Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Nature Explorers Club~Big Dalton Canyon Trail





Although this hike was almost 2 months ago (yikes!), this spot was so cool that I had to make sure I posted the pics! It was a small group that day, but the kids had awesome fellowship and so did the mommies.

 And we're off!
Jo thinks she's still just one of the kids ;)



Wait for me!!
A little chalk art~No, the graffiti isn't ours!



The lone ranger...

Running on a bridge with no rails over a rocky gorge is always fun
We found a rope swing tied to a tree! Guess I'll be the first to risk my life :)






Waiting patiently, and cutely!


The landing is the hard part!

Living vicariously :)

And last, but not least, we have Tinkerbell!
He seriously can't go ANYWHERE without catching a lizard!
Jo tells me AFTER the pic that Philippinos NEVER take a pic with 3 people
as they believe that the one in the middle will soon die.
Thank God I'm not superstitious!
Boys and trees

Wait! Trees aren't just for boys :)


How cool is the bark on this tree?
I wanna draw this in my journal! One day…...
What an awesome nature journal entry!
Our God is truly an awesome Creator!



There's a deer on the hill!


Whatcha lookin' at?!

"The earth is the LORD'S, and all its fullness,
The world and those who dwell therein."
Psalm 24:1

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

A New Lesson Learned from the Life of Job


We all know the story of Job. He was an incredibly blessed man with a big family, great possessions and good health. He loved and honored God in all areas of his life and had strong confidence in his Lord. In an attempt to cause Job to curse God, Satan took away all that brought Job joy on this earth-his children, his possessions, and even his health.

Something that's never occurred to me until recently is that Satan apparently found it more beneficial to his cause to leave Job's wife unharmed. What an eye opener this realization was to me! It caused me to consider this-If Satan was going to come against my husband to cause him to curse God and lose faith, would he take me out of the equation or find it in his best interest to leave me in the home as his tool?

What it really comes down to, wives, is are we building up our husbands- respecting and honoring them, encouraging them and strengthening them in their faith- or are we selfish, critical, bitter and thoughtless with our words and attitudes? Proverbs 14:1 says "The wise woman builds her house, But the foolish pulls it down with her hands." Are we trusting in the power of prayer to work in those areas that we feel our husbands fall short in or are we those nagging contentious women that drive our husbands to consider dwelling in the wilderness or on the rooftop?(Proverbs 21:9,21:19,25:24,26:21,27:15) Do our words tear down or build up? (Ephesians 4:29)

Our husbands are not perfect and will make mistakes, but what they need from their help meet is grace-someone to come along side them through thick and thin. Someone that will encourage them in the Lord rather than point out their every flaw and failure. Do we really want to be to our husbands what Job's wife was to him-a tool for Satan's purposes rather than for God's?(Romans 6:13)


Lord, help us to remember the great impact we have on our husbands and let us not be a hinderance to their walk, but rather a blessing. Let Satan see us as the greatest threat to his plans and purposes for our husband's lives. Let us be as iron, that we would be that sharpening agent in their lives.(Proverbs 27:17) Amen 

Thursday, April 4, 2013

Nature Explorers Club~Bolsa Chica Wetlands




The latest adventure for our club was to the Bolsa Chica Wetlands. Cynthia found this winner and the kids had an amazing time. There was so much to see and experience! This was an easy trail with tons of bird activity and lots of new plants to observe. The kids had a lot to enter into their nature journals. Some things to find here include crabs, California Poppy, Bladderpod Bush, squirrels, Sandpipers, Terns, Herons, California Horn Snail and an unidentified snake!

Can't wait to see what we'll run across!


Hands-on learning


Crab anyone??
Wow, that little guy is tiny!
Gee, it's a good thing I didn't bring purple colored pencils!
What a pretty weed!



I have no words for this! ;)
New entries into the nature journals
Friends inspire!
Gorgeous day
Four Wing Salt Bush
Bladderpod plant~so cool!!


Check out those bladders!
From the Bladderpod plant
Inside the bladder~seeds!



Perfect spot to observe the birds below.
Heron in flight

Cactus too
Wetlands overview

Can you spot the sandpipers?


Be careful~that mud is stinky!!
And yes, it did claim a couple of victims
No, that's not one of the kids-it's an adventurous mama!






We have fun too!

Why does my son need a living souvenir from EVERY trip?! This is a Ligia aka Rock Slater