Easter Events

The weeks leading up to Easter we tried to prepare our hearts for the celebration. We don't always do a great job of this, and even this year we felt a little late and rushed, but nonetheless it did become a very meaningful time of reflection and looking forward.  We were trying to focus the kids' thoughts on the magnitude and weight of this holiday while at the same time reminding them that we celebrate the resurrection every day.

Two weeks out we started reading 'Amon's Adventure,' an excellent book that convicted me deeply and the kids really enjoyed. The questions at the end of the chapters really helped us dig a little deeper into our hearts.

We also slowly read in Matthew the passages leading up to Jesus' death and resurrection.

On Thursday night we had a fire outside, roasted marshmallows and did our nightly reading out there. It started lightening and thundering and then the rains came. How fitting.

yes, these are our gardening beds/fire pit. lol.

We had never done Easter Eggs. I am not a real Easter eggy kinda gal, but Poppy and CC brought dye kits and I boiled a bunch of eggs and got them out. This proved to be lots of fun! Really. I have no idea when I last did this.

 The kids all loved this, including G:

 OHHH...Dangerous...sit down girl.

And look at our eggs! They were beautiful!

Saturday night we dressed up a bit and went out to a nice restaurant. 

Tobin shows Gabrielle his muscles.

Then he loves on her...


Sweet Bella..


That night before our reading, we did 'Easter Cookies' The kids all had a part, and each ingredient or action represents something having to do with the Easter story and has scripture to go with it.

They break up the pecans, and we read about Jesus' being beaten...

This is a meringue cookie. So we put them in the oven (tomb), sealed it well, and left them there until morning. The cookies are hollow/empty inside, just like the tomb!

Sunday was exciting as we opened the oven and finished our Bible story as well as 'Amon's Adventure', it was raining so we stayed in and sang songs together as well.

In the afternoon the rains cleared and we spent about a half hour hiding and finding Easter Eggs.

As we celebrated our Risen Savior, our neighbors and friends were offering sacrifices to their ancestors during 'Tomb Sweeping' Festival, The contrast of these two holidays is quite significant and affords us so many opportunities to share real hope and real joy and the real love of a God who gave His only son so that we could have life eternal with him.

EASTER Eve Snaps

School Field Trips

Right after Poppy and CC left, Tobin and Bella's classes went on field trips. Since I had never been on one with Bella, I decided to escort her up to the Pagoda.

Stairs all the way to the top, it is a decent climb, not bad though.
 I had better pics but my phone+computer=issues I can't deal with right now.

pretty hazy. Gorgeously tall mountains are the backdrop to this picture.

We really had a good time, but had to hike down early to pick up Tobin from his field trip. I did have pics of him too...but...

Walking around the pagoda/Buddhist temple, Bella's teacher, and one of my favorite people, started reading from her phone about the temple, meaning, etc.

Later as we walked she chuckled to me that she really didn't understand it all. This sparked a very good discussion where I was able to share much truth with her. She knows us and she has been in our home more than once, but it was great to be out of our normal context and able to put some meat to what we say and do as Christians as we looked upon people lighting incense to Buddha and a monk texting on his cell phone.

All that we saw that day also gave Bella and I some great conversation topics. She is a sweet, precious girl, with such genuine faith!

Words to Julie on Her 40th Birthday: "you sharpen me in every way"

March 28, 2015

Dear Julie,

At forty, Julie, you remain the one woman whom I continually rely on for encouragement that points me to hope and deeper faith. 

You are my very best friend, my ‘bosom friend’, and it just so happens that God made us sisters. Of course that forges us deeper, perhaps has made you forgive me more easily, and has helped us along the way to see things only we could see, and learn things only we could learn through our shared experiences (crazy as they were).

God is my Rock, Julie. But if there is one woman whom He gave me to be my God-like rock on earth, it is you. This isn’t blasphemous; it is His incredible gift to me in you. What a gracious gift.

