Day 2- Santee Lake & Seaport Village

Thursday we woke up to this site outside our hotel room. By the way, we were supposed to stay with some cousins, but Alan had the flu running a 105 fever which Darlene eventually caught and everyone thought it best to stay in a hotel. I'm a Texas girl, it's flat, dry and dead around here right now. I lost count of the number of times I just stopped looked around and inhaled deeply. Everything was so green and beautiful. I'm including mainly the events that I enjoyed. I'm better about talking about feelings then events, but here goes :-)



It was Uncle Bruce's birthday, so Billy, me and his dad all tagged along on Uncle Bruce's regular 4 mile jog. I say tag along as in Uncle Bruce (the oldest of the four of us) ran:


While Billy, me and his dad took a walk around



and fed the ducks :-) Maybe it's just been so long since I've stopped to do this but I was fascinated. The ducks were flapping their wings and running across the water to get to the food. They surrounded us, it was sad to run out.


Our main trip for the day was to Seaport Village and did a little souvenir shopping:
(Not trying to tell anyone anything, just thought the poster was somewhat funny)


It was a chore, had to choose between going in all the pretty shops or looking at all this :-))




We ended the day by going out to dinner at TGI Friday's. It was Uncle Bruce (the birthday boy's) choice. It was a great first full day :-)



If you've actually read through to the end, bless you!!!

Day 1- Arrival

Billy and I both went to work last Wednesday morning and met at his office to catch our flight on Southwest out of Love Field at 4 pm. I took a couple of pics of Rachel that day, one has her really great smile so it goes in here too :-)


We had a stop in Albuquerque and landed in San Diego in the dark. I saw the outline of mountains in the distance which made me very anxious for the next morning when I could see what the landscape was actually like. It was great to see family and hug their necks.



Once Mom & Dad Turnbow and Uncle Bruce picked us up from the airport, we stopped for dinner. Great chicken place, funny name. Since it was grilled and not batter fried southern chicken I could eat it :-))


We ate at Uncle Bruce and Aunt Saundra's house. We stopped at a health food store to stock out little kitchenette at the hotel up with gluten free goodies :-)


Then night night after a day of travel to gear for the first full day of fun!

Overview of San Diego

Billy and I spent the last week with his mom, dad, two aunts, an uncle and a couple of cousins in San Diego. We had a wonderful time. I'm catching up on everyone else's blog tonight, but just had to wave and say hi. I'm still organizing all the pictures I took, so I'll start blogging about that tomorrow.

Our road ahead

Please pray for courage for us to go down this road of adoption. I feel like Moses arguing with God about his ability to do what God is asking. Under all the worry, fear and anxiety is a speck of hope I can't explain.

Everything to Me by Mark Schultz


No Orphans of God by Avalon

Simply Quilts

When I watch Simply Quilts I take pictures of the screen and even video some of the teaching segments. I wanted to take a least one post to list all the projects I'm looking forward to doing. There are at least a couple of quilters who read this, so for everyone else, might want to skip past this one. I get all geeky excited about some of this :-))
Here are some techniques I want to learn:





Especially this one, it combines my two favorite hobbies, quilting and scrapbooking:


This is a picture mosiac, those are 1" finished squares, wow what patience!


I can't wait to start seasonal projects:





The fall projects, I could tweak a bit and coordinate with the colors already in my living room:


I'm drawn to the baby quilts, the colors are so great:





I really enjoy incorporating photography in the quilts:

This is the back of one , apparently on your printer settings you can "tile" a picture, then I could print it on the fabric that goes through my printer and piece it all together, very excited about this prospect.

Here, she actually pieced a picture she had, this is sooo cool, maybe I'll get skilled enough to do this one day :-)



The projects I do I like to be a surprise for the recipient so I don't usually post the quilt until I've given it away. This combines the baby quilt and the photography. Well Amy knows I'm doing this for her little girl and it's just the front, the back is a still a surprise, hehe. It has some applique on it that Brooke taught me how to do, my lines are getting straighter each time.

It's so much fun to do!!

The Love Week

Monday was my grandmother's funeral. We showed our love by my sister, Billy and I taking our grandfather out for dinner. (Thank you for letting us invite ourselves, Leah!!) He's sharp minded and funny as ever at 88 years old.

Tuesday (obviously by Billy's entry) was our 3rd anniversary. Yes, I brag about my husband. Words of affirmation (Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman) are important to us. No, Billy is not perfect, but I have dated enough frogs to recognize, appreciate and want to encourage my best friend's best traits with praise and respect. In my experience, negative words only result in more negativity within the relationship whether or not those words float back to your spouse.

Billy made that beautiful entry which made me cry and I got him via a wonderful friend's mom,(Thank you Amy and Mary!!!) home made cinnamon rolls, full of ooey glutinous fun that was all for Billy, he didn't have to share. We watched our wedding video (complete with my not so graceful nose dive after being pronounced hubby and wife) and then we went to the nearby park for a bike ride.



