Tuesday Travels...

On the road again......just can't wait to get home!
The service was nice....
The rest of the trip....I'll just say it was less than desireable!
Stopped at Casa De Fruita...yes, my kids love parks.....and I love helping them burn a little extra trapped energy!

Monday's Memorial for John....

It was a really nice service - J.T.'s dad actually did the scripture reading, the Celebration of Life (where, I was mentioned as a testimony of John bringing people to the Lord), and the closing prayer.

I am so glad I was there. Please everyone, pray for Debbie when you think of her. I just can't imagine losing my husband. They have been married since 1965 - she asked for prayer specifically for nighttime. They married when he was just 18 and have been together for 45 years - I just can't even imagine what the entire family is going through. Such a lesson on how anyday can be our last. I truly love this family...

The front & back of the "program" which I just love!!! You can click on these to see bigger.

More of Monday......

Took the kiddos to the park early in the day & they had so much fun. It;s funny to be back in the town that I spent my first 30 years in. Some fond memories, but overall I do not miss it & not somewhere I want to visit often...
This park is John D. Morgan Park & the school in the background was my Junior High School.
Yes, of course, my boy found the ducks....

Sweet Sunday

Our 400 mile trip took us 8 hours...we had a good time & the kids were awesome! Thank God for DVD players in automobiles! Ha! We did play lots of "I spy with my little eye..." and see lots of beautiful countryside, trains, animals, etc...

The best thing I ever did was bring the little potty - so much easier to stop on the side of the road & use rather than getting both kids out & finding a potty! Ha!!!

Here's some pics from this day...

This is a great little roadside fruitstand/farm/playground.....


playing in corn....


I love these chairs! I want them!


Jonas smiling after being pecked by the red rooster! Such a boy!


Yee haw!






We made our destination - San Jose - and they were just pooped!

See ya soon!!!

We're home from church, just got the kids fed & to bed - it's now 9:15pm and I'm just stopping in to say hello! Tomorrow morning the kids & I will be heading up to San Jose for a short visit (JT has a side job he can;t pass up). We'll be staying at my in-laws and going to the service for John on Monday. Please pray for safe travels and please pray for Debbie, John's wife, she is really struggling.

I'll have no internet access until I get back, which will be late Tuesday night.

My crazy little man - taken a while back - before his first haircut
I think he's telling us that he has two paci's - or maybe that he's 2
I'm choosing to pretend he's saying "Peace out"!

In just one week my baby girl will be 4!

Prayers for the Magnasco family

Gosh - two posts in one day.

My mother in-law just called to tell me that Mackenzie's birthday gift should be delivered by UPS today. We also talked about other things and then she told me that a good friend of theirs died yesterday. I heard the Holy Spirit prodding me to ask who. Uggg.....John Magnasco. I am so sad. JT's parents know so many people, I usually don't know who they are talking about - but John, oh gosh, yes, I know him. Let me share.

When Brandon was in kindergarden and I was single (although JT was around a bit), we arrived home to our apartment with yellow tape up - during the day a plumber was working in an apartment connected to ours and while welding pipes, he started a fire. Burned out 4 of us.

We ended up living in a hotel for a few weeks - paid for by the insurance company.

My friend Tina lived in some cute condos and mentioned to me that a couple were available.

I got one - my landloards were John & Debbie Magnasco - this was back in 1995 or 1996 or so. And funny thing - I went to Junior High with their daughter, Dawn.

I am a bit shocked right now, as the news I just heard about 10 minutes ago.

Let me say that when I rented from them, I was not a follower of Christ, although I knew of Him, I was pretty lost. I was a single mom who supported the two if us just fine, worked hard, but also partied pretty hard.

The Magnasco's invited me to church for the Easter service and I went. I sat with them, right behind guess who.....none other than my now in-laws. Such a small world.

John & Debbie treated me more like family than a tennant and I have always just adored them. Anytime I go to San Jose I just have to go to church and my highlight is always seeing them. We have also exchanged Christmas cards for years.

John suffered a heart attack yesterday while driving. I am so sad for Debbie and their entire family.

If I was asked to name who single handedly made a huge impact on my life - their names are the ones I would give. I give credit to them both for the love & kindness they showed me and reintroducing me to the love of Christ in my young adulthood. I did continue to go to that church and actually worked in Children's Ministries there for a while. I truly don't think I would be where I am today, had it not been for them. John is someone who has left a huge impression in this world and without a doubt lived his life for Christ and bringing others to Him. I will miss him terribly.

I'm just sad. Praying for Debbie, their children, the grandchildren, the church....

a night of worship AND flashback friday

We went to an amazing concert last night with our good friends James and Peggy, and their daughter Katie. I have no idea how many the arena held, but the place was packed - to the point of them asking everyone to scoot in to make room for more people. The concert was only $10 and doors opened at 6. We ended up on the upper level but I have to say there was not a bad seat in the house. The show was opened by Addison Road, who's lead singer, Jenny, waddled out at 8 months pregnant. Next was 10th Avenue North, followed by Hawk Nelson. All were amazing! Then came Jeremy Camp and last, Mercy Me. The music was incredible but to me what was more incredible was being in an arena with that many people all worshiping our God. I was amazed at the number of young kids there with their arms raised, singing as loud as they can. Across the isle from us was a dad who looked like he was there with his daughter and her friend. I got such a kick out of watching him. At one moment, he seemed to be falling asleep, the next, he would break out with some silly dance. One thing that really stuck with me was what the lead singer of Mercy Me said - he said "None of us have the answers for you and none of our songs can change your life" which stunned me, as I was thinking - "oh yes your songs can!" but then he went on and added "but we know WHO can!". I had chills up and down my spine several times throughout the night and was on my feet for most of the night.


