Traveling....

BTW - this is Brian (I can't remember my login info...)

So the only flight out of Fresno we could book leaves at 5:55am....why, well let's just say that Fresno isn't on many people's itinerary. So we get up at some ridiculous hour and head off to the airport, at least the traffic isn't bad - good thing since I just about ran that stop sign. We go through the boarding gate just to be met by a long line (I think this is an omen for this trip)waiting to enter a very small plane. Oops, we have to turn around and head back - seems some of the emergency lighting is not working. Emergency lighting on this plane? Come on - if we crash I hardly think we will have a hard time finding our way out of this coke can. Besides, it's a day flight - I think I'll just head to the "light at the end of the tunnel." So we get to sit in Fresno for an extra hour - oh joy.

Finally off to LA then Orlando (with more lines.) As we board our plane, here's one - something's moving in the carry-on baggage of the person in front of us - we get to fly with a "doggy princess"! And our movie for the flight??? Beverly Hills Chihuahua!

In Orlando, we wait in line to exit, wait in line to get our bags, wait in line to get our rental car, wait in line to get our rental car keys, wait in line to drive our rental car out of the airport....

We arrive at our hotel and check in - everyone's tired - It's about 8pm but it should be about 5 in CA, doesn't matter we're done.

I get the pleasure of heading out to get some things we need - Florida Walmart... 33 checkout lanes (that's a bit optimistic in today's economy don't you think) But wait...no actually I waited. 39 minutes in the checkout lane... I'm starting to think there's a pattern brewing here.

Getting Ready For Disney...

On Monday morning we, except for Melody :(, will be flying to Florida to enjoy a twelve day vacation with the whole Downs clan. There will be 17 of us in all! The kids are retrieving their independent study work from school, I am highlighting my hair as I write this....quite necessary...Brian is...o yes, taking care of all the details like where we are staying, purchasing a GPS so we can go geocaching while we are there, bought a camera. You also have the privilege of hearing the day by day accounts of our trip via Brian, the awesome writer, so prepare yourself for fun. You can go on our trip with us via the blog. It would be "great fun" (as Laurie Lamb would say), if you all could join us.

Quick Recap of Thanksgiving Through Christmas

So, I just published this post and the layout is doing weird things...hmm.

It has been way too long since my last post and there is so much to say, but since that would take pages and pages to write, I will stick with the basic happenings in November/December. We traveled to Washington State to visit the Downs family for Thanksgiving week. We had a blast! Craig, Brian's brother took our family pictures. The canoe you see above is some 15 years old. Brian carved it out of a tree in high school. He had the option of writing a report or doing a project. He opted for the project which took him at least twice as long as writing a report, but who knew we would all be needing fun family pictures this many years later. I love my catalyzer, dreamer husband.



Charlie is the newest addition to our home. Brian found him in the backyard lost and sick. We decided we needed to adopt him. He loves to be cuddled and Julianne gets a gold star for taking great car of him.



Brian worked Christmas Eve, so John, Julie, Royce (my brother, bro-in-law, and sis-in-law), and the Downs Fam headed to the Fire Station for dessert. Kylen got to put on Brian's turnouts and the kids enjoyed sitting in the engine.
Julie and I on Christmas.Every Christmas we act out the Christmas Story. Ashlyn is a heavenly host. Quite heavenly I think. Julianne is Mary. Charlie is Jesus. Kylen is the donkey. Oh...the fun of celebrating Jesus! We so enjoyed some family time and lunch with Grandpa on Christmas Day.The day after Christmas--The Paris gals took Mom to High Noon Tea in Clovis to celebrate her 60th birthday which was last February. What a special time!My mind is completely blank at the moment, so I think I will just post this and share this part of our lives with you. I am off to hang clothes and go visit Grandpa with Ashlyn and Julianne and have an early dinner with him. We look forward to hearing from you all...the ones we love. What is going on in your lives?

16th Anniversary & Julianne's 13th Birthday Celebration!

I love my man! Brian and I have been married 16 years today! I am more in love with him now than ever! What a joy to grow in the Lord's love together. May we be a tangible representation of Christ and the Church, one that reflects this relationship with purity and grace so as to draw men to Jesus Christ.

Our baby is now 13 (well, almost...on the 29th). We just returned from our trip to San Francisco with Julianne and had a wonderful weekend. Our trip in brief--Julianne picked out the first ring she laid eyes on (her purity ring), rode a cable car, got make up, stayed at the Westin, read all the amazing letters to Ju from beloved family and friends, ate a lot, shopped a bit, saw the Bush man, laughed together, relaxed, watched some TV, stayed on the 4th floor because Brian is a conscientious firefighter now (ladders can only go up to the 8th floor in case of a fire), and witnessed a riot with our friend, Beth, at the Westfield Mall.

Our Covenant God

I haven't checked in for awhile, and this will be a quick post, because Brian is taking part of his 12 month fire test right now and when he is done, we are going to meet up and celebrate at Chick-fil-A...because it is always, "a wonderful day at Chick-fil-A". (That is what we say at the drive through.) Another reason to eat there today--Brian is in his uniform and any "service person" gets their meal for half price.

I am in awe of the Covenant Keeping God to whom I belong. All morning long, actually for years now, I can't stop thinking about the Lord's faithfulness. He is completely trustworthy! What a gift He has given us in the New Covenant, the promise of Jesus, our Redeemer, Messiah, Savior, and the Holy Spirit's sanctifying work in our lives! I just have to shout Hallelujah! Hallelujah! No one can set aside or add to this covenant that the Lord chose to bind Himself to. He has done all the work. I am a recipient of His grace and am oh so thankful. May He enable us to believe Him each moment today because He has given us a clean heart and we are pure and holy because of Jesus' finished work on the cross. O, I am getting way to excited to be sitting in my seat. Let us, as followers of Christ, glory in Him.