Busy Days-Exciting Changes!;)

 We've been doing a lot of projects around the house these past few weeks and visited with several relatives and family friends. Summer is just around the corner and Ryan, Daniel and I are leaving  Thursday for Alaska!:) First off, our family built some fences, one for the patio and one for the yard! We enjoyed the experience and are very happy to have it finished.;)

 In order to take out the old fences we had to clear a lot of overgrown brush.....

 Evie spent a lot of time in her pen...;)

 Everybody helped which made the work go much faster....

 It's amazing how much brush there was.....

 Ryan worked on digging out the overgrown grass by the side fence.

 Bringing in the sheaves...;)

Timmy was a good little worker.;) He likes his pajamas soo much he wears them all the time.

 This is only half of the brush we cut down-it took most of the afternoon to bag it.

 Mom, Ryan and Daniel cut the brush while we bagged them....

 The next day, we began working on the new fence......

 The kids and our neighbors enjoyed "sharing" the yard while the posts were drying....

 Ryan leveling the posts....

 Joe worked hard bringing the slats over....

 Daniel and Isaiah had an interesting  system going. While Isaiah marked one boards, with his hands, his foot held down the board he had previously marked to steady it and Daniel would cut the plank.

 It's coming along!

 With all the family working the boys took naps outside...;)

 Lining up planks....

 The front fence being torn out-looked like a railroad track.....

 Isaiah reminds mom of Samson in this picture-how the Bible says he carried away the city gates.:P

 Daddy taught us how to make sure our posts were straight, level and the same height-all the way down the line!

 We ended up renting a post hole digger, makes it much easier as our ground is very sticky clay!

 We kept our supplies in the back of the van-we had cedar air freshener for awhile!:)

 Working on the weekend....

 It was truly a family project!

 Helping Daddy space the planks properly...

 Timmy got to use the power screwdriver!

 We also took out the 6 ft. middle fence and replaced some boards turning it into a coral style fence!

 Uncle Daniel surprised us with a visit as we were working!!

 It's always such a blessing to visit with him!:) We usually get to hear some stories or memories of Mommy growing up!

What a gift family in the Lord is!:)

The fence almost finished. Daddy added the swinging gate the next day after church.

Our coral fence enclosing the patio....

 This year for Mother's Day Daddy surprised Mommy and Mrs. Pau with a special evening at the Segerstrom Concert Hall watching Singing In the Rain with live orchestra music. They had a very nice time.:) It was Moms first time ever going!

The Lord opened the time for us to have a family BBQ with mommy's relatives! We really enjoyed seeing all the cousins as we don't get to visit with them much!

Evie and Sophia having fun in the kitchen.:)

Samantha Jane and Natey.....

Uncle Victor and Uncle Dan with cousins, Rachel, Emily, Sophia (in the swing) and Timmy.:)

Mommy got to do the BBQ for the first time also. Ryan the regular BBQ guy helped mom learn.

We were especially glad to have Uncle Johnny there! He's usually super busy but, the timing was of the Lord as he was on vacation!!:D

We had a full yard and a nice new fence to keep the little ones safe!:)

Playing with Uncle Victor....

Evie likes her new skirt.:)

Watermelon and smiles!

Timothy and Matthew....

We made loaded potato salad for the first time and it turned out well.:)

Isaiah helping with bun supply.;)

Guy talk...

Posing...;)

Evie, Aunt Lillian, and Mommy.:)

It's always fun to see the men talking-big and little.;)

A big squeezy hug with lots of character!

Aunt Rocio, Aunt Lillian and Aunt Kimberly-it's true what they say: people often marry people who look like their family members!

The cousins always enjoy playing with Daniel!

The girl cousins are very fond of Evie.....

.....so is Aunt Adriana!;)

A group photo-minus Mommy.:)

Our family is growing with the blessings of the Lord!

All the ladies.....

The men.....

Enjoying the swing.....

This is our Grandma Chrispens who came to this country when she was 14 years old. It  is pretty neat to see how the Lord has blessed her with a good number of children and grandchildren. She sometimes shares with us the emotional struggles and fears she had as a single parent. She is so thankful for God's leading in her life, to care for her and her children even when she wanted nothing to do with Him. It is an encouragement to hear her acknowledge and thank the Lord for all his provision and blessing.

