pump it up

We had a play date at Pump it Up today!  We had so much fun!

carson and jaden climbing the steps

this slide is jaden's favorite

starla and the kids =)

carson on the obstacle course

even baby camy did the obstacle course

me with the kiddos

rainy days and peanut butter cookies

"The whole earth is at rest and quiet..." ~Isaiah 14:7a

It's really rainy this morning and the weatherman said it's going to be like that for the remainder of the day.
I'm thankful that rainy mornings are darker, and that creates a darker room for Jaden....he slept until after 8 this morning!  I was able to shower and have a warm cup of tea before he got up.
I'm thankful that rainy days force me to slow down, and stay at home, and relax.
We baked cookies too because, really, what better activity is there on a cold day?

my big helper!

trying to "squish humpty-dumpty"

took a little while, but he was squished successfully

this was jaden's favorite part

yummy!  now my house will smell like peanut butter cookies, but i'm ok with that =)

going to the dentist

Jaden had his first check up at the dentist today!  He did great.  Here's some pictures of his adventure.

he loves the chair!

"mr. thirsty" the suction tool

counting teeth

"painting" teeth...when it was done he asked if he could see what color his teeth were =)

buddies

a sweet friend of jaden's =)  they love to play basketball together

a treat is WHAT?

"MOMMY!  I need a treat!  Especially cuz I finished all my dinner!"

Ok, I said.  You can have some pineapple.

"No, silly mommy.  That's not a treat.  That's fruit.  A treat has SUGAR!"

Oh, I see.  Who knew?

 LOL. =)

idols of the heart

I've been reading through Idols of the Heart by Elyse Fitzpatrick.  It's an easy read, kind of like you're sitting down at a coffee shop with a friend and gabbing.  But it's also a powerful book.  My heart has been convicted many times.  I wanted to share some of the quotes that struck me:

-"The God who knows and loves us completely, more than we can comprehend, also knows all our desires and the place that they occupy in our love"

The Lord knows what my desires are, but He also knows where they rank (so to speak) in my heart-even the desires that I have placed above my love for Him.

-"It's easy to get so frustrate and caught up in serving the Lord that I forget to love and worship Him".

I'm a go get it done kind of girl, so this struck me.  Do I spend my time worshiping, or do I spend my time doing?  In the busy-ness of my life, do I stop and spend time with the Lord?

-"Delighting to do God's will means turning from the deception that joy lies outside obedient fellowship with Him.  We need to consistently disbelieve the imaginations that appear sweeter than God's lovingkindness."

I have to repeat this to myself!  NOTHING is sweeter than God's love and kindness and grace and mercy!  I cannot and will not find happiness outside of His will for me.

These are quotes of sin, and what sin is.  They all were so convicting to me.  They made me really stop and think about my motives.

-"Our choices are predicated upon what we think is "good", what we delight in, what we find most desireable.  The truth about our choices is that we always choose what we believe to be our best good.  We always choose what we believe will bring us the most delight".


-"Sin is always occasioned in us by our belief in its goodness; as...the will never desires evil as evil but as seemingly good".


-"The lie that happiness can be found in something other than God is the fountainhead from which all our idolatry flows."


-"If we are willing to sin to obtain it, it has become an idol".

when I grow up....

We were watching a "family movie" and Jaden hopped on the couch and said-
"When I grow up, my legs will grow really long and my feet will be able to touch the floor and table!"

let the cookouts begin

Summer time is definitely my favorite season.  The sun.  The beach.  The pool.  Shorts and tanks and flip flops.  And, cookouts!

corn-hole, ladder ball, bocce ball, frisbee......fun outdoor games!

We kicked this season off with some friends from church.  We're super excited about having more fun times with friends.

playdates and goldfish

playing badmitton

two peas in a .... tunnel!

talking goldfish...who knew?

I know biting is bad, but this picture cracks me up

this little girl loved to fall down and be pulled back up

no condemnation

Romans 8:1 has been on my heart a lot this week.  "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit". 

This week, especially this morning, I feel like I have been carrying my baggage on my shoulders.  Beating myself up with my past mistakes and regrets.   Remembering my sins and all the consequences of those actions.

The Lord's quiet voice spoke this word into my heart in the middle of my darkness.
He reminds me that my sins are forgiven. 
My mistakes are forgotten. 
Jesus has paid the price for me.  He has taken my place and now there is no judgement for me.   His grace and mercy have given me new life.

I am not walking in the flesh, but the Spirit.  And through His power, I am made more righteous.  When I have to walk through trials, I am not doing it by myself, hopeless in my own power.  I have the Holy Spirit within me, giving me courage and strength to do what is right, or say what is right, or think what is right. 

This verse encourages me to put down my baggage and hang it on the cross and leave it there.  It teaches me to let my past stay where it is.  I don't have to rehash it and dredge it up.  It is forgiven and forgotten.

I am thankful that in Christ there is no condemnation.  There is only love, and grace, and mercy.

Easter pictures

dressed up family shot

all dressed up for church

I'm not a huge fan of rabbit, but this bunny was delicious!

the Easter bunny hid Jaden's basket well

hiding eggs

Jaden and the bucket

family shot =)

Happy Easter

Happy Easter!

"He is not here; for He is risen, as He said.  Come, see the place where He lay." ~Matthew 28:6

He is risen indeed!  I'm so thankful for His death and resurrection.  I'm thankful that through His death, my sins are covered.  I'm thankful that Jesus has conquered death that I may have life everlasting!

plants: an update

my herb garden is growing nicely

our flowers are taking off!

it'll be time to re-pot these soon!

a week at grandma's

jaden: MOMMY!  i'm going to gwanma's for a week!  and do you know what's gonna happen?
me: nope, what's going to happen?
jaden: i'm gonna miss you.

....  so sweet =)