lazy summer mornings

I have been really bad about rounding up the family for fashion friday pictures.  It's not so much that we have been busy, it's just that I can't seem to get myself out of bed at a decent time in the mornings.  Lately, Lyla has been crawling into bed with us in the wee early hours and falling back asleep (thank you, Jesus!).  It is such a precious time.  She usually comes in with her eyes half open, kisses me on the cheek, and then cuddles up next to me.  If this is a bad habit, I just don't care! 



It has been hot, hot, hot this summer, so Lyla has been wearing a lot of dresses to stay cool.  She particularly loves long dresses and often protests that the dresses we get her are not long enough because they don't go down to the ground.  Sorry Lyla, but ankle-length maxi dresses are as close as we're going to get.  We're lucky they're in style right now.  This dress is from GAP and was purchased in the big girl section...hard to believe that lyla will be out of the toddler sizes and onto regular kid sizes soon.  This dress is a XS, which translates to a 4T/5T.  We're almost there!

And check out mr cool guy.  His shirt and shorts are from GAP and his sandals are from Zara.  He refuses to wear thong sandals that go between his toes, so we had to opt for the straps that go over the top of his foot.  Let me tell you, it's hard to find sandals in his size that aren't too girly looking.  Cody is all boy!

the best lyrics ever written

These lyrics are from a song called, "In Christ Alone" written by Keith Getty and Stuart Townsend.  This song has always spoken to my heart.  It is absolutely the perfect reflection of my love for Jesus put into song.  I couldn't have said it better myself.  You can watch a video and listen to the song performed here on youtube, but I listed the lyrics below so that you can focus on the words without the music.  The lyrics are so powerful and moving on their own. 

In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm

What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand

In Christ alone, who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless Babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save

Til on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again

And as He stands in victory
Sins curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life's first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny

No power of hell, no scheme of man
Could ever pluck me from His hand
Til He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I stand

"a star is born" baby shower

Some family friends of ours are expecting a baby at the end of August.  We helped to throw Bob and Yuelan a baby shower yesterday.  The host, Joan, combined the mommy-to-be's love for movies and the father-to-be's love for astronomy into a "star is born" themed baby shower.  Everything turned out wonderfully...especially the food!  Joan arranged quite the spread. 

the cute invitation.



the delicious food table.  this was the hang-out spot.  all night long you could hear the guests commenting on how good everything tasted.  oh, and check out the awesome diaper cake my sister and my mom made using the star theme.

family photo

guests with the expectant mommy.

grandpa glen trying to keep cody busy.  this was no easy task!  at one point in the evening he threw a gift into the spa.  oops!

trisha, me, steven, and joan (the hosts).  steven and joan always know how to entertain and yesterday's shower was a great success!

our baptism

Travis and I gave our lives to Jesus 7 years ago.  This past Sunday we finally made a public declaration of our love for Jesus by getting baptized.  To make an awesome moment even more amazing, we were baptized by Trav's brother and we were baptized together!  Nick is the executive pastor at our church, so he got to "dunk" us in the water.  The ceremony started with Pastor Nick introducing us and asking why we want to get baptized.  That brings up a good point.  Why get baptized?

First of all, the bible encourages baptism.  In Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus says "I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples from all nations. Baptize them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teach them to fulfill all that I have commanded you. I am with you always until the end of this world."

Secondly, it is a public declaration of the inward change that happened when we accepted Jesus as our saviour.  In 2nd Corinthians 5:17, it says, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."  We are a new creation in Christ.  That change actually happened 7 years ago when we prayed the prayer of salvation and we announced it in front of friends and family by getting baptized in water.

Thirdly, Jesus was baptized.  In Mark 1:9-11 it says, "It came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan.  And immediately, coming up from the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove.  Then a voice came from heaven, "You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

how about a little afternoon tea?

Afternoon Tea is this really adorable kids clothing line that is "globally inspired".  The design of their clothing is really cute and very good quality.  I would even dare to say maybe the highest quality kids clothes that I've found.  The colors don't fade after many washes and the material is thick and durable.  Here's Lyla modeling her new terrific tank top and ikat swing shorts that we ordered online.  They are on sale right now.  Check out the sale here.

4th of july BBQ - murrieta hot springs

The Calvary Chapel Conference Center hosted its first ever 4th of July BBQ.  It was a day of hot dogs, cotton candy, bounce houses, water slides, dunk tanks, live music, and even a pie-eating contest!  It was open to the public and there were about 1,500 people on our gorgeous 47 acre property.  It was awesome to see all of our staff come together to host this event.  The mayor of Murrieta and the Chief of Police were there to give their testimonies and share the gospel.  How amazing is that?  They are both Christians and have a huge heart for the community.  It was such a blessing to hear them speak.

We got to the conference center after naptime and jumped right into the fun.  Of course, Travis volunteered to get in the dunk tank.

I had to dunk him.  I even got to cut to the front of the line for this.

We got festive with my hair.  This 'do is a 1940's style called "victory rolls".  It was a little tricky to get the big curls just right, but it's a good thing I have a hairstylist available to me 24/7. 

My sweet little man enjoying the festivities.

He is pointing at Lyla in the bounce house.  Cody wasn't able to take part in all the activities like his big sis, but next year will be a different story.

Lyla did not hesitate to get right into her swimsuit to ride the water slide.

Then there was a pie-eating contest.  Travis stepped right up to participate.

...and Lyla helped eat the apple pie right off his face.

He did pretty good!  He did not place, but almost finished his pie.  He had apple pie in his nose for the rest of the night.

Lyla thought it looked like so much fun that she decided to try it out too.

4th of July love.

God bless America!  We love our country and enjoy any chance to celebrate this great nation.  I love this quote from George Washington: "It is impossible to govern the nation without God and the bible".  Well said by our first president!  I hope you all had a fantastic 4th of July.

purple, purple, everywhere

Yesterday was Cheryl's 58th birthday and we celebrated with a very purple party at our house.  Purple is Cheryl's favorite color.  In the days leading up to the party, the kids and I were on the hunt for anything purple.  Lyla kept pointing out purple things everywhere we went.  She was a very good party planning assistant.

Here's our dining table all decked out in purple hues.

Guests were encouraged to wear purple and some of them were very festive!  Check out Nick in his purple afro wig.

The birthday girl.  58 years young.

I was excited that the purple layer cake turned out!  I used pink and blue food dye mixed together in varying amounts to accomplish the ombre effect.  I was quite happy with the result. 

Happy birthday to the most amazingly selfless, sweet, sassy, and Godly woman I know.  We love you!