* Sand vs. Snow *

Our family tried going to the snow TWICE this month.  The first time my car stalled right as we got the bottom of the mountain, we didn't even get close!  We decided instead (since my car turned back on) to visit the Rock Maze out in Hemet.  It wasn't as thrilling as playing in the snow but we enjoyed a short walk and looking at the beautiful sky above us.  I took my new camera and got a few good pictures of the kids exploring.  

  

The following weekend, we decided to try and find snow again.  This time we would drive my husband's car to avoid any car trouble.  It didn't rain much and so we were out of luck in finding snow up the hill.  Since we live in California, we did the next best thing!  We headed out to Carlsbad for a day in the sand.  (Gotta love January in California)  The kids enjoyed playing in the sand and getting their feet wet in the freezing cold water.  I loved watching them laugh and play.  

With all the rain we have had lately, we might still make it to see some snow soon.  For now, I am grateful for these small adventures, these treasured memories and God's redirection of our time together.  All the planning in the world does not compare to God's plans for our lives.  His ways are better anyway! 

* White Jeeps *

When I first started driving at age 16, I often found myself driving behind a white Jeep.  It was a very noticeable thing for me.  I would be driving to school or work and either on the road or on the freeway, there I was behind a white Jeep.  At first I thought it was such a peculiar coincidence.  I often joked with my passengers about how funny it was that I always ended up behind a white Jeep in traffic and on the road.  My friends would even point out the white Jeep as it was such a common occurrence.  (never the same person so it wasn't like I drove behind someone that lived in my neighborhood who owned a white Jeep ).  
How common are white Jeeps anyway? I actually looked it up, only 4% of Jeeps are white, 21 % are green/teal and 16% are red.  Not as common as I thought.  

I started to really pay close attention to the times I was often found driving behind a random white Jeep and it occurred to me that some of those times I was alone and asking God to guide me and direct me with something specific in my life.  I started praying and asking God if this whole white Jeep thing was something I should think more on.  Was I crazy for thinking that this white Jeep was somehow a message God was using to communicate to me? I felt silly just even thinking about it but it kept happening for years.  In fact, it still does.  
Yesterday while driving in the rain and taking my kids to school there it was.  The Jeep was directly in front of me in slow moving traffic making a right turn just as I needed to make.  I remembered something.  A few years back, after questioning my sanity, ha!  God placed on my heart the need to look into this further.  I did the typical (look for the definition of Jeep and the word white) and found this;  JEEP= A small, durable, general purpose vehicle with 4-wheel drive.  WHITE=reflecting all the rays of sunlight or a pure light, used to describe snow.  Mind blowing? Not really.  So why was Jesus prompting me to look further into this silly little Jeep thing?  

One day as I was driving in Florida on my way to Church an actual alligator was crossing the Expressway.  (no joke!).  I had to slow down and wait for this massive thing to continue on it's path.  It was early in the morning and I was the only car on the road and I had this highway all to myself.  When the alligator finished crossing, a car drove past me and got into my lane, right in front of me.  Can you guess what type of car it was? It was at that moment that this silly little Jeep coincidence made sense to me.  

The words durable and light stood out to me like never before.  Durable is also another word for lasting and enduring.  God almighty is ever lasting and he's the light of my life!  Without a doubt (you may think I am silly) I knew that this Jeep was God's way of telling me that I was on the right path.  I knew instantly that he was physically showing me that the actual path I was on was the right one at that moment in my life for me.  

When I have questioned big moves like moving to Florida, when I have doubted my school or degree choice, when I wasn't sure about the job I was doing, when I was driving to serve at Church, when I drove my children to school and hoped and prayed I made the right school choice for them.  ALL of those times God was reminding me that I was on the right path.  That he's proud of me and that he is lasting and he is my light.  Even if I stray from his path for my life, he gives me the opportunity to get back on the right road and follow him. I still find myself driving behind white Jeeps often and I always smile and give God thanks for his visual reminder that he approves.    

* Here we go again *

Here we are again!  The start of a brand new year.  January 1st always feels so quiet and peaceful to me.  (Maybe it's because everyone is tired from staying up late on New Years Eve).  It's also the calm after the "Storm" and by storm I mean;  Thanksgiving, Christmas, cookie making, merry making, presents, shopping, cleaning, hosting, gathering and advent activities.  All the stuff that can make us feel so busy crazy yet so joyful at the same time. This is a big year for us.  This is an even year for my babes.  This year Sam will be turning 10 and Samara will be turning 8! I remember thinking when they were 1 and 3 (I can't wait until they are 8 and 10 because things will be so much easier).  In a way, a lot of things are easier.  Sam can pretty much feed himself and his sister, nobody is in diapers, everyone sleeps through the night unless we watch E.T (that's not a fun night).  As I think about how much "easier" it is these days I actually feel it's a lot harder.  Sam is asking tough questions that I don't always have answers to, Samara is stretching and turning into a tiny lady and they see and don't fully understand the world we live in.  Sam is looking more and more like a young man these days.  I know it's inevitable but now more than ever I have to be alert and prayed up.  I feel it, I sense it.  I know that the tough choices I will have to make as a mom will continue to get harder each year, each phase but I want to do it all with wisdom and with God's guidance.  Sometimes I say no to friendships, sometimes I say no to t.v shows or movies but everyday there's a new challenge of letting them grow yet keeping them innocent.  In so many ways they are still little, their hearts are full of love for Jesus, they love their family and they obey their parents.  They trust us, they don't always understand but they trust us.  I can still take them to the park, play board games, do puzzles and watch cartoons with them.  They still enjoy toys and whimsical fun family traditions.  I'm holding on for as long as I can to those things, knowing that before long it will be a new stage.  My sweet gifts, my precious treasures.  I pray the Lord help me to guide them and help them along this path of life and that their hearts remain pure and full of God's goodness.  I want to soak up their joyful smiles and laughter when they play, as I watch them interact and be little for as long as possible.