I have spent the last 2 days in bed sicker than I have been in a VERY long time. Fever, head cold, aches, the whole shibang!
Tonight is New Year's Eve, we have been invited to 3 parties, do we stay or do we go? That is the question of the day! My teens have plans to go out, Kelly could probably use a night in bed early since she was at a sleepover last night and David has worked around the clock at Trader Joe's selling alcohol to all the drunk drivers on the road tonight.
I am thinking another night wrapped in blankets, watching the last of the Christmas movies (YES THEY ARE STILL ON LIFETIME), sounds pretty darn good.
Then again it's New Year's and one of these parties is with some of our favorite people and we rarely get a chance to spend an evening with. Could this confusion be from the cold medicine induced coma I have been in for the last 2 days? So, I will sit here and read blogs and try to see through the fog in my head to make a decision!

HOPE ALL OF YOU HAVE A GREAT AND SAFE NEW YEAR!

Today was our Annual Girls Day at The Grove in Los Angeles. We were all really looking forward to today and it didn't disappoint! We head down in the days following Christmas hoping to hit the great sales and THAT WE DID! Our favorite is Victoria Secret...WE SCORED AGAIN! Cute stuff at great discounts, SO FUN! We hit tons of stores, but some of the best parts of the day were:

Driving down there we see a black and white police cruiser and someone in the car says are series of numbers. My comeback is, "You sound like Adam 12!" The comeback to that was "What's Adam 12?" CRAP, I just showed my age AGAIN!

We head off the freeway in the direction that was given to us from mapquest...or so we "thought" we were on the right track...low and behold, we had a great scenic tour of West LA! WOW, you ever thought there were so many odd and strange storefronts! We drove in circles, back and forth, back and forth! Yes, I have been to The Grove MANY times before but this time we just couldn't get there correctly! I loved our driver Steph, she not only drove great in LA but gave us a humor filled tour of LA!

Once at the Grove we found our way through the stores to be productive and fun. I found some time to break away from the group to take Kelly to the American Girl Doll Store which she oo'd and awe'd for the full half hour we were there! I just love watching her love on those dolls, it's every little girls dream! I managed to score a few sale items there for her upcoming birthday!


After walking out of Victoria Secret with our purchases and smiles, who did our wondering eyes did appear...Vince Vaughn! Seriously I could have touched him as he walked by! He is SO tall, which surprised me a little! Some little girl asked him for his autograph, he gracefully declined! I was caught a little off guard that he was SO close to us, but kept my cool and "tried" not to stare too much!


All and all, our day was SO GREAT and tons of fun! The weather proved to be a little chilly, which made it feel like Christmas! I love the girls we make these memories with every year. We have now added a summer day to our calendar so we can do it this twice a year, only the summer day will be in LaJolla (can't wait)!

After losing a good amount of weight this year, I have tried REALLY hard to not eat sugar especially after 6pm. I do have my one vice..Swedish Fish, they are God's great treat to me, fat free! BUT!!!!

We were given not one box of See's candy for Christmas but probably a total of 5 plus gift certificates for extra boxes, just in case we run out! Now, I know they are in the kitchen, I know who they came from and why...but what I don't know is WHY THEY CALL MY NAME! Just one piece I say, then well..that other one looks interesting, good, yummy or whatever I tell myself! Great sucked in by the See's candy in the kitchen! I gave away 2 boxes, wasn't that strength?!?!

So, time to flush them down the drain!

I realized this Christmas just how much each moment means one more step that my children are inching towards growing up. I realized that it's just about time for each of them to say "Let me" in a new way and a new journey for each of them.



If they could articulate and tell me just what is happening to them or write me a letter here is what I am sure each one would say:

Dear Dad and Mom,

Let me grow up and prepare for the new world that awaits me as college approaches. Let me drive to places not within a 10 mile radius. Let me see my life as an adult but I want to hang on to my childhood just a little longer. Let me find my path and guide me but not control me. Hug me, hold me and don't say a word when you do just so I know you are there. Teach me to be forgiving and loving even when it's hard. Right now, this is a hard one but I have to figure it out, just walk beside me. Being a teenage girl sometimes stinks, but show me that being a "GIRL FOR GOD" is my goal!

