2. Riding the big train all the way around
3. Minnie's house
4. Goofy's Kitchen
5. Finding a special treat
6. Story-boat Ride

Reunited!

In August our dear friends moved to Arizona and boy have we missed them! Violet was Hope's only girl-friend and Violet's Mommy ended up becoming one of my closest friends as well. We have been fortunate enough to see them every few months, but this visit was my favorite! We had a play date at our house on morning before I headed to work and it was so fun to watch the girls play together. For the first time they actually played TOGETHER, sat TOGETHER, talked TOGETHER, and just had a whole lot of fun! At that playdate I also go the honor of snuggling with their newest addition, sweet Evie! There is nothing better than snuggling a sweet baby!

We spent Wednesday at Disneyland together and we had a blast! Since Jaye wasn't working at that time he got to join us so it was a really great family day for all of us! Rather than buy more toys for the girls for their birthdays, we opted for matching shirts and bows...they looked so cute!

I got yet another opportunity to hold sweet Evie while her parents took Violet on a ride. Loved it!

Several people asked us if the girls were twins...nope, just matchy and super cute! Catharina took most of the pictures that day, but I snuck in a few! Couldn't let the day go by without some pictures of these two!

As wonderful as the visit was, we all said "goodbye" and left missing the others more than ever before! It's not every day you meet another family that clicks so well with your own and with whom you feel so free to be yourself. Conversation comes naturally, laughter flows freely, and fun is had by all! I am so thankful for the time we all got to spent together those few days!

Coaster Run 2012

Look out world, I am becoming a runner!

At the end of March my brother, my friend Amie, and I all ran the Coaster Race 2012 10k (6.2 miles). I wasn't sure how I would do as the farthest I had run up til then was almost 5 miles. I have discovered that I am not yet to the point where I can or want to run the whole race, but I have figured out a really good rhythm of running/walking. I didn't really have a goal time going into the race, I just wanted to finish well. We started off the race all together, even though I gave my brother (who is fast and way more in shape than I) permission to run ahead, and ended it fairly close to one another as well. My brother was a good guy and stayed with me during the race and I was grateful for his company. Towards the end he made comment that I walked fast...made me feel good! He was winded at the end as well so I didn't feel so bad! (o:

We finished our 6.4 miles (according to my GPS/running app) in 1:11:15 (1 hour, 11 minutes), which put us at a 11:15 pace...not too bad. I felt pretty good for most of the race, with the exception of a really dumb back alley we had to run at mile 4-5. The race was not scenic or pretty in the least bit and really had nothing to do with Knott's Berry Farm, other than the fact that Snoopy was on the shirts and medals and we started from their parking lot. The picture above is post-race...I think we look pretty good for having just run 6.4 miles!

This is the 2nd race Amie and I have run together and I am so grateful for a running buddy! We both started this process of learning to run together and its so nice to have someone at the same phase as me...we're already looking for the next race we can run together!

Not only did Aaron and I run our 1st race together, Hope got to run a race too! I had seen online that they had a Snoopy Kids Race and I thought it'd be fun for Hope to feel like she was a part of my new hobby as well! I didn't get back in time to "run" with her, but Jaye took her and he said she ran most of it, holding on to his finger for dear-life the whole time! (o:

When asked about her race she said she had fun, but when I asked her if she would run another race with me, she replied, "no Mom, that's enough." We shall see!

God is Good!

1 week to the day of Jaye being let-go from his job, he had an interview at another company that had been recommended to him by 2 separate people. When he was doing his research he discovered that several of the people in leadership were believers and that many of their clients were Christian organizations/groups.

From the beginning of the interview it was quite obvious that Jaye was exactly the man they were looking for. His skill set matched perfectly the needs that they had. They seemed to be impressed with Jaye and Jaye liked what he could gather about the company. The only draw backs would be no dental/vision insurance and he wasn't sure they could pay what he was asking for.

Fast forward another 6 days and Jaye gets a call from this company, offering him a job. They could only offer $1k over what he was asking but they were willing to compensate in other areas to bring his total pay up a bit. While it wasn't the pay increase Jaye was hoping for, we both decided that the company itself had the values and integrity that Jaye was looking for and we had trust that God would provide for us.

Jaye was only out of work for 2.5 weeks...not bad at all! It almost felt like a mini-vacation, having him home everyday. I'm sure he was happy to go to work today as he's been with Hope almost every day. It was such a treat to see him everyday...to have him up when I got home from work and then to get to talk and spend time together each morning! I'm so grateful for the quality time we all got to spend together!!

Another positive about Jaye being home was that I got to really focus on running. I managed to get out 3 days each week, all by myself! On Friday I even got up to 5 miles!!! I have my 10k in less than a week and I am confident that I can do it! I may not run it all, but I will finish it and can do so in a decent time!

So today begins a new adventure for our family and a new job for Jaye. My prayer for him today is that he will get a sense of peace and will leave with the confidence that he is exactly where God wants him!

