California Love.

As all of you know Christmas came early this year for the Kretzu family, a week early to be exact. As our Christmas gift this year we got to go home for the holidays, as odd as that still sounds to me. It was amazing. Seriously.

Being around people who know me, and seeing my family, eating miguels it was a beautiful thing. I won't even mention the weather, but yes, it was as perfect as you imagine a southern California winter would be.

So here is a little photo update of a few of the highlights from our CA visit.

My sisters decked out in their "Team Es" gear, greeted me as I walked off the plane (red lipstick was Debbie's idea hah)

The short drive from LAX straight to In and Out and the second welcome party that awaited there!

Watching Savi's reaction to her Christmas gift from us, and then watching her reaction when Chris kicked it over.

Getting to see Chris sport this bad boys ( a Christmas gift from my brother and Jill)

Christmas lights with the fam (a tradition)

Kareoke with the homies! And the fact that no one had a voice the next day

this girl.

being able to wear my flippies

Girls potluck at B's house, and all the shaningangs that took place there! awww

The magical kingdom of course, I could have stayed there all week!

But then I would have missed out on this lyrical gangster, and the madness that has now invaded Sportys (aka the Sportsman, for you old schoolers)

Dinner at Woodranch with Chris' family, can't believe I don't have a picture of our food!

3 Generations of Camacho ladies

The one and only

miguels, again.
Getting to see and sit in the "replacement chair"

baby Ella, and the little miracle she is becoming! (14 days seizure free, amazing) she is like an entirely different baby since the last time I saw her, she was laughing and smiling ALL of the time it was the most amazing thing to see. Actually probably the most amazing thing I saw while I was home.

Then of course there is Del Taco, the way God intended a combination burrito to taste, nice try Taco Johns.

This I actually don't miss (aside from our awesome neighbors) its our old apartment all 470 square feet of it-- awesome thing is that just on the other side of this bad boy is where miss Brenda lives and I got to check out HER new place, which only made me realize how great my apartment COULD have looked that entire time! Nicely done B.

My favorite street in Corona.

Coincedently also where my favorite girl in corona lives.

Sweet, sweet Miguels some day we will meet again, it was great while it lasted.

And the welcome that awaited us when we got back.

It was an amazing seven days that went by way to quickly, I love you and miss you all and it's true, California does know how to party.

Gift of the Desert Road.

I'm sure everyone already knows the greatness that is the StuffChristiansLike blog, but in case you don't, you should do yourself a favor and check it out... now. I haven't read a blog of his that I haven't enjoyed but today's blog was like a perfectly timed gift.

It offers a new and empowering perspective on why we might be traveling on the "desert road." We're not there because God is mad at us, or because we have done something wrong, or because we're still not good enough, but because God loves us so much he is protecting us from a war (a situation) we're not quite ready for.

"...In the midst of those questions, in the midst of being wildly impatient and selfish and arrogant and a million other words that mean "whack," I feel like God reminded me of a simple question,"Why do you keep refusing the gift of the desert road?"

That's kind of a weird question, but it comes out of some verses I've written about before. In Exodus 13: 17-18, as the Israelites are leaving Egypt, the Bible says:When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, "If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt."

So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea. The Israelites went up out of Egypt armed for battle.I love the simplicity of that. God knew that if the Israelites took the short way, if they took what probably seemed like the logical route, they'd face a war they weren't ready for and would probably willingly return to slavery. So out of love, out a deep, big love for His people, he took them on the desert road.

As an Israelite, having spent decades doing hardcore physical labor and leading the kind of manual labor lifestyle that puts the P90X exercise program to shame, you'd have to be thinking, "What? I'm armed for battle! The desert road? Seriously? Look at this sword, I've got skillz! Let's take the short way and give the Philistines two tickets to the gun show.

I promise that they probably felt a little confused at why they were on the desert road and maybe at some point in your own life, you've felt that way too. Maybe you've felt ready for something and for some reason instead found yourself taking the long way around.I don't know what your "thing" is.

Maybe you want to fall in love and get married.
Maybe you're at a job that doesn't use your God-given talents and you feel desperate to get out.
Maybe you want to start a ministry.
Maybe you don't know what your thing is, but you know it's not what you're doing right now.
Maybe you want to have kids.Maybe you want to head out to the mission field overseas.

