Thursday, April 30, 2009

Sun 'n Fun

These past few days have been impeccably gorgeous. I can't tell you what sunshine does for the soul! Monday was my last class before summer break, and I've already in put final grades. It was 90 degrees that day, and you could feel the excitement in the air as many of my students were graduating.On Tuesday morning, we took a meal to my friend Becca, and we went for a walk together with the kids and played at the playground near their house. Joshua love spending time on the slide with his friend Alayna! It was gorgeous out! That afternoon, Grandma came over and we sat outside while the boys played and played.I've been working with Joshua, asking him about the letters on the fridge, and he gets 95% of them correct. He thought that the letter 'C' was a 'U' because it was on its side, and there were a couple other ones that he didn't get correct like Z and F and E. But, I was amazed at how many of them he knows. Everyday I think of how blessed I am to have Joshua in my life. He is so sweet and truly amazing!Tuesday night when Daddy got home from work, we continued playing outside in the backyard. Joshua would score soccer goals and go down the slide, and Caleb was enjoying the ball drop toy, and each time the ball would go down, Caleb would get on his tippy toes to look down the hole and try to find out where it went. It was adorable to watch! I can't get over how smart he seems already! We grilled out and enjoyed dinner on the deck. It was a fun family evening. Afterward, it was time once again to give the boys a bath to wash off the sunscreen. They are enjoying bathing together and getting better at sharing toys and laughing at each other's silliness, etc. On Wednesday, it got chilly and rainy again (much like today!). I got to have another mom's night out with the MOPS gals, and we went to Barnes & Noble and had a great time chatting and catching up. It ended up being a smaller group with Becca, Amy, Margie, Renee and me. I had a fantastic time, as usual! My husband is incredibly supportive of me getting out of the house on occasion to have some time with friends...it's much appreciated! As much as I love our kids (more than I could have ever imagined), it's a nice change to get out by myself.We're trying to teach Caleb how to wave 'hi' and 'bye'. He waved twice today but the rest of the time he just smiled and giggled when we asked him. Caleb is also standing up for longer periods of time without holding onto anything. He's walking holding onto things but has yet to take actual steps without holding on.

Finally, both boys are eating! This week has been great for both of them! Caleb actually likes meat, which astounds me since Joshua still doesn't. Caleb will not eat bananas, but for the most part anything else I've put in front of him has gone down the hatch, until he's full at which time he's done (which is super!). He's eaten noodles, waffles, hamburger, chicken, sweet potatoes, apple sauce, bread and more! Joshua also seemed to eat a lot for me this week, and he's been taking longer naps in the afternoon, which makes me think maybe he's going through a growth spurt? Only time will tell!

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Kisses!

Yesterday, Caleb started giving kisses 'on demand' for the first time. I'll say "Kisses, Caleb!" and pucker my lips and he moves in with his lips to give kisses. It is so sweet! He gave Daddy kisses, too, last night. Good job, buddy!

Monday, April 27, 2009

A Slumber Sandwich

Did you ever wake up on the wrong side of the bed?
How about fall asleep on the wrong side of the bed?
On Sunday night, Caleb just couldn't get settled. I finally gave him a few minutes to cry it out. When I went to check on him, he had finally sat down from standing up, and his head just got too heavy for him. He was sitting with his legs out in front of him, bent over with his head between his legs sleeping. It looked so uncomfortable, but he was out. Shawn & I thought he looked so adorable. We gently tried to move him, but he woke up. He was too sleepy to resist, though, and went to sleep lying down finally.

Sunday, April 26, 2009

Flowers or Weeds?

Our front yard has been overtaken by dandelions. While our neighbors' yards next door and across the street are incredibly lush, green and gorgeous (as ours once was), somehow weeds of purple and yellow have managed to spring up out front. We have been hesitant to use chemicals to treat our lawn because we think that they are poisonous to children, and we want our kids to be able to play in our yard without fear. I've also learned that many folks walk on their yards and bring the chemicals inside on their shoes and then babies get it from crawling on the carpet, etc. So, we've been wary of it, and yet our yard went from gorgeous to mediocre within days.But, just when I was feeling a little grumpy about it, Joshua picked me a dandelion and with a proud look on his face, he smiled and said "here's a flower for momma!" He loves the multi-colored front lawn, and I'm wondering why we get so worked up about it. If he can see beauty in it - and I can see beauty in his loving sweet face bringing me the best flowers that he knows how - then maybe it's good enough for now! Choose to see 'flowers' rather than weeds!

The End of Week 6

This week's study was on Chapter 6 of Daniel, which we know pretty well...it's where God saves Daniel from the Lion's den. It's pasted below for your reading pleasure. I liked the following quote from this morning's homework:

"It's highly probable that if Daniel had comprimised by eating the king's food, he would have compromised about other things, too, like bowing to his image... When you obey God in the small things, it becomes a lot easier to obey Him in the big things. That's when God shows up. He can shut the mouths of lions and protect you from the flames."

Isn't that incredible? "Our path to success is theirs: uncomprimising resolve in big and small things alike." "Those who chose not to be defiled by Babylon's excess experienced some of the greatest adventures engraved in Holy Writ." While we are stuck in this Babylonian time, Beth Moore notes that Daniel "no doubt saw the flagrant activity of a miraculous and mighty God more vividly within the walls of that pagan city than in Jerusalem. He learned that God's presence accompanied His faithful children no matter where life took them." So we are to "remain exiles, chosen like Daniel to influence our overindulged, self-absorbed culture for the kingdom of God."

"Our lives can become flesh-and-blood felt boards of the great and glorious paradox: life is found by losing it for the sake of Crhist. A vessel is filled by pouring it out. They key to receiving is giving. The key to living is dying to self. The greatest in the kingdom is the servant of all. God has been right all along. This upside-down path is the only way to true contentment and satisfaction. The world's claim of happiness is betrayed by an ever-increasing lust for more. Nothing ever suffices. Nothing ever will. Christ alone satisfies the ailing human soul." May we not forget that it's our job to tell and who the world His truth and love!

Daniel 6
Daniel in the Den of Lions

1 It pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps to rule throughout the kingdom, 2 with three administrators over them, one of whom was Daniel. The satraps were made accountable to them so that the king might not suffer loss. 3 Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. 4 At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent.

5 Finally these men said, "We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God." 6 So the administrators and the satraps went as a group to the king and said: "O King Darius, live forever! 7 The royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors have all agreed that the king should issue an edict and enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god or man during the next thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be thrown into the lions' den. 8 Now, O king, issue the decree and put it in writing so that it cannot be altered—in accordance with the laws of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed." 9 So King Darius put the decree in writing.

