They Scream Spring

Spring approaches, sprouting up from the earth, awakening from their slumber, budding, opening, drinking in life giving sunlight, arising to become all they were created to be...









double click pictures for larger view-all photos by: lisa petrarca

Sitting, waiting...warmth, showering down, enveloping your soul, giving life, new beginnings...the earth screams spring.

So You Want To Travel The World?

I've found an amazing site a while back & have traveled around the world via Philip's Blog. This week he featured my hometown post- Huntington Beach, CA.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW

It's amazing to see all the places, people & sites from all over the world.

If you have pictures/blog post from a trip you've taken or your hometown, Philip welcomes everyone's submittals.

Hey, it's also a great opportunity to meet people you never would have become friends with. So become an international traveler & stop by his blog http://TAXIDIARIS.blogspot.com

Take a Ride Through Newport Beach, CA

Monday we decided to take a different route on our bike ride, instead of going to Huntington Beach/Main St., like we usually do, we took a ride down to Newport Beach.

Of course I took my camera along so you could all go with me!

We road by this park...I have never seen so many squirrels in one place. There were probably about 20 of them just hanging out enjoying the beautiful day.



Next we headed to our favorite pizza place Rubino's and saw the Big Rubber Ducky cruising around...I made my hubby stand in front of it. He said, "Hurry up I feel stupid," through clinched teeth & a fake smile...can you tell?

How funny is this thing? I laugh every time I see it.

Riding down the boardwalk can be pretty dangerous, you have to watch out for the drunk bike riders!

32nd Street was the place to be when we were growing up.

Newport Beach is a large city with a small town feel, you always run into someone you know.

My hubby patiently waiting for me to finish taking my pictures. He said, "You look like a tourist!"

I SAID....

And kept on snapping this view from the boardwalk.

The yellow flag with the black dot means that particular area is black balled (NO SURFING). They designate certain times & areas for surfing because there are so many people in the water during holidays & summertime.

Notice how the girls like to hang around the lifeguards...tough job those guys must have! LOL!

Time to head back home.

After the boardwalk ends you head out to this road just behind the waterfront homes.

Cruising through Huntington Beach now, you can see that there is a lot more beach before you get to the water than in Newport. Yeah it's pretty tough to drag a cooler through the sand.

Finally home, turning the corner to our house...whew I'm tired!

One last pose for the hubby...thought I better end on a nice note after he put up with all my picture taking.

Besides I have one more place I need to convince him to take me. I'm addicted & it's my fav!

Doesn't it look like we own our own bike & surf board shop?

We don't, we just have 6 kids!

I did it!!!! I convinced him to top the day off with my fav, Baskin Robbins (31 Flavors) Ice Cream.

BANANA ROYALE
(2 scoops of vanilla ice cream, bananas, caramel topping, whip cream, nuts & cherry).

But I just walk in & say, "The usual!!!"

Hope you had fun riding through Newport Beach, California (the OC).

Ride The Big Waves

"I'm too scared...I can't touch the ground out there," Josh shouted as he continued to stay close to shore. The crystal clear blue waves, perfectly formed, came crashing to the shore in a foam of white wash. Josh happily jumped on his board as the foamy white water approached, standing up on his board and riding it for a few seconds to the shoreline.

My husband tried to coax Josh out to where the real waves were. He would head out deeper, but keep jumping off his board to make sure he could touch the sand without having his head go under water. If he ventured out too far and could no longer reach, he quickly paddled closer to the shore.

Finally one bright sunny, summer day, Josh laid on his board trying to summon more courage...heading out a little deeper, when a small, well shaped wave approached. My husband shouted out, "This one's yours...go for it!" Feeling more confident due to the encouragement he was receiving, Josh quickly turned his board around, hands moving in a wind mill motion through the water, prepared to ride a real wave. At precisely the right moment he stood up on his wobbly board, whisking through the wave, water spraying, his eyes squinting, white teeth sparkling as a huge smile spread across his face. "Yeah...this is AWESOME!" he screamed out over the booming of the waves. He had experienced the thrill of surfing. He also overcame his fear. Josh would never surf the foamy waves of the shore break again.

Our relationship with God is similar. We are safely near the shore, our feet securely touching the ground. We all seek and crave stability in our lives. When God starts prompting you to go out farther, beyond where you can touch, you immediately shrink back in fear.

This is human nature, fear of the unknown can often stop you in your tracks. But God is out in the "BIG WAVES." He knows what he has planned and wants us to trust him. It may be scary at first, but you'll never experience the joy, exhilaration, happiness and the complete freedom he has planned for you unless you stretch yourself.

It all begins with your prayer life. You need to spend quiet time alone everyday with God. Asking for his wisdom, peace and protection over your life. Ask him to help you let go of everything you know and take you into the deeper water of his love. Out in the incredible, blue, clear, beautiful waves of life that he has planned for you!

The Lord upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time. You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing. The Lord is righteous in all his ways and loving toward all he has made. The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them.
Psalm 145:14-19

Blog Surfing

I don't know how many of you have actually tried Blog Surfing...if you haven't, you definitely need to! I have met some great people, traveled around the world~visited places I never thought I'd be able to visit. I even met one of my dearest blogging friend by doing this.

All you have to do is hit "NEXT BLOG' up at the top of your home page. If you don't like where you've stopped, then quickly continue to click "NEXT BLOG" until you land some place interesting. Sometimes you might get stuck (the blog you land on doesn't allow you to click to get off)...just click your page back (<) arrow at the top of your screen. It will take you back and you can start again. I haven't done this in a while because I've been so busy. But today, I was writing for my new blog "Bowl of Inspiration.". It is a blog dedicated entirely to encouraging, motivating and inspiring. I will be adding some really amazing stories/poems. I decided to spend some time "surfing" to see if anyone could use a little inspiration...with the bad economy, a lot of people are struggling. I hope to help people look at the positive things in their life.

Today while blog surfing I stumbled across an incredible person Pleasant-Drive Blog.
Her positive outlook on life is inspiring. I decided to put her in my friends so I can follow her blog from now on.

Make sure you try Blog surfing and don't forget to stop by my new Blog to get some daily inspiration to help you through your day!