Travel: Mono Lake

It was about 32 degree Fahrenheit or 0 degree Celsius that November morning when we drove from our hotel at Mammoth Lake to Mono Lake.

Mono Lake is a shallow salt water lake in California often known for its tufa towers.


The guide at Visitor Center told us to go to the South Tufa area, where we can get better view of its unique limestone rock formation, called "tufa".

Sliding at Mammoth Lake, CA

Remember our trip to Bodie? We stayed at Mammoth Lake area that night. It's a well known ski area like Tahoe but we opted for sledding this time. Maybe when the kids are a little bit bigger we'll try ice skating or snowboarding.

We don't get snow at where we live so the kids were so excited when they see snow and play for hours until they cheeks turned red. Thankfully we bought them snow boots so I don't have to worry if their feet got frostbite.











The red sled looks nice but it doesn't work so well.

so we exchange it to the round one.
  

Take a deep breath: Patient & Gentleness Series #13

Max and Wes were playing together at church when suddenly they got into fight. Wes was furious, crying, yelling, and running toward his brother. I hold him, trying to calm him down and ask him to explain what happened. He's still crying and couldn't calm himself down until a friend of ours came by and told him "When you are very upset try this following trick:
 

Take a deep breath and count to ten. Then you will calm down and feel much better. It works like magic."

I am reminded that day that I can choose my response instead of just reacting. There are a lot of things I can't control: circumstance, other people attitude or mood, but I can always choose my response. 

"Say only what will help to build others up and meet their needs." Ephesians 4:29

You may also like:

Patient & Gentleness Series:

#1 Make Decision 

#2 Heart Check Up

#3 Give Them Grace and Truth

#4 Death and Life are in the power of the tongue

#5 Ex-Squeeze Yourself

#6 Perspective

#7 Stop being Easily Offended 

#8 Prioritize

#9 Speaking in Kindness
#10 Effective Morning Routine
#11 Cultivating a Heart of Kindness
#12 Parenting with Kindness

How to Create Wall Gallery

After a year moving in, we finally managed to hang the pictures on the wall.


Just like the one we had at the old place:


First thing first, measure the space.


Arrange the frames on the floor, measured as big as the wall space.


Didi was helping me choosing the pictures.


Then the boys had fun taking each other pictures:




Okay now back to work.


Make a paper template of each frame.


Tape them on the wall. Move around and adjust accordingly before hammering the nails and hang the picture frames.
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Papa worked his magic and a few hours later we have our Gallery Wall.


Every time I see it, I am reminded to be grateful and not taking each day for granted.