Easter Celebration - Saturday

Saturday morning we were up early and headed to Mimi and Gramps' to enjoy another BEAUTIFUL day in Arkansas! We used to meet the family there each spring to spend time together and also to help clean up their yard from the winter. They have a large yard with a lot of plants, greenery, and trees. It takes all of us to spread the mulch, trim all the bushes and plants, plant the annuals, and we all get treated to lunch and homemade ice cream at the end of the day!

The kids enjoyed riding their scooters down the long driveway and also throwing rocks in the river. They dyed eggs with Mimi and Lauren and enjoyed meeting their cousin Leah for the first time.

Easter Celebration - Friday

The hardest thing about this post is that I can't post all the family pics because we still can't post pics of Jordan and Cameron. They were in every pic, and I didn't want to exclude them in anyway.

We started the weekend by going to see Cameron's class at the park. The kindergarten teachers hosted an egg hunt and then they played on the park equipment. It was the first day in a BEAUTIFUL weekend. Cameron was happy to see Sheridan and I and we loved meeting his friends.

 

When the kids got home from school we started making treats for Easter. They had fun with all the sprinkles and loved that Lauren had made it home to help too!

 

After the Good Friday service we made Resurrection Rolls with everyone involved. The kids enjoyed making the sweet treat, and also listened as we read portions of the Crucifixion of Christ and also about His Resurrection. So sweet to see our big kids helping our little kids with every step.

 

Quote of the Day

Introduced the Donut Man to the kids tonight while Sheridan was at soccer practice. They snuggled in the chair together to watch the RESURRECTION CELEBRATION!

I have a tender spot in my heart for these movies and the impact that they had on my kids when they were little...I anticipated a wonderful response...and as a whole, it was a good way to reinforce the Easter miracle. ...  However, once they saw Duncan (the donut puppet) Jordan says, "I just want to eat that donut." Cameron adds, "Yes, I'd just take off his eyes and eat him."

Whoa!

The days are flying by! It's not long until school is out! OH MY! The kids have all been busy these last few weeks. Cameron and Jordan have learned to swim and it has made for a lot of time well spent at the pool. Sheridan is playing soccer, and with games every Saturday morning, it's a good family outing for the weekend.

Lauren and Ryan will be out of school in 2 weeks or so, while the kids here have about 7 weeks remaining. Lauren even checks in at her summer job, Fallscreek Camp, before the kids are out!

Last week's highlights: The kids ate their first snow cones while we watched Erin's soccer game (they got to pick their own flavor). All the kids enjoyed waving palm branches last Sunday at church as part of Palm Sunday worship.

The most exciting thing that we look forward to is the curiosity that the kids have about Jesus. I am wanting to make sure Easter is a special day for us and a celebration so that they know how much Jesus' death and resurrection means to us. As they ask more and more questions, I pray that they both want to become children of God. I will truly never know the bondage that their past will be for them, but I pray that a decision of faith will help heal any scars they carry.

Of course, it's the same for me. I must immerse myself in the story of Jesus' life and death this week so I can remember how much his sacrifice pays for my sins...every day! I am sure He wants me to be on guard for all of their questions, and prepared by studying His word and truly understanding His sacrifice.

I can fill the house for Easter lunch on Sunday, but can I fill my heart and my home with His presence?

Junior Prom

 

 

 Erin is going to prom with her good friend, Brandon, and it will be a fun night for her. She's a smart girl who is wearing glittery tennis shoes with her dress...and will have more fun with a friend than a date with any expectations. It was precious to see Jordan sit in the bathroom and watch Erin put on her makeup and finish her hair. Lauren came home for the day to be with Erin and I'm so thankful for the sunshine during pictures. I wouldn't go back to high school for anything, but I'm happy Erin has so much fun at hers.

 

 

 

 

 

Out of Town

I honestly never thought I'd get to travel again with work. However, an opportunity came up to go to one of my favorite places over Spring Break and Richard said, "Go!" That's all it took and I was on my way to Phoenix for the last 3 days of break. I've only been to Arizona twice, and both times it was in the spring...but that place is magical. I've been in a very small part of it, but the air seems to be so clean, I think that I would like to be outside all the time.

It's not very green, but you can go a little north to get that. The area of the event is one of the nicest shopping areas I've ever been in, and I don't like to shop at all! There is a wonderful bakery and restaurant beside the store, and I LOVE eating outside every meal I'm out of the event. It was definitely a working trip, but it was good to get away to a beautiful place and do my thing.

As for the kids, they cleaned up the back yard for spring, worked on getting our new basketball goal up, swam at the pool, played games, watched Frozen, and had quality time with DAD. They were happy and so was I!

Not a fan

I'm not a fan of April Fool's day...mostly because I don't like the word "fool" and well, I will admit I don't take pranks very well. All that out in the open...I'm going to assume Cam's morning demeanor was an April Fools joke...

"Why do you get me up? Where's Dad?"
"Why is she eating first?"
"Where's my vitamin?"
"Why do I always have to make my bed?"
"You scratched me."
"I wanted to wear the other shoes."
"You didn't make my snack."
"I don't want to go to school."
"I don't want to get in the car."
"Are you taking me swimming today?"

And then I realized...God must feel this way with me all the time.