3 down, 2 to go...vacations that is! Updated with Pictures!

So we're more than halfway done with our vacations this year with our honeymoon to Coronado in March and a weekend in Big Bear with my family in May.

This past week (Wed. - Sat.) we were in Palm Springs taking the last half of Matt's uncle's week long timeshare at the Westin Mission Hills Resort & Spa in Rancho Mirage. We basically just slept most of the time since both Matt and I were getting over colds the first two days. But on Thursday we did take the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway up to the top of Mt. San Jacinto. Edited to add...PICTURES! :)

The station at the bottom

One of the peaks on the way up

At the top! One of the best self-taken pictures we have :) (Ok, it was the 3rd try)

That shadow is our tram car! It fits 80 people!

We basically were between two walls of rock like this the entire time up.

Other than that we just relaxed and enjoyed the king size bed, AC, shower with three shower heads that was the size of our entire bathroom, a bathtub with jets, TWO sinks :)...it was hard to leave :) I think I'd rather live in that bathroom than our entire apartment at the moment...just cuz of the heat.

Thank you Uncle Alan, Aunt Candia, & Lauren for letting us stay and for all the yummy food you left us!

Next up...Mammoth on Friday!

Update

Just to let you know (because I had alot of concerned inquirires yesterday lol) I'm doing much better work-wise as of yesterday :) Thank you for caring and asking!

AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!

That's how I felt today.

Seems like I keep dropping the ball on alot things with work lately.

First it was with Rent-a-Kid, the fundraising program for our jr. high and high school students to raise money for summer camp. I'll just leave that one at that since rehashing it brings up feelings from BYIM.

Then it was the Senior Salute, with my usually organized mind pooping out on me on what time we had set it for so that different bulletins, flyers, and e-mails said different times. That caused me to have to make an executive, last minute decision to make it 6:00 which potentially caused some issues with the most important people involved...the seniors and their families. Thankfully it all came together and I'm happy to say that it was a great night!

Then YMO Summer Camp is struggling for students. I keep thinking we have great leads and they're not coming through. Now we have students that had registered dropping out!!! At this rate, it'll have to be God alone that brings us the people we need to make this thing happen. I just feel bad because I don't want to let Christele down while she's out of the country. I'm doing my best, but it's not good enough for myself. I'm constantly trying to think of what I haven't tried that's going to be THE thing that brings in the students we need.

And finally today, again, Rent-a-Kid fell through the cracks because of my mind being on all these other things! I don't know how many things can be my "top priority" (work wise) at the same time and still all get taken care of.

Zoro wants me to buy a Palm Pilot on the student ministry's budget, which could be helpful if I could get calendar and to-do list reminders on the go, plus check my e-mail. But do I want one more gadget? I'm on my computer 24/7 as it is. Part of me wants to say "I'm just unavailable before 9 am and after 6 pm for work related matters" but because I'm in ministry, I can't. Basically I'm available 24/7, that's right, Saturdays & Sundays as well, to take care of whatever needs to be done.

I love what I do...really. I just don't love having to do it ALL at the same time! So today, because I had a "day off" (I've probably done 2 hours work of work sporadically throughout the day with phone calls and e-mails that are urgent) I sat down and visualized (in a spreadsheet, one of my favorite things) a daily/weekly schedule and task list. Hopefully I can make keeping that accurate a priority so I'm reminded of the other priorities I have to take care of without feeling like either work or home is being neglected. And I even have 2-3 hours of free time scheduled in each day so I have a bumper.

*sigh* I just needed to vent. Thanks for reading :)

Reasons I have converted...#2

to a country music fan.

People are encouraged to think twice before letting hearts wander when married.

Well I got a good friend who's got a good life

He's got two pretty children and a real nice wife

But he never seems quite satisfied

I said I know what's on your mind

But you better think about it before you cross that line

The grass aint always greener on the other side

Then what, what you gonna do

When the new wears off and the old shines through

And it aint really love and it aint really lust

You aint anybody anyone's gonna trust

Then what, where you gonna turn

When you cant turn back for the bridges you burn

And fate can't wait to kick you in the butt

Then what

Clay Walker - Then What

Babies are seen as everyday miracles from God

Got my face pressed up against the nursery glass

She's sleepin' like a rock

My name on her wrist

Wearin' tiny pink socks

She's got my nose, she's got her mama's eyes

My brand new baby girl

She's a miracle

I saw God today

I've been to church

I've read the book

I know he's here

But I don't look

Near as often as I should

Yeah, I know I should

His fingerprints are everywhere

I just slowed down to stop and stare

Opened my eyes and man I swear

I saw God today

George Straight - I Saw God Today

Brad Paisley...'nuff said!!!

Reasons I have converted...(taken from a past Myspace blog)

to a country music fan

Paradise is sour milk and kids climbing into bed with you...simply because you're with you're wife

The kids screaming, phone ringing

Dog barking at the mailman bringing

That stack of bills - overdue

Good morning baby, how are you?

