My first picture done in my home studio! 

Blessed

Tonight we had a Dinner For 8 group at our house. It's a thing that our Sunday school class does where four couples are grouped together for 3 months to do socials and dinners in order to have a chance to better get to know each other. We had SUCH a wonderful time. All of the couples in our group are absolutely lovely and have lovely children. We all had a fantastic time. We are SO blessed to have been put here in Tucson. God has SO totally seen to our needs. Not so long ago, we were in a really dark place as far as having our spiritual fellowship needs met. Then we walked into the Catalina Foothills Church and have felt God's blessings poured out on us ever since. God has truly planted some of the lovliest people you could EVER meet right here in Tucson. And we are fortunate enough to cross paths with them quite often. It is refreshing and truly filling to be surrounded by strong Christian couples who are so kind and fun and uplifting and encouraging. I have found such acceptance and love in this group of people and Chris and I both really look forward to opportunities to be involved with them. Every need we have had since we moved here to the desert has been met so fully and completely and so beyond our expectations. I sit here tonight and I feel so blessed that I cannot even begin to put it into words. It is a special feeling to know that God has His hand on you and on your life and is so willing to provide for you in every single area of your life...no matter how small the need or the desire. I can't even begin to put all of these thoughts into appropriate words...I just sit here tonight feeling overwhelmingly blessed. God has been good and faithful. He has richly blessed us with wonderful friends....more than we ever could have hoped for. I am grateful beyond expression...life is SO good and very blessed here in the desert.

Our Clara loved the dandelions at Big Lake, up in Alpine, AZ. 

Hobby

A coyote I was lucky enough to glimpse resting at the desert museum.

So....everyone who knows me, even just a little bit, knows that I am a bit passionate about my camera and pictures. So...lately, as my baby girl gets closer and closer to starting school, I have been entertaining the notion that it might be time to grow up and, you know, contribute to our family income in some way. Everyone keeps telling me that I have an eye for photography and that it is my gift, so to speak. I'm starting to think they may be right. I don't know about the gift part or having any special eye for photography...but I love taking pictures. I could do it day and night. I have also gotten a lot of comments on the nice graphics of this blog site. I take special pleasure in that, since they are not graphics, but my very own pictures, taken with my very own camera. It has been a huge confidence booster. And so....I finally ordered some professional backdrops and bought some lights and I hope to set up a sort of home studio and experiment over the next while to see just what I can do with it all. I have no idea if I can even begin to shoot anything worth looking at. But I at least hope to try. I am not an ambitious person at all....that is my husband's job! So my prayer is that God will really use this in me if this is the direction He would have me go. I hope to be set up by next weekend. I have a real passion for babies...haven't really shot any with my camera...but that is where my mind and heart always seem to wander to...so I am hoping to explore the baby, young child arena. I am blessed to be in a group right now where there are LOTS of babies being born. It is definitely a new adventure for me...one I am cautiously optimistic about. I keep getting bogged down in worries...like that my room is too small, or that the walls should be stark white and not the painted neutral that they are....or that the window in that room might be a bad thing...but hoping that it might be a really nice thing. You know....killing the whole thing before it even gets off the ground...before I ever shoot the first picture. That would be typical me. But I want to give it a shot....and for once, see just what I can do with it. Everyone else seems to have so much faith in me...I just need to find some it for myself. So....if you are reading this....you've seen the pics on this site....what do YOU think? I'd love any feedback from unbiased folks who won't just say nice things to my face because they know me...but from others who read the words and see the pictures of a stranger...as a stranger...what do you think? Life is good here in the desert. Exciting, unknown, hopeful....and very, very good.

