{this moment}

As you can see, this week's moment is actually a continuation of last weeks moment....

and it's way more than one photo!!

Too many sweet pictures that I want to remember and document. 

I haven't picked up my camera much this week either,

so I just decided to continue to share the tulip fields :)

 

Our Easter Baskets

We don't make a big ta-do about Easter baskets,

but I still like to get a little something for the kids each year.

Growing up, my dad was always the one to do mine and my brother's,

and I like to carry on the tradition!

I relied a bit on my favorite store, Trader Joes,

and purchased some of their candy with "natural colors" in them.

I've sadly been noticing behavior patterns in some of my children

when they consume foods with color dyes in them.

I think the sugar still puts the kids over the edge though :)

Got these cute boxes from the dollar section at Target,

along with a number of other "dollar treasures!"

....including darling little seed pots that we will plant...

We started a new tradition this year,

and gave the "baskets" to the kids after our morning worship.

That way, dad could participate in the fun,

and we were able to keep our focus in the morning.

We hid them well though, and it took all five quite

a while to find them. Our #1 was actually the last to find hers :)

Having a bigger house sure makes egg hunting

a bit more exciting! 

 What are your Easter traditions? 

A Beautiful Wedding

On Saturday, the day before Easter,

I had the privilege of watching my husband marry

a sweet couple from our church.

It was a very small gathering of about 15,

including the bride and groom's families

and a couple of their close friends. 

Unlike any other wedding I have been to, 

this one was in a public place.

As many turned their heads to watch,

we walked through a beautiful park on the water

to a quiet grove that was surprisingly private.

 The pastor gave an exhortation to Philip and Charyl

that their marriage was to "Reflect the Glory"

of our Creator to a watching world. 

It reminded me of the message given by my father-in-law,

15 years ago at our wedding!! 

 So sweet and powerful to witness

their confessions of this new love and covenant

and to be reminded of my vows to my dear man. 

What an honor to be part of such an event. 

The Lord was SO gracious, and the day was a perfect "San Diego" day

:: clear skies and 65 degrees ::

So amazing, especially in light of the fact

that there has not been a day like that this entire spring

in the great Northwest...

Congratulations Philip and Charyl!! 

Jesus is Alive!

Happy Easter to all of you dear ones.

I saw this video today and loved it so much I wanted to share it.

It made me smile and weep and wish 

I could be there dancing and proclaiming that

Jesus IS alive!!

O that we might pray for opportunities

to share this wonderful truth with the world. 

:: Enjoy ::

Enjoy and Rejoice

:: He is risen indeed ::

Good Friday & {this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. Inspired 

by Soule Mama

".... but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

Romans 5:8

It is indeed, a good Friday.

Tulips and Gratitude list #397-450

 Psalm 145

"I will extol you, my God and King,

and bless your name forever and ever.

Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever.


a beautiful day to see the tulip fields
sweet family time
spots of blue in the sky
the sun
my God and my King

Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised,

and his greatness is unsearchable.

One generation shall commend your works to another,

and shall declare your mighty acts.

the daily privilege of homeschooling my children

His mighty acts

seeds being planted in little hearts and

the fruit that is bearing 

On the glorious splendor of your majesty,

and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.

They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds,

and I will declare your greatness.

The glorious splendor of His majesty

His wondrous works

His awesome deeds

His greatness

the cross

 They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness

and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.

The LORD is gracious and merciful,

slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

His abundant goodness
His righteousness
That He is gracious and merciful
unlike me, He is very slow to anger
He is abounding in steadfast love, even when I am not

 The LORD is good to all, 

and his mercy is over all that he has made.

All your works shall give thanks to you, O LORD,

and all your saints shall bless you! 

His goodness to me
His mercy to me
that I can give thanks
His saints, blessings His name
the colors of creation

 They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom

and tell of your power,

to make known to the children of man your mighty deeds,

and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.

the glory of His kingdom
His power
my weakness
His mighty deeds
my kingdom business

 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,

and your dominion endures throughout all generations.

[The LORD is faithful in all his words

 and kind in all his works.]

that His kingdom is everlasting
that His dominion endures through generations
four generations who love Jesus
His faithful words
His forgiveness for my unfaithful words
His kind works
His forgiveness for my unkind works

The LORD upholds all who are falling 

and raises up all who are bowed down.

The eyes of all look to you,

 and you give them their food in due season.

that He holds me when I fall

that He raises me up when I am bowed down

that we CAN look to the Father for provision

good, good, good food

You open your hand;

you satisfy the desire of every living thing.

The LORD is righteous in all his ways

and kind in all his works.

that His hand is open to bless me
that I CAN be satisfied by Him
HE IS ALL I NEED
His righteous ways

The LORD is near to all who call on him,

to all who call on him in truth.

He fulfills the desire of those who fear him;

he also hears their cry and saves them.

that He hears me when I call
that He fulfills my desires
that He hears my cry
that He saves me

The LORD preserves all who love him,

but all the wicked he will destroy.

