The Good News!

This morning, Ash started singing ...

Who's the king of the jungle?

Who's the king of the sea?

Who's the king of the universe?

and who's the king of me?

His name is J-E-S-U-S

Jesus!

He's the King of the jungle

He's the King of the sea

He's the King of the universe 

and He's the King of me.

She's been singing this song for a couple of weeks now, she says it's her favorite.

But this time after she sings it, I listen to a prompting in my heart and ask her if she wants to pray and make Jesus the King of her life and she responds with a very excitedly yes.

So we pray together and Ash thanks God for sending his son to die on the cross for her sins, she asks Him to wash away her sin and make her heart white and then she asks him to live with her in her heart forever.

When she finished she looked at me and I was a mess, a mess of joyful tears ran down my face.  I told her that she'd always have Jesus to help her and how happy I was that we would be in heaven together and then we named those we know will be there with us too. 

(if you ask her about it, she does a pretty funny reenactment of her mother crying. ha)

We hug and then start calling family to tell them the good news.

I finally decide to take a shower and get ready for the day.

I stand in the shower and praise God.

(I do a lot of praying in the shower)

I thank him for opening her eyes.

I thank God for filling her heart with songs of praise.

And I thank Him for her child like faith.

Then I loose it. I start sobbing.

I just remembered - that recently I started asking and praying that the Lord would bring someone into my life, or make me aware of an opportunity where I could share the gospel.

Thank you Lord!

We love you Ashlynn Faith.  There is no greater gift than the gift of receiving Christ as your Savior.  We look forward to watching you grow in your relationship with Him and to witnessing the work He will do through you for His glory.

Bounce-o-rama

We give Luke's 7th Birthday Party

2 thumbs up

and would definitely call it

hair raising

Thanks for such a fun party Luke, we had a 'bounce' of a time helping you celebrate!

This and That

As I was cleaning up after dinner last night I could see the western sky through the blinds and it was full of color, the sunset was beautiful.  I finished a quick clean up so that I could watch the sky transform with color during my evening walk with Jake.  Abigail asked how the sky and clouds could turn pink and purple ... only the Lord could do that!  And he did that for us!

I've slowly been bringing out V-day decorations.  I found more cute ideas on this site that the girls are going to use for their valentines at school.  I saw this and want to make some with the girls to give to their favorite valentines.

This week Abigail's spelling test has the words, there, their and they're on it.

Ash has been busy drawing lately.

One night this week the family sat down to watch TV together, I lay down on the floor, soon J came to be next to me, then Ash snuggled up to me and Abigail soon followed.  We were all four nestled together under blankets watching a show.  I just don't want to forget it.  I wish we were always that close.  That's another word on Abigail's spelling test, were.

My parents called and invited Abigail to go snowmobiling with them on Saturday to Silver Creek Plunge.  Abigail can't wait to swim in the hot springs.  They'd take Ash but there isn't enough room in the truck.  I was happy to hear that. What would I do with a Saturday all by myself? I'm glad Ashy will stay and keep me busy.

Since it's my birthday month I've been doing lots of window (internet) shopping.  There's way cute stuff out there.  I thought I'd share a few of the things in my etsy cart that I'd love to hit the checkout button on.

this rubber stamp

this mustard rose pillow, I've been wanting to 're-do' (which means buy different) pillows for the couch

I'd love this map but instead I'd add hearts for all the places our loved ones live

I love this print

I've been wanting a cross necklace ever since I bought one for Abigail last year, I love this one.

And, because garnet is my birthstone I've been looking for something 'garnet', this fits the bill.

I said buenos dias to Ash one morning (due to the Spanish that's been swirling around from our visit with Alejandra) and she replied, ocho.  Funny girl!

Fun with Harts

Over the long weekend, we...

*enjoyed a fun visit with the Harts

*watched the cousins play, laugh and be wild together

*met and got to know a crazy sweet, full of life, Columbian girl, Alejandra - I can't wait for our trip to Columbia to visit her, I can dream.

*went and saw Michayla on her birthday - Jessy, Cami and Bode couldn't wait to see her.

