Let there be no mistaking it…

“He is not here, He has RISEN!”  PRAISE GOD we serve a God that is FULLY ALIVE – he ROSE from the dead on that beautiful Easter morning!  He conquered death, the grave, …OUR SINS…  He can take them away, make us NEW again….imagine, a NEW life in Christ!  The old is gone – our past, our mistakes, our regrets…GONE!  His immense LOVE for us – offered to ALL.  I pray this is an Easter where you have chosen to believe in the risen Savior and asked Him to make you CLEAN…brand new!  Hallelujah!  He has RISEN INDEED!

 

“There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said!” ~ Matthew 28:2-6

Happy Easter to all! Enjoy celebrating this day that changed EVERYTHING with your families!

“He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.” ~ 1 Peter 2:24

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It’s Good Friday and while I have been remiss in my blogging…rather, unable to keep up with it in any sense!, I still thought it important to post today.

Janna from the Mustard Seeds blog has completely changed my life and that of my family’s in this regard.  We definitely “get our Easter on” each year – complete with Easter songs playing on the iPod, decorations, Jell-o Eggs, Easter Bunny cakes, dyeing Easter eggs, Easter devotions, and of course,  …our Hill of Calvary.

Last year, we hosted a Hill of Calvary party for Boo and her friends (and their mommies!)  SO. MUCH. FUN!  This year, we had a baby…and well, life’s a tad crazy right now.  So, no party.  But, we still made our own!

Here are a few photos from our fun party last year…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So fun to reminisce!

Each year, Boo rides her “donkey” (purple pool noodle) for Palm Sunday and we wave our palm branches shouting HOSANNA! (Our awesome Community Bible Study teacher started this tradition!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So funny to me that our Hill needs a haircut each year!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Boo reenacted the ride through Jerusalem, the Last Supper, and foot washing with a few chosen critters.  Gotta love the 12 disciples!  :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This morning, we remembered that it was OUR sins that Jesus died for.  We wrote a few sins down this year and paved the way to the Cross…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was today, Good Friday, that He died for us…we remember, we reflect.  I read the story again from the Jesus Storybook Bible to Boo.  I love the way this Children’s Bible presents the story…I get goosebumps every time.

Then she wrapped Him and laid Him in the tomb, sealing it with our big “stone”, and placing the soldiers in front to guard it.  We made armor and helmets for them this year…which she just loved.  This girl is all things dress-up…even for her little soldiers!

This is a story I never want her to forget.  Remember, my precious girl, who died for YOU, who came to SAVE you, who came because He LOVED you…who gives you a FUTURE and a HOPE. (Jer. 29:11)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today, we grieve our sin…and yet rejoice because it was His death that gave us the opportunity to be SAVED from this sin.  It was the ONLY way.  It is a somber day…but Easter is coming…death is not the end of this beautiful story…the grave can not hold OUR SAVIOR!

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It’s been well over a year since I have blogged.  I could go into all the details of why I haven’t…but, let’s just say life has been very busy (isn’t it for all of us?) and I have not prioritized my blog.

However, there is a new motivation behind my rekindled desire to blog.  She’s really tiny and cute…a sweet baby girl that blessed our lives on October 29th of this past year.  Since this blog is public, I won’t reveal her real name, but we’ll call her “Smidge” on the blog – short for smidgen – defined by Webster as “a small amount.”  My mom coined that nickname and it stuck.  :)  She is quite darling, as are most babies to their mothers…and was born into the world with a mass of dark brown, fuzzy hair, and grey-blue eyes with a whole world of personality in them.  Our first-born daughter, whom we call “Boo” on this blog, is now a big sister, a title she wasn’t overly fond of for the first couple of weeks Smidge was here, but she has since wonderfully adjusted.

