Yipee!!

I have a temporary cell phone until I can replace mine. Only thing is I don't have any phone numbers. So you can call me but I can't call you. Hope to be talking away again soon. Love,
Candi

More thoughts for the New Year

as borrowed from Taylor's schools Friday Flash....

Life is a game in which you are juggling some five balls in the air: work, family, health, friends, and your spirit.  Work is like a rubber ball.  If you drop it, it will bounce back.  But the other four balls are made out of glass, so if you drop them, they will be damaged, or even shattered, and will never be the same.

Don't take for granted those things that are closest to your heart.  Cling to them as you would to life, for without them life is meaningless.

Don't let life slip through your fingers by living in the past or in the future.  By living life only one day at a time you live all the days of your life.

Don't forget that a person's greatest need is to be appreciated.

Don't be afraid to encounter risks.  It is by taking chances that we learn to be brave.

The will of God will never take you where the grace of God will not protect you.

When God takes something from your grasp, He is not punishing you, but merely opening your hands to receive something better.

To get something you never had, you have to do something you never did.

Life is not a race, but a journey to be savored each step of the way.

Again, Happy New Year.

The Real Thing

I get daily devotions sent to me in emails. They are called the Harvest Daily Devotions. I really enjoy them. Some I forward on to a select few and some I forward to a bunch, but this one I felt compelled to re-post on my blog. Read and enjoy. May your day be blessed and again may 2009 be a year of really really getting to know your savior. Love, Candi

The Real Thing

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
— Colossians 3:16

"You must spend a lot of time handling counterfeit money to know what it looks like," said Ruth Bell Graham to a man from Scotland Yard, who was in charge of identifying counterfeit money.

"No," he replied. "We never touch the stuff. All day long, we just handle the real thing: genuine currency. And when a counterfeit bill comes our way—we can quickly detect it."

As a Christian, you could go nuts trying to keep up with the latest heresies and counterfeit teachings people spread in this world. But if you familiarize yourself with the Word of God and become conversant with it, you will immediately recognize counterfeit teachings.

You will hear someone say something and think, This isn't right. You will know what God's Word truly says and what it doesn't say, because God will give you spiritual discernment.

Spend time today studying the real thing. If ever there was a time we needed spiritual discernment, the time is now.

In the words of the Apostle Paul, "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord" (Colossians 3:16).

Happy 2009

So I know I have let you all down by not blogging at all; for that I am very very sorry.  I do not have a camera and it kinda takes the fun out of blogging.  Those of you who know me know that it is killing me not to have a camera.  But I lent it to a friend in need and have yet to hear from her again.  It has been months now, and I have lost all hope of ever seeing my beloved camera again.  

It was no Cannon Rebel (which I have wanted for years) but it was my camera and it was a very nice one too.  Which I still have several, now useless, accessories for too.  I do not know when I will be able to even replace my camera especially since I now have a phone that will most likely need replaced.  It was washed last night and was not discovered in the washing machine until this morning.  It is currently in a bag of rice trying to be revived of life and while I am still holding out hope I am not overly optimistic.  And since the back up cell phone we have is beyond dead and the charger is still in Oregon I am currently without phone and camera.  I feel like I am missing limbs :)

Now that I have shared all of my electronic woes.  On to other things.  Our holidays were absolutely wonderful we started out by spending Thanksgiving in Oregon and also had our "Oregon Christmas" while we were there.  We had a wonderful, relaxing, and blessed Christmas and home and ended the year at Jeff & Mary's house with a Wii Bowling tournament.   We truley have the most wonderful family.  We were very luckly to get to spend so much time with everyone this holiday season.

The 2008 year as a whole was not such a great year for us.  We experienced a lot of loss and in a lot of ways we are glad for it to be over.  We are looking forward to a new year and fresh beginnings.  We are excited to see what 2009 brings.  

Even through much loss and sadness this last year though God has shown that he is sovereign and he is in control and though we continue to have trials I take peace in knowing that I have God by my side through it all.  I pray that I seek Him thorough everything and that 2009 will be a year of growth for me in my relationship with the Lord.  I pray the same for my friends and family as well.  

