How a 5 Year Old Brain Works.

Today was Moms and Muffins at school, where I get to feast my eyes on my beautiful children amongst other beautiful children and all their neat schoolwork.  The kids bless us with songs, scripture quotations, hugs, and of course, muffins.

Sam blessed me with a sheet that tells all about me...well, what he thinks of me, anyway!

My mother's name is "just Mom...that's what I call her."
Her age is "14" (I had him when I was 9.)
Her favorite color is "Red"
Her favorite TV show is "Spongebob Squarepants" (We have never even watched this show!)
For fun, my mother likes to "work" (Hmmm, nice answer...you can keep thinking that.)
My mother's favorite food is "broccoli" (Thanks for convincing the teacher that I eat healthy.)
The best thing my mother cooks is "cupcakes"
My mother looks prettiest "this weekend" (He knows I dress up on Sundays and only Sundays.)
If I had lots of money, I would buy my mother "a new pencil" (True, it is hard to find a good pencil or pen round here in these parts.)
My mother plays "blocks" with me
I love my mother because "I love her"

Well, Sam, I love you because "I love you" too!

Toad Racers

The Toad Racers

When I moved to this town years ago, I was a little amused with the festival that this town holds.  Toad Suck?  I am sorry, did you say "Toad Suck Daze?"  I was used to Grape Festivals and spaghetti dinners, not Toad Suck Festivals and toad races.  Years later, I have decided that this festival is pretty fun!

Even the schools get on board and have toad races.  So, we went to the best place in town to get toads...Todd and Michelle's, and kidnapped a few prize winning jumpers.  Prize winning, because they all either got first or second place in their respective classes, and one placed second in the whole elementary!  So, in case you guys ever need additional income, Todd and Michelle, I would say you need to start selling those jumpers to the highest bidder!

After getting home from school, we decided to have our own little family race...letting Sebastian, Charlie, Billie Bob, and Billie Bob Junior show off their stuff.  Who knew the lil guys could be so much fun...til one landed on my arm while the camera was in my face.  It caught me off guard so badly that I screamed so hard that the boys looked at me as if I had gone insane.  "It's just a toad," said Cade.  I think after my bad day, my body was just trying to get rid of some toxins or something.  Apparently, screaming like a school girl was the best option.

 playing dead...

 and let the races begin!!!

 they know all the tricks to being good toad racers...blowing on them and pounding the concrete are tried and true methods

 Eli was so excited he wouldn't even take off his backpack.

Happy Toad Suck, everyone.
Whatever that means!

Easter!

We had a great day of worship!  Jesus is alive!  I can't really describe it, but after you lose someone close, Resurrection Sunday becomes that much more special! 

Without this day, we would have no hope of a future perfect body in Heaven...Jesus is the firstfruit of the resurrection.  I read today that this "firstfruits" word is "aparche" in Greek, which refers to a first sample of an agricultural crop that indicates the nature and quality of the rest of the crop; therefore, Christ's resurrection body gives a foretaste of what the body of believers will be like.

Glory!  Can't wait!!!

Hope you had a fun day today celebrating the One Who Is WORTHY!  God bless you!



Do You Jelly Belly?

Do you like Jelly Beans?  I like Jelly Bellies...one at a time, savoring and guessing flavors.  No matter how you slice it, the buttered popcorn flavor is always the best.  

What is your favorite Easter candy?  When I was a kid, I always loved getting the Russell Stover mint green "nest" candy...a bird nest made out of coconut with jelly bean "eggs" inside.  It was just a special thing Mom always did for us! 

Heavy Heart

Kids are home.  Thankful for a school that dismisses them in remembrance of the most important day ever.

Heart is heavy.  Knowing I should sit down and read and remember.  The sacrifice.  The blood.  The beating.  He couldn't breathe.  All of sin cast upon him.  No wonder he couldn't breathe.

Trying to balance the feelings I have today with knowing Sunday is around the corner.  But, those that loved him that day couldn't cling to that hope.  They didn't understand.

Thankful I understand that Resurrection Day is coming.

Thinking about certain words that mean something...

crown of thorns when my Savior is the King of Kings
kiss of betrayal that should have been a kiss of thankfulness
darkness for three hours
curtain ripped from top to bottom
release of a guilty man
release of me
purple robe that stung the exposed flesh
dirty spear that became priceless once it touched the blood of the Holy One
crowd returning home, beating their breasts in grief
linen clothes to wrap his body with
joy of Mary when she recognizes the gardener
astonishment of Thomas when he sees the imprint of nails
14 precious days that He remained among those He loved
anticipation of the gift of the Holy Spirit
redemption of those who will believe
talking with the Father once again, free from wrath
peace
joy
power from on high

this day cost Him everything.
this day changed everything.

"Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem."  Luke 24:46

Is the Blood Your Victory?

http://youtu.be/kC59rgmcu34

A perfect song complete with images to remind us of what this week is about.

May we never forget.

Jennifer's Shower

Amelia and I got to host a shower for Jennifer, Kirby's fiance'!  She loves bright colors so we made sure that everything was nice and cheery for her!  They received lots of nice things...duvet cover, crock pot, pots and pans, monogrammed bag and apron, tons of kitchen utensils, cookbooks, down blanket, baking ware, kitchen towels, flatware, a Kitchen Aid mixer, and gift cards!  I was drooling over the Kitchen Aid mixer as if it were a newborn baby.

 Jordan, Jen and Ginger (Jen's sista and Mom)

 My handsome Grandad...who is always smiling until he sees a camera.  :)

I think they have all they need in order to invite us over and cook for us all!  wink. wink.

The Blessed House

Today my house received a blessing.  A good cleaning.  I don't remember the last time I had 6 straight hours to clean house and organize!  I didn't have time to get to the bathrooms, but that is ok!  I will just rejoice in what got accomplished!

Clean sheets to crawl into tonight!

 Details of furniture polished.  So shiny!

 The desk area cleaned off!

 A week of dirt swept away!

 A candle to smell all the while...gotta love Limelight by Tyler!

 Little man got to play too much wii...but that is ok cause momma got lots done!

 A toothbrush taken to the grimy areas around the sink!

 A fun To-Do list to check off!

 The catch-all area cleaned up and organized... and bills paid!

Ahhh.  Now if it would stay like this forever.

:)

son of the father

His name was Barabbas. 

We are told he was a murderer and a notorious thief.  He was an insurrectionist.  In other words, he was a terrorist in the eyes of the Romans.  A freedom fighter, if you will.  But, a criminal no less.

Tradition had it that one criminal might be released back to the Jewish people each year at Passover.  Whether the Roman Governor did this in order to win their favor, well, only God knows.

His name was Barabbas:  son of the father.

His sins were many.

There was another man that went by the name of Jesus.

We are told that He was perfection and peace.  King and Son.  He lived his life doing only what His Father told Him to do.  He was a freedom fighter against the war of sin.  But not a criminal.

His name was Jesus:  he often referred to Himself as the Son of the Father.

He knew no sin.

One took the place of the other.

The Son of the Father paid the price for the son of the father.

The criminal was set free because Christ became the substitute.

How ironic that the people chose the freedom of Barabbas over the freedom of Christ that day.

And yet, what a glorious picture of substitution we behold.

House For Sale!

1342 Robins

Very close to UCA and new Conway Station Ball Fields

3 bedroom / 1 bath

new carpet and new paint

hardwood floors

fenced in backyard

$83,500