Not sure I've ever posted about this...

Do you have one of those dates where every year when it comes around you just kind of dread it?? Well, today, 4/20, is that day for me. Obviously, over time and with the years passing, there is healing and perspective, but, honestly, I believe there is a spiritual battle raging around, always, and especially on this day. Which is why today, out of the devotional Jesus Calling by Sarah Young, is wonderful....

I also can't help but think of the parents who lost their kids 13 years ago....not just the victims, but Dylan and Eric's parents too....thinking about how blessed I am with my family, 2 kids, a wonderful home, etc....

thinking about the parents dreaming about their child's life and that they would be around 28-30 years old now too. It simply breaks my heart and all I can do is pray....

Anyways...here is the devotional from today...

" Do not be afraid, for I am with you. Hear Me saying Peace, be still to your restless heart. No matter what happens, I will never leave you or forsake you. Let His assurance soak into your mind and heart, until you overflow with Joy. Though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, you need not fear!

The media relentlessly proclaim bad news: for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. A steady diet of their fare will sicken you. Instead of focusing on fickle, ever-changing news broadcasts, tune in to the living Word- the One who is always the same. Let Scripture saturate your mind and heart, and you will walk steadily along the path of Life. Even though you don't know what will happen tomorrow, you can be absolutely sure of your ultimate destination. I hold you by your right hand, and afterward I will take you into Glory.

"Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!" and the wind ceased and there was a great calm." Mark 4:39

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you." Deuteronomy 31:6

" Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea." Psalm 46:2

" Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory." Psalm 73:23-24

What I've been thinking about lately is the first part of the Deut. verse...there are literally hundreds of verses addressing fear...do not be afraid, do not fear.....I usually just hold onto those fear phrases, but really....I'm challenging myself to instead focus on being STRONG and COURAGEOUS!! Such a small change in my mind, but I like the call to action better! I mean, we tell our kids what we want them to do and not 'do not'.(atleast we try!) As in...instead of saying don't climb on the table, we say...sit on your chair or don't run into the street, we say..stay on the sidewalk. 

So....for me...instead of thinking about not being afraid or fearful....I will pray about being strong and courageous!! I believe He is sharpening me up a bit.....

Happy Easter...

Ok...so, I have a bunch of stories that I want to get up, but I thought I'd go ahead and say Happy Easter!!! We had a very nice, low-key Resurrection Sunday! :)  The Easter bunny did make an appearance, well, sort of....One day last week as I was talking with Josh about Easter he asked me if I could hide the eggs. I was a bit confused at first because I thought he was confused about the Easter bunny. Well, no, he wasn't confused at all. He knew there wasn't one and instead, told me that I needed to hide the eggs. It ended up being an entertaining conversation....and I'm wondering what will happen to Santa Claus come Christmas(I apologize to Samantha right now for her very literal brother!)
Anyways, they did enjoy their Easter baskets first this morning. We ate breakfast, I hid the eggs downstairs while they were getting ready for church upstairs, they each could find 12 eggs(an idea I took from Josh's school), then we went to church, came home and it was only 11:30am....I was ready to go back to bed!! :)  No...not really, but almost.
So here are the pictures...I told them I had to get a picture before they could go look for the eggs...then I told them to put their heads together...and well, this is how they interpreted it...Sam..leaning in...and Josh...literally putting his head on Sam's head! :) love.them.

 then, they started to figure it out...

