Word of the Year: Adventure

Do you set New Year's Resolutions each year?

I usually do. I wake up on January 1st and think of all the things I wish were different about my life. Then I proceed to make a list of what I am going to do in the next year to change those.

Not a bad approach, right?

There is just one problem with it. It NEVER works!

So this year I am doing something different. I am choosing one word, just one to focus on for the entire year. For 2015 I choose...

Adventure

Now that may seem like a strange word for me to pick but let me explain. When I think of the word adventure, usually the first thing that comes to mind is something fun and exciting, setting off into the unknown. But when I consider it deeper I realize that it encompasses so much more. Things like:

Hope
Anticipation
Expectation
A broader world view
Relationships
Action
Dreams

For the first time in a long time I am excited and looking forward to all that is ahead in the coming year.

As with any adventure I know there will be ups and downs, ebbs and flows. Take the adventure of child raising for example. For some reason kids just don't stay the same. Funny, isn't it?! You think you get something about them figured out and then they up and get emotional or start dealing with hormones or learn some new attitude trick. I am grateful that God has entrusted me with the raising of two young ladies, and I pray that I can demonstrate for them how to first of all love Jesus with their whole hearts, to be real, and to extend the love and grace they have received to others around them.

When I mentioned the word adventure including dreams I am telling on myself here. A year ago I was struggling quite a bit with discouragement bordering on depression. During those dark months I could pretend that everything was okay when it really wasn't, and sometimes I could even fool myself into thinking that I didn't have a problem. I prayed. I read my Bible. I journalled. I took long walks on the beach when I was alone. God never left my side. Sometimes when you have a traumatic event take place in your life, the fall-out and emotional reconciliation take a l-o-n-g time to come to the surface. This is just me and a part of my journey. Everyone processes things differently.

During that time I realized I no longer had big dreams. You know, growing up I had all sorts of plans and hopes for the future like any girl. I got married and my dreams got bigger! Traveled to Europe and I made it to the doorstep of that dream castle I was building in my head. God blessed me with a baby girl and I peeked inside the big door; life was exciting and full of promise! I got to take a few steps into my castle: purchased a new home, traveled, found out I was pregnant with my second miracle baby. And then the walls came tumbling down. My marriage ended and I spent the next few years having a baby, raising two girls, and just keeping life on the tracks. No time for dreams...a lot of the old ones were tied to memories I wanted to forget.

It was just me and God.

Looking back I can see a part of His beautiful handiwork in what transpired next, but I would be lax in my explanation if I did not say that at times I questioned and even denied that the path before me was the one to travel. As I've mentioned here, I started working from home in March of this year, and what a ride it has been! The biggest take away? Personal growth. While addressing some of my health issues has helped with my hormonal balance and I no longer have those dark days, learning and really trusting that I am in God's will has taken me on a journey that has truly changed my life.

And so begins the process of building new dreams. How different they look than the ones I had many years ago! But that is what makes them so exciting and a part of the adventure I am on this year.

God can do anything with my life. I am holding on and about to see what that is going to be!

Songbird

I just have to share because I am so thankful and happy for Kimberly! This past summer we had many conversations about whether or not she should continue taking violin lessons this year with her wonderful violin teacher, Mrs. Holland. Kim enjoyed the performances and the lessons, but as with anything one is attempting to learn, the practices in between were challenging and, I must admit, a source of trying times for the two of us. So when we learned about the Central Coast Children's Choir, a local group of young people in our area, Kim jumped at the opportunity to join them and take a break from violin. 

She has not looked back! Watching her grow in her musical talent and seeing the excitement in her daily when we talk about choir has been a joy to me as her mother. When conversations start with, "Mom, I am so sad there are three whole weeks until we get to sing together again!"... that tells me we are in the right place. Music feeds her soul, and the confidence she is exhibiting is thrilling to watch. My little songbird.

*Whisper* And she practices all the time without needing reminders!! 

Big win.

The Winter concert was just last weekend, and I must say that I was impressed. Almost 80 young people sang, a combination of 5 different choir levels, for 2 hours. Wow. I'm thankful for the blessing of having my daughter be a part of such dedicated and talented young people. 

Have a listen!

Life in Reverse

Hard to believe that almost three weeks of our summer vacation have sped by already! On Sunday night of this week I declared a "Stay At Home No Matter What Monday" (barring unforeseen circumstances, of course), and we did it!