I made him a card and he made me dinner complete with candles, music and him in a suit. (I wasn't aware we were going quite that formal, I had a t-shirt and capri's on) Here Billy is enjoying the cinnamon rolls in all their splendor :-)



Wednesday had the excitement of our hot water heater busting and leaking all over our garage. Hubby went in late Thursday while I watched Rachel so the warranty people could have their contractors come out and replace it. So only a short pause in the hot showers that wake me up in the morning and get me moving. (No worries, we just used the Wilson's showers for a couple of days. Man, they are nice people)

Thursday of course being Valentines Day, I needed reassurance that Billy would be at work so I could return the making dinner experience complete with music, candles and me in my formal dress. It really is great how an everyday meal can be something special with just a few tweaks. I came home to this sight on our kitchen table on Valentine's Day.


I sometimes tease Billy about it being two separate occasions with our anniversary and Valentine's Day so close, but he really does a great job at making me feel special.

Three Years Together

Hi everyone. Billy, here. Today is our 3rd anniversary and Lori has always honored me in her blogs telling everyone about how great I am. This is because she is the most encouraging person I know. If she didn’t have this quality, she’d probably be including many of the times I tend to drive her batty with my idiosyncrasies.

But to get to the point, Lori really touched me when she listed 33 great things about me on my 33rd birthday. I wanted to give back in some way, so here are my thoughts and feelings about being married to the most beautiful, kind, and fun-to-be-with woman for three years. I ain’t no poet, so please read with an open mind :)

Billy


Three Years Together

It feels like I have known you forever.
But here we are, just three years together.
Three years out of decades I look forward to.
Many years I get to fall more in love with you.

If these three years are a view of the rest,
I know each year to follow will be the best.
As long as we continue to submit to each other,
God will bless us each year, one after another.

We have so many memories in three good years.
People, places, and things we both hold dear.
Skiing in Idaho, Ukraine missions, or oceans so blue,
Yet none compare to a quiet night at home with you.

In three years we have seen our plans can fail.
The paths we walked had more than one trail.
We learned to lean on each other and Christ most of all
And to trust in God’s plan because we plan too small.

I have laughed and smiled more in my three years with you.
Finally, I see how a wife who’s my best friend makes love true.
I have cried and shared pain on days not so great,
Those deep moments together that we later appreciate.

No matter what we face in the next 50+ years,
Know that I am devoted and will always be here.
You are my beautiful bride and dearest friend.
Walk with me to God’s future, your palm in my hand.

From one left behind

I'm sitting here thinking about the 9 people Billy and I have lost in the last 4 years. As young as 10 and as old as 87. Lupus, leukemia, cancer, cystic fibrosis, asbestosis. We've had quite a few conversation about salvation around here. I jostle between feeling as though nothing will touch me like I'm numb and then I question my strength as I hurt over realizing how different the landscape of my family is now. It's of course not that I am strong or have to be, because God can really only be seen once I give up any sense of control or power. Otherwise it's me trying to call the shots out of desperation or fear. Semi-related we were saying if for some reason we did get pregnant, we'd tell as soon as possible. I know some women wait until that risky first trimester is over. I'd have to say if something bad did happen, we'd want, no make that need, the people who loves us support and encouragement. We'd want people to know he/ she existed and that meant something to us.

We were blessed for alot of years, more so than we knew. Reminds me of a song by Super Chick, called we Live. It's about loving and forgiving because we never know when our time will come. We still are blessed, we are reminded God hears us. Another issue Billy and I talked about was organ donating which I would want to do. My soul would be with Jesus, don't need the body anymore.

Questions

I enjoy these, reminds me of the slam books back in school. (my spell check broke)

1. Do you wear a name tag at work? Not the last 6 years I worked
2. What kind of car do you drive? Toyota Corolla
3. What do you order when you go to Taco Bell? hard tacos with sour cream
4. Have you ever had a garage sale? No
5. What color is your iPod? I can't remember what I did with it... it's black... somewhere!
6. What kind of dog do you have? Never going to happen....
7. What's for dinner tonight? We had baked fish, rice and steamed veggies
8. What is the last alcoholic beverage you had? Allergic to the malt or barley so no alcohol for me (it wasn't a loss)
9. Stupidest thing you ever did with your cell phone? Letting toddlers play with it
10. Last time you were sick? Monday
11. How long is your hair? past my shoulders, I'm growing it out
12. Are you happy right now?Yes!
13. What did you say last? That I can't wait until Market Street opens down the street since they offer gluten free cooking classes
14. Who came over last? The Johnston's, Bagley’s and Tipton’s for Small group
16. Have your brothers or sisters ever told you that you were adopted? No, we did do that to my sister since she had different coloring then the other 3 of us (not kind, I know)
17. What is your favorite key chain on your keys? It’s a "pass it on" message card you get at the Christian store. On one side is James 4:8, the other side is Luke 2:10
18. What was the last movie you watched at home?Le Mis
19. What is in your pocket? No pockets
20. Who introduced you to your crush? Amy Wilson at his birthday party
21. Where do you hurt? intestines still sore from the gluten incident I had this last week
22. Has someone ever made you a Build-A-Bear? No
23. What DVD is in your DVD player? Had to go hit the eject button for that one, Billy always puts them up when we're done watching
24. What's something funny you did today? Made my husband and Rachel laugh today, check check
25. Who was the principal of your high school? umm, it's been so long I'd have to pull the year book out to remember
26. Has your house ever been TPd? Yes
27. What do you think of when you hear the word 'meow'? a kitty cat or a dog, I'm not sure (hehe)
28. What are you listening to right now? The hum of the computer
29. Drinkin?Nothing.
30. What is your favorite aisle at Wal-Mart? the crafts aisle
31. When is your birthday? May 1
32. What's the area code for your cell phone? I live in Dallas, there's 3, start guessing
33. Where did you buy the shirt you're wearing now? Mervyn's, I'm sure at some point when I worked there for 8 years
34. Is there anything hanging from your rear view mirror? No.
35. How many states in the US have you been to? hhmm 10 tops
37. What are you going to do after this? Sit with Billy and relax until bedtime
38. Who was the last person you went shopping with? Amy, she needs a new dish washer
40. What about your favorite dessert? Delicious 'n Fit chocolate cake
41. What is something you need to go shopping for? contact lenses
42. Do you have the same name as one of your relatives? Not first name, by the time I got here they were running out of L names. Catherine is my mom's middle name
43. What kind of car do your siblings drive? Leah drives a minivan, Louis drives a truck
44. Do you like pickles? Yes, especially dill ones with maple syrup
45. What about olives? black, yes
47. What is your favorite kind of juice? Orange
48. Do you have any tan lines? Nope, it's February and I've been in Texas all season
49. What hospital were you born in? North Hills Medical
50. Do you remember the name of your kindergarten teacher? Mrs. Lawrence, Louis had her too, she was really sweet!

