Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Courtney's belly


Court's Baby Shower:























My baby sister is having a baby!! So strange yet amazing! It is such a blessing and a miracle that I cry almost every time I think of baby Isaiah John Toney. She was told that because of her intense cancer treatment she was probably sterile and could not conceive. He is due to come into this world almost 9 months to the day that my John left this world. This is proof that God decides when to give life and when to take back life. It's all such a mystery, a beautiful mystery. This sweet little life is symbolic in so many ways and I can't wait to meet him. Thank you God for your plan of life.

Wednesday, September 12, 2007


My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life. Psalm 119:50

This summer our church has been studying Psalm 119 and Pastor Don just wrapped it up last week. I know that God had planned this for me. This whole book is about believing that God is always good, even when life isn't. I've always known that God is in control of my life, and he shows me this all the time - just when I think I know what I'm doing I hit a road block and God says "No, this way". And it's not always the way I want to go! In Psalms 119:38 it says that we can set our eyes on the future with confidence and a firm hope in God's grace, protection and care. Why is it so hard for me to do this! I'm sometimes so full of fear. I need to let go and let God.......... working on it.............

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

Good Friends, Good Food, Good Wine.............

How could that not be a good time!?
Steph the Chef.......


My friend Stephanie from high school is amazing! She is a caterer and a Chef at the Montage Hotel. She kept telling us about all the fun and amazing things she gets to do as a chef (like cater to big name stars!) so we told her that it was about time that she showed us the money!!!! We came up with this great idea - she would teach us how to make things we not only have never made before but never heard of before!!!


Kelly's cookin! (She is actually a good cook already - I'm more into the eating part)
Presentation is half the battle.....................
Then we got to sit and enjoy the fruits of our labor (well mostly their labor as I was at soccer games and came just in time to eat! - but they did make me do the desert and it was yummy I must say, even though I feel like all I did was stir!)

It was a special time. The food was incredible, but the company even more so! I told my friends that I know why I chose them as friends in high school, we laughed and laughed, and ate and ate, and listened to good music - pretty much what we did in school!
I'm not a huge wine drinker (wine coolers in high school - does that count?) But there was some good wine flowing that night and I'm learning to appreciate it! Stephanie has turned one of the bedrooms in her house into a wine cellar! It is amazing - over 800 bottles of wine! The pictures don't do it justice - my flash made it look bright but it is actually dark with just a few purple strands of grape vine lights - and it's own air condition unit so it is so nice and cool - loved it. Then my battery ran out and I didn't get a picture of the wall with all the wine on it - bummer.


Fun and Yum - my perfect night :}

Sunday, September 9, 2007

Back To School


Mandy and Neena (our neighbor and one of Mandy's BFF) are off to 4th grade...........

Strike a pose.....

10th grade now!!!!!!

Classic First Day of School Photos


They are back to school. We made it through the first two days! The girls were actually all excited to get back to school but I was a little sad....... :(............. I'm one of those mom's who enjoys the summer with their kids and miss them when they leave in the fall. But the good news is that they all like their classes and had fun on the first two days. The twins could use some prayer as they have seven periods and leave for school at 6:30!

Grandpa came to see Mandy off.....

Is it just me or is she getting tall??? Pretty soon I'm going to be the shortest one in the house!

I think I could use some prayer also as I try to juggle our crazy fall schedule by myself. God is faithful and good and has given me lots of people who have offered to help so I need to lower my pride some and accept that help - eek.

Happy Fall ya'll

Wednesday, September 5, 2007

My Birthday "Week"



So my birthday was last week but I have been so busy I haven't been able to post! I was celebrated, spoiled and loved. A couple of days before my birthday my friends Kelly and Susie from High school took me out to appetizers on the San Clemente pier then desert at Beach Fire Grill - yum. Then on Sunday my family & friends had a surprise party at my Aunt Lois' house and then all the girls were off to Hollywood to see "Wicked". After that we went to Lucky Strikes to eat. It was such a great day.

On Monday (my actual birthday) I was so tired that I just layed around then in the late afternoon our whole family went down to a park overlooking Laguna beach. We played volleyball and Frisbee and walked down to the beach. Then Diane made me and the girls dinner. Tuesday night my inlaws had us over for swimming and dinner. (we also celebrated Uncle James and Andrew's Bdays).

Then, some more friends that were not able to make it on Sunday to the play took me out to dinner during the week!!


What a great week. I am blessed - thank you all my special friends and family - I love you!