The Gift

Because Easter has everything to do with the death, resurrection and Ascension of Christ, we do everything we can in our home to try to teach our children about the gift... the incredible, amazing, priceless gift of salvation.

Though we don't "do" the Easter bunny, we still make time to make the day meaningful and fun.I do give my kids some candy and we do participate in hunting for eggs and a basket. Our eggs are a little bit different. We open them and find representations of the meaning of the holiday. We've found it to be a fun- yet very meaningful way- to read about, talk about and reflect upon the gift.

Because though we are wholly unworthy, we've been given a gift that is utterly priceless.

While I sat in church on Easter Sunday, I was so overwhelmed with gratitude. To consider all the HE has done for us. To realize that though the wages of sin is death, we are redeemed and free because of the price He paid by laying down His life for us... for me... for you!

Those are not just words- they are not just scripture verses that should be taken for granted, rote pieces of rhetoric we recite on Sundays and holidays.

No one on earth disputes that the life of Jesus is true, but many question the "story" of Christs death, resurrection and Ascension. If you have any doubt, please read this.

It's all about choice. Your choice. My choice.

If it's not true, and yet I still believe in Jesus death and resurrection- at the end of my life, what will I have lost? I will have gained a fuller, richer life- a life lived with purpose and hope. Even if - at the end of it all- I've lived my life believing in the hope of Christ and eternal life and it turns out to be the biggest hoax and conspiracy ever conceived... I've still lost nothing.

But if I choose to live my life in disbelief, or (even worse) believing but choosing to live my live without him Him at the absolute center of my life - I will gained nothing and lost

everything.

I know that he lived. I know that he died. And I know, with every ounce of my being that miraculously, he rose from the grave, the tomb is empty...

 
HE IS ALIVE!

He made the biggest sacrifice. Because he chose me (and you, and you and EVERYONE) to give the priceless gift of salvation and eternal life, my greatest challenge is that each morning I will choose him.

I will choose each day to live in service to Him. In big ways, in small ways, in any way that I can.

I don't want to waste the gift He gave me on a life lived for myself. I don't want to come to the end of my short life on earth and only wish I could go back and change my path, wish I would have put Him first, wish I would have chosen Him over choosing myself.

More than anything, I want my life to matter.
I want it to count for something at the end of the day.
I want it to count for something at the end of my life.

The Word makes it clear that "Narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it." (Matt 7:14) yet "without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him."
But "My Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."

My greatest hope and desire is that my children, my family, my friends and all the people I know and love will receive the gift of eternal life. It is ours to take. He gave it freely.

Receive!

And give back to Him.

I love...

you...



you...



you...



you...

you...

and especially you (the tall guy in the middle) for making it all possible...

Happy Valentine's Day, My Loves!

It begins! A "Christmas" story of giving gifts...

Merry Christmas EVE!

I let the kids open a couple of Christmas presents this morning. They (or was it I??) just couldn't wait for them to open.

To be honest, every year I'm a little bit torn about the whole "gift giving." I LOVE to give my kids gifts.  On the other hand, turning Christmas into a present extravaganza seems wrong to me for obvious reasons. However, we live in a country where Christmas- unfortunately-  has become extremely commercialized. Not even in just the last few years. It's been that way ever since I was growing up. And when I think about Christmas when I was growing up- I remember the incredible excitement and fun of looking forward to opening presents. As a child, our Christmas' were FILLED to the brim with presents. Too many. Trust me.

Which brings me to the conundrum that I face each year. Do I skip out on presents all together to teach my kids a lesson? Which seems entirely unfair to my kids. Do I give just a couple small gifts? But then wonder- if I give 2, what's the difference between giving 2 or giving 4?

I have truly struggled with this for several years but finally feel like I've come to the answer...

For us, "Christmas" is not defined by one day. It is not 'one' church service we attend once a year. It is not acknowledging Christ's birth 'one' day throughout the year. It is not trying to pretend that we give each other presents to somehow symbolically represent gifts given to Jesus at his birth. I've come to realize that all of that is just trying too hard to make it something that it's really not.

In our family, we celebrate Christ's birth throughout the year. He is not acknowledged just one day - which happens to be December 25th. He is talked about every day... throughout the day. He is part of every single day of our lives. And it's not only on Christmas that we celebrate His glorious birth. It's truly something that our family celebrates, discusses and recognizes throughout the year. On most days, at least one of my kids thanks God during their nightly prayers for sending Jesus to earth for US.

So that leaves us with Christmas. What to do. Gifts? No gifts? One gift? Three gifts?

