**Praise** -school update

I have a great Praise report - I found out last week that Isabella and Soren will be able to attend Las Brisas for school in September. I cried when the Mindy(vice principal) called me, and then I called Cami and cried more, I felt numb all day. It is an amazing testiment to PRAYER! This trail has taught me to be faithful in prayer and TRUST in God and his plan will be revealed. I listened patiently (not my best thing), and I looked into the other options, and even though I wasn't thrilled with the other school, I would have worked it out if that was his plan for our kids.
I know we belong at Las Brisas, my job is not done there, PTF is going into it's 2nd year and will only be stronger, even with less families. The kids will both be in combo classes, which isn't my first choice but with enrollment down I understand the need. Isabella will have her teacher from last year, she is tough, but she is really smart and the kids will learn so much. Soren and Parker will be in the same class, which will be fun for them. Now my only stress is getting new backpacks and uniforms - Praise God!!!

It has taken a huge load off my back, only to have a bigger one put on at work. My job is very busy, we are short 2 consultants, summer is always busy and our clients seem to be very busy transfering their employees. My caseload is getting up to my goal weight (my personal goal weight...) Now that my focus is off the school issue, my mind is clear and I can focus - oh and I'm going on vacation next week and actually excited about camping.

Another quick Praise - Sunday the kids sang their VBS songs in church, so I told Mike if he wanted to come watch them, he typically will come if they are singing and then he leaves. I have been in prayer for Mike's heart to continue to be soften and him to come to a relationship with the Lord - again all in the Lord's timing. I NEVER push him on this issue, I do tell him I wish he came to church with me sometimes. He is very supportive and never talks bad about us going to church, and always is encouraging with Awana etc... (he is already a good christian he just doesn't know it yet). Anyway back on topic.... On Sunday, after the kids sang he asked "do you want me to go out to my truck and get your glasses" and I said "are you staying " and he hesitated a second and then said "yes" - I was so happy! It was a good sermon and 3 new deacons were moved up and 1 elder - so Mike got to hear their testimony, which were very basic and proved they are not different then the rest of us, the testimonies weren't all about - I did drugs and found the Lord, I stole and found the Lord, I cheated and found the Lord. I think Mike has more of an issue with those type of testimonies and feels he doesn't have those issues so he (may) not need the Lord. I just continue to pray for his salvation.

Well I better get back to work!
Have a great Wednesday - xxox Caroline

Sleepy Summer

Here is my sleeping beauty... not sure if you can see her eyes are open when she sleeps, it is freaky and she gets it from her Aunt Cami. She looks dead, but I did check and she is breathing. She loves to have her blanket over her head, and typically has her thumb in her mouth (another discussion), she has always had her blanket over her head, even as a small baby and it would drive me crazy and I would take it off and then she would put it right back.

Isabella loves to sleep and she is good at it, just like her dad. The kids have been going to bed late in the summer and this week are extra tired because of VBS which ends at 8:30pm. Isabella loves the days I work from home because she can sleep like this until 10am, when I go into the office they are up at 7:00am and we are out the door. Soren got up already, probably because they slept together in a twin bed, with 1 dog so he probably ran out of room. He is like sleeping with a kick boxer/gymnasit/cirque de soliel star.... he is all over the place and if you sleep with him you could find a toe in your eye or mouth at any given time. Mike will not sleep with him. When we are camping I practically have to swaddle him up so he won't kick us.

I will let "sleeping beauty" sleep a bit longer and then they need to be up and do some chores before going to Cami's...to swim and play and have more fun.

I'm working from home again today (weds) and I am so buried at work it is crazy! Oh well good job security, and I have a meeting at the kids school (las brisas) and hopefully can make my final decision soon.

Update on that issue - the public or as Soren says it "pewblic" does not offer extended care, so I called the boys and girls club and to bus the kids there is will be $625.00 per month, which is only $200 less then sending them to Las Brisas. Then I find out the boys and girls club might not go to Donald Graham this fall - and there is no extended care...SO do they become "latch key kids" - I don't think so... Mike doesn't really want them at the boys and girls club, so we are still trying to work it out. I know the Lord wants us at Las Brisas.