10 Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before. 11 Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help. 12 So they went to the king and spoke to him about his royal decree: "Did you not publish a decree that during the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or man except to you, O king, would be thrown into the lions' den?" The king answered, "The decree stands—in accordance with the laws of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed."
13 Then they said to the king, "Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or to the decree you put in writing. He still prays three times a day." 14 When the king heard this, he was greatly distressed; he was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort until sundown to save him.
15 Then the men went as a group to the king and said to him, "Remember, O king, that according to the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or edict that the king issues can be changed."


16 So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions' den. The king said to Daniel, "May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!"
17 A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel's situation might not be changed. 18 Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating and without any entertainment being brought to him. And he could not sleep.


19 At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions' den. 20 When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, "Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?"
21 Daniel answered, "O king, live forever! 22 My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, O king."


23 The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.
24 At the king's command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lions' den, along with their wives and children. And before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.


25 Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations and men of every language throughout the land: "May you prosper greatly!
26 "I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel.

"For he is the living God
and he endures forever;
his kingdom will not be destroyed,
his dominion will never end.
27 He rescues and he saves;

he performs signs and wonders
in the heavens and on the earth.
He has rescued Daniel
from the power of the lions."
28 So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

Spring or Summer?

The temperature this weekend reached into the 90s. It was absolutely gorgeous with a fresh breeze blowing and everything in full bloom. Thus, we allowed Joshua to have his first ever very-own ice cream cone. While we've shared ours with him before, we thought this would be a nice 'treat' for being a good boy all weekend.Saturday morning both kids woke up before the crack of dawn. Neither were feeling too well (in fact, Joshua has slept with us the last two nights because when he comes into our room coughing and wheezing, we just can't say no since he's not feeling well...although I think he's doing better today). We started out by taking a little drive (just long enough to get some Starbucks caffeine) and started cleaning out our garage. Soon it was time for Daddy to leave to meet Poppy at Grandma's house to pick up her snowblower and patio furniture that she had given us. Originally I had planned on meeting friends in Reading for lunch, but unfortunately Donna was sick. So, we rescheduled for a couple weeks. When Poppy & Daddy arrived back home, we saw our neighbors outside...they unfortuntely had a sewage system issue and were "raking, snaking and cleaning you-know-what!!!"
Grandma called shortly thereafter and asked if I'd like to join her shopping. Since my plans had been cancelled, why not? I took poor little Caleb with us (who had spit up again that morning), and Joshua & Daddy did yardwork and played while mom & I had an amazing time shopping. I spent all of $1.33 and came home with some new treasures thanks to gift cards, coupons and mom's generosity. I can't wait to wear my new outfit from J. Jill to school tomorrow night!
When we got home, I mowed the backyard since Daddy had done the frontyard and the outside trim. I also helped clean up some of the bushes Shawn had trimmed back so we could walk from our deck to the outside lawn. Finally, we started organizing the garage, which went really well. I think even with our new snowblower, we can find everything and have the toys easily accessible to the front, etc.Shawn took several trips to the local yardwaste dump (which mulches it all up) while the kids napped. He also cleaned up my car, which really needed it (thanks, Daddy!). Thereafter, we went for a little drive and ended up at East Lampeter Park. I wish I would have had my camera on me. Joshua had NO fear! There was a 15-foot slide that Joshua climbed to the top of before we could catch him and slid right down. I almost had a heart attack. He also jumped on the merry-go-round that an older kid was pushing, but soon said "get down, please!" and the kid let him off. He LOVED the park, but it had too many larger contraptions that weren't extremely Bean-size-safe, so we headed to Stoner Park instead. Daddy dropped Caleb Luke & me off at the house beforehand at my request, and my little buddy and I walked to the park (which takes less than 30 minutes but gives me some much-needed exercise). On the trail, we saw Chuck, the groundhog! He now lives in the field near Lancaster Bible College. We also saw two deer that were happily prancing in love at the farm off Eden Road. I never realized how huge deer are...they look a lot different that close! Caleb loved swinging in the baby swings at the park, and Joshua is in love with slides and climbing. When we came home, we played more outside until we got the boys another much-needed bath before bed.Today was another day of playing outside. We were going to go to church, but Caleb is still not feeling well. I've been wiping his nose, and he threw up all over after dinner, Grandma said. She had offered to watch the boys for us this evening since she's leaving for her cross-country trip this coming Friday. We'll rarely pass up the opportunity for babysitting! Shawn & I dined at JB Dawson's at Park City, and it was AWESOME! I didn't realize that the same owners who have Austin's Restaurant in Reading own this one...the food was the same (SCRUMPTIOUS!) and so was the service (EXCELLENT!). I feasted on potato soup, a caesar salad, honey wheat bread and unsweetened iced tea. It was amazing! And, the company was incredible, as usual. My husband looked mighty handsome in a yellow-n-blue striped button down shirt and khaki shorts and I wore a white linen shirt and khaki capri pants. When we were driving home, Joshua said "ice cream" and while we don't normally think that lots of sweets and things are good for kids, I looked at Daddy and said "why not? for a special treat..." and he was thinking the same thing. So, we swung by McDonald's near our house, and Joshua said "Wait! We're going the wrong way!" (He is sooo smart! We hadn't turned to go home, but went the opposite way to go to fetch his ice cream). When we got home, the kids played more outside...now it's getting dark and time for more baths. Goodnight!

Saturday, April 25, 2009

Excess

Yesterday my devotions were on the fall of Babylon as described in Revelations 18. Babylon was a real place that fell, but the Babylonian mentality also describes our culture to a 'T.' This study raises three questions:
  • Can we be culturally relevant for the cause of Christ without becoming spiritually irrelevant?
  • Can we serve the world in the name of Christ without becoming a servant to the world?
  • Can we live in this excessive, self-absorbed culture without becoming corrupted by it?

In chapter four of Daniel, we looked at how Nebuchadnezzar was "at home in his palace, contented and prosperous"...and he had a dream that troubled him. Daniel told him that the dream was about him - how he would lose his sanity for seven years - and he advised the king: "Renounce your sins by doing what is right, and your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed. It may be that your prosperity will continue." Unfortunately, Nebuchadnezzar didn't listen and become an advocate for the poor, etc, and the dream was fulfilled (see Daniel 4). He was rich, happy, excessive and all about himself until God turned him around by fulfilling this prophesy.

If you remember from my earlier blog post, Babylon represents our culture in many ways. The people of Babylon esteemed luxury, wealth, intelligence, youth and beauty, etc. Two days ago, we learned that Babylon is the city of the devil where Satan provides false fulfillment to entice people away from God: "Satan uses Babylon, the symbolic persona of all that seems beautiful, enticing and instantly gratifying in the world, as a puppet to corrupt people." "With the exception of Jerusalem, no other city is mentioned more than Babylon in the Bible. Scripture refers to Babylon 290 times and presents this city as the epitome of evil and rebellion against God." "...Babylon was the capital city of the first world ruler and is pictured as Satan's capital city on earth throughout Scripture..."