It was lovely to hop in the car on Tuesday morning and realize the tires were in the same spot we left them on Sunday night.

It was not, however, lovely to realize that Lindsay's bike was in a different spot and therefore her bike seat now resembles a taco minus the lettuce and cheese.

You know, I was never going to be "that mom" who runs over her kids bikes and toys in the driveway. I mean, it can't be that difficult to check the rear view mirror or even peek behind the car before pulling out, right?

True confession time.

I have now graduated to that esteemed category. One bike seat and one scooter wheel in one week. Must be a record.

Remember library catalogs? (Yes, I am showing my age by that question!) I find it interesting to feel categorized. It is as if you could now pull out the drawer titled, "ME-MU" and find my name nestled under the heading of

"Moms Who Run Over Bikes In Driveway"

Jill Whaley 630.14 

Well, I guess we all have to be remembered for something!

Hope you all are enjoying the little moments this summer!

M.I.A.

Yes, it appears I have been missing in action around here! Not on purpose, I assure you.

You know, sometimes I talk about the unexpected twists and turns that come our way in life. It just so happens that we had a full hairpin turn last month! Several of you have asked off and on what I do for work or if I am looking for a job. God has graciously provided for me to be able to stay home and raise my girls over the past six years. For that I am truly grateful and undeserving.

Last September I started volunteering at a local non-profit thrift store and had the opportunity to work with some wonderful Christian women. It was just what I needed at that time, but a couple of months ago I felt that God was leading me in a new direction, one that would lead to employment. As I began searching the help wanted ads for a job nothing waved a flag to say "pick me!". Either the times were wrong and I wouldn't be able to get my kids from school, or the hours were too long, or the commute was too far. I even went for one job interview but left afterward knowing the job wasn't what God had planned for me. It's a wonderful feeling to know peace even when the pieces aren't fitting together just how I think they should fit! I decided to wait. Not for something to fall in my lap, but to be still for a bit and see what the Lord had in store.

Come the end of March, I was reading a post on a blog I have been following for a couple of years and the author started talking about a product and company called Plexus. After researching everything I could find about the company and products, and spending some time praying about the opportunity, I felt that this was the place God wanted me to be right now.

Can you say Unexpected and Not What I Would Have Ever Dreamed I'd Be Doing?!

What a blessing Plexus has been in our lives so far! Not only have I had the opportunity to meet new people, reconnect with old friends, and create stronger relationships with acquaintances, I am experiencing amazing positive changes in my health as well.  The best part about it is that I have the privilege of helping people find answers and relief from health issues. On top of all that, Plexus is providing for our family financially as well.

Have I always trusted God 100% to provide what we needed when we needed it? Not always. I am humbled by His graciousness in understanding my frame when I have been anxious or wanting to rush ahead and see the future plans He has in store, and I am grateful for the times when I have been able to return the worries about employment to His hands and consciously make a choice to leave them there. He has certainly never failed me! As I sit here I can feel a bit teary about how generously He has provided for me and my girls. And I love the way that provision is usually a bit different that I would have reasoned it out to be. Just one more way He shows His love!

So that's what has been taking up my time and brain space lately. If you want to read more about my new adventure, you can click here or on the tab above that says My Plexus Story. Happy reading!

Skinny Dip

So I have been reading the Sarah Plain and Tall series to my girls this week, and one of the aunties in the story goes skinny dipping in the ocean. That, of course, required a detailed explanation including what, why, and how. And it must have made an impression because the topic came up again tonight at bedtime from Lindsay, to which I replied:

"Would you ever go skinny dipping?" 

"No. Never. There would be boys!"

"Well, you would go somewhere where there were no people, somewhere private", I prompted. "It's against the law to do that in public places anyway. You could get arrested."

"But people would see you!" she still insisted. "And a policeman would come."

"Okay, how about with your husband someday..."

"Well, that would be alright. I mean, he could see you. And if a policeman came you could just tell him that it's your husband so it's okay."

Oh.

Simplify

Remember way back here when I was dreading the beginning of school for Lindsay and wondering what life was going to be like? Well, guess what. I survived it. Thinking back to that time reminded me of this mental list I had going on to do in "all my spare time once school starts". It read something like a housekeeper's nightmare, including entries like reorganize entire house and prepare dinner in the mornings to save afternoon time for playing with children.

