San Diego Weekend

Two weeks ago, Daddy took us all out for the weekend to the San Diego area! We got to stay in the  same hotel where he and Mommy spent their anniversary back in September of this year.:)   We enjoyed visiting Old Town San Diego, Seaport Village and spending time together as a family!

Mommy, Daniel the kids and I drove up earlier to get the hotel rooms and settle in. Dad and the others would be joining us later!

 The hotel rooms were really nice and very accommodating for our family size.

It was a chore to keep Evie from the phone! It seemed like everytime we turned around she was back at it!:P

Once everything was in order, we went down to the hotel pool to go swimming!!

Evie saw that the boys had to wear flip-flops down to the pool, so she went to get a pair herself.;)

While waiting for the others to come with Daddy, after he got off work, we enjoyed playing in the pool!

Joshua and Timmy are still learning to swim so they like to hang out near the steps!:)

Momma and the kiddos warming up in the jacuzzi.....

An elevator ride back up to change and get some dinner!

We were all very hungry and Mommy saw a small restaurant that served Greek food, so we had dinner there! The food was delicious, but it was cold and the little ones were ready for bed! So we hurried back to the hotel and the little ones were soon in their warm pajamas and playing in the hotel room, before heading to bed.

"Fort Hotel...."

Playing cards, solo....;)

The others got in about 8:30 pm and got everything unpacked and set up in the other room! After that they went swimming!!  (The boys slept in one room, while we girls and Timmy were with Daddy and Mommy in the other one! )

To end the month of October, we watched "October Baby"....

Evie and Timmy's bed..:)

Going down for breakfast....

They had a very nice dining hall and yummy breakfast....

Going out for the day....

Bible reading in the car....

Dad recently started making survival bracelets with the gospel colors in beads across the middle. He got the idea while making one from a video on the internet and implemented the gospel colors in.

First we visited Old Town.....

We got there nice and early.....

Having fun in an old wagon.....

We enjoyed visiting the general store, buying some drinks and treats to enjoy....

The boys really enjoyed seeing the canons they had...

A little backwards....:P Daddy recently hurt his leg and uses the wheelchair for when we are doing a lot of walking.

Stopping to enjoy our drinks and candy.....

We enjoyed drinking out of the old fashioned bottles.....

Here we decided to pose like the stickers are posed on the back of our van!

From there the boys wanted to build a pyramid, something they first did in Alaska with some friends. We took several pictures here as Timothy was pretty nervous to be on the top and kept hunching down!

There we go....

Everyone was a little mixed up here....

This was Timothy's preferred spot on the pyramid!;)

We girls did our own....

Mommy took Caytlin and I to a little shop where they sold all sorts of fancy hats, shawls and Victorian era clothes. She bought all three of us girls music boxes that played hymns.:)

Walking through the shops.....

Inside one of the stores they had a big model of what San Diego would have looked like back in the day....

Looking around the stagecoach museum....

After that we drove to Seaport Village and saw some neat ships on the way....

Passing the famous ship the USS Midaway, we saw this memorial....

A fun hat shop in Seaport Village.....if you like hats, this is the place to go!

The waterside...

Having lunch by the water....

Daddy and his baby girl!:)

The view the boys had while they ate. It reminded some of us of the city of Homer in Alaska....

After lunch and some more walking around, Daddy and Mommy rented a boat!! They had rented one while we were in Alaska and wanted to take us once we got back!

The boat we rented only held eleven people, so we took turns....

Leaving the harbor...

We were able to get a lot closer to the USS Midway here....

Ryan really enjoyed driving!

Keeping Evie seated was an adventure, but she still really enjoyed the ride.

Going under the Coronado Bridge....

Holding on to the little ones....;)

After enjoying the boat for a few hours we drove to the Coronado bridge and crossed over onto the island...

It was late by then, so we drove around a bit, enjoyed seeing the sights and scenery, then headed back for our hotel.

We stopped at a restaurant where Daddy had taken Mommy on their anniversary trip....

Daniel getting ready to eat his HUGE burrito! This was part of the reason Daddy took us to this particular restaurant-we had heard about the GIANT burritos.:p

Going for his first bite-I think Daniel actually ate the whole thing!

Back at the hotel, warm and ready for bed.....

Dad and the guys went down to enjoy the hot Jacuzzi and they had a wonderful time!

Daniel's shirt kept filling with air!!:)

Having fun with Daddy...:)

 Saturday, us ladies and the little ones headed home to prepare for church the next day. Daddy took the boys to SeaWorld for the first time! They all had a really good time!

 Riding the skyride!

 Trying out another ride called Manta...

The guys really enjoyed themselves and are hoping to go again soon, as the admission they paid for the day gave them a year's pass!!:)

We were glad to have time together as a family, giving us a break from work and school. With Thanksgiving and Christmas just around the corner, things will be getting even busier! During this time of year there are lots of opportunities to share the Gospel and remind people of God's faithfulness and forgiveness! By God's grace, let's be faithful to do this.

Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord! And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

                                                                                              Joshua 14-15

Myer's Visit!:)

Good fellowship is something that we often take for granted these days. I often think of how far some believers would travel in the old days to meet with others.

 A few weeks ago, we had another taste of such fellowship with the Myer Family (minus Mrs. Myers) who we hadn't seen in 15 years, visiting from Colorado! We did not know if it would work out to see them while the were in town, but the Lord had some special times prepared for us!;)

I was so glad to see Jayme, finally! We had been writing for three years and hoping such a thing would happen! Jayme was staying at the Weston's home (very good friends of the Myers) where she and Emily invited me over for one very fun sleepover!! We enjoyed spending hours talking, reminiscing about the past, and encouraging one another in the Lord! All three of us were in Alaska this past summer, as Emily and Jayme had the opportunity to go to Kako, while the guys and I were at Higher Ground! So, as you can imagine we had much to catch-up on!!  It was a very special time and we had so much fun!

 Tuesday of that same week, the Myers invited Emily and I to go to Knotts Berry Farm with them!! We very happily agreed and the Lord really blessed our time! It was a perfect day to go, as Tuesdays are slower and we had almost no lines!! It was fun to get to know Jayme's family better, her three younger brothers, Jordan, Justice ,Eli, and her dad, Mr. Myers!:)  We had a great time!!

 The calico mine ride.....

Jayme's brothers, and I are big roller coaster fans, while Emily and Jayme are not.. I am very happy to say that we succeeded on getting them on more than that!!:)

Looking for the car...;) (Fun memories...;)

In front of Silver Bullet the guys and I begged the girls to just try it, so Mr. Myers decided to toss a coin for the decision!;) The girls lost..;)

Riding the Jaguar-Emily's favorite ride!

More Emily and Jayme's style....

Thursday we were able to take the family to the beach, where we enjoyed a picnic lunch, swimming, volleyball/ newcomb and eachother's company.:) Mrs. Weston and Emily came as well!

Don't want to get dehydrated!

 The guys playing....

 Timmy waded with us ladies...;)

 This picture fully captures the spirit of our time together. Simply enjoying one another in the blessings of godly fellowship, as sisters in Christ.

 Isaiah and Eli hit it off really well, as they found they had a lot in common!

 The boys really enjoyed meeting the Myer boys!! They all had a great time talking and getting to know eachother!

Jayme is an extremely talented photographer and here she was busy at work!

 Daddy was able to come down from work on his lunch break to visit with Mr. Myers! We wanted to have them over for dinner, but the Lord knew He had something better in store.;)  Daddy was glad to be able to visit even for a short time. (Fellowship with believers in always worth the distance.)

Timmy and Joe having fun in the sand!

Helping serve lunch....

We were very grateful to have shade-it was very sunny! 

Sunday night, Jayme called asking if our family might want to go to the beach, again?? Of course we did!!!! So, once again, we got the chairs, swimsuits and towels, packed the van, grabbed some friend chicken and drove down to Huntington Beach for another fun afternoon!! 

 Another long and very interesting conversation for the guys! This time Emily and Ricky joined us, though Ricky had to leave soon after we got there.

Evie wearing Eli's hat-she picked it up while he was busy and decided to wear it!

 It was all the Lord and very unplanned but, through some phone calls, and organizing  our family had dinner with the Weston's and the Myers directly following the beach adventure at our family's special restaurant: Mexi Casa!:) We had almost everyone with us there but we missed having Ricky and Mrs. Myers!

Timothy got a hold of a beard trimmer in between our beach trips. Thankfully his hair will grow back. Here he is enjoying the salsa while waiting for his dinner.:P He calls it soup.

The other end of our long table! It's pretty neat because almost every time we have taken friends here, we have been seated at these same tables!!:)

 This was the last night we would get to see them! Here we are starting the process of saying goodbye!:) This was not easy, as it always harder with good friends!

 They guys really had a lot of fun together!!

Smiling for a picture before leaving.....

 I want to end with this picture because I think it represents well the heart of both of my parents and their love for people. They have always made it clear to us children that each and ever member of  a family is a unique individual. That we should make time to greet each one and show a genuine interest in them as a person, no matter there age, or gender.

 

 If we as Christians do not have this sort of love for everyone, we bring great shame to the name of Christ. One of the greatest things that defines true believers from the world is their love for one another. Jesus Himself said, that the greatest commandment was to "love your neighbor as yourself." Our neighbor is anyone we come into contact with. Yet, as believers this love and bond is even stronger as we are brothers and sisters in Christ. We are family.  

 

"By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.   But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?  My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.   And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him.  For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.  Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God.  And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.  And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment."

                                                                                                             1 John 3:16-23