Celebrating Clarice!

Amazing friends.
Amazing Day.
You know, I've heard it said that in a lifetime you could count the amount of true friends you've had on one hand...well, two of those slots are filled.
These two women, have made my life rich. We are so different and yet we love each other just as we are. We share honestly, we laugh, we cry, we play, we love!
This day was a day to celebrate Clarice. Clarice, my compassionate, kind, Clarice was one of my first friends at Calvary. I'll never forget she invited me to eat lunch with her and her friends and I loved her for that. We visited all of the old places we used to hang out, reminiscing, and laughing. Chrissy put together a soundtrack filled with Alannis, The Cranberry's, Journey, etc. It was awesome. Followed by...Wahoos, 56th st, and a little shopping at Crystal Court!

Sweet August

August! Sweet August has been a great month. Not just because of the warm sunshine and massive amounts of pool time, but because I used August as a "Revamp my priorities month". I stepped back and reevaluated. I wish I could go into every detail of how God guided me through this month, but here is a quick overview...
I played with my kids.
I stacked legos on top of one another at random, without over thinking a design.
I was silly, and laughed.
I surrounded myself with things that make me happy, and minimized things that emotionally drained me.
I said no to events and play dates and didn't apologize.
I made time for people I wouldn't normally give a second glance.
I read my bible.
I enjoyed photography.
I danced.
I listened to God and witnessed his direction.
I took naps and went to bed on time.
I went on dates with my husband
I exercised...hard!

You know, living purposefully has been hard work and I realize it is going to be a daily process. But, I have to say that this month has made me feel alive again, and I've felt more myself than I have in months! Thank you Lord!
It is no coincidence that this decision is coinciding with my 30th birthday, coming up in October. I learned so much in my 20's and now I'm really looking forward to living a healthy, purposeful life in my 30's!!!
Bring em on!!!

5 months old!

Gracie is 5 months old!! She is happy and healthy. Still eating ok, but gaining weight and growing long! :) She is completely entertained by her brother, laughs, and is chatting up a storm. Ever since we left the hospital we had the expectation of Gracie's big 5 month appointment. The appointment where she meets with 10 specialists in one afternoon. After the appointment all 10 of the Dr's. reconvene and discuss Gracie and a plan of action. It's AMAZING!!! It seemed so far off and I could only imagine how big Gracie would be and how she would be developing. I can't believe it's here. In fact now that it's here, I'm thinking wait...does this mean surgeries are looming...uh oh, maybe I'm not ready for this.
I'm so glad she is in the God's hands and my arms. :)
I love you my sweet little Gracie!

Compassion

Where is the compassion?
Are we not all fellow travelers in this life? Are we not all students, are we not all seekers, are we not all discovering, learning, growing? Don't we all feel lonely sometimes, lost sometimes, vulnerable sometimes? Weren't we all "There" at some point in our life? A low point. An expectation unmet. Aren't we all at this stage in our life, for the first time?

Where is the grace?
Haven't we all made mistakes? Said the wrong thing. Done the wrong thing. Felt the wrong thing.

Where is the gentleness?
Aren't we fragile? We crack and scratch easily.

Where is the patience?
Aren't we all exhausted and behind sometimes?

Where is the Peace?
The only place I've ever experienced true peace is with Jesus. Period.

He ALONE can offer all of these things because He IS these things.
Jesus has compassion...
Matthew 9:36
When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep
without a shepherd.

Jesus shows Grace...
John 1:16
From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another.

Jesus is gentle...
Matthew 11:29
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Jesus is patient...
1 Thessalonians 5:14
And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.

Jesus is Peace...
John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives.

We are just here to REFLECT his compassion, grace, gentleness, patience, and peace to one another!!

So let's START right now!

Let's LOVE those around us.
Let's Smile and offer a hand.
Let's listen.
Let's effect someone's life for the better.
Let's give and not take.
Let's encourage one another.

Thank you Lord for these gifts that you gave us, gifts that we can in turn give to each other.

Priscilla Ahn Dream

I think this is beautiful...


I was a little girl alone in my little world who dreamed of a little home for me.
I played pretend between the trees, and fed my houseguests bark and leaves, and laughed in my pretty bed of green.

I had a dream
That I could fly from the highest swing.
I had a dream.

Long walks in the dark through woods grown behind the park, I asked God who I'm supposed to be.
The stars smiled down on me, God answered in silent reverie. I said a prayer and fell asleep.

I had a dream
That I could fly from the highest tree.
I had a dream.

Now I'm old and feeling grey. I don't know what's left to say about this life I'm willing to leave.
I lived it full and I lived it well, there's many tales I've lived to tell. I'm ready now, I'm ready now, I'm ready now to fly from the highest wing.

I had a dream

The Bruins Fan!

My husband, as you may well know, is a HUGE fan of UCLA football...Huge. He is also an avid reader and secretly loves writing. May I say, he is really good? He is. For weeks, maybe months, now he has been writing and www.bruinsnation.com has been publishing his work on their home page, over and over, now. His alias is captainqtp (Captain Q-tip...from a nick name in highschool referring to his white, blonde hair.) I have to brag for him, because he would never mention it...thought you might enjoy!
www.bruinsnation.com

Summer Fun!

The Babcocks are our long time amazing family friends. They all made it over for a BBQ followed by Settlers of Catan. It was so much fun...I think we got them hooked, especially Christine! :)
Gavin also had his very first Preschool event...a meet and greet at Peppertree park, Daddy and Christine came too!
The kids are so cute and Gavin had so much fun...the funny thing was, Gavin was a head taller than all of them. :)
School starts in September! Yay!!
 

 
 
 
 

 

The Donally's visit!

 
 
 
 

 

 
 
 
 

Cousin Camp 2009!!!

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

Technically our first annual "Cousin Camp" ensued this month. Nana and Poppy hosted and what a blast we had!! It was a whirlwind 4 days, filled with Disneyland, pool, tie dye, pool, a luau, more pool, oh and a 20 year reunion for Starla!! Gavin loved seeing and playing with his ,much tanner, cousins...Gavin and Isaac were inseparable. We love our family and wish we could see them more often! We love you Goff family!