So Much......

I know I know it's been literly forever since my last "real" blog...and so much has been going on I'm going to have to try and squeeze it all in one blog because I'm wanting to get back on track with this thingy..... Ok here it goes.

1. My oldest daughter turned 3 on may 4th we had a great birthday party with lots of our friends. She grown so much in the last 6 months....she's like a little companion for me. She helps with Morgan a ton! She my informer "Mom Morgan's playing in the potty!!!" And I'm not sure what took place but she's turned into this sensitive child that feels grief when she knows I'm upset with her....6 months ago she was giving dirty looks and throwing nasty tantrums, now we have full on conversations about how our actions effect everyone and how we need to ask for forgiveness when we've hurt someone....And she DOES!!! Crazy hu? So if you know me you know that Madison and I Share the same birthday. Which brings me to point 2.

2. My birthday wasn't great I was planning Madison birthday and cleaning my house like crazy. I tried to have a little girls night with my friends but that didn't go great either we couldn't find anywhere to go after dinner...everywhere in Redding after 8 on a Tuesday is lame!!!
So crazy thing few days later a dear friend of mine tells me "We need to talk" Yikes!!! It didn't sound good...OK so it wasn't any big deal she just wanted to get me out of the house so all my friends and family could show up to my house for my surprise party!!!!!!!!!!!! I've never been so surprised in my life!!!!! It was great!!!!! Cakes, pizza and presents all for ME!! It's been well..3 years since my birthday was about me. I felt so loved and special!!!








3. So even cooler then the party, my 3 dear friends Jess Johnson, Becky Moseley and Candace Peacut pulled me in my room during the party and said they have another gift for me........a weekend trip to San Jose that started....NOW!!! They quickly helped me pack my bags and threw me in Jess' car and we headed to San Jose at 8:30 pm which got us there around 1:30am!!! It was so awesome just us 4 girls got to shop (with all my birthday money!!) lay out by the pool(at Becky's in-laws house,where we stayed) and went to a very cool club after dinner!!! This trip meant so much to me having friends that care about me enough to want me to feel special and do something about it!!! Thank you Lord for putting these women in my life blessing me so richly!!









4. The very next weekend I had my churches woman's retreat!!! (my poor kids think mommy's never home) This was a very different experience for me. I learned alot of really great things from our speaker and got to spend alot of great one on one time with our Father, but this retreat has also pushes me in a way I didn't expect. I has forced me take a hard look at myself and evaluate the way I view things. It's been a good thing because it's cause me to seek a deep relationship on only with my heavenly Father but also his Holy Spirit. I've found myself spending more time in my Bible tearing it apart searching for more and more on the Spirit seeking to understand his ways and desires for me. I pray this takes me to a new peek in my ever growing relationship with the Lord.
So I also want to share an awesome experience I had during this weekend aways with my sisters in Christ......I was given an awesome gift. On the last day a group of about 20 women hiked to the top of a creek where we found water fall and larger pool area. It was in this pool area that Jess Johnson and myself had the privilege of baptizing 4 women in to our family under Christ!!! This was such an honor and blessing to me personally. This experience refocused my eyes as to what our purpose is here in the world to which we are aliens. Thank you Father for loving me and knowing my heart..only you knew how much this would encourage me.






5. So Ok we got home from the retreat on Sunday night...I had to immediately had to do laundry and repack for me and Ryan's week long trip to Washington DC!!!! We've had this trip planned for months and it was finally here!!!! My big brother lives over in DC and had been wanting us to come visit forever!! My parents got to my house on Tuesday (they stayed with the kids here at my house) and Ryan and I took the "red eye" to DC, we arrived at 11am ...and our week on DC officially began!!! We saw everything and had a great time!!!! My brother and his wife both had to work during the days so Ryan and I quickly learned how navigate our way through DC on the Metro (subway). It was a little nerve racking at first but once we got the hang of it we were pros! We saw all the major sites Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, Vietnam War wall of names, The Capitol and all it's cool tunnels, most of the Smithsonian Museums, Arlington Cemetery and the changing of the guards(very cool), we ate tons of cool foods snails, baby octopus, Lebanese, Ti and Asian Bistro all very good!! Needless to say we had an amazing time... great for our marriage but our patriotism as well, being in our states capoital gives you a true sense of natioal pride! Very cool!











So What's next?
NOTHING!!!!! We have no major plans for awhile now it's time to chill, hang with friends, play with our kids(let them know were home for a while) and enjoy home!!! Ryan's birthday and our 6 year annivary is in June but I think we might just stay home for those:) OK so now I'm caught up no reason to not blog!!!! Love ya all ...Rachael