Update

Just wanted to give an update on what we're all doing:

Zach works a full time job, has just started an additional part time job (working as a tech guy on a film shoot) and goes to school two nights a week. This should be his last semester. After he graduates, it should be just a short time before he goes to the Academy in Oklahoma for his FAA training. His band just finished up a "Battle of the Bands" competition - they played three times at the House of Blues at Universal City Walk. It was fun to go to their concerts. They came in third.

He's also been helping out at the church with putting together videos that serve as announcements for special events. We have a professional cameraman that attends the church and he and Zach have teamed up to do some video clips that we can also put up on our church website. We are currently having it re-designed so the videos will show up on the new site when it's up.

Court works two days a week as our bookkeeper and goes to school two full days a week. She's taking a break from working full time this semester and is taking a couple days a week to be at home helping me and learning some home management and cooking skills. She and a friend have been hosting dinners and activities for the singles in the church. She's enjoying throwing parties and getting to know many of the new singles who have recently joined. She has continued to enjoy photography and is becoming quite good.

Paige is taking drum lessons from her dad, is on a volleyball team, just started some art lessons from a private tutor, and continues to be interested in anything creative: she loves to draw, bake, decorate cakes, paint, sew, play piano, and just recently made her own bow and arrows. Now she's looking into archery classes. All the girls are taking turns cooking dinner one night a week. She loves to read cookbooks and find new things to fix. She's becoming a good cook - she even cooks for some of Courtney's parties. She's getting quite a reputation for her pies!

Taylor and Ashley are into American Dolls and we are planning our big trip to the American Girl Store in L.A. soon. (As soon as I get up the courage to drive there by myself). I'm so glad that they love being little girls; they still like playing house and dress up - we are savoring this time in their lives.

We are in the middle of a big outdoor project - we're finally landscaping our back yard and redesigning our front yard. Ron's been hard at work building retaining walls and raised flower beds, fixing sprinklers and underground wiring, hauling dirt and mulch,transplanting large shrubs, and digging out turf to extend the front yard garden. We're almost ready to start planting.

Ron and I just returned from a marriage retreat that we take annually with the other pastor and wife from our church. We went up to Morro Bay, spent some time in a quaint little town called Cambria, toured Hearst Castle and visited some vineyards in the central coast. The scenery was breathtaking! Because it is the beginning of spring, everything is so lush and green - we felt like we were in Europe! We had a successful "Marriage Check-Up" and a refreshing time away from L.A.--all in all, a great time!

We listened to an outstanding message from Dave Harvey (before we sat down to evaluate our marriages). It was one of the best messages I've heard on marriage. Check it out: God's Mercy and My Marriage.