Memorial Day Celebration(s)! :-)

THANK YOU so, so much to our servicemen and women who have personally sacrificed so much to maintain our country's freedom - you are much appreciated. Thank you for your faithful service.

Our Memorial Day was spent with not 1, but 2 cook-outs! The day began at our neighbor's house (Ben, Heather and Rebekah) for a BBQ at their place. We were able to meet some of their friends and Heather's family, eat some delicious food, splash in a wading pool, play ladder ball, chat, and just enjoy the afternoon together.

Then we headed home and heated up our own grill for a cook-out with Papa and Mama Ruth. We also had a great time being together on such a beautiful day, chatting about all sorts of things and just enjoying the time off of work for Scott and Scotty.

Daddy helping get "Tic-Tac-Toss" ready to take to our first cook-out:

Micah all ready to "drive" over to Ben and Heather's:

Thoroughly loving the water play:

Joy didn't want big brother to have all the fun:

Getting to know one of Heather's dear friends, Christy:

Trying to retrieve a lost piece to the bottom of a folding chair:

Joy was super social and wouldn't take a nap, so when we got home, she passed out for 2 hours in her swing before Papa and Mama got there:

Micah helping daddy with yard-work before our guests arrived:

Applying a second coat of sunscreen for the day:

Micah playing "Cut-the-Rope" on the iPod Touch (a treat after successfully reading some BOB books out loud):

Bubble-Maker

Our 3 wonderful house guests

The Ruth Family Bed & Breakfast was open for 9 days over the wedding week, and we are so thankful for our amazing guests that stayed with us. :-) I have to confess that the second "B" (breakfast) wasn't very good this time around...I hardly cooked a thing while they were here!

Our first guest arrived from California midday Monday, and stayed through the following Sunday. While Auntie Rachel was here, I got some quality sister time in (tons of chats, a bus trip to the mall to see "Soul Surfer," shopping and helping plan DeeDee's bachelorette party, chilling out with the kiddos, etc). I hadn't seen her for a whole year when I had gone out for her graduation, so we relished every minute together. She was even here when our two front oaks were taken out (that will probably be an upcoming post).

Our second guest arrived from California close to midnight on Wednesday, after a 2-hour delay in Colorado, and stayed through Sunday as well. Mom visits are always most welcome! She was an amazing help...I committed to take a meal to a neighbor who broke her leg, but she cooked it for me so Rachel and I could see the movie. Additionally, I passed over the kids and the van keys on the day of the wedding so Scotty and I were able to fully enjoy being in the bridal party (pics, limo ride, sitting at the head table, etc).

Our third guest drove into town from Ohio late on Friday night, just before Brad and DeeDee's big day, and stayed through Tuesday. "Uncle" Luke is always a joy to have around - Micah specifically had fun being a "sack of potatoes" that Luke would haul around. He also treated us to a delicious homemade meal before leaving (chicken, broccoli and pineapple stir-fry over brown rice).

If you're in the area, stop on by our B&B! :-)

My HOODlums :-)

Oh, I just love 'em!

