Carmel by the Sea , Vacation

Carmel by the Sea, they say that when you visit you need to close your pocket book and open your soul. And they are right! It really is a truly beautiful place and these photos are only a small sampling of all the wonderful photos we took during our trip.

While are friends in the Pacific Northwest dealt with record heat waves, we enjoyed cool foggy days on the ocean. Our evenings consisted of afternoons by the fireplace and outdoor dinning under gas heaters!

Coastal side of Carmel, along the seventeen mile drive. Home of beautiful homes and Pebble Beach Golf Course.

Carmel Mission

Beautiful inside and out with the gardens, chapel and museum. Could have stayed here all day! Having grown up in California and studied the history of the California missions I try to expose my daughter to a mission on each visit.

This is her second ( Mission in Sonoma and Carmel , not bad !)

Dinner out for the girls!



Story book cottages of Carmel! Yes, very small and VERY EXPENSIVE!!!

Statue from inside the grounds at the Carmel Mission.

Vacation! Carmel, California

I am taking a couple of days to go with my mom and daughter on a much needed vacation to Carmel , California.

I'm sure I'll have many wonderful pictures and posts when I return!

If you live in the Pacific Northwest, enjoy the heat that is coming our way!

Think Big , Walter D. Wintle (Adapted)

If you think you are beaten, you are.

If you think you dare not, you won’t.

If you like to win, but don’t think you can,

It’s almost a cinch that you won’t.

If you think you’ll lose, you’ve lost,

For out in the world you’ll find

Success begins with a person’s will;It’s all in the state of mind.

For many a game is lost

Before even a step is run

And many a coward fails

Before his work is begun.

Think big and your deed will grow;

Think small and you will fall behind.

Think that you can and you will; It’s all in the state of mind.

If you think that you are out-classed, you are;

You’ve got to think high to rise.

You’ve got to be sure of yourself

Before you can win the prize.

Life’s battles don't always go

To the strongest or fastest man

But sooner or later the person who wins

Is the person who thinks she can.

We all need a Tree- Author Unknown

We all need a tree.

I once hired a plumber to help me restore an old farmhouse. After he had just finished a rough first day on the job, a flat tire made him lose an hour of work, his electric drill quit and his ancient one ton truck refused to start.

While I drove him home, he sat in stony silence. Upon arriving, he invited me in to meet his family. As we walked toward the front door, he paused briefly at a small tree, touching the tips of the branches with both hands.

When opening the door he underwent an amazing transformation.. His face was wreathed in smiles as he hugged his two small children and gave his wife a kiss.Afterwards he walked me to the car.

We passed the tree and my curiosity got the better of me. I asked him about what I had seen him do earlier."Oh, that's my trouble tree," he replied "I know I can't help having troubles on the job, but one thing's for sure, those troubles don't belong in the house with my wife and the children.. So I just hang them up on the tree every night when I come home and ask God to take care of them. Then in the morning I pick them up again."

"Funny thing is," he smiled," when I come out in the morning to pick 'em up, there aren't nearly as many as I remember hanging up the night before."

I saw this poem this morning and thought about my recent projects own my home. How ironic that I pulled out trees with very invasive roots that were causing plumbing problems to our home. I did that so that our home could find less stress and more peace. In fact all the while we ripped out the trees I was sad but knew it was the right thing to do.

Our homes should be a place of peace. When we all come home from work we should be able to leave our troubles outside the door. Sometimes that's easier said than done! Maybe there is room in my yard for a new , smaller tree, a tree I can call my "trouble tree". Stay tuned... you never know!

Extreme Home Makeover! Concrete this week!

On Thursday morning at 6:45 am these guys rolled up to our house ready to pour the concrete in the front and back yard! Wow! What a noise! They poured the front and moved into the backyard fairly quickly! I picked Kirkland Coffee/ Brushed Finished/ Sealed! Appropriate for living in the PNW, just down the street from Kirkland Washington!

Boom going over the top of the house to pour the concrete in the backyard!

Workers laying the front stairs. They worked very quickly!


Landing up to the front door. Look how much wider it is now!

Backyard, two landings! Ready for more BBQ's

Part of the front driveway!

We were climbing in and out of the window around the back of the house for a couple of days. Looks like by Sunday we should be able to walk on it! We've had some exceptionally hot summer days this week which worked out beautifully for the pouring!

Body Talk Access Class with Pat Sullivan

My good friend Pat Sullivan is offering another Body Talk Access Class! If you missed the several that were recently offered you want to get in one of these classes now! Check it out!

