Today, I am thankful for...my Taryn!!

Taryn running with her friend Alee during the Jog/Wheel A Thon.

Alma and Lorany made this cupcake cake for her tonight. She was so surprised!

My little Taryn is 10 years old today. Yes, that's right! The big double digits! She's been telling everybody that her birthday's coming for a week. I had her take ice-cream sandwiches to share with her class at lunch and then our church had a little get together for her after the service. She even got some gifts from a few of the members. I will be having a sleep-over party for her this Friday. It is her first official sleep-over and she is busting at the seams with excitement.
My Taryn is very special - so different from her other sisters. She has a sweet, tender heart. She has suffered with severe allergies and asthma since she was very young. She has also experienced some really bad eczema because of her allergies. I always feel so bad for her and worry for her, but she just keeps on going. She is very active and loves to run and play sports. She just takes her inhaler - and sometimes her nebulizer - with her, but she never lets her condition hold her back. I love that about her.
She loves music, fashion and crafts. She is my little bear and I am so thankful for her today.

Today, I am thankful for...my Burt's Bees!!

Yup. Just a little thing, but it helps in such a big way. I've seen so many people with extremely chapped lips recently...especially the younger kids at my school. It makes me laugh just picturing their poor faces with the giant chapped circle around their lips! Bless their hearts.

Anyway, I am one of those girls that always has to have her lipstick on, but the Burt's Bees goes on first and then a few times throughout the day.

Have you tried it? I love all of their products! I can't live without it!

Today, I am thankful for...our daily bread...

...which for me, lately, it's been meat, cheese, vegetable...anything but bread! haha.

I always say that it doesn't matter how down we are in the finance department, our family never suffers when it comes to food! lol The truth is that I cook almost everything from scratch and always cook what's on sale or special at the markets. I think our grocery bill is very low for a family of 6.

Anyway, I love to cook and so do my girls. Tonight, I made some shrimp. Don't know what it's called but I added bell pepper, tomatoe and onion. Served it with white sticky rice because the kids really wanted to have some of the Laver or seaweed my mom sent.

So, here it is...everyone loved it! I am thankful that we always have plenty.

Today, I am thankful for...Sundays...

One of our Sunday services recently...wonderful people here!

I love Sundays! Did I ever tell you that? Well, I do. For most people it's a day of relaxing or maybe running errands and spending time at home with the family.
It's all of those things for me too - and more!
On Sundays, I get to go to church and see some of my most favorite people in the world! I get to worship in song and praise to my Heavenly Father, I get to teach young people and ladies and share the gospel with them, I get to see my children learn and grow in the Lord and I get to hear my favorite preacher preach.
Sometimes, we go out to eat after our morning service and then we go home and the kids usually play or watch a video or whatever. I like to take a nap! There's just something about a Sunday afternoon nap - know what I mean?
Then I get up and start preparing for my ladies' meeting and evening service. It's a long day - but I need it and I'm thankful for it!
Without Sunday, my week would not ever get off to a good start!

Pastor Marco...my favorite preacher ever! ;]

Sarai and Hannah singing with the Youth Worship Team...

makes my heart happy!!

Today, I am thankful for...

Michelle, Lena, Me, and Crystal at Santee Alleys

Well, today was a fun, but exhausting day. We got up early and picked up some friends and headed out for a day of shopping in Los Angeles. There is a place out there that is very well known called "the Alleys". There are tons of wholesale sellers out there that sell everything from children's toys to high end perfume to knock-off name brand items to the real thing to packs of toy water guns! You name it - you'll find it there.
My hubby who has an extremely busy schedule, put everything aside so that he could take me and my friends to L.A. That way, we wouldn't have to stress about directions, where to park, etc.
We had a blast. The girls were buying great shoes for like $4 a pair, scarves, purses, socks...it was great. I can't give away too much of the info because we all did a little bit of Christmas shopping too!
I enjoyed so much being with my friends, but I especially enjoyed knowing that I have a very unselfish husband who is patient on top of being kind. Today, I am thankful for this great day!
Marco and I checking out the packs of t-shirts...

Little "Converse" style key chains I bought for Taryn's birthday party. One dozen keychains for $6!

Today, I am thankful for...down time...

Here's Hannah with little Marco. He loves his sissy so much!

