Fireworks in Big Bear!

For 4th of July, we headed up to the cabin to see fireworks by the lake and mostly to see the family. It was so great to spend time with Jenni and her boyfriend Gabe. They are really fun to hang out with. We've been wanting to get to know them better as a couple and its amazing how much God can multiply an evening together. We not only ate dinner together, the four of us, but then watched fireworks with Jenni's friends and my parents at the park near Big Bear Lake. Then, back at the cabin, we stayed up late playing dominoes. Sunday morning we left early to not only get back for Jud to work but to take Jenni & Gabe to the airport. It worked out great though because we got the 3 hour car ride together and that was a lot of fun!

Back to the Sierras!

Last weekend before Jud started his job, we went camping in the Sierras with his family.

We went fishing in the creek next to our campsite. That was a first for me; I've only fished in lakes before.


Jud & I hiked half way around this lake to find the perfect little spot. We crossed a stream, snow, and lots of bushes. It was amazing, we could see the fish right below us in the clear water before we caught them.


We caught 5 fish total (Jud 3, Me 2) mostly rainbow trout, but also a couple brown trout


Here's Kellie, Caitlin, Riley (Jud's cousin) and Dennis (Riley's boyfriend) just outside the lake. Isn't the snow in the background beautiful!


We had beautiful weather the entire time except for the high winds during the night. It did drop down to 35 degrees the last night. I slept with 3 layers + my mittens and scarf all while sleeping in a severe weather sleeping bag. Let's just say they weren't the best nights of sleep but it sure was fun being in a tent again and hearing the roaring creek next to our campsite.


This is Karin & Bob's dog Mookie. She started to shiver from being cold, so we thought we'd help her out a little by giving her Kellie's hooded sweatshirt. Is that not the most hilarious thing?!

God Never Fails Us (even in the "lean" times)

So.....as many of you know, God has had Jud and I on this amazing journey for the past 6 months. We have been trusting God, waiting on God, praying earnestly for God to provide a job for Jud. At first, we saw it as a time for Jud to find the "perfect" job for himself. But, as time went on, we realized that we needed to leave this up to God solely and let Him choose for us. Our faith was strengthened when we saw God come through every time at the end of each month. We saw Him provide in ways we'll remember hopefully always. He never failed us!

Last week, Jud was called into a 2nd interview for a sales position at this business. And before we knew it...God had provided a job! (And in this economy, we were thankful for any job). But, God does not just settle for something, He chooses the best for our holiness and growth in becoming more Christ-like. There are so many amazing blessings about this job: it is not only a full-time permanent position, but it is owned by a wonderful family, the business has been rooted in Pasadena for over 30 years, it is only 3 miles from home (we feel so blessed to both now work in the same city we live in), and it provides the variety and people interaction that Jud was wired for by God. Jud's first day on the job was today and he loved it! There will be lots of intense training for the next 3 months learning all the details to the carpet and flooring the company sells, but Jud loves learning new things and is great with interacting with people. He has already clicked with Andre who's training him and they even made a few sales today already! I am so proud of Jud for persevering in these past 6 months, trusting in the Lord no matter what. We praise God for knowing what we need when we need it, for providing when we least expect it, and for giving us His best when we don't deserve it. We know this job was from the Lord. Please pray that we would continue to praise Him and thank Him, remembering His faithfulness toward us. May we live our lives and work at our jobs FOR HIM, and HIM ALONE. All glory be to God!

Family & Friends

With the busiest time of the school year done and 6 days officially until summer starts, Jud & I have had more time to see family and friends. Jenni came down from Berkeley after her finals and she got to go church with us, go to our favorite Pasadena hole-in-the-wall Mexican food restaurant, and then her and I laid out by the pool to talk about boys. That was really special. I don't ever get a few hours just to talk with my sis. I miss her a lot.


Last weekend we went over to Nick & Rachael's house for a BBQ and finally got to meet their new son, Caden, as well as Marc & Esther's new daughter, Avery. They were absolutely adorable. Abie & Aaron were also there and they was great fun getting to know them better as a married couple.

