365 Photo Project: March Photos



3:1

 Lane wanted to try it out too.

 

3:2

Fun time playing Laser Tag! 

 

3:3

 Awana Grand Prix

 

3:4

 Finally, Lane's drinking milk from a sippy cup.  This is a huge accomplishment.

 

3:5

We were learning about shading in our Co-op Art class.

 

3:6

Lucas is such a nut.  He has Lane's pants on. 

 

3:7

 Lucas finished Kindergarten Math!
 

3:8

 Logan wanted to start a date night with just one child at a time.  It's something I have been wanting to do for a while anyway.  Logan and I went to dinner then to play Laser Tag since he didn't get to go when we went the week before.  Landon took Lucas to dinner and to the Fun Factory.  Next month we'll switch.

3:9

 I don't know why I was so fascinated by these birds.  They came in our yard by the hundreds for several days in a row. 

3:10

 Lane isn't quite big enough, but he's trying it out.
 

3:11

We love playing board games!
 

3:12

 Learning First Aid in our Contenders Club.

 

3:13

 This was a two day project.  We are working on a house to flip and I wanted to paint the doors black.  I can't wait to see it finished.
 

3:14

 I love them so far.

 

3:15

 We started 1st grade math.  He loves using our blocks.

 

3:16

 Logan ended up with the flu.  Julie is so sweet and brought some balloons.  She is so thoughtful.

 

3:17

Our St. Patrick's Day breakfast. 

 

3:18

 He's building a castle with Math-U-See blocks.

 

3:19

 We love Cracker Barrel.  Their high chairs are the best too.  He can get out of the normal ones in restaurants. 

 

3:20

 We're putting the boys to work early.  They are helping their dad put up signs for some new listings.

 

3:21

 Lucas finished Kindergarten Phonics/Reading/Writing!!

 

3:22

We went to Indiana and they had fun swimming in the pool. 

 

3:23

 Linton Miner Pride!  We went to watch Landon's hometown's team and his cousin, Ryan Woodward, play in the state high school basketball championship game.

 

3:24

Lane found his ears.  He's been showing everyone.  Too bad he was crying this time.  haha 

 

3:25

Landon went all Betty Crocker on me and made homemade cookies.  They were great! 

 

3:26

 Fun time at the Fun Factory.

 

3:27

My little cellist. 

 

3:28

 We're ready for the big game!  Too bad it ended in a heartbreaking loss and ended a great season of Hoosier Basketball.
 

3:29

 Easter Egg Hunt!

 

3:30
Easter Sunday


St. Patrick's Day

For the last few years I have made a green meal to celebrate St. Patrick's Day.  It's something the boys look forward to and asked me several times when we were going to have our green meal.  This year it fell on a Sunday.  We had a family gathering after church so I knew I would have to make breakfast.  I don't know about everyone else, but we do good just to get to church on time.  I never make a big meal for breakfast on Sunday mornings.  Thankfully, Landon helped.

 We had green waffles, green apples, toast with green sprinkles, Key Lime yogurt, green eggs, and green milk.



Awana Grand Prix

I know I'm over a month late in posting these, but blogging hasn't been on the top of the priority list lately.  I always love the Grand Prix Race we do at church for Awana.  The boys always look forward to it and enjoy designing the cars with their dad. 

TNT and Sparks getting ready for the race to begin.

 

We had to have a silly shot.

 

The judges deliberate on best design.

 

 

 

Lucas getting set.

 

 

Jason Riley kept the brackets in line.

 

Lucas got 3rd place in design.

 

I love this photo of Callie and Chloe.  So cute!

 

 

 

Check out these videos for more photos from the year and the kids saying some of their verses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Garage Makeover

On Friday afternoon, I got a text from Landon asking me if I wanted to clean out the garage.  My quick reply was YES!!!!!!!  When we moved into our house, the family who lived here previously didn't clean it out completely.  We cleaned it out somewhat in the first spring that we lived here, but we didn't do the works.  Then a few months later, we finished the basement and everything left over from there ended up in the garage.  Needless to say, our garage was JUNKY.  If we ever have company I try to quickly shut the garage door so no one will see it or use that entrance.  So when Landon wanted to work on the garage, I knew it was going to be a good weekend.  I love organization! 

I didn't even take a before photo because it was too embarrassing and I didn't want to show everyone.  Those who have seen it will appreciate the difference though.  This is a photo of everything cleaned out but there were already two truck loads hauled off so you can use your imagination.

We made a trip to Lowe's at 7:00 on Friday evening to get paint and supplies.  Since it was the first warm weekend, the place was hopping.  Landon wanted to paint all the walls and the floor before we went to bed, so we could get it all put back together on Saturday.  We stayed up until 1:30 a.m. painting. 

