New Year's Eve 2011

Tonight we joined 50 of our friends from church at the Gillen Home to ring in the new year. Of course since this was a family event, we counted down on the Eastern time (9pm on West Coast). The kids had a blast playing outside and running around while the adults enjoyed some great conversation and lots of laughter. There was even some spontaneous singing involved. All in all, it was a great way to end 2011!

Nathan!

Jason!

Melissa & Dan

Betsy Wilson & Melissa

Luke Wilson & Nathan

John Wilson & Jason

Happy 2011, you were an amazing year and Happy 2012, for the blessings that are yet to come!

"See You Later!"

Instead of goodbye, Julie and I have said "see you later". Who knows when that later will be, but I am prayerful that it won't be too long.

This morning we headed out bright and early for our last walk in California. Julie and I have been walking together for several years. It used to be as we pushed heavy strollers with young children and then it was as the children rode scooters or bikes. Eventually the kids were in school and we were able to do it alone. No matter how we did it, it was a special time.

Julie is my accountability partner- she asks hard questions and really makes me examine the choices I am making and whether they are honoring to God and my commitment to Him. I can do the same for her and it only grows us closer to each other as well as to Jesus. I will miss doing this face to face, but am thankful for the phone and Skype that will keep us close as the miles keep us apart.

After our final walk we headed to Lowe's to get the last few boxes they would need to finish packing up their home. There have been so many tears shed, but today we could say goodbye with smiles and the hope of our next meeting.

I love you dear friend, I love your family and will miss your physical presence here in California. Georgia is a lucky state to get you!!

A Walk With Friends

Today we were able to walk with our dear friends, The Kruseiwicz Family. It has been 4 months since we had seen each other last (we used to see each other weekly) and it was a special reunion!

Christina and I have known each other for over 10 years now, we were married with in 2 months of each other and we both have two sons each who are the same age. When we get together it is lots of fun and craziness. Add to the mix, two energetic dogs and it is chaos!!

Joshua and Nathan

Samuel & Jason

Chloe & Finnegan saying "hello"

Christina lives in Lake Forest and right behind her home is a wooded area and path. It is a great place for boys to explore, create traps, tell stories and have adventures. It is also a great place for two friends to catch up and for two dogs to run free and wild! Everyone wins!

Here is to good friends!!

Side Note: It was a year ago today that I had Lasik done on my eyes- what an amazing year of good vision and thankfulness for modern medicine and technology!!

It's hard to say Goodbye

3 months ago my world was rocked when my best friend told me she and her family would be moving. Now, she didn't know when or where- just that God had called them (like Abraham in the Old Testament) to leave their home and go to the place He would lead them.

Well, they are leaving now- in fact, in 8 days they will be getting in their car and saying goodbye to California (for now). They are headed to Savannah, Georgia. Her husband Rob was offered a wonderful job at Savannah Christian Church and will begin on January 3rd.

Today after a wonderful sermon and baptisms, we had a send off lunch for the wonderful Conatser/Gibson family. There were tons of tears, happy memories, testimonies of changed lives, laughter and great Mexican food.

I know that I wouldn't have had so many tears of sadness if there wasn't so much love for the people who are leaving. You can't have deep sorrow without profound joy and love- I think it is worth it all!!

Melissa, Emma and Julie

Jason and Emma

Nathan & Ethan

Beverly & Melissa-

July 17th Birthday Sisters

You will be missed dear Julie and family, but never forgotten!! Oh yeah- expect lots of calls, texts, emails, Skype conversations and visits in the near future!!

Friends are Friends Forever!!

A dear friend from church moved to England over 2 years ago and is in town for a visit with her family. Our girl's night has been on the calendar for months and it finally came!

We met Sharon at On The Border (just don't get good Mexican for a good price in Great Britain). We stuffed ourselves on chips, salsa, tortillas and tortilla soup! We laughed, shared and had just a grand time.

Julie & Betsy

After dinner we walked over to Old Navy for some retail therapy and then headed to Dairy Queen for our traditional Blizzard. It was a fun night to say the least!!

Sharon & Julie- shop, shop, shop!!

Dairy Queen-
love the bright light!

An Angel is Born

Today at 2:09pm an angel arrived in Orange County. Livianne Eloise Poissonnier was born to proud parents, Tricia and Arno. She joins big sisters- Claire (8), Maddie (6) and Elise (2). She is a beautiful baby and a blessing to her family!!

Welcome little girl!!

While Livianne was being born, we had the privilege of hanging out with the big girls! Every time the phone would ring they asked if it was their mom and if she had had the baby yet!! It was great!! Elise summed it up with, "I so happy."

Claire, Maddie & Elise

Girl's Getaway

Melissa, Tracy, Tricia (and baby) Jen and Janice

I had the great privilege of going away with some of my dear friends to Palm Springs. In honor of Tricia's 4th baby (which is due in a few weeks) we took her on a little getaway in lieu of a baby shower.

We headed out early Saturday morning (with Starbucks in our bellies) and headed to the desert. First we stopped by the Desert Hills Outlet stores. Lots of great deals were found and unexpected treasures.
After shopping we headed to our oasis- The Viceroy. This is a place that screams Hollywood in the 50's. We had a grand time and felt really special to be there together and in such a unique environment. Check out the pictures below to get a taste of The Viceroy:

After we checked in and enjoyed the coolness of our room (and each other's company) we got ready and walked to the strip (a block away) to find a place to eat. The original joint was packed and had a 2 hour wait- NOT. So we ended up at a Mediterranean Cafe that was good, but our desserts at the hotel that night were even better.

Melissa and Sonny Bono

On Sunday we woke up and set up our stuff on the chase lounges by the pool. We then proceeded to have an amazing breakfast poolside. Below is the special omelet (spinach, asparagus, red onions, cheese) that a few of us had. We were stuffed, but knew it would be our main meal of the day.

Pool fun!
Look at this hot mama- 37 weeks!!

Sleep Over Fun!!

We had our "girls" over for a sleep over last night. It turned out that Ryan wanted to come home to give his girlfriend a Valentine's present- needless to say, our house was FULL!! After a late night of movies and goodies- we all crashed!!
Saturday saw us at Lowe's for "Build and Grow". This week's project was a heart music box for Valentine's day- so cute. After Lowe's we headed to Sweet Shade Park and spent two hours playing- what a fun and beautiful day!!

Maddie

Jason

Elise

Nathan

Claire & Jason