Check Out These Elves!

Click on the link below to enjoy an awesome Christmas thing...

http://elfyourself.jibjab.com/view/0x2AhpPWoz2xez5CaZjc

It's A...

It's a Boy! We're super excited to be having a baby boy mid April. My due date keeps changing slightly, but now they say April 16th. So, I'm definitely over halfway! Yipppeee! We'll keep you posted...

2 Years and Counting...

Last week we celebrated our 2 year wedding anniversary. To my surprise Brice had planned a one night little getaway in Santa Monica! It was super fun! Here's a picture of the view from our ocean-side hotel room. Also, Brice got me 2 dozen long stem red roses (representing our 2 years of marriage) that were delivered to our room. They were breathtaking! How romantic! The first day (last Monday) when we arrived, we walked the pier and of course 3rd Street. We relaxed, ate lunch, at checked into the hotel and got settled. I was even able to take a nap! :) Later in the evening we went to a wonderful restaurant...
Houston's. I ate the best steak I've ever had! It was a marinated in a Hawaiian sauce, then cooked to perfection along with some maple syrup sautéed carrots. Brice actually had a sushi & salad plate there, and it was also quite delectable.

If you're ever in the area, you should definitely eat there! Then...we were off to the movies. Madagascar 2 was light and cute!

The following day, we woke up, ate breakfast, did some shopping on 3rd street and ate lunch at no other than Bubba Gump's on the Pier!

Then, Brice had yet another surprise up his sleeve...








Ice Skating! It was fun. My balance isn't as good since I'm pregnant, so I had a death grip on Brice, as I didn't want to fall and hurt the baby. It was so enjoyable, and quite laughable too!

Then, it was off to Ventura to the Pierpont Inn, where we got hitched. This was the most wonderful part of the trip in my opinion. We were able to reminisce, and more importantly pray together...thanking God for two great years, and asking Him to protect our marriage for 5, 10, 50 years from now. We realize how easy it is to become relaxed in marriage, since we're doing well right now. We humbly asked God to preserve our love for each other, fueled my our love for Him; and to help us this next year, as life as we know will never be the same again. It won't be just the 2 of us anymore, and we want to keep us a priority too. We always welcome your prayers too!

Thank you Brice for a wonderfully planned overnighter! As I've already told you, it had a perfect balance between fun, rest, romance, and surprises! I am truly blessed to be married to such a wonderful man who loves God, and loves me despite my many imperfections! I love you!

Hey...Guess What?

Well, I guess it's official. I'm pregnant again! I am just over 12 weeks along! We're excited! God is so good to us to bless us with our little seasame seed. We've had 2 ultrasounds to far, and it's so cool. The first one was great, and we could see the heartbeat...and that's about it. It just looked like a bean. Then we went again only 2 weeks later, and it looked like a baby: arms, legs, eyes, nose, mouth, and all! It even waived at us a little bit. Wow! Renelle and Coley got to come and see it. Coley confused, was a little "I thought the baby's in Auntie's belly?" He didn't understand that it was a picture of the baby inside of me. Too cute! Praise God!

Yipppeeee!

Praise God!

We've been praying and believing that God will provide, and He did; just like he promises. Brice was just hired at Olive Garden. He had his second interview on this past Saturday, and started on Monday. He is training this week, and will probably start serving tables next week.

We are so grateful to see God's hand in our lives!

Weekend Getaway...

A couple weeks ago, Brice and I were able to getaway to Big Bear for a couple nights. We enjoyed staying at the Best Western on Friday night, then stayed at my parent's timeshare on Saturday. We really liked doing absolutely nothing! We just dinked around town, window shopped, and of
course ate breakfast at the famous Grizzly Manor. They have the biggest pancakes you will ever see! If you're ever in the area, you've got to try it, but be ready to wait a while for a table! Thanks Mom and Dad for making it possible for us to chill and enjoy each other's company in God's beautiful creation. Until I write again...

Good thing GOD is in control!

Well...

The Lord has thrown us a bit of a curve ball. Brice was very unexpectedly laid off from work yesterday. As he worked for Camping World (which should be called RV World), business was very slow due to the decrease in the economy, and the climb in gas prices. Brice's supervisors were very upset to have to lay him off, but were forced by corporate to do so.

