San Francisco!

So, as many of you already know, Dae-Sung and I got away for our second honeymoon! Well, not officially, but it was the FIRST time we have taken a vacation without the kiddos since Caleb was born. We had a FABULOUS time! DS had to fly up for work on Sunday, and I flew in Monday night. The first night I got into town, we went out to this quaint Italian restaurant, and spent over two hours eating and talking. Now, one without kids might ask why this is such a big deal. But, those of you out there with little kids totally get my excitement over a dinner with no spilled juice, no food dropped on the floor, no whining, no crying, etc. etc. The next morning we hit the town early and went exploring. We decided to go on a cruise around the bay, which was absolutely fabulous. DS had class in the afternoon, so I took it easy, worked out at the hotel, and just relaxed. It was during this time that I asked myself what I possibly did before I had kids! That night we went out to a crab house and enjoyed another lengthy dinner...and laughed at the couple next to us trying to contain their children. We also treated ourselves to a WONDERFUL dessert at Ghiradelli that night. The next day, DS went to class in the morning, so we bolted out of town to Sonoma in the afternoon. Everyone kept telling us to check out this one winery...Ferrari Carano. This was worth the drive! This literally took me back to Italy, with rolling hills covered in green grape vinyards and tall cypress trees. The winery itself was the most beautiful place I think I have ever been! Even if you don't drink wine, this is a place to see! The grass was so green and the flowers so colorful, that it just made you want to sit and soak it up all day long! It truly was a little piece of heaven on earth. Then, we headed into a little town and ate a once again, wonderful, non-interrupted dinner...and dessert...and then drove back into the city.

The next day I had to get up to head home again, but I was chomping at the bit to see my kids! I missed them so much...and although the "couple" life was absolutely fabulous for three days, I cannot imagine my life without them. They are my sunshine in my dark days. I missed their smiles and their laughs. I missed giving them hugs and kisses, especially in the morning and at night. To make matters worse, Abby was really sick while we were gone...so I especially couldn't wait to hold her in my arms and kiss on her. I thank God for my wonderful parents who were so kind as to take in my children and love on them the same way I would. I knew that they would be well taken care of, and it allowed me to relax and have a good time. Thank you mom and dad for giving this wonderful gift to me. You have no idea what it means to me!!!!

My New Job!

Okay, so it is not necessarily a paying job as of yet...but let me just say that God is good, He knows what He is doing. So, remember back when I was so upset that I didn't get those preschool teaching positions? I was so perplexed as to why I was turned down for both jobs. I also applied for many positions that I was qualified for, and yet, never got called. It was as if the door kept shutting. I knew God had other plans for me, but I just didn't understand what or when (and I kept praying that it wasn't another baby!). At the same time as my job let-downs, we decided to leave the church that we call home to help start another church plant. We really felt called to go. That is still a hard decision. We meet in homes on a weekly basis for our life groups, but we are not meeting yet on Sunday mornings...so we still go to Central Christian for Sunday mornings. It is making it emotionally difficult to make a clean break. ;)

With all of that being said, one night at our life group, the children's pastor, Larry, heard me talking about how I wanted a job, and I would probably go back to full-time teaching next year. He asked me why I wanted a job, and I told him for myself, and the extra money would be nice. He then proceeded to ask me if I had any interest in working in Children's Ministry. Children's ministry has always been on my "list" of one of the many jobs I would like to hold one day, so I told him YES! Well, nothing really happened for a couple of weeks, but the last two weeks I have been swamped in work! I am at the point now, where I am literally laying out and planning curriculum for the preschool and elementary ages. I LOVE IT! Anyone who knows me knows that this is my passion--curriculum development. I get excited just when anyone mentions curriculum! I really do feel that this is what God had set aside for me. I don't know when I will officially be "on staff" and at this point, I am not really seeking monetary value...but something different--a value that goes way beyond money.