Have a great day! xxox Caroline

Isabella

4th of July - Family Tradition

We participate in my Grandma Lende's parade at the Groves in Irvine again this year. This has become a family tradition, although this year it was just the Wales and Oursler kids. We feel it is important to be there for my grandma and she can show off her great grandchildren a bit. The kids decorated their bikes and Charlie and Elizabeth rode in the Golf cart. Charlie was yelling "Happy 4th of July" the entire time.

They had a great time and thought it was very cool to be in a parade, no matter how small it was. I think my Grandma enjoyed having us there, this is a big party at the Groves and I'm sur it makes her miss my grandpa even more. Brian (my brother) and my Dad came to watch too.

We then went home and the family took a nap, and I prepared all the food and cooler to go to Cami's for a pool party. I didn't bring my camera in.... oops! It was just 4 families but very fun. We all swam and the kids did water balloon toss and bubble gum blowing contest - with prizes!!

We also made homemade ice cream -YUM. You had to crank it or as Cami said "no turny, no treaty". The kids thought it was so awesome that you can pour a milk mixture into the container and add ice, rock salt, and put some muscle into it - out comes ice cream. It is a great science experiment for the kids.

Dinner was delicious and I think I gained 10 pounds. I made strawberry vodka and then mixed with lemonade - I just could not drink beer all afternoon...but Mike did! I drove us home around 10pm and the Esterholt's spent the night but they got up at 6:30am to drive home. My kids were sad they were gone when they woke up.

It was a great day- thanks Cami and Chris for hosting it!

xxox

caroline

Going Green - update

So our quest to go GREEN continues and now I have incorporated it into saving money (so the kids can go to Las Brisas). I am now officially saving cans and bottles and hope to pay for 1/2 of one of the tuition's, and then figure out how to cut costs to make up the other 1/2. And let me tell you I am not prideful one single bit, if you invite me over and serve me a drink in a can or glass bottle, I WILL take it home with me.
There is a man in Wildomar that walks around all day collecting cans and I would be willing to bet that he has more in savings then most of us. I'm sure that it helps he lives in a tent and doesn't have 3 dogs, 2 kids, a boat, motorcycles, trailer and a diesel truck.
Okay back on topic...
Our water bill is crazy in the summer because Mike likes to have a very green yard - I am trying to get him to skip a day of water - so far not working. So my other ways to save water will have to work.
1. Kids are taking showers and not baths - my kids LOVE baths and they could take 3 a day if I let them. Also if the swim at Cami's...well that is their shower for the day (see no pride).
2. We are using the 60's motto "If it is yellow be mellow, if it is brown flush it down" - took the kids a minute to think what could possible be "brown" - they were so funny when they figured it out, and then we had to play they "what if it is green or blue or RED" We told them "flush if green or blue and come get us if it is RED". So if you come visit and there is a bit of pee in the toilet, please don't be alarmed and just know that the Oursler's are saving water for our planet and saving money on our bill. Soren was explaining it to the boys there other day and I had to tell him guests don't have to participate.
3. Swimming at neighbors pool to cool down - inviting myself over to swim, both my neighbors always say it is okay to come swim anytime and sometimes I feel weird about it - Well no longer... Besides they know I will bring good food.
4. Cold water laundry only - okay so I am "green" at being green - Mike tells me yesterday, cold water is saving us money on our gas bill not our water - duh!!

I am addicted to blogs these days and it is a great stress reliever - one of my favorites is (okay going to see if I can link it)http://walkslowlylivewildly.com/. It has alot of links to other great blogs and filled good information about being green, being spiritual, eating raw etc...

I still have a long way to go - my next goals are:
1. Vegetable garden
2. composting
3. no papertowels - cloth only. I don't think I will ever get the family to use cloth wipes in the bathroom (read that blog above and you will see lots of people do that)
4. Diva Cup - Google it and you will see what it is....remember no pride
5. Vegetarian - this one is the toughest of all but everything I read, people are losing weight like crazy by not eating meat.

Okay that is enough for now, I'm off to start my work day. My job is filled with stress but I need to work harder then ever so I can keep those kiddos at Las Brisas.

Oh and keep praying for me, any kind of prayer will work.

Have a great Wednesday - Caroline