San Diego

This last week, we took a 4 day trip to San Diego. Like always, we stayed at the Embassy Suites by Sea Port Village (credit card points can be used there, and it is a very kid-friendly hotel). We were blessed with a corner room, so the living area where the boys slept was in the shape of an "L". It was perfect to separate them a little bit at night. Both boys were troopers and slept through the night during the whole trip!

We enjoyed two days at Sea World and then two days at Legoland. I had never been to Legoland, and it was fun to go somewhere new. Carter isn't quite tall enough to go on the rides he likes--the roller coasters. He could go on one smaller coaster called the Coastasaurus. We rode that ride about 7 or 8 times. At least at Disneyland, he has the Matterhorn and the Toon Town roller coaster.

We had quite a heatwave during our stay, but a plentitude of water areas in which to romp, several ice cream purchases and shady spots helped us to beat the heat. I don't think we've ever used that much sunscreen on one trip. Even I, who rarely burn (thanks to my Mexican genes), was reapplying suntan lotion numerous times throughout the day.

We had a great time, though now that the pregnany is over and Micah will be over one year next summer, we are ready for some REAL trips. Ryan has stars in his eyes just thinking of flying all over with the boys and me. Even I, Mrs. Homebody, am feeling ready for some bigger vacations next year. I think Ryan has gotten me hooked on traveling.

Enjoy looking at some trip pictures. We took some great ones of Shamu and Carter. The trainer walked by the tank as we were there and made the poor whale pose for us. Carter, who takes 10 minutes to both look at the camera and smile at the same time, was a real test for that obedient whale. I was impressed. Give that whale some fish!

Feminine Appeal and a Clean House

This summer, I'm rereading Carolyn Mahaney's book called Feminine Appeal in order to study it with my Women's Bible Study small group. If you haven't read this book, I highly recommend it. You will be filled with encouragement and conviction as you read through the pages.
Mahaney focuses on Titus 2 and the seven virtues she extracts from that passage. To begin the book, Mahaney gives a general overview in chapter 1, and she gives the reader a very challenging assignment in the discussion questions at the end. She urges the woman reading to approach her husband and ask him which of the seven virtues she most lacks and needs to give the most attention.

The seven virtues upon which Mahaney focuses are loving our husbands and children, self control, purity, working at home, kindness, and submission. I was not very excited about asking Ryan where I lacked expertise, but, like a good student, I did my homework.


I was surprised and not surprised by Ryan's response. I think most husbands would talk about working on better loving them, submitting to them, or, most popular, adding some more time in the bedroom. Ryan, however, went right to working at home. He loves clean, organized, sparkling surroundings. He is microorganized and thrives when his surroundings are organized in every way too. I, on the other hand, am clean and macroorganized. I can deal with some piles--if they aren't unsightly--and I am temporarily pleased with just putting messes in closets and drawers. Having a new baby at home hasn't helped the issue either. I am pleased as pudding when I get a load of laundry done, the kids fed and bathed and dinner on the table.


I realized in this discussion with Ryan that his priorities need to be my priorities. He loves an obscenely clean house, so I should love an obscenely clean house. Needless to say, my goal and accountability lately has been to better clean the house. I'm making small baby steps to better prioritize my time so that I can do this.


Now, how about you? Do you have the courage to ask your husband what is important to him and what he wishes you could do better as a wife? It's a great exercise in humility and self-discipline!

Micah is 4 months old

He's grabbing things--often my hair--and rolling over. Our precious boy is 4 months old!

Fourth of July at the Hawley Home

The Fourth of July was fun, fun, fun! We were so busy, that the fifth of July was a recovery day. We woke up the morning of the fourth and went to the Lake Forest Fourth of July Parade to watch our church float. We lucked out and sat next to one of our church's hospitality booths. It provided shade, fellowship, snacks, and beach balls for Carter. We ran into our friends, the O'Connells, and had our families sit together. We had to wait two hours to see our float, but it was worth it!

After the parade, we headed straight over to Susan and Jim's for pool time and lunch! Carter is becoming quite the swimmer, which is something I truly didn't expect this summer. It is fun watching Ryan work with him in the pool. Micah made his first debut in the pool, and he wasn't all that impressed. He's used to the warm bath water.

After the boys took naps, we all headed over to Sarah and Matt's for a bbq dinner and fireworks. Their new home is blocks from Lake Mission Viejo, so it was a blast getting to watch the fireworks from their backyard. They are the new Fourth of July house--what a fun tradition!

I pray you all had great fellowship and family time this Fourth of July. I am thankful for the wonderful day we had here at the Hawley home.

The Star Spangled Banner Lyrics

Happy Fourth of July, friends! It is one of my favorite holidays, because, like Thanksgiving, it is a great holiday to be thankful and count your blessings. I am so thankful for America and all the freedom it has given me to worship my Creator. Of course, I also have an affinity for the holiday because it means sticky, drippy watermelon, suntans from swimming all day, barbeque, family time and fireworks on a warm summer night.

I thought I'd include the lyrics of our National Anthem. We all know the first stanza, but do you know the rest? I particularly like the fourth, and last, stanza. We all know that this song, as is, would never be adopted as a National Anthem today. Let's celebrate that it boldly recognizes God as the giver of our freedoms and blessings! Happy Fourth!

O! say can you see by the dawn's early light

What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?

Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight,

O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?

And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,

Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.

O! say does that star-spangled banner yet wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,

Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,

What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,

As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?

Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,

In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:

'Tis the star-spangled banner!

Oh long may it wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore

That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,

A home and a country should leave us no more!

Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.

No refuge could save the hireling and slave

From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:

And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

O! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand

Between their loved home and the war's desolation!

Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land

Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.

Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,

And this be our motto: 'In God is our trust.'

And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!