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Thank you for being the most incredible Mom a girl could ask for. You are a faithful friend, a prayer warrior, the best cook ever, beautiful inside and out, full of the fruit of the spirit, generous, a great sense of humor, self-sacrificing, wise, a woman after God's own heart. 
I pray that I grow up to be just like you.
In the meantime, Abby has been making a few changes to their current living situation. With her amazing sense of creativity...she has taken a lap desk I got for her and stacked shoe boxes to create a "desk"...a jewelry holder out of a DS Game storage...a computer area with a Barbie computer and a little tikes pink stool...and many other little touches such as hanging doll clothes on dresser pulls.
So, without saying a word...I think her point has been made. 
My Abby Lou is ready for one of her dreams to come true. 
“It’s the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting.”
For six days, work is to be done, but the seventh day shall be your holy day, a Sabbath of rest to the LORD. Exodus 15:2
What greater thing is there for human souls than to feel that they are joined for life - to be with each other in silent unspeakable memories. ~ George Eliot
The Kindergarten Kiddo's from our Sunday School Class...not lacking in the boy dept! 
The fam 
The Big 3rd Graders (Lauragale & Abby) hug on their favorite Kindergarteners 
The Night before school...Will starts a HAPPY DANCE after receiving his long awaited Abercrombie Hoodie (he's been wanting it since last year). 
My Handsome 5th Grader...off to Jenks Intermediate. 
Catches the bus around 7 a.m.! 
Sporting the backpacks they picked out...such different personalities they have!
The girls are pumped up and ready to go! 
Abby with Adorable Mrs. Ashman 
Ella with Ms. Pitezel 
The day is done...and Big Yellow delivers my Girls safely Home.
Neighborhood Friends 
All I really need to know about how to live and what to do and how to be 
Beth Moore's Esther was the ideal study for that! It encompassed everything a woman loves: beauty, romance (or the lack of), relationship, drama, allegiance, and strength. 
“God never writes a story without a good ending. That includes yours sweet one."
When we trust our lives to the hand and pen of an unseen but ever-present God, He will write our lives into His story and every last one of them will turn out to be a great read. With a grand ending. And not just in spite of our catastropes. Often because of them. Don't just wait and see. Live and see. (B. Moore)
Just as the study of Esther was an encouragement to so many of us, I pray that you will find something this Fall to encourage you. Check out Asbury's Fall Schedule:
http://www.asburytulsa.org/get-involved/road-map.html
(If not Asbury, check around at the many Tulsa churches. There is something for everyone!)
One should never take a season off from studying God's Word...it is Bread and it is Life. It is a Lamp unto our Feet and a Light unto our Path. It is God's Love Letter to you.
The Dudes
The Dudettes
Even though it is July and hot as a firecracker outside, my girls chose HOT CHOCOLATE as their beverage. I have to say, it was pretty tasty!
Due to this being Ella's 1st flight, she was allowed to pay a visit to the cockpit.
Abby snuck in for a viewing as well. :)
Word of advice: travel lightly. We all about broke our backs trying to carry the 15 pieces of luggage that we drug along with us!
Stopped in OLD TOWN for some authentic Mexican food on our way to our hotel.
Funny enough, the restaurant's name was FRED'S.
OLE!
I hadn't been to San Diego since I was 9. I forgotten how absolutley GORGEOUS it is there! I was in awe every time we stepped outside or drove anywhere. You've got mountains on one side, and the ocean on the other. HEAVEN.
We arrive at our hotel...THE WEST INN SUITES in Carlsbad.
Time to haul our 15 pieces up to our room.
We immediately get into suits and head for the closest BEACH!
All the hard work to pull off this trip was immediately worth it when I saw my kids experience the OCEAN for their first time.
They were AMAZED & EXHILERATED!!
PURE BLISS ...and lots of SQUEALS!
Abby joined him
Time to build a Sand Castle
Momma chillin'
And because I was chillin' I missed some great shots of a FAMILY of DOLPHINS who swam right up near us. I only got one pic of one...darn!
