Disneyland Highlights

The girls gearing up for our 15 hour drive. We took our longest road trip ever last week to Disneyland, and had the time of our lives!! We were blessed with great roads, amazingly patient children, and good health the entire time. We made the drive in two days going down, and we drove all the way home in one day coming back (crazy - but the girls did not complain once about it)!!
Our family shot in front of a fun ride in Toon Town. The lines did get a little crazy at times - it was packed with wall to wall people - but we had some fun family time during out wait times. This ride we waited 30 minutes for a 40 second roller coaster ride (T. figured this out and informed us all as we were standing in line)! See we even made it educational time...
Grandma and Grandpa posing in a teacup!! We were lucky to have our AZ grandparents join in on the fun with us.
Is it just me or does my mom look more like she could be my sister in this picture??? I sure hope I have those good aging genes - I don't think I do but one can hope. I guess there is no doubt we are related either is there - I see a little family resemblance in this picture!!

You can't go to Disneyland without doing this...

Riding the tea cups...
Posing with a princess...
Posing with your sister...
Posing with minnie ears on...
While we had the best time on this trip I have to admit I was a little disenchanted with how expensive Disneyland was, and so I have to also admit we did not buy any of these hats (they were all $20 just for the mouse ears even). T. did decide to buy the traditional "ears" for herself but those even were $14!! I won't get on my soap box too much, but I did have to make that disclaimer.

More shots from Disneyland!

Taking a "sugar" break - because the Disney "high" was not enough....
Grandma and T. riding the Jumping Jellyfish ride - I liked this shot I thought the colors were fun.
Our family's all-time favorite ride - California Screamin'!! We rode on it 6 times while we were there. The first few times T. stayed on the ground and A. only came with us, but after she saw her little sis on it she had to join in. It was not for the faint of heart with its 100 ft drops and it even went upside down!!! I have to admit I got a little queasy after the 6th ride! If you are trying to figure out who that is sitting by me - don't I was riding single - Tim and A. were back behind me on the ride if you can't tell.
When you get off the ride they try to hit you up for buying a picture of you on it. We never bought the picture (we took a picture of the picture - clever clever I know), but thought this one was funny of Tim purposely making a funny face. A. is sitting right behind him but she is so small you can't see her, and my hair is flying in my face!!

Beach Bums

Collecting sea shells was one of her favorite things to do at the beach!
A. shows off her new smile - she lost another tooth while we were in California. Luckily, this did not get in the way of her eating her licorice. You may notice the hat and T-shirt on the beach - alas she did not get my "tans easily" skin - she is a fair haired maiden for sure!!
I love this one!!
A few of the days on our trip we had to detox from the Disneyland frenzy and the beach was a great place to do that! We had a great time playing in the waves, and taking family beach naps. There is nothing better than a beach nap in my book.

Aubrey turned 6 years old today...

This is not a recent photo of her (birthday party pictures to be posted after the 15 children descend on our house and party down like rock stars) but it is one of my all time favorite snapshots of her. I can hardly believe the baby in the family is 6 years old today. It seems like only yesterday that she came into this world in the middle of the night (2:22 a.m. to be precise). She came into this world with big blue eyes, and a very quiet demeanor from the get go! She certainly completed our family. A few "fun facts" about our girl you may not know: her full name is Aubrey Jennifer. We named her after our good friend Jen (for those of you who did not know this Tim and I would not be "Tim and I" if it were not for Jen introducing us and playing match maker - so we owe a lot to her)!! I still remember Jen calling me in the hospital and what a true joy it was to ask Jen's blessing to use her name as Aubey's middle name - we were both crying by the time it was all said and done. It is a true honor to have a child named after such an amazing strong woman and it is our sincere hope that Aubrey grows up to emulate many of the qualities that are in her namesake!! Aubrey has had a milestone year as she completed kindergarten. She started out the year very shy and nervous about me dropping her off at school (daily). She finished the year out so strong and confident - we are so proud of all she has accomplished this year. A fond memory for me this year is every day before school she would have me draw a "kissing hand" (a heart) on her hand and kiss it, and she would do the same for me. Towards the end of the year, as we were getting out of the car I said "Oh we almost forgot your kissing hand." Keep in mind we had done one for 125+ days and she replied, "That's ok mom. I think I am too big for kissing hands anymore." Sigh.... and so it begins... Happy Birthday Aubrey - I love you bunches, bunches!!

