almost a new year

so many wonderful things have happened this year i can't even begin to count my blessings. my son survived a motorcycle accident, my grandson was born, spent the summer in the mountains and out of the heat, attended my high school reunion for the first time, bought an investment house, found a great job that i love. you really can't ask for more.

and i got my dirt bike back. the new tires are in transit and i should have them on by this weekend or at least by next.

and so. many. trips. in. the. rv.

we've spent already a few weekends this winter in the desert. thank goodness for propane heat! it really does get cold out there at night.

the grandkids are learning to be self-reliant and learning how to cope with a desert environment. and loving it at the same time.

animal bones, fire rings, scouting fire wood, identifying and following tracks, listening to the coyotes call, finding the different constellations, learning to use binoculars correctly, gps locations, the perfect camping spot.

hiking, dirt bike riding, rock hounding, observation and recording, learning about rock formations and striations. roasting marshmellows and hotdogs, learning how to get an rv unstuck from the mud, what to do when a tire blows out, learning to not panic but think things through, consider all the possibilities and then take decisive action.

and that's just from camping.

more importantly, they've learned about our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. how He is there for them when no one else can be. victoria learned to lead our little band in prayer before meals. christopher has been doing that for quite some time. both have asked to go to church. do you think Jesus is happy? He probably cries when He hears them ask. i know i'm on the verge.

we've made several trips to mexico to help our church in el rosario. they are our familia. our amigos especiales. we helped fix the roof, replaced the doors and hardware on the different buildings, installed drainage, tiled the kitchen, purchased a microwave, refurbished the pews. how awesome is that!

we were blessed to help feed the homeless, found the homeless women and children and provide them with sack lunches each week. Luke 12:48 states: "From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked."

we have been entrusted with much.

what a blur

so a few things have happened since i last posted.

work on the house was completed. if you are interested in seeing some pictures, they can be viewed here. it was an incredible opportunity. we worked like dogs but ended up with everything looking great! i'm really pleased.

so we finished work on the house on a tuesday, on friday i had two interviews. my first in over a year. how coincidental that they should be right when the house project was drawing to a close.

the kids moved in on saturday.

my first interview was face to face. i got the job and began working last thursday after passing the background check. it is back at wells fargo as a business analyst. i love working at wells and i love doing analysis. this is going to be fun.

and to add the icing to the cake, my hubby replaced my dirt bike that was stolen last summer from a church camp in prescott, az. actually, it's better than the old one in that it is a year newer, all the work that he had done to get it running perfectly the PO had done to this one. i prefer the stock tires to the dual sports that the PO installed, and he also added some extra padding on the seat that makes it a bit more difficult for me to reach the ground. that will come off before the next ride.

so now the search for tires begins. hoping to find some cheap.

victoria's birthday is on thursday, and we're throwing her a party on sunday. we rented a princess-themed bounce house that includes an obstacle course. we're having it at a local park. it should be a great time for our little 4-year-old!

peace.