We Remember....

On this Memorial Day weekend...we are reminded to honor those who have given their lives for our country... and pray for those who have lost loved ones.
Our family is so proud of those who are defending our freedom today! We are thankful for their service!!
It is such a blessing to live in America...thanks to the many men and women who have sacrificed!!

We also remember the ultimate sacrifice that was made for freedom....the sacrifice of Jesus Christ to free us from sin and bondage! ....It is for freedom that He set us free......

We are a blessed people!!!!

Favoritism

Favoritism \Fa"vor*it*ism\, n. [Cf. F. favoritisme.]
The disposition to favor and promote the interest of one
person or family, or of one class of men, to the neglect of
others having equal claims; partiality.


I can't say that I had previously thought much about this. Didn't think I was guilty of it. Promoting one person or family...to the neglect of others having equal claims?? Partiality?? Hmmmmmm.

So I started thinking...after that quote from my pastor about being nice to one person, but not to another....could I be guilty? In my personal life? In my professional walk?

It is human nature, after all, to extend extra favor to those we "like". It is human nature....but it is not God's nature. And I am so thankful for that fact.

I am trying to be more mindful. I want to be sure that I am not....consciously or subconsciously....showing favoritism. I want to see others the way Christ did, the way our heavenly Father does. I want to have the type of love for others that is independent of how they act, how they think, what they value, how demanding they are....a love that is based soley on the fact that my perfect Father loves imperfect me.

If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.
James 2:8-9

A Quotable Quote

Yesterday in his sermon, our pastor quoted someone (I can't remember who) as having said this:

"A person who is nice to you, but not nice to the waiter, is not a nice person."

I have thought about that many times since yesterday.
And I have been thinking about what it means to show favoritism....and what the Bible has to say about it.
God doesn't show favoritism, and He doesn't want us to, either.

I will have to share more over the next couple of days....including the great big object lesson God gave me right in the middle of my day today!! But for now, just think on it.....

"A person who is nice to you, but not nice to the waiter, is not a nice person."

Happy Birthday, ERICA!!!

10.
Ten.
X.
Diez.
halfway to 20.
double digits.

gasp.

Unbelievable!!!

Happy Birthday, Sis.
You continue to bring unspeakable joy to our family. You are turning into a young woman and we could not be more proud. You are compassionate, witty, smart, joyful, and determined. You seek God. As you get older, you continue to get more and more servant-hearted. You bless our family with your laughter (not to mention all your yummy cooking!) You have always been such a thoughtful sister to Brock, and now we LOVE the way you nurture Micah.

We love you, "goat-loving girl"!!!

"Photos by Julie"

Last weekend one of Erica's sweet friends had a birthday party. Seven girls dressed up in their pioneer dresses and went to Conner Prairie. Julie (the birthday girl's mom) snapped this photo. When I first saw it last night, I just fell in love with it!!! I "antiqued it" a bit......



Is it just me.....or is this one of the coolest pictures you have ever seen?? Thanks to Syd for the great party idea, and thanks to Julie for the great party pictures!!!! oh, here....I just have to post a few more....

Happy Birthday, girlfriend!!

So I want to write this super sweet birthday post to my very best friend. It is her birthday, after all. And she deserves it!

Should I list 25 things that I love most about her? (one for each year of her life....WINK, WINK!)
Or should I mention the three million things that are fun to do with her?
Maybe I should go on and on about the thousands of hours that she has spent listening to me pour out my heart to her?
Or what about all the lessons she has taught me about friendship, parenting, marriage, and LIFE?
Wonder if I could do an acrostic thing with her name? C is for the concerts that I LOVE to go with you to....A is for.....

Nah, I think I will just do this....

Happy Birthday, Carrie. God blessed my life beyond measure when He formed our friendship....a friendship that was born first and foremost out of our mutual desire to grow in our walk with Him. I love you dearly and pray that we celebrate many more birthdays...maybe next year it will be in our new coffee-shop!!!

And rest up, girl. We have some SERIOUS birthday shopping to do tomorrow!

Any day now...

Any day now....I will be posting something that is spiritually uplifting or edifying...but not tonight....tonight I absolutely could not resist posting these pictures that Erica took earlier of her little brother and her "prize" goat!!

Take me out to the ballgame....

...and don't forget a sweatshirt and blanket!

Erica's first softball game of the year was a great success. The girls had fun (and they won!) and to my knowledge there were no cases of hypothermia.....although another 10 minutes and it would have been a distinct possiblility! It was C-H-I-L-L-Y!!


Erica at bat.


Brock displaying his new-found talent....."blowing bubbles as big as your head!"


Micah wondering exactly which objects are "closer than they appear"???


OK....so, maybe big brother and little brother didn't pay attention to the WHOLE game....but we were all there to root on our #14!!

Go sis!!!