There will be a day...

I seem to be posting a lot of song lyrics lately. All day today I have had this song resounding in my heart by Jeremy Camp it goes like this:

I try to hold on to this world with everything I have
But I feel the weight of what it brings, and the hurt that tries to grab
The many trials that seem to never end, His word declares this truth,
that we will enter in this rest with wonders anew

But I hold on to this hope and the promise that He brings
That there will be a place with no more suffering

There will be a day with no more tears, no more pain, and no more fears
There will be a day when the burdens of this place, will be no more, we’ll see Jesus face to face
But until that day, we’ll hold on to you always

I know the journey seems so long
You feel your walking on your own
But there has never been a step

Where you’ve walked out all alone
Troubled soul don’t lose your heart
Cause joy and peace he brings
And the beauty that’s in store
Outweighs the hurt of life’s sting

I can’t wait until that day where the very one I’ve lived for always will wipe away the sorrow that I’ve faced
To touch the scars that rescued me from a life of shame and misery this is why this is why I sing….

There will be a day with no more tears, no more pain, and no more fears
There will be a day when the burdens of this place, will be no more, we’ll see Jesus face to face

There will be a day, He’ll wipe away the stains, He’ll wipe away the tears, He’ll wipe away the tears…..there will be a day.

There will be a day with no more tears, no more pain, and no more fears
There will be a day when the burdens of this place, will be no more, we`ll see Jesus face to face
But until that day, we`ll hold on to you always

It is such a great song, and I take hope in it for those of us still here living on this fallen earth where we are not promised that life won't be full of tears, pain, and sickness. While there is much joy in this world, it is a great reminder that we are just passing through and THERE will be a day when the burdens of this place will be no more. I also take great comfort in knowing THAT DAY came for my amazing friend Jen a year ago today - He has wiped away her tears and her pain!!

Fight Like a Girl

I am back into the land of blogging and have much to catch up on! I gave my final exam on Thursday and feel like I am slowly getting my life back after my first teaching gig in 8 years ended. I thought it fitting in honor of Memorial Weekend to post these lyrics of a song sent to me from Jen's sister - it is the song by a group Bomshel called Fight Like a Girl. I tried to download it from Youtube but I am not that savvy so if you want to hear it you can find the song on YouTube. I love the lyrics, and I know Jen would have loved them too. I also love that the final verse was written for her!! I think it is pretty amazing what a legacy she has left behind. I was told by here sister they call this song "Jenny's Song" in Nashville and it is climbing the music charts at #35! Pretty cool. I hope you enjoy the lyrics and go out and listen to the song even if you are not that into country. An update Sara provided a quick link for me all you have to do is go to the comment section, find her comment, and then you can hear this great song courtesy of YouTube!!! Thanks Sara -you my friend are so SAVVY!!!

Little girl alone on the playground
Tired of gettin' teased and gettin' pushed around
Wishin' she was invisible
To them

She ran home cryin'
"Why do they hate me?"
And Mama wiped the tears and said
"Baby, you're brave and you're beautiful.
So, hold your head high.
Don't ever let 'em define
The light in your eyes.
Love yourself, give them Hell.
You can take on this world.
You just stand and be strong
And then fight
Like a girl."

At 31 she was wheelin' and dealin'
Kept on hittin' that same glass ceilin'
She was never gonna one of the boys, no
She coulda gave up on her ambition
And spent the rest of her life just wishin'
Instead she listened to her mama's voice sayin'

"Hold your head high.
Don't ever let 'em define
The light in your eyes.
Love yourself, give them Hell.
You can take on this world.
You just stand and be strong
And then fight
Like a girl."

Oh, with style and grace
Kick ass and take names

Ten years of climbin' that ladder
Oh, but money and power don't matter
When the doctor said "the cancer spread"
She holds on tight to her husband and babies
And says "this is just another test God gave me.
And I know just how to handle this"

I'll hold my head high
I'll never let this define
The light in my eyes
Love myself, give it Hell
I'll take on this world
If I stand and be strong
No, I'll never give up
I will conquer with love
And I'll fight like
Like a girl