The Smith Family Adventures

Life...it never seems to go as planned

2010-05-27T14:40:00.000-07:00

Today I was thinking about my life and the plans that I had for my life 12 years ago when I graduated from high school. At that time, I knew that the next step would be college. Although it took some time for me to figure out what I wanted to do with my life, attending a Christian college was the vital piece of that puzzle. However, the school that I thought that should attend, versus the school that God had in mind for me didn't match up. Life wasn't going as planned. Years later I would be able to see why I needed to go to the school that I did...I wouldn't have met my husband otherwise, but at the time it felt like another instance of things not going as planned.

Once I realized that God was calling me into secondary teaching at a public high school, I put all of my time and effort into finishing what my parents had wanted for me...earning a degree and starting a career which would enable me to support myself regardless of what the future would bring. However, a horrible grammar course and a recommendation from a professor which all but bluntly stated that I was not teacher material, made me start to question what I had planned. I began to consider changing my major with only one semester to go. Things were not going as planned. However, this was all part of the growing experience and I kept moving forward with my current major. I made it through the semester and moved home.

By the spring of 2003, I had earned my BA in English and was teaching full-time at my current school site. Despite the negative recommendation, I was quickly hired and viewed as a valuable member of my department. Things seemed to be going as planned for the first time in a long time. I had achieved the career that I wanted... but I was alone.

I never dreamed that I would graduate from a Christian college with a degree and no prospects of a loving Christian husband. Although outwardly I tried to smile and trust that God has plans for me, but inwardly I wasn't convinced. Perhaps the companionship that I so desired was not what God wanted for me?
Then, out of nowhere I met Michael. I never dreamed that God was preparing me for a man living in Gilroy. Everything about our story screams of God's provision for us. We met at the perfect time, got engaged at the perfect time, Michael got a job in the northbay at the perfect time...God knew that plans that he had for me even when I thought that all hope was lost.

Now, life is moving ahead and things might seem pretty good to those from the outside looking in on our lives. However, life at this point is very different from what I had planned. Marriage is different, not bad but anyone who is married knows that it is not all roses and champagne- marriage is wonderful but it takes work everyday. Family is not what I had planned for this point in my life that isn't easy. My life seems to be screaming...but Lord this is not what I planned!!!

And there is the problem..."I"...do I really want what I have planned? Can a sinner like me really know what is best for my life? Do I even have the capacity to understand God's plans for my life? When I look back on my life, it seems that the things that didn't go according to plan were the things that ended up being perfect examples of God's amazing grace and mercy in my life. So...I am learning to rejoice when things don't go according to plan. My life has shown me that His mercies are new every morning.

Praise

2010-03-04T10:46:00.000-08:00

Praise
Repent
Ask
Yield

Last night our church started a month long journey through P.R.A.Y. as part of a week night series. There are so many people who are hurting for a variety of reasons and these special services are a time to Seek His Face through corporate prayer and worship. Last night we focused on the P which stands for praise. It is so easy to lose sight of the fact that God is worthy of our praise through any and EVERY circumstance. God has promised that "if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land" (2 Chronicles 7:14).

In light of this all that I can do is fall on my face and praise God for:

My Salvation
Hope
Answered and Unanswered Prayer
Christ
The Cross
The Ability to Serve
Joy
Saving the Lost
My Family and Friends
Air, Shelter, and Water
Difficult Times
Sorrow
The Body of Christ

"How can I keep from singing Your praise?" Answer- I Can't

Settling in...

2010-03-03T08:26:00.001-08:00

Happy to have a home...Kona is settling in nicely and her big brother is in love with her. Here are a few of the adorable pics that we have taken of her over the past two days. She is hyper, but has a really sweet side as soon as she gets tired. She likes our couch! Sleeping with daddy!
Looking for her brother under the table!

Kittens are so much fun!

Welcome to the Family

2010-03-01T09:20:00.000-08:00

Yesterday we added to our family...introducing Kona! We adopted her from a rescue in Fairfield and she is so excited to have a new home. Khai seems to be adjusting well so far...we will introduce them tomorrow since she is still recovering from her spay surgery. She is a sweetheart and purrs constantly. Welcome to the family little Kona!

Top Ten of 2010...So far...