For me, it doesn't matter anymore. We've come to explain to our kids that they are giving and receiving presents because it's a fun thing to do once a year. It happens to coincide with Christmas. We wish it didn't- but that's what American's do. So we give our kids gifts. We don't pretend we are giving gifts to each other on behalf of Jesus. Frankly, that's just too phony. And, honestly, when I think about myself- I realize that all of the heaps of presents I received on Christmas' growing up did not shadow or negate or in any way diminish the love I had and continued to grow and develop for Jesus.


 
We don't spend the entire day exchanging gifts. But we do take our time. Because it's fun. Because I'm a mother and I don't know what Mom doesn't absolutely revel in seeing her children's face light up when they open a gift you chose with care and love.
 

And when we are finished opening gifts, we spend time together as a family. Playing, eating, sledding, listening to music, playing new board games... just loving each other.

Yes, we read the Christmas story. But that is not something we do only once a year. It's a story that is shared many times throughout the years.

I feel so thankful that my kids love Jesus. They really, truly love Him. He is the center of their parents lives... and my heart is overjoyed as I see then choosing- for themselves- to make Him the center of their lives as well.

 

That's not something that happens by celebrating Christ one day a year on the 25th of December. It's a choice they are making because they have come to know Him and love Him by seeing His goodness, protection, provision and love become evident in their daily lives.

So on December 25th, we will celebrate the birth of Christ. We will open too many presents, stay up too late and eat too many Christmas cookies. 

But the celebration will not end on December 26th. We will continue to celebrate His coming throughout the year. 

May you also feel the LOVE and presence of our savior on this day and EVERY day.

Halloween

Does anyone recognize this little guy below? He looks awfully familiar...

He kind of looks a little bit like THIS little guy below. But they are different babies!

The older that Christian gets, the more we are amazed how much he looks exactly like his big brother, Alex. The top picture is of Alex as a 2 month old back in 2004. And the second picture is of Christian last weekend on Halloween (at 2 months old). Honestly, it would be nearly impossible to tell their baby pictures apart if it weren't for Christian's little red nose (more on that in a later post!)

The kids had SO much fun on Halloween. This year, I ended up with 2 "super hero's," a Princess, and a little roaring Lion.

Here's a hot tip for you... don't go shopping for Halloween costumes the night before Halloween, or you may end up with a size 10/12 costume for your size 7 daughter. Oh, thank goodness for the magic of safety pins! But on the bright side, I've got 5 more years to recycle the Super Girl costume. Not bad. "Two" costumes for the price of one.

Here they are in full "super hero" power mode ;)
(even Ariana- our Princess Belle- tried to look tough!) I swear I didn't' tell them to pose like that. But since they did- I had to take a picture cause it made me laugh!

... and, nor did I tell Robin to pose like this but- kids will be kids.

And last, but not least- our little Princess who dressed up as Belle. However, it wasn't truly costume for her since these are more like her everyday clothes that she likes to wear (when I give her the choice ;)

Weekend

This has truly been a beautiful weekend. The weather has been amazing! We've been able to spend a ton of time outside. On Saturday, we ventured over to a local park reserve area. The kids played on a giant playground (which proved to be a little too stressful for me, considering the number of other kids/families there! I could never find my kids!!). But after a while of chasing them around the playground- we walked by the beautiful lake where families were grilling, boating and people were fishing. It was the epitome of "Memorial Day Weekend!"

Here a few pictures of our Saturday.

Tuckered out Ariana...


Daddy & his kiddos...


Showing Ariana ducks on the lake...


Best Friends!

Happy Memorial Day!!

Angela

Mother's Day!

We don't have a ton of "traditions" in our home, but one that we DO have, and that I've been come especially fond of, is Mother's Day morning. For the last 7 years, Mike has made me a delicious breakfast of crepes, scrambled eggs & toast and brought me breakfast in bed. That's saying a lot, considering that he just doesn't cook.... other than that one morning a year!

After breakfast, we usually read the paper, get the kids ready and go for a hike. Though I'm normally a church goin' girl on Sunday morning's- it has become a tradition for us to go hiking because I really cherish and covet that time alone with just my children and my husband- but we also get together with my own mother and sister every Mother's Day afternoon, as well.

This year, we headed out to the Arboretum. Though it started out chilly- within an hour the sun came out and the weather turned glorious!

Here's a picture of my little family. Not bad, considering that it was taken the self timer of my DLSR! Perhaps not a perfect shot- but usually none are when you are trying to get 5 people in the same frame... all looking the same way and smiling!

The kids had a blast playing on (what we have come to call) the "Stick Park." It's a whole play area for kids to explore outdoors and the only things to play with or climb on are all made out of logs and wood. The kids LOVE it! Mike says- if we lived on 20 acres, he'd build us a stick park. That makes me laugh because he's not, what I'd call, a craftsman by any stretch of the imagination.

