breakfast and an early morning

This morning I was woken up at the crack of dawn to screaming children getting ready for school. Though most days I would be completely upset, today however I was not. Maybe it was the rays of sunshine streaming in through my window, or the the smiling faces of the ones I love greeting me back into reality, or possibly it was the freshly brewed coffee my little sister made me sitting on my nightstand filling the room with its delicious aroma. Whatever the case my be though this morning was an early morning it was a good one none the less. I have decided that today will be a good day.



"A leaf fluttered in through the window this morning, as if supported by the rays of the sun, a bird settled on the fire escape, joy in the task of coffee, joy accompanied me as I walked."
~Anais Nin

baseball the new family affair

Tonight was Joshua's first baseball game, so the family pilled in the big van and drove to the field. When I got there the game had just begun and Josh was out in center field with his knees bent and glove ready for action. There were only a couple times when the ball was hit in his direction, but the excitement happened when Josh stepped up to the plate. As he made the short walk from the dugout to home we had everyone looking in our direction and Joshua grinning from ear to ear. Even from the bleachers I could see the joy on Joshua's face knowing that his family was there to cheer him on. He stepped up to the plate and we all quieted to keep his concentration, the first ball was pitched Josh swung and missed and the second one went with the same result. Knowing his chances were limited we began to cheer even more hoping this would boost his confidence. Finally the third ball was pitched, Josh swung the bat with direct contact hitting the ball line drive down third base, it was a double! Cheers erupted from our side of the bleachers, I'm convinced they could hear us a mile away.

As Josh took his stance at second base he couldn't help but look at the family and smile, and I couldn't help but to feel amazingly proud. I looked at the people surrounding me and I was amazed how blessed I was. The moment felt so perfect it was as though I was in a movie... but even better than that is was real life. I have an amazing family and today I was reminded of how great they truly are.

the hike of life

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The other day I decided to get the kids out of the house and give my mom a break, so the kids loaded up into the big van and I drove them down to Mt Rubidoux. The adventure started in the van, Jonah of course was the instigator of the kids crying and I knew from the beginning this was going to be a great idea! We made it to the mountain with only a few hits and cries and began our hike. Before being a third of the way to the top the fighting began. One kid would hit another who would retaliate and hit someone else who would come to me crying. I had bikers, runners, moms with strollers and anything in between staring at me with a look saying I was crazy for getting myself into this mess.

Like always though there were the fights, there were also the laughs and smiles. There were moments when we would stop to take pictures and look at the scenery. It was amazing to see God's glory not only in his nature but also in the lives that were surrounding me. This walk reminded me why my family does what we do. That like the hike in life there are going to be problems that occur and tears that are shed, but there is a destination to be met and memories to be made. Life is hard but that makes it worth living. I am reminded that because of the hard times the good times are much sweeter and the faces of these saved children continually remind me that.

We are hiking the mountain of life and though it is difficult I wouldn't change a second of it.