Happy Easter!

What a lovely day spent celebrating the Resurrection of Jesus! We started at the sunrise service, Don gave the children’s message during the regular Easter service, and then we spent the rest of the day enjoying the day with family. We were missing Sam as she had to work, but she did get to enjoy dinner with us before heading off.

                   

A few weeks ago, while perusing an Oriental Trading catalog, Francesca decided she desperately needed a bucket full of wind-up chicks. (Years ago I got the girls wind-up chicks, and she was absolutely terrified of them.) She begged and pleaded, and said it would be the best day ever if she got the chicks and nothing else. We decided to do an experiment to see if she meant what she said. She was thrilled! (we had a basket hiding in our room with the usual spring clothes and shoes,too. But she was absolutely grateful, even when she thought there wouldn’t be any chocolate in her future.)

 

                                             

My handsome husband off to preach. He’s given the sermon a handful of times now, and I can see the Holy Spirit working in him as he obediently walks out God’s call on his life. While he can get a little wordy and blatantly throw suggested time frames out the window, his passion and love for the Lord just shine through when he gets up and speaks. This morning was no exception. What better day to passionately proclaim that Jesus is ALIVE?

                                      

                           

                                    

Birthdays.

As they tend to do, the days have gotten away from me. Three birthdays have passed without any sort of documentation here, so welcome to the happy birthday post-slacker mom/wife style.

As we celebrated each of these special days, I found myself taking a close look at the heart of each person we were celebrating. As our kids get older, and us alongside them, I am acutely aware of how fast each season passes.

To my husband, when I look at you I see the strength of our family. You are so many things to us; provider, protector, fixer, adventurer. You show us your love by doing, and you love us well.  You have a true servants heart, and I am continually moved by your selflessness. As you embark on this new path God has called you to, I can already see the power of the Holy Spirit in you as you love on those around you. While I am sad that soon our kids will be grown and off on their own, I am so excited for what that season will mean for us as a couple. I can’t wait to do all the crazy things with you!

Samantha, I don’t know about you-but I’m feeling 22!! (sorry, I couldn’t resist! How cool is it to have a theme song for a whole year?!) As I watch you wrestle with who you are and what your life is going to look like, I have the peace that comes from knowing God has a plan for you. He knew every single one of your days before you were even born, and I know He has great things in store for you. You are all heart; you love your people fiercely, and you have a moral compass well beyond your years. You see and appreciate the people around you, and really seeing someone is such a gift. Your compassion and empathy, your loyalty and your artistic flair; that is what I see when I look at you. Before we all became a family, there was me and you. You made me a mom. You were the first brown-eyed girl to steal my heart, and I loved you with all of my crazy 18 year old intensity from the moment I laid eyes on you. I am because you are. And I love you like crazy still-always have, always will.

Katie, you are such a joy to me. As a newly 14-year old, it’s fascinating watching you become a young woman, while still catching glimpses of that magical chubby-cheeked toddler that charmed everyone around her. You are conscientious and reliable, brilliant and witty. People are drawn to you, because your light shines so brightly. I love how nerdy you are; how happy books make you, and that you write persuasive essays for fun. I love your inquisitive nature and your hunger for knowledge. As we enter a new season in your life where we talk about boys and guarding your heart instead of Littlest Pet Shops and Dinosaur Train, I am both excited to watch you grow and missing my little girl. I adore you, and can’t wait to see you go out there and tackle the world. You will continue to shine wherever God leads you.

Skating Party!

Today our church had a skating party for Children’s ministry and AWANA combined, and it was SO much fun! At 14 and almost 11, Katie and Francesca aren’t really the best skaters, but they happily stumbled along trying. By the end Francesca was getting the hang of it, and Katie may have actually taken a lap around the room without holding onto the rail. Progress, my friends.

Michael, Katie, and two of my favorite kids from our AWANA group. Katie and Michael have a mutual admiration thing going on, if you know what I mean. While we don’t allow dating, hanging out in a group with lots and lots of adults around is ok. Can we just take a minute and wonder how on earth this girl is 14 already and making me deal with boys?!

Frank and her sweet friend Maddie, taking a break.

My favorite part of this day was just being able to spend time with lots of people from church who have become some of my dearest friends. It was so good to just sit and catch up while we laughed at our kids. There’s something really special about being in community with a group of like-minded believers; being able to be real and connect and just encourage and love each other is truly a gift.

AWANA Grand Prix

This year Don and I have had the pleasure of leading the Trek club at AWANA. While our group doesn’t exactly run by the book every week, we have the privilege of getting to spend time with some pretty awesome teens. We get to hear about their lives, share God’s word with them, and hopefully show them His love for them through us.

One highlight of the year is always the Grand Prix race. In our family we care less about speed and more about creating unique cars that are fun to look at, and this year I’d say we succeeded!

My mountain man, cutting their cars. On my dining room table. It’s a good thing I love him so.

Francesca working on her masterpiece

I almost didn’t use this picture because my dining room is such a mess.But we’re homeschoolers. You can rarely see my dining room table because we’re busy living life together, and I’m ok with that. Some day my house will be clean, and my heart will not be nearly as full as it is now.

Race day. Katie got to spend time with her favorite red head.

   

And here they are watching their cars race. Did I mention we don’t really focus on speed much? Their cars had to be pushed to the finish line every single time. But it didn’t matter one bit, because they looked so amazing.

And the results! Francesca’s chicken tractor won 1st prize in her age group for design, and Don’s fishing canoe also won 1st place for design in the leader’s group. Katie made a pretty cool popsicle with a bite taken out of it. Even though she didn’t win a prize, she’ll always be a winner in my book.

Baking Adventures

We’ve got a budding pastry chef here. Francesca has decided she’s going to culinary school and from there she will open her own bakery. Today she wanted to try her hand at pate a choux dough to make cream puffs with a vanilla pastry cream. So fancy!

She patiently stood and continuously stirred the pastry cream for 20 minutes. It’s a good thing she had her daddy as a helper, because I have no patience for that! I always cheat when I’m making a roux and turn the heat up to thicken it faster, which would definitely not have worked here.

Piping out the cream puffs

   

Filling the finished puffs. How cool is it that this dough hollows out while baking?

The finished product! She dusted the tops with powdered sugar and then drizzled chocolate over them. I was so impressed that the dough and the filling came out absolutely perfect on her first attempt! I love that my husbands strengths perfectly compliment my wild and impulsive girl. He’s so patient, encouraging, and just laid back (I am so not laid back. Ahhh! Follow the recipe!) with her and he gives her the freedom to embrace her (messy!)creativity. And I can tell she appreciates him because she told him he can be her assistant when she opens her bakery. What an awesome duo!

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Pets!

Somehow we have as many pets as we do humans living here. When Sam moved out, we became outnumbered. Thankfully she has returned and restored balance to the force.

They love schoolwork almost as much as Francesca loves to wear a sweatshirt backwards and use the hood as a kitten carrier…

…and only half as much as they like napping and cuddling. (It’s kind of ridiculous.)

Here’s Lucy’s scratch-free cat carrier…

and Riley’s serious face. (Is that the mailman?)

    

Finally, who do you think is smarter? Professor Pup or Study Buddy? We think it may be a tie!