2010-02-19T14:19:00.001-08:00

10. We spent the weekend in San Francisco in February. Michael was working, but I walked around the city and had lunch with my sister. It was a beautiful and warm weekend and it lifted my spirits in between rain storms.

9. The new season of Survivor has Villains and Heroes returning to fight it out for the million dollar prize. It has been so much fun to watch and I can't wait to see who wins!!

8. We purchased a new couch and it is the first one that we have owned which is comfortable for more than 10 minutes. It has been a blessing to us and makes it easier to entertain.

7. We have been getting to know some of the couples in our church recently and it has been a huge blessing for us both to have them in our lives.

6. Michael traveled very little during the month of January. It was so nice to have him home for dinner every night.

5. We have lived in our little townhouse rental for one year and we couldn't be happier that it was for rent at the perfect time. We can't wait for the weather to warm up so that we can add more flowers to the backyard.

4. We LOOOOOOOVVVVVVVEEEE our dutch oven and I love that Michael has been cooking me dinner so often using it. It has been a yummy blessing.

3. Our kitty Khai is the sweetest ever and I can't imagine not having him around when Michael is out of town.

2. I am going to pull back on teaching night school and next week I will start teaching only one night a week until the end of the semester and then I will officially retire from night school leaving me free to focus on my full time job, full time!! It will be great to be home at night, especially when Michael is home.

1. Every day I get one day closer to 5 years of marriage with the love of my life and I couldn't be more blessed.

I love you babe and I can't wait for the next 5 years!!

London and Paris 2009 Recap

2009-12-15T14:19:00.000-08:00

Our trip to London and Paris over the summer was AMAZING. Not onlt was Europe wonderful, but we loved having the opportunity to spend 16 days together 24/7! Since Michael is gone so much of the year for work, we needed this time to spend together. After waiting for our room for nearly 5 hours...after a long flight...we finally got showered and changed and headed out to our first pub!

Then we went to Covet Gardens did the first little bit of shopping. On the way back to the hotel, we stopped by St. James' park before going to bed early. We were still on California time and so very tired!!

The next day we continued to explore London. Our hotel was right by The London Eye and Big Ben so we felt very lucky to see them both every day.

Gretchen showed us this cute little wine bar in an old cave cellar. The next day we headed to Bath and loved seeing the inspiration for Jane Austen's novel, Persuasion. I was enthralled the entire time.

Sally Lunn's had the best brioche buns with cinnamon butter ever! The river (avon) was beautiful and we never wanted to leave. Well...until the train broke down later that evening and we couldn't leave until hours later...hehe.

Jane Austen and I got along famously :) The gardens in the town are beautiful!

The Roman baths were even more spectacular than I had imagined them.

Michael at Tower Bridge and in front of Big Ben.

The "New Globe" and getting ready for Les Miserables!

Notre Dame

The Louvre and Le Tour Eiffel

Champs Elysses and Le Tour Eiffel... again :)

I love it when it sparkles...

Versailles!!

In memory of Bill and Margaret Smith.

I heart the Beatles and I heart London!!

What is True...

2009-07-15T08:19:00.000-07:00

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things." -Philippians 4:6-9

Everything that we have is from God. He controls where we live, what we have, and what our jobs are. He is a loving God and he knows what we need. The world warps that perception. Sin causes us to want to control our own destiny rather than what God wants for us. I feel myself fight God daily on this issue. Instead of saying, "God I want your will in my life," I tell Him, the Creator of the universe, what I want Him to do for me all the while never really trusting that He can do it. One thing that God is teaching me is to look for His will and not my own. I don't want to live a life of my own creation because only God can give me joy. Yet, when I ask Him to help me to live His will for my life and to give me peace to get through it, I need to trust that He can do it. This is the thinking on what is true part.

What is true...
1. I have been blessed with a wonderful husband.
2. Through everything that is going on in education right now I have not 1, but 2 teaching jobs.
3. I have been saved from my sin through Christ.
4. Every day I wake up and choose to find joy in whatever comes my way...and to trust that God can give me peace. (I am not claiming that I am at 100% in this, but I do know that it gets better with each new trial).

We can't spend our lives thinking about what may happen tomorrow. That is not what is true. More importantly we will never be freed from our sin if we don't believe that God can accomplish a miracle in us.