There is much to learn in both Daniel and Revelation about the Babylonian mentality and how we as Christians need to not become corrupted by it. In Revelation 18, we see that Babylon offers the seductive beauty of worldy & false fulfillment for our pockets and our souls. 'Babylons' are characterized by excessive luxury. The study goes on to say "The point is not that God only honors a vow of poverty. The point is avoiding the corruption of gross excess that catapults us so far into our wants that we cease to recognize need. Let's face it. Sometimes moderation in a culture of excess can be more challenging than abstinence."

"The endless addictions of our culture betray our trouble with 'some' in a land of much. Revelation 18:9 talks about 'kings of the earth who commited adultery with her and shared her luxury.' One definition for the Greek word for luxury is 'to act with wantonness from abundance.' If abudance leads to pride, decadence or an insatiable lust for more, we, like the kings described in Revelation 18, are being corrupted by it."

The sentence that struck me the most was "Sometimes moderation in a culture of excess can be more challenging than abstinence." How true in my own life! It's far easier to avoid things altogether than have to show moderation, which is a fruit of the Spirit. Moderation seems to get me all the time! I'm an 'all or nothing' kind of person. I pursue what I set my heart to do with sincere passion. But, moderation? That's far more difficult! A little in a land of much? Oh, Lord, how we need your help!

Daniel 6:4 (coming back to the story of the lion's den that we're familiar with!), says that the conspirators who wanted to trap Daniel "could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent." God wants us to be His representatives in this world, distinguishing ourselves with exceptional God-given qualities (Daniel 6:3) and performing all tasks as if we were serving God Himself...guarding ourselves voraciously from BOTH corruption and negligence. "Those of us who have received Christ as our Savior are inhabited by the empowering, consecrating Spirit of the living God. We're extraordinary because He's extraordinary. Let's start living like it."

Lord, help us live like you want us to, with moderation rather than excess, spending ourselves on behalf of the poor and oppressed, and being diligent in prayer and trustworthy rather than corrupt or negligent in this Babylonian world. We give you the glory & honor of being extraordinary. In Jesus' name, AMEN!

Friday, April 24, 2009

Everyday from here to there, funny things are everywhere

Yesterday I read Dr. Seuss' "One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish" to Joshua & Caleb. I started reading it to Caleb since Joshua wanted nothing to do with being held and read to, and Caleb is just starting to come into the stage where he likes books. But, soon Joshua couldn't help himself and came over to look at the pictures (I was sitting on the floor). Pretty soon he proclaimed, "Momma, I like this book! It's funny!" Since he liked it so much, I read it to them tonight again too before bed. Here's an exerpt:

'Who am I?
My name is Ish.
On my hand I have a dish.

I have this dish
to help me wish.

When I wish to make a wish
I wave my hand with a big swish swish.
Then I say, "I wish for fish!"
And I get fish right on my dish.

So...
if you wish to wish a wish,
you may swish for fish
with my Ish wish dish.'

If fish was something you were wishing for, last night would have been a good night to come to our house. I made flounder almondine, and it was positively delicious, if I do say so myself. Even though the boys & I have colds, mom came over with Emma and ate dinner with us. Shawn, who does not eat fish, went out with the guys from our life group and had a great time. We are so blessed to have this group of friends!

Today I made chicken-fried pork chops in the crockpot. Unfortunately, we no more than sat down to dinner and Caleb vomitted at his seat (I'm thinking all this junk from his sinus congestion finally came out). Thus, we all scrambled from our places, and I bathed the kids while Shawn cleaned up dinner (we were no longer hungry). I'm sure we'll enjoy them tomorrow or I'll have them for lunch next week. They made our entire house smell heavenly.

The past few days have been lovely, with today reaching in the 70s. We spent much of the day outside, including going for a nice long walk and getting all the toys out of the garage to play in the driveway. I can't wait until Caleb is walking, but we can't find our walker toy anymore. Ugh! I fear we'll have to buy a new one since that helped Joshua so much. While I'm a pack rat, Daddy is "toss happy" and I think our walker toys got chucked at some point when the garage was getting cleaned out. In Shawn's defense, the one was kind of bulky and the other one wasn't as sturdy as it could have been. We had borrowed a great one from one of our friends that Joshua had loved, but of course I gave that back a long time ago. So, it might be time for a Walmart trip or a yardsale run!

This weekend is supposed to be in the 80s, so we're hoping to do some yardwork. But, we'll see how we're all feeling. I have to remember that being productive can mean just spending time as a family. Right now I'm starting the book "Shepherding a Child's Heart," and so far it's very good. I know that the most important job we have right now is not our house or our jobs or our activities - it's raising two boys who will love, honor and serve our Lord!

I'll end this post with another exerpt from the book since we enjoy Dr. Seuss:

'And now
good night.
It is time to sleep.
So we will sleep
with our pet Zeep.

Today is gone. Today was fun.
Tomorrow is another one.
Every day,
from here to there,
funny things are everywhere.'

Five then Six

A couple weeks ago, I noticed that Caleb understands "high five" and will slap you five when you put your hand in front of him and ask. He always gives multiple fives and laughs and laughs. Yesterday, April 23, I noticed Caleb's sixth tooth, which is on his top right (or your left if you're facing him). He's been grinding his teeth like crazy, which the dentist said babies do because those teeth didn't use to be there and now they are. So, now he can "give me five" and has tooth number six! Yeah, Caleb Luke!

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Finger Paint

I can't believe it's Thursday already! This week has literally flown by. Last Friday our friends Becca & Angel came over for a little while with their daughters Alayna and Kyla. The kids enjoyed playing outside and we enjoyed getting to chat with them.

