Showing posts with label Church. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Church. Show all posts

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

End of The Year

May/June means the end of all of our scheduled activities.  In particular, preschool and cubbies. 

I did this last year and was amazed at how much the twins changed over the year.  This year they both shot up in height!
~First Day and Last Day of PreK-3~
Their end of the year program was cute.  Holden was a little more active than last year and Nora was all over those songs and motions, like a rockstar!

hey momma and daddy!
a little "hi" from our big boy

N and H with Adelyn
best friends
with Mrs. Amy--another awesome teacher this year!
 There was a small awards program for Awana.  The Cubbies kids just walked across the stage and got a prize from Mrs. Rachel, their teacher, but they thought they were big stuff of course.  Mike and I have been really proud of the kids this year though, they learned a new bible verse almost every week from Sept. thru May!




Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Random Happenings

I have hardly blogged...i know.  i  think i'm starting to feel better (knock on wood).  We're almost into week 14 now, the beginning of our 2nd trimester, so it should be getting better--but it's been a rough 7 weeks or so.  Little things like these brownies below really made my days better. When nothing else would be remotely appealing...my sweet husband would run out at 11pm to get me OJ, or a McDonalds sundae, or make me strawberry cake, or get me an Outback Bleu Cheese Chopped Salad, or my favorite brownies from Kulani Bakery.  He's the best.  
Game Day...this was the one they won against Duke. 
As you can sorta see, Nora was dressed up too, we just don't have a good pic.  this is N eating taco salad (her fav) with her friend at church, Ava.  Neither would actually look at me and smile.  Moody girls!
Jenn this is for you.  You wanted a rainbow and didn't get one.  You just came on the wrong week.  We've had a billion over the past week or so.  Only if you woulda came this week you would also seen TONS of rain, flooding, thunderstorms, strong winds, hail and a tornado.  What do you think?
Mike was trying to get the whole thing...too bad the car was in the way.  His ride to work really supplies some of the best rainbows you could ever see.  they are always strong and full and sometimes really low lying, like you could just walk over and stand in the middle of it. We'll definitely miss that. 
I am always miscommunicating with my food servers/providers here in HI.  i never understand how it happens.  Mike and I were both baffled by this one.  Embarrassingly, i've been ordering ridiculous things for the past few weeks and being really picky about ingredients in my food because the smallest thing can turn me off.  So i asked the server what was on the "dinner salad" she said, "cucumbers, a couple slices of tomatoes, and red onion".  Onions have been awful on to my stomach lately and i don't like tomatoes so i said "i'd just like the cucumbers".  and this is what i got.  obviously she took me literally, but i thought the fact i wanted a "salad" had already been established.  we laughed, i felt silly eating it in the nice restaurant, but when we talked about sending it back, i decided i'd probably just prefer the cucumbers anyway.  so that's what i ate. 

Here are the twins having fun at church with Auntie Dessie.  The kids stay in nursery so long each Sunday...like 3.5 hrs at least.   The workers, or sometimes just a random church auntie or uncle, always try and take them out to play.  It's not unusual to run downstairs for a second and find my kids in someones arms eating the breakfast sweets, playing drums on the stage, sliding down the playground equipment, or running around in big circles with someone willingly following their every move...our kids are spoiled at church.  We don't even think twice about it if we go to pick them up for nursery and they aren't there.  Once Mike and I were sitting in service and look across the room to see our son sitting with his favorite Uncle in service listening to the worship music. He looked so big and grown-up over there.  It's rare to be that comfortable and trusting with a body of people, but our church has been fabulous and they are so loving with our children.  We are truly thankful and appreciative.  
We normally just snap a bow in N's hair and go, but every once in a while we do something different. This day she wore pigtails.  Still can't quite get that bottom layer in, but we're getting there!
Pigtails, Baby Stella and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse

Monday, November 28, 2011

1 Corintihians 15:22


~Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life.  (NLT)   Rejoice. 



The Lord took Kalei home today, please continue to pray for this family.


UPDATE

I really appreciate all of your prayers and concern for our friend Kalei and many of you have been asking for an update.

As of last night she has been steadily declining and her organs are now failing.  Our hearts are broken for this family and we are all in shock.  Prayers are still VERY MUCH needed--please keep praying!  We know God can provide a miracle of healing, but we also know that no matter what, He can provide the only true comfort and peace that this sweet family needs so much right now.

Being in church today was hard.  It was hard, and beautiful and real and there is no other place I would rather have been.  I teach Kalei's son in children's church.  He's a wonderful kid, full of energy, creative and has a super kind heart--a lot like his momma really.  As we were sitting on the floor writing/drawing all the things we had to be thankful for, he was so involved in the activity--telling me about all of his favorite toys, his favorite trips and his family.  My heart was screaming on the inside, all these thoughts running though my head-- how this sweet kid has no idea that his momma is fighting for her life--why does this have to happen? What is he going to be like next week if the unthinkable happens?  How is all of this gonna change this innocent little boy?   