Janelle and Caytlin...

Everyone came to see us off to Alaska! We feel very blessed and loved.:)

having some dessert

 full house ;)

 The next day we had a BBQ with Oma at our house for Daddy's birthday! Since we will be leaving before the actual date, we wanted to be able to celebrate with him! Happy Early, Birthday, Daddy!!:)

Visiting....

 He always guesses what we get for him and is usually right!:P

 We were satisfied he was unaware when we bought it, and he was right there!;)

 It's a black mug that transforms when you fill it with hot water....

 Psalm 23:1-2 "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He leads me beside still waters, He restores my soul."

 Just as we were black with sin before Jesus comes into our heart and saves us-so this mug represents Christ's work in our hearts!

Uncle Paul stopped by to visit with us briefly before our trip and it was very good to see him!:)

 Going back to our projects and changes-we've been able to replace a lot of things this past month around the home inside and out! Mommy picked up a kids picnic table for the little ones, who are growing up so fast! This one matches to an adult size one.:) (This picture was also taken with my new camera! As I mentioned before I had sent it in to be cleaned and checked before leaving for Alaska and the repair shop was unable to figure out why my lens was acting funny. So they gave me a store credit to purchase a new one. This time I got the 60 D instead of replacing it and was also able to get a laptop which we will use on our trip! The Lord provides in ways better than I could imagine!)

 New front fence...

 New front door...

 New stove...yay!;) Note the handy griddle area in the middle, just right for making Dad's favorite- grilled cheese:)

New refrigerator...black is so much easier to keep clean!!

 While Mommy and the others work, Evie keeps herself amused inside the Lincoln Log bucket...;)

 playing Lincoln logs and Joshua's  "squishy eye" a game we play

One of the most exciting changes we are working on is painting the house new colors! We have been wanting to do this for some time and are so happy with the results. We started working on it Monday and everybody has been eagerly helping with this!!

We liked the colors of the cabin we stayed in so much that we wanted our house to look like it!;) (I love Joe's apron!;)

 Evie is so patient and spends a lot of time in her playpen while we work.....

 Timmy going down for a nap and trying to cool off......this is only May.:P

 going green...;)

 and brown...

 A family affair...don't you love how we are all crowding in the same spot.;)

 Eventually all the fences will be brown as well-we all love these colors!!

 Boxwood Green

Mustang Brown for the trim....Daddy says this is the closest we'll ever have to a mountain cabin and we are all very happy with the way it looks. We still have a lot to paint, but today is our last day to work all together.

Almost done!!:D

And for one last treat-Caytlin and I took Mommy out to Jamba Juice for Mother's Day:) It was a planned surprise where we met up with the Pau's and Jacobson's!;) It was  a very special time!!:)

 With all the painting she's been doing, Mommy was very happy to get a special treat!;)

 Visiting one last time with dear girls...;)

 Evie always enjoys spending time with the Pau girls.....:)

 Everbody squeezed in for a picture-Mommies on the right, older daughters on the left and younger sisters in the front.:) It's always so fun to be friends with families all around!:)

Saying goodbye-I love this shot of Mommy and Mrs. Jacobson! She and her girls have become special ladies to us, in the short time we've known them!:)

 Well, Ryan, Daniel and I are flying out tomorrow, Lord willing, volunteering at a camp in Alaska for three months. We are excited to see how the Lord will work in the lives of the children coming to camp and in our own hearts. Sunday, Pastor Steve and some of the deacons prayed over us. What an encouragement it is to have our church family's encouragement, emotional support and prayers! With that said, this is the last time I will be posting here on the family blog. During the next three months the three of us will be writing on another blog about our time in Alaska: http://adventuresinak2013.blogspot.com/ (Isaiah is hoping to update this one while we are gone so keep reading!;)

 

We never know what the Lord has around the next corner. However, we know that He promises everything will work together for good and that He will not withhold any good thing from us. These verses and others have been on our family's mind lately. The Lord wants to show Himself strong on our behalf-He wants us to trust Him in all areas of life. Our purpose here on earth is to show God's glory- however He wants it displayed. However He chooses to work, we can know it is ultimately for our good.

 

Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!

 

                                                                                                                                           Psalm 46:10

 

“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, therefore I hope in Him!” The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him.  It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord."   

                                                      Lamentations 3: 24-26