My Girl

Emma's new Easter outfit + a stylish skirt she paired with it. I can't believe how big she is getting!

Springtime in the Rockies

Colorado weather is always full of surprises!

Easter Baskets

The night we got home from Texas, I had Easter baskets waiting for Nate and Emma.

They both got these dancing monkeys, and Nate had such a ball with his. He LOVES monkeys, so he kept hugging his and laughing everytime it would sing and dance.

Emma was really excited to get the DVD of "Tangled."

And her adorable new outfit (that I got on clearance last November)!

Easter in Texas

We went to Texas for Easter weekend and had so much fun hanging out with my extended family. It was extra fun because we took my parents with us.

Emma and Nate got to color eggs with their second cousins, Jacey and Emmie.

My cousin Jenny and I had fun helping with egg coloring.

Getting ready to go find eggs!

Nate would pick up an egg and shake it. If it doesn't like a good one (i.e. like it had candy in it)...

He would throw it back.

But the girls weren't picky!

Resurrection Sunday...ready for church...with my parents and grandparents.

Emma and Nate with their great grandparents.

Four generations. (Me, my Dad, Emma & Nate, my Dad's parents)

Nate and Uncle Terry.

Nate and Emma with Nanny and Aunt Denise.

Nate had so much fun filling up great grandma's bird bath.

Nate and great grandpa having a throwing contest.

Emma and Nate having a nice conversation with great grandpa on the swing.

We made lots of special memories with some special people...bike rides, park hopping, ice cream at Braum's, coloring eggs, hiding and finding them, late night conversations, yummy meals, playing with Sister (my aunt & uncle's dog), playing games...it always ends too soon. But it leaves us looking forward to the next time.

Slob or Sloth?

About a week ago I got really frustrated with Emma and her incredibly messy room. After a long day of cleaning, I walked into her room and was overwhelmed at the mess. In a moment of exasperation I said, "You live like a slob in this room." (**Gasp** Not a proud parenting moment, but yes I do lose my cool from time to time.)

So fast forward to last night. I am tucking Emma into bed when she starts laughing. When I asked her what was so funny, she said, "Remember when you said I live like a sloth? I don't live like a sloth...I don't have bugs all over me...I don't hang upside down!"

We both got a good laugh over that one...for different reasons! Don't you just love the innocence of a child?!

Dinner with the President

On Saturday night Tim and I had a special date with George W Bush. It was just us and the 43rd president of the United States...and over 1,000 other people. But come on, how many people get to say they had dinner with a U.S. president?!

President Bush was the keynote speaker at a fundraiser banquet for Emma's school - Colorado Springs Christian School. He was so funny (something I didn't know about him) and yet so humble and down to earth. He was very gracious as he spoke about the political climate of our country and current president...not willing to speak ill of either.

Since photography was not allowed, this is the only picture I have of the evening. I was embarrassed when I saw this picture because - to me and my hair - it is pretty evident that I spent the afternoon in bed with a fever and horrible sore throat. But I wanted you to see my handsome date!

What a fabulous evening!

A profound lesson during Lent

"Pursuing God has less to do with what we give up and more to do with making Him a priority." (taken from The Prayers of David)

Longing

In my journey through Lent and physical affliction, the Lord has spoken to me about longing. It's not terribly intellectual. It's actually quite simple.

When I came down with my physical affliction, I was no longer able to run. Nor was I able to exercise at all. This was a huge deal for this girl who enjoys exercising and does it 5 or 6 days a week. To go from an almost daily routine of running/exercising to nothing was, to say it lightly, painful.

I'd be in my car driving, and I'd see runners or bikers and this intense longing would come over me. I would long to be in their shoes...literally. One day the Lord spoke very clearly to me... Do you long for me the way you long for exercise? Ouch!!!

I've spent the last week or so wrestling this through. It humbled me to the core because I realized my priorities had gotten way out of whack. As my schedule would grow busy and chaotic, I would let many things slide from my to-do list...but never exercise. It was the one thing I always made time for. I'd rationalize that I was still spending time with God as I prayed throughout my busy day. And I was. But I wasn't pulling my chair up to His table and communing with Him - the very thing He longs for me to do.

Today marks 4 weeks of no exercise, but I am in a much better place mentally and spiritually. Although physically I could start easing back into an exercise routine, I've decided I'm gonna wait this one out. The time I would spend exercising I am now spending with God, asking Him to heal my longings and turn them toward Him and His Word.

And ya wanna know what?! He is changing my heart. My daily prayer has become, "Lord, don't let me be satisfied with just a little of you." And He is being true to His character. He is being faithful.

Undone

I've become undone. Nothing is as it used to be. At least for now. I'm undone, but I am secure.

When I began my journey through Lent, I expected several things but I never expected the spiritual attack that Satan would wage against me. It all started three weeks ago through a physical affliction that hit me with such force that all activity came to a screeching halt.

It's then that Satan took the opportunity to discourage me and tempt me to abandon prayer and praise to my God. Little did I know that God had some big lessons in store for me. It was during this three weeks, when the circumstances of my life had me in the valley, that my awareness of God took me to the mountain top.

Over and over again through this journey of Lent I have had to confess a proud heart. A heart that tries to take credit for things only God can do. A heart that wants the glory for His mighty work. A heart that is prone to wander, yet applauds its own return as if it were of my own doing.

Lord Jesus, you looked at me in the crowd - yes, I was there - taunting you. You knew how I would choose. You knew I would choose evil. But in that moment...you chose death on a cross. You chose death so I could be with You forever. What lavish love! I am undone by You.

I don't want to be as I was before. I want to be undone every day as I sink into the realization of how He loves me. I want to sink in His grace. I want to swim in His mercy.

What blessedness - to be undone.