Love, Holly



Dear Dad and Mom,

Let me navigate away from the "mommy boy/daddy boy" stage and be looked at like a man who now stands 6'1 and wears a size 17 shoe. Let me grow away from the "needing you" to the "knowing you are there but not acknowledging it" stage because I am a boy trying to find a man inside. Let me argue with my little sister and let me work it out on my own, I do realize I need to be her protector but I also have a duty in life to make sure she knows I am still her big brother. Let me show you how hard I can work, build things, put things together, lift things and be the man that you have trained me to be. Let me make mistakes but guide me when you see them AFTER! Teach me to be a Godly man who leans on him.

Love, Matt



Dear Daddy and Mommy,

Yes, I still believe in Santa (or at least that's what I want you to think) so the mysteries of Christmas can still be mine to hold onto! Yes, I want everyone to tell me that Santa is coming, and he brought me the things that I dreamed of. Yes, I still want to play with dolls, dig in the dirt,and eat lots of sugar, but I want you to help me clean up my dolls, make sure I get clean after I play in the mud and hold me when my tummy hurts from all that sugar. Yes, I want to say "mine" still when my brother and sister play with my new toys but show me how to share. Most of all, make memories that include me. Share the same traditions that you have started before I was born into my wonderful family. I don't want to be left out.
I know I am the pesky little sister, THAT'S MY JOB! Guide me and show me your road map so I don't get lost in this big world that I have to tag along in. Remind me to love, forgive, accept, and honor God in all I do. Hold me and talk to me when you do, tell me you love me, tell me that people love me, tell me that I am SO LOVED for the sweet girl I want to be! I love you more than you know and I am willing to run into your arms and tell you this right now, don't blink though!

Love, Kelly

I am not sad, I am not mourning their growing up, I am excited that each Christmas brings new realizations of what the next year will hold. I am watching them change and Christmas seems to be a mark to their growth and change. I think it's because we are buying them "grown up" gifts, sharing their time with their relationships, and it's a milestone marker. I am great with this, they are growing up to be the people we have raised them to be, it makes me proud! I know there will be days when I miss the noise and toys of Christmas morning but right now...I am holding onto this roller coaster of life and cherishing every Christmas and all the days that mark new changes.

Ours was!
What a great day! I loved the day, it started out with Kelly standing next to our bed at 6:24AM begging to see what Santa brought! Finding a trail of chewed up carrots and celery from her room all the way down the stairs she just KNEW Santa had come! We woke 2 teens who convincingly (is that a real word) told us that THIS WOULD BE THE LAST year they would wake up early to do the "Santa thing." They were sure that NEXT year their sister would not believe in the whole "Santa thing." HA HA...I will ALWAYS do the "Santa thing" no matter how old they are...early Christmas mornings for many many years to come..ha ha!
We sat and looked at the gifts Santa had brought and waited for my parents to arrive to get busy opening the wrapped gifts, Kelly was SO excited! We had a surprise visit from my brother, which we all enjoyed, then the door revolved all day with many many faces of friends and family.
I decided to do my usual open house again this year, I love seeing the faces that come in the door all day and night, some surprises some not, BUT equally GREAT! I made TONS AND TONS of food, lots of games, park visits and just plain FUN! It was great!
I am sad that it is over yet thrilled to have a day or two to sleep in! We are slowly being talked into another New Year's Eve party this year (NEXT WEEK!)though we have 3 we are supposed to go to....I loved today SO much, I am leaning towards staying here to enjoy some more of what today offered!
MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIENDS, FAMILY AND STRANGERS who read my blog! I am SO blessed to have each of you touch our lives in even a small way! Life has been busy BUT trust me, we have stopped today to reflect on how great and blessed our lives are each and every day with each and EVERY one of you in our lives! I love looking at the Christmas cards we recieved in the mail again and again and reflecting on the friends and family we have in our lives!