*had a birthday party for Jessy

*promised the kids we'd play at Bounce but ended up going to Wahooz, Cami hit the jackpot and won 400 tickets, the kids loved that they walked away with tons of prizes.

*had family game night and laughed all night as we played charades

*took the girls ice skating - Abigail finally let go of the wall and did great (I'm so proud of her, thanks Alejandra for helping her gain the confidence she needed to do that.)

*did a little shopping at the outlet mall, it'd been forever since I shopped out there. Abigail and Jessy really wanted some best friend necklaces, so we made a quick stop at the mall.  It was cute to watch them decide on the set they'd get.  They really wanted mood necklaces but also wanted a set that could fit together.  I love the necklaces they ended up picking. (Abigail told me that all day at school the kids would ask who had the other half.)

*watched movies

*played guitar hero and video taped a certain someone while they rocked

Thanks for coming guys, it was a great weekend!

Double Digits

Happy, Happy TENTH Birthday!

We love you Michayla and all the memories we've made with you!!

Songwriter

I'm pretty sure I've said this before (but in case I haven't) our Abigail has always had a song in her heart.  She has been singing morning, noon and night since she could talk.  And the majority, like 90%, of those songs she sings, are songs she has written or thought up. 

I love this about her.  No matter the day you can usually catch her singing away.  Singing about anything and everything, things in her heart.

Of course it was then normal that Ash would also sing.  She too will make up her own songs and sing them for us.  

I love that the Lord has filled their hearts with music.  

They sing so much that we even have neighbors that have told me they love to hear the girls singing in the backyard.

 Now that Abigail is older, and reading and writing, I find many songs she has written down.

I have tried to save them as I find them but am afraid many have been thrown away.  I've found a couple lately and thought I should record them on the blog.

I'm walking on the bridge I feel alone but

I'm not alone I have God with me

I believe in Him and He is in my heart and 

He will be with me forever and ever

I love Him and He loves me

I know He is real

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The times of my life will be bad and good

I go outside and walk on the path with God

I thank God for dying on the cross for me and you

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Ooo God was the first gift to us 

He died on the cross for our sins

I like that gift

Christmas is all about God

we celebrate his birthday 

celebrate today on Christmas morning

holiday like today will be good

I like it like that way

God was born in a manger

that day was amazing

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Is her heart sweet or what.

This mom's heart is filled with joy, knowing the love Abigail has for her Lord.

NY to Idaho

May 2009

 December 2010

 My niece, Sidney, was in town over the Christmas break.

I'm so glad we got to see her.

We played some crazy rounds of uno flash, ate pizza and caught up on her college life.  We'd ask her if she's going to move back to Idaho after she graduates (from a college in New York) and she would so politely  say, "I'm thinking about it."

Then the next day we took her roller skating.  I'm still glad I opted not to put the skates on.  Sid was a good sport and skated with the girls.

Thanks for hanging out with us Sid, we love you!

2011 Snowmobile Trip

Happy 2011!

This weekend, Mom and Dad took us to Fairfield to go snowmobiling.

It's the perfect place for the kids to drive around, wide open spaces.

I was worried it'd be too cold to go, or that it'd be snowing (like they predicted) BUT it turned out to be a nice sunny day.  It was down right cold, but the kids didn't let that stop them from having tons of fun in the snow.

Abigail

She jumped right back on the sled (acting like it hadn't been a year since she'd been snowmobiling) and couldn't wait to drive.

Ashlynn

She got to drive the snowmobile for the first time with grandma.  She's not afraid of speed.  She took me for a ride and I had to keep telling her to slow down (this doesn't surprise me).

Clay

I'm impressed at how good this kid is.  It's fun to watch him ride.

Michayla

I love her pink helmet.  Her and Abigail rode around together, I'm so glad they're close in age and good friends.

Here Clay rode up a little hill, look at all that air he caught.  My dad has taught him well.

We also did some sledding, ate a good lunch, drank hot cocoa, spilt a few drinks, and laughed so hard we were all snorting.

Note to self - don't forget the ABC chew story.

What a fun day, thanks mom and dad!