When Boo was born, I had a blog where I shared every new gurgle and coo, and while it may not have interested the great majority of folks, I still treasure it dearly.  Boo enjoys it too and we have shared many a special moment going back through my written memories of her, much to her delight.   Funny or sweet moments that would have slipped from my all-too forgetful mind, had I not written them down right then.  Moments when I saw God present in our lives – and what a blessing to recount His FAITHFULNESS!  I would love to give Smidge the same gift of her mother’s memories of her throughout the first couple years of her life, as I did with Boo.  I made it my resolution this year, and while I may not blog quite as often as I did with Boo (I now have two kiddos to care for, which limits my available time!), I aim to blog as often as I can about our darling and ever-changing girls.  Smidge is already 10 weeks old – I better get crackin’…and have MUCH to catch up on in the next few blog posts!  Our children are God’s greatest gifts into our lives and I long to remember every precious moment of their childhood days!

Sooo, Happy NEW Year – 2014!  I look forward to sharing life’s ups and downs in the next year with you, as I aim to live in the moment, capturing and journaling the moments we are sharing with our precious girls, and intentionally choosing to see God at work in our lives!

Welcome, Baby Smidge!  We are THRILLED God has blessed us with YOU!

Love,

Mommy, Daddy, and Boo

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There it stands.  I gaze at it and am in awe of the God who brought us to this very place.  Could it really be mine?  No, it is HIS.  My artistic heart is eager to throw up curtains, spread out linens and candles, claim the walls with photos of our memories.  That would make it feel like home, right?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

No…I really only want to live here, if HE is present.  If I can feel His Presence sweetly wafting through the rooms, caressing each person to enter the doors.  To come in and know without a doubt that this is HOLY ground.  What is a home, except where we worship Him together as family and friends, align our hearts and desires with HIS, hold ourselves to a higher, more Godly standard, and most importantly, shape and mold the little ones to desire Him with all their hearts and possess traits that resemble our awesome Creator?  YES!, that is HOME.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And with that definition, I suppose I’ve been home all along.  Not a step of this Kansas City “adventure” has been without the Lord’s presence.  He’s walked this road with us – all the turns and valleys, even though it was hard to feel Him at times.

“Home” has had many different appearances and locations for us in these last three years.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo: Our First Home in Colorado

We started here: Prince Charming was laid off from his job in Colorado and was able to secure a new position in Kansas City.  Here is my blog about leaving our home three years ago in Colorado: Blog: There’s No Place Like Home (click)

After 3 months of separation, with Prince Charming living and working in Kansas City, and Boo and I packing up the house and living in Colorado, we just couldn’t do it anymore.  The house was still for sale without a buyer in sight…but, we needed to reunite as a family again.  So, Boo and I joined Prince Charming and lived in the basement of a gracious family in Olathe, Kansas for a month.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo: Our First Apartment in Kansas City

One month later, we moved here: My blog about living in a one-bedroom apartment, infested with cockroaches.  We learned later, we would witness frequent gang fights in the parking lot and even had a shooting two doors down from our apartment.  Blog: Saying Yes to An Adventure With God (click)

Life was tough to say the least.  Boo slept in our closet in a Pack ‘N Play and we struggled financially to maintain a steep mortgage in Colorado and rent in Kansas.  Yet, even there, I remember sweet memories with my family and many intimate conversations with God.  I also remember not being very happy with Him here – wondering why we had to deal with cockroaches, a house that wouldn’t sell, and grieving the distance from my family in Colorado.  I didn’t understand – I know I wasn’t very patient or gracious.  I know I wasn’t resting in the Lord as I should’ve been.  I couldn’t see the big picture yet and all I knew were the strains facing us in those very moments.  I hurt deeply.  The loneliness was incredibly painful.  I agonized over losing my life as I knew it and my family in Colorado.  I was tired of the strain.  BUT…the HALLELUJAH was yet to come!  I get it now – I can SEE better now.  My faith and trust in an Almighty God has grown.  He is good…sooo GOOD.

