Happy Easter!

 

Lyrics from one of my favorite songs from worship today:

 

There is a love that came for us

Humbled to a sinner's cross

You broke my shame and sinfulness

You rose again victorious

 

Faithfulness none can deny

Through the storm and through the fire

There is truth that sets me free

 Jesus Christ who lives in me

 

You are stronger, You are stronger

Sin is broken, You have saved me

Is is written, Christ is risen

Jesus You are Lord of all

 

No beginning and no end

You're my hope and my defense

You came to seek and save the lost

You paid it all upon the cross

 

You are stronger, you are stronger

Sin is broken, you have saved me

Is is written, Christ is risen

Jesus you are Lord of all.

 

Stronger by Hillsong

Indescribable Love

 

They nailed Jesus to the cross.

 

"Father, forgive them," Jesus gasped.  "They don't understand what they're doing."

 

"You say you've come to rescue us!" people shouted.  "But you can't even rescue yourself!"

 

But they were wrong.  Jesus could have rescued himself.  A legion of angels would have flown to his side--if he'd called.

 

"If you were really the Son of God, you could just climb down off that cross!" they said.

 

And of course they were right.  Jesus could have just climbed down.  Actually, he could have just said a word and made it all stop.  Like when he healed that little girl.  And stilled the storm.  And fed 5,000 people.

 

But Jesus stayed.

 

You see, they didn't understand.  It wasn't the nails that kept Jesus there.  It was love.

 

Excerpt from The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones

Girls' Night Out: A Painting Party

The girls in our LifeGroup had a little painting party last Sunday night.  We had 19 girls there.  It was such a fun night and hopefully, everyone got to make some new friends.

 

Please pardon our terrible tees, which were our painting smocks.

 

We all painted crosses and the art "teacher" didn't give us much guidance.  I wanted some step-by-step instructions.  I am not very creative on a blank canvas.

 

All the girls are hard at work!

 

Lots of paint colors to choose from.

 

Here are the finished products!

 

Kimberley R., Laura, Kimberly C., Heather C. and Melinda

 

Ashley J., Amy, Ellie, Susan G., Ashley S., and Rebecca

 

Cheri, Kelli, Charlotte & Me

 

Cayce, Kerry, Heather P. and Jenny

 

Here is my finished product (the red) and my inspiration.  As I said, I needed a lot more instruction!  I can't just come up with this stuff on my own.

 

 

I had such a fun time with all these girls!  I can't wait for our next girls' night out!

What might have been ...

We spent a lot of time last fall building a house.  It was supposed to be ready to by December 2012.  It's probably ready now, but unfortunately, we were not able to sell the house we currently live in.  Fortunately, we were building on a contingency, so we didn't lose any money by backing out of the new house, but we were sad.  The kids were sad.  I felt like we had wasted a lot of time and money putting our current home on the market and showing it about 30 times to still be in the exact same spot we started out in.

 

Here is the model home.  Our home was to be the same floor plan, but a different elevation (exterior).

 

 

Here is our lot.  We loved that it backed up to wooded common space.

 

My sister and I spent a couple of hours one Saturday morning picking out flooring, cabinets, counters, etc.  I'm thankful she is an interior designer.

 

 

The kids loved driving by the house to check its progress.

 

 

Praying over our lot.

 

I stopped by one day and saw them laying the foundation.

 

 

 

Foundation is finished.

 

 

Framing.

 

 

Almost to drywall.

 

Here are the kids in their rooms.

 

Almost finished.  This is what the house looked like when we backed out. 

 

My prayer through this entire process was for God's will to be done.  If he didn't want us in this new house, make that clear.  If he wanted us to stay put, make that clear.  And I think he did.  Our house didn't sell.  We got tired and frustrated having it on the market for almost 6 months and all the work associated with keeping it clean (while still living here with 3 small kids).  We didn't want to give our house away.  We re-evaluated and decided to stay put for now. 

 

 

I have no doubt that we are exactly were God wants us to be, but I'm still a little sad to think about what might have been.  It would have been nice to be in a new, bigger house.  It would have been nice for all of the kids to have their own room and a guest room.  It would have been nice to have hardwood floors, a bigger closet and a 3-car garage.  (I realize that these are all first-world problems).  But, it's even nicer to know that we are seeking God's will and are exactly where he wants us right now. 

 

And even though we didn't get the house, I wanted to document the process here since it was such a major part of our lived for the last half of 2012.

To Africa With Love

For the past 2-1/2 years, we have supported a family from our LifeGroup who are missionaries in Cape Town, South Africa.  They have 4 young children and sold all their belongings and moved their families over there to serve with an organization called Living Way.  You should read more about the Lankford Family.  You will be moved. 

 

Will went on a mission trip to South Africa (and worked with Joey's agri-business) in February 2011.  I fully expected him to come home either (1) wanting to adopt, or (2) wanting to move to Cape Town.  He didn't.  That his not his calling at this time (or maybe ever).

