Easter Weekend

Backing up to recap fun Easter activities...we had some fun making cookies!

And dyeing eggs. :)

This is right before the blue dye spill.

Back in business. Gehrig LOVED dyeing and decorating the eggs.

Greer was mostly uninterested in the eggs, more into phone talking.

Which was probably better since she didn't really understand the process anyway. :)

So proud.

Making Daddy's Easter card.

Easter goodies.

Happiness and bed-heads.

Spotting Daisy!

Checking out the loot.

The Disney characters were/are a hit!

Some after church pictures. Gehrig loves hugging the trees. :)

And she is so cute, I want to squeeze her constantly. :)

Easter lunch with our extended family, Matt, Jenn & Madi.

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Before B left to go back to Masters work...with our yummy cake.

Too hard to get them all to look...they were ready to go get the eggs!

Afterwards, playing the beautiful weather.

Happy Easter...our Lord is risen!!

Grace

Undeserving. Unworthy. Not good enough.

Have you ever felt that way?

A couple of Saturdays ago, I laid down to nap while the kids napped. I was so exhausted and needed sleep badly. Almost every day, there are a couple of hours in the afternoon of pure, lovely silence for napping, working, blogging, cleaning, cooking...just alone time. I rarely choose the nap option, but on that day, I couldn't think of anything else.

As you might suspect, it didn't happen. After an 18-mo-old talked and played for 2 hours, a stranger rang our doorbell and a phone rang, I RELUCTANTLY gave up. B had been working in the yard and came in to find an irritable, grumpy version of myself. It makes me sad to think of how short and ugly I was to my family because I was tired and didn't get my way. As I sat there being pitiful, not wanting to do anything, I was ashamed of how I was acting and yet seemingly unable to change it. B took the kids out to play and told me to go try to lay down again.

When I woke, he rounded us all up in the car and started driving. We ended up at the beautiful lake not far from here. On a peninsula overlooking the water. With a full picnic dinner made by this man that I had just been ugly to. My eyes filled with tears, realizing how much love he has for me despite the way I acted. I felt God's love through him...a real life example of His grace.

grace, n.: the freely given, unmerited favor and love of God

The next morning in church, we celebrated Palm Sunday. As we took communion and remembered Christ's sacrifice for us, I was overwhelmed with thoughts of shame... "I am so undeserving, unworthy...I am not good enough for you, God!" My eyes poured tears as I remembered His body and blood, broken and shed for me, so that I can be in heaven forever with Him...despite the way I act. My heart is overwhelmed with gratitude.

We are studying Isaiah in Sunday school right now and I have this passage marked up to say:

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Yet it was my weaknesses he carried; it was my sorrows that weighed him down. And they thought his troubles were a punishment from God for his own sins! But he was wounded and crushed for my sins. He was beaten that I might have peace. He was whipped, and I was healed! I have strayed away like sheep. I have left God's paths to follow my own. Yet the Lord laid on him my guilt and sins.

Isaiah 53:4-6

Yes, I am undeserving, unworthy and SO not good enough.

But He loves me still. Thank you, Jesus.

More Pre-Easter Easter Fun

Last weekend, the county hosted an Easter Egg Scramble for the kids with lots of fun activities. After two rained-out egg hunts, we were glad to give it a go outside in the grass!
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Gehrig has historically been scared of mascot type things, but Greer has never met one she doesn't love. Now that Gehrig is older and understands the whole costume idea, they both loved seeing the ones at the park. We actually had to pull them away so as not to annoy the guys inside the costumes. :)
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It was fun to see friends there too. Greer and Finley.

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Greer, Finley, Gehrig & Luke after the 30-second Easter egg scramble!

Our fam.

Amanda and I enjoyed our visiting too. :)

The Mareks, Luke and G&g watching the magic show!

The blessing of fun friends...Gehrig is his silliest with Cole & Luke!

Looking like they're on a date.

An alternative way of wearing pirate eye patches. :)

Luke, Gehrig & Cole finished the morning playing on the soccer fields. We are so thankful that Spring is here!

G's School Easter Party

Last week, Gehrig had a fun party at school to celebrate Easter. Here are the boys in his class...Andrew, G, Luke, Mark, PJ & Max. They are all such good buddies...it is really cute!

Enjoying some Chickfila for the party!

Abby's mom read an Easter story to the kids.

B and I have been amazed and THANKFUL for how much Gehrig's teachers have taught him about Jesus and the Easter story this year. We can't believe how many details he knows and we love that he is excited that Jesus is alive! He even came home reciting the whole Great Commission the other day. I am challenged by his questions and convicted by his excitement. Oh, to have faith like a child!

But Jesus called the children to him and said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these." Luke 18:16

April Fools Day

Our favorite April Fool's prankster came to visit last week on the 1st (and brought his girls too!). I was prepared this time, on guard and skeptical all day. Despite a good effort, he didn't get me! Instead we all enjoyed a great visit! We so appreciate the fact that they would drive up just to visit with us for a few hours. They are friends, who are more like family, you know? Love you, Dormans!
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Here they are with Matt & Jenn. A great pic of two of our favorite couples.
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Greer and Darcey had fun playing together outside.

Madi, Chaney, Gehrig & Ansley getting ready to watch a show.

Couldn't help but post this pic of B playing wii in the middle of all 6 kids! Haha!
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And a bonus...just because. Greer loves snuggling up to her "Bubba."

March Randoms

Greer loves her Little People castle. She has starting setting the prince and princess up to eat dinner. I love that she is girly!

We went walking with the Smiths the other day and G&g had so much fun loving on Thomas & Maddy. They are super cute!

Greer's hair grows fastest in the back. Bebe cut it some for us awhile back, but the frizzy puff returned so Rebecca came to help us out. She cut Gehrig's hair too and did a great job with both!

Peyton got a bath while they were here and borrowed Greer's bunny towel. So cute!

Just a random lovey shot of Daddy & Greer.

The red flower chair is the best for cuddling and TV watching.

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Even though the rain moved it inside, the kids had fun hunting Easter eggs the other day with Peyton! Greer was not terribly interested in taking a picture with Mommy though...

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Our friends, Eric & Jessica are getting married soon. We had a great time going out to dinner the other night to celebrate with them! We are so excited for y'all, E&J!

And last but not least, the real deal.

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Last year, Gehrig played tball with a little church league. It was a great experience, introducing the idea of practice and taking turns and listening to his coach, etc. However, it was mainly for fun, using plastic bats and balls and playing inside a gym.

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This year, G gets to play with the local little league. He had his first practice this week and was so excited to announce to me across the field, "Mom! We're using REAL baseballs!!"

March pics are up!