To Mrs. Moore

Calleigh has learned so much this year in school.  She is just growing leaps and bounds, and she wanted to share some of what she has learned with her pre-K teacher, Mrs. Moore.  We LOVE Mrs. Moore!  She is an incredible teacher who has a passion for teaching and a genuine love for her students.  We were so blessed to have had her as our teacher two years in a row (kinder for Carson and pre-K for Calleigh).  Thank you Mrs. Moore for giving Calleigh a wonderful foundation in reading.  She is doing great this year and I believe a lot of that is due to your influence on her academics last year.  We miss you! 

Remember This Little Guy?

At 3 years old, Carson was a handsome little guy in glasses.  Bifocals, no less.  After eye surgery at age 4 to correct his eye muscles, Carson went back to a life without glasses.  

Before the school year began, I took Carson in for a routine eye exam.  At that time, he was borderline nearsighted.  It was so borderline, that the ophthalmologist said his vision did not warrant glasses.  For the past couple of months, Carson has complained a little that he could not see the white board in the front of his classroom.  Then on our trip to Texas over Christmas, we noticed that he could not read the departure/arrival board at the airport.  Mental note:  make an eye doctor appointment when we get back to California.  

Yesterday was that much anticipated eye doctor appointment.  After a thorough exam, it was decided that Carson needs glasses to correct his nearsightedness.  He is excited about wearing glasses, but a little nervous that the kids at school might make fun of him.  He has already expressed a desire to have glasses similar to Harry Potter.  What do you think?  Good fit?

One thing is for sure, he will be a handsome little boy regardless of what style of glasses we buy.

Mmmmmmmm. . .

I haven't posted in a week.  I know.  It's been super busy around here, yet there doesn't seem to be anything worthy of a blog entry.  In a nutshell, here is what is going on in our neck of the woods:

Monday - I did the usual Monday thing - grocery shopping, laundry, school stuff.  Went to Bible study and it was good.

Tuesday - Carson had a friend over to play after school.  Then Colin came over to hang and eat dinner.

Wednesday - Bible study was good.  We talked about peace.  Next week's focus is patience.  I really like Beth Moore studies.  I took the kids to the park to play with some friends after school.

Thursday - School holiday (teacher in-service day).  Carson's friend came over for a play date.  We were pretty much lazy around the house.  It was nice.

Friday - School holiday.  Took the kids to Disneyland.  It was a great day with the family.  Met up with some friends there and enjoyed the day.

Saturday - Ran errands.  Sat in the sunshine.  Went to church.  

Sunday - Ironed ALL morning.  Watched the Super Bowl.  Now the kids are in bed and I have a moment of quiet.

Like I said, it was a week full of  little stuff that kept us busy.  The week FLEW by (is that a word?).  It was a good week.  I am looking forward to this week.

The Greatest Love

This summer Carson began to periodically ask us questions about baptism.  He seemed very curious about baptism, but then again he is an inquisitive little guy.  On the final day of our Christmas break from school, Carson surprised me by announcing that he wanted to be baptized.  As excited as I was to hear him say this, I wanted to make sure he really understood what it meant and I wanted to hear his reasoning for wanting to be baptized.  Let's just say that conversation with Carson ended in happy tears (I'm a sentimental girl!) from both Carson and me.  Michael and I asked Carson if he wanted to be baptized in "big church" in front of everyone or if he wanted it to be a small family celebration.  Without hesitation, Carson said he wanted to be baptized at church because he wants everyone to know that he asked Jesus Christ into his heart.  So, last Saturday our little guy was baptized in front of the congregation.  It was a great day and one that we will remember forever.  Here are some pictures from his baptism:

Pastor Mike and Carson - Pastor Mike asked Carson how old he is and why he wants to be baptized.  In front of the whole congregation, Carson announced that he is 8 years old and he wants everyone to know that he asked Jesus into his heart.  The congregation clapped and cheered!

 

I love that he is wearing his God Rocks! shirt :-)  Pastor Mike talking privately with Carson before he baptizes him.

   

The week leading up to his baptism, one song was constantly at the forefront of my mind.  I wish I knew the name of the song and the artist who performs the song.  But since I do not, I am simply going to condense the verses and chorus.  It's been a song that has meant a lot to me since moving to California last summer.  I've found great comfort and hope and truth in the lyrics.  This past week the lyrics assumed a different meaning to me - expression of love from the heart of a child for a God who first loved us.  Here are the lyrics.

The greatest love that anyone could ever know

That overcame the cross and grave to find my soul

All I am I live to see your kingdom come

In my heart I pray, Lord let your will be done

You are the voice that called the universe to be

You are the whisper in my heart that speaks to me

Until I see You face to face

Grace amazing takes me home

I trust in You

I will live to love You

I will live to bring You praise

I will live a child in awe of You

You alone are God of all

You alone are worthy Lord

And with all I am, my soul will bless Your name

Happy Birthday Nana!

A special birthday message for Nana from two of her biggest fans.

This is why I love Southern California.

It is mid-January.  It is a sunny day with a high in the 70's.  The sky is a brilliant blue.  And I am sitting on the balcony working on my sun tan as I compile my income tax documents.  

Couldn't ask for a better work environment.  :-) 

January in SoCal

Have you heard of the Santa Ana winds?  Let's just say the terms "windy" and "wind gusts" do not do justice to the true significant force behind the Santa Ana winds.  

These are gusts of winds up to 70 miles per hour.  

Seriously!

I still catch myself looking around to see where the tornado is coming from when the wind blows through here.  I pause only to remind myself that I no longer live in tornado alley and 70 mph winds no longer indicate an imminent tornado in my path.

Maybe I should try a new approach in my thinking.  Take Calleigh's perception of the winds, for example.  She simply states what we all are really thinking.  "I wish the wind would stop smackin' the house!"

The upside is having a 10-day forecast of sunny and mid-70's with lows in the upper 40's.  I guess a forecast like that is worth enduring a few days of "wind gusts."