The really weird thing is the way that God works...I don't know why I have moments lacking in faith, but I guess, I am human. A few years ago, we were in Portland for Dae-Sung's job. I got very involved in the church there, and was asked to help with being a lead teacher over the nursery. There, I decided I really wanted to go into children's ministry and applied to a seminary school here in Phoenix. I got nervous about going to seminary school, and the cost, so instead I decided to take classes towards nursing. A few months after that, I applied for a job in Children's ministry at Central Christian...but I chickened out at the last minute because it meant that Caleb, who was only 18 months at the time, would be in childcare. Ever since then, it has been on my mind that I wanted to work in children's ministry, but I never dreamed it would be here and now. It is truly amazing the way that God has brought me to this point. I don't know what the future holds, and maybe I never will go on staff, and God is just using me right now...but maybe I will. I think he has been pushing me in this direction for a long time, and I have found ways to skirt around it, but not this time.

Too sweet...

My son and I had a moment this week. Actually, we have lots of moments...some good, some not so good...but this one was beyond good--it was a moment to remember. I put Abby in bed early because she was so cranky, and Caleb and I were eating our dinner together before Daddy came home from work. He put his arm around me and told me he loved me. I did the same. Then he laid his head on my arm and said "Your my best mommy ever". I laughed and told him I am his only mommy ever! Then he squeezed me again, and he said, "Mommy I pray for you everyday." This melted my heart! I am sure he doesn't actually do that...but the fact that he thought about me in that way, and that he is understanding that we give special care to the special people in our lives.

He really has been a different child lately, and I don't know if it is because he is off of his asthma medicine, or if he is just finally getting it. We started a gummy bear jar (thanks to Stephanie for donating us the jar before she left--full of gummy bears!). We put a gummy bear in for things such as saying thank you and please, or brushing his teeth, getting dressed, taking baths, etc. etc. The things that have always been so hard to get him to do unless he really wanted to. Needless to say, we take a gummy bear out for rude behavior, disobedience, or a lack of respect. He then has to "earn" the gummy bears to get a new toy. I love it! He sees something he wants, and he works so hard to get it. It is funny when he really wants something new...he says please and thank you for everything, just hoping that will be the time that I reward a gummy bear. I am so happy that he is finally at an age that we can work these things out together, instead of just constant time outs and spankings. That was getting so frustrating...I am sure in a few months, the newness of this will wear off, and we will have to do something different...but whatever, it works for now!

Thank you God for my sweet sweet boy! May you bless him with a long healthy life!

End of Summer!

Well, I guess Labor Day is suppose to mark the end of summer. However, for us here in the southwest, I think summer is going to be around for at least another month if not another 2 months. It seems each year, October stays hotter for longer. Anyway, we had a blast yesterday celebrating the supposed end of summer. We went to my parents house where my mom made these incredible Greek burgers...oh they were delicious. Our friends Robbie and Alisen came over with their kids and we all had fun swimming. Abby seemed to have a little cold, but it didn't really stop her. She started playing outside for awhile and every time I would ask her if she was ready to go inside, she would shake her head "no". This is now her new thing...if we ask her if she wants to go night-night, she shakes her head "no" and runs away. Just like her brother!

Shall we say Tomboy?

So, I hate to admit it...but I think I might have a tomboy on my hands! I dress my little girl in pink and put bows in her hair (what hair she has)...and put on cute shoes...BUT...truth of the matter is that she loves everything Caleb. She LOVES cars and trucks and most importantly, all of his tools. She is a climber! She climbs on EVERYTHING and tries to climb out of everything. This morning, she got into a fight with a marker, and the marker won (while I was checking my email of course)! But, I had to take pictures of her this morning because not only did she have marker all over her face, but she was playing "Nascar". See, we have this little car with wheels and it has a door on one side. She absolutely INSISTS on going into the car on the side that has no door. We joke around that she will be the next girl Nascar driver. I don't know how many times we have tried to teach her to go through the door...she wants to climb through the window. These are some pics of her this morning...as you can see, she climbs on everything and is into everything.
This morning was actually cloudy...so the kids got to play outside for once...even though it was like 95 outside already...but no sun means a little play time.