Dirt, Fish, Penguins, Bare feet, Chores, and Bikes

Photoblog of Our Most Recent Adventures Both Barefoot and Otherwise Why would anyone not like it? Well….do you remember when Joshua was ages 1-5, and he was obsessed with ALL animals? Remember how he could tell you every species of whale and what it ate at age 3? It’s exciting for him to see these animals that he’s read about all of his life, but once he has seen them, he’s done. No need to stare at something for 2 […]

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Messy is the New Beautiful Photoblog

This is beauty to me: my sweet ten-year-old in his new arm cast. I’m not saying that I’m happy my son broke his arm, but you have to admire his all-in-spirit. It reminds me of that quote from Finding Nemo: Dori tells Marlin, the helicopter dad, “Well, you don’t want nothing to EVER happen to him, because then nothing would EVER happen to him.” Never underestimate the power of beauty. Beauty! “Joy is a net of love by which you […]

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A California Summer is THE BEST kind of summer!

A California summer

That’s quite a claim to make isn’t it? THE BEST? Is it really the best? Surely something is better. I said it myself that Destin, Florida looks like this: Well, you know, you gotta love the one you’re with, and Northern California IS 70 degrees. 70. In July. I’ve decided something. “I ain’t leavin’!” No, I’m only kidding, but I do get to live here for a solid year yet. We have been doing the whole ‘lazy days of summer’ […]

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10 Reasons I Love to be the Hostess

We do something that is a little outside the norm. We love to host out-of-town guests. We practically beg people to come visit. We have hosted friends from high school, college, tons of family, work friends, church friends, and even new friends. We do it a lot less now that we live on the other side of the country from almost everyone we know. When we lived in the DC area, we had a constant stream of people stopping through. […]

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10 Reasons to Go to Destin this Summer

I have talked to many of you, over the years, of the many reasons for my love for Destin, Florida. And I got to go there this year for the first time since 2012. Wahoo!!! In fact, I went twice! So without further ado, allow me to explain: 10 Reasons why I love Destin, Florida so much: #1. There is SO MUCH to do! Even if you just go from pool to beach, pool to beach, with outings for food, […]

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Summer Updates: Sunburn, Confessions, & Pictures. This is the rest of the story.

Sometimes I mention things on my blog, and then I never come back and tell you the rest of the story, so today I’m going to just do that. Here’s a little update on things I’ve mentioned, with lots of cute photos thrown in. I told you that we packed up and headed South, but did I mention that Daniel is my #1 packing assistant? He is a hard worker! He’d pack one suitcase with me, and I would want […]

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One Simple Lesson That Brought Joy Back to My Life

We look super happy in this photo, didn’t we? We were sort of happy, but we were stressed. Alan has enough school and family work to fill his plate, but he does well. I’ve already said a thousand times that the first year of home schooling has been a huge challenge for me. I was surviving, really. There was more stress than joy in my days. I was living frustrated. I ran into a mom that I sort of know at […]

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Day #4: San Diego Zoo and a Throwback to the Capstone

On day four of our vacation, we went to the San Diego Zoo. I even managed to arrange to meet my college roommate and her family there. I was so excited and nervous to see them! I haven’t seen Jason and Heather since 2002! They don’t know Alan! Weird, huh? Many of you know that I met Alan in college, where we began dating. Most of you don’t know too much about my life before Alan, and digging up all […]

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LEGOLAND, California!!! Day One: Whooyeah!!! A Big Hit for Kids Ages 10 and Under

LegoLand theme park in California: Day 1 On day 2 of our San Diego vacation, Alan woke me up at 6am to tell me he was going to eat at the hotel and then head to the grocery store to buy breakfast. Did the hotel have free breakfast? Why yes, it did. Is there any way that our whole family of 6 will be dressed and ready before the thing closes at 9am? No, not really. Getting myself and the […]

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The Broken Phone, The Aquarium, and the Cat

As you can see in this picture, when it comes to my husband, I have no room for complaints. The man is clearly dressed to work. Meanwhile, he’s also wearing a kitchen towel on his shoulder. He’s trim and fit, helpful, kind, funny, and a wonderful Christian example for all. My grandfather gave me only one piece of advice my whole life: “April, never marry a man who doesn’t work.” Good advice. Alan does work hard. I wouldn’t even mention […]

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