A Glorious Weekend & a Catch Up

We thought it would be a good idea to take Tetta, our Japanese Community friend, on a picnic and then exploring on some trails.  It would show him more of Ellensburg and a bit more about us since this is one of our favorite things to do.  We picked him up Sunday afternoon and boy was the weather full of utter perfection. It was 70. No wind. No clouds.  And, all the leaves were budding with lime green teeny leaves.  Spring was around us and it smelled incredible.  

We went to Irene Rineheart Park and it was OPEN!  

Needless to say we were very grateful as it has been closed for the last 6 months.

It's about a 5 minute drive from our home and one of the most beautiful places.

I am so thrilled as to where God has brought us.  So much diverse landscapes here in Washington.  I could not imagine living anywhere else.  The beauty this land bestows is one of a kind.  

Picnic time

As we started our walk we found a remote control boat show taking place

They went SO fast.  It was a very neat experience.

The start of our walk 

Spring is exceptionally beautiful.  If only it would warm up
and stay warm.  

And, we don't like to stay on the trail for very long.
Exploring is the way to go.....

.....because, you find places like this where you can skip rocks....

.....and find really cool walking sticks.  

My hope is that Tetta feels apart of our family and goes home
with a wonderful sense of what Americans, here in Eburg, are like.

Another off the trail location we found.....

....along with this fly fisherman.  My first time seeing fly fishing in real life.

The beauty just doesn't get captured in photos......

....It literally takes your breathe away.

It was a wonderful experience.  And, Tetta kept asking for more. I like his attitude!  He appreciates nature and the effort it takes to get to the good locations.   After a few hours of walking, we headed to McDonald's for a ice cream cone to cool us down as we drove Tetta home.  When we got home we were exhausted, so Loren and I laid in the sun like cats and napped.  After our nap we grilled outside for dinner and played until bedtime.  My kind of Family Day.

Are you enjoying your spring?  Taking advantage of the good days, turning off the TV, getting off the computer and seeing all that God has created?  If only every day could be like that!   Nature is definitely when I see and feel God the most; when I feel most connected and my head is the most clear so I can hear Him better.  Maybe today calls for another adventure.......




On a differnet note....

SEATTLE & CHRIS TOMLIN

Mom graciously bought us tickets to Chris Tomlin.  He is our favorite Christian artist.  We love all his music and were so thankful to be able to go.  

We went up Friday night-stayed at Loren's Uncle Jim's place (he was out of town for the night). 

The next morning we met our friends in Seattle for some kiddo play time. 

Then we visiting Uncle Jim for a bit before running to Loren's Uncle Chucks and Aunt Barbie's for a visit and dinner. It was a jam packed day but it was good.  It was needed.  I feel very much content when we can visit with family.   Things just feel right.  

After dinner we headed on our way to the concert.  We got stuck in concert traffic and got their late (don't worry we didn't miss Chris Tomlin) but it was a blessing in disguise because Grace was sick-she got a fever the instant we got in the car to drive to Seattle on Friday.  Then Friday night she woke up screaming over and over again and was up 2 hours earlier than normal so she was sick & exhausted.  All that to say, she miraculously fell asleep in the car on the way to the concert (she never falls asleep anymore during the day) and got in a good 20 minute nap-thank you traffic!  When we got to the church we ran in, found our seats and had the most uplifting, exhilarating, Spirit filled concert experience of our lives.  Watching Grace close her eyes, lift her little hands and sing out Chris Tomlin songs made my heart overflow with gladness and thankfulness.  My soul was refreshed. 

Thank you Mom for the tickets!

Here are some photos of Gracie's time with her best bud Grace.

The view from Uncles Jims house-that is Seattle across the water way

Seattle Center

Starbucks and the Space Needle

watching a dance show inside the center

The center was flooded with bounce houses so we let the girls
go on two of them.

SMALL GROUP EASTER EGG COLORING AND HUNT

We are apart of a fantastic small group that meets Wednesday nights from 5:30-7:30.  We meet in each others homes and take turns hosting and cooking meals for each other.  We fellowship, then we send the kids with a sitter to another room so we can dive deep into God's word, share what is going on in our lives and pray for one another.

Below are some photos of the Egg hunt we had with all the children.  An incredibly fun group of people to share our lives with.

Some of my favorite kiddos

 Thanks for letting me catch up a bit!

Now, go and enjoy spring!!!  

Now that you are 5.....

......we would lik to know a few things.


Grace,


1.  What is your favorite breakfast food: pancakes with sprinkles, turkey bacon and sausage.
.......lunch food: Peanut butter & honey sandwich
.......dinner: Cheese Pizza
.......fruit:  plums, strawberries and cantaloupe, too
.......vegetables: yellow tomatoes, although that is a fruit, right mom?!  My favorite veggie is red peppers and carrots raw with dill dip.


2.  What is your favorite movie or show:  Toy Story 3 and my favorite video is Diego


3.  What is your favorite drink: chocolate milk, juice and Carmel apple spice (but I drink water the most).


4.  What is your favorite thing to do outside: play hid and seek and hide eggs and balls for people to find.  I also like exploring places outside when we hike.


5.  What is your favorite thing to do at a playground: Go on the swings and play hide and seek.


6. What is your favorite color: Pink


7. What is your favorite number: 2


8.  What is your favorite letter: P


9.  What is your favorite ice cream: Vanilla


10.  What is your favorite insect: lady bug


11.  What is your favorite inside toy: Playing with Little Baby and Jessie


12.  Do you like crafts? Yes.  School crafts.  I love to color a lot.


13.  What are your favorite kind of books: Flap books and Seek and Find books


14. What is your favorite board game: I Spy


15.  Where is you favorite place to go during the week with mommy: Bounce Central


16. Who are you good friends: My bestest friend is Gracie Turner.  My other friends are: Hannah and Emily, Eden and Ezri, Cooper and Eme, Ryan and Lauren, Levi and Libby, Payton, Chelsea, Jenna....


