10 YEARS!!

today on April 15, 2000 at 11am i married my best friend.

didn't realize how wonderful, challenging, exciting, awesome, life-changing, and lovely it would all be when i married a boy named jerry.

sure, we've had our ups and our downs, but overall our marriage and life together has been like no other. i love him more today than i did the day we married. he has provided such a wonderful life for us. we have been blessed with the two most beautiful boys in the world and the adventure has only just begun.

below are just a fraction of some snapshots of moments in our life together...

we are wiser, more HOPEful than ever, less cautious, grateful, determined and desire God's perfect will in our lives.

happy anniversary babe. love you so so much!

let's go another 10 and "to infinity and beyond"... :)



my family 2010


the day logan was born 2007


easter 2010


halloween with zach 2006


christmas 2005 the year zach was born


this past weekend 2010


still love each other 2009


me and my man

inspiration

God... he always gives me inspiration. love Him!

in my bible study at church, we are reading about different women in the bible. it has been very interesting to soak in all the different characteristics and morals and decisions that make up these particular women. I am enjoying seeing how and why God focuses on particular women over others.

on that note, a few bible verses have captured my attention and i thought since they inspire me to be a better woman after God's own heart, HOPEfully - these same bits of scripture will inspire you as well.

take a look. read each word. think upon each one, pray about each one, and try to live according to each one...

in Christ,

me


Ephesians 4: 29-31

"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice."

wow. real. good. stuff to ponder. think about what it would be like to truly have a thought life like this and speak the truth in love clearly. think about how our relationships with our spouses, children, family, friends, neighbors, and strangers would change...



James 3:13-18

"Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and every evil practice.

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness."


LOVE that last part, don't you? will we let our influence be driven by self centered-ness which leads down the path to manipulation? OR will we let our influence be the God-centered kind which leads to wisdom. hmmmmmm..... :)

(*thanks to the bible study teachers for their wisdom in helping me understand things better myself! :) )


have a blessed day!

easter part I & II

this easter was really really fun!

my sister and family came out from indianapolis the week before and we had a great time playing and just being together. we had our easter egg hunt as well as dinner with them on saturday - because they had to get up and leave early on sunday morning to get back!

sunday we went over to my favorite in-laws :) and some precious friends and family joined us to celebrate Jesus. we had a really wonderful time then, too.

all in all, we've just had a great week and beautiful weather and i find there is so much to be thankful for and HOPEful for!


below are some pics from the weekend... :) enjoy!



my parents with mr. 13 year old. i call him my "gentle giant"



my cute parents



zach and cassie on easter sunday. great friends.



z with his basket. so excited about the hunt



getting ready for easter hunt on saturday with sister's children



mom and shannon. love this picture



me and my sis. love her



madison and reagan showing their baskets



uncle lee with the little ones



me and my sweet joy on easter sunday - chillin'



jarvis children on gator at braatz farm on easter



"uncle" jerry taking the girls on a ride around the alpaca farm after easter dinner



on good friday we hiked around in the wildlife refuge... here's a shot of all the cousins on a log. love all the faces!



georgia and logan. buddies. cousins. adorable



grandma with the little munchkins



sweet sophie with her grandma (my aunt jackie) on easter sunday. cute little smile



mr cheese with his basket on saturday easter egg hunt




my family of 4



boys swinging on easter - watching their friends on the gator with daddy



all the cousins together.
they had so much fun together! looking forward to next time!

happy easter

easter... my absolute favorite holiday.

why?

frankly, if you're a christian, i think it should be yours, too. i mean, our beautiful Saviour died and ultimately rose again from death. how cool is that? what a fantastic event to celebrate!

i love you Jesus.

thank you for dying for me.

thank you for taking on my sin.

thank you for rising again!

hooray!!!