Every night from 8-9:00 p.m. our hotel brought out warm CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES & cold MILK. We were regulars of course. :)
Day Two: LEGOLAND
Volvo Driving School
MINILAND U.S.A.
Had to get a shot of the kids at the Lego Las Vegas...we made a stop in Vegas on our way to San Diego. You know, they think they've "been there" now. :)
Greggor with his favorite beverage.
Sky Cruise
May the Force be with You
The Lego Man
PIRATE SHORES
This was BY FAR my favorite part of the day...watching my kids wait for the giant bucket of water to reach capacity and then DUMP water on them!
It was AWESOME!
Look at the GLEE on those kids' faces...
Fabulous FUN
Nearing the end of our day, we decided to relax at one of the shows. All three kids got asked to volunteer to play a part. Ella was an EGYPTIAN DANCER.
Will & Abby were ARTISTS.
And ROCK STARS
A Volvo made out of lego's. Unbelievable!
One of our favorite rides...we hit this twice.
Day Three: THE SAN DIEGO ZOO
Where to go...what to do
According to all my research (yes, I read three books and had 4 pages of notes), we were to ride the double decker BUS TOUR first.
So that we did.
Giraffes
Precious Koala
We made Ella take a pic on the TORTOISE since she was the ultimate slow poke.
One thing Ella did love was the SKYFARI...as did I.
It was like the Tulsa Fair Sky Ride...only a MILLION times better!
Our favorite animals to watch were THE GORILLA'S
BIG DADDY
Momma & Babe
What in the world...
are these?!!!
Foot Massagers for our tired, weary feet...
Speaking of tired...my girls were ZONKED out by the time we pulled out of the parking lot!
Headed to SEAPORT VILLAGE for a nice, relaxing dinner.
Beautiful boats everywhere
We ate at The Fish Market...never seen so much fresh fish in my life!!
I could watch them play at the beach for hours...
PRAISE THE LORD!
Will the WILD WAVE MAN!
Waiting in line for our 1st ride, the Nemo Submarine Ride
Abby's FAVORITE ride - had to go twice
A little visit with JESSE from TOY STORY
Mary Poppins' Carousel
Time for the long awaited, *BIPPIDI BOPPIDI BOUTIQUE!
Abby chose to be Belle...Ella went for her namesake ~ CinderELLA
The girls with their "FAIRY GODMOTHERS IN TRAINING"
Time for Ella's Magical Makeover
Oh, there's the gown Jaq & Gus made for Cinderelly!
The FAIRY DUST is sprinkled and the magic words are spoken...
What a Beauty!
The day Miss Ella has waiting two looong years for...
Her great REVEAL (check out Will in background...even he was so excited to see her)
My Two Princesses
The Blessed Queen with her Girls
Floating on air...
Time for a ROYAL pic
Will and I head over to CA Adventure Park for one SCREAMIN' Roller Coaster Ride!!
Jasmine greets CinderELLA on her way to the Parade
Will and I head back over to CA Adventure Park for the Grizzly River Run...we got soaked!
Time for our 2 hour wait to meet THE Princesses 
It really was "HAPPILY EVER AFTER" - worth the wait!
Aurora, a.k.a. SLEEPING BEAUTY
And...at long last
CINDERELLA
She taught the girls some "Princess" moves
The SQUIRE
The clock is about to strike 11:00, and CinderELLA turns into Sleeping Beauty
Day Five: DEL MAR BEACH
Sand Sistas
Will meets a friend and she joins in on the fun
My handsome boys
The Fam
Daddy heads in with his little lady
GIRLS...they WANNA HAVE FU-UN!
Should I be concerned?! :)
Ella played in the sun for almost five hours...
Will finds a surf board to borrow
and heads off to show his skills :)
Love that face
Time to say goodbye to our MOST FAVORITE beach...it was the BEST DAY EVER!
Mission Beach...resembled Florida
The Nino's are sad to say farewell to "GOLDIE" our rented mini-van.
I wouldn't say this was a very relaxing trip, but it really was OH SO FUN! Hoping it was a blessing to my husband and my kids. As far as the weather goes, I could move there tomorrow. However, I can still say with the utmost confidence....THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME.
