san diego (Day 4)

Each day of our trip was filled with gorgeous scenery! Searching for the most stunning pictures was one of my daily goals! So early in the morning we set out to Torrey Pines State Park. It was intriguing to see pine trees, cactus, and the ocean all together! We hiked around for a short time. The kids were not as into the views as I was!

After enjoying the delightful landscape at Torrey Pines, we drove south to La Jolla - one of our most favorite places to play......my aunt and uncle introduced us to the area on our first trip to San Diego with the kids to see the seals which hang out right on the rocks! I have pictures of the kids playing in these same coves and beach now 3 different times (about every 2 or 3 years). The joy on their faces is the same - as they play and jump in the waves. They say it is like having their own beach.....such fun.

La Jolla

I have no idea what this kid is saying or doing here - but he spent a lot of time the whole week on the beach talking to himself.....in his own world! Hilarious.

Have almost this same picture - like 6 years ago.......I need to dig it out......

One rare photo of me running from the cold water....you know me - always cold and rarely letting anyone else hold the camera! It was difficult to get good pictures of Madison because she was always in the water looking for shells and I was chicken to get in too far!

Sweet memories and reflections of a special day!

san diego (Day 3)

After approximately 12 hrs. at Sea World, we drove a few miles up the coast to check into our timeshare in Oceanside.....10:30 pm is not the optimal time to drive into an unfamiliar area and check into a place but hey.....we managed. I am convinced Jonathan was in a deep sleep before we left the Sea World parking lot, so wasn't pleased to then be awakened in the timeshare parking lot. High pitched screaming is what we heard for the next 20-30 minutes that he was in some sort of sleep/awake transitional state I don't wish to experience again! I am sure the neighbors were happy when he finally fell asleep on the pull out couch bed with a cheese stick in his hand (he kept saying he was hungry so I finally handed him one in desperation.)

The next morning it was bright and sunny after the kids slept in......and we were off to explore the beach across the street!

View from the Oceanside Pier

Wave jumping Ryan

Sharing thoughts with Grandma

Our beach babe - after a full recovery from the previous day!

Humble Arizona kid sand castle!

After hours of cleaning off sand, shaking towels, showers, sorting shell bits, etc. (can you tell how much I love sand?) we spent a significant portion of time deciding if we should drive and find a restaurant, walk, flip a coin, ask the front desk.......argh! We were so indecisive and split. Some were adventurous and wanted to try any local joint we came upon......some of the more conservative in the group would have been much happier with the safe and secure choice of a nice chain restaurant we'd been to 100 times. I'll let you guess who was who.....:) Anyhow, we ended up at a local place after much walking and discussing.......cute place - decent food.

Later we enjoyed a walk on the pier at sunset.

After that it was time to say good-bye to Grandma and Grandpa who were continuing their trip up the coast to Sacramento the next day. It was precious to be able to share a part of the time with them and we were thankful for it.....we still had a few days more of exploring to do before we would have to say farewell to the ocean.

a great week in San Diego (Day 2)

On day 2 of our trip we decided to knock ourselves out at Sea World. The kids have not been there and we had good discount tickets. I have to say - I still am just not sure about paying so much money for these one day excursions! Yes, yes - the memories are great but my goodness.....just bugs me. That said......we did have a super day - opened the place at 9am and left around 9pm!!!!! Troopers!

Kids loved the Shamu show....

Ryan the budding photographer snapped this one of a few of us opening the day with a soaking.

New dolphin show was cool - I actually really enjoyed the professional divers....but the dolphins were impressive too...

These two were hilarious with

their map reading......

I stood at the bottom of the ride below for over 45 minutes.....count them 4 5......waiting for Merl and Ryan to come down so I could get the perfect picture of them with looks of terror on their face. I practiced on more than half the boats coming down to make sure I had the shot perfected while also keeping an eye on those making their way to the top before the plunge. I told the guys to wave and I kept my eyes peeled for Merl's orange and blue hawaiian shirt he had on. I, the planner had it all figured out. Ah......except for the fact that I forgot Merl was going to wear his red rain poncho......so......

Here is a lovely picture of complete strangers coming down the the coaster.......

And......here is a photo of the back of Merl and Ryan after they completely came down and passed by me and I realized I had missed the "perfect shot"! Ahem......the people around me must have thought I was a freak with all the talking to myself I did after that....

