For those who have been faithfully praying for Uncle Sam - thank you.  Here's an update that we received.  He still in ICU.  He had a tracheotomy so he doesn't have damage to his voice box.  He's stable and doing well in terms of his heart, lungs, and BP.  I'm so glad we went to see him a couple of weeks ago because it sounds like since he has moved to Kaiser, only immediate family can see him.  I'm praying for his condition and that through this time, his faith would be solidified.

V just got her first haircut!

V pretending to drive!  She loves to be in the drivers seat...now that's a window into her personality!

trying to be a cool cat!

and look at what we saw driving on the 10 East that day!

Pictures do make it seem like it was a great day, huh?  Overall, yes it was a good day, but so many things happened this day - and the rest of the week.  I prefer to remember it the way the pictures depict!  More details later!

What I have been learning in the last months

These past months, the Lord has been molding me (both of us) of the meaning of true authentic community.  I think this has been something He's been trying to change in me my whole life, but maybe I'm just learning it or having to learn it and understand it again (and perhaps solidify even more) at this stage of my life.  Perhaps I'm finally feeling the transition from being single to married to being a parent...and the challenges that all of those stages face.  Through trials that have been happening directly to us and also around us, we have been in distinct positions to actually make some very real changes.  So despite the difficulties, I praise God for His goodness not just to me, but to many wonderful friends.  I'm also so grateful for His constancy that through the wind and the waves, His is THE solid Rock. 

I pray that as God puts thoughts in my head, that I would act according to what He wants me to do with those thoughts and not just push it to the back burner as I so often do.  V points out that I tend to say, "I thought abt doing that..." or "I was going to do that..." or something similar to find that it didn't go anywhere past a thought...Thoughts are worthless without action.  That's been my take-home message!   [This has been my recent phrase of how to challenge people in what they are learning and how they will apply what they learned.]  And God's been teaching me how to be more open and being ok with that and more comfortable.

Today I think we (V, VV, and me) are going to the LA Zoo.  We now have a membership so we can go anytime.  If anyone wants to join us, let me know!  It's a lot of fun.  With a membership, we don't have to worry about seeing everything in one day or feel like we have to spend the whole day there.  It gives a lot more freedom.  VV LOVES the zoo especially the water animals (sea lions, seals), but I think her favorites are the monkeys (gibbons) because she's somewhat of a monkey herself (not to mention being born in the year of the monkey).  And we found out that if it's just me and VV, another adult can go in for free in place of V Sr.!  So...if you're available, we'd love to have your company!