When we pulled into LCBC on Tuesday morning then, Joshua asked about seeing Jesus & Alayna. Luckily, Becca pulled in right after me, so the Bean got his wish. I enjoyed the MOPS morning out with friends, and I'm thankful that we're supposed to have the same group next year. Woohoo! That morning both my kids woke up really early, which gave me time to put a roast in the crockpot with red-skin potatoes and seasonings. Later I added carrots and made more peach pudding, as well as set the table and got out the potato rolls I had bought. My sister Becky and her husband Tim came over for dinner that night, and we had a nice time of visiting with them. Their small group just finished the same Bible study that our small group is still working on (the last session is this coming Sunday at our house).Last night after the dentist, we dropped the boys off at Aunt Missy's house so we could go out to dinner with friends. Joshua was so excited! He said that the puppies were "tickling" him as they jumped on him and kissed him. He also loved the kittens. Both boys seemed to have a nice time there, and Joshua was all about giving Uncle Kevin a kiss as we left. Haaa! While they were there, we went to the YP with Chris & Lisa, who invited us out to one of their favorite Wednesday-night hangouts. Your Place has a pizza & stromboli buffet on Wednesdays, and since Chris is soon going to start working second shift again, this was one of their last hurrahs. We enjoyed chatting and hanging out without the precious kiddos.This morning, the boys & I were feeling a little under the weather. My guess is that we all managed to catch a cold. So, since I had just heard from the pediatrician at the MOPS panel that some sicknesses can't survive colder temps than 60 degrees, I bundled up the kids and we all went for a nice long walk around the neighborhood. It was crisp and the wind was a little bitey, but the flowers were blooming & the birds were chirping and it has finally stopped raining. My hope is that we killed off whatever nastiness this is. (I also cut up a bunch of oranges and had one for breakfast - Joshua & Caleb weren't as interested, however. Caleb scarfed down his blueberry/pear mix, though, and I think he may really like blueberries. Only time will tell! He is starting to eat a little better!)
When we got back, I decided to mix up some finger paint for the Bean. I had some sour cream that expired yesterday, so I'm no longer going to eat it. It wasn't moldy (although sour cream has a pretty distinct smell when it's nearing the end of its life!), so I thought this would make the perfect base in case Joshua would try to eat any (which he didn't, thankfully). I taped his paper to the plastic tablecloth I had dug out (which makes me realize I need to go buy some construction paper), and I put on his 'big boy bib' to save his clothes. I also buckled him in his seat and prepared the sour cream with various drops of food coloring in different foam bowls.At first he wasn't too sure, but once I sat down with him and began to paint, he was all about it. At various times, he would happily proclaim "Momma's turn for green!" and I would stop with whatever color I had and take whatever color he told me.He painted the same area over and over again, so I got a new sheet of paper to let him continue to explore his artsy side. He kept saying 'fun craft!' and I LOVE the way he says "craft." It's adorable. Here are the finished products: It cracks me up how neat Joshua is. He kept asking for a paper towel in between colors to wipe off his hands. After awhile, he said "all done paints!" and we cleaned up. He didn't enjoy dipping his hands into soapy water as much as I thought he would, so my next idea for an activity of giving his toys a bath didn't work so well. Another time! It was almost lunch time, then, and afterward he said "I'm tired. Time for night-night! Covers please!" and he ran up to his bed. So, both kids are now sleeping, and I'm hoping to start a new book while they nap after I'm done blogging...if I can keep my eyes open.Tonight Shawn's going to guys' night out with the small group guys, and I'm making flounder almondine (since he doesn't like fish). We'll see how it goes! This is my first attempt. Have a great evening!

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Odd Teeth

Caleb now has his fifth tooth, to the bottom right of his front teeth (or your left if you're looking at him). I discovered it at the dentist office yesterday while we were waiting to be seen.
I called Dr. Miller, DDS, since the dentist office is right down the street from us on Roseville Road. It's a father & son practice, specializing in pediatric dentistry with a cowboy theme. We entered through the 'saloon doors' past the 'outhouse' and straight to the check-in area.

All the decor and signs were really cute!

I was impressed with the waiting room, equipped with lots of toys and things to look at, including this slide, a fishy display and an actual nasty-looking, dragon-like 'pet'.Yes, this thing was real and moved around quite a bit in that aquarium!First, I must say the dentist himself was a nutcase (I saw the father - next time I will ask for the son, which is who my pediatrician recommended we see). Literally crazy...with two bolts loose or missing, I think. He looked and spoke just like Jon Lovitz (if you don't know who that is, I'm sure you'd recognize his face if you did a google search on him). Here's a picture of the dentist we saw in his consultation room from his website. The guy was ranting and raving in a high-pitched voice the entire time we were there, from telling the receptionist to clear her desk of all papers to giggling at our boys' last names being "Good" since their first names are of the two 'Good' spies.After meeting him in this 'consultation' room...he, flapping his arms like a fairy, told me to 'bring my things' as we were moving to the exam area. The chair in the picture below is where I sat, holding Caleb. The doctor did seem to like kids, and he assured me that all babies scream. I knowingly said "Oh, he's a pretty easygoing little guy...I doubt he'll..." Just then, Caleb let loose as the doctor was looking at his teeth, louder than I've ever heard before. He dropped his toy, but the dentist then gave him something new that was loud & fun to look at (and commented on how good his motor skills are for his age and how strong his legs seemed), and my little Caleb Luke became calm once again. The dentist told me to find another seat (in his loud, very strange voice) while he babbled to himself, taking notes and fluttering around like a princess. I began asking questions and he said "I'll get to you..."Pretty soon, he was done with his ranting and raving and started talking to me, but still in the same tone and same style. He explained that why Caleb screamed is because he was trying to break his tooth with his finger. If the tooth would have fractured up to the nerve, we would have known that this split came from a break or fall. He said it's rare for kids at his age to break teeth. Typically that happens between 2 and 4 years of age, where children aren't coordinated enough to break their fall by breaking their wrists (UGH!). So, he said that this is a congenital malformation of the tooth... the very words made me cringe since Joshua's CCAM was a Congenital (CA) Malformation of the lung (which means it happened in the womb). When I picked up Shawn & the Bean afterward, Daddy said "better his teeth than his lungs!"
The dentist isn't sure if this is one tooth with two heads growing on it or two teeth that have merged together into one. He said we wouldn't know for sure until all the teeth are in, and there's no harm to Caleb. So, he doesn't want to see him again until he's three years old, unless we find other problems before then. When Caleb does go back at three, though, he said "only me or my son can see him - he will not be touched by a dental hygenist." (He was a fruitcake...did I mention that?)This is a baby tooth, but the dentist said that our baby teeth are what shape our permanent teeth, so it could be a problem later but doesn't have to be. We won't know until he can x-ray, which he can't do until Caleb's three since the permanent teeth aren't formed yet. He then fluttered around giving me more information that my pediatrician already told me, and he said that he's been educating all the pediatricians in this area so that kids don't have to come to him until they're three...the pediatricians should give advice on avoiding too much flouride (since it can discolor teeth and leave spots), not allowing babies to fall asleep while breastfeeding or at the bottle, etc. (He then proceeded to tell me that both his children were breastfed, too, and that his son is now 31 and he still calls him "honey" as he shouted across the room to the other dentist there, who looked much more professional...). One piece of helpful information was that all kids should have an electric toothbrush because it does a better job and is more fun. He said get one of those and hold your kids on the toilet as you ask them to put their head back and lean into you so you can really scrub. And he said to forget flossing at this age. A good brush of the teeth at night and allowing them to brush their own teeth in the morning is a good start. I wish, though, you could have heard his tone of voice and pitch and gestures, etc. It was truly an experience!Thankfully, Caleb is really easygoing, and I doubt he'll remember this trip at all. The dentist, for as nuts as he appeared, seemed to really, really like kids and told me to "take lots of pictures" and get them framed and make collages. He said "while you have two little ones and you're tired and you wish you could get 20 minutes to yourself, enjoy this time! I still love the pictures of my kids with their bellies sticking out and the toothbrushes in their mouths..." He went on and on, and he talked incessantly about his own children. When I had asked him, "Is Caleb in any pain from this tooth?" his response was "Of course! And every other one! He's teething, after all. Give him something cold to chew on and some baby orajel. It feels so good to chew on those cold teething rings!" He seemed to really like and understand babies. So, it wasn't that it was bad or he wasn't helpful...it was just weird. Really weird. But, the good news is that after $50, we found that Caleb is just fine and doesn't need to go back until the normal age of 3 unless there are any other issues. Praise God!

