Hooray!

I get a new compuuuuter.... I get a new compuuuuter.... Hooray! Today my boss finally folded and agreed to purchase a new computer for my office! My current computer hooks up to our accountant's server and with my computer being almost prehistoric, I've been having major problems! Now I'll be up to speed.... literally! Good thing there are no speeding tickets for computers because I plan on flying!!! :D Not only that, but I get a 22" Wide Screen Monitor, too! Good-bye headaches and hello big screen!

Oh How He's Growing

Last night I walked into the kitchen and saw the two men in my life having a late night snack together. I couldn't help but sneak out the camera and take a picture. I just can't believe how big Angel looked next to Larry! Both sitting in their pajama bottoms and white T-shirts talking about dad and son stuff. It seemed as if they were in a world all their own. One day those two won't be able to sit next to eachother on our kitchen counter. I feel as though each time I close my eyes my Angel grows another inch or two. He's nine now and doesn't like me to hold his hand and doesn't like me to kiss him good-bye in front of his friends. I knew these days would come. Out with Mom and now Dad's little shadow (and His parrot). I must say, though, that Angel still loves Mom's good-night hugs and kisses and bedtime prayers. I hope THAT never changes.

A Funny From Alliah

So Alliah came to sit on the couch with me as I'm watching "Criminal Minds" tonight. As the show was coming to an end, the bad guy who had been shooting people at random decides to turn himself in to the police. As "the bad guy" entered the police precinct asking if they were looking for him, the cops yell for him to put his gun down. They wrestle him to the floor, cuffing him, and stating he's there to turn himself in. Alliah is watching this and asks, "What does it mean to turn yourself in?" I explained that he had done a lot of bad things that hurt good people and he felt bad so he turned himself into the police. She said, "Awwww, he's a responsible guy...why are they arresting him?" ha!

H-E-L-L-O

Have you ever stopped to hear the laughter of kids? My kids' laughs are irresistable! You can't help but laugh when they start laughing. Alliah is currently into learning cheers. Each recess, all of the little girls gather together on the school playround and make up cheers or teach the cheers they know to the rest of the clan. Tonight at dinner Alliah jumped out of her seat to show us her newest cheer: H-E-L-L-O... this is how we say hello and do our funky moves! Then she started jumping up and down touching her feet front to back in the most "funky" way. After she was done she stood frozen - waiting for a response from us. Then she started giggling and giggling uncontainably. We—all sitting at the dinner table—started laughing with her (okay, well at her). Once Angel got going there was no stopping us! After a truly hectic day, I believe I can say it was one of the best dinners we've ever had. It's so true....laughter is good medicine.

So we have some bad news to share....

Our dog, Johnson, passed away yesterday morning. Please pray for the kids. They loved Johnson and both cried, cried, cried. I'll share more later. We'll miss our little dog...

Angel's Words

Last night Angel and Alliah were trotting up the stairs to brush their teeth and hit the hay. As Alliah climbed the stairs she shouted (and I mean SHOUTED), "Mawwwwwwm, will you come up and pray with meeeeee?" I said yes, but after she brushed and when she was in bed. Angel will usually follow with, "Me too, mom?" but he didn't say any a word - so I said, "Angel, and you? What about your prayers?" He said, "Oh, don't worry, Mom, I'll go talk to the Lord..."

Crazy Day!

Do you remember your last crazy, CRAZY day? Well, I'm having one today! It's one of those days that your eyes roll to the back of your head all by themselves because you've rolled them all day long in frustration. My head is shaking back and forth in a "no-ooooooh" motion all on its own, too! I've stopped working a few times and closed my eyes saying, "Breathe, Kristie, breathe..." and followed it by walking away from my computer, shaking out my legs, rotating my neck, stretching my back and swinging my arms around. (I hope nobody was looking through my office window! They'd think I was a pretty rotten dancer.) That worked a couple of times. Huuuugghhh....But! I came here to remind myself that I can do all things through Christ because He gives me the strength to do it and that all things work together for the good of those who love the Lord (me) and are called according to His purpose. I must remember to not walk after the flesh (and get frustrated and high strung), but after the Spirit. I am asking for the peace that passes all understanding to guard my heart of mind in Christ Jesus.

