Please pray!

We woke to tornado sirens early Wednesday morning. After checking the local TV stations we went to our basement for 15 minutes. When we came back upstairs our home was untouched by the storm. We did not have power but after a run through our neighborhood I understood why. Trees and powerlines covered our roads. A house just a few doors down had a tree split it right in half! Fortunately the family was unharmed. And this was only the beginning...
Around 3pm tornadoes started popping up all over our state devastating homes and businesses and families. The destruction is so widespread! The hard part continues as search and rescue crews are still working to find people.
Please pray that we will carry the love of Christ to the people we have opportunities to minister to. This morning Russ is out delivering supplies to horribly damaged areas. My sister and mom are busily working to prepare food for those who are left with none. And my girls and I are looking forward to some friends coming over to play whose home has three trees on the roof. I am reminded of two verses:
"The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and He saves the crushed in spirit." Psalm 34:18
"Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to Him; God is a refuge for us." Psalm 62:8
Thank you for your prayers!

Easter Highlights!

We had a great Easter! Our time was spent with family & friends. The girls enjoyed two egg hunts - one at my grandmothers and one at our house. They loved the beautiful dresses they wore to church Sunday morning. And most importantly we got to praise our risen Savior! "In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses" Ephesians 1:7

Illogical vs. Logical

This morning over waffles, apple butter & bacon I heard the funniest conversation between my two girls.

Anna Claire: Lizzie, what row are you standing on for your spring concert, front or back?

Lizzie: The middle row.

Anna Claire: Well I always have to stand on the front row. I guess it's because I was born in the middle of the night.

Lizzie: Or it could be because you are short.

I laughed! On my side of our family I like to say that we are not "prone to logic." It is funny to see that in the next generation. Russ and Lizzie are often our voices of reason! In fact, I always have to credit the Holy Spirit for any logical & reasonable thoughts I have :)

Castles in the Sand

To the beach we come again

by the grace of God's great hand

We eat, we play, we jump in the waves

ride bikes, watch movies & walk each day

Castles are built everyday in the sand

and decorated with shells by small tiny hands

So it goes, our time at the beach

Away from life and the struggles that reach

Yet I notice that each dawn brings

plain, white sand with no castles to be seen

Where went our hard work down on our knees?

Shoveling & filling our buckets with glee

Much like real life we work hard each day

shoveling & decorating in many different ways

There's a lot of work to be done

Much like those castles out in the sun

But, each day brings reminders of God's love

Love that is faithful, constant & from above

We wake in prayer for each new day

with castles gone but sins washed away

The waves pound upon the shore

Small or big but always more

Every day life begins with demands

too constant & too much for our small hands

We feel so overwhelmed

when the tide of life begins to swell

So loving and faithful, God begins to reshape

The shores of our lives by His amazing grace

Another day has just begun

Let's start with praise on our tongue

For the One who loves us so

castles to build and waves to roll

Photos from the beach!

new bathing suits :)

Me and my girls!

Hunta and Lizzie!

Beach Pictures

Anna Claire knitting her first scarf!

This is the jellyfish that Anna Claire picked up thinking it was a shiny toy!

Spring Break!

For our pre-spring break (that's what I call it since it won't technically be spring until Monday) we went to the beach with my mom and my good friend from college, Claire. The girls have been anxiously waiting for this trip. We headed out on Monday morning and returned this afternoon. We had a fun trip except for the 30 minutes right after Anna Claire picked up a jellyfish in the water thinking it was a shiny toy!

Claire packed lots of craft activities for the girls to do on our trip including knitting, fusion beads, and making pot holders. Anna Claire LOVED the knitting and Lizzie LOVED the fusion beads!

We also ate yummy food from my favorite beach places, rode bikes, went on sea shell walks and jumped waves!

A lady we know was staying a couple of doors down from us and Anna Claire ran over to pet her puppy and to talk at her. When I went over to retrieve Anna Claire the lady said, " How did I not know you had a 3rd daughter? Anna Claire said she is taking a nap up in the beach house and that she is 15 months old." I quickly told her that Anna Claire is obsessed with calling her new favorite baby doll my 3rd daughter and that I had no plans for number three!

We are happily settled back home and Lizzie is so happy that I moved out her winter clothes and put her spring/summer clothes in her closet!