Moving On...
Here we go again... but it's all good! I thought it would be fun to post a picture of the home that we spent 11 months in here in Camarillo, CA. Yes, not even a year but it all feels right and okay. The kids are really excited about going to Monterey and I haven't been stressed at all... I know, that's so unlike me. In fact, Ken has been the one stressing this time which is really a change of rolls. Perhaps, this time it is meant to be easy... we'll see, I won't know till it's over.

We have met so many great people and the kids had some really good friends that will be hard for them to leave behind. I tell my friends and kids that we are traveling around collecting treasures (friendships) that we will add to our treasure chest (hearts) that will make our lives so very rich.

Even though moving on is so very hard on everyone, I think about all of the experiences that we have had individually and as a family and would not want to undo any of them because they have contributed so much to our lives, the good and the not so good. Everywhere I go, I am always impressed with the people that we meet. It seems like a life time ago that we were leaving Colorado... and it was only 2 1/2 years ago! Oh my, it's amazing how much can happen in less then 3 years and it's hard to believe that we are moving for the 3rd time in less than 3 years!

I am grateful for: Friends and new places (sounds like some country song?).

Josh's 3rd Grade Open House
Josh had a wonderful 3rd grade year. His teacher, Mrs. Martin was excellent and really made being in a new school easy for him... too bad we have to move again! Mrs. Martin made these amazing, huge portfolio's for each of her kids of the work they did throughout the year. She did a lot of hands on and art projects which Josh just loved! He really is growing up and we are so proud of how far he's come!

Pix's of the Kids...

Jesi's 7th Grade Open House
Jesi's Open House was tonight and we all got to go around to her classes, all six of them. All of her teachers said she was such a sweet girl and they really enjoyed her. Her English teacher told me that she had put Jessica with some new students when they arrived because she knew that Jessica would befriend them and help them adjust! We are so proud of her and her ability to be a good friend.

We made Jessica take a picture in front of her locker... She wasn't very enthused!

Jesi's Science Project "A Plant Cell"

We Love You Jessica!

Whale Watching with Grandpa

We went whale watching with grandpa Saturday over to Santa Cruz Island. It was so much fun and we really enjoyed the day.

Debi, Joshua, Ken & Jessica (G'pa behind the camera)

G'pa playing the part of the "Human Windsock," it was sooo windy!

White Side pacific dolphins! We saw a large group of these amazing dolphins as they swam around and under the boat.

More Dolphins...

and some more Dolphins...

HUMPBACK!! Our pictures of these humpbacks aren't great but they were so exciting to see!

Whale Tail!

If you look really, really close you can see the little whale speck out in front of the little boat.

Ahoy there family! We stood on the top front deck almost the whole way and loved every minute of it!

I am grateful for: The great big blue ocean, it reminds me of all the beautiful things God has given us to enjoy here on earth!

I miss you Mom...

"The Story of Jam and the Little Allergic Hand"

I made jam last week out of the bags of frozen berries that I didn't want to leave behind when we move... again. Today, I decided to recan a few of them because I didn't like the way they were setting up and I started to think about my mother.

I started giggling to myself as I recalled "The Story of Jam and the Little Allergic Hand" as I call it. We were living in Washington State in Puyallup and my parents had bought a home that was surrounded by forest. Us kids would explore from sun up to sun down and went all over. We found some blackberries growing wild and would eat them if we got hungry and didn't want to go home. Funny thing, I don't remember any of us ever caring to find out if they were safe or poisonous.

One day my little sister Susan just had to come with Bill and I to the clearing where there was a big sign that said "No Trespassing" where we would sit and dare each other to jump over the fence, run into the field and then back again. Well, while we were out we got hungry and started to eat these wild blackberries and of course, Susan joined in, getting berries smeared on her shirt.

When we returned home that afternoon my mother asked us what was on Susan's shirt. We told her they were berries we found in the forest and were eating. I remember my mother scolding us for eating these mystery berries and then sent my dad out with us to show him what we had been eating.

Being the mother that she was, she sent us all out that Saturday with buckets to pick the wild blackberries so she could make jam, pies and whatever else she could fit a blackberry into. As we went out to pick berries Susan's hand quickly broke out in little bumps and swelled up. Apparently, she was allergic to the blackberry bushes, so she got to play for the rest of the day as the rest of us slaved away filling bucket after bucket of blackberries taking turns running them home to mom.

