My birthday, April 8th

April 8th was my birthday, I turned 45 and I feel 45, lol. I have been completely focused with the many responsibilities that have fallen into my lap that I have made no time for me. I'm O.K. with that, it comes with the territory... Great success doesn't come by sitting and waiting for the next person to make it happen and it doesn't come by feeling sorry for yourself over all the hard struggles that need to be endured. Aside all that, for this is not what this post is all about, Danny and I decided my birthday weekend would be a good excuse to head out of town, at least for one day. Saturday was really our only day because this year my birthday fell on Easter Sunday.
Not only was it Easter Sunday, it was also our churches 11th anniversary celebration with Elder Young coming to preach our anniversary message.
So here we go early Saturday morning together in Sissy's Jeep, South. Danny didn't sleep all that much the night before, looking and planning on line at all the possibilities we had on very limited funds. But as always God in His tenderness helped us find a way to enjoy US time.
We headed toward the ocean... My favorite of all favorite places to be... Near the great openness of Gods amazing power. I could sit for hours on a rock listening to the crashing of the waves against the shore. The night before, my husband made it sound like we were going to head up toward grassvalley and eat at some nice place. Something he thoroughly enjoys; taking me out to eat *sigh* I love when he does, but that is not at the top of my list of favorite things to do... I expressed that I would really like it if we could go to the ocean.... His response, "Too far away and we can't afford it."
So when we headed toward the ocean, the next morning, I was one happy lady.
It was the perfect day; beautiful weather, hardly any traffic, peaceful, and calm. We ended up at Point Reyes National Sea Shore Lighthouse. We spent $5. Riding the shuttle buss to different post for the day... The best part, of course, was the lighthouse... Only 300+ steps down the mountain (that meant we would have to go UP 300+ STEPS to get back to where the buss was). Oh, but it was all the worth it, going down AND coming up!

I had a wonderful time with my husband along the beach, seeing the sea lions sunning on the shore lines (from a distance of course) and exploring the lighthouse. We even spotted a whale heading North! It was fabulous!! The weather was breathtaking!! Danny had packed us a lunch, snack and waters that held us through out the day. I am blessed to have such a man... As long as I have him we will never go without because food is number one on his  priority list ,-] I absolutely love him!
As we headed home it became apparent that a migraine was taking place... Maybe the hike was to much for me or the rough ride of the jeep... Whatever the reason, I began to get sick :( Danny was very understanding and didn't hesitate to quickly bring me home. We had a great day together and some wonderful time alone.

So here is a picture of the lighthouse in all its glory. I used the PicsArt app on my Android. I love PicsArt, it not only enables you to use a filter Or effects of some kind, but let's you add graphics, different text font, along with cropping, silly stickers, clip art, frames and such.

Because of a thoughtful husband, we made time to get away from all the whirlwind going on around us and I'm glad we took that one special day.

L♥ve my Job!!

 

I am a preschool teacher, I consider it my 'Super Powers' ;) I love my job, little people and teaching.

I have been in the teaching field for about 16.3 years. During those years I taught preschool (including infants) to the eighth grade (13 year olds).  I found that I’d much rather cross a toddler then a pre-teen. Don't get me wrong I love pre-teens and teens but I’d rather be their friend than their authority, which has made raising teens quite challenging.

At this moment I am working from home. My son, Julian (BTW who is only 8), just ask me today, why  I don't have a real job and work. ROTFLOL!! JULIAN, REALLY?!? Trust me, just because I am at home all day does not mean I’m NOT working! HA!

My husband and I consider this a blessing, to be working from home. I absolutely love it and feel that I’m in the LORDs will; going somewhere I have never been before. It’s been an overwhelming journey ~because it is moving faster than I expected ~ and I just want to crumble under the enormity of it all and not move for a very long time. When Gods hand is in every aspect of your life, you feel as though you are moving in a whirlwind, moving forward, but in a whirlwind. And you may be doing just that! I know I have felt that I could not stop at any time, because if I did, I’d missed one of the greatest opportunities of my life. And I honestly believe I would of in this situation.