 

Another couple from our LifeGroup, Brooke and Tate Elder, visited Cape Town with an organization called Sweet Sleep in November 2011.  Their lives were forever changed.  Yesterday, we put them on a plane to Cape Town, South Africa.  With their 2 girls.  Where they will serve for the next 3 years.   I love their story ... their call.  They will arrive (after two long days of travel) in a couple of hours and start the task of settling in to their new life.  I'm excited to be partnering in prayer with them and hope we can visit them and serve with them in Cape Town sometime in the next 3 years.

 

Here are some pictures from the airport farewell yesterday.

 

Lots of luggage!!  18 bags/trunks I believe.  Pretty much all of their remaining earthly possessions.

 

 

Their sweet girls (the 2 on the right side of the photo).

 

 

Beginning the long check-in process.

 

 

Lots of luggage helpers.

 

 

Our old Wednesday night church girls group.  (Or our "Wednesday Wine" group as one of the hubbies calls it.  I promise ... we don't drink wine at church!)

 

 

Most of Brooke and Tate's family were at the airport to say good-bye.

 

 

I'm so excited to see that amazing work that God is going to do through the family!

Good News!

"EVERYTHING WAS READY.  The moment God had been waiting for was here at last!  God was coming to help his people, just as he promised in the beginning.

But how would he come?  What would he be like?  What would he do?

Mountains would have bowed down.  Seas would have roared.  Trees would have clapped their hands.  But the earth held its breath.  As silent as snow falling, he came in.  And when no one was looking, in the darkness he came."

"And there, in the stable, amongst the chickens and the donkeys and the cows, in the quiet of the night, God gave the world his wonderful gift.  The baby that would change the world was born.  His baby son."

"This baby would be like that bright star shining in the sky that night.  A Light to light up the whole world.  Chasing away darkness.  Helping people to see. 

And the darker the night got, the brighter the star would shine."

"But this child was a new kind of king.  Though he was the Prince of Heaven, he had become poor.  Though he was the Mighty God, he had become a helpless baby.  This King hadn't come to be the boss.  He had come to be a servant."

             Excerpts from the Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones

Happy Thanksgiving (the day after)

 

"Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.  Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.  Know that the Lord is God.  It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.  Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.  For the Lord is good and his endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations."  Psalm 100.

 

So thankful for my Lord and Savior, my sweet family and dear friends.  God has truly blessed me this year and I have a lot to be thankful for.  I pray that I express my gratitude daily and never take my any "gift" for granted.

The B-I-B-L-E

We got to visit Claire's Sunday School class a few weeks ago for the First Grade Bible Presentation.  It was fun to see her interact with the other kids in her class. 

 

The kids are working on a craft before the festivities begin.  I thought it was funny that the boys all sat at one table and the girls at another.

 

 

My sweet Claire looking so grown up!

 

She was so proud of her new Bible.  We have been reading through the book of John everyday during her Bible time for school.

 

Many of Claire's classmates have been with her since they were itty bittys!  Her friend Tinsley and her family.

 

Her friend Kate.

 

Her friend Easton.

 

Claire and I.

 

Our family photo.

Summer Camps

June has been a busy month for us.  We went to the beach, took swim lessons, Claire went to two different camps and David started a class at My Gym.  Other than VBS, July is going to pretty uneventful and I am glad to have no schedule to adhere to.  (2 weeks of leaving at 8AM to go to swim lessons wore me out!)

Camp Wonderfully Made

Claire spent this last week at an all-girls camp.  She spent 4 fun days swimming, playing tennis, making crafts and learning how to use her God-given gifts to serve others.  The camp's mission statement is based on this scripture: " For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; I know that full well."  Psalms 139:13-14.  Claire had so much fun and she is already begging to go again next year.

Claire and B.  She rode home with us each day.         

Claire and a friend with one of the camp couselors.  (My favorite thing about camp was the babysitter list they sent home with the names/numbers of all the high school girls who served as counselors.)

Cooling off inside.

Time for tennis!

I love that they started each day with a devotional time.  Claire came home singing some of the songs I learned at GA camp many, many summers ago!

Each day, the girls brought home some kind of craft to "bless" another person with. Like yummy fruit dip, lotion, a message board and a painting (pictured below). Claire didn't quite get the "giving" part and gave most of her stuff to me. Next year, we need to do a better job of spreading the love to others!

This is Claire's group with their counselors.  There were 55-60 girls total, ages 5-10.

Art Camp

Claire also went to an art camp earlier in June.  She loved it too.  And she made some for-real art projects.  I was super-impressed with her skills.

Here she is hard at work at her table.

Art project #1.  Painted patriotic tee.

Still working ...

Art project #2.  Pastel bunny.  She sketched this by looking at a photo and then colored with pastels.  This one will be framed soon!

So cute!  Note red dot of paint on the tip of her nose.

Art project #3--water lilies oil painting.

Art camp friends.

Art project #4--cardboard/masking tape fish.  (I'm not exactly sure what this "technique" is called.)  I plan on hanging this is the kids' bathroom.

Mrs. Beth-art teacher.

Art project #5 (not pictured) was a sketch book/notebook that they decorated. 

Claire and M.