It's amazing what paint can do!

I have never had a garage this cleaned out before.  I had to take a picture.

 

 This is the finished project, painted from top to bottom, even the baseboards!  Landon was adamant that we were going to put the ping pong table in the garage.  This has been a source of conflict between the two of us, but I admit, I like it in here.  I just hope it doesn't become a catch all junk collector. 

 

I love it so much I could sleep out here.  Last night on our way home, Lucas said, "We're going home to our shiny new garage."  I just hope we can keep it this clean.  It will be easier though since it is more organized and everything has a place.  I may get just a little too excited about organization, but little things like hanging up a broom organizer just makes my heart happy. 

 

 A big thanks to Casey Sain and Landon's parents for babysitting, Bobby and Sara Farris, Caleb Delk, and Jessie and Micah Pullum for helping!

Ezekiel's Call

I have been studying the book of Ezekiel for the past several weeks in my personal bible study.  It is a book that I have been intimidated in studying, but I am glad I finally got the chance to dig into the book and learn what God is trying to reveal through His prophet from many years ago.  However, I am glad that I have waited until studying almost all of the Old Testament before I chose to study this one.  Honestly, I knew NOTHING about this book other than the "dry bones" story, and even then, the details were very limited.  There is so much more in the book than just that story!

The first thing from this book that really gripped me was God's calling and commission on him in Chapters 2-3.  It really got to me and I couldn't stop thinking about it.  Ezekiel was called to go to the house of Israel and speak with His words to them.  God tried to prepare him that even though He was not sending him to people of unintelligible speech or difficult language, but to the house of Israel....God's chosen people.  Yet, they will be unwilling to listen to him since they are stubborn and obstinate. 

Here's the part that really got me.  In 3:17-27, God tells Ezekiel that He has appointed him a watchman to the house of Israel and whenever he hears a word from the Lord, he is to warn them.   He is to speak to the wicked in the way that he should live.  If that wicked man chooses not to turn to the way of life (salvation), then that man shall die in his iniquity.  BUT, if Ezekiel does not warn him or speak to him, then his blood will be required at his (Ezekiel's) hand.  If he has done his part and warned the wicked, then he has delivered himself. 

He gives the same command about a righteous man who turns away from righteousness and is committing iniquity.  God told Ezekiel that he was to go and warn that person who has fallen away.  Once again, if he warns them, then he has delivered himself.  If he does not go to the person, then God holds him personally accountable. 

I don't know about everyone else, but I have NEVER heard this story.  I have been to church all my life, but you only get bits and pieces of Scripture in Sunday School and in sermons.  It's just simply not enough.  Studying the Word for myself has changed my life completely and I love to try to encourage others to do the same. 

Anyway, this story shows the seriousness that God had on Ezekiel to share truth to everyone.  It is so serious, in fact, that God shares this message to Ezekiel again later in the book.  God was going to hold him accountable.  This made me think of myself and whether or not God has the same standard for me many years later from Ezekiel's time on this earth.  We are watchmen as well.  The parallel is evangelism, or sharing the gospel to the lost.  It doesn't matter how people respond.  My pastor has said several times that every time you share the gospel with someone, their heart is changing.  Either they reject the gospel and their hearts harden, or their hearts soften and they receive it.  It is just our job to share it.  It's part of God's amazing plan.  He wants believers to share the gospel to the lost.  Otherwise, at the time of our salvation He would just take us immediately to heaven, but He has work for us to do here on earth.   

The message that we share should not just be to the lost according to this passage.  God's charge to Ezekiel included warning the righteous ones who turn to unrighteousness.  We are called to be holy because He is holy, and when God's people are wicked and act just like the unbelieving world, they give unbelievers an incorrect vision of God.  This is a very tricky and delicate matter.  However, many people quote quickly, "Do not judge lest you be judged."  Scripture does say that, and the Word does not contradict itself.  It is found in Matthew 18 on how to deal with a brother (believer) who is sinning.  This should first be bathed in prayer, and the motivation should be not just to point out faults of someone else.  The whole purpose of this is to bring restoration to the person who has gone astray.  This should also be done in love and as gently as possible.  Sometimes it won't be taken well, but other times restoration and repentance occurs.  God just calls us to be obedient in sharing His Word with love to both unbelievers and believers who have gone astray.  It's a matter of life and death eternally.

This account from Ezekiel made me really think about whether or not I have a sense of urgency or concern for others around me that I know are lost.  I have had a reoccurring question run through my mind for the last few months..."What am I doing while I still have my freedom?"   Is it enough?  Am I obedient in all areas?