Four

Clara creates her bear, "Samantha"

We celebrated Clara's 4th birthday at Build a Bear this past weekend. There were six little girls there and it was quite the noisy and energetic get together. Once they all arrived, Grace, our "party bear" helped them each to pick out the bear that they wanted to make. They had several choices and it took a few minutes of pondering before all six could make a final decision. Then, Grace had them all put their bears-to-be on their heads and they proceeded to march in a line, all around the store shouting at the top of their lungs, "Stuff my bear! Stuff my bear!" I think they all loved that part, getting to yell inside, and in a very public place no less! Next, they each went through a heart ceremony, which involved choosing a satin heart, rubbing the heart in their little hands to make it warm, rubbing on their legs to make it fast, rubbing it on their heads to make it smart, and then making a wish on the heart and stuffing it inside the bear. They all got to work the "stuffer" and push the pedal to stuff their bears to their own individual levels of fluffiness. Once all of the bears were stuffed and sewn together, they moved on to the fluff and brush stage. They all got to brush and clean up their little bears while fluffing them under these big air things, kind of like hair dryers. Next, it was on to the dressing phase! And here is where the fun began. Turn six little girls loose in a store jam packed with awesome outfits, shoes, hats, wigs, eyeglasses, p.j.s, etc and say..."pick one". A couple of the little girls knew right away what they wanted their bears to wear and were done in about 2 minutes with their selections. However....the other four had quite a time putting together just the right outfit, all the while having to work within their "budget"! It didn't help, of course, that four year old girls have NO CONCEPT whatsoever of what a budget is or how much things cost. But eventually, we managed to get all the bears stuffed, fluffed, and all dressed up. After we wrapped things up at the bear store, we headed to the food court for donuts and juice and presents. It was fun to watch all of them enjoy each other's company.

As I watched all of them laughing and playing and smiling, I was just struck by how blessed we are. How blessed we have been to have our little Clara these past four years. We had prayed and prayed for a little girl. And while she had a rough year of three...as she got closer to four, she has really been such a delight. She is girly, girly in every way. And she is so sweet and so eager to please. She loves children and craves their company constantly. She wants to be a ballerina when she grows up. She is simply a delight. It's hard to believe she's been with us for four years already. Before we know it, we'll be walking her down the aisle to the man of her dreams! But I try not to think about THAT too much. Right now, I just want to treasure the little girl. The sweet one who adores her mommy, loves her baby dolls, is her Daddy's little princess and the one who just fills my heart up to overflowing every time I look at her, just knowing she's mine. We are blessed to have this child. Blessed to be parents....and I thank God every day that he has allowed us the priviledge of being parents to our wonderful children.

Compliments

I have received several compliments lately on this blog site. So, thank you very much if you happen to be among those who have been so generous with their compliments. This site is just my sporadic thoughts and ramblings on about my life and the lives of my family members. All of the pictures are my own. I have a love for taking pictures and I am grateful to my children every time they stand still long enough for me to capture the moment! My husband has great faith and confidence in my picture taking skills...way more than I myself do! So he blessed me with a really cool and nice digital camera. I take a picture (or a couple of hundred pictures) nearly everywhere we go and occasionally, I will try to throw a couple up on this site...just because I like to see them pop up there. But thank you very much to those who were so kind with their comments. I appreciate it very much. You made my day!

First day of school! 

Grrrrrrr...Thursdays

So...Thursdays are turning out to be rough for me this season. I don't even know how we got to this point...no way to avoid it really...just bad luck I think. But my Thursdays are going to be long and lousy now for the next 12 weeks....at least. Our morning starts by having everyone out the door by 8:25 a.m. I drop the boys off at school and Clara and I head into the gym, where I have back to back classes. First, a turbokick class, followed by a BodyPump strength training class. The I rush home, grab a quick shower, giving Clara her lunch to eat while I shower. Then it's back out the door to drop her off at preschool at 12:15. I pick her up at 2:45. Then head straight to school to pick up the boys. We rush home, grab Max's guitar and head right back out the door within 10 minutes to get Max to his guitar lesson. Thirty minutes later, we are back in the car heading home. And this is where life will get fun. We have to be back out the door and on the soccer field by 6 p.m. We will not get home from guitar until right at 5. I don't know where soccer practice is going to be yet....but I have a sneaking suspicion that it won't be anywhere convenient! At some point, I have to feed my family dinner, not to mention, help Max get his homework done. Soccer doesn't end until 7:30. If we are LUCKY, which, believe me, I am SO not feeling right about now....but if we are lucky, we might be home by 7:50 or so. By the time we get showers...well...game over, lights out, bedtime! I asked Max's music teacher if he had any lesson openings on Monday or Wednesday afternoons...but of course, he didn't. THAT would have made my life too easy. If something becomes available, he's going to let me know. I won't be sitting here holding my breath...that's for sure. Despite the insanely crazy schedule, I'm thankful for the bustle of fall. I love to see my children's faces light up in smiles as they see their friends or learn something new and cool. I love to know that each day has a purpose and direction and a definite "to do" list. I appreciate and miss my babies more, now that I don't see them all day, every day. This year will be a huge adventure, for ALL of us. My prayer is just for peace and a desire to relax and see it all through. Life is busy in the desert...to be sure, but oh so good!

