Thoughts--unedited

So, I don't usually journal on my blog. It's just always been a way for my family to keep up with my growing kids. I have my own journals that I keep, although, I am finding that things like facebook, blogging and e-mail, crowd out time for other things. . . sad to say. I enjoy journaling, and for me it has always helped to put my thoughts on paper, but other things demand my time, I end up neglecting things that are more worthwhile. I'm not sure how many times I have thought to myself, I'm just going to be done with facebook, it's a time waster for me. But then, of course, I never do it. I just keep sitting in front of the computer, like a zombie, unmotivated and amused by others life happenings. . . .sad, I know.
So today, I was listening to a message by John Piper. I have come to appreciate this part of the internet--the online resources and messages of Godly leaders. He was preaching out of John 6. I am supposed to be reading through the book of John right now, and a friend is helping me to stay accountable, but I am not staying faithful. I have hit a dry spot in my devotions, and feel refreshed to hear the Word of God preach when I feel stagnet in my reading. . .I am supposed to be in John ch. 13, and I am 7 days behind. (I digress) The message was about the phrase Jesus speaks in chapter 6, "Do not labor for the food that perishes." I don't know that I can sum up Piper's thoughts b/c although I enjoy journaling, I don't put my thoughts into words well. . .but, I will say this, I was rebuked! Humiliated. Ashamed. Challenged. Refreshed. Is Christ my treasure? What really, is most important in my life? "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
I hate that so often I am convicted by a message only to walk away and fall back into the same sins I was convicted about. Perhaps that is because I am too busy laboring. Too preoccupied with the "doing." Labor Not!
"When we believe, (truly believe), a new treasure dominates our hearts, JESUS --and that changes everything!" (J. Piper)

Silliness

Where Does the Time Go?

Sara's 7th Birthday

A cute nightlight for Sara's new room. . . . now that she will be in there all by herself.
Sara's personalized water bottle (from Silas)


Dairy Queen Icecream Cake

BOWLING

SO EXCITED!!

Deliquent Blogger

This was the condition of my bedroom for about a month while we were packing to move. Need I say more?!

Laying Low

Wanting to sit like the big kids. . . .

Silas got some kind of stomach bug, and I couldn't keep Zeke away from him. . .no wonder he got sick next!

He is always SO calm when he is sick--it's nice!

Home Sweet Home. . . .almost!

After living in our current apartment for 4 years (end of April), we are moving to a duplex. We are renting out the top half of this house. It is an answer to prayer and it has been so neat to see God open and close doors along the way, as we were looking to BUY at this time last year. We are so excited about a THIRD bedroom, a washer and dryer in our home, (NO MORE QUARTERS!) and a fenced in backyard with TWO climbing trees!!

So, I am up to my eyeballs in boxes, bins and cleaning supplies. We have time to move which is nice, since we don't have to be out until the end of April and we can get in at the beginning of April. I am taking a break from packing tonight so that I can get some blogging done.

Oh, and all that snow is GONE now:)

Normal, Everyday Life

I know he has red-eye. I don't take time to edit my pictures before blogging them. It is accomplishment enough to blog!

Elementary Spring Program

How do they grow up so fast?! How can I possibly have two school-aged children?

Silas in his k-4 classroom trying to keep busy before the program

Sara in her 1st grade classroom in front of the March bulletin board. She turns 7 this month!!

He's just SWEET!

I am still in awe over the amazing gift this little boy has been to our family! Hard to believe we have been on this journey for almost 2 years now!

His smile is infectious!

Focus, Discipline, Respect

Those are just three of the qualities they are stressing in Silas's karate class. We signed Silas up for Karate a couple of weeks ago. We tried this last year through Park and Rec, and we were not impressed. This year, we are trying a place called Dojo Karate near our house as they were running a GREAT deal. Eight lessons and a free uniform for $14.95! He is really doing well, and he really likes it. His instructor is great! The class is structured and under control and yet they have fun. We have been to 5 of our 8 classes and this past Saturday, Silas earned his white belt! It's been great for him to have a way to release some of this pent up energy, especially during the long winter. I am glad we came across this great deal, and encouraged to see Silas so excited and involved each time he goes to class!

It's not always this peaceful in our house. . .

but I try to enjoy it, when it is!

(Sara is mis-matched on purpose--it was clash day at school)

Can't get enough of these books. . .

Sara is addicted to reading these days! She constantly has a book in her hands. We just came home from the library and she has been reading ever since we walked in the door. I remember when Sara was itty-bitty and she would sit and sit just looking at books. It's neat to see her love for books continue and so fun to hear her read!!

Special Delivery

Silas just learned to ride a two-wheeler without training wheels this summer--Exciting thing for a four-year-old! His bike was a very generous gift from our previous landlord, but it was stolen at the end of the summer. Silas has been asking for a new bike for some time now, and even prayed about it a few times. We started pricing bikes and realized that bikes for little boys can be just as expensive as big-kid bikes. . . .Enter Pop-Troy and Mom-mom who offer to buy Silas a new bike for Christmas, one he can grow with for a couple of years. So, we found a good deal on one at Walmart.com and ordered it. Mom-mom sent a note telling Silas she had one more present that she couldn't give him at Christmas because it was too big to send back on the plane. Matt went and picked it up one Saturday afternoon after work and brought it home for Silas after his nap. He was SUPER excited! These pictures were taken while he called to say "thank-you" to Mom-Mom and Pop-Troy for his new bike!

BRIGHT YELLOW--(we named it bumble bee)