Wedding in the Mountains

I guess I took an unplanned blogging break the past couple of weeks. It seems like life is always busy around here with just day to day living. We attended a wedding up in Big Bear this weekend. Big Bear is a mountain town about an hour's drive from here. It was beautiful. The wonderful young couple are good friends of my oldest son, and he was also in the wedding. They had such a unique wedding invitation too. I loved it. I'm going to share it here and hope that they don't mind :-)

This was the cover,

 And inside this is what you found. Yes, sweet journal entries from their dating life. Isn't that just the sweetest idea? The back had all the wedding details.

 My twins also had their first dance at this wedding :-) They both got to dance with the beautiful bride. Thank you Jen for making it so fun for them. They talked about that dance all the way home :-) 

Cody (the groom) and my son, Ryan.

 The wonderful couple, exchanging their vows. 

Isn't it a beautiful setting?

Thank you Jen and Cody, for sharing your special day with us. May God continue to bless you both!

I'll try to get back to blogging now. 

Thanks to all of you for sticking with me and visiting again. I'll be stopping by to visit your blogs again too :-)

Blessings,

Marcia

How We Spent Our Sunday

On Sunday we headed "down the hill". That's the phrase often used by residents here in the high desert. Many commuters make this trip everyday. Here's a photo of that mountain peak I posted a few months ago. It still has snow on it. 

We went down near the Pasadena area of L.A. because my son was preaching his first sermon at the church where he's now working as the youth pastor. The congregation at this church was wonderful and really made us feel welcome. I'm so thankful for everyone there and the way they're making Ryan feel right at home. I'll share a few photos. Here's the marquee outside with the message he was sharing. 

My husband even snapped a photo of him up front. He probably shouldn't have done it, but he is a proud  dad :-) We think Ryan did a great job sharing the message. Do you think we might be a little biased? I know I'm bragging a little, so please forgive me, I'm a proud mama :-)

 Also a photo of him with the twins, in his office there at the church.

 Ryan works at the church twice a week right now, and he's also working this summer at a camp in our local mountains. He's doing quite a bit of driving each week. I'm sure hoping that his car will hold up :-)

After the service, we made a quick trip by the home my in-laws used to live in. They lived in a hilly area of Pasadena just about a mile away from the area where the Rose Parade takes place. My mother-in-law passed away in 03, and they left the area a couple of years before, but it was nice to drive by and see their old home. We have many wonderful memories in this place. It would have been nice to go peek inside, and to play in that pool out back where we spent so many summer days.

Here are a few of the other beautiful homes there in Pasadena. 

 

I always enjoy driving down the streets and seeing the lovely houses and yards, especially since they're so green, and we don't have alot of that here in the desert.

We really had a wonderful day. 

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Blessings,

Marcia

Fresh Paint

Having fun with paint and stamps this week. 

 Can you tell I'm still thinking of the seashore? :-) Thank you to everyone for your sweet comments on my last post. I'm sorry if I was whining a bit :-) You're all wonderful!
I'm joining Friday Pretties
hosted by Joyce from I Love Pretty Little Things

I hope you go by and visit :-)
Have a wonderful weekend my friends!

Blessings,

Marcia

Getting Away From It All

 photos by Michelle Halemeier

Sometimes we just want to get away from it all, don't we? Wouldn't you just love to jump into this photo?

It was taken in Tanzania by a friend of my kids. She's working as a missionary in Malawi Africa, and went to Zanzibar to visit, and sent back several photos.  Isn't it beautiful?

Anyway, back to getting away from it all. Some of you might remember that back in February I posted about the IRS auditing us, asking us to prove that our kids were indeed our kids. We'd finally received the "all clear" that they did agree with us, they were our kids......for the year 2007. 

Well, the joke was on me. A couple of weeks ago, they sent us another notice, and this time it's for the year 2008. Yes, they are examining us again, for our "exemptions". That's IRS talk for children. I explained that we'd just received an all clear from them, dated January 22, of this year. They told me that it was for 2007, and this one is for 2008. 

Seriously.

After which, I burst into tears (yes, I really did), and told them I would call them back when I could compose myself. I'm such a girl when I'm frustrated :-) The people that I've dealt with at the IRS have been very nice, and I mean that. However, I found out that they don't have access to my records...the ones I sent them last Fall. They don't have access to their records either. That file is closed, so I'm now in the process of sending them copies of the letters they sent me on my last audit. That would be the letters that say we owe nothing, that they agree with us, they are our kids, etc., etc. Yes, THEIR letters to me. 

I'm so glad I kept everything.

As I said, the people are very nice, but I'm a little concerned about the IRS being responsible for this National Insurance thing congress has passed. I mean, if they can't access their own info from 4 months ago...well, I'm not holding my breath that they'll do any better with medical insurance.

That's just my 2 cents though, and if by chance someone who works for the IRS is reading this, please don't hold it against me. I really don't want another audit. 

I did say you were nice :-)

Anyway, some days it would really be nice to get away. On those days when things don't go quite our way, it's nice to know Who's really in control. I have to remember to keep my focus on God and not on my silly circumstances. And who knows, maybe He just wants me to show kindness to some IRS worker along the way. I hope I can do that. It's alot better than bursting into tears :-) I have much to be thankful for...and I truly am a Blessedmom! 

They really are my kids :-)

Blessings,

Marcia