It’s another photo  mash-up today as I link up with Like Mother, Like Daughter with {pretty, happy, funny, real} and with Cari for Theme Thursday: Knots. (Scroll down to {real} for that one. :-))

This weekend we planned an impromptu  trip to Santa Cruz and realized it was the same weekend that Thomas the Train was going to be in town. We were able to get tickets and headed to Felton near the Santa Cruz mountains.

{pretty}

The Roaring Camp Station was celebrating their 50th Anniversary so it was extra festive. 🙂

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 Thankfully the sun finally came out and we had blue skies.

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The train passed this walking trail in the forest.

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The view from crossing over a bridge.

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I love redwood trees. They fill me with happy memories of family camping trips. 🙂

 {happy}

Thomas’ smiling face. (Thankfully the kids didn’t mind not taking a photo with Thomas since the line was ridiculously long.)

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My sweeties.

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My train buddies.

 {funny}

The last time we were at The Roaring Camp was eight years ago when Bella was four and our only child. (We were losing hope of ever having another baby. Little did we know that eventually three more bambinos were on the way! ;-))

{real}

The next two photos are linked up with Theme Thursday: Knots.

The first thing I thought of (after knots in the kids’ shoes) was my knot rosary.

But as I was taking my photo, my little buddy came to see what I was doing…

He was sticky with pink yogurt Popsicle all over his face and mouth but I couldn’t help but smile when he leaned over to give Mother Mary a kiss…

and planted a big, sticky one on her head.

By changing the photo to black and white I was able to camouflage the pink stains on his shirt, on his face and on his ear so the photo has a nice classic appeal. It reminds me of what a priest once said about taking our prayers to Mother Mary. She takes our messy deeds and offerings and gives them a Mother’s touch so they become something even more beautiful and then places them at the feet of Jesus. I’m glad she is there to clean me up. 😉

Have a great weekend!

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It’s another photo mash-up today as I link up with Like Mother, Like Daughter with {pretty, happy, funny, real} and with Cari for Theme Thursday. The theme this week is “Freedom” and although I was thinking of various red, white and blue subject matter, I never had a chance to plan anything. Instead I was enjoying a day of picnicking and hiking with my family.

We took a different trail that lead us to a high (but not too high) hill that overlooked the ocean and the forests of Point Lobos. As the cool wind whipped around us and we breathed in the glorious views, I called to mind the scripture from Romans 8:18-21. (I couldn’t remember the exact wording so I had to look it up later. ) It reads:

“I consider the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God; for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of him who subjected it in hope; because creation itself will be set free from its bondage of decay and obtain the glorious liberty of the children of God.

It is a gentle reminder that our faith should not be shaken when we look around at all that is wrong in the world. Whatever crosses we are bearing now, they will not compare to the Resurrection to come. Creation itself groans at the disorder caused by sin. Yet when we gaze upon the beauty of God’s nature we see his power and ironically, his gentle touch. It is like a soothing balm to a weary soul. It is then that we experience freedom from despair because we know God will never abandon us and he will always give us the strength to complete the mission before us.

So although, these photos are void of the usual patriotic symbols, for me they are a reminder of God’s gift of freedom as well as the biggest blessings of my life – my family.

{pretty, happy, funny & real}

We started our trail at the parking lot as pointed out by the photo.

We went up the rocky hill trail. (You can see someone walking along to the trail at the upper right hand of the photo.)

Matthew was having a fit because he didn’t want to hold anyone’s hand so Brian stood at the bottom of the hill with him as I went ahead with Bella, Andrew and John-Paul.

We made it to the top and on the other side of the hill, this was our view.

Beside us some deer where enjoying their lunch. As I was snapping this photo Bella said she saw Brian coming up the hill. I told her it couldn’t be him.

But there he was with Matthew running beside him. Matthew’s hair was blowing and his arms were stretched out like a soaring eagle. My first thought – the freedom of childhood innocence and joy.

Upon seeing Brian the boys cheered and ran to him. Matthew then became a dinosaur. I looked at Brian and said, “God, I love that man!”

At this point we were tired and wanted to go home but not without one last shot of our view back as we descended the hill. (Unfortunately, I am not skilled enough to really do the view justice so this will have to suffice. ;-))

Happy 4th, everyone!!