School Days

Well, summer is over, here in the desert. The school bells are ringing and our family, along with the rest of the desert dwellers, is back in the rush and routine of the school year. The calendar is staggering in the amount of activities and appointments that we are balancing right now. Both boys seem to like their teachers pretty well (which is nice). I think they will both have plenty of challenges ahead to keep them busy and plenty of opportunity to totally screw up as well! Clara has been making me crazy with the boys gone, as her school starts a week behind them. But she is off tomorrow to pre-school and from that point on will have either school or ballet three days a week. We head out to the gym the fourth day, where she has several little friends. And the fifth day will be "our" day to do some fun things, like shopping or the zoo (Clara's favorite) or the children's museum. This is our last "easy" week for the year. Next week we add soccer and ballet to school, preschool and guitar lessons. I have to admit, that I love the pace of the school year. No time to think about what you'll do....you just DO it. Almost like autopilot. I love falling into bed at 9:30 completely exhausted. I love waking up at 6:30 on a mission with plenty to do. I find myself to get much more accomplished in a day where I am so busy for some reason. On my busiest days it seems I manage to squeeze in my bible study (I'm only 4 chapters behind!), which I could never seem to get done when there was absolutely nothing to do in the day! I get things clean that somehow couldn't get addressed before. I thrive under pressure and a schedule. So....this is my favorite time of the year. I love to just go! So this morning I am thankful! Thankful for the great schools here and for the teachers working with my kids. I am thankful for schedules and activities and that we can afford things like pre-school and ballet, guitar and soccer. I am thankful for the busyness that somehow lends peace to my life and I am thankful for the feeling of accomplishment that I have at the end of each day. I'm thankful that somehow, at my busiest times, I find myself closer to God and Him, closer to me. Life is so good here in the desert!

A Visitor

Well, I have been a resident of the Sonoran Desert now for almost exactly 20 months. I have to admit that I had a lot of ideas about the scary wildlife that I would be encountering on a daily basis when we first moved out here. However...I have had almost none (thankfully). Now....because I publish this thought in writing, on a blog, for all the world to see, I surely will see a rapid and immediate increase in my own personal wildlife encounters! But to date, in almost two years of desert living, I have not crossed paths with a rattlesnake (which is my all time biggest fear and worry), a gila monster, a mountain lion, a live scorpion or anything else too terribly scary or poisonous. We did however have a visitor yesterday morning. A tarantula. My first in my time here. I have heard that they are abundant here...but I have never witnessed one. Chris gave me the heads up yesterday morning on this one as he pulled out of the driveway for work. I was helping the kids get breakfast when the phone rang and it was Chris telling me this little guy had been under his car and he saw him when he backed out. I happen not to be afraid of big hairy spiders that I am capable of moving faster than...so I, of course, jump at the chance to see this new desert creature on my own turf. Now, I should mention here, that I am still in my nightgown. A simple, shortish, gray t-shirt with snaps at the neck and a little bit of shape kind of get up. I figure this is not an issue....I'm just stepping out on the front porch for a minute and I'm sure I won't encounter the public eye too much. So I snatch up my camera (since I'm a picture junkie!) and streak on out the front door toward said spider. And wouldn't you know it...our elderly neighbors are out front...and not just in their garage, like usual, but all out in their driveway which is only about 2 feet from MY driveway. So there I am, facsinated by this tarantula, thinking what a great picture this could be, but hiding there beside the corner of my garage so I am out of sight in my lovely night wear. Finally, I can take it no more and I just kind of slip out from the corner and get down on the ground to get the picture (thinking that if I am quiet I won't draw too much attention to myself). No sooner do I get all crouched down on my knees with my camera braced and my butt in the air, my neighbor notices me and immediately comes to save me from said spider. OK....so now it is SOOOO obvious that I am outside in my nightie on my knees, and there is just WAY too much attention coming my way. I just want this guy to go away and let me take my picture already. But no...he offers to get rid of it and proceeds to tell me how it won't really hurt me, but could hurt Clara (as if my dainty one would even think of approaching the creepy crawly!). I try to get up off the ground as gracefully as I can. I thank him for his helpfulness and then I retreat BACK around the corner to my original post of peeking out and hoping Mr. Tarantula will crawl close enough for me to get the picture I want. Well, I got his picture. Is it my dream tarantula picture (if one of those exists)? No....but it's the best I can do in my nightie with neighbors! He was way cool in a kind of creepy way. I am relieved that I did not freak out. You may be asking yourself if I will grab my camera and run out for pictures when I find the rattlesnake on my front porch. I can assure you, NOT! I will be inside, dialing 911 and packing for a trip far far away in a land where you most certainly will NOT find rattlers curled up on your steps! I still pray a daily prayer to God to put a forcefield around my home that repels all belly crawling critters. So far it has worked!