Run to Win

In 19 days I have a 10k run that I have signed up for. I signed my brother and I up back at the beginning of January and had this great vision of running the whole thing and being in love with running by the time my race came. I completed my 5k end of January and really did enjoy it, but found myself lacking motivation and drive after that race when it came to training at the gym. It was just so hard to run/train on the treadmill for up to 70 minutes at a time. I thought maybe I'd do better running outside so I searched Craigslist until I found a steal on a jogging stroller. I do definitely prefer to be outside, but it wasn't the cure-all answer.

I've still found myself not motivated and tend to stop to walk sooner than I should. I've not followed my Couch to 10k app since just after my 5k, over a month ago....but I have been out, just not as diligently as I should and definitely not at the intensity I should be running with. I was out last week with a cold, but did get 2 good walks in, but no running.

This week I am determined to get back into it. I've decided to make my own goals and just do my best, doing away with the app. I made it out yesterday and had a pretty good run. I now have goals of how far I want to run (to which landmark) and think I have found a pretty good system. I have 3 weeks to get myself ready which means I need to push myself hard and be VERY intentional about training.

Here's a verse that has been on my mind/heart the past few days:

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize." -1 Cor. 9:24-27 (NIV)

I learned this verse in the NIV but this morning found it in The Message...LOVE it!

"You've all been to the stadium and seen the athletes race. Everyone runs; one wins Run to win. All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You're after one that's gold for eternity. I don't know about you but I'm running hard for the finish line. I'm giving it everything I've got. No sloppy living for me! I'm staying alert and in top condition. I'm not going to get caught napping, telling everyone else about and then missing out myself." - 1 Cor. 9:24-27 (Msg)

I need to give this running thing "everything I've got"!!! That being said, I need to get dressed and get out there for today's run!

TRUST

"Trust in the Lord with ALL your heart. Lean not on your own understandings, but in all your ways acknowledge HIM and HE will make your paths straight." - Prov. 3:5-6

Last Wednesday I got a text from my husband, asking me to pray. Apparently when he checked our bank account to make sure his check had gone in, he discovered that he'd been paid more than double his normal amount. I didn't know what this meant, but he had a good idea and began packing up his things at work. Turns out his idea was right and he was let go an hour later. He called and asked me to pick him up as he had ridden the train to work that morning and another train wouldn't be returning home for quite some time.

As I drove the 40 minutes to the train station to pick him up I kept hearing Prov. 3:5-6 in my head. For some reason, I had a peace about all of this. After we picked him up and headed home we were talking in the car about what happened and what comes next. It seems his company is heading in a new direction and they just didn't have the business coming in to justify Jaye's spot. They reassured him that it had nothing to do with performance and told Jaye how much they valued him and how sorry they were. Jaye had just gotten a new iphone for work a few weeks ago and they let him keep it. We had also started talking about the need to buy a new computer as the one we had been relying on for the past 3 years was Jaye's work computer. It's hard to fathom making a major purchase like a computer when you know that income is limited and soon will be non-existent. When Jaye went in the following day to pick up his things and transfer files onto a drive, they offered to let Jaye borrow/hold on to his computer until he got settled in a new job. They didn't have to do that.

As Jaye and I talked more about what this all meant, he shared with me something that gave me even more peace. Starting on the 22nd of February we started a 40-day fast with our church. We were asked to write down on a card what we were fasting FROM and what we were fasting FOR (what we'd be praying for and seeking God about). On Jaye's card he had written down that he was fasting for wisdom at work...a possible raise in pay, whether or not he should begin looking elsewhere, and that somehow, he'd be able to make more of a dent in paying off debt. Well, God had clearly showed Jaye that his current job was not where HE wanted him. No doubt about it.

Ironically, Jaye had contacted a temp agency that he had worked with prior to being hired at his current job, just the day before he got laid off. This agency is specifically for graphic and web designers and they had placed Jaye at his current job 4 years ago. Jaye was able to meet with them the following day and they were very promising and hopeful about work for Jaye. It sounds like there is plenty of contract-to-hire work and there is also full-time work available that they feel he is more than qualified for. They also talked about salary and pay and it turns out many of the positions they would consider him for pay a lot more than he was making. Aside from the temp group, Jaye has also received several leads and recommendations from friends and has several other avenues to explore already.

I love the way God works! No, it is definitely not ideal to be jobless, but we have enough to get through this month and doors seem to be opening for Jaye. I am so grateful that we serve a God who is SOOOOO much bigger than what we could imagine or dream of. I find rest and peace knowing that HE has a plan for our lives. He knows what we need and I fully believe that He will provide for our family. I am excited to see what He has in store for Jaye and am looking forward to seeing HIS plan unfold for our family!

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you HOPE and a FUTURE. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with ALL of your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord." - Jeremiah 29:11-13