BodyTalk Access Class
When: Saturday, August 1st, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Where: Main Street Massage and Wellness, 15705 Main, Duvall, WA 98019
Cost: $135.00

BodyTalk Access is a set of 5 self healing techniques (excerpted from the BodyTalk System) that can cover up to 60% of what a person or family may encounter in a month; brain optimization, nervous system relaxation, viruses, bacterial infections, pain reduction, injury and trauma healing, learning disorders, and more... It's simple to learn and the results can be astounding. You leave this fun and fast paced class with a healthcare package in your hands.

7 CEU credits given for Massage Practitioners through the NCBTMB and 7 STARS credits for preschool teachers
To register, call or email Pat at 206-920-5528 or pat@bodytalkwa.com or click here for the link to register
http://bodytalksystem.com/seminars/details.cfm?id=10378

God's Wheel by Shel Silverstein

God's Wheel

by

Shel Silverstein

God says to me with kind of a smile,

"Hey how would you like to be God awhile

And steer the world?""

Okay," says I, "I'll give it a try.

Where do I set?

How much do I get?

What time is lunch?

When can I quit?""

Gimme back that wheel," says God,

"I don't think you're quite ready yet."

picture above note:

Art in MotionThe Dancing Wheels Company & School is America's first and foremost physically integrated dance company. Since 1980, the Company has traveled the globe performing and teaching more than 3.5 million children and adults with and without disabilities. Under the artistic direction, of Mary Verdi-Fletcher,The Dancing Wheels Company has had the privilege of performing on national and international television with special appearances on CNN, Good Morning America and a national made for television special with Christopher Reeve, entitled Christopher Reeve: A Celebration of Hope. Over the years, the Company has also had the opportunity to perform with such luminaries as Ben Vereen, Tommy Tune and James Ingram.

Summer Baseball Allstar Games!

The Redmond West Major's All star Team had a very short tournament play this year. Some really tough challenges on the field. They worked hard, accepted all challenges and never gave up! Aren't those the life lessons you want all kids to learn? From June 15th to July 13th they practiced every evening for three hours for these moments on the field.

I believe that despite the fact they are not moving forward in the tournament they had a good time, learned a lot, and fostered some friendships to last a long time! Here are some pictures of Branden through out last nights game!

End of the game the boys were called out for their All star medals. Way to go Redmond West !

Redmond Derby Days of Past Years! -2002

Today is our community festival Derby Days.

It is a fun filled day with parades, carnival rides, food booths and bicycle races ( since Redmond is a bicycle city ). I was thinking back this morning as to when the kids were little and we'd get up early to decorate the bikes and head down to participate in the parade. Oh... those days are long gone! It's now 8 am on a Saturday the little girl below in the pink top is upstairs sleeping in and the boy in the yellow t shirt is playing x box! They'll be down in the afternoon later! To hang with friends, ride rides and eat junk food! Branden will also work in David's booth. I scanned these pictures below for those who know us and want to walk memory lane! Kids getting ready for bike parade, Branden with cotton candy and one of David's first BBQ booths! Boy have things changed!

HarMoney Card - Prosperity Law #12

HarMoney Prosperity Law #12

I Seek Approval From Within

When you follow the path of your heart, others may disapprove of your direction or choices. Remain true to yourself. The only approval you really need is your own.

http://www.harmoneycards.com/

The Little Hut - A modern day parable

The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him, and every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming. Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect himself from the elements, and to store his few possessions. But then one day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, the smoke rolling up to the sky. The worst had happened - everything was lost. He was stunned with grief and anger. "God, how could you do this to me?" he cried.

Early the next day, however, he was awakened by the sound of a ship that was approaching the island. It had come to rescue him. "How did you know I was here?" asked the weary man of his rescuers. "We saw your smoke signal," they replied. It's easy to get discouraged sometimes when things appear to be going badly. But we shouldn't lose heart, because God is at work in our lives, even in the midst of pain and suffering.

Remember, next time your little hut is burning to the ground, it just may be a smoke signal that summons the grace of God. For all the negative things we have to say to ourselves, God has a positive answer for it.

Happy Fourth of July!

July 4th marks Independence Day or commonly known the Fourth of July! For many an extra day off work to picnic and celebrate with friends and family.

Here is a little background that is fun if you haven't been in history class in awhile!

Background

In 1775, people in New England began fighting the British for their independence. On July 2, 1776, the Congress secretly voted for independence from Great Britain. The Declaration of Independence was first published two days later on July 4, 1776. The first public reading of the Declaration of Independence was on July 8, 1776. Delegates began to sign the Declaration of Independence on August 2, 1776. In 1870, Independence Day was made an unpaid holiday for federal employees. In 1941, it became a paid holiday for them.

The first description of how Independence Day would be celebrated was in a letter from Thomas Jefferson to his wife. He described "pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations" throughout the United States. However, the term "Independence Day" was not used until 1791.

Interestingly, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, both signers of the Declaration of Independence and presidents of the United States, died on July 4, 1826 - exactly 50 years after the adoption of the declaration.