Evening Bliss

This evening was one of bliss. After the departure of my parents, the sad good-bye, and an afternoon nap, we spent the evening enjoying the backyard. Ezekiel was thrilled when we came home from the store with a bag full of balls for him. We dumped them into a five gallon bucket and let him throw them, kick them, and fill the bucket just to dump it out again.

Ezekiel also got to talk with Noni on the phone. He actually used his words!!! We love to hear all the new things he can say!






We enjoyed the wonderful family time of just hanging out.


What a great night. Just relaxing, throwing balls, and making each other laugh!!! Ezekiel loves to press his face against the glass, so mama joined in.








Ezekiel loves his blankie and Mr. Monkey. He takes them everywhere!!

Happy Resurrection Day!!

MY REDEEMER LIVES!

What a glorious day! Our Easter weekend was one of delight and as my husband and I reflected on the day I realized I have truly grown up. Josh and I were putting on one of the last coats of paint to our bathroom when we discussed our highlight of the day and I surprised myself with my answer. As I reflected I expected my highlight to center around either Ezekiel, family, or the traditions we take part in each year, but none of these seemed to excite me as much as my Sunday school class.

I truly enjoyed watching Ezekiel discover his basket full of treasures and to his delight eggs with licorice in them. I will never forget the time spent dying easter eggs and watching Ezekiel dunk the eggs with his hands. He eventually covered the table, his arms and tummy with dye. I also loved the time with family in the beautiful weather, but my top moment was in Sunday School.



I was granted the great pleasure of sharing with 5th and 6th graders the true meaning of Easter and how it really is an amazing day because our REDEEMER LIVES!!! We spent the hour rehearing the easter story of Christ dying on the cross, being buried in a tomb, and rising on the third day!! PRAISE THE LORD. But my what I loved the most was reminding them that Jesus gave us forgiveness and we need to share it!!! I was so excited to share with them a bracelet that tells the story of Christ through five colored beads. What an hour we had spending time in God's word discovering his love for us!!



While this weekend was so amazing I realized I had truly grown up. My highlight wasn't the wonderful baskets full of treasures or the time spent with others whom I love deeply, but I was touched by the power of God's love and how I MUST share this gift with those around me!!

Here are some pictures of our glorious weekend. May your life be touched by the power of Christ's blood and may your life never be the same!!!

For Noni

Ezekiel throughly enjoyed his spaghetti dinner. For the first time he successfully used his spork to eat. We love the mess he made just as much as he did. These pictures are for you Noni- we thought you would love the mess!!!

New Tricks

Isn't it amazing the amount of things we learn in our lifetime. While my parents have been visiting Ezekiel has learned some new things. First he has learned that olives are fun to eat when they are put first on the finger and then in the mouth. It is so fun to watch him do this. Every olive is placed on the finger and then the journey to the mouth begins. The second thing Ezekiel has learned is that he loves to spin. Papa (my father) set Ezekiel in a barstool that spun and just turned him and turned him until he couldn't hold his head up. While most of us would think this was cruel, Ezekiel LOVED it. He would be so dizzy he would fall down and could hardly sit up, but he would be back at the bottom of the stool begging for more. CRAZY!!! Last of all Ezekiel is expanding his vocabulary everyday (or so it seems). He now says please which comes out sounding more like peas, but it still melts mama's heart! He also says bush, duck, and once in a while no. It is so amazing to hear him now repeat what you say to the best of his ability! Ezekiel has also learned to say cheese when mommy tries to take a picture. It has sure helped in capturing his beautiful smile on film!!!! It is so fun to learn new things that bring life that sweet taste of joy!

Glimpse of God

Today I sat and watched Ezekiel eat. Such a little thing that happens everyday, yet today I looked at him with a different mind. I sat there just drinking in all the little noises he made and the way he just enjoyed the sticky mess. As I sat there watching I got the sense that this must be the way God sees us. He must just look at us and adore us as we do simple things. I can only imagine the amount of love he has for us as I think about the love I have for my Ezekiel. He is so precious!!! Thanks God for all the glimpses you give us to understand you a little more. May we strive to love you as much as you love us! Thank you for the wonderful gifts you give us everyday. Just look at the precious gift -Ezekiel!!!! Isn't it amazing that even in the midst of a mess you can find beauty!!!

Water, Water, Water

The last few days have been full of excitement, fun, and tons of water. Papa and Mema arrived Sunday night and the days since have been full of fun. Ezekiel is already learning that Grandparents spoil and he is taking full advantage!!! He spent the last few days going through outfit after outfit due to fun!

The first water adventure was getting to do the dishes with mommy. Though Ezekiel enjoyed eating many of the bubbles he also did like splashing in the water and taking the dishes from mommy before she could get them clean. It was a fun morning watching him pour water out of the sink all over the floor and down the front of himself. Outfit one done!

Outfit two was used to wash the truck with Papa. Wash- being a loose term for splash through the puddles, fling the wet rag around, and learn from Papa how to drink from the hose. He did manage a couple of times to put the rag to the truck, but not much cleaning took place. Ezekiel has had a ton of fun playing with water, dirt, and bugs lately. He just loves being a boy!!!