♥ Merry Christmas!! (A Christmas Letter, and a Video of Jordan) ♥

To parents of Young Children, on the subject of Christmas, (and to my friends and family everywhere),

As the mom of many, I've been where you are. It can be frantic in the days leading up to Christmas. Gifts to buy, programs to attend, meals to prepare. I learned a long time ago that I can't do everything, and my family is better off if I don't try! Don't feel guilty about what you don't do. You don't have to bake cookies for your kiddos to decorate. You don't have to go to every Christmas party. You don't have to decorate to the hilt, and keep everything clean in case someone drops by. You don't need to spend money on professional family photos to send to everyone...snapshots show your family as they truly are, blur and all :)

♥ Just enjoy your time together.♥

Drive around and look at Christmas lights in your pj's, they'll remember that more anyway. Stop for soup or hot chocolate on the way home...you'll have the money for it, because you didn't spend it on a photo session :)

We quit going anywhere on Christmas day, many years ago. My children wanted to play with their new toys, and dragging them somewhere else just didn't seem fair. Also, I don't cook a big Christmas meal. I know we're less formal than many families, but believe me, my children don't go hungry on Christmas day, (although they are most definitely under the influence of a more-than-average sugar rush) and again, there is more time to just relax and enjoy the day. 

This will be the first Christmas I spend without one of my children with me. He and his wife will be spending their first Christmas as a married couple, half a world away, establishing their own traditions for another generation. It happened in a flash. It really did. It was just yesterday that he was a little boy, joyfully tearing open his gifts. 

As I reflect on this, I believe that the memories we will all cherish won't be the gifts, the programs, the parties, or the food, but the time spent together, enjoying each other, arguing with each other (there were 6 kids in our house, so there was/is always an argument or two going on)...and in our family, it was almost always a new movie to watch. Nothing special in itself, but Oh So Special in the time spent together. 

Don't sweat the small stuff young parents, just enjoy the moments :) 

To Randy and Sarah, we will miss you dearly, but are so happy for the Christmas traditions you will be forever establishing for your family, and so thankful that Christ is the center of your celebrations! We love you both so much and are so proud of you!!

Btw, I'm now married to a very handsome "senior" citizen!! 

Senior meals, here we come!!

And for those of you who are still reading, waiting to hear about my nephew Jordan, 

I have something special to share with you! 

Watch this short video and get to know a little bit 

about Jordan and Jenn, their sacrifice, and the blessing of a new home; a gift from

Homes For Our Troops!! Feel free to share it, and spread the news

about this wonderful organization!

Merry Christmas to everyone! 

(Btw, this will serve as my Christmas card...because I didn't get any out this year) 

Lol :)

Blessings,

Marcia 

Learning to Surf...

Yes, I believe I have become a once a month blogger, lol.

Thank you to the friends that have continued to check on me.

My husband has been home the past 3 weeks, due to a knee injury.

I love having him at home, but I know he's had quite a bit of pain.

We got away for a couple of days, and of course, headed down to the beach.

Just 4 kids this time...it seems kind of weird, but we had a great time.

Hubby is bit limited in mobility right now, but it didn't stop him

from trying to get his kiddos to surf....

and then he went to work on me :)

No, I've never surfed before. I grew up body surfing,

but somewhere between having a surfing hubby and 6 kids to keep track of, 

I haven't even done much of that in recent years.

He was planning on changing that....

first I put on a wetsuit, and then we we went out...

I actually got up a couple of times...briefly...

so briefly that my daughter didn't get photos of me in the upright position, lol.

but I can say, I had a blast and can't wait until we go again!!!

Maybe you really can teach an old dog new tricks!

I don't think I'll ever go out again without a wetsuit though,

it made such a difference!!

Now if we can just get hubby's knee back to normal :)

Thank you RussMyHoney....you are the best!!

Lazy...um..Busy Summer Days :)

It's been a busy month here in So.Cal. so I just thought I'd share this calming 

sunset shot for the first photo...you know me and the beach ;)

Thank  you all for the sweet comments on the wedding and well wishes for
the newlyweds. You are all so kind!
The twins headed to camp the week after the wedding.

I'm not sure if he's hiding or trying to sleep...but evidence of them 

having fun showed up on my oldest son's Facebook page :) 

(He works at the camp)

They arrived home and a couple of days later, Micaela left for Hawaii

to once again spend a week working with the homeless and 

Surfing The Nations.

Then we attended a wedding in Long Beach and got to see my cousins

and their families. 

We celebrated Randy and Sarah's birthdays the night before they left for
So. Korea. Sarah's was the next day, and Randy's was a week later.

Micaela returned from Hawaii on the redeye flight, arriving at LAX

around 6 am. The whole group arrived back here in the desert around

8 am, and after picking her up at the church, we headed BACK
down to LAX to see Randy and Sarah off to So. Korea. 

Yep, same day :)

Micaela was a trooper...she could've stayed home, but wanted to

go with us.

Waiting for their flight at LAX International Airport.

That's Sarah's parents with us.
There were hugs...

Lots of hugs...

Smiles :)

And even a few tears, lol... Mom's are allowed to cry, aren't we? :)

My hubby and I have been walking...alot. He's lost 20 pounds :)

I've been able to keep off the weight I lost last year, 

and we're enjoying spending our evenings together,

walking around the neighborhood.

