~Girls Weekend Out~

This past weekend Mom, Lynn and I went with Susan and Amy (Lynn's mom and sister) to a Scrapbooking Expo in Pasadena. We used Priceline to find a hotel and we got an awesome deal. We stayed at the Westin in Pasadena only 3 blocks away from the convention center where the expo was. The room was wonderful, and the bed was so comfortable! This was my first scrapbooking expo and I had a GREAT time!! We drove up on Thursday night because classes started early on Friday morning. We took 5 classes and I learned so many different techniques and ideas.














Of course we shopped and shopped at all of the vendors at the expo between our classes on Friday and Saturday. At the end of the day we would head out to eat and then back to the hotel to do some of our own scrapbooking. Mom and I worked together and completed 4 little books in the 3 days we were there. I am totally hooked!!!!! Thanks Mom for taking Lynn and I to the show and for all for the classes, and the hotel. I had such a good time!!!! I am already looking forward to the next scrapbooking weekend!


While we were there we had a few photo shoots at some of the beautiful buildings in Pasadena. Amy brought her dad's Cannon camera and took a class to learn some new techniques; so she was practicing taking pictures of us the whole weekend. We had so much fun coming up with some creative poses. Mom and I even climbed in the water fountain at the Westin!

I REALLY REALLY missed John while we were away. This is the longest we have been away and it was good to get home and see him! I know, I know I have the horrible case of the Newlyweds!

Weekend in Pismo

Before I begin I must say WE DID NOT TAKE ANY PICTURES! Ok, now that that is off my shoulders I will tell you about our weekend.

John and I left on Thursday night after work to head to Pismo. We stopped at K-Mart on the way out of town to stock up on medicine. Yes, John and I are both sick, still sick! This weekend was a really relaxing time with not a lot of activities going on. We both needed time to recoup a little and get some rest. We stayed with Steve Shanna, Sher and Nay and had a great time! They made us cookies, grilled hamburgers, took us to eat, and uncle Steve took John and I on a ride out on the Beach. The weather was beautiful while we were there! Sunny, a slight breeze, in the 70's. On Saturday John and I took 2 chairs to the beach and just sat and read our books for about an hour. It was sooo relaxing! Thanks to Shanna, Steve, Sher and Nay for a wonderful weekend!

I apologize for my Blog turning into a Journal. I will start taking the time to take pictures and post them to my Blog so you can actually SEE what our adventures are like.

Easter Celebration

We had a wonderful Easter weekend! Friday John and I drove down with Nate and Lynn to Bakersfield to see their drama "The Messiah". It was great, and there were many visitors praying in the alter after the play. (The weekend before we went to see "The Centurion" at Elder Morton's church in Fresno. They did an awesome job also.) Brian and Susan invited the whole family over for dinner after the play. She made these awesome turkey sandwiches! YUM!

Saturday we had a dress rehearsal practice with the youth choir for our Easter presentation. We signed the "Revelation Song" with white gloves and black lights. It was very powerful and God ministered through the young people. The choir did an awesome job! I had a few people taking pictures for me, but I still need to get them. I will post pictures later.

Sunday morning we also ended our Sunday School contest. Nate's team won the contest, but our main goal was to bring visitors to church. During our 8 week contest we had 94 visitors. Our church is so excited! Some of our visitors have even committed to a Bible study.

Sunday afternoon Mom cooked an awesome meal!!! We had ham, scalloped potatoes, yams, zucchini, rolls and salad. Mom also made an butterscotch pie and we had a strawberry and pineapple angel food cake and an apricot cake. We all ate so much we had to fine a place to take naps. We had a very relaxing family time!

This weekend John and I are taking Friday off and going to the coast for a mini vacation. We are really looking forward to a relaxing time, walking on the beach and enjoying some time with our family.

Our Weekend Adventures

Well it's Monday morning......again! Usually Mondays are UGH....but today is an exception! John and I had a GREAT weekend and I feel so refreshed.

