My Little Free Spirit

Everyday Noah comes home from school and before I can turn around, he's stripped off his school clothes and in to something comfy cozy. Most days that makes for quite an eclectic ensemble. Today is the perfect example. Not only did he have on a constructions hat, spy glasses, glow-in-the-dark skeleton gloves and spiderman flip flops...but he also has a bag packed with equally interesting items. If there's one thing I know for sure, it's that if we are ever required to evacuate, Noah will be ready to go. He is such a pack-rat. I love his little free spirit!

Squeaky Clean Little Boys

There's only one thing better than a squeaky clean little boy - 2 squeaky clean little boys! Noah & Cruz were  so cute in their robes last night that I had to snap a quick picture. They reminded me of 2 little Hugh Hefners.

Noah's 1st Baseball Game - Go Blue Rangers

Finally, the weather cooperated long enough for one of the boys to play the opening game of the 2013 Spring season! What made this day even more special, was that it was Noah's first game ever! He's on the Blue Texas Rangers team and he is already a star! In his two times up to bat, he knocked the ball in to the outfield both times! He also made a play on first and got a runner from the other team out! He was so proud of himself when he came back to the bench where I was sitting. He stuck his little fingers through the chain-link fence & said, "Mom! Give me five!"

And, I was a proud Mama wearing my blinged out baseball hat & shirt! It took me a while to come around, but with 2 boys playing ball and one more on the way, I've officially embraced my identity as a baseball mom! 

For The Picnic Table...

I need to share an amazing testimony! Last week at our garage sale a man wanted to buy our patio table, but didn't have cash on him. I told him we would keep the table in the backyard and he could come by Friday to pick it up. Friday came and we missed the man. Easter Sunday afternoon we heard a knock on the door. It was the man ready to get the table. Leo helped him load it up, but then came in to ask if the man had paid me at the garage sale? I said, "No. He didn't have cash and was going to come back to pay & pick it up." Leo asked me to come outside and talk to the man because he thought he paid. As I was speaking to the man he was sure that he paid me. As I thought back, I wondered if perhaps I had forgotten or was confused...after all it was a busy day and I could have easily made that mistake. Taking my "mommy brain" and general lack of sleep in to consideration, I could not with 100% certainty say that he had paid. With that, I admitted to the man that perhaps I was wrong, to go ahead and take the table. I wished him a Happy Resurrection Sunday and told him to have a blessed day. I felt completely at peace with the situation and hadn't thought about it since.

Until 5 minutes ago. I heard a gentle knock at the door and wondered who it might be, since I wasn't expecting anyone. It was the man's wife standing at the door. When I opened the door, she handed me an envelope and said that she and her husband had been praying about it. She said, "The Lord would not let Bill sleep. he truly thought he had paid but couldn't get it off his mind. Here is the payment. Please forgive us and thank you for being such a gracious witness of Jesus forgiveness of debts. Your blessing will be great. Love in Christ, Pamela & Bill."

Let me tell you, I have chills right now and am warm from the inside out, at the same time. "What you have done for the least of these, you have done for me." I feel as if I just stared in the face of Jesus himself. Praise the Lord for such an unexpected encounter & encouragement!

Resurrection Sunday 2013

What a special day! We had a great morning at church. The energy was undeniable...the Holy Spirit was definitely in the building! "Then what shall I do with this Jesus who is called the Christ?"  That is the question. Whether we figure out the answer now or on the day we die, we will all have to answer it. Praise the Lord for the day he reached my heart, opened my eyes and saved me. Praise the Lord even more for the day, less than one year ago, that he did the same for Luke. No greater assurance is there for a mother than to know her son has made such a wise decision and secured his place in heaven for all eternity. I pray for the day I can rejoice the same over Noah & Cruz.

When we got home, I gave the boys their Easter "baskets." It's been raining cats & dogs, so we skipped the egg hunt & took a different spin this year. Since the boys are always wanting to dig in my garden, I decided to give them big pots, seeds & shovels so they would have their own special garden to sow & care for, as I worked in our big gardens. They also each received sidewalk chalk, a kite, baseballs & a box of Annie's bunny cookies & fruit chews.


Now it's time to put the ham in the oven & prepare the scalloped potatoes & asparagus for dinner. It's just our little family of 5 this year...I can't think of anything better!

Christ is risen from the dead, 
trampling over death by death, 
come away, come away, 
come and rise up from the grave! 

Noah - What is an "Elementopee?"

Today Noah was putting together a big animal alphabet floor puzzle. It stretches 10 feet long in all. Each letter of the alphabet is a letter. He was doing really well through the first half, but then he got stuck. I heard him calling from the toy room, "Mommy! What does an "elementopee" look like? It took me a minute to realize he was singing the ABC's and got to the letters, "LMNOP." Such a preciously funny moment.

 

Noah - Art of Praise Concert LAP

Noah performed in his last Learning Academy Preschool "Art of Praise" concert last night. He did such a great job singing all the words & signing all the motions. He saw us in the audience and gave us a big wave several times.

Noah's class first performed a Hickory Dickory Dock using musical sticks to tap the beat. Self-control & rhythm are important skills for a 4 year old to master. The next song was Two Little Blackbirds...one named Jack and one named Jill. Their last song was the B-I-B-L-E, Yes That's The Book for Me - one of our favorites! The concert wrapped up with classes from the entire 2, 3 and 4 year-old class singing Row, Row, Row Your Boat and Jesus Loves Me.

It was such a special night. As the end of Noah's preschool years draw to an end, I can't help but feel a little sad. Our last musical program will be at his preschool graduation. Can my Sweet Angel really be about to start kindergarten? {Tears}