June Birthdays

 June 11th was Russell's Golden Birthday. I can't believe he has now celebrated 6 birthdays with us now! He has grown so much in the last 5 years!!! I pray the Lord blesses him with many more wonderful birthdays and that He draws Russell closer to Him each passing year. 

His request for his birthday breakfast was to make an apple strudel with his sisters. 

His birthday cake of choice was of course chocolate with chopped up candy bar and chocolate frosting. 

 And Caity made an amazing cherry gelato with sweet cherries from our tree. 

My birthday followed on the 13th. We carried on the tradition of fajitas and cheesecake for dinner. This year my grandma was able to join us. 

 Caity made the cheesecake and an amazing cherry sauce (yes we have an abundance of sweet cherries). =D

Of Friends, Summer, and Bowling

Found this sign at a park....ummm ok?

My family teases me about my style =)

One Man

There is one man who means the world to me. 

A man that I look up to an admire. 

Who has walked each step alongside me. 

Who has shown what it means for a man to love his wife.

A man of humility who loves to give. 

Who showers his children with love and gifts. 

Who cares about raising his children in the fear and admonition of the Lord.

A man who has an amazing work ethic and never complains.

Who teaches his children that work is a good thing.

Who loves to spend time with his family and take them on fun vacations.

A man who lives out traits that I will look for in the man I marry. 

A man who I love with my whole heart. 

Thanks for being such a great dad. 

I love you!

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY DADDY!!! 

What's Your Soundtrack?

On Sunday our pastor asked a question that got me thinking.

What is the soundtrack of your life?

What do you wash yourself with throughout the day? What are the things that take up the majority of your time and thoughts? What are some of the biggest influences in your life, good or bad? Are we continually growing closer to our Heavenly Father or are we being drawn down the slow and gradual path of unrighteousness by the things that fill our life?

"The safest road to hell is the gradual one - the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts." - C.S. Lewis

The "soundtrack" of your life is not merely what you listen to, but that definitely is a good place to start because our ears are always open and generally people listen to a lot of music while they study, work, drive, and go about every day life. I know I do. I have wondered and questioned standards of media, for christians in general and myself in particular, for quite a while now. How do we determine what we should or shouldn't listen to? 

Philippians 4:8 says, "Finally brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy - meditate on these things."

Does that limit us only to things that are strictly labeled "christian" and talk only about Jesus? I don't think so, but neither do I want to be so blinded by the idea of "Christian liberty" that I allow myself to read, listen to, watch, and be influenced by anything or everything. I don't have the answers and there's not a list of "ok" songs and movies behind the concordance in your Bible. It is not so cut and dry. Nothing in life really is. There is always room for grace. And aren't we glad?!

As I've thought about this issue, specifically in regards to music, I have thought of a couple songs in my iTunes that should probably go. But then in the back of my mind I hear a little voice saying things like:

"but it's a really fun song,"

"but I like it,"

"it's got a good beat,"

"I don't listen to it that much." 

"is it really BAD?"

I know in my own life I am sometimes tempted to hold on to things that I know don't glorify God because I enjoy them. Because it pleases my flesh. It feels good. It makes me happy for the moment. If we truly loved and feared God it would be easy to give up fleshly things so that we would be honoring Him, but we don't. We are fallen, sinful creatures. We love the things that please us. However, we do not have to stay in that rut. God has given us weapons to fight temptation; the Word of God and prayer. Spend time in God's word and seek wisdom from Him. 

So. What is the soundtrack of your life?

Time That's Never Waisted

As I mentioned in my post yesterday, I just got back from an extremely busy couple weeks preparing for a wedding. In the craziness of busy schedules - running here and there, working on projects, and pulling together the small details, it was easy to let one of the most significant and most important things slip away un-noticed. It dawned on me one of the last days that I had not been spending time in God's word. I was letting myself sleep in, getting up, and then jumping into the day without first spending time with the Lord.

I woke up early the next morning, grabbed my sweatshirt and my Bible and sat out on the front porch steps, the sun low in the sky and the world a quiet and peaceful place. I sat out there, un-interupted for almost an hour! That hour was so precious and I wondered how I could ever be 'satisfied' without that time with my Father. Some times when life is busy and time is in a crunch, I am so quick to let my quiet time be the first to go. I almost feel guilty sitting down to enjoy some peace and quiet when there's work to be done. I've realized though that no matter what, spending time in God's word and talking to your heavenly Father is never waisted time. Sure, you don't always have time to read your Bible for two hours, but whatever time you do have is never waisted. 

"The person who truly knows the Lord develops a love for Him and a closeness to Him, so that He begins to shape one's character and values." 

"One does not divine God's will. One lives God's will as one comes to know Him through His will." 

(Both quotes by Bruce K. Waltke)

Have you ever stopped to consider how awesome it is that God hears our prayers when ever and where ever we are? How cool is that. We don't have to sit down and say "ok, I'm going to pray now." We can be going about our daily lives talking to Him - asking for wisdom, praying for friends, seeking His guidance, lifting up needs and concerns. He truly is a Friend that sticks closer than a brother. He is ALWAYS there. Even when we forget, He is faithful. I've had lots to think about the last few days and I've discovered that picking cherries is a wonderful opportunity to think and pray. =) 

If God is not the focus of our lives we lose the proper perspective on everything else.

Home

I realize it's been well over two months since I last posted. The last month has been crazy. We left May 8th and drove to Idaho for my brother's college graduation, stayed there for 5 days and then drove down to Farmington, New Mexico with Caity and stayed with our "cousins" for two and a half weeks. We helped with the last preparations for our dear friends wedding last weekend and came home tired and happy Sunday evening. It was a truly wonderful trip, but after a month, I am glad to be back home with no up coming trips for the next few weeks. I haven't left the house yet. It's been awesome!

It was such a blessing to spend two weeks with our dear friends. We decorated Meg's house, ran errands, made food, watched movies, played frisbee, went on walks, talked for hours, altered dresses, made cake pops, decorations, programs, rosettes, curtains, towels, bouquets, boutonnières, and a dress, and fellowshipped with friends. It was fantastic and the wedding came together very smoothly. Saturday morning was a little hectic with running to Hobby Lobby and back and then taking stuff to the reception hall and back and then picking up stuff from the reception hall and back, all before the bride returned from her hair and makeup appointment. Pictures were taken, the flowers didn't wilt, the bride was stunning, the groom couldn't stop smiling, some of the attendants cried, the maid of honor made it through her speech (but not without tears), and we partied it up at the reception.

Sunday we worshipped with the saints at the Skeen's church and then enjoyed a wonderful afternoon of fellowship at a park before heading home. I'm eager to see all the dear people at our church back home though.
So there's a general update and hopefully I'll be able to keep up posting with more regularity in the near future.