Happy 2009! Love,

Candi

We're off...

to San Diego for the weekend.  Dustin and Dad are in Las Vegas for the final race of the year and so the kids, mom, and I are taking off to San Diego to get more use out of our Sea World and San Diego Zoo annual passes before they expire.  Say a prayer for everyones safe travels.  And I promise to post lots of pictures when we get back.

Also, I know some of you are anxiously awaiting pictures of Jayden's totally awsome, spectacula,r wonderful, stupendious, carnival party BUT at this point I do not have any.  As soon as I get some from the people who actually had time to take them I will be sure to post them right away.  (So if you have them....this is a hint that I need them!!)

So I have been slacking

I don't have my camera right now. I lent it to a friend, and my computer is on the fritz. I will be posting new blogs just as soon as I can find the time to wait for my slow computer. Meanwhile I have posted a new blog on my Creative Celebrations page to keep you busy while you wait. www.mycreativecelebrations.blogspot.com

OFFER THAT CAN'T BE BEAT

ALSO FOR MY BLOGGER FRIENDS FOR ANY DONATION YOU MAKE TO THE 50/50 RAFFLE THIS SATURDAY I WILL GIVE YOU A COUPON FOR THE SAME DOLLAR AMOUNT OFF A SLIDE SHOW!! SO NOT ONLY ARE YOU SUPPORTING A GOOD CAUSE BUT YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO WIN BIG CASH AND YOU ARE GUARANTEED TO GET THE SAME AMOUNT YOU ARE DONATING OFF OF YOUR SLIDE SHOW WITH CREATIVE CELEBRATIONS!! YOU CAN'T BEAT THAT!!!

Sgt. Benjamin Portell Foundation

Race day is Saturday!

For those of you who do not know. Sgt. Benjamin Portell was my husband’s best friend who passed away in Iraq on December 26, 2007. A foundation was set up in his name at Riverlakes Community Church here in his hometown of Bakersfield, CA.The foundation helps youth attend church camp, such as Hume Lake, who would otherwise not be able to go because of monetary reasons. Ben was able to attend Hume Lake camp because someone cared enough to help him in this way when he was a child and this cause is a great way to honor him and it combines two things that were close to his heart.

Dustin (my husband) has set up a Memorial Race for this coming Saturday, September 20th. We will be holding a 50/50 raffle where the winner will win 50% of the pot and the other 50% will be donated to the Sgt. Benjamin Portell fund from Famoso Dragway and friends.

We had a small raffle earlier in the year without the race being sponsored in his name and we earned $500 for the foundation (thanks to the winner donating his winnings back).We hope to greatly exceed that number this weekend!!Here are the details about Saturday's race - even if you can’t make a donation please come, have a great day watching the races and show your support!

The race is officially run by: The Lucas Oil/K & N Filters Southern California Super Comp Association

The Saturday race is presented by The Sgt. Benjamin Portell Foundation.

It is being held at Auto Club Famoso Raceway in Bakersfield, CA.

I believe gates open at 9 am, and qualifying starts at 11am

To enjoy a full day of racing, be there between 10:30 or 11:00.

Dustin Harris will be racing and drives a dark red dragster with a big DGH on the side.

We can’t wait to see you all and spend some time enjoying the racing with you!

Thank you again for your continued love and support.

If you are unable to attend but are interested in making a donation to the foundation please contact Candi Harris at 661.204.5077

Please feel free to re-post this and spread the word.

In HIS grip, Candi

The cutest kids ever

Taylor introducing her brother who is busy right now people?
Plus you don't see him anyway you see the truck behind us. So much fun!!

Not so babies anymore

Taylor and Jayden playing with the camera in the car on the way to Community Groups last night. Taylor figured out have to use the video and she was interviewing herself and her brother who kept telling her he was too busy. Doing what? No one knows. We were having a great time just in the car. I'll try to post one of Taylor's videos. They are priceless.