I’m teaching 4 little people in my house. They are mastering their numbers, writing their names, getting their letters down. They also love their shapes and colors in every possible art project that we can think of. They are working on their speech, space, and encounters with their peers. It can be extremely difficult to problem solve when your feelings have been hurt, when you have been spurned or when your blocks have been knocked over. Sharing or taking turns is the biggest challenge in any toddlers/preschools life, but it can be done with love, patience, and firm direction.

I love the toddler/preschool life!! Being a part of their little squabbles, hasty decisions (that usually make matters worse) and innocent love triangles just make my world a better place. It’s a beautiful distraction to sadness in this world and or problems in my own life that I myself cannot seem to solve. It has help me get through one of the greatest and toughest challenges in my life, my mother’s death.

But teaching little ones brings me great joy. I love watching them learn their boundaries, try to find themselves, learn their dis-likes and likes, realize; here at Ms Ruby’s school we can use our words and not get into trouble, watching their dimpled chubby hands work the play-dough or use scissors, trying to be big and dress themselves or helping their peers put on dress-up clothes… the list is endless with little people, not only do they learn something new every day, but each child teaches me something new every day as well.

As a parent you learn new things but you also know your children and can pretty much know what their next choice will be; whereas with me I get little people coming and going and I am surprised on a daily basis with new challenges and learning experiences.

And above all else, the love of a child is unconditional with so much forgiveness it can fill the deepest part of the ocean. Children are so trusting it sickens me when I hear on the news another child has been abused by an adult (especially their parents). They need us in so many ways without guilt or shame tacked on their every mistake that I love to be there for them as their provider. They fill me with such amazing healing and strength I just want to give back to them.

I love my job and this quote sums it up for me:

‘Find something you love to do and you'll never have to work a day in your life.’

Harvey MacKay

And since it is in my home, I have come to LOVE my home; love it more than I ever have since the day we bought it. I believe this is what the LORD has wanted me to feel for a very, very long time. Thank you LORD ~ you have filled my heart with praise!

**Photo shoot by Stephanie Flores Photography

Beautiful country...

rest stop in Idaho

I was able to go on one of Danny's truck driving runs .

And the country side was absolutely gorgeous!!

As a matter of fact everywhere we went it was breath-taking.

We would stop at rest stops to sleep and I just couldn't believe the beauty.

quiet, peaceful, lush, clean, serene places to rest our weary heads.

At this stop the mood, set by the beauty and atmosphere of the area,

was wonderful displayed by this man who was sitting alone,

 overlooking the mountain side, just playing his guitar.

As the sun was setting for the night there was a stillness,

as we watched the wonderful hand of God at work.

Gorgeous, breath-taking, majestic... 

♫♪ We could sing of your love forever ♪♫ 

**A Moment to Remember**

YES, you have my heart for always & forever!!

Saturday, Sep. 24th, I had the worst migraine Iv had in a very long time (since June or July) I was extremely unfit to be around :( it was just awful, it made me extremely sick... It was probably the worst Iv had in months :(
When I'm like this, I usually stay to myself because I know how I can be... I'm unreasonable, short tempered, irritable, and extremely touchy; and I'm not proud of it; as a matter of fact I STRONGLY DISLIKE it.
I got up from the couch all sweaty from being under the cushions. I was looking a mess with my hair all matted (for I had been laying under there all day) from sweating. As I moved, my head felt like It was going to crack open... I was sad indeed... lol.
My husband was sitting in the room and I didn't realize it till he says, "Hey lovely, how you feeling?" well, I wasn't feeling all that great >:/ don't ask.. "I have something for you, can you sit up a minute and listen...
Really?!? You're asking me to sit up and listen for a minute?? But I kept my thoughts to myself and sat up very slowly, knowing it was my head giving me the sarcastic thought and not my husband sitting across form me.
He tells our son (Sean) to turn up the computer and proceeds to dedicate this song to me. Yup, I began to cry  ='/ I was a mess. The tears were hot and I couldn't open my eyes (the migraine doing a work on me). When I was able to open them, my husband was sitting across from me singing with the song and in tears as well.

♥♥Now I need to say this: And it is all to the glory of my wonderful Savior. Every year around our anniversary time. Danny and I cry; sing, hold, reflect, and caress each other. We whisper words of promise and thank God for another year of forgiveness, love, grace, mercy and our family. We feel extremely blessed that God made another year together possible because at one time,  it shouldn't of been so.

**It was a Moment to Remember**