A howling good time . . .

So we went to our good friend's, Lars and Danielle Norlund's 2nd annual Halloween party. (We missed the first, as we were in Colorado. ) I have to admit, in the past, I had been very hesitant to let my kids dress up for Halloween. It's sort of a religious hang up that I've had; it stems from my upbringing that Halloween is completely of the devil and that we good christians are to have nothing to do with it. While I agree that Halloween in and of itself is pretty morbid and evil, I have resolved myself to the fact that there is nothing wrong with letting my children dress up in fun costumes and having a hayday in going door to door with big pillowcases, and filling them with as much candy as possible for one night out of the year. Afterall, I know in my heart that I don't love the devil or condone evil things. So, I will not keep my kids from the fun any longer, and with no remorse or guilt I will freely let them celebrate Halloween; as long as the costumes don't represent death or evil. We had a great time at the Norlunds' house, playing games, carving pumpkins, and eating lots of food and candy. Chris looked so disgusting that every time I looked at him, I nearly vomited! He was supposed to be a "derilict from our very own Lake County". I have to say, he looked very similar to the fine folks I've seen walking around our local Wal-mart here in Lake County. I, basically didn't have anything else to wear, and I wasn't about to go out and spend any money on a costume, so I pulled some treasures out of my closet and simply went as a "catholic school girl". Chris secretly told all of the guys at the party that I was a catholic school girl/stripper, and I couldn't figure out why they were all looking at me so funny and bug-eyed; that is until Chris told me "his secret." Christopher went as a "space age police man", but he forgot his helmet, so it didn't complete the look so well. Joshie was SUPPOSED to be Mr. Incredible, and we spent a good $40.00 on his costume at the Disney store, but he insisted that he wear his old, torn and beat up Spiderman costume from last year. I gave in and let him; he even wore his funky snow boots to complete the look - I think he looked alittle more like Napolean Dynamite on steroids!! Allie on the other hand looked absolutely adorable as a ballerina princess. (she LOVES pretty things - she has definitely become ALL GIRL!!) Needless to say, we had a great time and can't wait until Halloween to go hunting for candy!!!!

The cat is out of the bag . . .

Okay, so I guess that the word has spread. Chris and I are making plans to move back to Colorado Springs, CO. I know, I know, I know!!! Once again we are moving!! Your thinking - "They just moved!!" You're right, we did, and we love it up here in Hidden Valley Lake, but Chris has had this burning desire to start his own business for a long time now. He would start it here in California, but there is too much competition where we live and in the surrounding areas. Chris has been researching and studying the business market in Colorado Springs, and it will definitely be profitable there. Chris knows his industry well and I know he will do smashingly. We can't go there with the uncertainty of failure or success, for it is better to try and fail, than to never try at all.

We will still help Frank with the CD as much as we can, until we leave in May of 2006. (pic of Frank playing at his wedding about a million years ago!! Frank Dahling - you're STILL the rockstar buaby, and don't you forget it!! **commented with a british, slightly austin powers accent) So from here on out, we will be very busy folks, saving money, planning and setting up the business. I really feel okay about going back there, especially now that most of my family has uprooted and moved away from Sonoma County. Yes, bubs, your still here, but you're too busy anyways, fighting fires and arresting people!! By the way, congrats to Brett who is finishing up Police Academy and already has a job lined up with the Police/Fire Dept. of Rohnert Park, being a policeman/Firefighter!! (In RP you have to be both, who knew?!) Ladies, pay attention: Good looking, single,church goin' man in uniform making good money = WOW!! Anywho, six months is a long time before we move, but we have alot to do before then. We will make the time to get together with our dear friends as much as possible between now and then, so no worrys - we won't forget about you!

Getting older, Guinness and Skin Tags?!

I have been a little down lately. No my dog didn't die. I don't even have a dog. You see today is my birthday and I've been dreading it for some reason. It is my last year as a twenty-something. Looking in the mirror has not been fun. I'm starting to see those once foreign things called "fine lines" and gravity taking it's toll around my cheeks, under my eyes and other unmentionable places. I know, I know, it's vain but it's still not fun to be seeing these things on my face!! Oh, and I'll share a little secret with you; I noticed a little "growth" of skin under my armpit about 5 months ago. I didn't know what to do about it. A friend told me that she gets these "growths" all of the time and that she just cuts them off!! Cuts them off, I thought?!?! Are you freakin' crazy? Ouch! I was doing some research yesterday on the internet for a project I'm working on, and a little ad for cosmetic surgery popped up. Normally I wouldn't have thought twice to click on the "X" box to get it off of my screen, but a little twinge of curiosity nudged me to click on it. A website for a plastic surgery center popped on my screen. Fascinated, I looked at all of the possibilities of having a smaller nose, a tighter face, smoother eyes, spider veins zapped and perky boobs. It all looked grandious, I was ready; sign me up! I found out the general cost for all of these procedures and added them up. I was horrified as I saw the grand total -

