Easter Gratitude

intense video game face-(my camera phone takes terrible pictures!)

I picked Jullien up from the airport...to say that I'm grateful to have him home is an understatement. Especially after reading in detail, about the man, Bryan Stow, a paramedic father of two, who was attacked at Dodger stadium for wearing an opposing teams jersey, (Giants.) He was sucker punched on the side of his head & also kicked in the head, (just like my son) and now he's in a coma.

To see Jullien now (who heals amazingly quick) with only a few signs of his injuries left (red spot on his eye ball, some light pink marks on his face where the scabs fell off & the worst of the ordeal (broken upper jaw which is also almost healed) and a missing tooth. The tooth is pretty obvious since it's in the front. But as I look at him, I can't stop feeling like he was definitely protected & watched over. Now I just want him with me constantly, and he of course keeps leaving to hang with his friends. :(

I was able to squeeze a lunch date out of him and my two other boys. Taking a picture of them is worse than when they were little, none of them will smile for me. But I'm beaming with joy and gratitude this Easter!

elijah, jullien, josh & charmaine (josh's gf) eating at flame broiler

CATCH UP POST

The busyness of moving has left my Blog a little less than on the top of my priority list. But then I find myself feeling less than fulfilled and realized I needed to make a "Catch Up" post. So today you get to see a mix match of my life over the past several weeks.

Rather than words...which also have been less than forthcoming lately...I will give you random photo snapshots.

Pictures often speak louder than words....

My Boys-Elijah & Josh-Easter @ my sisters

Josh & his girlfriend Charmaine

Elijah's Birthday Party @ our new house (didn't have pictures up yet...look at those walls, yikes)

My Boys...Missing Jullien (in NY still) Easter

Nephew & brother in law-Jam session @ Easter

Elijah's birthday celebration @ Easter (my hubby, Elijah, Charmaine & Janae)

Family Easter picture @ mother in laws...can't remember what was so funny?!

Nephew Tristan's birthday pinata

Thomas the Train bubble blower...love this shot!

Joshy- I'm so proud of him-Finishing hair school in June

Happy 15th Birthday Elijah!

15th Birthday celebration @ our house

Make a wish!

Presents

Easter-(L to R) Anthony, Adam, Me, Elijah, Dillon, Natascha & her fiance Jeremy. Missing my two oldest Josh & Jullien

Tashy

It's hard to get the boys to stop goofing off...cute!

Easter at the in laws...nice spread!

More Pinata

Elijah @ Laguna Hills track meet

Elijah vs. Los Alamitos H. S.

Go Lijey!

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!

A Big Step on Easter

My husband received a message from the Pastor of our church last week and said, "I wonder what John wants." I thought he was going to ask him something important because he doesn't call us that often. I just told him, "I don't know, just call him back and see."

He goes downstairs to call and a few minutes later opens the door to our room where I'm happily updating my Blog...his eyes are like saucers, "He wants me to share my life story/testimony on Easter. I don't know if I can do that. I'm not the type of person that can talk in front of people."
I told him, "Well, obviously they think you are the perfect person to talk on Easter Sunday. They would never have asked you if they didn't feel that your story would make a huge impact on someone. You have to do it!" He said, "I'll think about it." I knew he would end up saying yes, so I said, "Just pray about it."

Well guess what...he's going to do it. He's really nervous about it and has been working on it for a couple of weeks now. His story is amazing and I'm not just saying that because I'm his wife. If I had actually met him back when he was so wild, I don't know if we would be married right now. I will post his story on my Blog after the service. I don't want to spoil it for some of my friends who will be going to our church and who may read my Blog.

Please say a prayer for him that he will not be nervous and that the Lord will use him to touch someone's life.