to tide you over

I have a ton to blog about and even more pictures to share. So, until I get my act together, here are some pics from Easter morning...





By the way, did you know that Jonas will be 2 in a month!!???!!! I still have his 22 month stats to write about. Of course, this is all for me so that I have it recorded somewhere (especially because I have yet to do his baby book...and he's my first.).

resurrection rolls

My mom sent me this great idea, so we tried it out this morning. I think this is a fun way to talk about Jesus' resurrection from the grave...I'd say it was a hit.

the ingredients...crescent rolls, butter, sugar, cinnamon, and marshmallows. We didn't have any large marshmallows, so we used 4 or 5 small ones in each roll.

separate the rolls and place marshmallows on them

maybe not that many marshmallows

roll them up

melt the butter in a bowl, dip each roll in the butter then roll them in cinnamon and sugar. We combined the cinnamon and sugar in another bowl.

bake as directed on the crescent roll package. when they are finished, cut the rolls open to discover it is empty...just like Jesus' tomb!

the smile and messy face says it all

the Goodness of THIS Friday...

this is a re-post from last year. I wanted to recognize this Good Friday, but today has been really full. And, I don't think I have the energy to write...

Last night at my small group, we were talking about the Passover meal that Jesus shared with the disciples, his inner circle - the most trusted of friends. We ran through the events of the evening...eating, washing of feet, Jesus making several predictions... Then, we landed on Gethsemane. I think I can say pretty confidently that I have always viewed the time Jesus spent in prayer prior to his arrest as a last ditch effort for God to change his mind. Why? Because he didn't want to face the pain he knew was to come. The Romans had perfected torture. Dying on a cross was saved for the most heinous of criminals. Jesus knew there would be a lot of pain involved during the course of the next many hours. So, he prays an agonizing prayer..."take this cup from me." I had a revelation last night. Jesus' last ditch prayers were not to save him from physical pain but from the emotional agony of being separated from God.

God's plan was for He who was without sin to become sin. Become sin. Jesus became sin. He lived an entire life of perfection just to die with the shame, humiliation, grotesqueness of our sin. That is the reason for Gethsemane. God would forsake his only son. Forsake is such an ominous word. I'm not sure I've ever forsaken someone, and I'm not sure I could. I even hold out hope for those who have made horrible mistakes...I would come to their rescue should it ever be needed. But, God deserted Jesus in his greatest time of need. He watched as innocence was lost. And Jesus faced the intense emotional, physical and spiritual pain alone. Why? Because sin separates us from God.

Scripture says that as Jesus breathed his last breath, he screamed "it is finished". He completed the task. He paid the price for all humanity in order that we may stand in the presence of God. We will know God's presence. The end had come.

But, there is hope because God's plan didn't end there. There is a part 2. Jesus rose from the dead. Sin was forgiven, and Jesus emerged the victor. Sin was conquered. He who was without sin became sin and won. He beat death...

hello, spring

the last day of winter...


the first day of spring...

where are we going?

I've had some time on my hands since all I've been doing for the past 4 days is lay around.  For those of you who don't know, I had my gallbladder removed on Monday morning.  The surgery went well even though we got home from the hospital a little later than expected...my blood pressure was not coming up like they would like, I was fighting some nasea, and just wasn't able to meet the criteria before being discharged.  But, I am recovering nicely.  I am so thankful that the gallbladder is one of those organs that can be removed to alleviate the pain it is causing.  I'm so thankful for my mom and sister, Kelly, who were able to spend their spring break taking care of Jonas and myself.  We've had great meals delivered, lots of notes of concern and well wishes, and lots of prayers.  I even received a beautiful flower arrangement moments after my mom and sister drove away!  I think I will write more about this whole experience a little later.  It has held some profound moments for me.

Anyway, I've doing some thinking on my blog (well, OUR blog, but let's be real...Paul doesn't post on it).  I am feeling quite bored with it.  But, I am not sure how to remedy that.  Maybe I'm just a boring person.  I've thought about posting some of the ways that I've been "being intentional".  Whether it be with a craft project I've accomplished, or pictures I've taken, or new recipes I've tried or things that I'm learning.  Heck, I don't even know if anyone even reads this.  All that to say, I'm looking for a little direction. 

the alphabet according to me

I saw this on a friend's blog and decided to steal the idea...

A is for my sister, Allison who turned 21 last week.  I love you, baby sister!

B is for Blackberry.  I'm waiting for my new phone to get here.

C is for cooking.  I know I've said this before, but I've grown this love for cooking and really wish someone could tutor me a litte bit.  I also wish I had a lot of extra cash 'cause I sure would be buying kitchen stuff.  I love trying new recipes as well as putting my own touch on old ones.

D is for date.  The other night Paul and I went on a date but ended up coming home really early.  See "G"

E is for entertainment.  I really want to go to the movies, but already thought of something to put for "M".

F is for friends.  I have some really great friends who love and care for our family so well!

G is for gallbladder.  I have to have mine removed on Monday.  I had a gallbladder attack last week (which by the way is the most painful thing I've ever experienced).  My gallbladder is not working good, so the surgeon said it needed to come out.

H is home.  I love my home.

I is for it.  What would we do without this small little pronoun?

J is for Jonas.  I love that boy more than words can say.

K is for kind.  Kindness is one thing that I really value in a person.  Kindness goes a long way.  Kindness is respecting people even if you don't agree with them.

L is for love...it makes the world go 'round.

M is for Monday...the day I go under the knife.  Can you tell I'm pretty nervous/scared?

N is for nail polish.  I got this great new gray color, and I've had fun sporting nail polish again.

O is for overextend.  I sometimes do that to myself.

P is for Pioneer Woman.  I get a lot recipes from her.  I also wish I could be her.  She is just divine, I'm sure.

Q is for quiet.  I have been craving a day of quiet.  Sometimes an introvert needs that.

R is for rainy.  It is rainy and cold today.  We got a glimpse of spring earlier this week, but it's gone now.

S is for Saturday and Spring.  Saturday is my favorite day of the week, and I am really looking forward to Spring.  Spring Saturdays are the best

T is for Tahoe.  We are going to Tahoe for vacation next month.  We will also be in San Francisco.  Can't wait!

U is for underneath.  I am finding lots of miscellaneous stuff underneath furniture these days...toys, balls, pacis, teddy grams...

V is for VeggieTales.  That is what I am currently watching.  We actually see a lot of VeggieTales.

W is for wine.  Enough said.

X is for xray.  Thank goodness I haven't had to have one of those in a long time!

Y is for yellow.  I can see absolutely nothing yellow from where I'm sitting.

Z is for Zarubabel.  There's a person by that name in my ancestory.  Crazy, huh?

Valentines

Happy (belated) Valentine's Day! Paul and I were actually engaged on Valentine's Day 5 years ago. Funny thing is that Paul didn't plan to propose on Valentines...just on Monday. Well, that Monday happened to be the 14th of February (which he obviously realized but didn't want to change his plans). So, each year we try to grab coffee at the coffee shop where I said "YES". We did get to do that this year, and we took Jonas along. Check out what else we did...

Jonas with his Valentine present...he wanted to sleep with it.


We fed the ducks and geese, and every time Jonas threw a piece of bread he would say, "mmmm". I guess he wanted the ducks to know it was good bread. He also decided to show them his belly.


Two geese almost making a heart. AWWWW


and then Paul decided to scare them all away


Jonas wanting to go on the slide that didn't have any sides. Now that is scary.


On actual Valentine's Day. Paul was pulling weeds, and Jonas was throwing them away. That boy is good for something :)