30 Word Thursday...On Friday: Family

Last summer we spent a week at my folks' lake house.   I find I am missing my family so much today, and wanted to share kiddo pictures with you. Enjoy!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The premise of 30 Word Thursday is simple... take a photo, write 30 words (no more, no less) and post it each Thursday.  This is a blog hop hosted by Erin Prais-Hintz over on her blog Treasures Found, pop on over there to see her post for this week as well as links to the 30 Words from everyone else.

** Photo credit goes to Lori Moore of Lori Moore Photography (my fabulously talented sister-in-law). Her site is amazing, and you should go and check it out!

Vacation Recap

Shawn and I went out of town for a week together and just got back. This trip was so much fun! We went to Spokane to visit my family for a few days and then to Seattle where we used to live but haven't been back to for 16 years. I took some pictures that I wanted to share:

This photo is of my sister Jen, my mom, me and my sister Suzanne at lunch

We spent time with my parents, my niece and nephews, my sisters Jen and Suzanne, my brothers-in-law Scotty and Mark, and my brother Kyle.  After not seeing most of them for three years, I was reminded how important family is in my life.  I promise that it won't be this long before we get back to see them all again.

The rest of the pictures are from the Seattle area (I'm not sure why I didn't take more in Spokane - I was probably having too much fun!):

Chimicum Farmstand where they had beautiful veggies:

Pike Place Market:

 

The very first Starbucks

Gorgeous leaves

Ferry on the Sound

 On our way to the airport, we drove around the University District near my alma mater, the University of Washington, and took a couple of pictures:

My sorority

Our first apartment (the top floor) near the arboretum - it's bigger than it looks! 

There were so many other places we went, but I didn't take pictures, darn it!  I already miss the crisp air, the beautiful leaves and the smell of the ocean. 

We had a fantastic time, and I am certain we will end up back in the Pacific Northwest at some point in the next few years.

Fostering a Family...

I want to thank Lana Manis of Honeysuckle Lane for allowing me to share our family's story about how being a foster family to our foster son, Josh, over the past two years has changed and shaped our lives.  If you get a chance, please hop on over there to check it out. 

There are so many children like Josh in need of safe, loving homes, and being a foster family is a fantastic way to provide just that to the thousands of kids in every city who need them.

Our family would also like to take this chance to wish you and your families a Very Merry Christmas and the Happiest New Year!

Love,

Shawn, Molly, Zach and Josh

Some Perspective...

With two teenagers in our household, life can get pretty crazy.  I try to keep perspective, but it is way too easy to slip on blinders, concentrating on the small, moment-to-moment details, getting caught up in them to the point where I lose the forest through the trees.  So I sat down this morning to regain that big picture view of my life by taking inventory of the the things that are truly important to me:

I have a husband who is an amazing, Godly man with a heart that overlooks my flaws, endures my quirks, and just plain loves me.  No judgment, asking for nothing to earn it - just love.  We laugh at ourselves (and, on occasion, at each other), and we cry when we need to.  He is my greatest champion.

Every day my boys continue to grow into wonderful young men, despite being faced with so many more challenges than I ever had to deal with at their age.  Some choices are easier to make than others, but, somehow, they continue to make their own way.  I am a proud mama; they give me reason to smile every day.

I am so thankful for my church family.  They are an amazing group of people, and I know that whatever I need, they are there for me.  I love that they give me the chance to give back by sharing my time, talents and treasures with them.  Our church is growing like crazy, and it is humbling to see the hand of God working in amazing and miraculous ways; I am blessed to be a part of it.

Above all else, I am overwhelmingly grateful for God and what He is doing in my life.  I love that He sees me through His eyes and not my own.  I am His child, and He is my Father who loves me and wants His best for me in all that I do.  I thank Him for the gifts He has given me, and for the opportunity to share them with others.  He grows and stretches me every day through opportunities and challenges, and every time I come out stronger, filled with a peace and joy only He can give.

So, although the day-to-day details are not going to go away, I know - truly know - what is important to me. 

And really...I couldn't ask for anything more.

Summer In Northern Idaho...

Hello!  We just got back on Sunday from our family vacation to my folks' lake place at Priest Lake, ID.  What a beautiful place!  The lake is just shy of the Canada border in Idaho, is glacier-cut and is really deep.  The weather was amazing (definitely better than the 110 degrees plus of Arizona), and everything was so green.  I thought I'd share some pictures with you all:

My three boys tubing - Shawn looks terrified, doesn't he?

The boys and their girlfriends

Beautiful sunset

The dock

Tons of wildflowers - these are clover

Love the texture in this leaf

Wild roses

Wild daisies (my favorites) EVERYWHERE!

Not a huge fan of spiders, but this one was beautiful

A view of our dock from the neighbor's lot

I love the graphic quality of this petal-less rose

MORE daisies

Mom's gorgeous pots

That's it for now.  :-)

Ahhh...Arizona In the Spring

Here's a quick glimpse at the riot of color in my backyard right now:


It won't look like this in a couple of months, but I will enjoy it while it lasts!

I Am Officially the Mom Of A Teen Driver...

Yesterday is a day that I have equally dreaded and looked forward to:  Zach's 16th birthday.  I couldn't be prouder to be this wonderful child's mother, I assure you, but the thought of him driving by himself or with anyone else who isn't me is a bit scary, I'll admit.

Whether i am ready for it or not, he did pass his driving test and can now drive himself to the endless number of band rehearsals, lacrosse practices and movies with his (terrific) girlfriend.

So I will accept this fact with pride AND (lots of) prayer:  my baby is driving...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ZACH!  I love you and couldn't be prouder of you!

Quite Possibly One Of The Funniest Posts I've Ever Read...

Our Little Garbage Disposal, Bronco Dog

My dear friend Jan at The Polkadot Barn is so amzingly funny & entertaining - I love reading her blog posts & look forward to them with much antcipation.  Today's post, however, tops them all for me on the laughter scale.  If you are in need of a good laugh, pop on over to her blog & read her post entitled, 'One Small Dog + 7 oz of Chocolate =".

Have a great evening!

:-)

Happy Birthday Z...

I can't believe that it has been 15 years! I am so incredibly blessed to have you in my life, Zach, and I want you to know how proud I am of the young man you have become. Your character speaks for itself, and I can't wait to see what God has in store for you! I love you so very much!

.

Find Your Wings

It's only for a moment you are mine to hold
The plans that heaven has for you
Will all too soon unfold
So many different prayers I'll pray
For all that you might do
But most of all I'll want to know
You're walking in the truth
And If I never told you
I want you to know
As I watch you grow

I pray that God would fill your heart with dreams
And that faith gives you the courage
To dare to do great things
I'm here for you whatever this life brings
So let my love give you roots
And help you find your wings

May passion be the wind
That leads you through your days
And may conviction keep you strong
Guide you on your way
May there be many moments
That make your life so sweet
Oh, but more than memories

I pray that God would fill your heart with dreams
And that faith gives you the courage
To dare to do great things
I'm here for you whatever this life brings
So let my love give you roots
And help you find your wings

It's not living if you don't reach for the sky
I'll have tears as you take off
But I'll cheer as you fly

I pray that God would fill your heart with dreams
And that faith gives you the courage
To dare to do great things
I'm here for you whatever this life brings
So let my love give you roots
And help you find your wings

- Mark Harris, "Find Your Wings"