Look, Mom, a mustache & signs of spring...

Its just a gummy worm, so funny she came up with this one on her own

Planted this rhubarb last year...it has grown like crazy...rhubarb cake, so delicious (again do not make a double recipe in a cookie sheet pan ;)

Garage sale treasure, they have liked playing on this because they can "dunk"

Precious outfit from our sister-in-law, huge lilac bush

Playing with a baby...a rare but exciting happening around here

Buddies out for a morning stomp in the rain puddles

District "Art Show" then off to the T-ball game...we were very impressed with the boys' creative abilities...doesn't come from home...glad they have a good Art Teacher

Blessings to your Spring!!!

When GOD shows up...

We had a great weekend with church stuff & today's Scripture passage reminded me of an amazing time when God showed up...

Almost exactly 3 years ago we were praying about adopting again, we had spent months praying, researching, praying, talking together, praying together... and we felt like God was leading us to adopt a baby girl from Ethiopia. Yet, it was BIG decision and so it felt like we could just keep "praying" about forever, so we set a deadline, by date X if we both didn't feel at complete peace we would just take a break from praying about it for awhile.

On exactly Date X, we had a visiting minister from out-of-state who started preaching & then he had to stop as he shared that he had a dream the night before that he was talking to a black man and the man was asking why we didn't do more to reach his people with the Gospel. The minister preaching said he doesn't usually have dreams like that and he didn't really even know why he was sharing it over the pulpit.

I knew, I began to cry, God had sent this man, given him this dream & then he "happened" to share it with the church on the exact day marked for our decision... GOD SHOWED UP!

And then began our adoption process for our precious Ellyana, who we are soooo very delighted to have in our family .

Our lives are mostly filled with the nitty-gritty of seeking to do God's will, not often filled with signs & wonders...and that is fine with us...we love the journey! But we are thankful for Ebenezer's in our lives when we can mark...here is the spot...God showed up!

Like today's Scripture...Paul was planning to head to Asia, but the Lord spoke to him in a dream to head to Macedonia...and he did & what a blessing it was!

Rejoicing today in what God has done in the past!

Frills & Flowers

After "keeping my eye out" for many months for some navy head-something to go with all the navy stuff Ellyana has to wear, no luck. I contacted our good friend & she came up with this darling headband that Ellyana wears A LOT! So cute...can go dressy or casual, very comfy to wear & has held up well in Ellyana's forever quest to keep up with her brothers!

You can see all the great stuff offered at frillsandflowers.etsy.com or

contact frills.flowers@gmail.com And our little night owl, sometimes likes to "do" my hair after the boys are in bed...

this is last night's gem! Somehow, I think she looks a lot better than me in "hair gear"!

What's your "2 word story"?

Its everywhere.

Signs in the yards.

T-shirts.

Bumper Stickers.

Churches have been mobilized.

The people have been trained.

And they are in action,

reaching out to the homeless, their neighbors, their friends, the grocery store clerks...

with the message of the gospel.

Peace? Peace.

Forgiven? Forgiven.

Loved? Loved.

And many more are all over right now.

This area needed revitalized. But revival starts in the heart with Jesus.

What would be my "2 word story"?

Enough? Enough.

Its hard to know if you are ever doing enough.

Yet, when we look to Jesus we see HE paid the price, and it was enough.

Enough, period.

Pray for this area. Think about your area & what you could do.

God's Spirit is BIG here, opening doors that the message of salvation can be shared!

What's your 2 word story?

2wordstory.com

The days are flying by...

Our precious Zach turned "6" at the end of April! What a good boy!!!! He is growing up so much!!!He LOVES to celebrate...with sharing about 48 cakes for the day, treat bags for his class, a special sign, pin to wear, Chuck-E-Cheese was his choice with special friends to share the time & the first T-ball practice of the season...his uniform # this year...NUMBER 6! What a special day that he loved & he appreciated so much! Here's Zach with part of his team...the Ironbirds...he's already got a home run...I missed it because I was at BJ's game...kinda how our spring is going to look with the boys in different leagues.BJ went up to the next league & is enjoying his season with a bunch of nice buddies from school!

BJ's class hosted a "Poetry Cafe"...it was just darling...we were "waited" on, ordered our "poem", and then our waiter came and read us the poem we selected...it was delicious!