Then our house in Colorado was under contract in May of 2010.  We secured a nice duplex with an extra bedroom for Boo and headed back to Colorado to finish moving out of our house there.  We signed our side of the closing papers.  ONE HOUR later, the closing papers we JUST signed were in the shredder.  The buyer was having difficulty securing their loan.  We panicked wondering how we would pay for renting our new duplex we had just secured plus continuing to pay the mortgage on our house that was supposedly sold.  Panic!….But WAIT…PRAY.  Twenty four hours later, our future buyers agreed to rent our house at our current mortgage amount.  STOP…and PRAISE!  Truly, we serve an amazing God…why do we ever doubt Him?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo: Our Duplex in Kansas City

At the end of September of 2010, our home FINALLY went to closing – 13 months after we put it on the market.  Life in the duplex has been so good.  I hang photos on the wall, we play in the wonderful backyard, Boo is growing and changing, and is so much fun.  We make MEMORIES.  We LIVE life.  God’s presence is close.  I commit to a weekly Bible Study with her and find regular times to have my devotions and prayer time with the ONE who has cared for us so sweetly, who has calmed the stormy waves of our lives.  I love talking to Him.  He’s such a good friend and there are no sweeter moments in life than those spent talking with God.

Prince Charming has a good job here; we’ve found our home church and are enjoying new friendships.  I could live life here.  I still miss my family terribly, but I could commit to living here.  I’m beginning to see why He brought us here in so many ways.  We’ve grown in our marriage, as people, as a family.   Stresses and strains on our marriage that we faced in Colorado have been distanced – the great God of the Universe holds them back, protecting His children – no longer allowing them to take the same toll on us.  We have had to learn to depend on each other and God so much more than ever before.  Growth as people is evident – we have learned to respect each other more, commit ourselves more to the other, and have expanded our definition of what an unconditional love really means.  We have learned to CHOOSE each other.  We haven’t arrived at perfect and still have a long way to go, but PRAISE GOD for allowing the challenges and obstacles as we strive to grow closer to Him and to each other.  I believe He will continue to reveal His purposes in bringing us to Kansas City as time goes on and we seek Him with all of our hearts.

We have started to dream again.  Of the future, of planting roots, of a more permanent home.   We begin saving aggressively to put feet to these dreams.  We begin searching online for a possible home.  I want ‘A’, he wants ‘B’.  I want ‘black’, he wants ‘white’.  We struggle to find a middle ground.   Perhaps it’s not our time to dream, perhaps we were wrong.  We continue to pray, yet see no clear answers.  We take a step and go out house hunting with our realtor friend.  House #3 is so wonderful – I allow it to begin taking root in my heart.  We get back in the car.  He has the same silly grin that I have.  Could it be?  Did two opposites find common ground?  We talk over the top of each other gushing about all the things we loved about it.  Then, silence.  Hesitantly, I offer that I could end the house hunt right now.  He agrees.  Really?  Could it be?  We head home after viewing a few more homes and decide to pray over House #3 for awhile.  One hour later, our realtor friend calls and says another offer is on the table for that house and would we want to make one today too?  TODAY?!  We begin to pray on FAST FORWARD.  A big neon sign right about now would be GREAT,  Lord!  There was no neon sign, only two hearts fully aligned in prayer and in mind.  We make the offer.  It is accepted and after some strain, our loan is approved.  The home is set to be ours this Thursday, September 27^th!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our current duplex is much smaller than our house in Colorado and we were unable to unpack most of our boxes due to space constraints.  I am excited, yet overwhelmed, at the possibility of using and seeing so many of our things that have been stored away for 3 years in our garage.  I struggle to remember all that is out there, and am convinced that a giant yard sale will be in our future!  Oh!  The ability to paint a wall, to plant a tree, to carve our initials on this home and make it OURS!  To spread our wings and enjoy life to the fullest!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo: Backyard of our new house (will need landscaping!)

 

YET…those material things can wait…

My FIRST step over the threshold of that house will a prayer of PRAISE to my Savior –

The SECOND step will be that of confession and repentance for any lack of Faith I have expressed in this journey –

My THIRD step, now well into the entryway of our home, will be that of dedication to the Lord.   OH to live and breathe in a house that is truly HIS HOUSE.  My heart yearns for this – that the memories, conversations, and moments in this house will be glorifying to Him.  That He might use this house for HIS Glory. 

 

OR – is it JUST a house?  What does the Bible say about this?

When my feet hit the floor in the morning ~

Psalm 59:16 - But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love;  For  you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble.

