After some thought, I’ve decided I’m not going to be blogging anymore. I looked into closing this blog out altogether, but decided against it, as it would delete everything I’ve written over the last 2 1/2 years. This blog was the only place I took to write during some crazy times of life and I’m not ready to delete it.

It’s just time to simplify, spend less time on the computer and spend more time with my family! This is in no form a judgement on anyone else and their blogging – I still love reading everyone’s blogs… and who knows, maybe I’ll come back to it after a while!! Just for me, right now, it’s time.

Love to all that is out there internet!!!

Amy

Living with my parents is really like community living. We eat breakfast in the morning (all 7 of us) and dinner too! So my mom and I are both in the kitchen and doing the grocery shopping together, it really is so fun (and I’ve learned SO MUCH about cooking in the last two months!) because we are doing this life together, I asked my parents what they thought about all of us giving up “treats” for Lent. So we all prayed about it on our own and have decided to give it up! I’m excited, I was really challenged last year during Lent. And I wanted to do something even more sacrificial (I really like treats) and how cool to do it as a group.  So that is what we are doing. Also, I’m hoping it will just set the scene in the house for the kids to continue to eat healthy, clean and not ask for junk. So its going to be a challenge on all levels. And ultimately, I’m prayerful that the challenge will bring me closer to Christ, which really is the whole purpose for the period of Lent.

I continue to feel blessed to be here. We woke up to snow about two weeks ago, but it seems like spring is springing into action now as the mornings are just amazing buds are blooming, the days are getting longer and I’ll be honest to say that I’m excited to actually experience spring (70ish degree temps here in CA) versus the 90 degree temps in AZ right now! I don’t mind keeping a sweatshirt on for a few more months. NOT TO COMPARE OR ANYTHING – just finding the good in where we are

I’ve run into some high school friends which has been fun! And I made my kids appointment with a pediatrician out here – only to realize she was MY pediatrician too! I love stuff like that. I’m also still in the system at the medical clinic, as Amy Gillespie, which is hilarious. I have to bring in proof of my “new name.” love it!

and I just have to end this post with this girl. I LOVE THIS TOOTHLESS GIRL!!! She has grown up so much in the last few month. What a joy, what a helper, what a little love she is. She has my heart!! I thank God for all my kids, they are a blessing!

Here are some of the things we’ve done in the month we’ve lived here:

• LOTS of mountain bike rides! There is this amazing trailhead right across the street from my parents house, which leads to so many trail options. So we hit the trail up multiple times a week.
• Trail running! I try to get on the same trail that we bike on a couple of times a week with my vibrams. I tell you, it is so exhilarating to be in nature, running single track trails with the feeling of being barefoot!!! I come home after every run almost squealing in excitement!
• Family time! LOTS of family time! Its been really neat for us to just be together as a family. The kids went through a time when they really missed their friends, (us too!!) but they are having so much fun playing with each other and having adventures outside, I feel like we’ve all become so much closer. I love it.
• The Rock Church! We attend an inner city style mega church in the ghetto of San Bernardino! whoo-hoo! We are LOVING it! It is so different from where we came and it is so great to sit with Chip and have my parents and their friends there with us too. The biggest impact on me was one Sunday when a lady led in a reggae style worship song! I was SO excited

Here are some of the things I’ve learned this last month.

• I believe God can use anything, anytime and anyone to bring us closer to him. And there is such joy we’ve experienced in this last month – we still talk about all that happened in the last few years, but it feels so good to have moved on from it, and most importantly to be CHANGED from it.
• I can’t believe the impact my mom has on me. I am SO GLAD I get to raise my kids by her. Sometimes I sit here and think, wow, I can’t believe almost 7 years went by when we only saw my parents like 6 -10 times a year. The need for mature, Godly, loving women to help direct me and just encourage me as I am a mom myself is something I didn’t realize I needed. I just need my mom.
• I have faith in God’s healing power. Chip’s back had a setback this week, and we still can’t get him health insurance (b/c of his diabetes) – so dr’s visits aren’t an option, but we didn’t sit here in worry! Chip will be ok! We will all be ok! And that is so freeing to sit here and live and believe it!
• The morning paper/coffee breakfast time with 7 people is a blast! I mean, it starts at 6am, but I tell you, there is nothing better than coming down my parent’s stairs with my baby and seeing my dad there, then everyone else trickle down to the table by 7am! I’m never alone and it’s just always fun!

