I got tagged ...

Okay, okay, I'll play a long. But the only person I will tag is Ryan because I think all of my blogging cohorts have been taken up!

I love ...

• hearing Aspen say "bopper" (diaper)
• walking Shelf after an amazing rain storm
• living with my mom-in-law
• having movie night with my girls
• talking late into the night with my husband
• realizing that the mystery of God is greater than I will ever know
• how involved my parents are in my kids' lives
• chocolate-covered peanut butter balls
• Cadbury eggs

I hate ...

• scrubbing bathtubs
• being rushed
• when people story-top
• confrontation via email
  

If Not for My Husband

by: Amber Smith

If not for my husband
What a bore I would be
Eating bon bons and cherries
And only watching T.V.

If not for my husband
No adventures would I seek
Save for hunting down the missing sock
And wiping tears from some chubby cheeks

For he spurs me on toward camping
Toward snowboarding and more
Toward early mornings and late nights
In a car that fits no more than four

Still, it’s not until,
The wee hour before we leave
That I get that bit of excitement
And to my home a little less I cleave

For my worrisome mind wanders
And complains even more …
“But I’ll be tired, the kids won’t sleep
And I might even be bored!”

So here’s an ode to my husband
Who is ever the adventurous man
Creating many lifelong memories
Again and again

Tomorrow some ladies and I are making a turn-around trip to Sierra Summit (5 hrs 1 way) to go snowboarding. Ryan is already up there with the youth group so we are going to meet him up there for the day. I have tried to get out of this trip a zillion times and it wasn't until a few moments ago that I got really excited and I realized that I owe much of this excitement (and the exciting moments of my life) to Ryan, who is usually spearheading all of our trips. Thanks dear, I love you.

Snow!

I meant to post these a week ago, but life happened. So, here are some pics from when we drove up to Rose Valley to play in the snow after our recent rain storm. Sage couldn't wait to eat the snow, hence the funny pictures.

Pants & Visors

I was putting Sage's clothes away today and I noticed that her clothes rack was finally thinning out. I put most of her clothes in a dresser, but I usually hang up dresses, nice shirts and jackets. There was so much room in her closet that I decided to hang up her pants too. I remember trying to hang up her pants when she was a baby/toddler and if I didn't have any real pant hangers then I would try to fold the jeans through the hanger hole ... only to find the pants lying there on the floor the next day. After that I just decided to fold her jeans and put them in a dresser. So I was surprised today when I slipped her jeans through the hanger hole and they hung there perfectly. Surprised, sad, excited, and overwhelmed by how quickly all of this motherhood stuff is whizzing by me.
Then to top it all off Sage fits into my visor!! We were heading out for a walk and I put my visor on and Aspen wanted to wear hers (used to be Sage's) and I realized I didn't have one for Sage. I thought I would try my visor on her just in case it fit and to my surprise (again), it fit. I guess our little girl is becoming a big girl right before our eyes.

Songs

I have had this song stuck in my head all day after singing it at church this morning. I guess it's a pretty good song to have stuck in my head .... the tune is absolutely beautiful. Here is a link to a letter written by the author of this song, Stuart Townend.

HOW DEEP THE FATHER’S LOVE FOR US,
How vast beyond all measure,
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure.
How great the pain of searing loss –
The Father turns His face away,
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory.

Behold the man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders;
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers.
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished;
His dying breath has brought me life –
I know that it is finished.

I will not boast in anything,
No gifts, no power, no wisdom;
But I will boast in Jesus Christ,
His death and resurrection.
Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer;
But this I know with all my heart –
His wounds have paid my ransom.

H2Ojai

I love water. But not just any water. My favorite is my mom's water. They have this crazy reverse osmosis system which makes the water taste as good, if not better than Aquafina. It is really the reason why I am such a water snob. I just really like that crisp clean taste of good water. Anyhow, lately we have been buying Von's brand water. It is okay and is a step up from water "purified" by a Brita filter. But the last two gallons of water that I bought from Von's tasted like chlorine, so I decided to try out H2Ojai. At just .50/gallon (cheapest in town), you get clean, fresh tasting water. This is 1/2 as much as Von's water (.99/gallon). And, if you buy 100 gallons (on a pre-paid card) then you can buy the water at .40/gallon. They have all of the fun accessories at the car-wash (inside it - where you pay for your carwash). You can sanitize and fill your bottles inside and there is a nice little cart to assist in bringing it back out to the car. I think they are just getting off the ground, so if you have been looking for good tasting water and don't want to pay the big bucks, try it out!

Gratitude

After opening up her new princess dress-up clothes that she received for Christmas, Sage said, "Mom, I just don't know how to thank you." I was nearly brought to tears with her gratitude.

Our Marine

After 3 months of grueling recruit training, my brother Jed is now a Marine. He finished 2nd in his class of over 400 recruits. We are very proud of him, and yet we pray earnestly that he is not called away to war -- this war specifically. Below are some pictures of us reuniting with him after one of the graduation ceremonies.

We haven't had a family photo in years ... from left:
My dad (Ed), me, youngest sister (Jamie), Jed, Holly (& Riley), Ginger (preg. w/ #2), Judy/Mom.

Happy New Year!

After watching the Rose Parade, and after I told Sage that maybe we would one day go and see the Rose Parade, she said, "No mommy, I want to be IN the parade, I don't just want to see it!" So ... we had a little parade of our own ....