Ummm... totally unrealistic.

Most of that list never materialized for obvious reasons. I can think of one time when dinner was made and in the fridge prior to 2 pm. And the house never did reorganize itself, fancy that! Somewhere over the course of winter break I realized that our "stuff" in our home truly owns a piece of us.

It was the pantry that broke the proverbial camel's back. While I grocery shop on an almost-weekly basis and fill up the empty spaces in the cupboards and fridge, there are some things that hang out in the deep recesses of the pantry and the dark corners of the freezer that beg to be eaten or thrown out. So, with recipe book in hand, I tried an experiment titled How Many Days Can We Eat Out Of The Pantry Without Grocery Shopping.  Here's a little sneak peak into our findings:

Lessons Learned From the Bottom of the Freezer

"We've been having some really yummy meals lately, Mom," Kimberly commented at dinnertime one evening last week. 

I took that as an extreme complement.  You see, I hadn't been regular grocery shopping for two weeks, and "staples" shopping for much longer than that. My list was front and back on several scraps of paper stuck on the magnet board, scribbled in a combination of pencil, marker, and glitter gel pen notations. Challenging myself to come up with healthy, tasty meals from the bottom of the freezer encouraged me to bump up out the rut of routine recipes we eat regularly, put on my creative chef hat, and work some culinary magic in the kitchen.  That magic looked like cajun chicken tacos, spinach ravioli with garlic tomato sauce, and scrambled egg and potato wraps.

An unrealized side benefit to this experiment was the sense of freedom from the overabundance of surplus food we never took time to prepare and eat. And a whole lot of extra room in the pantry, refrigerator, and freezer.

We could have gone longer (17 days was our final number), and by that time we were really missing eggs.

And cheese and butter.

And shaving cream.

Oh, wait.

That's not a food. But I didn't want to step foot in a store for fear I would cave in and pick up some splurge item like mayonnaise and all would have been for not.

Now if we had been out of toilet paper...

So all of this experimenting made me realize how many, many extras we have in our lives. Does one person really need a total of 42 shirts, sweaters, and sweatshirts? (Yes, I counted and I'm not saying who). And how can two children truly enjoy and play with 29 stuffed animals?

So, one Saturday when I was by myself I attacked my room and the playroom with reckless abandon. If you had happened by on that particular day, or the next, or the next, or today, you might have thought I was moving. You would have been wrong. But I did have an impressive number of boxes to sell, bags to donate, and a jam packed trash can to set out at the road on Friday morning.

Even after a few days of clearing out I find I still have too many "things". It's been quite a journey so far discovering just how emotionally attached I can be to stuff and how freeing it is to release some of it. I am finding room in my life for more time with my family rather than more time for washing, drying, and hanging 42 shirts.  And I'm not through yet...

Overheard In The School Yard

With hands in our pockets to keep out the chill, I waited with Lindsay in line to ride the trikes around the playground this morning before the bell rang. Two vigorous young boys raced the bikes around the painted line on the blacktop and skidded to a halt in front of the next waiting child, then ran to the back of the line for another turn. As the line moved forward, Lindsay hopped on a bike and took off while those two young boys inched forward.

As I smiled and waved when Lindsay turned the corner, the first boy with blond spiky hair and a scrunched up nose turned to his friend and said, "The fast bike is going to be coming in first. Here, I'll switch places with you. You go first."

The second brown-headed boy looked incredulous. "But that means you'll have to use the slow trike! Why would you do that?"

Blondie shrugged his shoulder, gave a little grin, and said, "I don't mind the slow bike. Besides, I know you like the fast one better so you use it! It doesn't matter to me if I go faster or slower."

In the me, me, me world at elementary school, this conversation was balm to my soul. The little blond boy had a grasp of the importance of the relationship over the desire to get the better bike.  That's the kind of example I desire for my children, a win over selfishness (with which they struggle daily) while maintaining a healthy dose of self-confidence.

On closer inspection I realize that I struggle with selfishness daily too. I can be selfish with my time and my attention, while freely sharing correction and criticism.  It's easier to tell and boss than to lead by example, and when I am distracted by thoughts and ideas, the easy road is the one I take, much to my regret.