Quotable Micah

• Micah can't quite remember the word bracelet - he's called it an arm necklace and, my personal favorite, an "armklace."
• One day Micah had a runny nose and he informed me that his "nose tears were coming out."
• Micah knows that it is daddy and mommy's job to be the "boss."  When we were playing the game Memory (with the Cars characters), I told him that Tex was The King's boss.  He asked if Tex was The King's dad?
• Along the same lines...Micah knows that Jesus is God's Son, and is the King of everyone everywhere.  Micah got confused by the Cars character "The King," thinking he was a car god?? ;-)
• Our church is on a daily Bible reading plan (One Book One Body).  We have really enjoyed our family "Bible time" at home, knowing that many others are reading the same thing.  One night, we were reading in the book of Ruth how they would give a sandal to solidify a deal.  When we asked Micah about it, he thought Boaz was given a sandal because Boaz's sandal was lost. 
• On a different night during Bible time, Scotty was reading the chapter of the day in the book of Judges.  We weren't sure if he was really listening, but Scotty asked at the end of it, who was the false god that some people worshiped?  Grandma was about to lean over and give him the answer, when Micah piped up with the correct answer, "Baal!"  Grandma's jaw dropped.  (To be fair though, he's heard of Baal in his kid's Bible). 
• Similarly, a few nights later when we were reading in 1 Samuel, we weren't quite sure if Micah was really listening to the best of his ability, but we were about to be proven wrong.  When asked what Samuel's mom made him every year, Micah knew the answer, "a coat!"  My jaw dropped (because this is not one of the stories he's heard in his kid's Bible)!
• Micah hid himself in another room so I could find him and I heard him holler, "Where is me?"
• We have the nicest mailman.  He told us recently that he has grandkids.  Micah was trying to fit the mailman role into a grandpa role.  He finally concluded that he is a "mail grandpa."
• Micah and I have been enjoying some conversations on Heaven.  He wondered where Heaven was?  I can't pull out a map and show a geographical location, so I don't think I was explaining it very well.  Micah finally just said, "God can point to it with His finger."  Well, that was easy enough. :-)
• The other day Micah and I were talking about how we had made strawberry preserves last year after we went to a strawberry farm.  He then noted, "We didn't buy peanut butter from a peanut butter farm."
• Joy recently developed a bad case of cradle cap.  I did the old fashioned baby oil remedy and nearly got it all out (though the trade-off was accidentally thinning her hair out in the process!!)  After she was all cleaned up, we noticed there was still a little more on her head.  Micah told me, "I'm sorry that she got more cradle crap."  Yes, honey, I would have to agree with that.
• While getting acquainted with a new toy, I heard Micah mutter to himself, "I have to do that betterly."
• There had been a lot of talk leading up to the wedding last weekend about DeeDee wearing a white dress.  Well, on Mother's Day I had put on a white summer dress to wear.  When Micah saw me he asked, "Is it wedding time?"

Wedding Time!

Yesterday was Scotty's sister's wedding. We have all been looking forward to it, and Micah had been learning about it for quite some time. He knew DeeDee would wear a white dress, he could wear a tux, he would be able to eat wedding cake, that g'ma Sovilla and auntie Rachel and Uncle Luke would be in town, etc...I just now asked him what he thought of the wedding and he said, "It was nice." ;-)

Nice it was!! It was a day filled with beauty, celebration, enjoyment of one another and our great God, delicious food, new memories... A Bible passage that came up more than once yesterday was Isaiah 43:18-19, "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?"

God has created a new family unit with Brad and Amanda and it is amazing! God used them so powerfully as singles to encourage others and proclaim His truth; now as a couple they are going to be the unstoppable dynamic duo!

Here's just a quick glimpse of the day (And here's a Facebook sampling of the fabulous photographer's photos: http://www.facebook.com/#!/media/set/?set=a.10150191065069277.318707.44005159276):

Wedding Week!

My sis-in-law is getting married on Saturday, which means we are officially in the "wedding week" since Sunday!!  This is going to be quite the event - we are all so excited.  Brad is going to be a great uncle for Micah and Joy, and a nice bro-in-law too.  Brad and Amanda's story gladdens the heart - God so clearly drew them together and HE is getting all the glory for His work in their lives both apart and now together as a couple.

This week has already brought my sister Rachel (yesterday), and my mom will be coming in tomorrow.  It has been absolutely fabulous and we are having a wonderful time!!

Micah snuck up on the top bunk (where Rachel had stored something) and told me "Auntie Rachel has a secret." Yup, Mr. Snowman made it to Michigan and Micah gave it away! (Mr. Snowman has been switching hands b/w Rachel and I for at least a decade - in unusual places...mailbox, car, closet, care package in Germany, airport)...

Joy loves her auntie Rachel!!

Micah loves his auntie Rachel...and his Jeep! ;-)

Sneak peek of Joy's flower girl outfit (the hat she'll wear).

Happy Thursday!

