A Birthday Weekend in YumaWhat a better way to celebrate your birthday than by spending a weekend with family and friends. That just what I did this weekend. Grace and I drove down to Yuma on Friday afternoon. Mom, Monica and the girls had gone on ahead. We spent all afternoon in the pool! The kids and adults had a blast. That evening we stayed home with the kids so Donna and Greg could go on a "movie date" =) Saturday we celebrated all day long.

From preparing a delicious BBQ lunch to playing "Marco Polo" and "Sharks & Minnows" in the pool. Frank joined us in all the fun. Later that afternoon we had cheesecake and ice cream together. It was a really great time. Sunday we all went to church (and filled an entire row!). Then came home to prepare lunch and welcome Timothy and David who arrived after driving the moving van from Georgia to California. I am so blessed to be surrounded by wonderful family and friends! See all the pics here: http://chiarapics.spaces.live.com/

July Birthdays

Let the celebration begin... So my birthday is not actually until next week but why not start the celebration early??!! Our office loves any excuse to throw a party. This week we celebrated the July birthdays in our office by going out to lunch yesterday at Ricardo's El Ranchito and then an office birthday party this afternoon. I am truly blessed to have such an amazing office family! Each person had been a blessing to me in different ways. So I guess I have to say... "Who cares if I'm turning forty-something... it's a blessing to be here and celebrate another year of life!." You can see more fun photos of the party here: http://chiarapics.spaces.live.com/

It is amazing to sometimes stop and think about how we can make a big difference and influence a young life. A great example of that has been my friend Karen and her husband who several years ago adopted three orphaned siblings from Russia, Yuri, Vera and Polina. Children are a gift of God and a huge responsibility and blessing. Their lives can be guided and molded into lives full of joy and hope. On Friday, Grace, Naomi, Vera and I went to tea to celebrate Karen and Polina's birthdays.

A wonderful weekend in small town USA... last Thursday I boarded a red eye flight out to Pittsburgh, PA to visit my best friend Emily and her family. After a long flight we were on our way to a little town called Indiana. Emily & Gino just moved there in December from Texas. The Lord has blessed them in wonderful ways and provided a nice spacious home for them and their three kiddies. It was great seeing them all again. On the evening of July 4th we drove out to the middle of town to see the fireworks display. Saturday morning we drove out to a Mennonite farm to check on some furniture and then drove on to Smicksburg (Amish country). The countryside was absolutely beautiful and so green. Old fashioned horse and buggies passed us on the road and Amish farmers waved as we drove by their farms. It was almost as if you were transported to another time. The rest of the days I spent catching up with Emily, playing with the kids, watching fireflies and red robins (which we don't have in CA). Sunday evening Gino stayed with the kids so Emily and I could go out to dinner. We stopped by the middle of town to take the obligatory "touristy" picture by the Jimmy Stewart statue. Yes, Indiana, PA is the birthplace of Jimmy Stewart. Emily and I had great time talking, eating, laughing and crying together. All too soon it was time to come home. You can see more pictures here: http://chiarapics.spaces.live.com/

C is for Caroline

Last night I attended a shower for my pastor's wife Donna. She and Erik are adopting a precious little eight year old girl from China. After many months of waiting and praying and waiting some more they are finally going to go pick little Caroline up on the 28th of this month. We all had a wonderful time of sharing, praying and eating as we celebrated this wonderful event together.

Is it really July already!!?? Time seems to keep flying by faster and faster. Half the year has come and gone. This year I have been especially blessed by spending more time with all the AZ fam =) It has been a fun time full of many memories. This past weekend was one of those times. We drove down there to help Greg celebrate his big "Four-Oh" and what a time we had! Besides lots of eating we enjoyed spending Saturday in the pool. The kids (and adults) had a great time playing Marco Polo and Monkey in the Middle. It was fun, fun, fun!

Here I am being referee for Uncle Jon, Alyssa, Frank and Joshua =) More pics here: http://chiarapics.spaces.live.com/