 I didn't get any action shots of finding the eggs, but here they are opening them up...

 this was Sam counting her eggs, over and over and over....

 cookies!

 and here is Josh's favorite of the day....let me tell you a side story to best explain this....last year, during one of our many visits to their Aunt Sarah's house...his cousin Mason introduced him to the game Angry Birds. Josh was hooked! First because his older, cool cousin was playing it, but then it became a game that he really enjoyed playing, started figuring it out and actually getting through levels pretty quickly. I have grown thankful to this game because it has taught Josh how to use strategy, think ahead and plan, to try and try again, and now with the actual game board...he started building the sets, concentrating, and it really increased his focus and attention time too!! So, he got another set to go with the original board game....and, then he got this(pictured below)...he first saw this at ITZ(family game place..picture chuckecheese x10) while we were there for a birthday party. It actually caused a pretty good meltdown when we left without getting one...and then Target has had them in their stores for awhile. He has been very patient and telling Sam he'd hope to get one for his birthday(a conversation I overheard while we were in Target last week)...so, of course I had to surprise him with it for Easter! :)  Let me introduce you to Mr. Red Bird(that is what Josh is calling him) and he has now become an honorary member of the family.

 I mean, you don't get these type of stand still pictures from Josh....that's how you know he was so happy and proud!!

 Also, if you push down on his head just right...Mr. Red Bird will make the "laughing" sounds that they do on the game!

 and here's Sam!! She was happy about her little dinosaurs that were in some of her eggs!

 Sam's mess....all over the table, couch, and floor...

 Josh's mess was organized and in one place....

 See...Mr. Red Bird was even given a place to eat at the table by Josh...

 Josh went and found him a plate too..

Here he is enjoying a sucker from his Easter basket...

 I love this picture. He has his bird on his head and sucker in his mouth...

 aarrggggggg

 I believe this is him trying to be an angry bird...

 Sam....she was sitting at our kitchen table watching Josh outside..

 We had a GORGEOUS day today. We even hooked up our hoses, cleaned all the backyard toys, swept and got out back all ready for spring and summer!

 Sam, enjoying her sucker...

 notice the socks??? yes, she put those socks on all by herself this morning before church, then put her shoes on...so, they all stayed on...she calls them her polka dot socks...

 Josh was running a "car" wash. He would get all the toys and clean them off with the hose! I took these pictures because I have a post of him doing the exact same thing in Illinois...so..go HERE and HERE and HERE to see them!

Our Easter was wonderful! I hope yours was too!!
He has Risen!!

Samantha's 3rd Birthday...

Yes, her birthday was a week ago...(Happy Birthday, Sam!) but a week ago at this time we were in our car already driving through Texas! :)  So, before that trip, we had a birthday celebration all weekend! Starting on Friday when we drove up to Estes Park to meet Grandma and Grandpa. They flew in and spent a week up in Estes Park for their spring break. She had a party on Saturday which was alot of fun and she was surrounded by tons of love...Mom, dad, Josh, Nana, Papa, Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt Sarah, Uncle Chris, Mason, and Riley.......

 Chocolate cupcakes, chocolate icing, and Hello Kitty wrappers....that is how it HAD to be per her request...

 Can you believe it??? She's THREE!!!!! wowzers!!!

 She had finished her cupcake and then asked Papa is he'd split another one with her....

 many faces of Samantha...

 something was happening over there that I just wasn't noticing....

 then it was time to unwrap presents!!! :)

 it's Josh!! HA

 Sam's turn..

 After all the chaos..it was baseball time! Last summer the cousins, Papa, Aunt Sarah, and I played a game at the local field in Estes...it was alot of fun and now something they ask to do when we are all up there....Sam wasn't really in to that, but she brought one of her birthday presents..a pink soccer ball!!

 The game was entertaining because Eric was in a walking cast, Chris was still recovering from his ankle surgery, Bill was still recovering from his shoulder surgery...only Papa was 100%?!?! ;-)

 Mason pitching above and Riley swinging below...

 Josh pitching to Granpa

 After the game it was back to play with all her new toys..

 her cousin Riley...they are more alike than you think!

 After the Faulkners left and the day was almost over....it was coloring time with Nana...

 ROOOAARRRRR...

 The next morning....

On Sunday we drove back down to the Springs to get ready for our roadtrip to Texas...Grandma and Grandpa followed us down for the night....they had a great time with the kids...

 trying to get a picture....we got Josh laughing by saying "angry birds"... :)

and....it was a wonderful weekend!! She had a great 3rd birthday that lasted for several days!!! :)