Fun with Grammy

We have had a great visit with Grammy! I am so thankful for my mom and so appreciate her effort to come visit us. We've gone to the zoo, played outside, went out (she and I) to celebrate my birthday, and yesterday we went to the Botanical Gardens for a little walk in the woods. Here are some pictures from our time there.

Zoo Trip

My mom is visiting this week and this morning we took a trip to the Greenville zoo. We had a great time seeing the animals, playing on the playground and having a picnic lunch.

I think the elephants were the favorite!

Grammy & Bryn looking at the Lemur

watching the monkeys "hanging out"

Backyard Fun

It is a beautiful day here today so we pulled the little pool out and let the kids play in the sprinkler. They had a ball and we had fun watching them (and taking pictures obviously...I love catching their different expressions). I just love these warm days!

Cook out party

Last night we had our end of the year cook out for all the college students in small groups (CP) at Crosspoint. We had a good crowd and a good time eating good food and having good fellowship!

My grilln' hubby

The other grillers (Matt & Jon)

The food table

Carson enjoying his cupcake

Jeremy dug a fire pit in the back yard woods so we had a bonfire after the sun went down. Carson and Bryn loved it!

Our upperclassmen CP group

We've enjoyed getting to know some new people this semester in our group like Heather & Daniel

Game Night

We love our upperclassmen CP (connecting point) group! We have so enjoyed getting to know these students and love having them in our home every Monday night throughout the semester. Last weekend we had a game night social. It was a lot of fun to just hang out and play together.

Jeremy got a cake for me and everyone sang happy birthday.

a game of true colors

a game of cranium

a game of scrabble

Botanical Gardens

Last Saturday we packed a picnic lunch and headed for the botanical gardens. It was a beautiful day and we enjoyed being outside together. Have I said how much I LOVE spring! It's here!

Just Do Something

I just finished reading Kevin DeYoung's book Just Do Something. As the subtitle explains it is a "liberating approach to finding God's will OR How to make a decision without dreams, visions, fleeces, impressions, open doors, random Bible verses, casting lots, liver shivers, writing in the sky, etc."

I highly recommend this little book. I would agree that many Christians are pretty confused about "finding God's will." It was an easy-read and quite enjoyable! He hits on a lot of important topics in the Christian life throughout the book. Here are a couple excerpts from the book to wet your pallet in hopes that you too will pick up this book and read it.

"In fact, expecting God to reveal some hidden will of direction is an invitation to disappointment and indecision. Trusting in God's will of decree is good. Following His will of desire is obedient. Waiting for God's will of direction is a mess. It is bad for your life, harmful to your sanctification, and allows too many Christians to be passive tinkerers who strangely feel more spiritual the less they actually do." - page 26

"The will of God for our lives is that we seek first His kingdom and His righteousness. The most important decision we face is the daily decision to live for Christ and die to self. If we do those two things, then we are free to choose between jobs and schools and locations. God wants us to stop obsessing about the future and trust that He holds the future." - page 63

I certainly agree with and affirm the subtitle now having read the book ....it is LIBERATING when we rightly understand God's will from a biblical perspective.

Random pics from the week

I love seeing how Carson is with the critters he finds in the yard; no fear!

a little closer in case you didn't see the lizard in the above picture.

Jason brought the kids to watch one of Carson's soccer games this week. Stu liked the view from Jason's shoulders.

Go Carson!

You may have to click on this picture to see the comedy in it. Bryn kicked her ball in the net and then was trying to get it out head first. It was hysterical watching her determination to get that ball!

This week at the park they had face painting for the kids. Jackson is getting his face painted like a dog.

Lydia chilln' at the park

Carson the tiger

Lydia eating strawberries (watch her reaction to the tartness)

Easter

"But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned - every one - to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all." Isaiah 53:5-6

"If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you." Romans 8:11

And of course some Easter pics....