"Who Would Be Scared of a Little Mouse"

What a night!!! Piper decided she wanted to be in the talent show at the kids elementary school. Besides not knowing she possessed a "talent" that could be performed on a stage, Clay and I really didn't think she could get in front of a crowd and do anything at all because she has always been extremely shy when it comes to getting a rooms full attention. She begged and pleaded to us (with tears) that she could do it. And well, she did!

We were very proud of what talent God has given her and blessed her with but truly, the whole night made me praise God because of how cool He is. Kids of different shapes and sizes, socioeconomic classes, ages, some with disabilities, some that have experienced loss and things children should never have to experience, but ALL of them had something to showcase that truly displayed God's creativeness in how unique He made each of them. I am not exaggerating when I say that it was one of the most entertaining things I have ever watched. It was just so enjoyable. 

Here are a few pics of the night...

Easter 2019

I know that we should always look forward to Easter as we celebrate Jesus' work on the cross and rescuing us from our broken state, but this year I had even greater anticipation for the day. As I have been reading the Bible with our church and children starting at the beginning and then following that up with a study on Genesis with a group of friends, it has been made more clear this year how God from the beginning of time created us, His children, to be in relationship with Him. A relationship that would for be for our good and would glorify Him. It got messed up when sin entered the picture and He knew that He would have to do something extreme to make a way for us to be back in that relationship. Kill His only Son. One who knew no sin. Became sin. That we might be able to stand rightly with God. 

Man, it is hard to believe. That kind of love for someone who is so undeserving (me and you). I believe it but it is unbelievable. I was excited to worship this kind of God on Sunday. One that I can offer nothing to but still accepts and LOVES me. I am thankful for His work. I am thankful that I am not a slave to sin anymore, but that I have been set free and deaths grip has no hold on me anymore. I was excited to tell our kids about being dead (our sinful broken condition) but how God didn't want to leave His children that way. That on the third day He defeated death when His son resurrected and was made alive. How the decorations of bunnies, and flowers, and chicks point to new life. They are fun reminders of the work of God making people like me and them NEW. Reborn. That the egg hunts and baskets and treats should remind us of the sweet and oh so full love of God and the goodness we will experience when we leave this broken world and get to be with Him forever. 

And that even in THIS life we have access to our Father through His Son's work and He left us a helper, His Spirit, to guide us in this world.  It makes me SO thankful and filled with so much joy for them and me and Clay and for anyone who believes! Believe and be saved! It is a free gift worth more than anything! 

Here are some pics of our morning before heading off to church...

Daddy Daughter Dance 2019

Piper's favorite night of the year is the Daddy Daughter Dance. Getting to dress up and take pictures, undivided attention from her Daddy, all her favorite girl friends listening/dancing to their favorite pop songs, and coming home to tell her brothers about that fun! I have to say, I love getting to see her ecstatic about being with the cutest, best guy I know! Here are some pics from their dreamy evening together...

Baseball Opening Day 2019

I can barely contain my excitement for this time of year. I love everything about it. The temperature is changing, the flowers are starting to bud, green is making its way into all the dreary gray, and BASEBALL is starting! Though the busyness of it all can be harder on our day to day life, I love all that it brings. It is such a sweet time to see the boys doing something they LOVE! There are so so so many opportunities for us to see God's sweet goodness in things as simple as baseball. And the boys are learning so much about Him in the way they react to the game. I love that He has allowed us to have such a fun thing like baseball to teach them about life... disappointments, success, identity, praise, glory, discipline, leadership, sharing, encouraging, emotions... the list could go on for days!

And though I am excited to continue to see the twins grow in the sport they love most, THIS year is about Kelly boy. It is his first time getting to play a sport and he is no longer on the side lines. He is in the game! Here are some pics from his first game (that happened to be at the exact same time as his brothers' first game)...