And guess what - silly me forgot my camera. Uggg! Luckily, I did have my call phone (which is currently locked up in the bedroom with a still sleeping husband) and Katie took pics too. So, just as soon as I can, I will add some pics.

Peggy & I in the truck on the way to the concert



Addison Road


Jeremy Camp


Mercy Me



Katie & the lead songer of 10th Avenue North


Me and the love of my life♥


This was my first full blown Christian concert (other than venues at the county fair and Women of Faith) and loved every minute. I cracked up at one point when the arens was dark & everyone was holding up their opened cell phones. Hello? When did we go from lighters to cell phones? Yes, I guess I am showing my age. Ha! And...they took an offering toward the end of the show to help keep "The Rock and Worship Roadshow" on the road whicle keeping the prices the same. I don't like to think of my self as a sceptic, but hello....passing around a bucket filled with money with that many people and not an usher at the end of every isle? Yes, an arena full of Christians, but hello! Ha! Just typing that made me laugh! Yes, why not trust an arena full of Christians! And...if someone did happen to slip their hand in the bucket...I guess they must really need it. And...God WAS watching.

The night of worship was not FOR Him, it was BECAUSE of Him.♥
Happy Birthday Brandon - you're 19 today!
Here's you on your 1st.

Ooo- and I almost forgot...its Flashback Friday!!!!

Any idea who these two are?

It's really happening!!!!

Way back when I first met J.T., he had his General Contractor's License and his own business. He ended up going to work for someone else and let his license go. Well....when J.T. was laid off, back before Thanksgiving, we talked and decided to get it back and start "our" own business again. It's a long process. Just yesterday we received news that his application has been accepted and his test date is Monday, April 13th. He also just signed up for the 2 day crash course to get ready for it. He will be taking this course on the 11th and 12th down in San Diego - yes, Easter weekend. We decided to sacrifice spending the holiday weekend together for our future. Having the crash course fresh in his mind will be the best for him - it is a long test! So, he will be studying all weekend and I will spend it being in service at church.

We are both really excited about this so I just had to share! Please pray for him!

We are leaving in about an hour for a fun concert and will be back tomorrow for Flashback Friday - be sure to come back - I have some fun pics to come!

And tomorrow is my oldest son, Brandon's 19th birthday!

Wordless Wednesday...

Pray for Stellan.....

I first "met" Stellan through
his mama's blog while she was
still pregnant with him. Stellan
was not supposed to live. But - God
had other plans - Stellan was born
healthy! I don't follow the blog
faithfully as I would like and
just heard from a friend today that he is very sick. To see the latest on what is going
on with him please read Mckmama's Blog
and you can read his whole story here.

Pray for Stellan and his family! We know that God can do amazing things!

To join Stellan's Gallery - Part II - visit Lauren's site.

View part one here.

The Mommy Interview

This is funny - I got the idea from Heather - thank you Heather! And it's funny - Brandy read this last night at her introduction at Surrender with Kendall's answers!!! So, here goes...me thru the eyes of Mackenzie (her answers in ALL CAPS)



1. What is something mom always says to you?
PUT ON YOUR GLASSES
2. What makes Mom happy
ME AND JONAS
3. What makes Mom sad?
ME AND JONAS NOT BEING NICE TO EACHOTHER
4. How does your Mom make you laugh?
TICKLE ME
5. What was your Mom like as a child?
JUST LIKE ME
6. How old is your Mom?
16
7. How tall is your Mom?
4O FEET
8. What is her favorite thing to watch on tv?
FOOTBALL
9. What does your Mom do when your not around?
STAY UP REALLY LATE
10. If you Mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
MAKING BLANKETS
11. What is your Mom really good at?
SEWING
12. What is your Mom not very good at?
I DON'T KNOW - YOU CAN DO EVERYTHING
13. What does your Mom do for her job?
LOVING ME AND JONAS
14. What is your Mom's favorite food?
SAUSAGE
15. What makes you proud of your Mom?
HUGGING ME
16. If your Mom was a cartoon character, who would she be?
ARIEL
17. What do you and your Mom do together?
SCHOOL WORK AND TAKE SHOWERS
18. How are you and your Mom the same?
LIGHT SKIN AND BLUE EYES
19. How are you and your Mom different?
YOU HAVE PRETTY EARRINGS AND I DON'T HAVE ANY
20. How do you know your Mom loves you?
YOU ALWAYS TELL ME ALL THE TIME
21. What does your Mom like most about your Dad?
LOVING HIM
22. Where is your Mom's favorite place to go?
COSTCO




Yep! Lots of love going around this home!!! ♥