Family Trip To Santa Barbara

We were glad to be able to see my brother Georg, his wife Jacqueline, and their 4 children in Santa Barbara for a few days. They are always super hospitable and gracious! This visit also enabled us to see my dad again (he lives close by) and my other brother John, his wife Marcy, and their 4 children, who I haven't seen in 5 years. The 12 cousins had a blast playing together.

The 12 cousins: Fletchers and Naumanns (only 2 Copelands missing)

Playing at the beach was a blast! So much can be done with some sand, water, kelp, and rocks!

Chatting with my sisters-in-law, Marcy and Jacqueline.

Here they are in order from oldest to youngest! Kurtis, Johanna, Allison, Philip, Magdeline, Louise, Christine, Kari, C.J., Sophia, Lilyana, and Carl.

It was neat to see Marcy, John, and my dad.

We also went to the Santa Barbara Zoo and Ty Warner Sea Center.

This is a lot of people to feed! Thanks Georg and Jacqueline!

My brother Georg, Vati, me, and my brother John.

And now some bonus Carl and Lily pics:
I took these photos of Carl and Lily a week ago--super cute!!!

There is a family tree I worked some more on and completed--of the Naumann/Berg family going back to the 1600s. It's in German, but I can send you a pdf if you're interested!

Camping at Gerle Creek in El Dorado National Forest

What a wonderful time we had together and with the Wilsons the last days camping. I was once again amazed at the vastness of God's creation. I enjoyed the wild flowers, a stream where we could wade in little waterfalls and search for interesting rocks, all the wild critters, a lake where we swam to an island, and a thunderstorm. Lily thought, "Someone knocking" (thunder) and "Somebody taking my picture" (lightning). Trey liked digging in the dirt, ashes, rocks, sand, and getting so dirty I can't get the stains out of his clothing. Hanna and Maggie enjoyed helping train Blossom, the Wilsons Portugese Water Dog, wading/swimming/jumping in the water, cranking old fashioned ice cream, and attempting to make biscuits on a stick. We are so thankful to God for the provision of this time.Notice: Trey is in the ash pit! His sisters are lounging, while Carl unpacks and sets us up.

Little Lil'

Cuddling in the tent trailor--Trey is trying out Hanna's new toothbrush.

Some swam and some rowed out to the island. See us on top?

Trey says, "Dirt, dirt, I love dirt!!!!"

Hanna and Maggie had a terrific time climbing on rocks. One boulder became a favorite spot to sit together and sip hot chocolate in the morning.

Encouragement Via Media and the Church

I added some stuff in my profile today. I've been thinking of who I would like to meet, casually, just to chat about God and things that matter most. There are some writers that craft words which, when I read them, give me a real "YES" moment. Andree Seu, writing editorials for "World Magazine" http://www.worldmag.com/andreeseu is one of these, Jenefer Igarashi from "The Old Schoolhouse Magazine" www.homeschoolblogger.com/JenIG/ is another. A dear friend gave me several homeschool encouragement websites too, if anyone is interested. I love when I read, hear, or see something that encourages me or challenges me.

I guess a good "media watch" verse would be Philippians 4:8: "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things."

By the way--the church is also a MAJOR encouragement!!!! Here are some photos of our church hanging out at the beach in the end of May...

Julia caught a fish or a Carl...or is it the other way around?

Brent and his crab!!! He pinched Brent repeatedly, and now the crab's going to get eaten!

Opa and Oma Heidi come to visit

We had a few days with my dad and stepmother. I finally found out just what my dad's occupation is! Crazy how I know so little about people I've spent so much time with. It was special for grandkids and grandparents to spend time together also!

We went rollerblading/biking to Sebastopol, where (of course) we needed to stop at Screamin' Mimi's for some ice cream. I got Lavender and Hazelnut!

Trey fell asleep on the way home...
We also went to the Spring Lake Lagoon for a picnic
dinner. Maggie swam and swam. Trey dug in the dirt/sand and was lying in the water blowing bubbles. Lily loved paddling around, and Hanna floated and tried to relax after her long rollerblade in the morning.
Lots of fun!

Summer Days...

Little Carl gives his smile.

This is how I go down the slide....
Mama thinks I may land on my head down the stairs.

We love being in the pool.

Grandparents come to visit!

Weariness

I feel so weary today. I don't want to burden or depress anyone, but wow...I'm tired. I am thankful that God doesn't grow weary or tired. Isaiah 40:28-31 is so encouraging tonight:

"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

The Graciousness of God

Wow, I've entered the world of blogging....Crazy. I am not sure how often I'll do this, but it's nice to start something new today. Sometimes the days go by and it feels very routine (scattered with moments of panic--like when I'm trying to give instructions to Hanna and Maggie while Lily needs help and Carl is squirming his little body out of a dirty diaper and everyone is hungry and needs stuff at the same time, but I digress). I guess I should go back a little and introduce us:

We're the Fletchers, family of 6. Carl is my wonderful husband and the "King of our castle", Johanna is our terrific 9 1/2 year old who is folding the laundry singing "Give me oil in my lamp" as we speak, Magdeline is our super 7 1/2 year old who is standing on her head as I write, sweet Lilyana is our 3 year old who is also a princess, and little Carl (a.k.a. Trey) is our little 16 month old prince! We love Jesus and are seeking to serve God through His powerful Spirit moment by moment. Most of my blogging will probably be about what God is teaching me....and about my family. Sound good?


I've really been amazed by the graciousness of God (and in contrast my LACK of graciousness) as I've been reading the book of Isaiah in the Bible. Time and time again, the people God reaches out to reject Him. He keeps saying, "I will not forget you." In Isaiah 45:5-6 He says:
"I am the LORD, and there is no other,
apart from me there is no God.
I will strengthen you,
though you have not acknowledged me,
so that from the rising of the sun
to the place of its setting
men may know there is none besides me.
I am the LORD, and there is no other."

God talks about people who "seem" eager to know Him but whose hearts are far from Him. Convicting! Makes me question what my heart is really yearning for....
And all through Isaiah, God is GRACIOUS: saying He wants to comfort, to speak tenderly, that sin has been paid for (see Is. 40). So although He gets treated like crud, and sacrifices His Son, Jesus to forgive and cleanse the ones who treat Him like crud, He persists...graciously.

I am praying that the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart would be as gracious!