 

And at night, when I go to sleep ~

Psalm 63:6 ~On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night.

 

Deuteronomy 6:6-9 ~ And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

Proverbs 24:3-4 ~ By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established;  Through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.

Joshua 24:15b ~ …But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.

Psalm 127:1 ~ Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.

 

This house is YOURS, Lord – I will enter that front door knowing YOU will be THERE – I will look expectantly for YOU! 

 

I know I will be standing on HOLY GROUND!

 

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Originally Posted:  August 15th, 2009 by Terra

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I have not blogged in forever…shame on me…I simply don’t make the time for it that I should.  I’m constantly thinking of things I might want to blog about, but I just never sit down and write!  Summer is a particularly hard season, as we are busy having warm-weather adventures and are outside as much as possible!

Still, I made something this week that I thought might just be helpful to others with small kiddos at home.  One of Boo’s chores is to help set the table for dinner.  Since she is only 3 years old (and rather impatient to get back to her toys), things usually look out of place and askew.  At least she is beginning to understand the concept of contributing to our family, as well as learning important skills like how to properly set a table.

I was trying to think of ways to help her with this and found myself creating ‘Happy’, my helpful placemat, below.  I happened to have lots of fresh fruits and veggies available, so I set a proper place setting (for a casual family meal, of course), snapped photos, printed them up, and laminated the sheets to create helpful placemats!  ’Happy’ isn’t perfect, but he serves the purpose of helping her properly position forks, knives, spoons, napkins, cups, etc. – all while (hopefully!) making her smile with his crazy hair-do and grin!

Feel free to print and laminate ‘Happy’ for your table, if you think he would help your kiddos learn how to set the table too!  Or, perhaps, he might serve as another way of helping them enjoy eating their fruits and veggies!  (Click on title “HappyPlacemat” to download the PDF)

 

HappyPlacemat

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He is RISEN INDEED!

“There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said!” ~ Matthew 28:2-6

Happy Easter to all! Enjoy celebrating this day that changed EVERYTHING with your families!

“He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.” ~ 1 Peter 2:24

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In Honor of Good Friday…we wanted to share our new Good Friday traditions with you.  Remember this day with us…and be BLESSED… 

 

A little over a week ago, we made a “Hill of Calvary” – planting wheat berry seeds in dirt packed around a flower pot – our “tomb” for Jesus.

 

They sprouted and grew faster than we ever thought possible, making a “Haircut for Calvary” a necessity!

 

This morning we remembered that it was US and our sins that put Jesus on the Cross…He died on that cross for our sins, because of His amazing, undeserved LOVE for us…

“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” ~ 2 Corinthians 5:21

 

We wrapped his body in a “cloth”…

 

And laid Him in the tomb…

 

We sealed the tomb…

 

And we remember that He did all of this for Me…for Her…for You…

 

We remember, we experience the sorrow and remorse, yet…we know…

EASTER is COMING!  

Death and Sin have no hold on the Lord of LIFE!

Romans 8:10-11 ~ “But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.”

This wonderful tradition, plus so many more ideas for helping little ones understand the true meaning of Easter, can be found at:  http://mustardseeds.typepad.com

 

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From this:  (Boo at 3 months)                        To this:  (Boo at 3 years)

                

*sniff*  My girl is growing up and this mama isn’t ready for it.  I think this post is more for Boo than anyone.  My heart is overflowing for her and I just had to write it all down today – her third birthday.

I love that little drip of drool on her lip in her baby picture.  I used to wiggle my nose in those fuzzy hairs and breathe in the sweet smell of my baby.  (Well, sometimes it wasn’t so sweet – depending on the state of her diaper!)  She has never had a single hair on her head trimmed until this week.  I was always afraid to cut off her baby curls, but I think I also loved thinking about those little hairs at the end of a long strand, being the first ever hairs she had as a baby.  Her hair is getting a tad shaggy, though, so it is time…let the little hairs go, Mama.  It’s bittersweet …one more thing to release…yet, also one more thing to celebrate.  I’m a sentimental sap.  I’m okay with that.