Choose to believe and He will change your life. Praise God for so great a salvation!

Fourth of July 2009- Pinecrest Lake

2009-07-09T09:54:00.000-07:00

For the first time in 4 years, we were able to make it up to Pinecrest for the 4th of July!! We had a great time relaxing at the cabin and spending time in nature. We decided to make the hike to Waterhouse Lake on the 4th since it had been over 15 years since we last made the trip. It is a beautiful hike through the immigrant wilderness down to a Lake at about 8,000 feet.

Michael had no idea what he was in for when we first started. The trail starts off fairly flat through some pretty meadows and streams. Then you climb down a cliff several hundred feet. It is hard enough to go down, but I tried not to think about the coming back up part of it all.

We had a great picnic lunch on the side of the lake and enjoyed being together. Hiking a trail like this makes we want to move to the mountains and do this every weekend. What could be better than spending time with family surrounded by the mountains that God created.

On Sunday we make our anual trek to Strawberry via the Pinecrest Lake trail. The best part of tis hike is the fact that there is no bridge and crossing the river can be a challenge. We had a pretty easy time of it and waited for the slower members for the party for over 30 minutes. Finally, we called and found out that they crossed earlier than we had and were almost ahead of us. The worst part was the snake that wanted to hang out while we were waiting. Thank goodness Heather saw it before I did!!

Disneyland 2009

2009-07-06T12:33:00.000-07:00

In June we celebrated Father's Day at Disneyland. We were able to check out our brick for the first time since it was installed right outside of the gates of the park. It took us nearly 20 minutes to find the one that my family puchased several years ago before I met Michael and I am sure that we looked pretty silly. It was a beautiful day to be at Disneyland!! My parents hadn't been there since we got engaged over 5 years ago. I can't believe that it has been that long. We had dinner at The Napa Rose on Friday night and then spent Saturday and part of Sunday at the park. My dad is the only one who will go on the teacups with me so we enjoyed spinningn around like crazy people. My mom really enjoyed the Toy Story ride at California Adventure!! We traveled to the island formerly known as Tom Sawyer's Island and had some fun with the new Pirate's Lair. My parent's thought that it was cool, but we all miss thte old setup. It can be difficult to get used to the changes.

On Sunday we celebrated Father's Day at Storytellers Cafe before heading back to the park. My mom and Michael made sure to eat as many churros on the trip as possible. We ended the trip with some mint juleps, which my parents had never had before. It was a great time together!!

Girls' Weekend

2009-07-06T12:06:00.000-07:00

The summer is not yet half over and already it has been filled with adventures!! In May, I organized a Girls' Weekend in Lake Tahoe. Heather was able to fit it in between the spring and summer semesters and Megan came up from LA. It is such a blessing to have family as friends. Kristin and I needed some fun before the stress of finals and Jenn made the trip from Fresno. Rounding out the group was Jillian and Kimberley from San Jose. We stayed at the Mariott Grand Residence and had a great time together!! On Friday night we went to the Opal Lounge at Mont Blu Casino and enjoyed the time together. Saturday was spent enjoying the sun at Zephr cove and the pool at the hotel before heading the Vex after dinner at Cabo Wabo.

This summer has been filled with adventures and it is not yet half over! In May I organized a Girls' Weekend in Lake Tahoe. It was a change to get away without the boys and enjoy being girls.

Beauty in Creation

2009-05-15T10:53:00.000-07:00

Pinecrest Lake

When I try to use words to express the way that I feel about the mountains, something inside of me stops. I am able to formulate words about pretty much anything at anytime during the work week, so why is it that the words won't come on this one issue?

As a child, the mountains seemed to surround every good memory. From the camping trips to summers days spent at Pinecrest, I was blessed to be surrounded by God's creation from my first Christmas as an infant. Even as a child, there were times when I would stop and stare at a tree, mountain, or lake, and wonder about its creation. I didn't understand this prompting in my soul until later when I would learn that God gives everyone the knowledge about creation inside of them. What better way to feel the majesty of a holy God than to stare in awe at the mountain that He created.

As a teenager and young adult, I was cognizant of the connection between soul and creation and that only made my times of meditation more powerful. To sit by a mountain stream and read about a God who knows every hair on my head is an amazing thing! Anytime that I need to see the God who loves me enough that he would die for me, I can see Him through the sky and clouds. Every time that I need to feel Him, I can do so through the sun or the rain. Anytime that I need to hear Him I can do so through His word.