We get to see alot of these too :)
desert sunsets are beautiful...

This was the sunset we saw recently as we turned back onto our little street.
Aren't we blessed?

We've had another birthday too...my twins turned 12!
How can that be?

Life is busy in our household, lol.

I hope you're all enjoying your summer too my blogging friends!
I'm starting to visit all of you again. I think things have finally slowed down.
Glad to be back in blogland. Say 'hi' if you get a chance :)
Blessings,
Marcia 

♥ Wedding Day ♥

The wedding was wonderful!! The bride was beautiful, the groom was giddy,

and we all had a great time. Their mutual love for God and each other was apparent to everyone that attended. I wish I'd taken more photos, but I'll share the few I did take. I'm glad they had a couple of professional photographers there to record their special day. This one is from McKenna Pendergrass Photography, a wonderful photographer and dear friend of our family. 
And in case you're wondering, 
yes, they really looked like this all day :) 

Randy and Sarah are planning to move

to So. Korea for a year to teach, so the wedding had a "travel" theme.

This was the table that greeted you as you walked up. Gifts were placed here,

along with a place to leave love letters for the bride and groom. 

They were married at 1000 Pines Christian Camp,

(where my older son works) :) It was such a beautiful setting, and the weather was perfect!

Sarah and her talented family created the tabletop decorations and all of the delicious food.

The sign that greeted you as you entered the chapel :)

The beautiful couple (I'm not a bit partial, either), lol.

Getting ready to cut the cake...which was delicious carrot cake. 

My oldest son and best man, making a toast to his brother and his new bride,

There were tears for this (yes, he made his mama cry)
there were even a few from the groom, I believe :)

I just had to share this photo because it was so cute. This is Sarah's niece with her

daddy. She and her sister were the flower girls. Isn't she adorable?

We were a little windblown, but very proud parents.

(and now you know why one son has dark hair and the other is blonde) .

We are so blessed to add Sarah to our family as our new daughter-in-love.

Many thanks to her wonderful family for all of the work they did

to make this day so special for the happy couple. 

Blessings,

Marcia

Never Enough

but we say 'Thank You' to the many servicemen and women,

and to all of their families, for all they have given for our FREEDOM.

To those who might be wondering, Jordan got his prosthetic legs

a few weeks ago and is now learning to walk again!!

Thank you for your continued prayers :)

Blessings,
Marcia 

{Spring Blink}

You know you've been gone a long time when try to sign into your

 blog and you can't remember your password. Yes, that happened :)

I want to thank all of you that stopped by and asked about me

or took the time to send an email,

and I apologize for not getting back to you. 

At first I seemed to have bloggers block,

and then staying off the computer seemed more productive than

I realized it would, so I just stayed away from it. 

I've missed all of you though, and I need to catch up :)

The other day we realized we had a little hummingbird nest in the tree in our front yard.

I don't think I've ever seen a hummingbird perfectly still before,

but this little one didn't seem to move at all today. 

When I checked the photos though,

I realized that she'd blinked :)

I do wish I had a better zoom :)

That's what I feel like I've been doing,

just blinking, and before I knew it, over a month had gone by. 

I hope you're all doing well, and enjoying the newness of life

that Spring brings :) 

Happy Easter!

Blessings,

Marcia 

Start Each Day....

Start each day with a grateful heart

and end it with a prayer of thanks.

In the middle though, it's always nice to......

throw in a few M & M's ;)

(and you thought candle holders were just for candles, didn't you?)

Happy Valentines Day everyone!

Blessings,

Marcia 

♥ Hands ♥

The were married for years and couldn't have children, It was at a time when couples 

didn't choose "not to", and their hearts and arms ached for a baby of their own.

After quite a few years of marriage, they adopted a son 

and were thrilled to finally become parents. 

Looking to adopt again a few years later, they were surprised to find

that she was pregnant, after so many years of waiting. 

She gave birth to a daughter. 

They always said that there were two ways to get children, 

and they were doubly blessed to get one each way.

Having nearly given up on having a family at one time, 

they are now parents to 2 children, grandparents to 10,

and great-grandparents to 5. When you count in-laws, etc.,

their number swells to 35, and growing :)  

God's ways are not our ways, but His plans are always
so much better.

I am blessed beyond measure to call them......

Dad and Mom :)

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary,
they shall walk and not faint.
Isaiah 40:31

Have a wonderful Sunday!

Blessings,

Marcia

♥ Hearts ♥

Have you picked up your Conversation Hearts yet? 

They are definitely a weakness of mine. 

Hearts seem to be on our mind around here this week.

Pinterest provides so much inspiration. I really want to make these.

via Pinterest

to learn how, visit Glorious Treats....Yummy goodness :)

Thank you all for your sweet messages of congratulations to Randy and Sarah.

They are so excited....especially Randy :)

Sarah's cousin Ty is a photographer, and took some wonderful photos. 

If you'd like to see a few photos and read a little more about his proposal

visit her blog, "Ty LaMothe". 

I know I'd planned to do a giveaway this week, but the busyness of life

has kept me from getting it together. It's coming soon my friends :) 

I hope you're all having a wonderful week.

Blessings,

Marcia