Twenty thousand dollars!!! Twenty frickin' thousand dollars! Well, I left the website even more depressed than when I entered - afterall, I don't think that I'm going to have twenty thousand dollars to throw around in the next few years!! (I think that website was of the devil !!) Anyways, I went along with my day even more "down in the dumps" that when I started. I was in a generally, all around bad mood when Chris got home; I just wanted to hide. So after we put the kids to bed I retreated to my glorious bathroom.

On a side note, I absolutely LOVE my master bathroom!! I have NEVER had such a great bathroom! I have a double vanity sink, a shower and a huge oval tub. So I climbed in my tub, dumped some healthy seaweed soak stuff in and sat. After sitting for a few minutes, I realized that I don't just sit and relax too often!! It felt soo good! Chris knocked on the door about 10 minutes into my bath
and at first I was alittle irritated. But he came in to give me an early birthday card, so my irritation melted. He gave me a towel to dry my hands off and I opened the card. It said on the front, "There are two reasons why I want to be with you on your birthday: 1. I love you. " On the inside there is this wolf with his eyes bugged out with springs and it's tongue sticks out and it says, "2. I've seen you naked!" I got a good laugh out of that one!




It cheered me up to the point that I thought I would keep the spark of laughter going by finding all of the alcohol in the house, which consisted of a guinness beer and the last of the white wine in our fridge. (about 1 almost full glass) Pathetic I know, that I have to find alcohol to get my spirits up, but I really just needed to take my mind off of things. So I downed the wine and beer, and immediately I felt that warm, fuzzy sensation to my brain. I started laughing and then went rambling on about something like, "Well, screw the plastic surgery, I'll do my own plastic surgery!!"


"Hunny, get the scissors, let's cut off my ugly skin tag!!" So Chris is like, alright chick, you've lost it, but he went and got the scissors. He was frightened to death, but I just kept saying, come on, just do it, so on the count of three he cut it off. It pinched slightly, which led me to believe that if I wasn't liquered up that it really would of hurt! It bled and I just looked at it, laughed and yelled, "yep! It's a bleeder! We got a bleeder over here! He ran and got a towel and then I instructed him to go get the antiseptic solution and a band-aid. I couldn't stop laughing through the whole thing. Needless to say we had a GREAT night if ya know what I mean and I woke up today on my birthday feeling a renewed sense of being okay with who I am, even without all of the plastic surgery. (and no headache from all of the booze! Believe me, that's a good amount of alcohol for me) So goes the saying that "Beauty is only skin deep . . . "

Gracious Uncertainty

Throughout my life, mostly in my married life, I have done so many different things, moved SO many times and changed the course of direction that I was headed in a million times. You see, when I set out to do something, a project, a new career field, a ministry opportunity, I was really excited and I had every intention of doing just that thing for a very long time. But somehow, something always happened along the way; it's not that I "flaked out" of the situation, things just sooner or later shifted/changed and fell through.
People have often "criticized" me for not having a clear direction with what I want to do in my life, or the fact that my plans often change. (Like I planned on them changing!!) But through all of my experiences in life, I have learned many different skills and valuable lessons that will stay with me for the rest of my life. I realized that God had a reason and purpose for everything I've been through. I have also learned what I want and don't want to do in life. Now, I am not saying that it's not good to have some clear direction and obtainable goals for your life, but I am saying that it's okay to not always know where your going in life. Don't bank on the fact that when you set out to do something that it will turn out just as you had imagined it to. Having that mind set will lead to unfulfilled expectations. Having an open mind and heart is essential to this crazy journey called life. Let me quote from a book that I've been reading called "Wild at Heart" written by John Eldridge, to explain what I mean. When I read this, my life (physical and spiritual) made so much sense!!