MERRY MERRY CHRISTMAS!

PS. NO camera but the sale ads this week are promising! Also, NO puppy (Kelly was begging), we told her a "white lie" that Santa has to send a letter to parents first to get "approval" and ours must have gotten lost in the mail! I know...MY BAD, but SERIOUSLY can you imagine the blogging that would take place if I brought something ELSE in this house that POOPS and/or MAKES NOISE!

As many of you know our family was SO incredibly sad to see Doug Elliott leave Saddleback. He was such a great asset to our family, especially in the life of my son. Doug saw in Matt what we and most people didn't at a time where Matt was struggling in school and just starting to be a teenager. We were SO incredibly THANKFUL for his input, his laughter, his ability to make Matt feel SO important in a mixed up world of being a teen and struggling to figure out that he was going to be ok!
Today I recieved a letter from Doug, he is starting a new church not far from our home. It will be called The Great Park Church. All I am asking is for your prayers for him and Eric Busby as they set out to follow God's calling on their lives to touch the lives of SO many young people in our area.
I am SO excited for them as God's journey's them through this new adventure! Our family will be praying for them, supporting them in ANY way we can! Please do the same with your prayers!
GREATPARKCHURCH.com....visit their site as they continue to grow it!

CHRISTMAS AND JOY!

Today was the first of 14 services at Saddleback....2 down and 12 more to go. This means I will be at church for the next 3 days BUT I am LOVING every minute of it...painful feet and all! 14/15 hour days seem to pass by so quickly when everyone is SO full of joy! It's the season, this is what it's all about.

Today we had MANY MANY visitors to our kitchen, gifts were given and recieved, cards were given and received, good news was given both in person and in the mail, it just felt like it was Christmas!

Ok confession...I JUST got home because I am STILL shopping...it's 12:09AM! Holly and I hit EVERY store that was open and I still have a few things left to get. NOW don't get me wrong, I am STILL putting thought into EACH and EVERY gift I am purchasing, THAT IS A PROMISE!

I am really starting to get excited for Christmas and the next 4 days. I am also looking forward to the next 2 weeks that my kids will be home...DON'T call me crazy JUST yet! Take into consideration that I also have a week off of work between Christmas and New Year's and that means a lot of sleeping in, hanging out, re-connecting (remember I promised that after we got home from our beach house...I need to work on this area)! I just wish David had the same days off BUT you know those Trader Joe's groupie's there is NO WAY to miss that week! He will continue to work 14/15 hour days and we will stay home and make hot meals every night (ok, delusion is setting in as the clock ticks later, but it was a good thought, RIGHT)!

SO, just know that we are thinking about each and everyone of you and our home is open this holiday to visitors (same as last year...Christmas Open House), and the weeks after feel free to call and see if we are out of our jammies before noon to stop in. Thank you again for our visitors at work again tonight...AMBER, it was SO exciting to see you walk through that door and spend a couple minutes just chatting! Josh and friends...well, you know where to find a quick meal of Tri-tip and Mashed potatos on a cold night, thanks for the updates and visits, I could see it meant the WORLD to my kids! KELLY KELLY KELLY, we love your visits whenever you can pull away from that newspaper and hang with us, you make us smile! Jason, well watching you light up the world of Cass makes us ALL so happy, as does the rest of the Ortega Family! WHAT A GREAT NIGHT!

MERRY EARLY CHRISTMAS to ALL of our friends and family! I love these days!

We don't really believe in Christmas lists. My husband cringes every time the kids say "I need" because they don't "need" anything! They want, we want for them, they think they want, and the topper of the season is the commercials that tell them they want..."stuff!" They have SO much in comparision and don't "need" anything...trust me!
SO, my dilema...I DO want and I am trying to convince myself...NEED 2 things! Nothing major, nothing bank breaking, nothing that seems "too" terribly selfish, I think! I don't "want" to use the word "want" or "need" in front of the kids because I have preached along with their father that there are NO "needs" and "wants" that haven't already been met in their lives.