Friday night after work we drove over to Poppy and Grandma's house for dinner. Rick, Gina, Ashtyn and Caden were in town so we got to spend the evening with them. After dinner we played Dominos and ate ice cream. Ashtyn rushed out to spend the night with her cousins......I guess John and I don't rank as high on her friends list as the cousins do. ;-)

Saturday we slept in (well John was up early, but I definitely slept in) then got a call from Nate asking if we wanted to go bike riding at Woodward park with them. We packed up a picnic lunch and loaded up the bikes and met Brian, Kim and Madison at Woodward Park. We found a trail that goes all around the park and we rode for quite a while. Then when we were all tired and out of breath we headed back. What a workout!!! We all realized how out of shape were were, so we plan on doing this every couple of weekends so we can get in shape. After our bike ride we set up a blanket under a tree and ate our picnic lunch. We had such a good time!! Then it was off to Sonic for some ice cream (So much for our bike ride to get in shape).



















Saturday night John and I went to Bro. Johnson's church in Clovis for service, since Rick was preaching. What an awesome church!! There was an awesome spirit and the people really worship!!

Sunday we had great services. The Zapatas did games and an object lesson for the Sunday School contest and Bro Jeff Ballew spoke Sunday morning about Adventures of Faith. Sunday evening Bro Zapata spoke on remembering Calvary. After church Sunday night we had our monthly building fund dinner. We had a YUMMY ham dinner and strawberry shortcake.

A busy few weeks!

So much has been going on lately. We have been so busy but loving it! God is GOOD!!

On Sunday March 1st we started our annual Sunday School contest which ends on Easter Sunday. This year the theme is Construction. The church was divided into 2 teams. Nate and John are the team captains this year and their team names are "Church At Work" (Nate's team) and "Working For My City" (John's team). Each Sunday we count the visitors and each team is awarded points depending on the # of visitors brought by each team.

Nate and John started off the contest by doing a construction skit. It was hilarious! Nate couldn't start his work until he had a good breakfast and he thought that they were building a Dairy Queen. John assured him they were building a church, but it was by the Dairy Queen. Nate directed John with a Stop/Slow sign as John maneuvered the "unicycle", and they both got tangled in a construction fence as they were roping off the construction site. We have had so many first time visitors come, and many of them are praying for the Holy Ghost, and we have a few that have started Bible studies. We have had a great first few week in our contest and we are excited about the weeks to come!!

Sunday March 8th we had the Prather's in service with us on Sunday morning and Sunday evening. Wow, what an awesome family, they have a wonderful spirit! We were able to spend the weekend with them fellow shipping before the services. They have two beautiful daughters, Jaylee and Jerricah which we fell in love with! We hit it off with the Prathers right away and feel as if they are a part of our family. Brother Prather has a definite anointing and Sis Prather jumps right in with worship and praying with people in the alter. We had many seeking for the Holy Ghost while they were with us. Thank You so much Bro. & Sis. Prather for blessing our church, we hope to see you again soon!!













On Friday after work John and I drove up to Merced to go to the last service of On Course 2009. What an awesome service!! Bro Wade Bass spoke to the youth about being filled up with the Holy Ghost, so we are able to minister to others who are in need. Nate and Lynn took the youth to the whole week of services and they said that every service was awesome, and there were young people actually running to the alters! What an awesome God we serve!!! John and I have already decided we are going to go for the whole week next year!

BIG SUNDAY!

Sunday morning we had Children's Church and the theme was BIG SUNDAY. The youth class did puppets, John & I did songs, Lynn & Nate did games, The Zapatas did a great skit and Sis Olson (Einsteina) did an object lesson. Everything was so much fun!! Check out the pictures of our BIG outfits and accessories.

Next week we start our Sunday School Contest with a Construction theme. John and Nate are the team captains so that should be really fun! Check back later for pictures.

Happy Valentine's Day

I hope everyone is having a wonderful Valentine's Day!!

John surprised me yesterday at work by sending me roses, a teddy bear and a box of chocolates! Then last night he took me to dinner so we would not have to fight the crowds tonight. This morning John and I went to breakfast with Rudy, Jennifer and Dominic at Kady's Kitchen. Then we just lounged around the rest of the afternoon.

Tonight we are going over to the Ballew's house for a Valentine's Party. Violet is cooking dinner for us and we will play games.

John you are the best husband in the world! I Thank God everyday for you! Thanks for everything you do! I Love You!!!!!