My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD,

and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever."

His preservation
that He brings justice
that I can speak
His holy name
that He is forever and ever

my calendar

I mentioned that the kids and I were in the country this past weekend.....

it's our little escape from reality. 

Could I go back please?? 

Just not wanting to face all that has to be done in the next few weeks......

and am needing to remind myself that I can't do it on my own strength.

The pastor has been really busy this past month,

traveling more than normal. 

Its good for us to be apart sometimes, reminding us

how much we need each other! 

 He is preparing to preach for the Good Friday service this week,

marry a young couple on Saturday, and then preach once again on Easter Sunday.
He'll be gone again next week for Presbytery.

I am so very proud of him, and thankful for this ministry the Lord has brought us. 

 I have a couple of play dates for the kids planned this week,

Abby gets her arm looked at on Thursday, then community group here that night.

We have a homeschool Easter party on Friday, and hope to see the infamous tulip fields.

Why do I feel stressed when good things fill my calendar? 

 I think part of my problem is simply laziness.... 

not wanting to have to discipline myself to get up and get school done early! 

I need to be pushed. I need to trust the Lord that all the He

desires for me to get done, will indeed get done!! 

And O how I need to fight my sin.....

of worry, lack of self-discipline, anger, laziness.

He IS my daily schedule, and everything that comes my way

is brought by His sovereign, good hand

to grow me and sanctify me....to purge me of my sin. 

 Thank you, dear Father, for a busy calendar! 

For friends, ministry opportunities, homeschooling, fellowship, family.
Help me to stay grounded in You, prayerful and careful about everything
added to my day. May I be present and peaceful in every moment, 
looking for the many, many blessings you give me!
Amen


"You keep him in perfect peace
whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. 
Trust in the LORD forever,
for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock."
Isaiah 26:3,4

april showers WILL bring may flowers

I've been told that we are having a crazy spring here in the northwest.....

I wouldn't know if we were or not! 

All I know, is that it rains an awful lot here,

and that I thought it was quite odd that it has

hailed the past two weeks in a row.

A whole new experience for us. . . .

as was the cold winter and snow. 

I keep thinking about trying to plant my garden,

but its just so chilly that I'm not quite in the mood yet!!!

I'll be honest, I'm not tired of the rain yet. 

I love it. And the hail,

well.... that just makes things interesting :)

I'm missing the sun though, and sure would love 

a few warm days here an there!!! 

They tell me they will come.... but not until July or August!! 

The pastor was at a conference this past week,

and we got to hang out with Num Num and Papa.

Drew got to go with his dad, so it was just five of us.

 Looking forward to sharing more pictures of the country

later this week.... the rain sure does its job. 

The countryside is BEAUTIFUL!! 

"Let us know;

let us press on to know the LORD;

his going out is sure as the dawn;

he will come to us as the showers,

as the spring rains that water the earth."

Hosea 6: 3

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. Inspired 

by Soule Mama

presenting....

Chasey with the HOT pink ensemble, 

and Whit with the PALE pink ensemble.

Wish you could have been there for the concert.

I had a front row seat, and boy.... 

WAS. IT. GOOD.

look....we match!

Heidi bought Whit and Chase matching shirts....

I think these two could pass as sisters, don't ya think?  

Down at the Bay....

 Last Monday we packed a lunch and headed to the bay with Heidi and Chase.

Of course in typical spring fashion here, it was cold and raining. 

We all had a wonderful time beach coming, though.... 

and showing off some of the area's beauty! 

I think Chase and Heidi were pretty chilled by the time we left....

we opted to have the picnic in the car :)

I stopped to pick up some Ivars to warm us up at home! 

 The tide was back and there were so many interesting things on the beach....
today in our science lesson we talked of how the moon's gravity is what causes the tides.
I am in awe at the PERFECT order our universe is in.

The lighthouse, and daffodils that surrounded it, were especially beautiful in the mist.

Isn't the bark on this tree lovely? O the wonders of creation....

We got back home in time for naps.... that is Chase's nap.

Sadly, I think those days are about gone for me!! 

The weekend before, Heidi's brother came for a couple of nights.... providentially, he has recently moved to the northwest, so Heidi and John both have siblings up here to visit!! It was great getting to know him. By the time he left my kids were calling him Uncle Adam!!

I got to take Heidi and Adam downtown to the market on Saturday.

Of course we took the city girl, Abby, and also Drew.
Ellie graciously stayed home and helped with Chase....
(She got a special date all alone with Heidi, later in the visit.)

I came home with flowers, french bread, honey, and apples!!!
(Check out Heidi's blog here for some more fun pictures of the market day)
And of course we had to have "fun-due" that evening....
a tradition started by Aunt Heidi and Uncle John in San Diego.
Only wish John could have been with us....
Lord willing this summer, Uncle John, we'll be having fun-due with you too!!