For 38 years you have borne with me in my spoiled rotten brattiness (spoiled with what? I am not sure, but you know what I mean:  I was the wimp who made you ask dad permission to do things, the crier to get my way, the one that was rude to be right). You took in all of this and grew to love me anyway, and love me to the deep. I wronged you so many times and you graciously forgave, and forgave, and forgave. What a picture of Christ you have always been to me, simply in your forgiveness.

Some may call it sisterly love, I know it is Christ in you. Even so, I have been even more challenged by you in your sacrificial love to those who, in the ways of our world, deserved NONE of it. I could tell story after story of you giving your all to help others, with no ‘thank you’, no recognition, just your heart to give a special love that comes alongside all of people’s ugly hurt.

Thank you for your obedience and heart of mercy that has shown me Christ in your love to others. This is shown especially in your most recent burden of caring for our mom.  What a continual laying down of self I have seen of you in this endeavor!

Your “love is patient, kind, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Your love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”

And here’s the thing. I know you struggle. I know you have to fight to love like this. You fight selfishness like the rest of us, you do fight the problem of being ‘easily angered’, you fight for joy when the mundane seems to swallow you. I know this. You fight to submit well in your marriage, to parent wisely and gently, I have heard it all from you and know that out of abiding and pruning (read: pain) comes a way to love like this.

And here’s the other thing. How can we remain bosom friends when 8,000 miles separate us and our time is consumed with our families and ministries? How can I honestly still call you my best friend?

Because it is a holy gift.

Community and relationship is what God made us for; ours was ordained by Him oooooh so perfectly. Whether we speak to each other weekly, or every few months doesn’t seem to matter, we pick it right back up and connect to the marrow once again.

More than that, I do have a few friends that I speak to often, ones I would call very close friends, perhaps some of my ‘best’ friends. About four or five of them live with me on this side of the world.  These are my other ‘go-to’ gals. Each of these speak differently into me and are used by God, but only you seem to sharpen me in every way. You know when to just listen, when to ask good questions, which ones to ask, when to speak gentle truth that helps me see my sin. You do it so well. So like my very best friend. And that is what you have been, for 38 years now.

Playing school in the playroom, setting up our ‘grocery store’, on the soccer field, in all the old hurts and the hurts that keep coming, you are the sweetest picture of Christ to me.

Thank you is not enough.

I praise the God who gave you to me and live in wonder still at His provision.

Happy Fortieth Birthday.

Love Lorraine

The Round-Up

Poppy and CC's trip to our town was one of their best.
We were somewhat sick when they arrived, and CC had a whopper of a sickness the 24 hours before they left, but the in-between was phenomenal.

I treasured this time because I felt like I was actually present. Not just having had a baby or nursing, I could participate, plan, cook, and carry on late, not rush to sleep at any possible moment. We stayed up late talking most nights, played some games of Blokus, made homemade ice cream, and always, always, made it to the 9 p.m. round up at the table for dessert.

These are the desserts we ate in the ten days Poppy and CC were here:
Pecan Pie with Ice Cream
Snicker Cheesecake
Chocolate chip cookies
Oatmeal cookies (they brought these)
'trash' and chocolate covered pretzels (also brought)
Homemade Oreo Ice Cream
Homemade Strawberry Ice cream
Chocolate Chip Pound Cake

There was no guilt involved here, pure enjoyment, treasuring not the food, but the people with us!

Thanks for traveling all the miles and loving on our family so well, always!
Words cannot express.....

Dinner at DOXA Guesthouse

Our friends opened up a really nice guesthouse in our town, so we ordered up a dinner and had the place to ourselves.

The girls ate dessert outside.

Group photos.

Love Tobin's face in this!

The kids read to CC, showed her their school stuff and let her read to them. These were THE moments.

And more dance/music class!

She is looking a bit grown up with her hands on her jeans.

The day before they left, CC wasn't feeling great but still went on another picnic outing.

School in the afternoon...this is how we ride folks!

and THESE moments...