Monday, April 20, 2009

Silly Hats & Sunshine

On Thursday just after I laid the boys down for a nap, I heard the doorbell. It was Mom - the first time I'd seen her in almost a month. We went for a walk with the kids and then headed to the shoe store where the gal measured Caleb & Joshua's feet. Thankfully, Caleb is the exact size Joshua was for his first pair of shoes, and Joshua's feet haven't grown since the last time we got him sneakers. So, I didn't spend a dime! Yeah! (Not that you don't do what you have to do when it comes to your kids, but when I can save, I'm pleased.)The next day, Mom watched the boys so I could go grocery shopping. We were out of everything, from flour to peanut butter to seasonings like dry mustard to aluminum foil and milk to a bare pantry and an empty freezer. I hate grocery shopping (even without kids) but I was diligent and made a list and organized it by section, and I tried to hang in there when I couldn't find things. I spent almost $200, but I'm now stocked with meals for the next few weeks, and I planned out what we're eating each evening this week, which saves us money from going out to eat (which is also not the healthiest option!). That afternoon while the kids napped, I made four batches of mini-cheddar meatloaf and put them in the freezer, which will give us meal choices to defrost. Shawn said that it sounded good that evening, so I changed my plan for that day from the stuffed porkchops (which we ate the following night) to accomodate. I made pineapple stuffing and Shawn cooked a small ham steak for us to split for lunch on Sunday before small group. We had a fun time as usual!
The weather these past few days has been brilliant - up to today, which is cold, rainy and windy. I'm missing the sunshine, but at least the weekend was nice so Shawn could enjoy it along with the boys. Today I'm preparing for my last class of the semester. I love the feeling of freedom that each end of semester brings, but that also means an end to my paycheck until school starts again. So, hopefully we can be wiser in how we spend and save and learn to live with less.

The Writing on the Wall

This past week, I studied Daniel Chapter 5. Once again, I was in awe at God's impeccable timing with this lesson in my life. I liked it so much that I wanted to write about it: 1) for my own teaching (since writing & doing helps us memorize & study) and 2) so that you could benefit from God's holy word (after all, as Beth Moore says "all Scripture is FOR you even if it's not all ABOUT you"). Here is Daniel 5, to give you a background of what I'm talking about:

Daniel 5
The Writing on the Wall

1 King Belshazzar gave a great banquet for a thousand of his nobles and drank wine with them. 2 While Belshazzar was drinking his wine, he gave orders to bring in the gold and silver goblets that Nebuchadnezzar his father [or ancestor/predecessor] had taken from the temple in Jerusalem, so that the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines might drink from them. 3 So they brought in the gold goblets that had been taken from the temple of God in Jerusalem, and the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines drank from them. 4 As they drank the wine, they praised the gods of gold and silver, of bronze, iron, wood and stone.
5 Suddenly the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall, near the lampstand in the royal palace. The king watched the hand as it wrote. 6 His face turned pale and he was so frightened that his knees knocked together and his legs gave way.
7 The king called out for the enchanters, astrologers and diviners to be brought and said to these wise men of Babylon, "Whoever reads this writing and tells me what it means will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around his neck, and he will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom."
8 Then all the king's wise men came in, but they could not read the writing or tell the king what it meant. 9 So King Belshazzar became even more terrified and his face grew more pale. His nobles were baffled.


10 The queen, [or queen mother/grandmother] hearing the voices of the king and his nobles, came into the banquet hall. "O king, live forever!" she said. "Don't be alarmed! Don't look so pale! 11 There is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods in him. In the time of your father he was found to have insight and intelligence and wisdom like that of the gods. King Nebuchadnezzar your father—your father the king, I say—appointed him chief of the magicians, enchanters, astrologers and diviners. 12 This man Daniel, whom the king called Belteshazzar, was found to have a keen mind and knowledge and understanding, and also the ability to interpret dreams, explain riddles and solve difficult problems. Call for Daniel, and he will tell you what the writing means."
13 So Daniel was brought before the king, and the king said to him, "Are you Daniel, one of the exiles my father the king brought from Judah? 14 I have heard that the spirit of the gods is in you and that you have insight, intelligence and outstanding wisdom. 15 The wise men and enchanters were brought before me to read this writing and tell me what it means, but they could not explain it. 16 Now I have heard that you are able to give interpretations and to solve difficult problems. If you can read this writing and tell me what it means, you will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around your neck, and you will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom."


17 Then Daniel answered the king, "You may keep your gifts for yourself and give your rewards to someone else. Nevertheless, I will read the writing for the king and tell him what it means.
18 "O king, the Most High God gave your father Nebuchadnezzar sovereignty and greatness and glory and splendor. 19 Because of the high position he gave him, all the peoples and nations and men of every language dreaded and feared him. Those the king wanted to put to death, he put to death; those he wanted to spare, he spared; those he wanted to promote, he promoted; and those he wanted to humble, he humbled. 20 But when his heart became arrogant and hardened with pride, he was deposed from his royal throne and stripped of his glory. 21 He was driven away from people and given the mind of an animal; he lived with the wild donkeys and ate grass like cattle; and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven, until he acknowledged that the Most High God is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and sets over them anyone he wishes.
22 "But you his son, [or descendant] O Belshazzar, have not humbled yourself, though you knew all this. 23 Instead, you have set yourself up against the Lord of heaven. You had the goblets from his temple brought to you, and you and your nobles, your wives and your concubines drank wine from them. You praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or understand. But you did not honor the God who holds in his hand your life and all your ways. 24 Therefore he sent the hand that wrote the inscription.

25 "This is the inscription that was written:
Mene , Mene , Tekel , Parsin
26 "This is what these words mean:

Mene : God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end.
27 Tekel: You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting.
28 Peres: Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians."


