Balboa Park in San Diego

I feel so blessed that I can lay my eyes on all of this beauty and add a memory of the architecture, the gardens, the mountains, how I looked up to the heavens with closed eyes just feeling the sun, holding hands with my love while we watched our son run free.

San Diego Zoo

San Diego Zoo was THE MAIN EVENT as far as I was concerned. The weather was perfection (which seems to be the norm for San Diego). Ben was in absolute awe when we saw the first animal...

Cutest kid ever? Yea, I think so.
Pretty amazing day.

Photo Challenge-Movement

Getting my pancake on in San Diego

I've been on some kind of crazy pancake kick lately. Vacation is a great excuse to fully indulge.
I love how Ben looks like a little version of my husband.


Swoon :)

Surfing in San Diego

On our first full day in California, Matt and I decided to take a surf lesson. Matt has been a few times, but this would be my first. We had a great instructor who pretty much threw me into a wave as soon as we got into the water so I could get over my nerves. I have nerves...about everything. Once I got into it, it was such a great time. I only got up a couple times...Matt was definitely a better surfer than I was.






Fish tacos and Mexican coke to finish out the day...doesn't get much better.

Thankful on Thursday

This week I am thankful for

1. Proverbs...I love the simplicity and truth in this book
2. Benjamin repeating "love you" (ovv ooo)
3. My father in law's generosity
4. Matt's never waning effort to make me happy
5. A new friend to work out with
6. A trip to California that holds the hope of warm sunshine and memories for a lifetime.

Bubble

Benjamin's Room

My favorite room in our house is Benjamin's. We had a very tight budget to put this room together, but that helped me choose items that I loved and to keep it simple. The dresser was left in our house by the previous owner, we painted it and added new hardware. The crib, shelves, leaf, and chair are from IKEA. Benjamin absolutely loves reading books under his giant leaf. The fish mobile is Flensted...a little pricey for cardboard, but worth it.

Thankful on Thursday

The fall of this year I began my business, All the Little Birds. I had an idea of a toddler/baby class where I could teach American Sign Language coupled with songs, rhymes, and playtime. The response has been amazing, and I truly LOVE watching the children have fun and getting to know the caregivers. The Lord has put some amazing friends in my path since having Ben who have joined and spread the word about my class. Praying All the Little Birds continues to grow and so grateful for what it is now.

The meat dilemma.

A few weeks ago I was preparing dinner and cutting chicken . It made me sick. This started the meat dilemma. I am not against eating meat, but I am now becoming very hesitant to purchase or eat meat that has been factory farmed. The cruelty these animals endure is beyond what most of us would want to know about. Not to mention the hormones that are given and the pesticides that make their way into our bodies.

When I began thinking about cutting back on my meat intake the Lord dropped a scripture in my heart that I rarely read or think of. "A righteous man cares for the needs of his animal, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel." Proverbs 12:10. It's pretty amazing how the Lord cares even about these issues I am having questions about. I love that about Him. I know God gave us dominion over the animals of the earth, but I don't believe he ever intended on us consuming the large quantities we do or acquiring them the way we do. Having a child has really made me think about what kinds of foods we eat. I'm still trying to figure this all out and how I can make it work in our family. Buying free range meat and eggs does not come cheap. Despite what the package says at the grocery store, most things labeled "organic" or "free range" are still factory farmed. Currently there are no good FDA regulations for this stuff. For now, I am just doing what feels right for me. Overall, the most important thing is what the Bible says about the issue.
Romans 14:3 ESV
"Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him."