Project 365, Week 15

April 5

It was a beautiful day, so after church the girls and I headed out to do yard work, attempting to make it presentable for our Easter egg hunt.

April 6

My niece Madison turned 8 and we spent the day at their house celebrating.

April 7

Aldi just opened in our area. It was a different shopping experience, like having to pay cash, but the prices speak for themselves.

April 8

Bathtime!

April 9

The nursing home was serving donuts and the girls were not shy about accepting one when offered. Its a good incentive until they feel the burden for this minsitry on their own. :)

Amanda's new thing is saying, "I love you so much!" or "I love you so very much!" Totally heart melting!

April 10

We were treated to an improptu date with cousin Allison and Grammy and Bobbi. The girls did lots of giggling.

The church that both my sisters go to performed the Passion of the King. I watched two nephews and a niece do a great job.

My sister Amy is the Assistant Producer of the show. She very talented and is using it for the Lord.

Six months (27 weeks). I feel great and am enjoying the company the baby provides me during the days. I get consistent comments from strangers about how I must be due very soon. When I tell them I'm not due until July, they look shocked and say something about how big I am. Cashiers, waitresses, airport security. I just keep smiling that there is a healthy, growing baby in there. Shaun thinks its all pretty funny.

Amanda is warming up to the idea.

April 11

The kitchen help, making preparations for Easter brunch.

He Is Risen!

HE IS RISEN!!

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-not by works, so that no one can boast.

Ephesians 2: 8,9

Do I Have to Have A Title?

This morning while doing Avery's hair the subject of Good Friday came up. She asked some very good questions and we even talked about how Jesus's death was similar and different from Great-Grandma's.



We were deep in conversation and I was mid-sentence, saying something profound, I'm sure, when Avery breaks in and says, "Um, Mom. Look at how these match...pink and pink, and they both have sparkles!" (referring to her princess necklace and the zipper on her fleece). Oh, well...another time!



The picture above is how she was dressed when we went out to the nursing home. One of the "with it" residents smiled and said, "How nice. You let them dress themselves." Yes, and Amanda can put her own shoes on...sort of.

Here's how our Wednesday was:

It Will Not Be Unredeemed

Today is the last day, but you can listen to this yet-to-be-released song at Bring The Rain. So good. If you never have, you will be so blessed to read the Bring the Rain blog. I've enjoyed it for more than a year now and Angie has an incredible story to tell. I normally end up in tears, so I pick and choose when I read it. Totally worth the time, though.

These are the lyrics, which are powerful even without the music.

Unredeemed

The cruelest words
The coldest heart
The deepest wounds
The endless dark
The lonely ache
The burning tears
The bitter night
The wasted years
Life breaks and falls apart
But we know these are…

Places
Where grace is
Soon to be so amazing
They may unfulfilled
They may unrestored
But when anything that’s shattered
Is laid before the Lord
Just watch and see
It will not be
Unredeemed

For every choice
That led to shame
And all the love
That never came
For every vow
That someone broke
And every life
That gave up hope
We live in the shadow of the fall
But the cross says these are all – just

Places
Where grace is
Soon to be so amazing
They may unfulfilled
They may unrestored
But when anything that’s shattered
Is laid before the Lord
Just watch and see
It will not be
Unredeemed
They may unfulfilled
They may unrestored
You never know the miracles
The father has in store
Just watch and see
It will not be
Unredeemed

Project 365, Week 14

March 29

Our first family trip to Disney's Magic Kingdom

March 30

My three favorite Red Sox fans at the spring training game

March 31

Time at the pool. Avery is too fearful and Amanda is too brave.

Snuggle timeApril 1

On top of the Pier at St. Petersburg

April 2

Grandpa John's shirt looks a little evil, but its actually a blood donation shirt. The Red Cross is very creative with their t-shirts. This was taken just before leaving for the airport on our first attempt to go home.

April 3

Ah, empty suitcases! Within the first half-hour of being home from any vacation, I like to go through the mail first and then get the suitcases unpacked and laundry going as quickly as possible.

April 4

My mother-in-law brought over small presents for the kids. The girls thought these were so cute...and they are blue! Amanda's actually been talking about her "baby budder" voluntarily, on occasion...progress! She even referred to him by one of the names we are considering in normal conversation...took me a minute to realize what or who she was talking about.

The Final Four was the end of the line for UCONN this year...sad. (Didn't realize our little kitchen tv that's right at kid level was so dirty...interesting, considering the no-touching-the-tv rule we have)

Sara's got her Project up and a link to many others...fun to check out!

Florida Trip

It's tough to sum up our six days in Florida and to go through my 400 pictures, so I decided the best thing to do is..."just do it!"

We flew out at 5 pm, which we really liked. We always go for the break-neck early flights to make the most of the arrival day, but we found that we were able to make the most of the departure day, too. Normally I start our vacations in a snit because Shaun doesn't move as fast as I think he should first thing in the morning. We've never missed a plane but I still choose to get angry and impatient instead of letting it go. Nice, I know. (I'm working on it)

Anyway...we arrived at Shaun's grandparents house, hung out for a bit and went to bed. The next morning after breakfast we headed to Orlando and the girls' first time at Disney's Magic Kingdom.

Day 1

We spent lots of time at the carousel. No lines, no waiting and the girls kept asking for it.

We had a front row view of the A Dream Come True parade. It included Mickey and Minnie, all of the princesses, even Mary Poppins and Burt. The girls were absolutely star-struck. They were waved at, blown kisses and Amanda especially drew in many of the dancers.

Glamour girls.

They each got to choose their own design

Chillin' at Minnie's house

The spectacular fireworks show at Cinderella's castle

Day 2

We met up with Shaun's sister Sarah, Tony and Jared, who were on their last day of vacation. The cousins were happy to get some time together.

We ate breakfast together, then headed to a Red Sox spring training game.

We had half real seats and half lawn seats. I chose to stay on the lawn where the girls were free to roam. Amanda caused quite a stir with the workers and by the time we had left she'd been given stickers, balloons, chips, pins, etc. Here the workers are showing her the Chicken Dance in between innings. She had them eating out of her hand.

Day 3

We had a quiet day and were able to spend time at the pool.

Day 4

The girls enjoy looking for and chasing lizards just outside the house. I think they (the lizards) were happy to see us go.

We went to St. Petersburg's pier and went on a dolphin sighting tour. We spotted quite a few, at one point there were five together.

Later we went to The Melting Pot, an amazing fondue restaurant that we like to do on our visits.

Day 5

The four of us went to the beach.

This is how Amanda likes to spend her time...

...and this is what Avery likes to do. She also found a nice collection of sea shells. Such different kids.

And this represents the many hours we spent in the Tampa airport because of a flight delay and the fact that we arrived home a day later then we thought we would

We had a great trip and feel so blessed to have been able to go. Shaun's grandparents totally spoiled us and I think the girls took lots of good memories with them. We had such a great time and as always we were so thankful to be home.

Scripture Memory #6

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet

inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary

troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is

seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

II Corinthians 4:16-18