Shipwrecked and alone, we were never truly alone.
He was our anchor when we needed Him most, He kept us grounded in Truth and Hope.
We are His Anchored Crew.
"This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil". Hebrews 6:19
This
week we visited the Magnolia Bird Farm in Corona. We were all on the
same page when we concluded we didn't want a bird. K said they were to
messy and J said they "melled bad". We did compromise though, we walked
out with a humming bird feeder (pics to come).
J is reaching out to the parrot while covering his nose, it was "melly".
The Dove is an amazing creation of Gods. The dove has one mate in its lifetime, it'll only be with another dove if it's mate has passed. The doves instinct is to turn the other cheek when hit or attacked. It made sense as to why the Lord uses a dove in the scriptures.
K's response to the loud parrot, wish he was this alert and responsive when I talked to him.
Petting a parakeet.
More petting. K survived this interaction, apparently this parakeet doesn't like women and the colors red and purple.
My new friend, he's so loud he makes me sound quiet.
K at his finest.
I asked K to take a picture of me and N. He did a great job we're just of centered.
This is not Tucan-Sam but he sure looks like it. We also got a chance to pet this little tyke and meanwhile he had a little accident, similar to what I find on my car.
Standing here with an attitude, finally she's not the smallest one in the room.
There's nothing really special about this post it just gives you insight to our great day today. I've always wanted to takes these shadow pics, I think they're cool!
J's Shadow
K's Shadow
Mommy and J
I definitely love our neighborhood, I absolutely love our neighbors. The kids flying kite's and having a blast!
Pal's for the past 5 years.
Josh flying a kite, if you look to the very top of the picture you can see it. He said "mine is high mommy" and it really was. I hope they remember this day.
Dear God,
I couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day. Not to hot, not to cold, a nice cool afternoon breeze that my children can enjoy and see the beauty and fun in your creation. Thank you, thank you for not only creating me, defeating sin, hearing every prayer in the world, and still giving me days like today. I love you. ~Mommy
We ended this great day with a walk around the block. And the icing on the cake was hearing K pray "And thank you Lord for always protecting us", because He always does.
Today the boy's started swimming lessons. We attempted swim lessons last year and needless to say, it didn't go so well. So me, being the cautious mommy really want the boy's to know how to swim, so back to swim lessons we went.
Let me give you a glimpse of last years attempt. K cried the whole 30 minutes of class, J cried cause his "brudder" cried and so from that visit on the cries started the moment they spotted the building. After about 3 attempts, I gave up.
This year we took a different approach. Many of our friends are involved with the same organization getting swim lessons, so I thought with that angle we might be successful.
Today, we woke up bright and early, had a good hearty breakfast and got ready for swim lessons.
Upon getting K dressed I expressed how proud I was of him that he was going to swim class, and there he started "No!". It was like last year ALL over again! So after some coercion, and more coercion the three Aderholds were en route to swim lessons.
Both boy's did great especially for what their instructor had them do on their first day. I was thankful that despite K's fear he was still willing to carry out the session and he even expressed after class to Mum that he's ready for next week (THANK GOD!).
One of my favorite pictures of them. "Brudders" side by side.
K was doing awesome! Until. He inhaled some water when he was doing the underwater exercise. He held his breath up to 4 seconds, I was a proud Momma!
Josh getting ready to dive in and swim to the wall with his Praise the Lord hands
1....2....3...4....5.....6, breath, do it again..1...2..
I'm so very proud of both my boy's for being such brave little swimmers.
My mom and I were talking and it was too funny to reminisce back to when I was in swimming lessons a little older than the boys and I cried the whole way through.
"For God did not give us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of sound mind"-
Last week the boys and a whole bunch of fun home-school folk went Whale Watching down in Newport Harbor.
If anything, out of all our little excursions with our group the boy's are really learning patience.
L. D'Alessandro is our newest addition to our group. The boy's and I are thrilled to have our cousin (and sister) along for all our adventures. L looks absolutely beautiful as she's taking in the vast sea that her creator made. It was a beautiful day.
K was super excited about taking his "onoculars" with him to see all the sea animals. We had a hot spot standing in the front of the boat as we came out of the harbor.
Unfortunately, J unknowingly gave his hat as a donation to the dolphin habitat. One good gust of wind came and swept it away.
As we were traveling at slow speed we took some time to take some pics.
N and L ready for our little excursion!
Momma and J staying close, not to mention warm.
