Welcome to my garden

There are so many jewels in my garden... rich soil, flowers, veggies and herbs, birds, butterflies, hummingbirds, ladybugs, seeds sprouting, the sound of the water fountain, but the best jewels are family and friends when they join me in the garden and share in the peace and beauty of what our Heavenly Father has provided me with. So many jewels, so many blessings. Julie +: )

Thursday, August 9, 2012

Somebody pinch me!


meadowbrook greenhouse

 Michelle and I will be here, yes here... tomorrow!!

meadowbrookblog.blogspot.com
roaming these dreamy grounds
visiting Teresa in her amazingly beautiful Meadowbrook Farm!!!
Am I only dreaming?
Wait, don't pinch me
I like this dream!

Monday, August 6, 2012

On the Road Again...

this time camping in Northern Arizona for my niece, Virginia's, birthday!
It has become an annual camping trip and David and Chanin joined us this year so we were able to celebrate Chanin's birthday as well!
 Getting ready for the party!



 pinata time...







Wyatt broke the pinata



showing tata their goodies

Happy Birthday Virginia

Happy Birthday Chanin


Having fun














time to head back home!

 

Saturday, July 28, 2012

Growing in Grace and Courage

6th Annual Girls' Weekend Recap
This year's theme...
~Growing in Grace & Courage~
Julie, Michelle, Virginia, DeeDee, Veronica, Linda, Frances, Chanin
Our weekends have been just that... weekends. Alternating between California where Michelle lives and Arizona where the rest of us live. Except for Chanin who lives in Bellingham WA. It was time to take our annual trip to her. Since we were going a bit further and by plane we extended our weekend get-away to 6 days!
getting ready to board
We had a wonderful time together... sisters, daughters, aunts, and cousins!
We shared meals
sometimes cooking & eating in...

and for the first time letting a guy join us!
But thankful to have David part of it as he chauffeured us and even cooked for us. (Still waiting for his recipe for the yummy green chili stew: )
He's been in my blog before... here.
sometimes we went out to eat...

lunch at Buffalo Run

dinner at Dirty Dan's


best clam chowder at Skylark's
  
the tea drinkers


the wine drinkers
 even enjoyed an outdoor picnic 

always stayed up late

 watched movies, read books

took naps
sometimes on the road
sleeping cousins
we talked, prayed, shed a few tears,
laughed lots mostly over the silliest things,  
 enjoyed just hanging out together.

We took lots of drives through beautiful country including the cascades.



 (Bigfoot country, luckily we didn't run into him)
stopped for ice-cream here...




even had a nature lesson...
We walked through town, 


stopping to smell the flowers
and stopped for a wine tasting



cheers
   some (the brave ones) went on bike rides 

David and Michelle


David and Virginia


 
we don't see deer walking around our front yards like here

but this is deer run lane

our walks











Chuckanut Drive




and so many times standing in awe enjoying our Creator's handiwork.





And being thankful for the opportunity to spend this time together!
~We are extremely blessed~

Thank you David and Chanin
we are so grateful for your warm hospitality!
from "Jesus Calling"...
"Open your eyes to the beauty all around you.
See the majesty of the mountains,
the power of the ocean waves,
the details of the tiniest wildflower,
the endless colors of the sunset -
and know that I am Holy God.
Let this awesome beauty draw you into worshipping Me.
And use the glory of My creation to tell others about Me."