As I prepare to spend the weekend in the mountains, I pray that I will feel, hear, and see Him with every breath.

Mighty to Save Even in a Public School

2009-03-17T09:22:00.000-07:00

Mighty To Save

Everyone needs compassion,

Love that's never failing;

Let mercy fall on me.

Everyone needs forgiveness,

The kindness of a Saviour;

The Hope of nations.

As a high school English teacher I hear excuses everyday, all day long. Students are much more creative than the classic "my dog ate my homework." I am too quick to assume that their excuses are fabricated and that their need is not real. God, help me to show compassion to each and every student you have trusted me with. They are your creation. Help me to love them as such.

Saviour, He can move the mountains,

My God is Mighty to save,He is Mighty to save.

Forever, Author of salvation,

He rose and conquered the grave,Jesus conquered the grave.

Jesus, you are mighty to save even in a public school where I am unable to preach your truth directly. Help me to love with a love that is never ending so that my students will see you through me, even if they can't put a name to the hope that is within me.

So take me as You find me,

All my fears and failures,

Fill my life again.

I give my life to follow

Everything I believe in,

Now I surrender.

I will fail more than I succeed, still you give me life and breath in you each new day. Help me to follow you in everything, including my classroom. I know that if I surrender to you, you will use my life for your glory. I believe and trust in your word.

Shine your light and let the whole world see,

We're singing for the glory of the risen King...Jesus

May everyone see your glory through my life whether you choose to lead me into, through, or out of a valley.

It's Time to Party !!

2009-03-11T08:31:00.000-07:00

As some of you may already know, Michael's birthday is rapidly approaching and you are invited!!

Where? 5091 Lakeshore Dr.

When? March 29th 4:30 p.m.

What? Yummy Appetizers, Good Wine, and S'mores

Who? All Ages

Please RSVP to Karen @ kareng@fsusd.k12.ca.us

We have a lovely guest room with a queen sized bed available to the first interested party!

Hospitality

2009-02-23T19:25:00.000-08:00

So, I have been thinking a lot about hospitality since Michael and I moved into our new place. Those of you who know me well understand that social situations are not easy for me. My body literally freezes at the thought of having to try and carry on a conversation with someone who I don't know very well. I assume that they won't be interested in anything that I have to say or that I will say something stupid before the encounter is over. I spent many afternoons and evenings alone in my dorm room because I was too scared to go out and form new relationships. The only ones that I had were with outgoing individuals who, God bless them, took the time to develop a relationship with me.

When I met Michael, one of the things that I fell in love with was his ability to engage ANYONE! He can make you feel like the most interesting and clever person in the room in a matter of minutes. It made me feel more secure than I had ever felt before. When we were first married, I let myself hold on to that security for myself instead of using it to step out of my own boat of social phobia.

I like to think that since I like to cook I am hospitable when in fact the opposite has been true. I truly enjoy cooking for our families, but my dream evening includes a yummy new dish with my hubby and kitty and no one else- my husband and cat know who I am and over time have convinced me that the real me is okay. Since it would be too honest to admit that I am scared to reach out to new people, I would hide behind our small dining room table. I would tell myself that if only we could accommodate more people, I would be more likely to invite acquaintances over in an attempt to get to know them better and share God's love.

As soon as we found our new rental, Michael and I started talking about buying a dining room table. We wanted to have room to develop relationships with people from our church and to deepen the relationships with our friends and family. As it was being delivered on Saturday I started to think about the reality of having people over. Family- well that was pretty safe. They love me no matter what. Friends- well there are a few in the area that I feel comfortable enough with to be myself. Acquaintances- Uh oh! What will I say? What will I do? Will they like me? Will I act in a manner that will be pleasing to the Lord if I can't think of anything to say to them? Will my fear paralyze me? Then, God gave me the opportunity to learn to trust him with this issue this past weekend.