As I recalled this story tears were welling in my eyes and my heart was swelling with a longing for a mother who could do everything and anything. Just thinking about what she accomplished in her life makes me tired.

So today mom, as I recanned this jam because it wasn't setting up like yours... I hope you were watching and know I love and miss you.

I am grateful for: A mother that gave me a wonderful example.

Mother's Day Treat to die for....

thanks Dad & Cheryl!

Mother's Day 2008

Ken, Joshua & Jessica sent me flowers!

I am so grateful to be the mother of two wonderful children. I have learned so much from being their mother and my life has been so greatly blessed. Even the trials of being a mother enrich my life if I let them. I have been so lucky to have many amazing women in my life who are wonderful examples of motherhood. Everyone took the time to express their gratitude on Mother's Day and I am so grateful for them.

Jessica made be these beautiful ribbon roses at YW's for Mother's Day.

Josh made me this ceramic wall hanging at school for Mother's Day.

Jessica had this waiting for me Thursday night on my pillow when I came home from a RS meeting!

I am grateful for: The opportunity to be a mother to Jessica and Joshua.

We're moving.... YES, AGAIN!
I took this picture of the view from our new neighborhood last weekend when we were up in Monterey... yes Monterey, CA. I was reading my old post and my bio where it said that we hoped to root ourselves for awhile... well, we aren't leaving California and we are just going 4 1/2 hours north.

Ken was told back in March that they were restructuring his department and that his job would be eliminated after June. When he told me about this change I had a very peaceful, calm, almost joyful feeling come over me (it felt like my spirit was jumping inside me!). I couldn't figure out what was wrong with me, I thought I must be getting ready to lose it, I should be devistated! How could I feel joy with such troubling news. We quickly launched a job search and Ken talked with several companies across the nation. That feeling of joy faded out after a couple days and of course, I did stress a little bit but when I allowed the Lord too, he would send peace to my heart.

Shortly, Ken talked with a division of his current company and they offered him a position up in Monterey, CA. We were not too sure about this so we decided to take a road trip up there last weekend with the kids to see if this would be a good fit for all of us!

We looked at several homes on Saturday starting with a townhome on Saturday morning. When we got to the neighborhood, Ken asked me what I was doing? He told me that he wasn't interested in living in a townhome/condo neighborhood, so I told him I just thought we'd look at everything that was the right size for our family. He entertained my notion and since we were there early, we explored the neighborhood and found that it is on 17 mile drive (for those of you who are familiar with the area). It was surrounded by forest and had an amazing view of Pebble Beach from the neighborhood. The kids were very excited because it had a swimming pool.. something we have greatly missed since Yuma.

We proceeded to look at the other homes that we had lined up for Saturday and even though they were bigger and weren't a townhome we couldn't stop thinking about the first home we visited that morning. So, as you may guess we went with the townhome! As soon as we made this decision I was filled with great peace and joy... it was the same exact feeling that I had when Ken told me his job being eliminated. It is my belief that this is how the Lord is teaching me to recognize the Holy Ghost.

I have had great joy since our trip last weekend up to Monterey and a peace that is very sustaining. My children are soooo excited and I was sooo worried about moving them for the 3rd time in 3 years. What an amazing gift the Lord is giving to our family, we are now making a full circle back to Monterey County where we have friends and so many wonderful memories!

We have room for guest and we hope to see as many of you as will come!!

Here are some fun pictures from our trip up to Monterey-

Monterey Bay Aquarium

Oh my, look how Jessica and Joshua have grown! We took the bottom picture when Jessica was 5 and Josh was 1 1/2 years old!

The Long Road HOME!

I really wanted to take HWY 1 home to Camarillo, so I drove because I get car sick and it is really curvy! We stopped along the way to see the sights and take some pictures.

SEAL Beach in San Simeon, CA

Oh my... we couldn't believe how many seals there were!
It appeared that my driving got Jessica car sick, so when we opened the door at Seal Beach, she got out and took one inhalation of the air (stinky) and lost her breakfast... Sorry Jessica! So there aren't any pictures of her at Seal Beach.

Isn't he cute!!!

I am grateful for: The peace and joy that the Lord sends us in our times of need.

Happy Birthday Josh!!!

Legos... Legos... Legos...

It's no secret that Josh just loves his legos! This year he got the Indiana Jones sets and had them finished within a couple hours.

I can't believe he is already 9! Augh... my baby is 9, where does the time go?

I am grateful for: A wonderful little boy who brings his family so much joy.