SO, should I buy myself a little gift and stuff it under the tree and convince them that "Santa" brought it or it fell down the chimney in his travels. This gift could "mysteriously" fall down the chimney...I WANT/NEED a new camera! See, it's not that I want it for total selfish reasons, I want/need them to have memories of their lives through a lens, is that a crime?
THEN..the next gift is a TOTAL selfish gift BUT also memory making. I REALLY REALLY REALLY want a professional picture of my three kids together. It's been YEARS since the professional picture was taken and for those of you who have seen our HORRIBLE (yes, I DO REALIZE IT'S HORRIBLE) Christmas picture should realize that I REALLY REALLY REALLY want/need this!?!?! Someone PLEASE take my side on this one!?!?!I also have to believe that the years of therapy that it's going to take to reverse the damage I have caused threatening them to smile for a picture is going to be somewhere in the FORTUNES of dollars!


SO, as I write this I realize that I have SO much to do before Christmas actually gets here and I haven't even begun to delve into what my kids are really getting from the bearded red suit wearing fat man!

It is official, Steve AND Diane Powers have joined the blogging world! I enjoyed working with Steve at Saddleback Church for a few years. Every time I would see him his first words were "Where's Kelly?" Kelly adored him! I was sad sad sad to see him go but thrilled that he has ventured on to expanding his business (some kind of sound equipment, sorry Steve I am electronically challenged)! His wife his SUPER sweet, it will be fun to get to know her in this world!
Anyway they have joined us bloggers, so welcome them to our "blogging world!" Use my links at the side since I can't figure out how to add them link here! AGAIN...CHALLENGED!

Our plans changed tonight as we all await the news of a new baby coming into this world tonight...our friend's sister is in labor as we speak. They were supposed to come to dinner but are now sitting at the hospital waiting for the little guy to appear. They were missed tremendously and our "special" meal plan will have to be posponed :( !!!
...This gave the McTag's a night we needed to get the tree decorated and decorate some cookies after! We are ready, well...almost Santa still needs to shop!This is proof that you CAN get the teenage boy to participate in cookie decorating (I think it has to do with the fact that he it is actually food that he gets to eat)!Then there is the teenage daughter who just got out of the shower and begs me to not put her in my blog, then she acts like this so it's all fair after that!This one LOVES every minute of the whole event...she makes it ALL worth doing!
Here is the proof that we did the tree FINALLY! I know the pictures aren't good but we are still hoping that Santa leaves a new camera under the tree...hint hint if anyone talks to the adult male Santa that lives in my house!

"Did you feel it, did you hear that...it feels like there is magic all around!"

I felt it, I heard it! It was the magic that came from the face and smile of my little girl! It was the feeling of pure innocent joy and celebration for the season and for where she was and who she was with!

This morning Kelly was awake at 5:50am! I know...WHY and YUCK! But I couldn't wait for her to wake up, it was better than Christmas morning! I had something to share with her and couldn't wait for her reaction.

I started the conversation with:
"If you could do anything today besides go to school what would it be?'
Her answer:
"Go to work with you at the church" (this made my heart melt)
My next question:
"If you could do anything with daddy and I today, what would it be?"
Her answer:
"Make and bake cookies" (wow, she is so easy to please)
My next question:
"If you could GO anywhere with daddy and I today, where would it be?"
Her answer"
"DISNEYLAND!" She has NO memory of going there since she hasn't been
since she was 2.
My ANSWER:
"THAT'S WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO!"
She glowed for no less than 12 to 14 hours! She was NEVER SO EXCITED in her entire life! I watched her just eat up every moment with pure JOY and excitement! The rides, decorations, characters, the SNOW (seriously, on Main St), the whole package! We didn't bring the other 2 kids because we had done this with each of them at one point or another and figured it was her turn! We added to her joy by inviting a friend for her that she adores and loves but doesn't live close enough to spend much time together. We stood by the gate waiting for this friend to come and when she did, they ran into each others arms, never letting go ALL DAY!