We went out to dinner with several people who Michael works with. I ended up at the end of the table with another couple and the first few moments were filled with silence after the standard greeting remarks. I began to over think...and then pray...Lord give me something to say. He answered my prayer and at the end of the evening even Michael commented that I was much more social than he had expected. Now as I look at the table above in our dining room I am reminded that it is not just a piece of furniture. It is a tool to share the love of Christ through hospitality so don't be surprised if I invite you over some time soon! And if I don't...please call me on it.

Kitchen Woes

2009-02-11T18:39:00.000-08:00

Yesterday afternoon, I decided to start unpacking my kitchen. Since being able to cook with my own supplies again was the one thing that I was most looking forward to, I felt excited at the thought of getting everything organized and put away. I am one of those sick individuals who loves organizing anything!! ( I can hear my college roommate laughing at the memory of awakening to me organizing my drawers in the middle of the night so that I could sleep) I decided to work my way through the boxes in our garage one at a time until everything was properly put away. The first box went well, until I started putting things away. Just as the cabinet would sparkle with perfection I would remember something else that should go in its place. Convinced that I couldn't possibly do this properly without having everything unpacked, I began to pile things on the counters, island, table, and floor until I decided that I better see how many boxes I had left. Surely there couldn't be more than 5 kitchen boxes total!

Well...I started to count...2...4...6...10! Where did all of this come from??? Our old apartment kitchen was modest in size and I never felt like things were coming out of my ears. What could possibly be in the boxes?? As I continued to pack I was horrified to discover how much glassware we own. I am equipped to throw a cocktail party for at least 50 people. Is this really necessary? Do I even have 50 friends? Just as I became completely overwhelmed with the task, I started to remember the memories associated with the things that I was unwrapping.

I have been rambling about my Emma dishes for days on Facebook so I think that it is time to explain. Shortly after college I discovered my dream dishes on a trip to Pottery Barn. They were simple with enough character to make them interesting. I was in love, but there was a problem. I was a single girl living with her parents and I did not need, nor could I afford them. Every time that I would visit Pottery Barn I would check to make sure that the dishes were still available in case I was to meet my prince charming some time soon. Well...I did and we rushed to register for the dishes shortly after he proposed!! These are the dishes that we ate on as newlyweds in our little 1-bedroom apartment, and the dishes that we used to celebrate every milestone that we encountered during that first year of marriage. Slowly the dishes themselves faded away and all that I could see was what they represented. So, as I continued to unpack them I couldn't help but remember all of the memories. And that made the task less daunting.

As I unpacked the waffle iron, I remembered Saturday mornings as newlyweds. We would enthusiastically jump out of bed and rush to make waffles and smoothies. Then, we would jump back in bed and watch several episodes of "Sex in the City" before starting our day. As I unpacked the coffee mugs I though of all the times that my husband brought me coffee in the morning when we had the same work schedule. As I unpacked the serving dishes I though of the first Thanksgiving meal that I prepared several years ago and how much I look forward to doing it again now that we have a table big enough for 8 people.

Suddenly the kitchen was complete...well except for a few random pieces that are packed who knows where- I mean why would I pack two of a three canister set in one box? Now we are moving on to new memories and experiences. God has given me life, a husband who loves me, an amazing family, and the ability to find peace in that. I pray that I will wake up each day and remember that His promises are new EVERY morning.

Moving On...

2009-02-11T10:57:00.000-08:00

As of this weekend, Michael, Khai, and I will be living on our own again. We are renting a townhouse in Fairfield and we are so excited about it. It has been a blessing to stay with family, but we are ready for our own space again. We have a guest room with a queen-sized bed which, I must admit, has turned out pretty cozy and we can't wait to have friends and family come and stay with us. I may like it better than my own bedroom, if I am honest! As soon as it gets warmer there is a pool right across the street with a hot tub and a view of Green Valley Lake. A guest room, pool, and free wine-tasting-how can anyone say no to that!! We hope to see you soon!

Fall Update

2008-10-14T13:52:00.000-07:00

During the month of September, Michael and I moved to Fairfield until the Spring. Although it was sad to leave Napa behind, we are excited about moving forward with what God has planned for us. Hopefully, He will clue us in sometime soon. Michael started working for Peirano Estate Winery in August and has been traveling quite a bit so it has been nice to be near family. Khai thinks that my parent's house is kitty heaven and I don't know how were are ever going to get him to leave.