Recently I have been reading through the book of John, soaking in the being and person of Jesus Christ. Time after time Jesus turned from his intended destination or goal and stopped to talk to someone in need, heal a suffering soul, or offer comfort. Along with his love, he offered his time and attention to those he cared about most, humankind. In a way, he chose the "slow bike", valuing the relationships over his original plans. I want to be like Christ, reflecting a stillness that has time to recognize the needs and the people around me. How easy it is to get caught up in the fast pace of life and the enjoyment of activities and things!

Leave the fast bike for someone else, I want to go slow.

Chop, Chop, Put it in the Pot

As I set six huge apples out on the table with an array of knives, peelers and cutting boards, Kimberly skipped into the kitchen and asked, "Are you making applesauce? Please, please wait to make it until I finish my violin practice!"

"Sure can." I replied. My heart was happy.

An hour later we all gathered around the table. Kimberly and I peeled while Lindsay chopped and put the pieces of apple in the pot.  Conversation flowed. I think a few more of Lindsay's chunks made it in the pot than landed in her mouth, but I wasn't keeping track. In went the lemon juice, cinnamon, salt, and water. Then onto the stove went the pot, and off to play went the girls. And to the dishes went I. With my hands up to the elbows in soap suds, I had a thankful heart; there was more in that pot than apples and cinnamon. 

There was a memory made in that pot, a time when we could share a common task that benefited everyone come dinnertime.  

There was laughter in that pot, silly jokes cracked around the table, apple slices on the floor, the kind of happiness that bubbles up inside when you are present in the moment.

There were lessons learned in that pot. How to hold a peeler, how to core an apple, how to share a cutting board, and how to work together.

There was a family tradition in that pot.  We've done this before, listening to a Boxcar Children book on tape all the while. It was a memory that prompted Kim to ask for a repeat.

There was love in that pot, a time and place where we could come together around a pot of chopped apples and let the world slide by as we enjoyed one another's company.

As we tasted the product of our labors around the dinner table, commenting on the sweetness and the chunkiness of the applesauce, I realized what an integral part of life family traditions are.  We have a few special things we do at certain times of the year, like green milk in the milk carton every April 1st, or funny face pancakes on birthday mornings, or short sheets on the bed.  Now applesauce making has joined the list, and what I love about these moments is that they are simple, harmless, and bring pure joy to my heart and the hearts of my children. That's the type of love that grounds us and pulls us together as a family. It will get us through the tough days, when all is not fun and games, but struggles and conflict. I need these moments.

Some Advice

Main Street Grill is not a great place to have quality conversation with your children about where they think they'll be in the next 10-20 years.  Why, you ask?  Well, for one, the competing football game.  For two, the noise level.  And lastly, who thinks about what they're going to be like when they are 31 years old anyway?

We did nail down a few pointers in the midst of chaos.

Lindsay on being 18 years old:

I'll be in high school!  How old will I be when I start high school? 14! Wow. Then I'll go to college maybe if I want to.

Kimberly on being 18 years old:

I'm going to go to college and be in a math class.  I want to be an engineer like my dad, do something with math because I am really good at that.

Lindsay on being 31 years old (my current age):

Well, I don't know what I'll be like.  Glance at the tv. Comment on the pink helmets and black pants.  Those look nice together!

Actually, I'll be like Aunt Melanie, that's what.  I'll always be correcting kids.  And I'll probably have a baby too.  Giggle, giggle.

Kimberly on being 31 years old:

I'll probably be doing Ebay or something like that. Or maybe I'll just be playing my violin or piano and not practicing.

Lindsay on "what is a goal"?

Huh? I don't know what a goal is.  You mean like make a goal?

Kimberly on "what is a goal"?

It's like saying to yourself at swim lessons, "I can make it to the other side of the pool", and you do!

And that's when we made it our goal to finish our lunch and enjoy the rest of the afternoon 

in Cambria.

Earwig

So Lindsay has been feeling a bit under the weather these last couple of days. Just a cold, which turned into a cough, which seems to be bothering her ears.  This evening she dripped from the bathtub to her jammy drawer, then came shivering to find me before bed.  

Wiggling one finger in her ear, I heard her mumble I have a wig in there. 

She looked at me uncertainly. 

What was that? I questioned, trying hard to keep my smile under control.

An earwig.

Ear wax, maybe? I prompted.

Oh yeah. Another wiggle of the finger. It's not funny.

My laughter could be contained no longer.

Much better than a wig... or an earwig for that matter.

