Play!

We've really enjoyed the spring weather lately!

Ski 09

We had an awesome opportunity to go with a group of youth and college students to Winter Park, Colorado. Our days were filled with skiing and at night we had praise and worship led by FEE with speaking by David Rhodes. Our trip was a ski retreat led by Student Life Camps. Was an amazing experience! This was my first time to ski, something that Mike and I have wanted to do together for a very long time. We had so much fun together, he was so patient with me b/c let me tell you it is tough for a 31 year old to learn how to ski! I was being shown up by 3 and 4 year olds flying down the mountain and we rode up the ski lift with an 86 year old man that skis every day of his life!

Our group

Going up the ski lift!

At the top of one of the slopes (there were over 130 of them!)
The weather was great for skiing! Sunny and not too cold! I think the temp was in the 40s most of the time.

Miking coming off of a jump. He did get some air, but my camera delayed! He's a great skier!

Micah, Barika, Me, and Mike at the Arch in St. Louis. This was one of our stops along the way! Our drive was 21 hours so we tried to make the most of it!

Some of us with Fee!

Barika is my blessing! I love her! She is one of our college students.

Just getting off the ski lift ready to go down again!

Right before a major crash and burn! Don't let this one fool ya! Right after this, I fell right on my face, in fact my chest fell right on my fist, knocking the breath out of myself. That hasn't happened since my cheerleading days long ago.

It was so much fun skiing together :)

Us with Ken and Jen Perkins, our youth pastor and wife.

Ken used to be a ski instructor, he helped me get the basics down.

Jen and I eating our lunch by the fire.

Mike and a couple of guys eating lunch too.

Mike and Kevin!

In front of a beautiful lodge on top of the slopes.

My baby's growing up...

It's so hard to believe Emma is going to be 5 tomorrow.....time is flying .

I feel so blessed....

Lili's fascination with food...

Lili LOVES all things FOOD! She will just eat and eat and eat and eat until we just absolutely pull the food away! She'll eat anything that you give her, she eats as much if not a little more than our almost 5 year old, Emma! When she's not eating, she indulges herself by playing in the pantry . It acts as a good distraction though when mommy has to cook!

Honey Bunches of Oats is a good platform by the way if your little one can't quite reach the chips!

Not quite old enough for chips honey...

Emma had to join in of course!

The next day......

Back at it again.

A Day for Giving and Receiving....Love!

This Valentine's Day brought lots of surprises for us all! Emma worked really hard on painting a candy jar for daddy from her and Lili, she also drew Valentine cards for a couple of neighbors. That was a sweet memory to make with her. She was so happy to walk up the driveways, knock on the doors, say "Happy Valentine's Day", and hand the two ladies their Valentine's. One lady's husband passed away a little over a year ago, so we really wanted her to know we were thinking of her. And she was so thankful for Emma's homemade card, she had a big smile on her face.

My Valentine's gift? A one hour facial!!! OOH, I"M SO EXCITED!!! I've never had one! Mike's always so thoughtful, it seems like he's always giving me "time off" and letting me go out to grab a coffee with a friend, or just get out for a while to have a litte "me" time. I am so thankful for him :)

The girls also got gifts in the mail from my mom and dad! Below are a few pictures, hope you enjoy!

Painting daddy's jar.

Reading her book from Nanny and PawPaw.

Emma opening Nanny and PawPaw's package!

Filled with lots of goodies for both of them! Thank you Nanny and PawPaw!

Valentine's Day was always a special day in our family. Mom and Dad were always giving us little gifts and goodies to let us know how much they loved us........although we knew that already. But, I know now where I get my sentimentality from and I enjoy passing this on to my girls.

That morning, my girls woke up with hearts all over their walls and got to enjoy a special valentine breakfast with heart shaped pancakes, bacon, and eggs! yummy!

Yum yum!

Look out table food, here we come!

Lili loved her first spaghetti!

A Few Thoughts For Valentine's Day

I hope you are all enjoying your special day. Here are a few things God brought my way this morning. I wanted to share them with you and I hope they encourage and uplift you:

"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love, does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we ought to love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us." 1 John 4:7-12

Excerpt from Love Is Extravagant by Joni Eareckson Tada:
"As I went off on that speaking trip, I thought of the quality that marks the ministry of love. And that is its sheer extravagance. Love is extravagant in the price it is willing to pay, the time it is willing to give, the hardships it is willing to endure, and the strength it is willing to spend. And that is what God has given to us."

O God, I have tasted Thy goodness, and it has both satisfied me and made me thirsty for more. I am painfully conscious of my need for further grace. I am ashamed of my lack of desire. O God, the Triune God, I want to want Thee; I long to be filled with longing; I thirst to be made more thirsty still. Show me Thy glory, I pray Thee, so that I may know Thee indeed. Begin in mercy a new work of love within me. Say to my soul, "Rise up my love, my fair one, and come away." Then give me grace to rise and follow Thee up from this misty lowland where I have wandered so long. A.W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God