In the Valley

2008-01-28T09:13:00.000-08:00

Below I have listed the lyrics to the song that Michael sang at church on Sunday. The bible refers to the "valleys" in our lives as being times of difficulty and trial. It is easy to fall into the wrongful mindset that we deserve or that God has promised an easy and happy life. If God works, "all things together for the good of those who love him," then it is in our sorrows and joy that He reveals His will for our lives. The imagery of this song demonstrates why it is sometimes necessary for Christians to go through difficult times. God promises that these difficult times will make us more like Christ and will teach us to trust Him. I wish that I could trust to the point that I find joy at the start of every difficult situation, but I am a sinner. I look to emotions and material possessions to satisfy. Despite this, God became flesh and came to this earth and then lived the life that I could never live. He faced the same temptations that we face and lived a life free from sin, and then willingly gave His life so that our sins would be erased. Whatever it is that you are facing today I pray that you may find His grace in the valley.

In the Valley
Words and music by Bob Kauflin
As recorded on Valley of Vision

When You lead me to the valley of vision
I can see You in the heights
And though my humbling wouldn’t be my decision
It’s here Your glory shines so bright
So let me learn that the cross precedes the crown
To be low is to be high
That the valley’s where You make me more like Christ

Let me find Your grace in the valley
Let me find Your life in my death
Let me find Your joy in my sorrow
Your wealth in my need
That You’re near with every breath
In the valley

In the daytime there are stars in the heavens
But they only shine at night
And the deeper that I go into darkness
The more I see their radiant light
So let me learn that my losses are my gain
To be broken is to heal
That the valley’s where Your power is revealed

Let me find Your grace in the valley
Let me find Your life in my death
Let me find Your joy in my sorrows
Your wealth in my need
That You're near with every breath
In the valley

© 2006 Sovereign Grace Praise (BMI).

New Years Eve

2008-01-19T09:43:00.001-08:00

In celebration of the new year, we went to dinner at Cuvee Restaurant in Napa, Ca. The evening starting with a 3-course prix fix menu and a glass of champagne. We were joined by our good friends Jillian and Jeff Harrell and Chris and Monica Ready. There is no better way to start the year off right than with good friends and good food. This is the first year that Jillian and Jeff have lived in the Bay Area and we are thrilled to have them so close.

After dinner, we headed over the Chris and Monica's to wait for the dancing to start. It is sad when a group of twenty-somethings can't make it until midnight without feeling sleepy. Around 10:30 we headed back to Cuvee for some more champagne and DANCING!! Jillian and Chris were the stars of the evening with some excellent moves on Jillian's part and some interesting ones from Chris! It is great to have such wonderful friends in our lives. We hope that everyone has a memorable start to the new year and may 2008 be everything that you hope for.

Seattle

2008-01-17T18:56:00.000-08:00

For my 27th Birthday, Michael surprised me with a trip to Seattle, Washington. After pretending that we were headed south, he finally clued me in that we would be going somewhere colder only a few days prior to our trip. On the way to the airport I found out that we were headed north and that my parents were going to join us. I was super excited!!! The next morning we headed to Pike's Market for breakfast.
After breakfast we wandered into the very first Starbucks!!! It is amazing to see this little coffee shop tucked away that started a major coffee empire. We didn't, however have any Starbucks coffee on our trip. There were too many other yummy choices!!

The next day we traveled to Snow- qualamie falls. It was amazing to experience in the rain. Later that day we drove up the pass and saw snow!! The weather was crazy so we were all thankful for the rental car which happened to be a Hummer. Some of the other activities that we enjoyed in Seattle included walking along the waterfront, consuming the best clam chowder that I have ever experienced at Duke's and falling in love with the quaint neighborhoods in Queen Anne. Except for the rain we were ready to pick up and move north after this day!!

Michael made reservations at an amazing restaurant overlooking the water for my birthday dinner. We enjoyed good wine and good conversation with exceptional service.

Our final morning in Seattle we found a quaint little bistro not far from our hotel. After our meal we took a final stroll along Pike's Market, visited Beecher's Cheese, and enjoyed one last cup of coffee at Seattle's Best off of Pike Street. I still have dreams about the Mocha Trio!!

