There's nothing better...

Than a pretty girl who is missing her two front teeth. I love her to pieces.

Another busy weekend!

I have had the opportunity to be on the grace park planning committee and finally the big weekend came - installation! We are so blessed to be a part of an amazing church! (No they didn't let me turn the chainsaw on). Soooo. I was at the workday this weekend and matt took the kids to spend the weekend with papa Siak. They took the kids to a science museum, and spent a lot of time going up and down the stairs at papas house (my kids have always loved stairs). It was a great weekend all the way around - especially ending this weekend with Palm Sunday at church and movies all afternoon. We are blessed.

A boy and a Box.

I haven't mentioned it on the blog, but we are in a crazy season.  After 9 years in this precious starter home - we are prepping to put it on the market!  Which translates to - we are living in chaos right now.  One of the perks - always having an open box to play in.  Which Luke is loving!

A busy weekend!

We had a weekend of first for my peanuts. Noah got to fly on an airplane! He flew down to Mobile, Alabama to spend the weekend with aunt Melanie, Cameron, grandma, grandad, and uncle Kenny. They had many adventures, got to fly in first class, went to the beach, museums, and spend quality time with some of my favorite people!

Ella got to go spend an extra day with granny before Luke and I came down to Hendersonville (daddy was working on the house). On Saturday she got to go to the flat rock playhouse with granny and Lizzle. Lizzle curled her hair and she put on one of her favorite outfits to go see uncle Jesse in the little prince. She thought t was "fabulous".

And while we were all gone daddy and Ryan got the new heat pump installed!

It was a fantastic weekend!

Israel Day 4 - Part 3

The middle of the day we walked down the craziest streets, most were covered, some with tunnels, and some with just sheet metal, in old Jerusalem   We were making our way to the Wailing wall.  The wall is all that is left of the old temple.  You know, the one that held the Holy of Holies that was split when Jesus died?  The Jewish people believe it to be a holy place and come there to pray.  It's separated into a large "mens section" and smaller womens section.  As I waited to get close enough just to touch it, a group in front of me wheeled a very old woman to the wall.  She was dressed in her best and they lifted her to where she could rest her head against the wall.  She immediately sobbed and prayed passionately in hebrew - oh how I wish I could understand what she was saying!  I just watched her, while all around me women were praying, from their hearts, and from their prayer books in a language I didn't understand, but to my same Father.

The Wailing Wall

Wailing Wall

Prayers jammed in the cracks of the wailing wall

Nehemiahs Wall

If you got a rock from me, it came from this stream

David and Goliaths field was fun.  It was our last stop, and I think since we were so tired, we were being goofy.  We made a funny video, filled our pockets FULL of rocks to bring back, and joked about how we just weren't going to climb up that hill.

David and Goliaths Field

The hill where David and his buds were hanging out.

I must take a minute to thank the man who made this all possible.  My dad provided us with this trip of a lifetime and my mom watched my children while we were gone for the week.  I am FOREVER changed because of it.  I will never read my Bible the same way again.  The things I have seen are priceless.  And I LONG to go back!!!!  I will take my children.  I want them to understand all that Israel is. I can understand now why my dad wanted so badly to take me.  I am forever grateful to my parents for giving Matt and I this amazing gift.  Forever.  Grateful.

Israel Trip - Day 4 Part 2

John 5:1-9

After spending the morning at the garden tomb we headed to one of my personal favorite spots - the pools of bethesda.  Jesus healed the man beside the pools on the Sabbath (quite scandalous in those days).  It was beautiful and we knew once again we were standing not just where Jesus stood, but where he performed miracles.  We then took a walk down the Via Dolorosa and down to the underground place where Jesus was carried the cross on his way to skull hill.

Our Grace Group!

Via Dolorosa

The street where Jesus was held before crucifixion.

Israel Trip - Day 4

I guess its time for me to get back to finishing my blog posts about our Israel trip!  The fourth day is our last day in country and it was jam packed with different visits.  That morning we started with a sweet communion service at the Garden Tomb.  We got to see Golgotha, the skull hill where Jesus was crucified.  We got to walk in the tomb, see the carvings from the early eras, and take in the scenery.  It was so surreal to think that Jesus rose from the grave and stood in that very spot.  That he was seen by Mary in that garden.  It was amazing to put into our minds the distance from where they moved Jesus' body off the cross to the grave.  I put my hand in the groove where the heavy stone was that sealed the tomb where they placed his body.  As I was leaving I put my hand on either side of the doorway and imagined that Jesus did the same thing as he left the tomb on that third day.

Skull Hill

Matt leaving the tomb

Nasser.  He's was our guide for the week.  And is our friend.

I was so blessed to have some of my extended family on this trip!  These are my uncles and cousin.