Trick or Treat

Wesley said it this way: "We have enough candy to last us three months." I hope so! Notice how good they are at organizing the candy into different types.

We had a fun night walking the neighborhoods nearby. Wesley's mummy costume lasted only half of the night; it started falling off, which actually gave it a little more character :) He changed into Darth Vader on our second round of the evening. In case you needed to know, Andrew is a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle and Brooke is the green M&M.

I wish we could have stopped at each one of your doors, but since we could not, here is our wish to you and our very own "Trick or Treat!"

Faulkner Farms Pumpkin Patch

One of my favorite things about fall is the pumpkins. I love taking the kids to a pumpkin patch. There is a famous one nearby that we had not yet been to, so I decided to take them to visit this year. I was a little worried that Wesley and/or Andrew might think that they were getting too big for such childish activities, but they were still willing to go. We had a great time: pumpkin scavaging, bale mazes, sunflower mazes, hay ride, funnel cakes, bale climbing, and even a pumpkin launcher. Seriously, this guy created a pumpkin launcher, which shoots pumpkins into the air, and then we observe how it crashes and splatters. The boys, of course, loved this!

The pictures listed first are the winners of our pumpkin scavage. Andrew found the ugliest pumpkin; Brooke found the biggest, and Wesley found the smallest pumpkin.

Still sleeping sweetly

I know my kids are 9,7, and 4, but they still like to all sleep together in the same bed----a twin bed, at that. I don't know how old they will be, when they just decide that this is no longer something they want to do. However, I had to try to catch a picture and share it with you. I have a feeling they are going to be running out of room very shortly. By the way, we only allow them to do this on the weekend. School nights require a good night of sleep, which also requires some space (according to my logic).

Weekend Wrap-up

This past weekend was "boys away, so the girls will play." Gary took Andrew and Wesley out camping for two nights. They love the dirt and the fishing and the tent. When they got home, I cleaned out the backpack to do the laundry and noticed that there was not much to wash. I asked Andrew, and found out that they slept in their clothes and just woke up and kept moving through out the day. I guess they changed once; things must have gotten very dirty :)

Brooke and I had a relaxing weekend enjoying our "girl's time." We went shopping and out to dinner on Friday. On Saturday, Brooke decided to pitch her tent in my bedroom, so she camped out there and watched a movie. You see the animals enjoyed a nice dinner as well.

I took pictures of the dirty boys when they got home, but the pictures do not do justice to the amount of dirt that was seen close up. Wherever your weekend found you, I hope it was a good one!

Fireproof

I know I blogged about this movie rather recently, but I am just reminding you: the movie is released this weekend. Take someone to see it :) If you cannot, then at least pray that God will work through this movie in the lives of individuals and marriages that have no hope outside of Jesus Christ. Pray that people will understand the message so clearly presented. I am passionate about this because it stands for two things that I am most passionate about: 1) God and 2) my family. Our church has bought a large amount of tickets and are giving them away to people in Ventura, particularly a condominium complex across the street from our church.

Brooke is doing her schoolwork

Four weeks ago, I started home-schooling Brooke. I have ordered the kindergarten material from A Beka, and we are working through it. She loves doing her school work. Each day when I get home from school (about 1:00), she says, "Ok, mommy, let's do school now." Gary and I are not totally decided if she will be ready for first grade next year or not. Her birthday is late (mid-December) and the CA cut-off is December 1. She can go to first grade next year if she is ready. That is what this school year is all about----determining if she is socially, mentally, and academically ready for school. So far, she is doing good! I have gotten different feedback from different people and would love to hear any of your comments, particularly if you have a "late" birthday experience. I often consider: "Do I want Brooke to be the youngest one in her class (the last one to drive a car) or the oldest one in her class (like she failed or something)?" I have no guess as to the future, so we are just taking one day at a time. The verdict will come next May :)

We are working through the vowels----A, I, U, and this week, E. She asked me last night, "How many vowels are there, mom?" She seemed pleased that there was just one remaining. She knows the alphabet, so I am sure she can figure out that there must be 21 other letters too.

My Bible Study group is back

If you have read my blog for long, you have realized how much I love my Bible studies and my Bible study group. We meet in the fall for 10-12 weeks and then again in the spring for another series. And, we always do Beth Moore studies. Her studies are awesome in depth studies of God's Word. Once again, I recommend any Christian lady to encourage her church/friends to start a group like this.

Well, we started our new series on Thursday. It had been a long day, and I was particularly tired, but I knew nothing would stop me from being there on that first night. As I was driving with a friend, she said the same thing. "I can't wait to get back; it's like a spiritual high."

I just wanted to share some of my favorite thoughts and hope they can be an encouragement to you. The series is called "Living Beyond Yourself" and focuses on the fruits of the Spirit. Beth mentioned how she knew God's timing would be
right for this study in each lady's life. I am so glad to be studying this topic. So many times I feel like I am in a situation that I don't know what to do----it is beyond me. I realized that this is when we can live beyond ourself; we live in the Spirit.

Here are my favorite thoughts from Thursday night:

1. Life shouldn't just be bearable; it should be full
of joy.

2. As a Christian, you have the privilege to be different. View it as such, and take joy in being different.

3. We are all called to "exclamation mark" living. Make your life one big exclamation mark!!!!!!!

This last thought really struck me hard because I was always taught to live for God, and I teach my children to live for God. However, it is meant to be more than that.

4. Don't just live for God. Let Him live through you.

Here's to living a life that is full, a life that is an exclamation mark on my world, and a life that is beyond what I can do myself. Beth concluded by saying, "If you are not doing something right now that you cannot handle on your own, something that you could not do without Him and His strength, then you are not full of the Spirit."

This is something we all have to see!

Package from Mamaw

This is a pictorial thank-you to Mamaw and Papaw for the packages! Wesley, Andrew, and Brooke each received their own package. They had so much fun opening it. Gary knew his mom was sending them a "noisy" monkey, but the package contained much more than just a monkey.
We had just gotten back from Toys 'R Us where we had to buy gifts for a birthday party and a baby shower. I had to convince Brooke to save her $1.75, rather than spend it on some candy. So, coming home to open this fun package was especially enjoyed by her. Thanks again, Mamaw!

I am stuck somewhere between CA and the mid-west

This past week was the beginning of a new year of classes at the college. No matter what, my first week seems to bring out the fact that I am not a "California-born" citizen. My students often remark that I have an interesting "accent", and I readily share that I actually grew up in the mid-west and have since set my roots here in southern CA. So, as the question was raised again this past week, it got me thinking about how things are different here in southern CA. I made a short list, that I thought my truly mid-west family might appreciate.

Things that I do (or did) in CA just because I grew up in the mid-west:

1. I say y'all. (I don't know if this is just a personal thing, but I say it often and normally am asked where I am from)
2. I wear a sweater in January, simply because it is January.
3. I believed that church attire includes nylons and dress shoes. (I have since eradicated that idea.)
4. I am surprised to see coupons or advertisements written in both English and Spanish.
5. I believe one should only get on the freeway when taking a "trip."

6. The price of a very small house makes me gasp.
7. The idea of swimming outdoors on Christmas day is humorous.
8. I actually want to "feel" an earthquake.
9. I still stare at the ocean and beach each time I drive by it because I am overwhelmed by how beautiful it really is.

10. I don't feel a need to have a tan in the fall and winter----isn't it just a summer thing????

Well, that is my list. I had fun writing it, and I hope you enjoy reading it. I have lived here in southern CA for 4 years, and I hope to never leave it. I love where I live, but I also love the fact that I do have roots in the mid-west, and there are parts of me that will never forget about it.