Daily February Reading

February Program 2

Date
Old Testament Reading
New Testament Reading
Gospel Reading

February 1 Exodus 27,28 Matthew 21:23-46 Luke 16
February 2 Exodus 29,30 Matthew 22:1-22 Luke 17
February 3 Exodus 31,32,33 Matthew 22:23-46 Luke 18
February 4 Exodus 34,35,36 Matthew 23:1-22 Luke 19
February 5 Exodus 37,38 Matthew 23:23-39 Luke 20
February 6 Exodus 39,40 Matthew 24:1-22 Luke 21
February 7 Leviticus 1,2,3 Matthew 24:23-51 Luke 22
February 8 Leviticus 4,5,6 Matthew 25:1-30 Luke 23
February 9 Leviticus 7,8,9 Matthew 25:31-46 Luke 24
February 10 Leviticus 10,11,12 Matthew 26:1-19 John 1
February 11 Leviticus 13 Matthew 26:20-54 John 2
February 12 Leviticus 14 Matthew 26:55-75 John 3
February 13 Leviticus 15,16,17 Matthew 27:1-31 John 4
February 14 Leviticus 18.19 Matthew 27:32-66 John 5
February 15 Leviticus 20,21 Matthew 28 John 6
February 16 Leviticus 22,23 Mark 1:1-22 John 7
February 17 Leviticus 24,25 Mark 1:23-45 John 8
February 18 Leviticus 26,27 Mark 2 John 9
February 19 Numbers 1,2 Mark 3:1-21 John 10
February 20 Numbers 3,4 Mark 3:22-35 John 11
February 21 Numbers 5,6 Mark 4:1-20 John 12
February 22 Numbers 7 Mark 4:21-41 John 13
February 23 Numbers 8,9,10 Mark 5:1-20 John 14
February 24 Numbers 11,12,13 Mark 5:21-43 John 15
February 25 Numbers 14,15 Mark 6:1-32 John 16
February 26 Numbers 16,17 Mark 6:33-56 John 17
February 27 Numbers 18,19,20 Mark 7:1-13 John 18
February 28 Numbers 21,22 Mark 7:14-37 John 19
February 29 Numbers 23,24,25 Mark 8:1-21 OPEN

Beverly

This morning my dad called to say that my papa's wife passed away this morning. Beverly has been in our family since before I was born. I remember them telling me one of their early dates was taking care of me and my sisters and I was a baby.
Father's Day 2003

Beverly had been diagnosed with alzheimer's a few years ago. The disease had progressed to the point of a nursing home in the last few months. Papa made this difficult decision when at a restaurant she would excuse herself to the ladies room and half way there, not only not remember where she was going, but when papa caught up with her she didn't recognize him either. I can't imagine how hard that has been for him. The woman he has lovingly called his bride to the very end after 34 years of marriage not knowing who he was. The hardest part though from my perspective is that as far as the family knew she never proclaimed a belief in Jesus. *deep breathe*

I'll post later about the weekend retreat ( for a good summary, click here) and the gluten issue I had.

Magazine Vote

For those who don't know, I have a condition called celiac. It's an auto immune reaction to gluten which is a protein found in wheat, rye, barley and often oats. My immune system attacks my intestines causing flu like symptons for me. (Symptons vary per person). Martha Stewart is having a contest for the next big idea. A magazine for food allergies, sensitivities and intolerances is on the top of her list. Please click on the link below and vote for Alexis to make this happen!

http://blogs1.marthastewart.com/martha/

This would be a big resource for people like me, which is 1 in every 133 people.

Thanks!!