At the airport, my mom enjoyed one last taste of Seattle before we headed home. It was an amazing weekend. Oh, I almost forgot. We did visit a Starbucks at the airport and at the Space Needle. I have never consumed so much coffee in my life. Now that is my kind of city.

Our History

2008-01-16T11:42:00.001-08:00

Michael and I met in 2003 through a mutual friend. Michael was finishing up a lunch date and I was arriving for a girls weekend. Michael ended up spending the evening with a bunch of girls and we engaged in a mock-game of Elimi-date. Guess who won? We officially started dating that summer after our first date in Yountville. Even though Compadres is no longer at its original location, it will always have a special place in our hearts. After a year of driving back and forth between Gilroy and Fairfield, Michael proposed.

On June 26, 2004, while sitting in front of the fire at The Napa Rose located in the Grand Californian Hotel at DISNEYLAND, Michael asked me to spend the rest of my life with him. Then he slipped a ring on my finger and it was official!! However, the surprises were just beginning.
Before I had time to process exactly what had happened, Our families surprised me at the restaurant. It was an evening filled with great food and excellent wine. Disney pulled out all of the stops and presented us with champagne flutes with crystal Mickey heads, white chocolate castle favors, and a private dining room. Our families spent the night at the hotel and then we ended the weekend with another day at Disneyland.

I started planning the wedding when we returned home and finally settled on July 30, 2005. The wedding was held at First Presbyterian Church in Concord, Ca. My youth pastor performed the ceremony and we were blessed to be surrounded by 200 of our closest friends and family members. My sister Heather served as the maid of honor and Michael's brother Bryan took over the role of Best Man. Two of my oldest friends, Penny and Jillian, my college roommates, Jenn and Steph, and my college friend Courtney stood by my side on this important day. Michael was surrounded by his oldest friend Barry, his cousins Jason and Josh, and his college friends Aaron and Luke. Michael and several of his friends formed a worship band and played several songs during the ceremony. I walked down the aisle to Cindy Morgan's, "Make Us One," the same song that was used by Steph and Luke and later Jenn and Chris.

The reception was held at Shadelands Art Center in Walnut Creek, Ca. Michael sang Stephen Curtis Chapman's, "I Will Be Here, " to me while my father's best friend played my grandfather's guitar. It was a moment that I will never forget. The dancing went on for hours and the cake was a hit. We purchased it from a bakery that my parents had found when they were young and living in the area. We were finally whisked away to The Lafayette Park Hotel where we spent the first night of our honeymoon and then left for Tahoe the next morning.

We spent a week lounging by the lake, eating at fantastic restaurants, and enjoying the hot tub and pool at the Marriott Grand Residence. Our final night was spent on a sunset champagne catamaran ride across the lake. Our honeymoon was perfect!!
Several months later after we were settled into our married lives we adopted Khai and our family, at least for now, was complete. Today we enjoy everything that life in the Napa Valley has to offer. Many weekends are spent wine tasting, wandering around downtown, visiting some of our favorite restaurants, or at home in front of the television with a home cooked meal and a good bottle of wine. God has brought two amazing couples into our lives through our weekly bible study and Christ is helping us to create accountability and friendships. Michael is involved with the worship at Grace Church of the Napa Valley and we both help with the youth group, Highlife. We can't wait for the many adventures that God will bring into our lives in the years to come.

Quote of the Week

2008-01-15T09:18:00.000-08:00

"The greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do." - Walter Bagehot

As an educator, I hear "I can't" on a daily basis. Now you are probably thinking that I am referring to my students, and yes I do hear this phrase from time-to-time. However, this phrase seems to most often originate from teachers. Anyone familiar with the current condition of public education will find this easy to understand. Teachers are bombarded daily with political programs designed by individuals with no educational background and that can be frustrating. In response to national, state, and district mandates many educators have adopted the attitude that there is no changing the students we have under current unrealistic expectations. Too often I allow myself to fall in line with this way of thinking. I look at the 168 faces that I have been trusted with educating and I feel the pangs of failure. I allow myself to entertain the idea that I can't help them to succeed.
Then, I take a step back and allow myself to see the success of each individual student. When a student takes the time to approach me for help, I would never respond with "I can't" so why do I allow myself to think it? ALL STUDENTS CAN LEARN!!! I know this to be true, but I allow myself to forget. The government may not make this task easy, but it is never impossible.