Life changing...

Life never stays the same...the only constant is that life changes (a LOT!) or maybe that is just true for our life! ;) Thankfully Gary and I adjust well with change...although now that I'm getting older I feel a bit less spontaneous...but of course my hubby's game for anything the Lord has in store!
In our 10 years together our life has changed....a LOT! With every change we mourn the loss of the familiarity and consistency of routine only to find that the next phase has brought us closer together, closer to the Lord-probably because when big life changes are about to happen we are always on our knees so much more (wish we could just stay on our knees more consistently/continually), and more rewarding in some way. So with this next phase of trust and obedience...here goes!
I'm thankful that in this life of change there are a few constants that never change...my hubby by my side...unless we are running because then he is always in front of me! ;) a God who loves me and has a plan already in place for my life. A family who supports and jumps on board and who are some of my closest confidants. Friends who are there no matter what is going on and how busy life gets...to pick up the phone and feel like no time has passed (even though sadly, much time has!). And precious children that God has blessed us with...It is crazy to think that from now until eternity passes I will be Zach and Mak's Mommy...such a privilege and honor!

So stay tuned as our life changes yet again, in an amazing way...

xoxo!

*I know I owe my faithful blog readers pics from the last few months!!! I'm sorry to all 3 of you! ;)

Lessons from a 4 year old and my hubby...

***UPDATE- The Burlingame police recovered my Driver's Licence, credit cards and 1 purse!...We are still praying my camera card will return too! ;)


On Saturday afternoon we decided to take the kids on a bike ride by the reservoir in San Mateo...right off the 92 on the way to Halfmoon Bay.

It was a beautiful perfect afternoon! We must of seen at least 10 deer...A very pleasant, beautiful ride! At the end of our ride Gary went to get his truck and the kids and I waited at the main gate for him so they could run around and Gary could load the bikes up...Gary calls my cell to let me know that our truck was broken in to. The passenger side window was smashed in and my purses (yes, 2...a clutch type with my wallet and a bigger catch all with every one's stuff in it) had been stolen...I was visibly upset over the short phone call and Makenzie asked me what was happened...I told her "some bad people broke Daddy's window and stole my purse and bag." She without even hesitation said "Let's go sit down and pray!" Wow, this child amazes me... I swear, where did this child come from!?!? She is AMAZING! So we went and sat on a bench and prayed...prayed for peace for Daddy and for the people who broke in our truck.

So this is why I'm thankful in a weird way for the break-in...
#1- Mak's immediate response to prayer!
#2- When hungry enough Makenzie will eat an apple that is not pealed! HUGE!
#3- Mak and Zach got to meet 2 very nice police officers and they gave them badges!
#4- We are not a fast food family...besides In & Out ;)...and we were forced to eat at Wendy's because we were so late getting on the road and we couldn't drive on the fwy home...wow, I forgot how amazing a frosty is!...Makenzie was in HEAVEN!

What bums me out...
#1-My camera was in my purse and ALL our pics from our trip to NY...over 200! Those precious memories...sadly are gone...looks like we are going to need to go back for more soon!!! ;)
#2-That it was totally my fault! For 10 years now (LITERALLY!) Gary has told me to cover up my purse and not leave them in plain view when I leave it in the car...and I left it on the floor on the passenger side...Gary totally had a right to be frustrated with my negligence...but he wasn't, he was totally gracious and felt so bad about all my stuff being gone...Gosh I do not deserve such an amazing man!

Lord, thank you for blessing me with such an amazing husband and now a daughter who seems to be following in his likeness of YOU...she could not have a better role model than her Daddy...No wonder she is AMAZING!

xoxo,
Dani :)
Missing my cute new orange purse a bit too much as well...sigh... ;)

Better me than you

Better me than you

Ok, so I have fallen in love with this blog...I don't even remember how I found it (we'll call it divine intervention!) but I'm so glad it came across my screen! I read a handful of blogs and this one is now on my favorites! This lady is so real and she LOVES the Lord and her family...and since that is what I'm striving for it's great to read encouraging blogs!

Enjoy this FANTASTIC TRUTH and PERSPECTIVE...Gary's favorite word!! ;)

BTW...we are home! We had a such a wonderful time! More blogging about that later...

xoxo!
Dani :)

Happy Birthday Gary!!!

Gary went to a gun range the other night with a few friends to celebrate our friend John's Birthday! Look at the end of the barrel of the gun! AMAZING timing of the bullet coming out!!! I would also like to point out if you blow up the pic my hubby's amazing accuracy of shooting! Way to go Gary!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY LOVE!!! YOU BLOW ME AWAY!!! hehe!

Makenzie's Birthday pics!

Here are the pics from Makenzie's Birthday! We didn't have a big party this year at our home...we decided to throw her a birthday party in Buffalo this summer with all her cousins back there! We had a great time celebrating our little girl this year! The 4 of us went to San Fransisco for her actual birthday and had a blast! And she felt very special when Shayna and Kevin came to celebrate her early the weekend before (and to visit with us!)! THANKS for coming guys! You know how much we LOVE having you and how much your little bro and little sis LOVE being with you both!
Enjoy the pics from her Birthday!

More to come later this week from our time with Shay and Kev...
I'm 4!!!!

Yum! We had cupcakes (purple!) for dessert after breakfast!

Ladies are just so much neater...

nap time in the city!

Merry-go-round in San Fransisco!

They were so excited about lunch at the Rainforest Cafe! And DESSERT! Of course we had the VOLCANO! ;)

Chowder bowls at Boudin Bakery!

Makenzie is 4!

Wow, where does the time go?! I have been wrestling with "time" for the last few months...actually several months. I can't believe my baby girl is 4! I can't believe I'm 30! I can't believe I've been married to my best-friend for 9 years! Seriously where does the time go??!!

If you would of told me about parenthood in detail with what my days (and nights!) would look like after children...I would of told you it sounded like a prison sentence! I mean seriously who in their right mind would give up most of their hobbies, favorite things to do, favorite places to visit, long relaxing weekends, freedom to travel, spontaneity, long chats on the phone, long showers in the AM, a clean house, a quite house, a career outside of home that you get to dress up for, etc...all for a little person who needs everything from you to survive. Not just food and shelter but EVERYTHING. Love, cuddles, time, encouraging words...It is so funny how my perspective has CHANGED...I DON'T look at it at all like a prison sentence but I do look at it as a PRIVILEGE. I am privileged to "die to self" everyday for my children (and hubby!)...do I miss my past freedom, sure...daily at times! But I wouldn't change my current circumstances for ANYTHING else this world has to offer! I am exactly where I want to be...caring for and loving my kids (and hubby!), I am so grateful we decided long ago that I would stay home with them. Gary and I are very like minded in this area...I don't actually think we ever even really discussed it. It was just a given...and for that I am thankful!

Maki-Happy 4th baby girl! We love your tender, sweet, caring heart...Thank you for changing my life in the most incredible way with being your Mommy.

A few cute things from this week that she said...I really should post all of her cute little hilarious sayings!

"Are we having Mommy-Mommy tacos?!?" aka...mahi-mahi tacos!

"I don't want to be a fireman or a baseball player when I grow up...I want to be a Mommy! I can't wait to take care of Zach!" Ok, so she was a little confused about Zach not growing up too...she is so dang cute!!!!

Pics to come from her Birthday celebration!!!
xoxo!
Dani :)

A parenting article!

I hope you enjoy this article on parenting and perspective as much as I did!