Very Special Evening

A few weekends ago, we were privileged to host an abalone dinner that we donated to the BHS auction. What fun it was at the auction to see who the winning bidders were - we knew we were in for a wonderful time! Darin and Clinton did their job of diving/getting the abalone, while Anna and I planned everything else to go along with it. We realized we are definitely a bunch of foodies as our menu grew longer... by the time we got to dessert we just threw all our control out the window!
 It ended up being a simply {perfect} evening.
Lovely weather, beautiful guests, and fresh seafood... it was truly a blessing.

what ever would we do without our party professional mother-in-laws?

 

Oregon Adventure

A few weeks ago, we made the trek up to Oregon for our church conference. Amid much excitement from our girls, we hooked up to Grandpa and Grandma's trailer and pulled out on Thursday afternoon! Made it a whopping 3 miles before the "Are we there yet? How much longer?" started - then they settled into the "road daze." We planned to make it to Mt. Shasta early evening, and enjoy some time exploring a bit... but that was before Bob the truck (yes, by the end of the trip everyone's vehicles had been named) decided to throw a few kinks into our day. Soooo instead we made it to Shasta a tad later than first thought! Regardless of truck hiccups, we had a wonderful time as a family. Oregon was incredibly beautiful and welcoming. We wanted to stay longer! Our conference was encouraging, convicting, and a blessing all around!
On the way home, we had a HUGE day of driving to get to the Northern CA coast to dive for abalone for a very special dinner we hosted over the weekend. We arrived home weary but thankful for the time God gave us!

ready to go!

truck trouble again... good thing these Bowman boys don't get too ruffled!

what's a road trip without a flat tire as well?

running off LOTS of energy at the campground

old friends... new friends...thank you Jesus!

I will just sit on your lap whether you wanted me there or not, Drew!

they allllways find each other!

heehee Illsa was not feeling so photo friendly!

oh my these two clowns!

pulled off to get abalone on the way home after a looooong day in the truck

<3

scouring for sea glass

ready to dive in!

must my husband always be the farthest one out? they waited for this all day!

such troopers... made sure their babies were snuggled!

beautiful coast... homeward bound!

Summer, family, dirt, good times...

I really am probably the most sporadic blogger there is, simply because we are busy living life and don't have time to document it!

 But I did get tired of seeing snow pictures when I checked it out, so here we are with the present... 

I have been doing horrible at taking pictures lately, perhaps because cameras and mud don't mix well, and that seems to be our normal summer companion! I must do better, though, because THESE are the days I never want to forget... I love and cherish these days (well, most parts anyways.) 

And I am determined to soak up these days with all the chatter, squeals, laughs, sunshine, singing, and yes the dirt and the tears too!

So this is what fills our days - how very VERY good God is.

Precious faith of a child story. She and her daddy planted tiny poppy seeds last fall. Seeds would come up, birds would immediately pluck them up and eat them. She and her daddy made mini "greenhouses" for the last 2 sprouts with plastic cups. She checked them every morning, picked them up when the winter wind and rain knocked them over, and told nearly everyone who came over about her poppyflowers and how they were going to be sooo beautiful... Her prayers evolved from "God please help my poppyflowers grow" to "God thank you that my poppyflowers ARE growing" to "God please help my poppyflowers to bloom" to "God THANK YOU that my poppyflowers grew BIG and bloomed!" Emma's poppies that she prayed faithfully for all.winter.long. grew a foot taller than her and bloomed profuse HUGE poppy flowers! A beautiful lesson for her of sowing, tending, and reaping above and beyond what she had confidently prayed for. Isn't that just the way God is...

Leila wearing the outfit Emma was wearing the day we brought Leila home from the hospital. This weirds me out.

she loves all things school. Practicing her letters, shapes, and cutting all the time.

say cheese Bodie!

our new girl, Flower in the flowers. Such a sweetie!

Mother's Day fun at the park (haha paparazzi Lydia!)

seems like Rocklin should be Emma's age, but she's all grown up!

this is why I can never get a good picture of Emma, she's never still!

not sure how he does it, but whatever Uncle Caleb says... that's the way it IS in her mind!

my mom <3 . Amazing, strong, beautiful!

Thank you sweet Jesus for the privilege of being their mom... oh give me grace to show them Your heart and Your ways...

we love her.

morning Leila

evening Leila

night Leila

this little pink wheelbarrow is tougher than it looks! It has got some serious use these past months.

my silly silly Stash. He makes me laugh every day. wonder what he's thinking...