29 Then at Belshazzar's command, Daniel was clothed in purple, a gold chain was placed around his neck, and he was proclaimed the third highest ruler in the kingdom.
30 That very night Belshazzar, king of the Babylonians, was slain, 31 and Darius the Mede took over the kingdom, at the age of sixty-two.


The Unholy Use of Holy Vessels
If you read Daniel 5:1-6, Belshazzar made the grievous mistake of treating the holy as unholy. These gold goblets from the temple had been annointed (Leviticus 8:10-11) and consecrated (2 Chronicles 7:16) for God. They were declared holy and reserved exclusively for Him. God doesn't take lightly when His holy vessels are used for toasting unholy purposes.

We, too, are holy vessels in the house of the Lord!

2 Timothy 2:20-21 "In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work."

Ephesians 1:4 says we were called to be "holy & blameless." In 2 Corinthians 1:21-22, it says that we've been "annointed by God" who set "His seal of ownership on us" and "put His Spirit in our hearts." According to Beth Moore who looked up the meaning of these words in their original translation, we are "holy, sacred, separated from ordinary or common usage and devoted to God. Something holy is that which has been brought into relationship with God...and designated by Him as having a sacred purpose or special significance...marked as holy, classified as belonging to God...sacred, hallowed, consecrated." While Satan has no greater pleasure than attempting to desecrate what God consecrates, God does not overlook the unholy use of holy vessels. How many ways do we treat our holy vessels as unholy? How many times have we toasted an unholy purpose with our holy vessels? YIKES!

However, I also loved at the end of the video session where Beth Moore notes that "Vessels that have been treated as unholy can be treated as holy again" and quoted the scriptures in Ezra 1:2,7-8, 8:28-29 as the articles from the Lord's temple are returned to His holy house for His holy use. We don't have to live in guilt or shame - we can be made new again in Christ!

WEIGHED & FOUND WANTING
For me, I've been struggling with the fruit of the Spirit "self-control." I've been trying to be healthier, and I feel like for every two steps forward I take, I end up taking three back. I've learned that I'm addicted to food. And while this may not be a sin in someone else's life (I'm in no place to judge as I'm still struggling!), I confess that I've found it to be a sin in my own. I've been studying God's word on what the Bible has to say, and I realize that I've treated my body (a holy vessel) as unholy by what I'm ingesting. I truly want to be prepared to do "any good work" as 2 Timothy says, and I want to have moderation in my life. While I'm not proud of this struggle, I know I'm not alone in this! Daniel 5:27 really struck me "Tekel: You've been weighed on the scales and found wanting." Yes, sadly, it's true. This is a struggle that only God can rescue me from...if (or I should say 'when') I'm thin & healthy someday, He will receive all the glory! After all "God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble." So, please pray for me, that I would be able to conquer this addiction and move into a healthier lifestyle!

I've Been Hosed!
I've been studying God's word on health since my Breaking Free Bible study, and God is so faithful to answer the cries of our heart! Yesterday, we knew that Pastor Matt was teaching at the Lord's House of prayer. So, we decided to go listen since we care about him & his family. His sermon closely related to the "unholy use of holy vessels." In fact, he started out by bringing in a garden hose. He said he received a picture of a hose, and then explained that the hose represents our character. He said while you're supposed to take your hose inside after using it, he doesn't. He leaves it outside (or in the world). If it's a good hose, it will withstand the elements, including the storms of life, the heat and the elements. If it's not a good hose, it will crack and leak and the flow will be disrupted. Our character is like that hose, and the water flow is the Spirit of God. If we are being used for God's holy purposes, we'll need to have good character so that when God tell us to push the trigger, we can soak the dry ground with Him. If we have character flaws, the flow gets disrupted. (After all, have we ever seen someone that says 'I love you, Jesus' but then acts completely different in different situations?)

If we allow God to work on those character flaws, he can fix the cracks in the line. Then, to my disbelief, he took out a knife and cut the perfectly good hose (I must be too cheap to think that he would do such a thing!). Then he put the nozzle back on, and it worked like new. I also recognized that this hose would now be shorter, or closer to the source (which is the Lord Himself). So, how do we know if our character is Godly? Are we demonstrating the fruit of the Spirit? He went into each one of the fruit: "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control" and looked up the meanings to each word...are we doing things without complaining? Do we have moderation? Ugh! There were many that hit home to me, and I believe my hose looks more cracked than I would have imagined. But, thankfully I'm in a relationship with the source. And while I know that when the hose is cut, it probably hurts, the beauty of the work at the end makes it all worth it. May I be a hose for the Lord!

Saturday, April 18, 2009

31! The oldest man in the house!

You couldn't have asked for a nicer day to celebrate Joshua's 31-month birthday! We spent almost the entire day outside. Caleb woke me up early (around 5 am) and I stayed up to do my devotions. When Joshua woke up around 7 am, he & Daddy played for a little while until we headed out for a little drive. We ended our time on the road by stopping at Grandma's yardsale, where Joshua was given a Scooby-Doo ball that he loved to play with there. Grandma also gave him her 2nd step slide and another horsey that he has loved playing with.
When we came home, he played more outside while I fed Caleb and then me & the boys went for a nice long walk all around the neighborhood to look for puppies while Daddy mowed the grass. Joshua loves to sing "how much is that doggie in the window?" when he sees one. We talk about everything we see outside, from pretty flowers & trees (there are two beautiful blooming cherry blossoms near us) to airplanes, cars and trucks. We all were sun-kissed 'til we got back. After lunch, we tucked the boys in bed for naps and Daddy hung out with Uncle Brian for a little while.

When the boys woke up, we played some more and I cooked us stuffed pork chops for dinner. Daddy made the dried corn, and I baked home-made peach pudding (which is more of a cobbler but without the syrup-like consistency) with fresh peaches I had bought. After we cleaned up, it was high time we made it out back to the playground, where Joshua was thrilled to play on the slides. I came back with Caleb early to feed him, and Joshua & Daddy stayed out until it was just about dark. It was a beautiful day that we all enjoyed!

Joshua is growing so big so quickly! When Grandma & Grandpa Ginder were in town, they taught him some new expressions that we are still hearing (which makes us chuckle). He'll call one of our names and say "um" (like he's thinking) then "NO!" with his finger going from his thinking chin to a point. He also says "You sit, car, you sit, and I MEAN IT!" But, his "I mean it" sounds more like "a minute!" He's all fiesty and then he giggles and shines his beautiful smile. He also pulls a "W" out of his ear occasionally, which came from one of the times that he and 'Pa-paw' were playing with the alphabet letters on the fridge. He knows many of them (and there's many he doesn't). He's a funny Bean!