First Show a Success!

Well, our first Spring Dance Concert for Pasadena High School was a huge success! It was such a thrill to put on, but man, was it a lot of work! I am secretly relieved its over so I can spend time with my husband now without fighting the urge to work on something for the show. The details definitely consumed my mind for the past two months.

God definitely blessed it though! We had sold almost 500 tickets ahead of time which I was thrilled with. Our auditorium seats over 2,400...its pretty large. But to our surprise, more than half of it filled up the night of our show last Friday! We couldn't believe it. There was an energy in the audience that has not been seen in years apparently at the school. Now, with my stage manager going to the hospital and having to take over calling all the show's cues 5 days before the show, I was juggling quite a bit at once. I had help from parents and students, but this definitely couldn't have gone as well as it did without the Lord! He was present the whole way, even when I didn't acknowledge Him. I praise Him for the success of our show. The students were amazing! So many of them had never even performed on stage before. Although I made some mistakes that night with some cues and not making some acknowledgments that took me a few days to forgive myself, in the end, I was so proud of my students and the history we made that night for PHS! Praise God for it all! May He continue to bless the program that He so distinctly and unexpectedly called me to 3 years ago.

God's creativity...

For the past few months Jud has been taking classes at Eaton Canyon Nature Center right behind our apartment which has been great for him. As you can guess Jud has definitely been missing the ocean since we've moved to Pasadena, but he now has the Angeles Crest Mountains which he's been hiking almost everyday now. Last week he officially graduated from his docent class is allowed to volunteer as a trail guide taking kids on field trips throughout the canyon! I am so proud and excited for Jud, as those of you that know him well, know that it is outside that he feels most alive.



To add to God's creativity to this season of our lives, my family on my dad's side reunited last weekend to celebrate my Grandpa's life and come together to support one another in this time. I was excited and hesitant about seeing relatives I hadn't seen in 12 years! I thought it was going to be awkward and a bit fake. But, God surprised me! (as He usually does!) It was the most amazing time. I related with my cousins like I never have before. We talked and talked. We talked about God's sovereignty and how good He is in His timing of taking not only our grandpa home with the Lord, but their mom as well this year. I got to meet their adorable children for the first time. One of my favorite moments of the time was listening to my grandma share how her and grandpa met and how he had to ask her three times before she said yes to marrying her. I think it was healing for her to share all those memories with us. Praise be to God for bringing us all together and giving us the hope we have in eternal life with knowing Christ!


Here we are with my grandma Tures...she's hanging in there, holding on to the hope that grandpa is in heaven enjoying the presence of our Lord!


It was so good to see my sis and our cousin Dustin!


Here are my three cousins: Nannette, Janette, & Danette with Danette's little girl Emma.


This is a stepping stone that we all took part in decorating for my grandma to take back home with her in memory of my grandpa. That was really special to do.

Our trip to the state of cheese curds!

So, here we are in Plymouth, Wisconsin with Jud's grandparents, Doris & Flare. They so graciously flew us out to spend time with the family for my spring break!


This is us out to lunch by Lake Michigan.


We played lots of the game Sequence as well as Continental Rummy.


Then, we went up north to visit Jud's cousins Kim & Ted. This is their daughter Anie. She is absolutely adorable.


Anie had to show us her clam she kept in her sand box...that's when we played "Monster & Jaguar" (Jud was the monster and I had to help her protect the Jaguar from getting eaten) =)


We also got some great quality time in Madison with Uncle Bob & Aunt Kristi. This is Anie's little brother Jack. Isn't he so cute?!


Our night out on the town for Wisconsin Friday night Fish Fry and cheese curds. Kristi, Bob, & Ian took us to the Old Fashion restaurant for our last night in Madison, WI.

We are so thankful that God provided the time and finances for us to go on this trip. We had such a wonderful time! Thank you so much Grandma & Grandpa Fred, Kristi & Bob, and Kim & Ted for having us in your homes and spending the quality time with us that you did. We love you guys so much and Happy Easter!