And Second Place Goes To....

Napa Junior Bible Quiz Team!! Way to go kids...

The really exciting thing about the Junior Quiz teams in this area is that at each quiz a different "team" or "church" has taken First Place. It has been fun to watch the amazing competition, but also to watch all the quizzers enjoy each others company after they are done quizzing. That is a pretty awesome thing to watch.

Logan walked away with "Second Highest Quizzer" of the day....another exciting moment in his career (ha ha!)

Victoria is still doing fantastic. She is able to answer some questions (when the boys let her!) and she is so stinkin' cute up there. She works so hard at home and at practice...watch out, because once she gets older she will be giving her team mates a run for their money!!

Mariah enjoyed having some of her friends from our church at the quiz. The quiz was only about 30 miles from Napa, so we had a lot of people that came to watch and "cheer" on our kids. It was awesome!! And...Mariah had fun visiting with all of them!

18 Years of True Happiness!!

Yesterday was my 18th Anniversary of being married to the most incredible man in the world. I keep thinking I can't be old enough to have been married this long. What were my parents thinking letting their daughter marry at the age of....what, 10?

Words can not express my wonderful world with Phil. Oh, it hasn't always been perfect and difficulties have come and gone, we are human, but I am thankful that even in those difficulties I know that he still loves me. What a true privilege it is to have been married to such a great guy. When I look back on my life when I was teenager, I am still amazed at the merciful hand of God. He has been so good to me and I will always say that the best thing He did, besides saving me, was giving me Phil. So, this post is dedicated to you, Phil, the sweetest man I know:

My mind is flooded with such sweet and precious memories of our life together.....

I remember the first time I saw you (cutest boy I ever saw!), I remember our first date, I remember our first fight (hilarious!), I remember the moment I realized I was in love with you and wanted to spend the rest of my life with you, I remember the day you proposed to me, I love to think about the beautiful wedding and the awesome trip to Mexico, I remember buying our first house together, then building our second house and the numerous weekends and vacations working side-by-side to create a beautiful home and yard, I remember the day we found out we were actually starting a family (finally!), I will never forget your willingness to work so hard in order for me to give up my job to stay home with the kids, I will always remember your encouraging words when I felt like I was a horrible mother, wife, person. I will always cherish your complete commitment to me and our children. Your strong desire to spend every moment away from work with us. I really do love every sweet hug and kiss (even when I am REALLY busy and don't have time!).

And now, I look forward to all the things in the future. I look forward to getting up each morning to your sweet face and going to sleep each night with you beside me. I will enjoy every smile, laugh, cry, words of frustration and moments of staying up until midnight just so we can have a conversation. I am thankful that when I am weak you are strong and that you keep me balanced.

I am so thankful for a marriage that has been filled with 18 years of joy and look forward to decades more. I love you Phil!!

Motherhood

"Motherhood is the journey out of self-centeredness" - Unknown

What a privilege it is to be called Mom (although I prefer the days of "Mommy" but I have resigned myself to the fact that those days are gone). Each day I am more thankful for the opportunity to be a mom to three of the most spectacular children.

There is a post that keeps going around Facebook and it really is true.

Before you were conceived, I wanted you. Before you were born, I loved you. When you were born, I saw your face and knew I was in love. Before you were an hour old, I knew I would die for you. To this day, I will.

So thankful that I have been blessed with three precious gifts....I love you Logan, Victoria and Mariah!

Thankfulness...

The last few weeks have been very trying on Phil. For me, it is hard to watch. He has always been the positive, optimistic, full-of-faith one. And it is really hard for me to see the most wonderful person in the world struggling and fighting with all he has just to maintain.

The other night at dinner, he was discussing some "not so fair" situations within the company he works for. As he was talking, he was getting more and more aggravated at the situation he is currently in. He worked his tail off for 10 years as an Assistant Manager in hopes of getting a smooth running, profitable store. Instead, he got a store that has a lot of problems and is not very profitable. He is currently working more now than he was his last couple years as an Assistant....that, was not the plan! Anyway, as he was getting more frustrated with each word, Logan says, "But Dad, we are here because this is where God wants us!" Oooops!! Out of the mouths of our children comes wisdom. So, early the other morning I realized something:

Everything I prayed for came to pass. I prayed that our move would not hinder our children or the people they are becoming. I prayed for a place we could enjoy as a family. I prayed for a church that would love my children and that my children could grow and thrive in. And, God knew neither Phil nor I could just sit on a pew and do nothing. So, as a bonus, He threw in a trust and confidence in our Pastors to allow us to be working in areas of ministry already. So, if I sit and complain, I am no different than the Israelites when God miraculously brought them out of Egypt.

Regardless of all the crazy "outside" stuff going on, we are where we belong. It is time to stop talking and whining about the unfairness of the company, why they do what they do, the Area Manager that just doesn't understand the situation, the quarterly meetings trying to defend your stores current economic position. It is time to stop worrying about the people that you thought would never forget you but somehow have, the lack of calls or messages when you really need some encouragement, the temptation to give up and move back to familiar territory.

My blessings are so abundant....I have a husband that adores me. Three healthy, happy, well-adjusted children that make me smile at the little people they are becoming. Precious friends that I can call on and they give me the wisdom and encouragement I need. An awesome church that feeds our hearts and souls. New friends that I really enjoy being with.

Life is crazy and and it rains on the just and the unjust alike. My prayer is that we remain on the "just" side. How sad my life would be if I allowed myself to move to the "unjust" side because of life's circumstances. So, in all things, I will be thankful!