Camping...it is worth the effort!!

We went camping over the fourth of July weekend. We almost didn't go... we had just celebrated Anna's birthday and I helped with my friends workshop on spiritual disciplines (more on that later). It was a lot to pack into a weekend, and now we had to prepare for camping. It was definately worth the effort. It was so nice to spend the weekend together, relaxing and doing... well... not much!! We went back to Rancho Oso, where Anna and I had gone for our weekend away. We played mini-golf, Anna rode a horse, we swam in the pool, and went into Santa Barbara on Saturday. Our time was free from the distractions of home and tv, we just hung out!! I kept thinking... we need to do this more often!!!!

We didn't take pictures, I was so busy having fun that I forgot!! I did manage to remember to snap a family photo... and a picture of a new camping dessert... have you ever tried a roasted marshmallow-chocolate chip cookie sandwich?? Heavenly!!!

Fun stories coming soon... but first...

...I wanted to share some thoughts on parenting. I have recently been convicted that I spend too much emotion and physical effort trying to make my children obey, instead of remembering that it is my task to teach them to obey. The first, if even possible, results in frustration all around. Of course, there are appropriate times when concerns for safety require me to make them obey, but I am not referring to those times. For example, I cannot make them be on time or hurry to finish a task when speed is needed. I need to teach them to hurry when needed, or to respond with an obedient heart first, or to ask questions instead of making demands. I do not want then to have obeyed because I made them, I want them to have obeyed because I have taught them.

So, what does teaching look like? Maybe we need a few practice sessions. Obedience boot camp, so to say. Maybe we need to have "get out of the house in under 5 minutes" drills, or "clean up the toys in 10 minutes" drills... where, on a day when we have no where to be... we can practice these things. Maybe I should sometimes create an unfair situation between Anna and Dillon, so that they can learn to respond appropriately... with an obedient heart.

The key is that I can control my teaching.... I can orchestrate moments to teach them these things. I cannot control how they respond, whether it takes 1, 2, or 50 "drills" to learn these skills. When I am in a good mood and make it fun... it works way better than when one or all of us are grumpy and pressed for time... usually because of poor planning on my part.

So, here's to teaching with a happy heart, making obedience a fun time, giving glory to our great and Amazing God!!!

And... a few fun pics.... just as a preview of coming attractions!!! =)

It is good to be home!!!

I love my life!!! After traveling up and down the west coast, and living out of suitcases, it is so nice to be home!! I loved our many vacations, and I will tell you all about them soon... but I just wanted to say that I love being at home, getting everything back into order, and living my normal life.

Of course, it helps that we came back when it is still "summer"... which made the transition from vacation to life a little easier. We took it slowly this year, and I am thankful. It is nice that Biola starts before Anna and Dillon, so that we have this nice transition time that is half summer/half school year. I like to ease into real life... much like I prefer easing into cool water, instead of just jumping in. =)

So, where did we go??
Camping at Rancho Oso for the fourth of July weekend... what a special time to spend with just our family!!! Pictures and stories coming soon!!

Portland: to see my precious sister and sweet family!!! Oh, I can't express how special it was to see her little son "J" for the first time, to get to know him, and to see him scrunch up his nose in a smile of delight when watching A & D and their efforts to make him laugh!! What a sweet boy and what a sweet family!! Anna and Dillon loved playing with their Uncle Troy. We enjoyed seeing our extended family too... and you will definitely see pics and hear stories of our many adventures in the Northwest!!

Cottonwood: We led a VBS there with our Sunday school class from church. God worked in an amazing way, from bringing us all there safely to the new spiritual lives that were born through the faithfulness of God's people.

Yosemite...no wait... Hollister??? Due to fires... we had to move our vacation spot from beautiful Yosemite to... differently beautiful Hollister. As Todd says, we had a nice relaxing time doing nothing in the middle of nowhere. Which is true, the campground is very remote, but we had fun!!!!

This is just a taste of what is to come... keep checking back for stories and pictures, and thanks for faithfully checking back. I am hoping to be more faithful to this poor neglected blog.