And Mr Cool K whale and dolphin searching
"Gilligan" aka J got more and more comfortable, hence his pose.
We were able to see sea lions, two different types of dolphins and one shy grey whale. Whales at this time are heading up to the arctic and travel 8-10 MPH in the shallow waters. It was amazing that the real Skipper could tell the presence of a whale by the calm looking waters. At which we slowed down and quieted the boat to see a baby grey whale.
The boy's enjoyed the dolphins that swam along side the boat for a majority of the time.
And the "Skipper" aka K was getting tired of saying "cheese"
I would have to say my favorite part of that whole adventure was towards the end of the trip on our way back to the harbor and the boy's and I sat cuddled on a bench (I was cuddling so I couldn't take a pic). As we sat there the boy's and I looked over the horizon of the sea and I explained what an island was, since Catalina was clearly visible, we talked about the earth and if it was round or flat, we talked about who made the ocean and all it's living creatures.
And as I thought I was teaching, I sat amazed that my God made this; this vast, enormous, beautiful ocean was made by my God. Then it took me to the parable in Matthew8:23-27 when the "great tempest arose on the sea" and the disciples woke Jesus thinking they were on the brink of death and Jesus asked "Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?" (That's definitely me at times), then Jesus calmed the sea and the disciples marveled at Him saying "Who can this be, that even the winds and sea obey Him?" I took a minute to look out into the endless sea and thought "My God has control of this entire sea and I question His ability to control my life?". I was humbled and convicted all in one, but comforted in the hope that my boy's will cling to the knowledge and faith that their Father in Heaven has the power to control their lives if they (I) just let Him.
This is when you know the kids are pooped and ready to go home.
These day's I learn a lot. I learn a lot of the same lessons over and over and over again. I guess, I'm still like a child in a way that I don't learn the first time, the second time maybe, but with each different situation I have a different reaction. I'm like that child looking up to God as he instructs me in my ways.
You would think after 31 years of learning, 31 years of witnessing, 31 years of realizing I would come to the conclusion....."I will make it, I can make it. Not on my own accord, but on His."
" I can to all things THROUGH Christ who strengthens me" Philippians 4:13
I'm literally on the run so much, that sometimes I get caught up in thinking I can to it all myself....
But isn't there something I'm suppose to be learning in this? Isn't this yet again, another obstacle, another trial, another hurdle that I NEED to get through, and if I rest assured enough in the sovereignty of God and His faithfulness to see me through, won't I get through it?
He will catch me when I can't handle the situation.
And with His help and His help alone, I will make it home. Complete and at peace in Him.
I love that today, God pretty much sat me down and retaught that lesson again.
He is so gentle but consistent in disciplining His child (me). To TRUST in Him-again and again and again.
And even after the trial, no matter how big or small, He still sends that little blessing to remind me He loves me.
This is K's ultimate favorite worship song. K encourages and reminds me daily...."Mommy, put on the He loves me song". Its sweet to hear his quiet voice in the midst of playing sing "Oh, how He loves us, Oh, how He loves us."
"Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become a little children, you will by no means enter the Kingdom of God" Matthew 18:3
I think if anything, as a parent I have learned (and I will still continue to learn) this lesson more than anything else. I need to be that small child, I need to hold on to the faith that MY GOD maybe? No, CAN and WILL allow me to do anything according to His will, if I can just learn the lesson to trust and rest in Him.
And truly, after it's all said and done.....My God-a God of love, grace, mercy and a God who definitely has a sense of humor never forgets to share with me a little reminder of how much He truly does love me.
(Thanks J and K for letting me use your pics to illustrate my story)
Our first game of the season was last week and we won! (T-ball doesn't keep score so we always win naturally). The boy's looked adorable in their uniforms and even more so in there positions out on the field. K-First baseman and J-Right fielder. It was even more adorable when K yelled over to his team member "Hey Alex!? Get in ready position!"-already, a leader.
I have to give extra thanks to Nina, Nino, Madre, Naomi, Thomas, Laney, Millie, Mum and of course, Papa for coming out to an unbelievably cold and windy evening. Who knew T-ball games would be at 6pm. None the less, I went Mexican and bundled my boys in multiple layers.
I love that these are ALL real smiles
Pre-game photo session with the cousins
I thought this picture was really cool, the colors in the sky are amazing!
I had dugout duty again, and I was trying to keep the kids warm with blankets. Good sports all around.
J's first time up to bat!
And he got on base! (He's securing his helmet after it went "bobble-bobble" as he ran.
