Mission Hills Park

Yesterday we stopped at Mission Hills Park for a late lunch before picking Frank up from work. We haven't been to this park in a long time. I am so glad the weather is cooler!

Sabrina had to be rescued right after this picture was taken.

Marie-Anne

Ethel M Chocolate Factory

Yesterday I was on the way to the grocery store, but it was such a lovely day that I took the kids to Ethel M Chocolate Factory to walk the trails first. We had a great time walking and enjoying being outdoors together.

We took our time and had a great time. We walked the trails several times. Then we took the factory tour and got a free piece of chocolate. Thankfully we took the tour when we did because several bus loads of tourists showed up as we were watching the workers.

As we were leaving we were surprised by a hummingbird that was darting from flower to flower so close we could have touched it, if we were fast enough, of course. It didn't even fly off while we talked. We got to watch it for several minutes. It was really pretty with purple on its throat- a black-chinned hummingbird.

Marie-Anne

Skate Park

We went to what the kids call Skate Park, (I can't remember the name of the park either). The kids got to play at the playground. They love this playground- I think it is one of their favorites.

While I watched the kids at the playground, Frank got to talk to people about Jesus.

Marie-Anne

Frank's Birthday

We recently celebrated Frank's birthday. He's another year older and still a great blessing to us. I am so glad I get to spend my life with my best friend. Frank's an amazing guy and he's ours!

Per his request we enjoyed pizza for lunch and Mexican for supper. He teased me about not cooking on his birthday. Sabrina got him the party hat and she made a book for him- The Adventures of Cowboy Jack. Alex spent some of his money to buy army soldiers to decorate the cake with.

Marie-Anne

Stephanie Lynn Craig Park with friends

Every now and then I get together with some other stay-at-home moms at a park. We have so much fun and now that the weather is great again we will meet more often. They bring their preschoolers and I bring my two so they kids can play while the moms enjoy a talk-over. A talk-over is Sabrina's word for  grown-ups' play-date.

Marie-Anne

Foxtridge Park

Sunday afternoon we took Kenya and Danielle to Foxridge Park. I enjoyed spending time with Kenya. The kids got to play and have fun. Frank got to witness to people and spend time playing with Alex.

Marie-Anne

Sunday Service in the Comfort Inn

Sunday was our first two services in the Comfort Inn's conference room. It is a blessing to have a place where we feel more comfortable inviting people other than our neighbors to.

During the morning service we had three visitors. Our neighbor has come to several of our services and she brought her younger sister. The other lady was invited during our outreach the day before. After the service Frank asked if any one had pain and needed prayer. Alex said he had a stomach ache so Frank prayed for him and he said the pain was gone.

The lady we just met, Sharon, had arthritis. Frank asked her if she was bitter against someone. She was then he prayed with her asking for her to be able to release the bitterness and be set free. After praying he asked about her pain. She said the pain in her legs was gone, but the pain in her ankles was still there. Frank prayed again and she started jumping! This was an older lady, who we had just met that morning, (someone else invited her the day before) she was hobbling before he prayed. Sharon said that she never realized that holding onto bitterness hurt her more than the other person. On top of that we later found out it was her birthday.

It was just us for the evening service.

Marie-Anne

Cowgirl

Sabrina is the greatest cowgirl in the West! (Which is quite convenient since the joint b-day party will have a Western theme.)

Marie-Anne

Rodeo Park

We visited a new to us park. The kids loved Rodeo park. They did not want to leave.

Frank got a chance to share the Gospel with several people there. He also played some hoops.

Marie-Anne

Barnes and Noble Story-time

I took the Cowgirl and her brother to Barnes and Noble for story-time. We go to that most weeks. Sabrina loves the stories and the coloring. Alex enjoys looking at new books.

I was a bit surprised to see Alex playing with the Thomas train. It brought back memories of how much he used to love Thomas.

Marie-Anne

Whitney Ranch Mesa

YIPPEE!!! The weather is finally cool enough to go hiking and be outdoors more. I have been longing for this weather.

For family time we went on a short hike at Whitney Ranch Mesa. It was still a bit warm, but it felt so good to be outside.

