Big Bear Vacation 2012

 We missed our trip to the mountains
last year so we were very excited to
go again this year.  The boys love the
mountains.

 It has been hot lately so there wasn't
much snow.   Luckily right behind our
cabin was a small patch of snow that
hadn't melted yet. But is was so icy
that Luke fell the first night and scraped
his face.

 The boys were outside immediately.

 They even found a snow man that
hadn't melted yet.

 Keith and Jessica came up
a little later on Wed night
and the kids were so excited
to have their cousins stay
with us all week.

On Thursday we took a walk
to the lake.

 The scenery was gorgeous!

I love seeing the water with

snowy mountains in the

background.

                                    

 Keith and Jessica

 Luke was tired and kept

asking Tommy and me to

carry him.  How can you

say no to that face?

 we even found a little snow

on our walk.

 The boys had to put their feet

in the freezing water.

 Family

 At our place, the kids played
with weeples.

 We ate a ton of food and of
course ice cream.

 We stopped at the Discovery

Center.

 On Friday we went and found

a place to tube.  There wasn't much,

but we were determined!

 They went down however they

could because it was so

slippery.

 This picture cracks me up

because if you look closely

there are 3 people on the tube

even though you only see

2!

We played some tennis on

Saturday.  I should say we

"attempted" to play.

 It was a fun and relaxing

weekend with the family.

We played lot of board

games, enjoyed the outdoors,

ate too much food and

watched some movies.

 We made memories that we

won't forget.  Life can get

really busy sometimes so

I savor those moments away

from our hectic schedule.

God is in Control

God is in control. . .

of ALL things,

at ALL times,

in ALL circumstances,

with ALL authority!

I need this truth to be my focus
as I just found out news of yet
another heartbreaking story!
My friend's 2-yr-old son has
had severe reflex since being
born, and today after testing
and an MRI they found a tumor
on his brain. Please pray for
a miracle for little Garrison.

This makes me angry, upset, sad,
frustrated, UNTIL I get my focus
back on Jesus.  HE is the HOPE in
our lives.  HE is the ANSWER to
our fears.  HE is the LORD and
SAVIOR of the world.  HE is in
CONTROL. 

I also know that the same power
we read about in the Bible for healing
and life is available now.  God can
HEAL and HE does heal.  I am
praying believing this and will trust
in God's perfect will. 


“For with God nothing will be
impossible.” (Luke 1:37)




"But He said, “The things which are
impossible with men are possible
with God.” (Luke 18:27)


“Now to Him who is able to do
exceedingly abundantly above
all that we ask or think, according
to the power that works in us.”
(Ephesians 3:20)

Family Time

We keep a pretty busy schedule

around here, probably like many

other families in America.

I do travel quite a bit, so

I try to do as many family

activities as I can.

I finally downloaded pictures

from my phone, so I just thought

I'd share some of our latest

adventures.

For Valentine's Day, I took the

boys to donuts for a treat before

taking them to their Tuesday classes.

 After a clinic I had a couple weeks
ago, we decided it was a good night
to go out to dinner.  I am so happy
to be at the stage where we can go
as a family and enjoy eachother.
When they were little and couldn't
sit still, I thought this day would never
come!

 Last month we took the boys
to see Phineas and Ferb at
a local arena.

 In January, the Wounded Warriors
Amputee Softball Team played in
Mission Viejo the weekend after
we played against them in Florida.
I took my boys out before their
game started so my boys could
meet these amazing men!

 We decided to let Jake lead
us in a Bible teaching on Daniel 1
last month.  He loved speaking
and I am amazed at his knowledge
for his age and how comfortable
he is talking in front of people!

 We also had "Uncle Bob" in
town for work last month and
he treated the family to lunch
and games at John's Incredible
Pizza.  The boys loved it!

 Who wins this many tickets?

 Prizes are always fun.  Uncle Bob
was so great with the boys.

 Back in December we went to
the Discovery Science Center
for a field trip with my friend,
Kristi, and her kids and we
brought Micah, my nephew,
along with us too.

 We also went ice skating as a
family in Temecula over Christmas
break.

 On New Year's Eve we took
the boys to Toy Story on ICE.
Lots of memories this year!

 Even while I work, my boys can
play.  I took them with me to
Jennie Finch Softball Camp in
Mission Viejo last month and
the boys played in the sand with
Jennie's son, Ace, and my friend
Toni's son, Easton for 2 straight
days.

 I also took Jake and Drew with
me to San Diego for an afternoon
at Athletes in Action Camp to
see college athletes learing more
about God.