Beauty From the Night

Our night blooming cereus cactus out by the pool burst forth into the most amazing blooms the night of July 4th. I awoke the next morning to find the most beautiful, most lovely flowers atop this cactus that I think I have ever seen. I knew that it was going to bloom. I had missed the first one already. Desert flowers last but a day. By the time I discovered the first bloom it was shriveled and hanging and mushy and pitiful. I couldn't even tell really what it might have looked like. In the next few days we headed off to the mountains to cool off a bit and celebrate the long weekend. I noticed the huge buds on the cactus before we left and was sadly resigned to the fact that we would miss seeing these, too. I reminded myself that there was always next year. Though it seemed a terribly long time to wait! But when I woke up that first morning we were back home I happened to glance out to my pool area and immediately noticed the huge and stunning flowers! I was so excited! So I snapped the above picture. It is hard to believe with all of the heat here and the incredibly dry year we've had (even dry for the desert!) that things of such beauty still manage to come forth. I felt like like I had received such a gift that morning....to get to see the flowers that won't be back again for another year. It was a sight to behold...so lovely, so fresh. Life is good here in the desert!

The Desert in Bloom

Spring is here and the desert is exploding in bloom. The Palo Verde trees are brilliantly yellow and there are flowers everywhere and the mighty saguaros are throwing off blooms everywhere. It is truly a beautiful sight to behold. Rough on the allergies, to be sure. Poor Ben is suffering mightily this season, as am I. But it truly is a beautiful thing to witness. Spring in the desert is just beautiful....a little taste of wonderful before the hot, hot summer heat sinks in to take over!

Moving On

I spoke with an old friend from Florida the other day. I had made repeated attempts to contact this person. I had heard through the Sunday School prayer chain that her health was not great and that she was struggling with some things. So I set out to reach her and reach out to her and let her know that I was thinking about her. It took me three times to reach her. I left a message each time and never heard back from her. Finally, I managed to reach her and it was rather strange. It was like we had never really known each other. Like she was not in the least bit interested or glad to hear from me. She did not inquire once about Chris or my kids....nothing. The whole conversation was like pulling teeth. I asked about her kids and school and her husband and sports and the health of their children. The whole conversation was an odd one and I came to the realization that sometimes, the people whom we cling to for one reason or another as "friends" really are not our friends at all. Not once have we heard from them since we left. We could pretty much drop off the face of the earth I suppose and they would not miss us. I keep in touch with exactly two friends from Florida. Well, three. I talk to Wendy almost without fail AT LEAST once a week. And while I don't talk to Lori as often, I do still hear from her from time to time. I know without a doubt that she thinks of me from time to time and of my kids and my family. And just last week I got a letter and phone call from my high school friend Deborah Taylor. That meant so much to me to know that she still thinks of me. Other than that....it's like that chapter of our lives does not exist any longer. I fully realize that people move on...and I have no regrets about moving on really. My kids are happy here. I have wonderful, lovely friends, strong Christian women friends whom I adore. My husband is unelievably happy in his job here and we have a really nice life. Our lifestyle is wonderful and comfortable and I truly love living here in the beauty of the desert (rattlesnakes and all!). So....it's not a bad thing really. More of a factual thing I guess. It's time to move on and let go of the people who let go of me; almost before I crossed the state line. I doubt that I will look back. My focus is on the future and what life has to offer right here in my wonderful corner of the world! I wouldn't go back if I could. Life is just too good, here in the desert!

