Time to pick up small objects!

Well our determined little Jada is making her way around to whatever she can get her hands on.  If she starts to really crawl she'll be a month ahead of her sister!

DJ

So remember DJ from Full House?  What's the first thing you remember about her? For me it's her cheeks.  She had cute little chubby cheeks.  Maybe I remember that because I too had little chubby cheeks and I could relate.  Well she has written a book.  I must say I was skeptical at first.  But it is excellent!  She discusses her relationship with food and how she used food to fill what only Christ would.  I really appreciate her honesty and dedication to speaking the truth about Christ.  She holds no punches which has to be hard for a celebrity knowing the criticism she is likely to get.  It's not a diet book! It's about discovering how important of a role food plays in most of our lives and how Christ should hold that place.  Even if it's not food that is a struggle you can apply these ideas into our lives.  What is it that we turn to when we are sad, lonely, bored, tired, angry, exhausted, hopeless etc...?  That needs to be replaced with Christ.  Very powerful message!

Oh how they grow!

Wow does time go by too fast or what?  Jael is growing up so fast.  Last week she learned how to swing all by herself.  (That is, pump her legs.)  Now we don't have to stand there and push her the whole time!  She has also started to pick up the guitar she got from "Jada" when she was born, and try to play songs.  Her favorite tune to copy from daddy?  Sweet Home Alabama!  As you can see in the picture she puts her leg up on the foot rest, props her guitar on her knee and goes to town!  It's pretty funny.




Jada is sitting up really well now.  Although when she gets mad she throws herself back and hasn't quite figured out that this will result in hitting her head.  She also goes from sitting to her belly in an attempt to crawl to get something.  She hasn't figured out how to get to her hands and knees just yet but I'm sure that is in the near future.  She objects pretty strongly if you take something away from her or don't pick her up when she wants you to.  I thought she was going to be my   more relaxed child.  FALSE!  She is very stubborn.  I have started letting her yell instead of giving in to whatever she wants.  A few days ago she yelled for so long that she actually started to lose her voice.  (Notice I say yell and not cry because she yells!)  She has started to figure out that I'm not going to give in to her easily and the yelling is becoming shorter and shorter.  Night times are still rough although last night she slept for 11 hours straight without so much as a peep!  I guess letting her "cry it out" for a couple hours at night is starting to pay off.

Have you heard of resurrection eggs?   If not, they are Easter Eggs that tell the story of Jesus.  There are 12 eggs each containing a small object to help describe the Easter Story.  Here's a picture.

We got these for Jael for Easter and she loves telling us the story of Jesus.  The problem is, she doesn't quite have it right yet.  So if you haven't heard the story of Jesus, I am about to tell you the real story and then Jael's version.

Dark Blue Egg- (A donkey) "In Jesus' day, most people walked everywhere.  Some-times, kings rode on donkeys or horses when they entered a city.  The people would stop what they were doing and watch as the king rode by.  On the day that Jesus rode into their city (Jerusalem), the people were thrilled to see Him.  they believed that He was their new king who had come to save them and to fill their lives with Joy."

Jael's Version-  "Jesus rode a donkey."

Light Pink Egg- (3 Coins)  "Not everyone was happy to have Jesus as their king...Some only pretended...one of those pretenders was Judas Iscariot.  Other men hated Jesus so much that they wanted to kill Him.  But they needed the help of someone who could get them close to Jesus.  Because Jesus was a pretender, and because he was greedy for money, he told the men he would help capture Jesus if they would pay him thirty silver coins."

Jael's Version-  "I don't know what the money is for."  (She can't seem to remember this one)

Light Purple Egg- "Cup"  "Jesus had a special dinner with His disciples.  During the meal Jesus stood up and held out a cup and gave everyone a drink.  He said that the wine was (a symbol of) his blood.  He wanted them to remember this special night and the promise He was making to them and to all people."

Jael's Version-  "The cup is to drink coffee out of."

