Family Vacation

Ryan and I were so excited to take our first mini-van, family vacation (are you thinking about the Griswald's?)! We planned a trip to Cheyenne, WY and Estes Park, CO. Our trip had it's ups and downs as most family trips do, but for the most part it was delightful. I just love my family so much and this trip was a great way to celebrate just that! Let me show you a glimpse of our trip through pictures and thanks.

Ephesians 3:20-21 "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."

411. The extra blue skies and wide open spaces of Wyoming.


412. My sister's laundry blowing and drying in the Wyoming wind. So simple.

413. Shawn and Lisa's inspiration to recycle and reuse. The hard work put into making something old come alive and look beautiful and new.

414. Talking with my sister. Sharing our families and lives. She is such a gift to me. I learn so much from watching my little sister!


415. Cousins that squeal with excitement when they meet. Sharing experiences with cousins that are close in age.


416. Tyler's chatter, his hugs, blowing kisses. His parents are teaching him well. (I just laugh when I look at this picture..cracks me up!)

417. Ryan and Shawn's relationship as brother-in-laws. Unexpected friends.

418. Enjoying God's creation with my kids. Seeing the kids climb rocks and hike with so much joy!


419. My dear, dear friends' parents/in-laws that let us stay in Estes Park at their condo. Their kindness never ceases to amaze me. I want to grow up to be as generous as they are.

420. Reading a book with this in front of me and a breeze gently brushing against my cheek.

421. Riding horses with my kids into the forest.

422. Laughing with the kids when the horses needed a pit stop to pee!

423. Zac picking me wildflowers throughout the whole entire trip.

424. Hugging Evan and Rhonda. Listening to my dear friend talk honestly about faith and hope. Rhonda is hoping for God's healing, but also preparing her son's heart for eternity. She is teaching him to have no fear and to find God's provision in every single day. Her life, her testimony of faith is real and alive!

425. Dream-talking with my dear husband on the way home (9 hours).

426. Contentment and joy in coming home.

2 Corinthians 5:17

"If anyone is in Christ he is a new creation, the old is gone and the new has come!" 2 Cor 5:17

410.

What a glorious celebration our family had today! Hallie has made a decision for Christ and decided to make her commitment public and obey Jesus by being baptized today! Oh, the joy that rose up in my heart to see her daddy baptize her!

A few weeks ago she told us she wanted to be baptized. We asked her why and she was able to tell us..."I make bad choices and that is sin. Jesus died on the cross for my sins and I choose to follow Him. Since he told me to get baptized I want to get baptized."

All of heaven celebrated with our family today! Praise God for His unfailing love and His mercy shown to our daughter, Hallie! AMEN!

Fourth, Family, Fun

Fourth of July weekend

We celebrated a busy, fun-filled, late nights Fourth of July weekend with both sides of our family. We got to see all the cousins, watch wonderful fireworks displays, eat too much food and spend a day at a theme park in Iowa! I will be back with pictures later in the week...

400. Jake's grin when we saw him after five days at Nannie and Poppie's house.
401. Cousins playing and laughing together.
402. Close, tight-knit, love-no-matter-what family.
403. Reading with Ryan.
404. Riding with Hallie on her first roller coaster ride (even though she was not a fan).
405. Jake's caution.
406. Zac's no-fear, i will try anything, attitude.
407. Ryan and I acting like kids (we wanted to go to Adventureland more than the kids!)
408. My kids endurance...7 hours at a theme park without whining.
409. Freedom we have in America to talk about Jesus!!

Long overdue!

My weekly blogging has been lacking with all the summer fun at our house, but the daily gifts from the Father never fail!
Lord, thanks for...

386. Jacob's contented temperment

387. Zac's spirited, ambitious temperment

388. Hallie's sweet, thoughtful temperment

389. Jake on the car ride to Kearney spontaneously saying, "Mom, isn't that a beautiful sunset."

390. God's mercy in revealing Himself to my child in a sunset.

391. Zac handing me a heart bead and saying, "Mommy this is my heart. I love you!"

392. Knowing God is working on his heart because all love is from the Father.

393. Hallie always picking family first.

394. Hallie is talking about being baptized. She told us about her understanding of Jesus. She said, "I know that I make bad choices and that is sin. Jesus died for my sin and I choose to follow Him. And, He told me to get baptized." His gift of eternal life for my dear daughter.

395. Sleeping in my childhood room under soft, cozy sheets.

396. My daddy taking care of me...he gave this 34 year old gas money and a $5 for a coffee on the way out of town.

397. My parents energy to lovingly and enjoyably spend a week with each of my kids this summer.

398. Summer yard projects with an enthusiastic husband.

399. Great summer reads... Son of Hamas, Screwtape Letters, Ruth...Love, Loss and Legacy. (Insights to come if I have the time to jot down my thoughts on this blog)

So, Jake told me...

...he was reading the bible. I had my suspicions because he can not yet read. So, I asked him to show me. He picks up his King James Bible and says, "See I made it this far." He is well into the new testament and so I say, "Wow! So, how are you doing that?" He told me, "Well, I go through the pages and find words I can sound out and then I read those. It's really hard."

No kidding!

Quote of the Day from Zac

Zac has been at "Ranch Camp" aka VBS this week at church. They are collecting things for children in Romania with For God's Children International.

This morning Zac says to Ryan, "Dad I need some money because there are all these kids that are orphans and don't have a mommy or daddy and we need to help them."

Just love this wonderful son of mine!


(Zac with tape wrapped all around him because he wanted stripes like a zebra)