Sunny Sunday

Today was wonderfully relaxing.  We went to church in the morning and then had a yummy lunch at La Unica in Elsinore.  This afternoon we didn't go anywhere but just hung out at home together.  The boys were an extra joy today.  I can't even remember them arguing at all!!  So refreshing! 

Mason has been on Erick about our spa.  Last week Mason really wanted to go in the spa all of a sudden and has been asking about 20 times a day!  Finally, we got it filled up, but there is a leak!

I love this one of Miles and Erick.
Miles says "Daddy what did you learn in church today?"  So Erick told him about the sin of pride.  We were studying Daniel chapter 4 today.  Then Miles tells us that he learned about loving his neighbor like in the story of the good Samaritan.  Sweet moment.

Isn't Miles a crack up?!  He said "Oh mommy is going to LOVE that picture.  I made a great face."

I just love her to pieces!!  By the time I had her all set up on the lawn my photography assistant (Miles) lost interest and ran away.  Too bad because he is so good at making her laugh. 

Are You A Negative, A Positive, Or A Neutral?

Please watch this!  And listen to the whole thing!  He was speaking to ministry leaders at the Gospel Coalition Conference but the message still has great application to ALL of us on being a peacemaker.  Convicted my heart, just the way I like it!!

To watch click here.

To read the outline click here.

Ellie 5 months

I can't believe it has been 5 months already!  Ellie is the easiest baby I have had or seen!  I hope she stays this way!!!  I LOVE my baby girl, she is completely amazing!!!  The boys are totally crazy about her too!  I never thought they would love her so much.  It is so sweet!  Ellie thinks they are hilarious.  She totally lights up when they are near her.  They are the best ones at making her laugh and smile.  She has Miles' laugh.

Sea World

We had a blast at Sea World today!

More pictures on my shutterfly.

Six Biblical Guidelines for Loving Each Other Amid Differences

I just saw this on Between Two Worlds.  This is great advice and I probably need to read this every morning!

Some excellent counsel from Piper to the pastoral staff at Bethlehem.

1. Let’s avoid gossiping.


2. Let’s identify evidences of grace in each other and speak them to each other and abouteach other.


3. Let’s speak criticism directly to each other if we feel the need to speak to others about it.


4. Let’s look for, and assume, the best motive in the other’s viewpoint, especially when we disagree.


5. Think often of the magnificent things we hold in common.


6. Let’s be more amazed that we are forgiven than that we are right. And in that way, let’s shape our relationships by the gospel.

Read the whole thing for biblical support and explanation.

*Take an extra minute to read the whole article.  It is very good!

Kathy Ireland

Kathy Ireland speaks on Fox News.  What a great story!

My New Photo Website

I created a website through Shutterfly for our extended families to view and order prints that we have taken.  This was super easy to start.  In the past I have used Shutterfly to order my prints and make photo books so I have a lot of photos already stored on their site.  It is just going to take some time for me to upload more pictures to the site.  I thought it was a great idea of Shutterfly to do this.  I might even use this instead of my Flickr site because it is so easy for people to order prints off this site!

If you want to check my new site out click here  My Shutterfly Site

I will try to keep it updated and add some more photos from a while ago too!  I'll also make a link on the side bar of this blog.

Easter

Ellie with her cousin Lucy

Lucy

Mason

Miles - Excited for the egg hunt

Miles hunting

Lucy

Ellie with Pops

We rented a jumper.  We were expecting 5 other kids but they couldn't make it so I felt kind of funny with this huge jumper for just 4 kids.  But our kids (and some of us old people) loved it!

My Mom, my sister in-law Jeri, and my brother Craig.

Ellie is fascinated with her fingers.

More pictures on my shutterfly.

Easter Eggs

I think this is actually the first year that we dyed eggs with the boys!  Mason did one egg and Miles did the rest.  Mason didn't like the vinegar smell at all.  I like Hannah's idea of silk dyed eggs.  And then there is Grandma Kristie who dyed her baby chickens different colors for Easter!  I wish I had a picture of that!

Grandma's and Papa's

Mason and Miles stayed overnight my parents house along with their cousin Wesley.  They had a great time.  My mom gave me a disc of pictures of their time together.

They did a lot of hiking.  I think these are at the Padre Dam in San Diego.

Here they are at the Children's Museum in downtown San Diego.

This is a Volkswagen Bug at the museum that they let the kids paint.

Their cousin Wesley.

That's My King! (video)

Good Friday Service tonight at 7pm  www.faith-bible.net

S.M. Lockridge (1913-2000)

Taekwondo Yellow Belt Testing

Mason did it!!!  He got his yellow belt tonight.  Great job, Mason!  You are awesome!

Love Language #4

I don't get all excited about diamonds or luxury cars but this gorgeous new kitchen faucet gets me giddy!  Isn't it absolutely beautiful!  I have always wanted a kitchen faucet with a sprayer and a built in soap dispenser.  This is going to make washing dishes so much fun.  Well one of my top love languages is not so much receiving gifts but acts of service.  I REALLY love it when Erick does projects around the house.  It is funny that God put us together because Erick really doesn't like home repair  :-)  Erick was so sweet today, I not only got a new kitchen facet but also he put new faucets in the kid's bathroom too.

Great Books: Marriage and Family

Mark Driscoll just posted some of Grace and his favorite books on marriage and family.  I like a lot of the same ones, but thought I would post my own list too.   I love to read, especially on this subject.  Erick and I really enjoy doing premarriage counseling with young couples in Kaleo.  I have found such joy in being married and really appreciate the wonderfully wise biblical premarriage counseling that we received 12 years ago.  Anyway, here is my list.

Marriage / Dating

• Doing Things Right in Matters of the Heart by John Ensor (we have used this as a book study for Kaleo)


• Love That Lasts: When Marriage Meets Grace by Gary and Betsy Ricucci (we use this book for Premarriage counseling)


• When Sinners Say I Do by Dave Harvey

Sex

• Intimate Issues by Linda Dillow (a must read for all married women)


• Sex, Romance, and the Glory of God by CJ Mahaney

Parenting / Family

• Don't Make Me Count To Three By Ginger Plowman


• Disciplines of a Godly Family by Kent Hughes


• Shepherding a Child's Heart by Tedd Tripp


• Future Men by Doug Wilson

Women

• Feminine Appeal by Carolyn Mahaney (all females should read this!)


• Damsels in Distress by Martha Peace


• Disciplines of a Godly Woman by Barbara Hughes


• Women Helping Women by Elyse Fitzpatrick


• Love to Eat Hate to Eat by Elyse Fitzpatrick

Men

• Disciplines of a Godly Man by Kent Hughes

Erick has a broader list of books on the Kaleo site.

Too Excited!!!

Corvallis Oregon is such a great little college town!!!!  OSU has a vet school.   Erick has always wanted to be a professor and I have always wanted a benefits package :-)  We finally heard back from the school!!!!

*Update to this Post*  HaHa, April Fools!  See comments.