I used to have a private blog and I posted this on her 3 month birthday:

“Boo is changing more and more every day. I love seeing her personality show through, even though it often comes with quite a bit of opinions! She’s very social, energetic, and opinionated! She loves to ‘talk’ and coo with us – like a real conversation! She likes to talk like this with the “baby in the mirror” too! Melts me every time! Her little legs are getting stronger and stronger and she would rather you hold her in the standing position more than any other position. This past week she has taken to batting at her toys in her wiggle worm gym and I keep hearing the occasional gurgle, which is a new sound for her. We had her weighed at the pediatricians office last Friday and she is up to 13 lbs. 1 oz. already. Growing girl! As always, she is full of endless smiles for us.”

How things change in the blink of an eye.  Gurgles and coos and batting at toys – those were the big changes in her world.  Now she is talking ENDLESSLY in full sentences, cutting and pasting, dancing, learning her ABC’s, 123′s, and sight words, and singing a full array of songs, YET – she is still the ever-opinionated kiddo!  :)  Some things never change, eh?

          

My world became a better place the day you graced our lives and our hearts, my darling Boo Bear.  I love being your mama more than you’ll ever know.  I hope you always run across the room to me and say, “I need a kiss!”  I’ll always need one too – and I’ll ALWAYS have one for you.

Do you know what I love about you, Boo?  Pretty much everything…The funny things you say, your tiny voice singing Christmas Carols and delighting in Christmas lights, jumping and dancing around the room to “Cowboy’s Sweetheart” or other fun songs, pretty pictures you color for me, telling me to “Be Happy” on days that I’m not, your thrill of stomping in puddles and going for walks in the rain, your love for playing in the snow or enjoying beautiful sunny days, gathering acorns and dandelions, your eagerness to read stories together or make pretend soup and cookies in your kitchen, watching your critters being placed in “time out” – AGAIN, your laughter and silly sense of humor, your love of all things “fancy” and sparkly, and your complete love and adoration of your dearest friend, Fuzzy Bear.  I love to comb your pretty “yellow” curls and watch you twirl in the family room.  My favorite thing in the world is a giant, extra big hug from my girl – complete with a kiss – and maybe even some snuggle time, if I’m lucky.

       

And as you grow, I hope to grow too:  To be an even better mama to you, growing in patience, wisdom, and in the love of our Lord, as He continues to teach me how to be the best mommy I can be to you.  I’m NOT doing this perfectly and how I wish I could.  I know I’m going to continue in the “imperfect”, “wish-I-had-handled-that-better” path.  Yet, how I will strive each and every day to do even better – for you, for God.  I promise to love you forever, to pray over you always, and most importantly, to show you to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Hard to fathom, but He actually loves you even more than I can.  Just thinking about how much I love you must mean that He REALLY, REALLY, REALLY loves you!   Wow – that’s a lot.  I pray over your heart – that you will give it over to Him gladly and dedicate your life to living for Him.  I get excited just thinking about all of the good things He’s got planned for you.  You’re gonna be GREAT, Baby – just walking hand in hand with our Saviour!   Trust Him – He’s Faithful.  (I can’t wait to share with you all the ways He’s been Faithful to your daddy and me!)  Love Him – He loves you and wants to be the Keeper and Protector of your heart.  Follow Him – He won’t lead you astray.  You got a mama and daddy that will be uplifting you in prayer all the days of your life.  Take your STRENGTH from Him and COMFORT in those prayers!

The day the Lord blessed me with YOU, was one of the very best days of my life.  I remember kissing your tiny head the second you were placed in my arms for the first time.  I couldn’t stop looking at you – taking it all in – amazed at this absolute miracle of God wiggling in my arms and feeling incredibly humbled and blessed to be chosen to be your mama.   I’m so proud of you – of all that you are and what you’ve accomplished in just three short little years.  I am delighting in each day of your childhood and am extremely grateful that I can be home with you to relish in all of these moments.

I love you, my sweet Boo.  Always and Forever.  Happy Birthday, Princess!

          

** A special thank you to Kris Hayne for photographing our family for Boo’s 3 month photos and to Allison French for the beautiful photographs of our family this past Fall.

 

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