Grandpa and Grandma were keeping the younger ones entertained during the above affair......

As always - the day flew by and before we knew it the time had come to leave. Wish we could bottle the experience up to pull out of our hats every once in a while when we need some good laughs and fun.

a great week in San Diego (Day 1)

It is perplexing to me how far away from reality I can feel when I am on a real vacation.......and then just two weeks after the trip is over.......my recollection is so faint! I was almost not motivated to even write about it. Seems like old news - we've done so many other things since returning home. But I've kind of promised myself I'd try to keep writing our family memories down to preserve them since I seem to lose brain cells by the minute! This trip I thought I might try to keep a journal of thoughts to make iteasier, but honestly just spent too much time with the family, seeing things, or sleeping! (Yes, I know a "real vacation" of sorts would actually be away from kids, etc. - but I sort of got that too this year.....yum!)

We were fortunate to be able to travel to the San Diego area for almost a week, thanks to the generosity of my aunt and uncle whom we often stay with and an opportunity for a timeshare through my in-laws.

Our first full day we divided and conquered. Ryan and Merl have been dreaming of visiting the USS Midway since we walked by it two years ago sort of by accident.

Since we thought this activity might not suit all ages of the group....and I did not wish to chase a 3 year old daredevil boy across the deck of an aircraft carrier fearing he would fling himself off the side.......I opted for shopping at Seaport Village with my parents, my mother's cousin, my aunt, and the 3 kids.

We window shopped for the most part except for the girls very carefully and cautiously spending a little of their money on a few shells in one shop....and picking out a souvenir for Ryan (sweet).

Photo op with Grandma and Grandpa Spence

A new friend....

We had a little ice cream too :)

Finally, the boys walked the short distance over to Seaport Village and we were reunited. Nice relaxed day to kick things off!

Refreshment

Sometimes I think living in the desert makes it easier to understand what "refreshment" feels like.....it almost always includes water as well as getting away. It is challenging to escape the heat here - but when one does it is rejuvenating. I find my own walk with Christ is the same way.....when I am discouraged, frustrated, or just dry in my communion with the Lord it takes some "washing" in the waters of who Christ is coupled with "getting away" for quiet to reconnect to a loving God who is always there waiting for me patiently.

Just as a dip in the swimming pool or a cold shower after a long day renews me, so it is when I physically go away from my family and seek the Lord. This is what I did last weekend as I attended a leadership retreat for those serving at Hope Women's Center. My dear friends who run the Center desired for us who attended to grow closer to our Lord and set up the weekend so that we might find Him. How thankful I am to be surrounded by these sisters in fellowship! We enjoyed the cool aspens of Pinetop, beautiful accomodations, great food, coffee, chocolate, and genuine love. Even though I really didn't know everyone well our bond in Christ melted the walls that could have been there. Since we all honestly wanted to grow in our lives with Christ, great things happened.

A year ago my decision about whether to give of my time to this women's center was difficult - Do I really have time to give outside of my kids and husband? How will I accomplish all that needs to be done for homeschooling? What about my church commitments? What about keeping my house the way I neurotically like to? All valid questions, my experience has shown me that when the Lord calls me to a job He equips me and multiplies my time - and blesses me. Reflecting on this past weekend makes me overflow with gratitude for the opportunity to contribute to the work at Hope - while basking in the love and friendship of the others who are serving there.

I anticipated a meaningful time but was not prepared for a new lease on life. Since the topic of the weekend (besides eating great food and drinking obscene amounts of coffee) was "Developing Intimacy with God" I had high hopes of learning tools for a better prayer life. This area has always been a struggle for me. As I've talked with other mature believers and hear about their deep sessions of prayer or great "conversations" with God I've often been left to wonder....what is wrong with me? Why do I not experience this? Why is it so difficult for me to truly love Jesus the way others seem to - and with that, lack the peace and joy I see others experience?

We were blessed to be led through the weekend by a dear friend of one of our directors who shared her experience with a struggling marriage and how God came to her in a real way through a book called "Developing Intimacy with God": An eight week prayer guide based on Ignatius' "Spiritual Exercises." I have to admit - prior to coming I was skeptical - who in the world was Ignatius - and what is a "spiritual exercise"? Sounded strange to me! Beth humbly and lovingly introduced us to the ideas in the book and walked us through several of the exercises throughout the weekend. I was blown away at how God spoke to me through this new way of praying through scripture. God came to visit and speak with me.