A Day at the Zoo

Today Clara and I spent the day at the zoo. It was a magical day spent between mother and daughter. It was fun and sweet and busy and totally enjoyable! We headed out this morning and arrived about 10:30. After walking around until nearly noon, we decided to grab some lunch. So we had hot dogs and corn dogs and a giant pretzel and then walked around some more making sure to re visit some of the animals that had been sleeping the first time we went through. We managed to see almost everything except the tapir, which did not seem to be home. Clara earned this trip to the zoo by getting marbles in her jar. It takes 50 marbles to earn a reward. Most often it is the reward of the child's choice. Both of our boys recently worked toward a visit to Starbuck's. Clara wanted the zoo. And so off to the zoo we went! And a wonderful day indeed it was! I know that for this next round of marbles, Max is working toward guitar lessons and Ben would like to work toward a guitar. We're gonna have to talk that one over....but it sure is nice to see our children working so hard on their manners and household responsibilities...and all for a little glass marble! Anyway...a marvelous day!

Relaxation

Chris has been taking a few days off and it has been so wonderful to have him around! He took off both Thursday and Friday and then Monday is a holiday for him since it is President's day! On Thursday he spent the day sleeping in just a little, paying taxes, catching up on naps and just relaxing a bit. Then on Friday, after we took Clara to ballet, Chris and I picked up some sandwiches at this swanky little grocery and headed off on this amazing hike up Finger Rock (hence the self portrait of us!). We spent the whole rest of the day just hiking and being together. The first part of the hike was just magical. I kept calling it the secret garden because it was just so cooland different. Then suddenly the secret garden part ended and a VERY grueling climb began! We climbed pretty sraight up vertical for just over an hour. It was SO hard and SO awesome. My butt was on fire, my thighs were screaming in pain, but with each step the view was just so awesome. It even rained on our hike...which is amazing in and of itself because it has not rained for 120 out of 122 days here in the desert! It was a fabulous day with good food and great company and wonderful scenery and even brutal exercise! Hard to beat a day like that! Then we came home and cooked out with our good friends...the ones who are separating. That day is coming closer and closer and with it is coming many changes. My best friend has gone back to work part time and is unavailable the first part of each day. She has had to make child care arrangements and leap back into the corporate world....and it's been hard to watch her struggle with all this is bringing. They have not told their girls yet and my heart breaks for them as I think of how they will face this new information. Her husband will be moving out very close to their youngest daughters 5th birthday....what a memory to deal with on your special day. I have been praying for this couple daily but I don't know if they are going to make it. I think it less and less likely each day.

There is not too much happening here. Max is as distracted as ever. We started a star system where chores or jobs are written on wooden stars and attached to magnets. Each child has a dry erase magnetic board where their stars are located. As they complete each task they are to move their star from the TO DO side to the DONE side. There is a reward for completing each segment of stars. So far, the system is working pretty well. Max is at least able to get a visual cue to help him complete his BASIC tasks like getting his teeth brushed each morning and combing his hair, etc. It's helped....some. Ben is great. On task as always...a bit devious as always. And as for Miss Clara....we are in a pretty good place with her. She is quite sweet and cooperative....still strong willed, but seeming to bend a little these days. I'm sure it won't last, but I'm enjoying it while it lasts! Overall, life is quite good in the desert!

Thankful

Chris and I are feeling ever so thankful for each other these days. Our close friends are seperating right now and it has been a difficult process to watch. They have small children very close in age to ours. This couple has been married almost as long as we have, though their road has been quite different than ours. Chris and I both know that we could have gone down that very same road.....so it is especially tough for us to watch another couple whom we love so much go down that path. I am so thankful that Chris loves me the way that he does and that he thinks that I am smart and beautiful. I cherish the fact that he sees me as his friend and would rather spend time with me than doing so many other things. I am thankful that he stood by me and was committed enough to make our marriage work and pull it out of the ruins and rebuild it into something amazing and so special. He is my gift from God. Delivered to me when I asked for him....each and every specification I requested filled. I marvel at times at just how good God can be and how he truly is able and willing to give us our hearts desire when we ask according to His will for us. One day soon, I hope and pray that God will reveal to our friends just how special and amazing they are to one another. My prayer is that He will rekindle in them a love and desire for one another and that he will place their feet back on the path that He would have them to walk....together. In the meantime, I am just so thankful for the partner that I have in my life, on the path.....together.