A New Birth Day

We had some pretty exciting stuff happening around here a couple of weeks ago. While reviewing Lindsay's memory verse for the week (Philippians 4:5), we got to talking about Jesus returning to earth and taking all believers to live with him forever.  When I asked her if she would go to heaven, she said, "Well, Kimberly told me the words to say, but I don't really know what that means."

Talk about opportunity!

I tried not to get my hopes up.  We had talked many times in the past and she just didn't have a clear understanding of the price Jesus paid for her.

"Will you read the story to me again, Mama?  The one about Jesus dying on the cross?"

Music to my ears!

"Of course, dear."  We opened up our Bible in Pictures for Little Eyes and read through the account of Jesus' betrayal, crucifixion, burial, and resurrection. Lindsay turned to me and said, "I want to believe, but I just don't know how to do it!"

Enter the analogy of a gift.  "Just imagine I have this beautifully wrapped gift in my hands, with a big bow on top," I told her.  "It's not your birthday or any special celebration, but I just want to give this gift to you because I love you.  What would you do?"

She giggled.  And said she didn't know.  So I handed her a book.  "Let's pretend this is the gift! What would you do?"

"Well, I would take it," she said.

"Right!  And that is just how you believe!  Just accept that Jesus loved you, Lindsay, enough to die for you and he is offering new life to you!"

"I want to do that," she said.

And she prayed.  Hallelujah!  The angels were singing, along with my heart.

Jesus moved right into her heart, and the resulting life in her has been astounding to watch unfold.

Is she still Lindsay?  Yep.
Is she still naughty? Uh, yeah.

But there are these little glimmers of something new growing in her soul that peek up out of the overgrown weed patch of a heart which has never known a Savior.

I am eternally grateful.

Approaching Autumn

There have been a few clues around here: 

-green acorns on the ground, caps still attached to their heads

-slightly yellowing tree leaves hanging on to summer by an invisible thread 

-the gray of evening creeping in ever earlier

-visions of crusty bread and steaming bowls of soup

-and a strange stirring of excitement deep inside me

Yes, fall is on its way.  Just a few more weeks and it will be official, but I have read the signs...

... my favorite season is approaching.

Farewell Summer

It's been a good summer. 

An incredible summer, actually.  

We enjoyed several lazy mornings (for which some of my friends say I should be grateful!)

And while we fit in a few "lasts" before school begins for Lindsay, they were not our focus.  Instead, making fun memories and enjoying being together was our goal.  We even made a few "firsts"...

Riding the train around Gilroy Gardens

The Panorama Wheel

Kimberly drives her first car!  1920's roadster

While spending a couple of days in Gilroy we ran into some car trouble.  Too bad we were a mere mile and a half from the Factory Outlets!  School shopping was our goal anyway, so we enjoyed walking though several stores while waiting for our car to be repaired.  I'm very thankful that we were not stranded halfway from nowhere when the fan in the engine began to sound like a semi truck going down the highway.

~ ~ ~

We had a little midnight excitement one night...

Hearing a commotion after 12 o'clock a.m. from the parrots we are bird-sitting, I groggily peered through the blinds to find a raccoon prying open a window and making his way inside our garden shed where the birds are kept.  Throwing on my ancient bathrobe, I hurried to the front door and carefully stepped outside, knowing the raccoons around here tend to run in groups.  When I didn't see any more around, I went for the water hose, spray nozzle set to "jet", and the hard rake.  Sure enough, by banging on the back of the shed and spraying the metal with high powered water, and making enough racket to wake the dead, I scared three of the critters out of the shed.  Cautiously opening the door with my rake, I made sure I couldn't see more before entering to assure the birds' safety.  Then I locked all the windows and moved a heavy pot in front of the door to hold it shut. 

Back to bed I went.  

Two minutes after my head hit the pillow, the birds were at it again.  This time, while looking through the window of the shed, I spied three more pairs of eyes.  True story.  And I had bravely entered the "raccoons den" while they had been holed up somewhere in there, watching my every move with their beady eyes.  Thank goodness for the brown bathrobe... they must have mistaken me for a bear...

My raccoon scaring tools of choice

~ ~ ~

And the big finale of this summer culminated with the
Carnival and Circus Party 
at Alan and Melanie's house.