She giggled ALL the way home tonight (2 hours past her bedtime and laughing that she missed school for Disneyland, AND we let her)! When we asked her what was her favorite part, her answer...EVERY MOMENT TODAY!

My holiday is COMPLETE...this was the perfect mommy gift (well, minus the gift I am hoping for under the tree (see the PSS)...watching her happiness!

ps. I EVEN went on ALL the rides (remember I am afraid of heights and roller coasters, but she didn't need to know that,it wasn't about me)!

PSS..We would have TONS of better pictures but the camera got dropped RIGHT WHEN WE WALKED INTO DISNEYLAND AND BROKE! No, I didn't do it this time..that doesn't matter but I am hoping Santa puts a new one under the tree for me! While I wait, you get the pics off the cell phone camera, SORRY!

We set up the tree today (by set up you know that we went with FAKE this year)! My kids are lets just say HIGHLY disappointed at our choice to go FAKE this year but David won the arguement and so we have a FAKE tree sitting in our living room! They are not even attempting to argue over who gets to put on what ornament because they are seriously NOT happy with this decision. Kelly offered to put on the lights herself...so who needs lights ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP? Matt decided to use his height and help out with the lights but off to bed they went before one ornament could be put on...oh well, there is tomorrow right? We also finally decorated the house so it's beginning to feel "alot like Christmas" around here! I guess that means I need to actually shop for gifts, hey there is still time right?
We have attended 2 Christmas parties, one musical, and heard the guys at church sing "A King is Born," Tomorrow it's off to lunch at Magianno's for another Christmas lunch, NOW it's time to start the holidays, reality is setting in! Anyone want my shopping list and credit card to do my shopping for me???

Dear Steve Powers and family,

After feeling incredibly blessed at the end of my work day today with a sighting of the famous "Steve Powers blue mini car" then a quick chat with you to "try" and get caught up on our lives I feel that it is time for you to GET A BLOG! You and Sherry can keep us up to date so we don't have to wait for the sightings, Trader Joe visits, or Harbor House to get caught up! So, what will it take to GET YOU BLOGGING! Sherry could keep it updated, you could keep it updated and the mystery comments will actually have a name!

SO...what will take it take? We can have your family over for dinner and have a "set up a blog" lesson, though to be honest I am not the expert that is a Julie Hibbard, Josh Griffin job! I truly stink at the details!

So my Christmas wish....GET A BLOG! TODAY! NOT TOMORROW! TODAY!

Your friend,

Heather

PS. It was great to see you and I DIDN'T have the heart to tell Kelly since she couldn't be there...or maybe she could have IF her mother would have left work ON TIME, but then we would have missed the "little blue car" sighting! I can bet her Christmas wish would be to have a visit from her friend Steve Powers!

THE CHRISTMAS STATION
Tonight we were invited to SIT and watch The Christmas Station at Saddleback(my place of employment). I say that because staying at my place of employment any later than I already do is something I try not to do these days in order to spend more time at home being a family. BUT...we took up the offer and decided to spend tonight with some of our great friends to hear a Christmas message I REALLY needed to hear.

The Christmas Station sent home a message that I truly needed to hear. First of all, the busyness of life can get away from the true meaning of this season. My best friend text me today and asked if we put up our tree yet and WHEN can we go shopping, go out to dinner and spend time as a families over the season. My first text response was...can we pospone Christmas till January, PLEASE! UGH...the calendar seemed to be filling up fast for December...BUT, now I am going to be careful about where we spend this holiday, who we spend it with and why we spend it together!

Like I said...or the statement I stole from the poster sponsoring this GREAT show..."Sometimes the greatest gifts...are right where you left them!" By the way...I will make LOTS of room for my best friend and her family this holiday! That's one gift I won't need to EVER take for granted!