New at Our House

Both boys have recently received a new pet of their very own. Ben was the first to get a hamster. A little guy he named S'more. He's a long haired hamster and a real sweetheart, though he has managed to escape 3 different times now, so I have taken to calling him Houdini. Max also received a hamster as a reward for working to bring up one of his grades significantly in school. Max named his little guy Einstein DaVinci Roberts. He's also very sweet, but very lazy and more than a little bit fat. He uses his exercise wheel to sleep....never to run. I have taken to calling him Fat Boy as he is such a pudgy little guy. That, added to the fact that whenever you put food in his bowl, he immediately shoves every piece of it in his mouth and takes off to hide it somewhere! His cheeks are HUGE with food when he does that and I have wondered if he'll be able to fit into his tubes with all of that food swelling his face so. Anyway....both little furry friends have found their way into our hearts and it has been nice having them around!

The Middle of Nowhere

Our family recently went on another camping trip here in the great state of Arizona. These trips have been a great source of surprise and enjoyment for me as we have explored and discovered the many awesome attributes of this state. Every place that we have been has been amazing and beautiful and I have loved each place and been thrilled and dazzled by the beauty of it all. Until this last trip. We recently camped at Agua Caliente in Ocotillo, California. It was a place that Chris found on the web and it looked amazing and beautiful in all the pictures. We were so excited and so over Christmas break we packed up the car with all of our gear and headed out. Prior to this trip all of our camping excursions have been to the north and to the east. And they have been delightful and scenic and awesome. Aqua Caliente was our first.....and last trip into southwestern Arizona. We drove for what seemed like forever and ended up smack in the middle of nowhere. If you have ever thought that you were in the middle of nowhere....I assure you that you weren't....unless you were in this place! I have never seen anything so remote or so desolate or so colorless and bleak. This was not a place that you would just happen upon. Oh no....you'd DEFINITELY have to be going there. But we had arrived at this place....and desolate as it was, we made camp. We pitched our tent and cooked our dinner and built our little campfire and bedded down for the night. I wish I could say that we all slept all nice and cozy...but alas....it was not to be. Chris had heartburn and couldn't seem to be still. Every time he moved, it created a very cold pocket of air in the sleeping bags that we had zipped together. I was FREEZING. Then Ben started with a tummy ache and we had to listen to him moan and sigh for a good two hours. No sooner did he begin to settle, then Clara had to go potty. By the time we all settled back down, the sun was coming up and there was no hope for the occupants of our tent to doze back off. So we started the day a little on the sleepy side! After breakfast, we decided to head off into the great wilderness for a hike. So we packed our waters and gear and headed out. We had a nice hike and then got back and decided to get showers and head into the nearest town (25 miles away) and get some supplies since the store that was supposedly supposed to be open and well stocked was not open at all. So we showered and loaded up the kids and had just BARELY pulled out of the campground when HUGE winds starting gusting all around us. The whole car was shaking the wind was blowing so hard. So we turned around and headed back to our campsite to make sure our tent was secure and had not blown away. We inquired about the weather and the ranger said it was supposed to be only 5 m.p.h. winds during the day, increasing to 15 m.p.h. in the night. Well, early in the day they were already WELL over 5 m.p.h. and we knew that as they continued to increase we would not be able to have our campfire (so no heat) or our tent canopy to help hold in the heat. We made the split second decision to break camp and call the trip a wash. We started packing as hard as we could go and I nearly had the tent empty when a HUGE gust of wind literally came up under the tent, ripping the stakes out of the ground and tried to take me and tent with it! Luckily, I'm a fluffy sort of girl and I was able to hold my own...though just barely! When we finally got packed up we sighed a huge sigh of relief and gladly began the journey home. We were never so glad to get home to our own beds! I can say this for sure....Aqua Caliente is NOT a place I ever wish to visit again. In the future, I think that we will stick to the north and eastern sides of this great state! Life is good in the desert.....better on my side!