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Caleb's 9-month well-check

This past weekend I graded papers until I could barely see straight from boredom. But, thankfully I'm finished with them and only have to update my final exam and finish final grades before the end of the semester, which will be done the last week of April. Yesterday Daddy had off work, and last night Grandma & Grandpa Ginder asked if Joshua could spent the night with them in their bed & breakfast apartment. We said okay since Joshua enjoys spending quality time with them, even though I missed him like crazy (I was able to call and say goodnight after class, which was nice). With him being gone and in good hands, I was able to take Caleb to his doctor's appointment by himself this morning. Caleb's stats are:

Weight: 19 pounds 6 ounces - 40th percentile
Height: 28" - 45th percentile
Head Circ: 18" - 60th percentile

His percentiles are certainly changing. They said he didn't get any taller since his last visit (which is difficult to measure) and his weight percentile has dropped. He is on the go constantly, though, and I remember Joshua slimming down once he was walking. Still, we're concerned about his eating. Dr. Reilly said some kids are weird about textures in their mouth, so hopefully he'll outgrow that awful sensation. She also said that the new theory suggests that kids can have anything (even peanut butter, fish, eggs and some dairy - no milk yet) as long as the parents watch them like a halk after the first time to make sure they don't break out into hives or have a severe allergic reaction. She suggested we do this soon just in case he would ever grab anything from big brother, and to make sure we really, really watch him after his first few times of having it.

Caleb also has some eczema (sp?) on his skin that I need to buy some Aquafore ointment for since lotion alone isn't helping all that much. She thinks his skin is just a little sensitive. Finally, and the most important question I had today - Caleb's newest front tooth is broken. It took us both holding him down to get a close look at it, and she suspects he was born with it broken and it didn't happen from any fall or injury. She suggested we call a pediatric dentist after he turns a year old to have it investigated. Since it does seem sensitive (he's not unhappy in general, but he doesn't like when we touch in his mouth), I called when I left there to get the dentist's expert opinion of when he should be seen. The answer? Wednesday, April 22, at 5 pm (their soonest appointment when I don't have school). Please pray that Caleb's okay and not in pain and that it's not an 'issue'!

Also pray that Caleb starts eating better and is in a good percentile for height & weight for him. These things drive me crazy, and the pediatrician told me that he looks healthy and that I shouldn't be concerned about it at all. I will rest in the fact that God loves Caleb even more than I do (hard to imagine!) and He will take care of our bubba.

Monday, April 13, 2009

Up from the Grave He Arose!

The weekend has been busy. Unfortunately Mr. Good did not have off Good Friday, but we survived. Saturday Daddy did our taxes (all but filing and paying up), and later that afternoon we went to V&S sandwich shop and had a wonderful time hanging out with the owner and his family.

Sunday morning we went to church at LCBC. Joshua wore a new vest from Grandma & Grandpa Ginder and Caleb wore the outfit that Joshua wore on his first Easter. I wore a pink suit I've owned for years but still love, and Shawn amused me by wearing khakis. We originally weren't planning on going to church, but decided to at the last minute (after all, look at how the Lord sacrificed for us and we can't even make an effort to get to His house on His holiday?). We got to church right at 9 am after wrestling all morning with each other and the kids (all but). We used the valet parking for the first time since we didn't see any spots open and it specifically says it's for people with children in the nursery, and we hussled into church. Even still, we sat in the balcony on the far left, climbing over people to get into one of the very last seats available. With my high heels and fear of heights and typical need to leave in the middle of the sermon due to being paged out for Caleb, I was tense (there are probably other words Shawn would use to describe my mood here, but I'll leave it at that).As worship was going on, I told God what I thought about the seats we had...after all this effort to get to church and this is where we sat?!?! But, there was an empty seat next to me, and I felt like He replied "Well, I'm sitting right next to you. In my opinion, you have the best seat in the house." It was pretty humbling. Christ was crucified and rose again, only for me to be stuck in a mood about a silly seat (and I was lucky to even have a place to sit...although it's semi-mortifying to be body-surfed into your seat, so I think I would have preferred the standing). I tried to relax and enjoy the worship, which was really good - Matt Goss lead and my favorite back-up singer was the only other vocalist. Then the sermon started with ... disappointment with God. Oh, how the Lord always knows what's on our minds!
The theme was "this changes everything" and the beginning clip was a wife telling her husband that she was pregnant. That certainly changes everything! Shawn & I gave each other a knowing nod, remembering when we first found out we were expecting the Bean. We sat snuggled in a blanket on our suite balcony, watching the sun rise over the ocean water, with awe and wonder of what was to come. But, the pastor then noted that sometimes the "thing that changes everything" isn't a good thing...sometimes it's the news of cancer, losing a job, etc. Sometimes we get such a message, and knowing that things will never be the same makes us disappointed with God. Then the pastor read the passage from Luke 23:50-24:12. He explained that these folks believed that Jesus was the Messiah who was going to save them, but they were disappointed when He died. They were going to give him a proper burial, never expecting that He was going to rise and fulfill the scriptures. They wondered what had happened...

Jesus' Burial
50Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, 51who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea and he was waiting for the kingdom of God. 52Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus' body. 53Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid. 54It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin.
55The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. 56Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.

The Resurrection
24:1On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 5In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 7'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.' " 8Then they remembered his words.
9When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. 10It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. 11But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. 12Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.
It's funny, I've read this story most of my life, and yet there are still things that stood out to me in these passages. I didn't remember that someone asked to get Jesus' body and just wrapped it in linens in the tomb. My recollection was that the women were trying to prepare his body for burial, but this other little fact had escaped. I also forgot that they didn't believe the women since "their words seemed like nonsense." Jesus' death changed everything, but more than that...HE IS RISEN!!!! That changes everything!!!! This is the good news. God is no longer on the cross. For so many people, the Easter story ends with Jesus' death. But the best part of the story is that HE'S ALIVE! HE ROSE & CONQUERED THE GRAVE!
The sermon ended with a video clip of a testimony from a man that goes to LCBC that was told he had cancer. The words he spoke that struck me the most were "who's going to be sitting in my chair, with my wife and be called Daddy by my kids?" Oh, how that thought hit home with me! But, God used this news to change his life and help him start living for the Lord. "This changes everything" can be good if we use everything for God's glory! [The guy is now in remission.] I even enjoyed the special music of "You Found Me" by the Fray and "By Your Side" by Tenth Avenue North. I didn't get paged out of the sermon, and Shawn insisted that we let everyone else clear out before attempting to get out and get our kids. Both boys were okay even though we got them later than usual. Joshua was having a great time, and Caleb would have been fussy no matter what, I think.
I was so glad we went to church...my focus must always be on the Lord and not myself. That morning I needed "everything changed!"After church, we drove straight to Miller's Smorgasboard where Shawn's parents treated us to an amazing buffet of food. The Easter bunny was there, which excited Joshua to no end. However, when we went to pay the $5 donation to the American Cancer Society to have his picture taken with the bunny, he said "No! No! No! All done, bunny! All done!" He was too scared to go close to this dressed-up creature. It was adorable.