"The spiritual life cannot be made suburban," said Howard Macey. "It is always frontier and we who live in it must accept and even rejoice that it remains untamed." The greatest obstacle to realizing our dreams is the false self's hatred of mystery. That's a problem, you see, because mystery is essential to adventure. More than that, mystery is the heart of the universe and the God who made it. The most important aspects of any man's world - his relationship with his God and with the people in his life, his calling, the spiritual battles he'll face - every one of them is fraught with mystery. But that is not a bad thing; it is a joyful, rich part of reality and essential to our soul's thirst for adventure. As Oswald Chambers says,

Naturally, we are inclined to be so mathmatical and calculating that we look upon uncertainty as a bad thing . . . Certainty is the mark of the common-sense life; gracious uncertainty is the mark of the spiritual life. To be certain of God means that we are uncertain in all our ways, we do not know what a day may bring forth. This is generally said with a sigh of sadness; it should rather be an expression of breathless expectation.
(My Utmost for His Highest)

Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive. - Gil Bailie

I now know that I needn't worry about all of the different paths that my life has followed. Each one of them has lead me to a greater understanding about myself and about who God is, and how gracious and deep His love runs for me; that He would cause me to adventure on all of these rough, exciting and unknown journeys in life. At the end of every path I have gained at least one valuable thing . . . Character. - Nikki Caldon

Will u go 4 God?!

While we were visiting my parents over the Labor Day weekend, we watched the news every morning as it reported about the devastation left from hurricane Katrina, and flooding in the south. As we all tearfully watched, I felt completely helpless and wanted to do something. I cried every time I saw another victim hurting, lonely and fearful of their future. I just wanted to reach through the tv and hold them in my arms, give them a big hug and wipe all of their tears away. But what could I possibly do?! Afterall, I'm a mother of three and can't readily take off down south to minister to these people.

When I got home, I checked my e - mail and read about a friend of mine that was actually going to the south with a relief team from his church!! His website directed me to a ministry called UGO4GOD. UGO4GOD, along with Hope Chapel in Santa Rosa, California, and a few other ministries, have joined together to raise donations and send relief effort teams out to help the people of these devastated areas. They have been collecting donated food, clothes and medical supplies. They have sent the donated items by truckloads along with ministry teams to help distribute the items donated, and in conjunction have been there to minister to the hurting and broken people of these areas. Chris and I decided to get our youth group involved, so we made a picture slide show of the devastation along with a powerful song to stir up the youth and get them motivated to help.

What an impacting video clip; we all bitterly wept as we realized our selfish ways as spoiled Americans. It opened our eyes to be thankful for all that we DO have. Interesting that our topic of the night was, "Where do your priorities/passions in life lie?" The pictures spoke volumes about what is truly at stake here. The possesions that these people once owned, are now meaningless, compared to the things they now need just to survive. (note: NEED - We as Americans are just beginning to know what that word truly means)

That is the beauty of helping others in need. It makes us take the focus off of ourselves and redirects our attention to the needs of another. It also changes our way of thinking about the definition of what our REAL needs are.

We decided to set up a donation drive in front of our local Wal-mart. I needed to find out what items that UGO4GOD needed the most, so I got into contact with them. When I called, one of the team leaders' wives, Lori Gonzales, answered the phone. She let me know that they would certainly not turn away donated items, but the dilemma that they have been facing is the incredible cost of driving all of the donated items to the south. It has been costing them over $2,000.00 PER LOAD to go and come back.

So they are now asking people who want to get involved to donate Wal-mart gift cards at any amount. They are then going to send volunteer teams from Santa Rosa over to the affected areas in Mississippi and Louisiana with these gift cards, so they can purchase the supplies needed at a local Wal - mart when they get there. This will alleviate the cost of trying to ship donated items from afar. Chris and I are contacting all of the churches in Lake County and asking for their support in buying Wal-mart gift cards. Wal-mart is completely booked until October 8th to set up a donation booth, so in the meantime we are asking the churches to help raise money for these gift cards. Lori from UGO4GOD ministries, was so thankful and supportive over the phone - I haven't met her in person yet, but what an incredible, sweet and genuine woman of God she is!! I look forward to meeting her soon!

If you would like to get involved with what we are doing here in Lake County or Santa Rosa, please feel free to call me at:

(707) 889-0629.

Thank you to all of those who have helped us so far;

~ Lord, thank you for compelling your children to reach out with a heart of love and compassion to the battered, broken and poor in Spirit . . . ~

Will u go for God?

To find out more about how you can help, get up and go to:

ugo4God.com

To keep up with the current and ongoing Katrina Relief efforts go to: ugo4God.blogspot.com

Oasis in Eygpt - AKA Visalia, California

It's been a long time since my last post, but I've been busy!! Chris and I headed off for Labor Day weekend to visit my parents at their new KOA campground business in Visalia, California. They actually live in a house on the property. It's pretty much in the middle of nowwhere. Timbucktwo, Egypt, I tell ya. To give you a little bearing, Visalia is about forty - five minutes past Fresno. Yep, I told you, IN THE MIDDLE OF NOW WHERE!! The whole time we were getting closer to my parents' campground, I'm thinking to myself; Mom, Dad - What were you EVEN Thinking?!?! The campground is actually in the outskirts of Visalia.