Frank and Alex climbed a steep hill. At first I said no, but when Sabrina scrambled up I decided not to let a five year old hike more than me. I'm glad I did. It was a very nice view and I found a piece of quartz.

After the hike the kids got to play at the playground.

Marie-Anne

Baker Girls

Our neighbor, Kenya, invited Sabrina and me to bake cupcakes. Sabrina and Danielle were surprised that they had almost matching aprons; Sabrina's has a dragonfly and Danielle's has a ladybug. Both girls were ecstatic to make cupcakes together. While the cupcakes were baking the girls played dress-up.

Marie-Anne

Lego Night at the Library

 

Of course, Alex is still loving Lego Night at the library! A big crowd of kids meet once a month to build with Lego!

While Alex was in his class, Frank and I took turns reading to Sabrina.

Marie-Anne

Stephanie Lynn Craig Park

We brought Alex's bike and Sabrina's scooter to the park. They had a great time. I enjoyed sitting on a bench talking with my best friend.

Marie-Anne

Playing Games

Frank and the kids played Trouble one night when I was feeling lazy. The kids really enjoyed his attention.

Marie-Anne

Church Service in our Home

For the first few weeks we had church in our home, which was quite interesting. There's quite a bit of running around straightening up, setting up the laptop, putting the pets away, practicing music...

These are the pastor's kids before the Sunday morning service. So which one is the wild one? The answer may surprise you- though he definitely looks wilder, the award goes to his sister. For reasons I cannot fathom, Sabrina decided Mr. Cow should go on Alex's loft bed. So she put the cat on her face, that's right, on her face, to lift him up. Mr. Cow did not like that and if you look closely you'll see a small scratch on her left lower eyelid, (millimeters from her eye). Putting a band-aid on her eyelid would have been difficult and putting medicine on her eyelid without a Band-Aid  was not a consideration. I just stopped the bleeding and washed it well and spent a few minutes getting the cat hair off her face.  Of course this was minutes before service.

Frank and I also had to practice the music.

Despite the challenges, having church in our home has been a blessing. We have had a couple of neighbors come to worship with us. We also had a door-to-door salesman. The kids and I have been blessed by having tailored services. When it has been just us Frank is able to take the time to break things down so the kids can better understand.

We still have Wednesday service in our home.

Marie-Anne

Foxridge Park

Yesterday we went back to Foxridge Park at about dusk. There weren't too many people there, but Frank and I got to talk to a few people. Alex and Sabrina also had several kids to play with. One of the kids asked if we could come back on Thursday because they have baseball practice then. Maybe we will.

Marie-Anne

Sleepover with Jordan

Alex was excited to have Jordan over for a sleepover. They played really well together and had a lot of fun. Sabrina felt a bit left out at times, but she got to play on the computer and spend some time with me.

Jordan's dad forgot to tell us that Jordan doesn't sleep. The boys were told to go to bed at midnight. At 1:40 am Alex and Jordan came to our room because Alex had a bad headache. About an hour later I heard one of the kids moving around in the living room. Alex was sound asleep on one couch and Jordan was wide awake reading a book. Yet all three kids were awake before 8 am!

Marie-Anne

Chloe

Chloe conquered the alligator.

Marie-Anne

Outreach at Foxridge Park

We had an outreach at Foxridge Park. Frank got to talk to several people about Jesus.

I took the kids to the playground. They were having a blast playing together. We were really enjoying ourselves until...

The teens took over. It is an absolute shame that these kids have nothing intelligent to say and think that they are so cool and grown-up based on how foul and profane they can be. They were simply trying to be more profane than their friends. It was the girls, not the guys. They were so foul that they made the military barracks seem tame. Needless to say I took the kids away from that environment.

When Frank finished talking to the man he was witnessing to. He asked why we left the playground. I told him how foul those girls were; so he went and preached to them. They fled! They literally ran away pulling their friends along by the arm. Some of the guys stayed and listened to Frank. The playground was once more a place where little kids could play and several families came up at that point. Even when those girls came back they were much more subdued.

Marie-Anne