May you have a JOYful day in our amazing Lord and Savior, Jesus! :-) "This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." - Psalm 118:24

[I originally planned on just quoting Psalm 118:24, but then I skimmed the whole chapter and it's all good, because HE is good!]

Psalm 118

1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his love endures forever.
2 Let Israel say:
“His love endures forever.”
3 Let the house of Aaron say:
“His love endures forever.”
4 Let those who fear the LORD say:
“His love endures forever.”

5 In my anguish I cried to the LORD,
and he answered by setting me free.
6 The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid.
What can man do to me?
7 The LORD is with me; he is my helper.
I will look in triumph on my enemies.

8 It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in man.
9 It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in princes.

10 All the nations surrounded me,
but in the name of the LORD I cut them off.
11 They surrounded me on every side,
but in the name of the LORD I cut them off.
12 They swarmed around me like bees,
but they died out as quickly as burning thorns;
in the name of the LORD I cut them off.

13 I was pushed back and about to fall,
but the LORD helped me.
14 The LORD is my strength and my song;
he has become my salvation.

15 Shouts of joy and victory
resound in the tents of the righteous:
“The LORD’s right hand has done mighty things!
16 The LORD’s right hand is lifted high;
the LORD’s right hand has done mighty things!”

17 I will not die but live,
and will proclaim what the LORD has done.
18 The LORD has chastened me severely,
but he has not given me over to death.

19 Open for me the gates of righteousness;
I will enter and give thanks to the LORD.
20 This is the gate of the LORD
through which the righteous may enter.
21 I will give you thanks, for you answered me;
you have become my salvation.

22 The stone the builders rejected
has become the capstone;
23 the LORD has done this,
and it is marvelous in our eyes.
24 This is the day the LORD has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.

25 O LORD, save us;
O LORD, grant us success.
26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD.
From the house of the LORD we bless you.
27 The LORD is God,
and he has made his light shine upon us.
With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession
up to the horns of the altar.

28 You are my God, and I will give you thanks;
you are my God, and I will exalt you.

29 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his love endures forever.

Pinewood Derby

Last weekend the Boys' and Girls' Club from our church had their annual Pinewood Derby as the grand finale for this year's season of club.  It has been a FABULOUS year!  God called me to serve in Girls' Club this year and it's been great.  Our theme was "Feed the Fire" by being people of PASSION:

• Pray Constantly: “Pray continually.” - 1 Thessalonians 5:17
• And 
• Study God’s Word: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” - Psalm 119:105
• Serve Others: “Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, because you know that the Lord will reward each one of you for whatever good you do.” - Ephesians 6:7-8a
• Interact with God’s People: “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” - Hebrews 10:24-25
• Open up and Talk About God: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” - Matthew 28:19
• Notice God in the Ordinary: “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” - Jeremiah 29:13

No church event can be without food...

...and lots of it!

Girls introducing their cars:

The track:

All the cars (boys' on left, girls' on right, Micah admiring all of them)

Best-In-Show winners: Jonathan with his tank driven by a Darth Vader Lego, and Gwen's double decker camper!

Happy Mother's Day!

An e-mail from my hubby this morning. :-)  To all you mother's out there, "Happy mom day!!"

"Good girl, Joy!"

Joy is incredible. We are all absolutely in love with her. This morning during "Tummy Time" she lifted her head up the highest and for the most amount of time yet. Micah and I were on the sidelines encouraging her in her achievements. Good job, baby girl. :-)

Resurrection Sunday

Without Jesus' voluntary death on the cross for my sins, I would have no hope for a relationship with God or an amazing eternity with Him. I am SO thankful that's He's forgiven me. I deserve death and Hell, but because of belief in Christ I have life and a sure future in Heaven. All because God chose to love me and extend His grace to me.

Ephesians 2:8-10
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

Our Easter was celebrated with our church family in the morning and then dinner with the Ruth family that afternoon. I think it's safe to say Joy had a great first Easter! We all had a good time together, celebrating Jesus' resurrection, which broadcasts His power over sin and death.