We were in a lot of shock to hear of the news that yesterday. But, we got on our knees before God and asked him to direct our path, and lead Brice. The good news is that Brice is taking the CPAT (Physical Agility Test) in less than 2 weeks and after that, he can apply for the Fire Department. So, we'll see what the Lord does. We have a peace that God is in control, and he knows our future. Pray that we will stay focused on that truth!

Happy July!

Hello There!
I'm trying to get better about posting more often...
We'll see how I do. I've included some pictures of our 4th of July day at Santa Barbara. Renelle, Coley, Jamie, Brice and I spent the day in BEA-Utiful Santa Barbara. We had so much fun. I've been trying to get my family to come for years, as this is Brice and my 6th year of the tradition! We really enjoyed relaxing and hanging out down there...and not to mention awesome fireworks. Sadly, the music started skipping in the middle of the fireworks presentation, so they stopped in the middle. But, it was all still worth it for sure. We are all so lucky and blessed to live in such a wonderful country in which we can worship our Lord freely, and have so many unnecessary blessings daily. Thank you Lord!
We enjoyed each other's company, rented a surrey-style bike, had a picnic, laughed, played volleyball, and even met up with our good friends: The Lively's!

Aside from the 4th, Brice and I are doing pretty well...all things considered. We have much to be thankful about, and are trying to stay focused on the truth that God desires good for us, and that He knows our future. With our recent miscarriage, God has really given us comfort in our time of pain. HE has also allowed us to grow together in ways we wouldn't have if it didn't happen. So, thank you Lord for this trial, as it causes us to learn more about your character and the love we are so blessed to share. Thank you also for those that have also loved and cared for us during this trial. We love you all! :)

Happy Birthday to Me!

Last month I was able to celebrate my Birthday with family and friends. We had a wonderful dinner at the fabulous private room at Sicily...one of my all-time favorite restaurants. I am so blessed to have wonderful people around me. My amazing sister and best friend Renelle set up the room with candles and beautiful fresh flowers. Thanks for making it special for me, my BFF! I was able to have my Dad and Mom, BFF Renelle & the sweet Coley, my dear friends Josh & Laina, Jamie and her parents, B. Smith, and the amazing Steve and Mary Lively. Thank you Steve for singing my favorite song for me...It was fun to also sing some of our old ones together! My friends Nick and Ellen also were able to join the party later, which was awesome. Thank you so much to all of you for joining me. I was sad that there was a limit on the room, as I would have liked to invite a few more close friends.
I will say that this birthday was somewhat weird for me...I don't know, it just felt different. I think it is just all that my family has been going through for the last few months. I guess I felt that there was "something missing"...But, I know that my God is sovereign and faithful, although I fail Him all the time. I continue to focus on Him, and forget the pain, but it is not easy. It is just so hard to miss someone so badly, wish they'd come back, but have a feeling that they never will. I just have to continue to get my comfort in Christ, and I am so thankful how much Brice helps me with this. Brice is such a blessing in my life, and really helps me when I'm too emotional about it all. He encourages me to find my stability in God, and for that I am so thankful.
Thank you again for all of you that could join me for my birthday. Your love and support warms my heart. Love to you all!

A Much Needed Update...

Hello All,
I hope all is well with everyone...
Here are some pictures of us at church on Easter. We were so glad to spend it with my family at our home church. Here's some of us with sweet Cole who we love soooo much, and one of us.

We had the wonderful privilege of being a part of the choir this year, which has been such a blessing. We also sang in the Passion Play which was on Good Friday (And "Good Saturday"). It was a very powerful depiction of Christ's life and the last of His days here on earth. It was very intense to sing, and quite emotional to sing. We were so glad that some of Brice's family were able to come out to see it...Mike and Barb, Beau and Katy, Michelle, Ryan, and family...Thanks for coming all the way out to see it. We hope you also were moved.

Life has been challenging and different, but we're just trying to continually seek God, and be involved with His People. We are so thankful for our church family, and our families at this time of calamity in my family. God in unchanging, and has a plan in all of this. It's just so heavy on my heart all the time, and I just wish there were things I could do to change things, but I can't. I can only love others, and pray...and pray...and pray.

Today, may you tell your friends and family how much you love them, and praise them for the good gifts and talents God has blessed them with. It's important to tell people, because you never know when they'll be gone (not only by death, but also by distance).

Blessings and God's love to you all...