 I love nights where we don't
have anything planned.  We went
to get some ice cream after
dinner.  Making more memories :)

 My boys can fight a lot, but
they also are so cute together
sometimes.  Drew prayed in
the car for Luke before we went
in to get Luke's shots last week.
He also told him he would hold
his hand while he got the shots.
Luke was tough and only had
a few tears.

 Last but not least for this post:
Homeschool project this past
week:
Oreo Moon Phases
Drew has been learning
about the Solar System
and this was a fun and
easy project that we
did. 

I am thankful that my time with my
family is first and foremost.  I love
getting to travel and speak, teach
softball, and meet others.  God has
blessed me beyond my wildest
dreams!  I love my family.

Grover

Grover has been a great
addition to our family!
The kids LOVE this
dog, especially Drew.

 He gets a lot of love around
here.  But then again, we all
like to cuddle and hug a lot
in this house.

 He makes himself very, very
comfortable. :)

 The boys think he's a big
stuffed animal. . .

and sometimes he plays
along with their games.

 I think he's just happy
we rescued him and he
has a family that loves
him. 

Weekend in Florida

Last weekend Tommy and I flew to

Florida.  I was the first trip we

have taken alone in the past 2 /12

years.  It was fun to fly with somebody

for a change.

 When we arrived on Friday night,
we were picked up by Don Dedonatis,
Laurie, and Wendy with USSSA.
We went straight to the Orlando
Magic Game and were treated
like royalty!  We had seats on
the floor and had a delicious
meal before the game, with
food during the game and dessert
at half time!

 We were up so close.  It was
the best way ever to watch an
NBA game.  These guys are
incredible!

 Tommy ordered spicy tuna
rolls.  Amazing food and front
row seats- what more could
a guy want?

 Half-time dessert: build your own
sundaes and cupcakes!

 On Saturday we toured the
area and the USSSA Offices.
They have a ton of sports
paraphernalia- and this is a
life size hand print of Dwight
Howard: aka Superman.
(Orlando Magic)

 We stayed in a house that was
fully furnished.  We relaxed on
this trip and were able to enjoy
the quiet of being alone.  We
both read a lot and slept in on
Sat and Sun.

 We flew back home on Sunday
night.  Besides eating way too
much food, we had a great
weekend in Florida.  Huge
thanks to USSSA Pride!

Prayer is Needed

I believe in the power of prayer.

I know how much prayer is needed.

At times I get complacent  in my
prayer life.  But God is showing
me to be diligent and to pray
without ceasing!

God loves us and when we pray,
we draw closer to Him and it
helps us to refocus and remember
that He is truly in control of ALL
things. 

I am asking others to pray for
some requests because the
more people that are praying,
the better!

1. Susie- in surgery right now
to remove a brain tumor.  She is
also pregnant and is in her second
trimester.  Here is their website:
http://www.benandsusiethomas.com/
Pray for tumor to be completely
removed and for God's hand to
be over this entire situation.

2.  Lennie- He had a heart
transplant last Thursday. Pray
for complete healing & for no
infection!

3.  Hunter- 14 yrs. old
and recently was diagnosed with
a brain tumor.  Pray for a miracle-
complete healing.

4.  Kim- he has protrate
cancer and we are praying for
complete healing and for the
treatment to work.

5.  My mother-in-law- she
 has been having problems in
her neck, arm, and hand.  Pray
for the doctors to find out the
cause of the pain and for the
pain to go away and complete
healing.

6.  Nicole- she is having surgery
in a couple weeks and is in a
lot of pain.  Pray for healing
and pain to subside.

7.  Twin babies- born last week
at 2 lbs each.  Pray that God would
strengthen their little bodies and
allow them to live out His plan for
their lives.

Thank you for joining me in
prayer!  There is truly NOTHING
more powerful that we can do.

Here are some verses to
encourage us that God hears
and answers prayer!


Matthew 7:7 ”Ask, and it will
be given to you seek, and you
will  find; knock, and it will be
opened to you."


Matthew 21:22 "And whatever
you ask in prayer, you will
receive, if you have faith.”

Mark 9:29 "And he said to
them, “This kind cannot be
driven out by anything but
prayer.”

Mark 11:24 "Therefore I
tell you, whatever you ask
in prayer, believe that you
have received it, and it will
be yours."


John 14:13-14 "Whatever
you ask in my name, this I
will do, that the Father may
be glorified in the Son. If
you ask me anything in my
name, I will do it"