Emily's First Performance

Emily has been taking a performance class called 'Sunshine Generation'. They had their first performance at a retirement center. She really likes doing this sort of thing. It is a real joy watching her grow and change.

My Garden Project

Today I pretty much completed my garden project. I still may fence around it but for the most part I am done. I can't wait to have fresh vegetables. I have always enjoyed gardening and am glad that I took the time to build one this year. We planted strawberries, tomatoes, lettuce, spinach, 3 colors of bell peppers and basil. Now if I could just get rid of my gopher that has made his home in my back yard.

Arizona Trip

We visited Jim's mother, Lois at Carla's house last week and also went camping with Dave and Barb. Emily loves to play with her cousin Lindsey and I always enjoy visiting Chris and Carla. It was also great to see Lois. I miss living close to her. We all went to see the Avatar - in 3D. Great movie. I did a 10K race - the Nun run. Yup, Nuns running in full attire. We then drove to the middle of nowhere to go camping with Dave and Barb. They are always so much fun. They had about 10 campers just out in the middle of the desert. It was absolutely a perfect place, little patches of cacti, the lake and surrounded by mountains. We sang old songs by the campfire. On Sunday, we had our own church service while the played guitar and a drum that Dave had made. It was just fun! Emily had a blast and made some new friends.





We visited Jim's mother, Lois at Carla's house last week and also went camping with Dave and Barb. Emily loves to play with her cousin Lindsey and I always enjoy visiting Chris and Carla. It was also great to see Lois. I miss living close to her. We all went to see the Avatar - in 3D. Great movie. I did a 10K race - the Nun run. Yup, Nuns running in full attire. We then drove to the middle of nowhere to go camping with Dave and Barb. They are always so much fun. They had about 10 campers just out in the middle of the desert. It was absolutely a perfect place, little patches of cacti, the lake and surrounded by mountains. We sang old songs by the campfire. On Sunday, we had our own church service while the played guitar and a drum that Dave had made. It was just fun! Emily had a blast and made some new friends.

Mountain High Ski Trip

Emily and I did a one day trip to Mountain High. It took us a little over an hour to get there. Started skiing at 8:00, finished when they closed the lifts at 4:00. Home before dark. How cool is that? Emily stayed in ski school all day. She loves snowboarding. She worked on her toe edge and s-turns. She had the heal edge down. She has been trying to talk me into snowboarding and I keep telling her no way. But after watching the snowboarders all day, I thought about how much easier it was for me to wake board on the water than water skiing so next time...Emily says she will help me.

My First Trail Race

Here are a couple of pictures of my first trail race. I ran two of them because you got a really cool shirt if you ran two. This was the first one and it was pouring rain most of the time, very foggy and cold, but so much fun. It was so hard, I just knew I had won an award - not even close. I think it was 11 miles.


Here are a couple of pictures of my first trail race. I ran two of them because you got a really cool shirt if you ran two. This was the first one and it was pouring rain most of the time, very foggy and cold, but so much fun. It was so hard, I just knew I had won an award - not even close. I think it was 11 miles.

The Joy of Running

There are those times when you feel you can run forever. Today I promised myself I would quit running after 6 miles and walk because my lower body still feels like it has been beat up with a baseball bat after this weekend's trail race. I have a tendency to overdo things so I have to make these limits for myself. I am running in the area that I live, going up, up hills and taking turns I had not taken before and still running up. Actually, there are very few areas around here that are not hilly. I look at the spectacular country side, the mountains, the landscape, the rolling hills of beautiful trees and homes and I just feel so close to God. I feel like his spirit has lifted me up into his arms and is carrying me as I run. He must have big things for me because he has so truly blessed me. What a beautiful world he created for us. It just absolutely takes my breath away. I am so in awe of the loving, kind, glorious, gracious God that so loves us and gives us eternal life. Anyway, today was a great run. It is wonderful to have those moments. Here are a few pictures of the trail run and my pretty girl that went to church camp this weekend.

Big Bear - Snow Summit Ski Trip

Emily and I spent 2 ski days at Big Bear. It is one hour and 40 minutes from the house but the windy roads were very scary. I really wanted to look at the beautiful scenery as I was driving but did not dare unless we pulled over. We pulled over several times to let cars go around us because I was driving so slow (not my cup of tea). The weather was perfect and the cabin we rented was on Big Bear Lake. We walked 3/4 of a mile to dinner on the first night and then around the lake. Thursday we both took lessons - me skiing and Emily boarding. At first Emily struggled but by the end of the second lesson, she was happy and wanting to go another day. Friday she took a 2 hour private lesson and now she's an expert beginner as she calls herself and insists on me learning to snowboard the next time we go. Her Daddy would be so proud to see her snowboarding and having so much fun with it. I liked the fact that my toes weren't cold and I didn't even need a jacket. We had a really great time.

This is a picture we took on the way up the mountain.


This is from on top of one of the lifts with Big Bear Lake in the background.

Emily on the ski lift.


My camera was on a weird setting.

This is Emily and her instructor - CC.