Your thing, your dream or goal or vision could be a million different things, and when it doesn't happen, when it takes longer than we want, it's so easy to get frustrated. To get disappointed, to think that the time delay is because maybe you're not doing something right. Maybe God is mad at you. Maybe if you were a better Christian things would be happening faster and you wouldn't be on a desert road.But what if that's not right?

What if God loves you too much to send you to war? What if He loves you too much to throw you into situations you're not ready for?What if that desert road is a gift?I still struggle with the desert road concept. I'm not "done" with that idea.

But my hope for you and my hope for me is that the next time I find myself on one I'll pause long enough to ask God this simple question:"I'm on a desert road, what war are you protecting me from right now because you love me so much?”

Days Like This.

Extremely grateful for days like this. It's Thursday, not really any different than any other day this week, but for some unexplainable reason (God) I have an extra dosage of gratefulness this morning. It's gorgeous outside, and although I still technically have to sit in my office for most of the day just looking out the window and knowing it's out there waiting for me is making me smile.

We are extremely blessed, sometimes I don't think I give God enough credit for all of the amazing things he does for us only a daily basis. Correction- I know I don't give him the credit he deserves, but today I will fix that.

Ever think about all the little things that make up the greatness of your day? Your coffee being the right temperture, there being milk to pour into your cereal, getting a few green lights on your way to work, having lunch outside with a friend, going home to your family, laughing at an inside joke... it seems like we only notice the small things when they go wrong. What if instead we could learn to be grateful for all the little things on a consistent basis. It might just make all the chaos of our lives a little less crazy, and a lot more tolerable.

Last night Bryan (@bryan44 for all your twitters) came over and watched a movie with Chris and I, and he brought over ice cream. I realize that doesn't sound like a lot, but if you knew how much Chris loves ice cream and how miserable he is when there isn't any at home, you might be able to understand how much that little act of kindness meant to him, and by association me. It's all about the little things folks, it really is.

So if you still don't get it, all I am really trying to say is if you take the time to look, you will soon realize there are no shortage of things to be grateful for, that you are blessed, and that a half a gallon of ice cream does make a difference.

Who Needs Them.

I hate fees. Hate them.

More than I hate it when someone comes up behind me and plays the "guess who" game. At that point it's become the "guess who I wish would get their hands off my face game."

I don't understand.

"Washington Mutual, the nation's seventh-largest financial institution and the largest to promote overdraft protection, charged customers more than $1 billion in overdraft fees last year, some industry analysts estimated." (New York Times)

The banks offer this "as a service" to their customers. So you can spend more money than you have, and literally pay for it later. What they're really doing is enabling people to continue to make poor choices, live out of their means, and do it all without having to be embarrased by the unbearable "sorry miss" lecture.

I too am obviously guilty of this, whether it be intentional or not, fees happen. And I hate them. Mainly because I unknowingly purchased the most expensive $0.99 itune download and $1.89 tea latte ever.

Consider the very expensive lesson, learned.

At least I'm not the only one.

Maybe it's not quite like this but David knows what's up.

Psalm 43:4-5 ... Yeah that's where it's at right now.

This verse, along with about 15 other verses, is written on an index card and sitting in on my desk right now. I keep them there as a 'proactive' way to remind myself that God is who He says He is, and no matter what my life looks like He loves me more than I can ever realize and will always take care of me, especially when I don't deserve it.

Psalm 43 captures almost all of the emotions I'm currently expeirencing, and pretty much in that order.

David:
" For you are God, my only safe haven... Why must I wander around in grief," v.2

Es:
I agree.

David:
"Send out your light and your truth; let them guide me." v.3

Es:
Ready and willing.

David:
"There I will go to the altar of God, to God—the source of all my joy." v.4

Es:
The source of ALL my joy.

and then it all clicks...

David:
"Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again— my Savior and my God!"

There is no need to be discouraged, there is no need for my heart to be sad. I will put my hope in God, and praise Him- my Savior.

God has proven His love for me over and over again, and I will praise Him in advance for what He is currently preparing for us.