We had such a fun visit with Uncle Kent & Aunt Joann...they got in on "our lives"...picking the boys up from school, baseball games, local food, Farmer's Market...
Look at this precious outfit from them to Ellyana...she "stole the show" in it...
Here we are (minus BJ) at Coney Island! We all had so much fun being together!

And just for the record, we brought a whole new meaning to "firing up lunch" for the church on Mother's Day. The kids enjoy helping make Mindy Rolls...BJ's special job of dipping them in lots of butter...the butter went over in the pan (yes, I crammed in way too many) while baking them Sunday morning at church...smoke billowed out...set off the smoke alarms that were connected to the fire station that brought in 2 big fire trucks to the church...just as people were beginning to arrive for the morning. Thankfully, nothing was harmed, not even the rolls. And well, I think everyone got a really good laugh for the day...Happy Mother's Day!

Here's the recipe if you are looking for something fun to include your kids with...each kid has a station & we work like an assembly line...just for the record...you can not fit a double batch on 1 cookie sheet.

RECIPE TITLE: MINDY GREAT ROLLS


INGREDIENTS

1 ½ loaves of white bread
1 (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened
1 egg yolk
1 tsp. vanilla
1/8 cup sugar

2 sticks melted butter (our more if your kid let's them "soak")

Cinnamon sugar mix: 2 cups sugar
2 ½ tsp. cinnamon

METHOD

Trim the crusts off bread and slightly flatten each slice with rolling pin. Mix cream cheese, egg yolk, vanilla and sugar with mixer until well blended. Spread each slice of bread with cream cheese mixture and roll tightly. Roll each piece of bread in butter and cinnamon/sugar mixture, then place seam side down in jelly roll pan. You may refrigerate overnight or bake immediately. If frozen, thaw before baking. Before baking, cut each piece in half to form rolls. Bake in 350 degree oven for 15-20 minutes.

ENJOY!

Chicago, Cousins, Cake=Our Spring Break

Brian's conference in Chicago at the beginning of Spring Break for the kids was a grand way to get it started. The above picture was at Navy Pier's amazing indoor garden on the top floor. The boys loved getting to show Brian Shedd Aquarium that we had been to in August.I tried to spark a little more "baby doll" interest with Ellyana at the the American Girl Doll store...precious Addy doll. Cheesecake Factory for an early dinner...it was fun & delicious to be back.The kids were thrilled to get to stay at my brother & his wife's amazing place in Chicago and Brian & I got to enjoy some late night Deep Dish Chicago Pizza while catching up them..I had been missing Chicago style pizza...it did not let me down...it was so delicious!!!

We went into Rainforest Cafe & the kids got to look around...but they were not open for lunch till later...so we went across the street to Portillo's. Do you see the common theme to Chicago?...lots of fun & lots of amazing food!!!We headed to my parents & really enjoyed my Grandma's 85th birthday party! Wonderful to see aunts, uncles, cousins & many great-aunts & uncles...so special to be with everyone!!!Lots of fun with the cousins...My sister & I were able to visit my other sister for a "birthday breakfast" which was special because they are awaiting baby #2 any moment. And we also had a fun little birthday party for all the rest of us that have April birthdays.
We came home for a few days & the kids got to just play & play here. Its one of my favorite things in the world for our boys to have time to play forever together...the best of friends...what a joy they are to have home! Zach & his cousin have their birthdays this week. 1 day apart these 2 are great buddies!Getting in another Easter egg hunt...3 total for this year...lots of fun for all the kids!

Poor Zach we had highly suspected was allergic to cats. Let's just say..he is!

And always something exciting with visiting the farm, 7 baby bunnies discovered, all the kids got a chance to hold them...here's our 3 kiddos each with a bunny!

So this Spring Break came to an end with an amazing amount of memories with family!

We were so very thankful for our time & the blessing each one is in our lives!

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Resurrection Cookies, Coloring Eggs, Resurrection Eggs, Easter Music and Egg Hunts...

it reminds us of ONE thing...He is RISEN!!!

The POWER of the Empty Tomb & our Resurrected Lord,

He can LIVE today in your heart & mine!

The best news of ALL time..."He is NOT here, for HE has RISEN!"