Diamondbacks Stomped

We were blessed to be given free tickets to sit in a nice, airconditioned box while watching the Diamondbacks play LA Dodgers. Others in the box were members of the Family Life Radio ministry and it was terribly exciting to be able to meet everyone present. We enjoy this radio ministry and had fun talking with the different people and learning what they do in this ministry. They served us a great dinner of - Ball Park Franks, ofcourse! Nothing beats a steaming hot Hot Dog with all the trimmings being eaten at the ball park!! Yum, yum!
Unfortunately, watching this game wasn't the highlight of the evening, since they were "spanked" hard by the Dodgers.
Since this was a birthday celebration for Greg, we also were able to book a room at a super nice hotel close to the park for a super duper great deal online, so we didn't have to drive back yesterday. It was good to get back home today, though, and get the kids back from Cherie and Doug (thank you both for the babysitting!), we really missed them.

McCain/Palin Ticket

WOW!!!! I am stunned and totally excited about the Republican ticket now!!!! I have lost faith in McCain over the years and have been truly concerned over many decisions he has made but this one is fabulous!! McCain, I am on board with you now! Gov Palin is a woman that is in the same place as the majority of American people today. I am hopeful there will finally be a real voice for Americans in Washington now!!

Lovin' Kids

Today was a work day for me at the office, so the kids were at their Aunt Cherie's all day. I sure do miss those little rascals when we aren't together. I am constantly amazed at how entrenched they have become in my heart, mind and soul. I can't even imagine life without them in it! What a blessing they are to Greg and I. My husband, Greg, said he went into each one of their rooms last night before coming to bed, just to make sure they were covered, and as he looked at their little faces, he was overcome with how precious they are and how special this gift we have been given by God is to him.

I, myself, have found the love I have for these sweet little angels has brought me closer to understanding the love our Heavenly Father has for us as well as the pain He must feel when we turn our backs on Him. Through the pain of disciplining them, I come closer to feeling the pain God must feel when he has to let us "learn from our mistakes" and "suffer the consequences of our actions" instead of bailing us out at every turn. Through the joy of spending time in conversation with them, I begin to understand how God loves it when we spend time just talking to Him in prayer. Through the love I have for my kids, I have come to find it unimaginable the pain God must have felt to see Jesus suffer and die for us. Through the preciousness of their innocence and their tender spirits, I have found the key to my relationship with Christ is to be equally trusting and devoted to Him. My kids would do anything for me, and I them. But Christ gave everything to be with me for eternity, how can I dare do any less for Him?

Wow, what a weekend!

My family and I have just returned from 5 days on the East Fork of the Black River in Alpine, AZ. It is so beautiful there this time of year with wildflowers blooming everywhere the eye can see and the fish just begging to be caught. The weather was so nice and cool, a much needed change of pace over the hot and humid days we have had in Tucson lately.
We try to get up to the river at least once a month during the summer months, but the August trip is made special by having most of our extended family on my husband's side there with us. It is such a special time to spend together getting to know one another and catching up on each other's lives. The kids all have a blast playing together and they are so much fun to watch. Makayla and her cousin, Ella, went around telling everyone they were twins. It was so cute!
Momma T was there and spent the time fussing over a 1000 piece puzzle I took along - it worked in frustrating most of us, but Momma T is such a trooper, she just kept plugging along! My sister-in-love, Cherie, was right there beside her and they both kept after it until it was done. It was a brand new puzzle and had two pieces missing! Like the puzzle wasn't hard enough already!
The guys had a great time fishing in the mornings, and thanks to their persistence, we were able to have a grand fish dinner on two nights. It was kind of pot luck style, with every family contributing a side dish. The only problem with this is, there are so many good cooks in the family I always tend to overeat! It is a good thing my neice, Becca, is getting into shape for a triathlon she is doing in October - she let me tag along with her on a couple of walks to keep the calories from piling up!
All in all, it was a great 5 days spent in what is certainly "God's Country"!