PS. If you have an open night tomorrow night...GO SEE IT! It's $5 well spent! Also some of my great friends are in it...Leah Shafer, John Stearns, Bill O'Dell...to mention a few!
Tim Davis has his new CD out and he performs BEAUTIFULLY! BUY THIS CD...I promise you won't reqret it!
PSS. Rick Muchow sang "Gotta dance, it's Christmas" one of my favorites! This is to mention a few, everyone was amazing! OH AND THAT ADORABLE BABY...WOW!!!!

Holly (17 years old): Can I go to a concert at Knott's Berry Farm on New Year's Eve?

Me: Are you smoking crack? (a good question considering I haven't seen her in 3 days! She was at a concert till 11pm last night too)!

Holly: No, can I?

Me: Are you insane?

Holly: NO, Why can't I?

Me: FOR ONE, you aren't driving there on New Year's, TWO, I AM NOT DRIVING YOU THERE, and THREE, YOU ARE NOT HANGING OUT AT KNOTT'S ON THE CRAZIEST NIGHT OF THE YEAR! (I am learning to let go quite a bit...but I draw SOME lines)!

Holly: Why not? What if I get other parents to say yes (meaning the boyfriends parents who are stricter than the Secret Service I encountered this weekend)?

Me: HA HA...NO! (yeah, like I would fall for the "but Suzie's parents said yes" game...ha ha)

Holly: I REALLY REALLY want to, I REALLY mean it!

Me: Ok, since you REALLY REALLY want to and you REALLY mean it...OK, NOT! What part of NO didn't you get....the N or the O? STILL NO, not budging, same answer...NO!

Holly: Gotta go (called from her phone, see we haven't seen her in 3 days and really about a week and a half because she has been SO busy)

Me: Ok, coming home anytime soon? (I think she missed that question when her pouting lip hit the off button)!

Today I did some serious Christmas shopping...Kirklands, Costco, Home Goods, Barnes and Noble to name just a few! I left with a car full of "stuff!" Here is the fun and not so fun part...I got to shop with someone else's money, I got to buy BIG stuff...then the sad part! NONE OF IT WILL END UP UNDER MY TREE!

I was in charge of shopping for a project and did a GREAT job! It's over, the shopping with other people's money is done! Time to start shopping with my own money, I can guarantee the gifts won't be as big but they WILL be heartfelt and bought in love and picked with each person in mind! I can't wait...that makes it more fun! Never know whose name is on the list....better not pout, better not cry....

Yesterday David and I celebrated our 18th anniversary! (ps..I take horrible pictures, I am not worried like I look in the picture)! David booked us a room at the Grand California at Disneyland, a beautiful upgraded view room. He also made reservations at Steak House 55 for dinner but after walking over there to check it out before we got dressed to go we both decided that after a LONG week neither one of us wanted to do the "dress up" thing. We decided to have an early dinner at Tequila Jo's then walk around Downtown Disney before relaxing by the fire and Christmas tree at the hotel.
We had an amazing time ending with the end all of end alls...we have been searching, looking, and hunting for REAL Shave Ice Hawaiian style since we got home from Hawaii AND WE FOUND IT! Yes, I love being married for the last 18 years and couldn't image my life without David!

Saturday was World Aid's Day...it was long but worth the time...it flew by! Outside the silly Secret Service men who by the way...had to search my platters of food delivered to the Pastor's Greenroom for Jenna Bush, it was worth every minute. We ALL were able to look outside our world and vow to make changes to the way people view AIDS/HIV.

There were fun things to see too....my good friend Dan (aka THE COOKIE MONSTER) is a Rider 4 Christ, he and his buddies entertained us with their amazing riding skills.

There was a attention brought to the cause.

There was bonding going on...a little too much, you decide!

Ending the night with baptisms by Rick.