Got a half hour, quick shower

Take a drink of milk but the milk's gone sour

My funny face makes you laugh

Twist the top on and I put it back

There goes the washing machine

Baby, don't kick it. I promise I'll fix it

Long about a million other things
Friday, you're late

Guess we'll never make our dinner date

At the restaurant you start to cry

Baby, we'll just improvise

Well, plan B looks like

Dominoes' pizza in the candle light

Then we'll tippy toe to our room

Make a little love that's overdue

But somebody had a bad dream

Mama and daddy

Can me and my teddy

Come in to sleep in between?
Yeah it's ok. It's so nice.

It's just another day in paradise.

Well, there's no place that

I'd rather be

Well, it's two hearts

And one dream

I wouldn't trade it for anything

And I ask the Lord every night

For just another day in paradise

Phil Vassar - "Just Another Day in Paradise"

Dad's think Mom's are the heros

Football, soccer and ballet

Squeeze in Scouts and PTA

And there's that shopping list she left

That's seven pages long

How much smoke can one stove make

The kids won't eat my charcoal cake

It's more than any maid can take

Being Mr. Mom
Pampers melt in a Maytag dryer

Crayons go up one drawer higher

Rewind Barney for the eighteenth time

Breakfast, six naps at nine

There's bubble gum in the baby's hair

Sweet potatoes in my lazy chair

Been crazy all day long

Oh been crazy all day long and it's only Monday

Mr.Mom
Balancin' checkbooks, juggling bills

Thought there was nothing to it

Baby, now I know how you fee

lWhat I don't know is how you do it
Baby, you're my hero

Lonestar - "Mr. Mom"

Marriage isn't something you do later in life after pursuing your high-power career, but an anticipated lifelong dream come true

I smell the jasmine floatin' in the air like a love song

Watch my words draw sweet tears from your eyes

Bow our heads while the preacher talks to Jesus

Please bless this brand new life, yeah
Lost in this moment with you

I am completely consumed

My feeling's so absolute

There's no doubt

Sealing our love with a kiss

Waited my whole life for this

Watching all my dreams come true

Lost in this moment with you

Big & Rich - "Lost In This Moment"

Real men and respect, not macho men and rebellious "independence"

I wanna honor your mother

And I wanna learn from your paw

I wanna steal your attention like a bad outlaw

And I wanna stand out in a crowd for you

A man among men

I wanna make your world better than it's ever been

Keith Urban - "Making Memories of Us"

Rather than spouting f-words, adults realize the influence they have on children

Driving through town just my boy and me

With a happy meal in his booster seat

Knowing that he couldn't have the toy

Till his nuggets were gone

Green traffic light turned straight to red

I hit my breaks and mumbled under my breath

His fries went a flying and his orange drink covered his lap

Well then my four year old said a four letter word

That started with "s" and I was concerned

So I said son now now where did you learn to talk like that
He said I've been watching you dad, ain't that cool

I'm your buckaroo, I wanna be like you

And eat all my food and grow as tall as you are

We got cowboy boots and camo pants

Yeah we're just alike, hey ain't we dad

I wanna do everything you do

So I've been watching you
We got back home and I went to the barn

I bowed my head and I prayed real hard

Said lord please help me help my stupid self

Rodney Atkins - "I've Been Watchin' You"

Sexy is redefined
You'll be sexy in your socks

(We could polish the floors)

In case that anybody knocks

(Let's lock all the doors)
I'm having a party

a party for two

invitin' nobody

Nobody but you (yeah)

Yeah, you

Shania Twain - "Party for Two"

Past two weekends

The past two weekends have been really different, but both were really fun.

Weekend before last was Roscoe's House of Chicken & Waffles on Friday with the high school group. We took 39 kids!! It was a great turn-out and I was really happy we had enough drivers. It was neat to see alot of kids bring friends and a few even brought parents! That's the kind of event we want! I can't say much for the actual chicken & waffles though; they were GREAT separate, but not so great together.

Saturday we had to be at Biola by 8:30 for Carri's graduation!!!! The Javier's have pictures of us there, but I don't have them. If I get them, I'll add them to the post. It insane to think that she graduated from high school 4 years ago already! There were a few other people I knew that graduated that day as well but none that I knew so well. Carri, we're so proud of you!!! After her party back at her house we went to my grandparents to visit with my cousins who were here in CA from Colorado. My aunt had her 6th baby in January and we were out there a week after she was born but that's the last time we've seen her. She's such a smiley baby! Again, I have pictures but not on my camera so I'll have to add those later.

Sunday was Danielle and Lily's magic birthday party. THAT I have pictures of :)

Lily, Caleb, and Aaron

Danielle, Makayla, & Big Lily

This weekend we had NOTHING on the calendar for Friday or Saturday so we banned TV and computer for Saturday, slept in, then had a date day. We went to Color Me Mine and then Crepes & Grapes for dinner.

Matt getting paints and brushes

Working on our piece

Writing our names "in the sand"

The (almost) finished product! We pick it up Thursday.