And then I breathe.  

I know God is in control.  I don't understand.  I probably never will.  But that's okay.  Because God has a plan,  and it's for GOOD--not to harm us.  

So I breathe.  and I love this kid the best i can and i teach him our verse for today, try to ingrain it in his mind--"to be thankful in ALL circumstances, for this is God's will for you, in Christ Jesus".  I've never felt that i'm preparing/arming a child for life more than i was in those minutes.  and i don't think a child's lesson has ever taught me what it taught me today. 

and then I went to our adult church service where we sang Remain during worship.  We came to the chorus, and I look around completely moved by the emotion in the room. I've said before that i've not ever been a part of a church like this.  When we first started attending here, i was constantly in awe of the real worship in the room, the way people seemed to be moved by their love for Jesus.  Today that all came back and strong.  Everyone knows Kalei--she's been a part of this church for years, she's a rock in our body of believers and we love her--i mean we really LOVE her.  We'd just finished taking time to pray for her as a church body and we are singing Remain and the voices are strong, people's hands are lifted up to our Lord-- in a time where you'd think we'd be broken we were praising God, reaching to Him, not just singing the lyrics but MEANING them...

"When troubles come my way, 
You guide and You sustain, 
lead me, I pray. 
Forever You will be
 the great eternal King, 
Now and always.

You are God with us
You're victorious
You are strong and mighty to save
For Your word stands true 
There is none like You
And when all else fades
You remain

Like I said.  It was beautiful.  Raw and painful.  But beautiful...and real.  

So now i sit here at home, humbled by everything I have-- my sweet husband beside me and my 2 perfect children tucked in bed, our room glowing by the newly decorated Christmas tree-- and I try to make some sense of this day, of what's happening to our dear friends, of the helplessness i feel.  and when i can't make sense of it--i do the only thing i can and turn to the Lord. 

Saturday, November 26, 2011

*Immediate Prayers Needed*

A friend of ours is currently fighting for her life in the ICU.  Just a few weeks ago, directly after giving birth to her daughter, Kalei, wife and mother to two has been diagnosed with a rare lung cancer.  She and her husband are currently on the mainland seeking advice and treatment.  In the past 24 hrs she has had an emergency surgery and is now in fighting for her life.   

I know I have many wonderful readers out there that are believers in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and I ask that you take time today, NOW, to pray for this precious family.  The next 24 hrs are critical.   
 
 Big Brother with his new little sister

Monday, October 31, 2011

Autumn Fest

Saturday night church had their annual Autumn Fest. It had an 80's theme this year so Hillary and I rocked that while the kids wore their originally planned costumes. We had a fun time playing games and visiting with our friends, but the highlight of the evening for the kids was definitely the bouncy house with Mike.


Pebbles and Bam Bammy sweet famwhat?sweet pebbles Hill and Fireman Jack



getting some love

Nora was very very interested in the tattoo booth


so we got her one too



and then Holden got a "Dino" tattoo




the bouncy house








Steve Chan in the dunkin' booth...pretty great! made in the 80's




me and my friend Rina

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Church Camp: Day 3

Sunday morning we had to get up early and pack up to get to church. They have a service at camp too but I had to be back to run the children's program. So, I packed up myself and the kids and went to church while Mike was the saint husband that he always is and packed up everything else. We sure do love him! In hindsight we wish we would have gotten a permit to stay a bit longer since we didn't have anywhere to be this week--but that's okay. This weekend was an awesome time and now we know the twins can handle it we are already planning our next trip!


Good Morning Beautiful Hawaii.
our tent/house

our church camp

the inside: front room


our "bedroom"--the kids are on the other side of that divider to the left

just look how good they slept!



my sweet sweet family


Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Church Camp: Day 2

Our first night of sleep was not too great. Well the boys slept well...Nora was restless and noisy and whined throughout most of the night, which kept me up. I think she was a bit uncomfortable with the heat and humidity, once i pulled out the fan and got it going in her room she quieted down...that was at like 4:30 am...so Momma got pretty much NO sleep.

The rest of the day was super fun--full of good friends, games, relaxing, the beach and a nice 3 hour nap for the babies amidst all the noise from the other campers. Camping really wears them out!


Good Morning Little Ones Walking to breakfast


loving the wagon

just look at Nora working hard!

pushing her brother

Checking out the new golf game!

Daddy giving lessons








Horseshoes with the big boys





playing in the raft



portuguese horseshoes was the game of the weekend.

mike and i are addicted, we are thinking of making our own boxes!

Beach Time!




oh no baby! Bad Daddy!

saving her baby








a crab!

bath time
tune in tomorrow for the end of our camping trip!