18 years ago tonight I was kissing my fiance' goodnight for the last time as my fiance. The next day I spent the next day dressed in white, waiting to see my Mr. Right at the end of the aisle at St. Columbians Catholic Church in Garden Grove, Ca. AND BOY DID I!!!!

18 years ago tomorrow I married the MOST amazing man EVER! We have shared so many highs, lows and in between but most of all we are still in love and happily married. This man has fulfilled a life that I had NEVER thought possible for me! I have been blessed with a life of love, commitment and constant overwhelming hard work to make this work for us! He vowed to do that, even during the hard times! I have been blessed with 3 AMAZING WONDERFUL offspring of his!

My life is what it is today 18 years later because I am loved SO deeply by this amazing man....AND I LOVE HIM SO DEEPLY IT SEEMS ALMOST INDESCRIBABLE! I love who I am with him, I love who he is with me and I love that I am SO blessed to love someone this OVERWHELMING MUCH! It just doesn't seem possible...but it is and for all, I am THANKFUL!

Sorry Pete this one won't be long either but wanted to give a quick catch up and a fun Christmas idea!

This week has been exhausting and AMAZING! I have watched my teens realize that this life is NOT ABOUT THEM! Holly has worked the World Aids experience till 10pm every day with the exception of last night till midnight. She has realized that her selfish complaining ways are selfish and wants to help these kids and many others in Africa who need her and us to help them. Matt has worked his fanny off running for us, helping ANYONE who needs him and taken this conference VERY seriously. It makes my heart full! I have missed Kelly tremendously but she loves being up there in the midst of so many wonderful people who someday will teach her that this life we are so blessed with is about helping and serving others. David has worked a 10 hour day at Trader Joe's and come and helped me everyday for another 3 or 4 hours to make my job easier and this reason for the hard work a success.

I will be sad to have this HIV/AIDS conference come to an end because of the lessons learned but sleep is needed. I will read every inch of everything we have collected, I will listen to my children tell us what they have learned and how they are going to use this week in their lives. I pray we won't walk away and "forget" what we have learned and start taking advantage of our blessings and we will use this week to help someone somewhere. I pray that anyone who walked onto our campus will see that they are blessed in this life and can use their blessings to change the lives of others dispite being uncomfortable. The kids are begging to get up to the church so I will close for now BUT I am sure we have so much more to share when we get caught up in sleep!

Here is a GREAT Christmas gift idea for people like me who wash more towels than anyone because I don't WANT to know how they are used!

Heather McTaggart
The wife of an amazing, funny, incredible man! The mother of 3 God loving amazing young persons!

- -

• Guess where I am....
• Did I disappear...honestly YES!
• Because she is......
• Favorite part of my day...
• Sad, mad, frustrated...it's all in the bag for today!
• HOME SWEET HOME!
• Moving has begun...
• Mother's Day...is a beautiful thing!
• Cassandra made me do it...
• HELP...is needed!

• April 2007
• May 2007
• June 2007
• July 2007
• August 2007
• September 2007
• October 2007
• November 2007
• December 2007
• January 2008
• February 2008
• March 2008
• April 2008
• May 2008
• June 2008

Shopping

• Carlsbad Outlets
• Costco
• Downtown Chicago
• Downtown Seattle
• Ebay
• Irvine Spectrum
• Nordstrom
• Old Navy
• Target
• The Gap
• Trader Joe's

Movies

• Christmas Movies
• My Best Friend's Wedding
• Sleepless in Seattle
• You've Got Mail

• Allison
• Annie
• Brian
• Cassandra
• David Hughes
• Deanna
• Diane
• Doug Elliott Eric Busby NEW CHURCH
• Elizabeth
• Greg Vail
• Heesh
• Holly
• Jason
• Brad Johnson
• John Stearns
• Josh
• Julie blogger of the year
• Linda
• Pete
• Pioneer woman
• Rachel Styffe
• Randy Craft
• Rebekah Jones
• Riley
• Steve Powers
• Sue+cute baby and a half
• Tony Guerrero

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