Ahhhhh, feeling better already! :D Now, I'm gonna walk out of my office door, leave those cares behind, jump in my car, put on some good music and head home for the kids' soccer practices. If you had a crazy, wacked out day too, just remember that when you lay your head down tonight- turn it all over to Jesus and sleep in peace. Tomorrow will be a brand new day. Things are gonna get better!

Memory Lane...

So I found this new website called YearbookYourself.com Here you can upload a picture and find out what you would look like back in the day. This is what I would have looked like in 1960. LOL We laughed hilariously as I uploaded Larry, Angel and Alliah's pictures and took a stroll down "memory lane." Larry was amazed at how much I look like my Mother! Alliah was so concerned when she saw her pics. She couldn't wait until it was her turn. The backgrounds are of adults so we told her now she'll see what she'll look like when she gets older LOL!! When she saw them she stopped laughing. Her eyes welled up with tears and she said , "Oh, Mommy.......am I really gonna look like that? I look, I look, (sigh) I look freaky!!!"

Try it...it's a blast!

My Spa Day

I have worked at Coulter Homes, Inc. for 4 years now. I am the "everything girl." I do the billing, banking, filing, phones, shipping, receiving, accounts payables and receivables, stocking, typing, emailing, payroll, human resources...you name it. And then I do all my boss' personal finances and accounting as well, not to mention his travel arrangements and keeping his calendar. Oh, I'm not complaining—he pays me well and I have an excellent work schedule. And for this, I was given the bonus of all bonuses. The crem de'la crem. The homerun of the season. The touch down of all touch downs (get my drift?). My boss blessed me and a friend to a Spa Day at Benardis Lodge & Resort in Carmel Valley. This is a resort with rooms that range from $500 a night to $1400 a night. As soon as he offered this wonderful gift me to I immediately thought of my little sister Nicole. She's a single mommy who takes such good care of my little sweetheart Isaiah (pictured below). She's a hard worker and I just love her. So yesterday Nicole and I spent the most luxurious day of relaxation and pampering! We got solar manicures, Arizona mud mask pedicures, a 35 minute steam aromatherapy facial and face massages, had a delicious lunch out by the warming pool, then ended the day with a 50 minute Sweedish massage! We both felt like wet noodles that had just been bathed in the most delicious spaghtetti sauce (Okay, forget that metaphore if you don't like spaghetti. We were like lobsters dipped in heavenly melted butter.......better?). If heaven is going to be incomparable to the greatest day here on earth, then I can't WAIT to get there! Come and get us, Lord Jesus!

My Morning Commute

Today was the first time I ever saw a friend driving next to me on the freeway. I saw one of my bestest pals, Lillian, driving right next to me during the morning rush hour. I couldn't believe it. I NEVER see ANYONE I know on the freeway. I admit, I'm usually singing as loud as I can (because I'm all alone) or praying, or talking on the phone, and sometimes wonder, "Wow, how'd I get here so fast?" But this morning, when I saw all the K-LOVE stickers on the back of a silver mini-van, I just knew it had to be her. I sped up, weaving in and out of the 10 mile and hour traffic. I got right up next to her and I honked. And honked. And honked. Waived. And waived. And waived even more. She never saw me. Her little Phillipino eyes were straight ahead, both hands on the wheel. I got off at my exit and sent her an email as soon as I got to the office teasing her about being such a "vigilant driver." Of course, she shot an email right back at me and said, "I wish I would have seen you so I could have made funny faces at you!" That is so Lillian.

Picnic Galore!

Yesterday was our Annual Church Picnic. We met at Toro Park in Salinas and we had a BLAST! The picnic was planned for 11am - 3pm, but we didn't end up leaving until almost 4:30. The weather was perfect for a teens vs. adults soccer match, a kids' three-legged races, two big ol' bounce houses, a wheel barrow race (people only), watemelon eating contest, more food than you could imagine and an even bigger dessert table filled with the most delicious desserts. After all of that, we still had time for a volleyball game, teen burping contest and sitting back watching the kids climb the giant oak trees that surrounded our picnic area. I got to know a few people a little better and enjoyed the laughter and jokes of the friends we know well. I left so grateful for the wonderful people the Lord has placed in our lives. We love our church family and look forward to many church picnic's to come...