Lindsay and Corrine ride the train made by Alan Payton 

Kimberly the Clown

The cousins

Cameron the Clown

What a fine looking couple!

Friends!

Some "carnies" - Nelson and Cherisa

T. Ryan - the Magician with his little zebra

Tall Man Swift

The Zebra Stevens'

One of the lucky goldfish winners!

Between costumes, food, games, and friends, the event turned out even better than we could have hoped!  A huge thank you to all of you who helped out, asked or not!  You made it all come together and we couldn't have done it without you.

~ ~ ~

It's sad to tell you goodbye, summer, but a new season is ahead of us with it's own sense of adventure and promise. New experiences lie before us in many aspects of life, some known, and some unknown.  But the Creator of the heavens and earth knew about them even before time began, so we are trusting that He has it all under control. 

Happy 9th Birthday Kimberly!

Nine years ago today you were a welcomed addition to our family.  It was hard to believe that God gave me the responsibility of snuggling you, caring for you, and raising you to know about His love.

As the years passed and your personality began to develop, 

my love for you grew right along with you.

We encountered some life changing events, along with a big move and a new baby sister, all in the space of a few months.  But God never left us.  We still smiled and played trains, had tickle fights, counted the stars He had made, and thanked Him for taking good care of us.

Kindergarten came along, teeth left, skirts got shorter, 

and your happy face continued to shine.

Then you had a new birth day... the day you asked Jesus into your heart.  

I cried tears of joy to know that you understood your need for a Savior. 

Every year you grow more beautiful, inside and out.

And this year will be no exception!

Thank you for being our practical child, for sharing your knowledge with us, and challenging us on world geography.

Thank you for sharing your love for books with us as we enjoy 

evenings together reading aloud.

Thank you for taking the time you need to think about the answers to life's questions.

Thank you for being strong enough to just be you, even in the midst of adversity.

Thank you for tickle fights, made-up games, and straightening us out on the rules.

Thank you for sharing your life with us.

I love you, Kimberly...

Happy Birthday!

Maiden Voyage

Some evenings are just made for being outside.  

This was one of them.  

Greg and Tamee, Wyatt and Brennen joined us for a picnic at the lake park, followed by Craig, Lynn, and Carissa.  Unfortunately we forgot that it was "music in the park", but fortunately  there was also a wedding going on nearby so the DJ had to keep the sound to a minimum.  

After enjoying barbecued chicken salad, we packed up and headed around the lake to another spot launch our new craft.  While I dutifully manned the electric pump, Greg worked up a sweat with the "double-action pump guaranteed to inflate your boat in 10 minutes or less." Soon the vessel was pronounced seaworthy, life jackets were in place, and the maiden voyage was ready to begin.  Only Atascadero "swamp water" was used in the christening of this boat.

After a few trial runs, Greg managed to get the hang of rowing.  That is until one of the oar locks broke.  Tell you what, it works pretty well as a canoe, too!  Craig fished, Brennen played, Kimberly, Lindsay, and Wyatt ate cupcakes...

...and a good time was had by all!

Lake Tahoe, the Second

Virginia City, Nevada

There we were in the delightful old town of Virginia City, Nevada.  The day was cool, quite a change from the last time I visited when the word "desert" described the atmosphere exactly.  

The Wild West show was more about startling unsuspecting victims by shooting blanks than it was true western history.  We did eventually get used to the loud bangs, though Lindsay spent the entire show with ears covered and one eye peering out for danger.

Kimberly and Lindsay met the cowboy and the sheriff

All aboard! About to embark on the Virginia and Truckee Railroad steam engine.

Kimberly photographs the sights.

And a little treat to curb the afternoon appetite!

Squaw Valley, USA

Riding the tram car to the top of Squaw Valley offered an interesting surprise.  Of course we knew the view would be spectacular, but we didn't expect the fields of wildflowers or the patches of snow we would find there.

Dad tries his hand at snow "boarding"

And Lindsay and Kimberly did too.

Definitely was not counting on snow

Magic Carpet Mini Golf

There is a reason why I have never played real golf... I have terrible aim.  So playing mini golf with my two daughters is right up my ally.  No schedule, no scorecard, many laughs, some wild shots, and a hole-in-two make the game just my speed.

The Lake

Here are just a few more photos of Lake Tahoe.  We were blessed beyond measure to be able to enjoy God's creation in such a magnificent fashion.  

Goodnight!