I feel like I’m a little bit in a waiting game relationally, if that makes sense. I left AZ, a place being so filled with friends and kids and activities galore! I’m hesitant to just jump in! I feel like God will bring me to the right place at the right time and the people that He wants in my life – as long as I make myself available. So that is what I’m working on personally!

More updates soon!!! Blessings to you!

True, it has been less than a week, but it definitely feels great.

I could not wait to leave Yucaipa as soon as I was old enough to head out to college. That is exactly what I did – I left for San Diego my freshman year of college and came back one summer to live here, then never returned. I love that coming back 13 years later, I have no feeling of “moving backwards.” Yucaipa is beautiful! And I love that the first morning I was out with Cana figuring out her school situation, I ran into two people I knew, at two different locations! I love it!

We are figuring out our schedule. Life is different here! Cana’s school is a 10 minute drive and she has AM Kinder here. Here she is going to school on her first day.

She wasn’t too happy about leaving Mrs. Cruz and all her friends. I don’t blame her at all. She had such a fun class and teacher at Power Ranch… but she made it through her first week. I’m just praying that she will meet some sweet friends like in AZ. I know that will come with time.

There have been so many thoughts about the fact that we are living with my parents. Getting through this first week, all I can say is that it is so fun! I’m not up alone with the kids in the early morning, and Papa and Tete are always so happy to see the kids anytime! (and the kids are just as excited!!) I just maintain the fact that I’m Mom, mostly for the sheer fact of keeping that loving and unique relationship strong between my parents and their grandkids.

The biggest affirmation of us moving here is Chip’s take on it all. He LOVES it here. There are huge snow-capped mountains in the background, all the time. The nights are cold, the days are warm, and there are these amazing hills and a trailhead right across the street from my parents door! It was when Chip said “I just feel ALIVE here” that I knew, however hard this move was, it was the best thing we could do.

We feel blessed to share this time with my parents and just be close to them and the rest of our family. We obviously miss all of our friends and family in AZ, our neighborhood and all those silly little boys in particular… but we are praying that we will find that here. In time.

Some other pictures of life thus far:

We are officially out of the desert. We are moving forward and looking forward to what God has for us on this side!

We got through the holidays and had some very memorable moments. Lots of family time, lots of kids playing time, and lots of love! Note to self, enjoy the holidays, because I really do enjoy them!

We have some big news as a family… we are moving back to California in 2 weeks!!! This is something that we’ve been praying about for a while, but could not work any of the details out on our own. Finally around Christmas, the doors were opened and we were confirmed that the move was going to happen.

We are excited! California is our home. Arizona has been good to us, we love our friends, family, church family, neighbors, street, school, etc etc, but there is always a longing to go back. And when I say love, it’s not just a flippant love. These relationships we’ve built here in AZ are so close to our hearts. We have a very deep love for our Arizona family. I think back to my time here and I can honestly say that this is where God grew us. We moved here in 2004, after having multiple miscarriages, and we leave with three beautiful, healthy children, a marriage more solid, an understanding of God and our relationship with God that surpasses my understanding and an excitement for a simple life.

Here is where we get to live:

This view is across the street from my parents house on a cool hike. I grew up looking at this mountain everyday! I’m excited to raise my kids in the town I grew up in!

Here we are on the hike, right at sunset on Christmas day:

Look at these sweet girls! We are going to miss the Bush’s SO MUCH. That will be the hardest for us. BUT, we have no doubt we will be back every Thanksgiving (AZ Thanksgivings have always been the tradition!) and they are our family, so we will see them and talk with them often.

If you remember, pray for us as this is a huge, exciting transition for our family.

And lastly… HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! Many blessing in the year 2011. The year of Jubilee!!

OK, so I really need to work on an attitude adjustment.

So, instead of getting overwhelmed by it all, I will enjoy the scents and smells of the holidays, I’ll happily decorate my house (I think it took me 20 min. last year) and I will focus on what this season really is all about. And not to forget an important aspect of it all – I’ll enjoy the warm AZ days and cool nights… since it’s the time of the year here when we get to be outside all day!

Happy Sunday before Thanksgiving I’m home with a feverish baby today, sweet little chicken…

But then the babies get older and bigger and get these personalities! They are happy, sad, stubborn, crazy, etc… and those little people personalities, they are different from MINE! They could be some of daddy’s coyness, some of mommy’s aggression (haha) some of Grandma Leon’s fiesty-ness… And really, when it comes down to it, I know ME best! So this whole raising babies thing is hard! Right??? You have to figure out all these personalities and love them and grow them.

