Aquarium, Part 2

So, I thought I'd better post this before Part 3 happens.  Which happens tomorrow.  Part 1 is here.

Way back in May, we took the Gombojav children to the Monterey Bay Aquarium as part of their last year's Christmas present.  We took the Abdelaziz children in March, and the Correa children get to go tomorrow.  Now, it might be awhile before I can post Part 3, because we cannot post pictures until the adoption is complete.  *sigh*  Sometimes, paperwork can take forever.

So, here we go!

 Not a little excited, are they?

If you can overlook all the political environmental propagada all over, it is really a fun place.  I love that children can have so much hands-on experiences and learning.

Where there is a will,

there is a way!

Though some may think some things are just too wet and slimy to actually want to touch.

 Pure joy.

These two big ol' kids:

are these two (on the left)!

They've added a few siblings as you can see.

Belgee, second from right.

If you look really closely, you might see baby penquins in that nest.

I understand the feeling.

The following picture was requested by Israel as we were passing this store.  Just because his mom would really like it.  Enjoy, Daja!

This time we stopped for cinnamon rolls as we were walking back to the parking garage.  Nana's choice.  No one minded.

It's the itty bitty things that add up in life.

Most of us are dreaming, wishing, praying for something to happen. A clean house, a new house, a new direction in life, a ministry to be birthed, getting out of debt, losing weight, toned abs, something. And as fervently as we pray, or as tight as we squeeze our eyes while wishing, it doesn’t happen. We’re hoping for the lightening from heaven, the miracle, the lottery win. Odds are that none of that will happen.

But life can change. It does change. It will change. Only it will be one step at a time. Not giant steps. Not even regular steps. Baby steps. When you drive a car at night, you never see further than your headlights. However, you can make your whole trip that way. Progress is not made by huge leaps toward success, but by baby steps.

Life is made up of choices. When you choose A, you cannot choose B. If you choose B, then you are closing the door to A. You cannot have both. You want to be debt-free? You want financial freedom? Then you will need to make a decision over every penny that lands in your pocket. You must choose if a) that penny will go towards paying off a bill or b) go towards that candy bar or that wonderful sale item you found while shopping. If you choose A, then you cannot have B. If you choose B, you cannot have A. Which one do you want more? Which one will benefit you more? Which one will get you to your goal? Ah, but it’s only a penny you say. Yes, but it is the little foxes that spoil the vine (Song of Solomon 2:15). It is not the great big decisions, the giant steps, in life where we usually stumble; it is in the small little choices.

Every choice we make will either bring us closer to our goal or further away from it.

It truly is the itty bitty things that add up in life.