death and new life

i heard it said recently that in order to experience new life, there must first be death.

easier said than done.

but always worth it.

we've been called away from our life in LA to begin again in Fresno...

some of us handled the news better than others. :) July was a blur of saying goodbye, summer camps, packing, moving, finding and then losing a house, unexpectedly storing all our belongings, being homeless for 2 weeks, vagabonding around in our minivan across many miles, cities and friends' floors, and then finally settling into a new place...all in just 26 days! i have no idea how to get all these pictures in order, to make some sense of things, but honestly, that kinda sums up our life right now. out of wack. chaotic. unpacked but undone.

so...as this new chapter of oursweetmess unfolds, we begin again with our endless counting of His gifts...

one last dodgers game (i was cheering for the giants on the inside!)

soaking in the sun at our favorite beach

winning the championship farm league game!

breakfast at the beach!!

last day of fifth grade!

one last early morning run on the beach with a dear, faithful friend

endless playdates with amazing neighbor friends

very first sleep away camp at Hume Lake!!

my brother (a truly amazing man, husband and father)

sleep away camp with gram and papa (and cool cousins!)

adventure days with special friends

dinner at an old favorite burger joint in SF

children's playground in SF...this place holds so many memories for us!

...thanks be to God for His indescribable gifts!!

and so we begin again...trusting in The One Who Knows...praising Him for even the really painful parts, knowing that He is only and ever good... and that we are His, even in Fresno. :)

joyinsorrow

im not dead, or lost, or stuck under a rock...although at times i have felt as such. februarymarchaprilmay... it's been insane, wild, chaotic, circus like, crazy, painful, wonderful. a tiny bit of the last few months from the perspective of a ten year old...

woosh!

where did the time go?

how did we get here so fast?

october, then novemeber and suddenly...it's JANUARY!?

here's a quick look back...

soccer took over our lives for the fall...

six practices a week...

and crazy saturdays filled with five different games...it was a total blast

halloween and candy and yummy outdoor chili cook-offs with dear friends (the witch isn't one of mine!)

winter recitals and awards for being one of the most gentle, loving, polite, helpful, kind fifth graders ever!

enjoying the fruits of several months of saving every penny!

a sweet, slow, peaceful Christmas (no kidding!)

and a ridiculously fun trip to the Tahoe mountains...

four days of endless snow fun with our treasured SF friends!

our thankful list is growing by the minute!

every moment of these last few months have been amazing, cherished and overflowing with God's goodness and grace!

oh, and in case you hadn't heard...

escape

just when i didn't think i could face one more day of too much homework, soccer practices, games, dinners, chores, dirty floors and gross toilets...

mysweetmess was swept away to the mountains!

this has become an annual event for our family (thanks to two of the most generous people we know!)

far from traffic, noise, lights, sidewalks and all things city, we got slow down, draw near to each other and be close and cozy with our incredible church community!

amazing worship, insightful talks and tons of fun family free time!

this year was extra fun as the kids took on some exciting ropes courses...

rock climbing walls and of course, the famous all church kick ball game!(it got too competitive for pictures!)

not all our people were of the right height for the climbing sports and this of course led to some tears...

but true to her "accept life as it is" form, this "not tall enough" one smiled on and went fishing! we are ever so grateful for this weekend getaway...t and d thanks for making it all possible! we LOVE you heaps!!!!