The Fruit of His Labor

Matt has almost wrapped up his 9th year of teaching Industrial Arts at Elida High School. They had their awards banquet last week where the kids get to show off their completed projects. Click here to see Matt's school webpage and the projects his kids built this year.

What a talented teacher they have!

Growing up

For those of you who know Luke even a little, you'll also know his "nonny". The little blueish-greenish (depending on how old it is) piece of fabric that is his dearest friend. He comforts himself with it, he plays with it, he takes it on car rides, wagon rides, to church, to grandparents, friends and everyone elses houses. And he also falls asleep with it. EVERYTIME.

Not today.

Over the last month we have lost two nonnys at church, one at Gavin's house, one somewhere at our house and now today the very last two have disappeared. They are somewhere in this house. But for the life of me I cannot find them. He was just playing with them in the living room, but now they are gone.

So I had no choice but to put him down for his nap without one.

And my little baby is turning into a big boy.
He didn't even cry.

I might.

Our little lady

Thank you.

I am listening to my "Hungry" CD from Vineyard Music that I have listened to seriously probably 100 time or more. And I am just doing dishes and these words from "Your Name is Holy" just stuck out to me.

"In Your name, there is mercy for sin..."

Wow.

The Sovereign "I AM".
The pure spotless lamb.
The Almighty One.
The Christ, God's own Son.

I know this is what my faith is based on. That my sins are forgiven by the blood of Jesus, but it just made me say "wow" all over again. Thank you Lord.

By the name of Jesus we are covered and cleansed.

Mercy: Compassion or forbearance shown especially to an offender or to one subject to one's power. (from www.meriam-webster.com)
Sin: a vitiated [faulty, defective, ineffective] state of human nature in which the self is estranged from God. (www.meriam-webster.com)

Mine

I just have to say that I think I have the cutest men in the world. They are outside kicking the ball together and they just make me smile.

Alivia Ann

Matt and I have our very first niece who arrived yesterday afternoon! She has beautiful dark hair and looks quite cute.

Chloe is excited to have a playmate now with all the boys running around. She even talked me into purchasing them matching dresses last night! Little stinker!

Mother's Day

I had a wonderful Mother's Day yesterday. Saturday night I found a message on my pillow from Luke and Chloe which contained a (super cute!) menu for breakfast in bed. I had instructions to deliver it to daddy when I had made my choices. I placed my order for 2 eggs, toast, bacon and a glass of juice.

Sunday morning I woke up to the smell of bacon, which to me is about the most wonderful smell in the world to wake up to. I think it reminds me of camping when we were little and waking up to that. Yum. Plus I LOVE bacon. LOVE it, LOVE it, LOVE IT. So anyways...I just laid in bed for awhile and read some of my favorite verses I have wrote down and then the handsomest room service man you ever saw brought be breakfast in bed. And he outdid himself! I had dippy eggs, toast and bacon all laid out beautifully on my plate (which he had even warmed up!) along with flower petals decorating one side. Beautiful! On my tray was also a glass of juice, a bowl of cut mixed fruit and Beth Moore's new book! Yay!

I have to tell you I felt like a queen. Thank you Matthew (and Luke and Chloe of course!)

Splish Splash

Splish Splash I was taking a bath all upon a Saturday night...

Attempt at a family Easter picture

The kids were more interested in their Easter baskets then taking nice pictures. Which is why we have 35 pictures that all look about like this.

Chloe's 6 month pictures

"Yet"

"Yet". Such a little word, but with huge meaning!

The scripture I was memorizing for April was Lamentations 3:19-26 and since it's the first day of May I have really been trying to get it memorized, so it was fresh in my mind. Here's the part with the "yet".

"I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." (Lam. 3:19-23)

Then this morning I was doing my Beth Moore bible study and John 1 came up. It caught my attention because of the "yet".

"He (Jesus) was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God..." (John 1:10-12)

Amazing grace how sweet the sound...