We all napped several hours that afternoon, which was great! And we spent more time with the Ginders that evening. We've enjoyed getting to visit with them while they're here. Joshua has been so excited to see "pa-paw, pa-paw, pa-paw!" :) :) :)
In honor of our Savior, who has given me far more than I could have ever imagined and who means more to me than anything else in this world, I have copied Luke 22-24 below with a more in-depth version of the Easter story. Thank you, Lord Jesus! We worship & praise you with joy!
Luke 22-24 (New International Version)
Luke 22
Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus
1Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching, 2and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus, for they were afraid of the people. 3Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve. 4And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus. 5They were delighted and agreed to give him money. 6He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present.
The Last Supper
7Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. 8Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover."
9"Where do you want us to prepare for it?" they asked.
10He replied, "As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house that he enters, 11and say to the owner of the house, 'The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?' 12He will show you a large upper room, all furnished. Make preparations there."
13They left and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.
14When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. 15And he said to them, "I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God."
17After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, "Take this and divide it among you. 18For I tell you I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes."
19And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me."
20In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. 21But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table. 22The Son of Man will go as it has been decreed, but woe to that man who betrays him." 23They began to question among themselves which of them it might be who would do this.
24Also a dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. 25Jesus said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. 26But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. 27For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. 28You are those who have stood by me in my trials. 29And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, 30so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
31"Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you[
a] as wheat. 32But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers."
33But he replied, "Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death."
34Jesus answered, "I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me."
35Then Jesus asked them, "When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?" "Nothing," they answered.
36He said to them, "But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don't have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one. 37It is written: 'And he was numbered with the transgressors'[
b]; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment."
38The disciples said, "See, Lord, here are two swords." "That is enough," he replied.
Jesus Prays on the Mount of Olives
39Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. 40On reaching the place, he said to them, "Pray that you will not fall into temptation." 41He withdrew about a stone's throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, 42"Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." 43An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. 44And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.[c]
45When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. 46"Why are you sleeping?" he asked them. "Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation."
Jesus Arrested
47While he was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him, 48but Jesus asked him, "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?"
49When Jesus' followers saw what was going to happen, they said, "Lord, should we strike with our swords?" 50And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear.
51But Jesus answered, "No more of this!" And he touched the man's ear and healed him.
52Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders, who had come for him, "Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come with swords and clubs? 53Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay a hand on me. But this is your hour—when darkness reigns."
Peter Disowns Jesus
54Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. 55But when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. 56A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, "This man was with him."
57But he denied it. "Woman, I don't know him," he said.
58A little later someone else saw him and said, "You also are one of them." "Man, I am not!" Peter replied.
59About an hour later another asserted, "Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean."
60Peter replied, "Man, I don't know what you're talking about!" Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. 61The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: "Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times." 62And he went outside and wept bitterly.
The Guards Mock Jesus
63The men who were guarding Jesus began mocking and beating him. 64They blindfolded him and demanded, "Prophesy! Who hit you?" 65And they said many other insulting things to him.
Jesus Before Pilate and Herod
66At daybreak the council of the elders of the people, both the chief priests and teachers of the law, met together, and Jesus was led before them. 67"If you are the Christ,[d]" they said, "tell us."
Jesus answered, "If I tell you, you will not believe me, 68and if I asked you, you would not answer. 69But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God."
70They all asked, "Are you then the Son of God?" He replied, "You are right in saying I am."
71Then they said, "Why do we need any more testimony? We have heard it from his own lips."
Luke 23
1Then the whole assembly rose and led him off to Pilate. 2And they began to accuse him, saying, "We have found this man subverting our nation. He opposes payment of taxes to Caesar and claims to be Christ,[
e] a king."
3So Pilate asked Jesus, "Are you the king of the Jews?" "Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied.
4Then Pilate announced to the chief priests and the crowd, "I find no basis for a charge against this man."
5But they insisted, "He stirs up the people all over Judea[
f]by his teaching. He started in Galilee and has come all the way here."
6On hearing this, Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean. 7When he learned that Jesus was under Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time.
8When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see him. From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform some miracle. 9He plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer. 10The chief priests and the teachers of the law were standing there, vehemently accusing him. 11Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him. Dressing him in an elegant robe, they sent him back to Pilate. 12That day Herod and Pilate became friends—before this they had been enemies.
13Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people, 14and said to them, "You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him. 15Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death. 16Therefore, I will punish him and then release him."[
g]
18With one voice they cried out, "Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!" 19(Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.)
20Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again. 21But they kept shouting, "Crucify him! Crucify him!"
22For the third time he spoke to them: "Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have him punished and then release him."
23But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. 24So Pilate decided to grant their demand. 25He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will.
The Crucifixion
26As they led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. 27A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him. 28Jesus turned and said to them, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children. 29For the time will come when you will say, 'Blessed are the barren women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!' 30Then " 'they will say to the mountains, "Fall on us!" and to the hills, "Cover us!" '[h] 31For if men do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?"
32Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. 33When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. 34Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."[
i] And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
35The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One."
36The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar 37and said, "If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself."
38There was a written notice above him, which read:sc THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
39One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!"
40But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? 41We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong."
42Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.[
j]"
43Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."
Jesus' Death
44It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, 45for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." When he had said this, he breathed his last.
47The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, "Surely this was a righteous man." 48When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away. 49But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.
Jesus' Burial
50Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, 51who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea and he was waiting for the kingdom of God. 52Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus' body. 53Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid. 54It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin.
55The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. 56Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.
Luke 24
The Resurrection
1On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 5In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 7'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.' " 8Then they remembered his words.
9When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. 10It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. 11But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. 12Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.
On the Road to Emmaus
13Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles[k] from Jerusalem. 14They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16but they were kept from recognizing him.
17He asked them, "What are you discussing together as you walk along?"
They stood still, their faces downcast. 18One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, "Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?"
19"What things?" he asked.
"About Jesus of Nazareth," they replied. "He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23but didn't find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see."
25He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26Did not the Christ[
l] have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?" 27And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
28As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther. 29But they urged him strongly, "Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over." So he went in to stay with them.
30When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32They asked each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?"
33They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together 34and saying, "It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon." 35Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.
Jesus Appears to the Disciples
36While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you."
37They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. 38He said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? 39Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have."
40When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. 41And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, "Do you have anything here to eat?" 42They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43and he took it and ate it in their presence.
44He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms."
45Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46He told them, "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48You are witnesses of these things. 49I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high."
The Ascension
50When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. 51While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. 52Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. 53And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.