17.  What is your favorite my little pony: Pinky Pie


18.  What is your favorite puzzle:  I love all the puzzles, except for the huge ones. 


19.  What is your favorite thing to do with daddy: play hide and seek.  Wrestle. Play ball.  Everything I do with daddy is my best thing. 


20.  Do you like being 5?  Yea.
What do you like about being 5: Being able to do more things than little kids.  
Like what:  Like, listening to my mommy more.  I can do things that bigger kids do in shows like Karate and Kung Fu (Ummmm.....we just watched Kung Fu Panda for the first time last night) and jazzercise.  I can dress myself now.  I also do not fall off my bed.  Mom, I am done with you being on the computer and asking me questions.  Let's play now.........

Ecclesiastes 3

There is a time for everything,
   and a season for every activity under the heavens:.....

I think about this verse every time there is change brewing in our lives.  Change is a constant, but there are times more than others where I can feel the change deep with in my soul.    Now is one of those times. A new season.  I love how this is happening as spring has sprung upon us.  As I watch the flowers blossom and the birds swirling about the sky in excitement of much warmth to come I feel that same sense of joy and unknown in my spirit.  

....a time to be born and a time to die,
   a time to plant and a time to uproot,....

I take a deep breathe and sigh a breath of relief knowing that God is in complete control and I have nothing to worry about or fear. And, there is really nothing I can do to change the course He wishes us to follow so I am resting in that and praying for continued peace.

I send this hoping for some prayers to be lifted up our way.  

1. KINDERGARTEN 

Grace starts Kindergarten in five months.  

At the moment we have no idea where she is going to go.  

She is currently registered at 5 different schools. But, the school we really want her to attend is: Ellensburg Christian School (ECS).  The catch-it costs money.  Money we do not have at this moment.  We have been drawn to ECS since we moved here but put it on the back burner as we thought-there is no way we could ever afford to have Grace go to that school. But then a wise friend told us a few weeks back to not put a limit on God and to at least try.  So, we went to the Kindergarten Coffee, turned in all the paper work & submitted financial aid forms.  And, now we wait.  Wait to be interviewed, wait to see if Grace makes it in, wait to see if our financial aid goes through and then wait and see if God provides a job for me that will cover our school loans and her tuition for school.    There are a lot of what if's but God is BIG.  Bigger than money, than loans and bills, than schools.  He's bigger than all our worries and concerns, so we will see.   

2. VEHICLES 

We have been trying to sell our Subaru for a few months now.  Someone was going to purchase it but it fell through after we held the car for them for a few months.  And, we just found out our "new" used car needs some major work done and it is going to cost a lot of money-money we do not really have since our car has not sold yet.  Our prayer is that 1. our car sells quickly and 2. that our newer car last for many years with no other problems.  Oh the woes of having used vehicles.  

3.  HOUSE IN FL

Our house in Florida still has not sold.  It has been on the market for about four years now. Something may be changing over the next few months and with out being too specific we would love your prayers for protection for our family and finances while things change and mold about.  

4.  WORK

I am in the process of slowly looking for part time work for the fall.  There are a few ideas/options floating about. Trying to fine tune things and trust that God will provide the perfect job(s) that will work beautifully around Gracie's school schedule and provide the adequate funds to pay for our school loans & Gracie's schooling (if needed).   If I have to work, I want it to be something I am passionate about.  Something that feels unlike a "job" and yet at the same times provides for the needs of my family.  

With all these requests a lot of waiting and patience is required-two things that are hard to come by at times.  We greatly appreciate your prayers and love through all of this and will keep you updated as things move forward.  

...a time to search and a time to give up,
   a time to keep and a time to throw away,... 

 ...a time to love and a time to hate,
   a time for war and a time for peace....

Change (and Spring) is beautiful. Let's welcome it with open, trusting arms.

Spring and All It's Glory

I know I've already sent these photos to my precious family-my apologizes if you are seeing these twice. 

I wanted to make sure they were apart of our blog for record purposes. 

Here are some photos from Easter Weekend 2011

April 22-24th

It was a wonderful way to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus!

We are grateful for friends to join together with and gorgeous weather so we could get outside and show our thanks to God for his glory and beauty.

Rememberance

Happy Spring and Resurrection Weekend!

We are planning on doing a little of this.....

But more importantly our weekend will consist of a time of remembrance and thanks.

But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace
was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53:5

 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes
in me will live, even though they die; and whoever
lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
John 11:25-26

Matthew 28:2-7 

 ² There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. ³ His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. ⁴ The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
 ⁵ The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. ⁶ He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. ⁷ Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”

Psalm 47:5

Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy. 

How awesome is the Lord Most High, the great King over all the earth!

With all my heart, I will praise the LORD. Psalm 34:2

"I will praise the LORD God with a song and a thankful heart."

Psalm 69:30

"You have rescued me! I will celebrate and shout,

singing praises to you with all my heart."

Psalm 71:23

"I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together."

Psalm 34:1-3

Jesus, Thank You! For loving me, when I'm unlovable. For forgiving me, when I fall. For providing for me every need, not my every want. And, for coming to Earth knowing you would be mocked, brutally harmed and then killed all for me. I am so undeserving of your Grace & Mercy & yet you wrap your arms around me anyway. I love you! Thank you for everything.

Love-Melissa