I realized that when reading the bible I tend to "bypass verses that speak of Jesus' compassion and graciousness and instead gravitate to verses in the same passage that reveal deficiencies on the part of the disciples or other persons in the narrative. Rather than rejoice in the virtues of Christ, I see myself in the shortcomings of others, pray for forgiveness, and make resolutions to do better."

My focus is most often on my "deficiencies rather than on the goodness and loving-kindness of God". I have endeavored to increase my love for God in an inefficient way. I thought I could "make changes in my behavior through my efforts - neglecting the fact that I must go through a process of inner transformation."

If I desire personal transformation, in this book, Alex Aronis suggests it takes place "as a result of noticing in increasing depths how wonderful Jesus is. " He challenged me to "take my eyes off myself and fix my eyes on Christ"....noticing how great he is, looking for qualities that I can admire, and observing the many reasons he is worthy to be my Lord. Even though over the years I have known that the purpose of my devotions was to experience intimacy with the Father, with Jesus, with the Spirit - I didn't know how necessarily to accomplish that outside of simply "studying" scripture.

So now I am beginning my "8 week exercises"....on a quest for: "Intimate knowledge of Christ that I might be with him, become like him, and live for him." I am excited because I KNOW God will show up.....He is trustworthy and created me and knows me, and wants to be with me. He is capable of changing me and can produce the joy and peace I long for.

What is better than that?

All quotes from Developing an Intimacy with God - Alex Aronis

round 2 for the reunions......Day 2 (fun and games)

After our more solemn event we had an awesome lunch and some of us hiked down to Jemez falls....

Just pretend the above photo is stitched to the one below.....these three were just above the falls......silly photographer me didn't get it in the first and only photo opportunity.....and then they bolted!!!!

My momma, Jonathan, and Allie

Helps to have older cousins....or 1st cousins.....or is she a 2nd cousin? I can't get it straight!

Paige and Ryan waiting for good Mexican eats at Sadie's Mexican Restaurant!

Not sure what is happening in this photo!

Cousins: Lucy, Nancy, and Jan

Just had to take a picture of this monstrosity of a plate of nachos!!!!! I can't believe Sam thought he could eat that.....and the picture does not in any way do the pile justice. It was HUGE.....

So all in all, lots of laughs and memories and fun. The time was too short.....by the end of these things you start feeling like you are just warming up....and then it is time to head back home to reality. Thanks to everyone that took the time and $$ to come - and for those who missed it, we missed you. I think we should do it more often!

round 2 for the reunions......Day 2 (saying good-bye)

Day 2 of our Robison time in Albuquerque began with a trip to the Jemez Mountains in order to give a little tribute to my grandparents, Art and Nellie Robison....

Art and Nellie were married over 50 years ago after both of them lost their first spouses. My mother's birthmother (Art's wife) died of cancer leaving mom and Steve....and then Nellie's husband died while a prisoner of war on a Japanese ship in World War II. My uncle John was their only child. The two families merged and uncle Tom was born - making the grand total 3 boys and 1 girl (my mom). Blending families is never easy - and I am gathering from stories that this was no exception, but it is a blessing to see how close all the siblings are today. There have been a lot of tough times....including the loss of uncle John in a plane crash when I was very young and uncle Steve is still battling cancer. Grandma died in December of 2008 and Grandpa just this January of 2010.

We journeyed into the mountains to a place the Robisons liked to picnic and hike.

The drive is so gorgeous!

Our destination turned out to be Valle Grande trail.

We hiked in a little ways to a nice spot.

Grandma and Grandpa loved listening to Ben play violin from the time he began playing as a toddler. He plays beautifully and the music sounded so clear in the mountain air.

Uncle Tom reflects.....

Some family members wrote tributes that mom included in 3 different photo albums she put together and some shared on the spot.......

Uncle Steve sharing....

Cousins and cousins' kids.......

My brother Steve and little Archer

Tom's girls Leah and Paige enjoying the hike.......

It was a neat time to be together and grieve the loss of two great parents/grandparents/great grandparents. We will really miss them. After this time of remembrance we were off to share good food and each other's company......more to come on that.