We also headed through the shrub maze. What a wonderful place for the kids to explore! You've gotta watch out for those big kids racing through - but all in all, it's the perfect game for the little ones...

I sure love being a Mommy. It's not always easy- but I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.

Hope you enjoyed these pictures! This will likely be the only post you'll ever see with so many pictures of mwaaa in them... since I'm always the one behind the lens. But because it was, ahem, MOTHER'S DAY- I insisted!

Easter

I love Easter. I do believe it's one of my favorite holidays solely because the meaning and significance is so precious to me. Well, it's more than precious- it's everything, really.

At church on Sunday morning, I was reminded of a beautiful truth that is so profound... yet anyone can understand and receive it.... that Grace is God giving us what we don't deserve and Mercy is God NOT giving us what we actually deserve. (And, if you are my "facebook friend" - I apologize for the repetitiveness, as I shared it there, as well!) But it touched me so deeply. I know this truth. I receive this truth. But on Sunday, when I was again reminded, I dwelled on it all day because, after all, isn't that the entire purpose and meaning of Easter? God is unbelievably merciful. Jesus died for me... for YOU, because death is what we deserve. The Bible is clear... the only "payment" for sin is our death- completely what we deserve. Yet, in God's mercy He sent His Son to bear our penalty so that we might LIVE. It's really almost too much to comprehend. But that IS how much He loves us.

And, of course, you've gotta love how the story ends. Not with death... but with LIFE! The victory won. I am so glad to be on His TEAM!

And, Ariana would also like to share with you that Jesus is her KING (see hat below) ;)



And, my son would like to share his adorable smile...



And, of course, I can't forget my Gracie girl who would like to share her own moment of reflection with you (see below... staring out at pond in deep contemplation as she often is).




Now, I didn't do Easter Bunny silliness this year. I just couldn't bring myself to do it. (Not that there is anything wrong with it if you do!) But for me, I decided this year that the Easter bunny is a little too far removed from the significance of the holiday. Santa is one thing- because there actually was a Saint Nick and Santa's charity ties in with the holiday. But- I really couldn't think of one single reason why an Easter bunny would have anything to do with Jesus being crucified for our sins and rising from the grave.

Of course, I DO value my children's imagination! We've got a generous tooth fairy around here who leaves plenty of cash. And Santa still stops by our house (and makes sure to use different colored wrapping paper than the gifts from the parents). But, the meaning of Easter is just too important to me to distract with a big tall bunny. I just couldn't do it.

A couple weeks ago the kids mentioned something about the Easter bunny leaving chocolate kisses last year, but I had to tell them straight out, "Sorry kiddos- there's no big 7 foot tall floppy eared Easter bunny. It's fun to talk and pretend there's a big bunny but Easter is really all about and only about Jesus." And, to my surprise, they laughed and thought it was even cooler that it was actually MOM who somehow "magically" made those chocolate kisses appear trailing from their bedrooms down the stairs last year. And, once again- the trail of chocolate kisses appeared this year, as well (minus the few that Ariana stole and ate on her way down early in the morning before the big kids).

And, of course, we DID have an Easter egg hunt! All right- so, this year, I confess- I used "Resurrection Eggs" - which I have to admit are the COOLEST thing ever. But- they also got to find a couple Easter baskets- and, lest you start thinking I'm totally lame and no fun at all... YES, candy was included!

To finish up the morning, the kids performed a song they made up about Spring which (of course) featured Grace singing the solo and Alex standing by as the side kick to jump and flap his wings when Grace sang about the birds flying around...

Happy Easter!!

good times were had by all...

Celebrating the 4th of July in typical "American" fashion, we went swimming at Mike's brother's pool, we ate hamburgers and hot dogs (albeit, organic, 100% vegetarian fed, nitrate-free... wink, wink), spent the entire day outside, and finished off over at my Dad's with fireworks and s'mores (the non-organic kind ;)

Heinrich (aka Alex) LOVED going down the slide!

Weeeeeeeeeeeeee.........

Grace had a blast on the slide, as well!

Ariana was quite a handful at the pool (no surprise there)... she had so much fun being IN the pool, that when everyone was done and OUT of the pool, it was all we could do to keep her out, too!

This, perhaps, was Ariana's favorite part- jumping with Daddy!

After many hours at the pool party, we headed over to Dad's and met up with my sister and her kids. As you can see from Grace's face, below, they were delighted at the fireworks display...

... even if it was just a small "ground display" done by their big cousin, Samuel....

Here is a quick moment of smiling, in between constant mosquito slapping...

When it's all said and done, a good time was had by all...