Our school held it's annual Wheel/Jog-a-thon today and all of my kids participated in it. Well, little Marco didn't actually do laps, but he was all over the place during the event and I was chasing after him, so that counts - right? =]
We were all so tired when we got home. We had a crazy-busy week (as usual) and I knew we'd be busy tomorrow because we had plans to go to Los Angeles with some friends and then to a birthday party afterward for one of our members.
Marco was already home when we got there and he mentioned that he might be headed out to a football game. After we talked about it - he realised that it was too late to head out that far.
We ended up eating dinner at home (left-overs) and then basically just "hung out". It was so awesome. I really did not do much of anything and for those of you that really know me - that was not easy! I just enjoyed laughing and talking with the kids and my hubby of course.
We don't get much down-time, but we know we need it. Today, I am thankful for much needed time just doing nothing. =]

Today, I am thankful for...family meetings.

Do you ever get to that point in your family where you just need to "regroup"? We get so busy and caught up in our daily routine and things just start falling by the wayside.
Well, it's even worse when you've got a few kids. My four range from 14 to 2 years old and it gets crazy here sometimes!
I can always tell when things are going to start falling apart with the kids. The house will look like there's been a burglary, the car will look like we've been living out of it and we end up eating fast food for dinner more than once in the week.
It had come to that point. The kids were just doing whatever they wanted, the little ones were crying over every little thing...you get the point.
So, my very wise husband decided that enough was enough. We needed to get it together and it had to start with us. We had dinner and then had a good talk with the kids. They probably weren't crazy about having to sit there to listen to us, but it was good. I am glad that we can talk with each other and share what we are feeling and ask for our kids to be open with us as well. I love my family and never want to make anything more important than them!
Sometimes you just have to hit the re-set button, right?

Today, I am thankful for...automatic washers and dryers.

I know, it seems pretty basic...but just think how much more we would appreciate them if something happened to the ones we now use.
I am up late even though I am exhausted. I came home from church and realised that Naomi needed a clean shirt for school (uniform) and Marco needed a few things washed too.
It seems like the wash is always going with a family of six! We go through detergent so fast. I really don't mind doing laundry and folding. It's the putting away that I hate. We really don't have adequate dresser space so it makes for a pretty tedious job. Nevertheless, I am grateful that all I have to do is pop some clothes into the machine, add the appropriate detergent/softeners, close the lid and push a button.
I remember watching a young boy wash his jeans by hand in Mexico when we were there for a mission trip. He had a big 'ole bar of soap and he stood over a large outdoor sink with his jeans and a washboard. It did not look fun at all!
I also remember, as a young girl in Korea, going down to the river with my aunts to do laundry. Of course, my cousins and I played on the river bed the whole time - but I can still remember how hard they had to work!
I am thankful that I have such a nice set of washer and dryer and I am so glad that I have access to this modern day convenience!

Today, I am thankful for...friends that edify.

Romans 14:19 says, "Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another."
Merriam-Webster's dictionary defines the word EDIFY like this:
to instruct and improve especially in moral and religious knowledge : uplift; also : enlighten, inform
Well, today - I am so thankful for friends that instruct, improve, uplift, enlighten and inform!! I had received some "not so great" news yesterday and was really down. I had started to question what in the world God had for my family and me. I shared a little with some far away friends on facebook and when I woke up - there was so much encouragement in my inbox!
She instructed me to Rest in Him. I thought of Matthew 11:28 where it says, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
I had another friend uplift me with her kind and generous words and prayers and she encouraged me with ideas of how she is helping others that are in need.
After I read these messages, I was encouraged! I felt a burden lifted off my shoulders. I even changed my status to Resting in Him!
Shortly after that, the circumstances that I was so worried about changed completely for the better. I felt guilty for my lack of faith. I had not lost faith in God of course, but I did falter. I should have known after all this time that He will never leave me or forsake me!
Later, I got to work and shared with a close friend how I had worried and fretted and then I told her how everything got reversed after I acknowledged that I was in His hands and that I had to rest in Him.
She also shared a verse with me and that lifted me even higher!!
Proverbs 21:1 says, "The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will." God is in control!
I am so thankful that God has placed these people in my life.

Today, I am thankful for....Microwave Popcorn!

Seriously. I needed some comfort food in a jiffy and this was the best "worst" thing I could find. Crunchy, salty, buttery, warm... just in time. Oh, and I'm one of "those people" that like it just a little burnt!

Today, I am thankful for my MARCO...

On this very first day of November, I just want to put it right out there - I am thankful for my wonderfully awesome husband. He is one of the hardest working men I know. He does so much and he never complains.

He is the pastor of our church. A church we started 3 years ago. He also works full-time driving a truck. I know that there are days and times when he must be so tired - but he keeps going. He puts us first and he is the best daddy and husband ever.

The school I work at held a Harvest party yesterday. I mentioned it to my hubby one time and he immediately started to let me know that he'd get the tables for me and gave me ideas on what we could do.
I am so very thankful that God brought us together 20 years ago! He is the love of my life and my best friend!