Dark Orange Egg-  (Praying Hands)  "After the dinner with His disciples, Jesus took them to a garden.  He asked them to pray while He went to another place in the garden to talk to God alone.  He began to be sad and to dread what He knew was going to happen soon.  He was going to die."

Jael's Version- "The praying hands are to chew on."

Dark Green Egg- (Whip)  "When Jesus was finished praying in the garden, the men who wanted to kill Him took him as their prisoner.  They brought Jesus to Pilate, their ruler, and he had Jesus whipped.  The whip used was long and hard and it hurt Jesus so much that He bled."

Jael's Version-  "They hit Jesus with the whip."

Yellow Egg- (Crown of Thorns)  "After Jesus had been whipped, the soldiers took branches with thorns, twisted them into the shape of a crown, and shoved it down on Jesus' head.  Again, Jesus bled."

Jael's Version-  "They put the crown on Jesus' head." (She puts the crown on her head).  "It doesn't hurt my head".

Orange Egg- (Nails in the Cross)  "The soldiers made Jesus carry a heavy wooden cross to the top of a hill. Using nails much larger than these, they nailed him to the cross, which must have hurt very much.  He died a few hours later."

Jesus' Version-  "They put Jesus on the cross."

Dark Purple Egg- (Die)  "While Jesus was dying on the cross, they played a game to decide who would take His clothes".  

Jael's Version-  "The die is used to play games.  Lets pay one!"

Dark Purple Egg- (Spear)  "To make sure Jesus had died one of the soldiers stabbed Jesus in the side with a spear."

Jael's Version-  "They poked Jesus in the side with the spear."

Light Blue Egg- (Linen Cloth)  "After Jesus died, a man named Joseph asked if he could bury him.  This was a brave and loving thing for Joseph to do.  Joseph believed that he was the Son of God and he wanted Jesus to have a proper burial.  Joseph wrapped the body of Jesus in cloth and buried Him in a tomb cut out of rock, like a shallow cave."

Jael's Version-  "They used the cloth to wipe Jesus' bottom."  (Hmmmm not quite Jael)

Dark Pink Egg- (Stone)  "The stone that was rolled in front of Jesus' tomb was much bigger than the stone in the egg.  It was as big as a door and probably weighed more than a car."

Jael's Version-  "The stone is used to play hop scotch."

White Egg- (Empty)  "When two women came tot he tomb of Jesus, they were surprised.  The heavy stone was rolled aside and the tomb was empty.  Jesus' body was not there.  The angel told them "He has risen."  Jesus had come back to life.  This was the promise that Jesus made to His disciples at their special dinner a few days before-that He would die but come back to life to show those who believed in Him that they would live forever, too.  Someday, because He died for us, we can meet Him and thank Him in heaven.  That's the story of Easter, and it's true!"

Jael's Version-  "It's empty because He's alive!"  (She says with excitement!)

Happy Mother's Day!

So I haven't posted in a while.  It's Mother's Day and I have a few quiet minutes to update.  First let me say to my mom and mother-in-law, you are two of the best women I know!  Thank you for all you have done and do!  I'm sorry it takes a special day to make sure you know that you are appreciated.  We should let you know every day!

I just love being a mom.  There are certainly days that are harder than others but it is by far the most rewarding thing I have done to date.  What's so rewarding you ask?  I am doing my best to raise Godly women who will impact the Kingdom of God.  Does it get more rewarding then that?

Now for an update:  We had a great time in Florida.  Luke attended the Exponential conference while the girls and I stayed with our dear friends Sean and Miranda.  We got to end our trip with Kyle, Callie and Landyn which is ALWAYS a blast!

Luke's dad came home with us following Florida and his mom came on Tuesday.  We had a great week with them and as always Jael hated to say goodbye.  Fortunately we get to see them again when they come as reinforcements while Luke is in Africa.  The pictures are from the Baltimore Zoo.

HE IS RISEN INDEED!