I’m all about being real. This last year showed me that I’d rather look in the mirror and see the REAL THING and talk about the REAL THING, and find out what is real in other’s lives than live in this place of fake friendships. Fluff, I’m kinda just done with it. I don’t hate it, I just don’t want it.

So let’s get real about talking about raising kids. IT IS HARD! And when I call my mom (and I’m over 30 mind you) crying and seeking her mama wisdom, I realize this raising kids thing kinda never ends. That was a side note.  Because what I really wanted to talk about was RAISING BOYS!!! AYAYAYA!! I love my Jackson. There is no mistake about that. He has my heart, he is so fun and funny, but he is SO BOY, and I am SO NOT. So it’s hard.

I’ve said before, we live on an amazingly fun cul-de-sac. Well there are 7 boys all within a rocks throw… b/c boys throw rocks, right? haha! The weather is amazing, so these kids are playing from the time that bell rings for school to get out, till 6pm when we mom’s are calling them all in for dinner. Jackson is in HEAVEN. He runs from house to house playing with the cutest little boys all within his age. But, I see something coming out in him, and it threw me off guard – he is super competitive. I know, it’s probably genetic. (haha once again) And he says what he thinks, and he’s not afraid to point out the obvious of a person, to that person. (yikes) And the list of this little 4-year-old guy goes on and on. And I just think to myself, my goodness, raising this boy is so much different from raising my Cana… who knows, Malina may be a mix of the two – I’m still figuring her out!! But Jackson is just something else. I love his boldness, his happy demeanor, his leadership quality’s. But I have a really hard time when I see those character traits turn negative.

Someone once told me that raising girls, you are teaching them how to manage their feelings and emotions. Raising boys, the focus is more about character and teaching them discipline. That stands true so far with these Neal chickens.

So welcome to my full-time, full-life span job! I wouldn’t change it for anything, but I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t hard.

look at that sweet little face!!

and apparently, Jackson has a crazy sense of humor, like his Papa!

My dream came true after cultivating (who am I??? haha!) a plumeria tree here in the desert for over a year. I brought it from San Diego and studied up on it, doing the best possible to keep it alive… and maybe even get a BLOSSOM!!!!

My dream came true this summer!!! haha! I actually had a yellow bloom and a pink bloom simultaneously. It was amazing.

Here is the picture story of the yellow plumeria:

The best part about this yellow plumeria, is that it is amazingly fragrant. This type of plumeria is pretty hearty too, so when it was finally ready to make flowers, it made a LOT! And they just keep blooming! This picture was probably taken a month ago, and it still looks like that – lots of hearty, pretty, yellow blossoms! And they smell so good.

This is what I was most excited for:
Cana and I can wear them in our hair and really feel like we are in Hawaii! haha!!

The pink plumeria was just as beautiful. It is a different breed of plumeria, less hearty, so there were less blossoms and the flower wasn’t as fragrant. But still amazing!

I don’t know exactly why this is all exciting for me? I mean, they are just flowers… maybe its the symbolism of it all. I’ve been trying for over a year to get these suckers to produce flowers. They are beautiful, fragrant and they remind me of a really simple and amazing time in my life. I want my kids to appreciate the little things and have a love of nature. In this day and age, we get so caught up in what everyone else is doing and keeping up with it all. So, I guess it’s all spiritual for me. This was God’s little gesture to show me how, in the same way I take care of these little guys, he takes SO much more care of us. I can honestly say, it was so exciting to see these beautiful flowers show up in over 100 degree temps. It’s a little miracle I tell ya…

And so concludes the saga of my plumeria. Now to get this pink one to make it through the winter.

WHY AREN’T PEOPLE TABATA-ING????

Honestly, if you’re into fitness or exercise and you are wanting to get MORE out of a workout in less time, and get results QUICK. All I can say is TABATA!!! haha!

Its 20 seconds of work, followed by 10 seconds of rest. Do that 8 times. Then rest a minute and REPEAT! And when I say “work” I mean hard work! If its a running tabata, then you should be sprinting, if its pullups tabata, you should be getting as many pullups in as possible in that 20 second.

I’ve been doing tabata running for the last two weeks, (lengths of 2 miles – 5k’s) then I had my soccer game last Friday night, and I’ve never felt better! More speed and endurance! It made me so happy!

And of course, I have to give a shout out to my fellow CF-er addict, Linsey who encouraged me to do the Tabata running!

Tabata, people! Do it!!

Happy Friday!

Don’t worry – kid pics and plumeria pics are coming soon!