Their campground is really cool though - They have log cabins, campground sites, RV sites, a swimming pool, general store, a playground and a recreation room with a game center, complete with video games and pool tables. My parents each own a golf cart in which they toole around the campground with, so Chris and I had to check these babies out!! We had a blast! As we were driving around the campground, we stumbled upon a tether ball playground!! So for sure, we hopped out of the golf cart and did a little Napolean Dynamite action!! I almost beat Chris, but he threw the tether ball over my head and CHEATED and won!! "You idiot, gosh!" Anyway we had a great time with my parents and grandparents.

Could this be tether ball heaven?! Flippin' sweet!!!!

In the actual city of Visalia, however, they have 2 malls, (bonus) and every stinking restaurant that you can think of!! (including my personal fav's, Mimi's Cafe and Krispy Kreme Doughnuts!!) My parents royally spoiled us the whole time and I thoroughly enjoyed every waking moment!! (especially the day trip to the mall with the "get what ever you like" ticket for the kids AND chris and I!! Let's just say my parent's dropped a pretty penny in American Eagle Outfitters and Old Navy!! Oh, the kids would like to also thank Stride Rite shoes for the killer light up tennies) Anyway, we had a great time - unfortunately, we don't have any pictures because my lovely boys decided that it would be fun to take the memory card out of my digital camera and rip the micro chip off of it!!! Oh well, once I can save up for a new memory card, (I don't even know how much they cost) I will post more pics of the family. I googled the pics of my parents' campground in Visalia; yes those are actual pics of their campground and amenities, uh, minus the tether ball heaven - oh and, actually, I think I saw Napolean walking around the campground, for sure! (At least he looked like Napolean Dynamite; I think he was from Idaho too! ;) ) FYI: My dad built those cabins with his own bare hands - and the help of my sometimes good and kinda trusty bro', bubba. Bubbs, ya know I love ya eventhough you act like a schmoe!! (You KNOW what I mean!)

Massage (Therapists?!)

As many of you know, I am a Certifed Massage Therapist (C.M.T.). Yes I know, that also stands for Country Music Television - which I DO NOT watch!! (just wanted to clear my reputation) Anyways, I have been working part time at a day spa in Middletown, which is about 10 minutes away from where we live. I work strictly by appointment only, so I don't have to sit for hours upon end waiting for a client to walk in. I was working on a gentleman today, ( I won't mention his name for confidentialilty reasons) and he didn't say a word for most of the whole 1 hour massage. I asked him at one point if he would like a kleenex, since he was sniffing so much. He replied that he has had sinusitis for a year now and that his sniffing was just normal. I asked him if he had done anything for his sinusitis problem and he said no. Apparently his father is a doctor and gave the advise that there was nothing he could do for this problem. I thought that was odd, being that I used to have the same problem. I sought out medical and alternative approaches and found relief in using both therapies. He was grateful for my knowledge and advice. But then he went on for approximately a half - an - hour about some very complex problems in his life that he needed answers to. He desperately wanted me to help him deal with some very complicated issues he was facing!! I was a little taken back by his openness and honesty about these matters. I felt like I was the ever traditional therapist sitting on a stool, only instead of a pad of paper and a pencil in my hands, I was holding his head and neck! As I continued the massage, I tried to be gracious and answer these questions for him; strictly from my opinion and point of view. I reiterated that fact about every minute or so, to gently remind him that I held a certification in Massage Therapy, not a P.h.d. in psychology! Maybe he just felt comfortable and relaxed enough to feel the freedom to be so open. I can't say that I am remotely shocked, for it is not my first incident of a "therapy" session; nor will it be my last. I don't know why, but a lot of people feel free to tell their manicurist, hair stylist or massage therapist all the current events and issues of their life. Maybe we feel that way because our physical bodies are being cared for; thus the natural urge is to take care of our spirit also. I don't know about you, but nobody knows me better than my hair stylist!! We are such funny human beings!! The good thing is that my client felt very relaxed and calm after talking these things through with me. I think he just needed to voice his problems out loud to another person, to feel like he was being heard and acknowledged. I even went fifteen minutes past my time for him, (I know, I know, I'm pretty nice, Hee hee - J/K) just so he could finish what he was talking about. It was cool in the end; he gave me a good tip and has already booked his next appointment!!