Our girls arrived to California safely!

Waiting for our Girls!

Corrie missed her plane to California because her battery was dead this morning. John got online and found the location of the hood release lever to the new Mini Cooper Sean just bought. Corrie then jumps her car. She is an amazing Special Forces wife. What do Papa and LaLa do while we are waiting? Why not trim the booganvillas!
The wading pool and baby lawn chairs are ready. The magnetic "fishing poles" are waiting. Papa and LaLa are ready. Sean deployed on Wednesday. Corrie and the girls will be staying in California until I leave for the arrival of Heather's baby, due in mid June. Exciting times at the Rantals. Stay tuned. :)

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Onilla speaks to the Women at Redeemer

Onilla came for six glorious days. She loved the sunshine and our ladies loved her.

She spoke outside in a beautiful home and garden of a lady in our church. She spoke on Meeting Christ in the Garden. Resting in his Authority.
I was the MC and had fun with my flower hat. We had 30 ladies who came and feasted on God's Word.
Our committee was almost a third of us. Each lady had an important part and we all felt the Lord used it to strengthen and encourage our women. Thank you Onilla, for loving my new ladies and preparing such a powerful message.

New Young family at our church

We are thilled to have this new couple in our church. Grant is in the Air Force and Kelly has joined my Moms and Tots with Kendall. They have just moved to the area.

Ministering at Planned Parenthood

One of the ladies in our church goes every Thursday to Planned Parenthood to pass out liturature to mothers going in for abortions. This Thursday I went with her. We we able to make contact with about 3 mothers. One man came up to us and thanked us for doing this. We don't know the results but God does. This is Nadine who took me to Planned Parenthood. She actually spent time in jail 17 years ago for protesting. She is an amazing lady and a very good friend. John and I are so blessed to have her husband and her in our church. This picture was taken at our women's retreat.

Mark comes to visit us in California

This month when you buy a ticket to Disneyland you get a free day at California Adventure. Mark and John took me after Alicia went home. (The next entry is about Alicia.)
Mark convinced me to ride the California Screamer. It was my first roller coaster ride since high school I thought I hated them. Turns out I truely loved it.

Many of you know I constantly refer to this place as paradise.

Mark and Alicia in Disneyland

Mark's girlfriend Alicia decided that she needed a little time in the sun also. She came for the weekend. John took them to Disneyland. Alicia is so much fun. She is a Junior at UCCS majoring in history.


Ah, the parade. It is always our highlight at Disneyland.

America Idol Fun Times

Last year Amy Maday came to visit and signed us up to get Idol tickets.
Our name came up when Mark arrived. I was visiting my mom in Texas so John and Mark went and had lots of fun. Mark got interviewed on an Idol Extra show.
http://s168.photobucket.com/albums/u169/cindyrantal/?action=view&current=Superfan.flv

Visiting my brother Pat's new spread

My brother Pat and his wife Lisa recently moved to Louise, Texas. This is their gorgeous new house that sits on 12 acres.
After church we all went for Texas Barbecue at a place where my niece Katherine (not pictured) works.
Pat loved showing me his spread. I am so happy for him that he can live close the the rest of my brothers.
Katherine ,a junior in high school, is finally able to have her horse Major close by. I loved watching her work Major. She has broken her all by herself.
Ava, my brother's youngest, loves all the animals. She is an aspiring hairdresser. She might need a little more practice on the bangs but who cares with that smile.

Helping my Mom Move

Mom invited Heather and me to Texas to help her move. She moved out of a high rise apartment to this beautiful home in El Campo (an hour from Houston). All three of my brothers live in Houston so this is a great choice. My brother Pat's hospital is just five minute from her house. He plans to drop in for lunch. He is the only one of the siblings that has never lived close to my parents.
My sister-in law, Ellen and I even worked in the yard to fix up her pond.
Her furniture is just beautiful in this house. She had all the walls painted yellow.
Her new bedroom is very elegant and cozy. We completely got her settled in 5 days. Each of us worked hard and had a fun reunion at the same time. I feel so good about her new place. Each of my brothers and their wives are faithful to look after her in some way. I know she is going to be happy in this new place.

Ella Rose is Born

Chris and April celebrate the birth of their first baby. This is the third baby to be been born in our church since we arrived. We have two more due. Keep praying for children. We had 16 on Easter Sunday.

A visit from Amanda

Last night we had Amanda and her parents for dinner. Ray and Judy work in Dallas for Wycliff. Our church supports them. Amanda and I had so much fun together. She was wearing my favorite color. She called my house the rainbow house.

Easter Activities

It is great to have Mark at Redeemer getting to know some of our dear friends.

Margarit and Mike two of our young adults relaxing after lunch.
Jen and Sharize are new friends. Jen is an author and song writer. Sharize is a model. They are new in the area and were so excited about our orange tree.

Spring Activities

A dear lady who attends our church invited me up to her home to get flowers from her yard for my big Easter Lunch.
Yes, these callas came out of her yard.
These iris were blooming all along her drive way in Palos Verdes.
We had 22 for Easter dinner. Afterwards, Jen a new friend sang some of her own compostions. She is new in LA and hoping to get published.
John picks some oranges for the guests as they are leaving.

More Easter Activities

Many of you know that John is working hard to lose weight. This is 20 lbs of the 25 he has lost.
Mark and John took a bike ride from Hermosa Beach to Santa Monica. That's about 26 miles round trip.
This is my precious Korean granddaughter Lauryn. Our ladies circle made blankets for every child in our church.This is hers.
Mark enjoys some of our Redeemer friends eating on our deck.
More new friends who came for Easter and Easter dinner.

A Day at the Track

When someone in your church is part owner of a race horse, sooner or later you end up at the races. Crecensio and his son Timothy took John to Santa Anita today. Yes, it is a place to wear "the hat".
Justice is Brief was the horse to watch. It was a 25 to 1 longshot.
You can see that "our" horse,the gray one is out in front. Go,go,go!!!
So Justice is Brief came in second. You can see him on this scoreboard.
Some of the perks of John's job. No, he did not put money on him (too bad!),but he did learned a lot from Cresencio about finding a horse with heart. There are bound to be some sermon illustrations from this pastor's day off.