35 to 28....in overtime!!

We have been having some serious battles in our front yard. This evening was no exception.
Erica and Dad VS. Brock, Micah and Mom. That's the usual line up.
Take a close look in this first picture....Micah is learning to line up behind the line of scrimmage (although you can see in the second photo that he doesn't really have the offensive system down yet!)





2 weeks ago, Brock actually spray-painted sidelines and endzones in the grass.
Erica is becoming quite the wide-receiver.
Seriously. Tonight it was 35 to 28 in a sudden death overtime....although Micah went on the bedtime-reserve roster somewhere in the 3rd quarter.



But not before he gave us his best impression of a tree losing it's leaves....



Oh how I do love fall.
And to add to the delight of it all, just look what I picked up at Bath and Body Works this week....



If you haven't bought your "fall scent" candle yet, I HIGHLY reccommend this one! I can tell you already that I will be heading back for another.

There's power in the blood.

I am not sure that the Central Indiana Blood Center staff was prepared for it.

And I am CERTAIN that the "blood-mobile" was not made for it.

But, none-the-less, our family of five.....blood donor, his wife, his 3 kids.....arrived shortly before close last night. One of us was there to help save lives.....the rest of us were there to admire.

Chad has O- blood....liquid gold....the universal blood donor type. His blood can be used to help anyone....anytime. Blood banks always need more blood....but they always REALLY need O- blood. So Chad went. And this time we all followed along.

After all, without us there, he MIGHT NOT have picked that PINK band-aid!!!

Anyway, all the discussion about blood has me thinking today about the significance of blood....life-giving.....life-saving blood. The Old Testament was so full of blood sacrifices....from the first animal that was killed to make a covering for Adam....to the many sacrifices made over and over at the alter.

Then God did it.
The ultimate sacrifice.
Read it from Hebrews 10:3-10

3"But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins,
4 because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
5Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said:
"Sacrifice and offering you did not desire,
but a body you prepared for me;
6with burnt offerings and sin offerings
you were not pleased.
7Then I said, 'Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll—
I have come to do your will, O God.'
8First he said, "Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them" (although the law required them to be made). 9Then he said, "Here I am, I have come to do your will." He sets aside the first to establish the second. 10And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

In one sacrifice, Christ accomplished what a bazillion bulls and goats could never do....and what I certainly could never do myself. By one sacrifice he made me perfect....forgiven....holy....saved. I am grateful that when my heavenly Father looks at me, He sees me covered with Christ's blood.

For certain, there is power in the blood!!!

I couldn't have said it any better (or longer!).....

Well, I had thought I might give some fun details about Stacy's weekend here in central Indiana. But, then after I read HER description, I decided to not even try. Really, you MUST take a minute to GO HERE and read all about our wonderful weekend. (For you Hoosier friends, please chime in on the White Castles!!)



How is possible for a weekend to go so fast?? I had a wonderful time catching up with Stacy...face to face....but, Sunday morning came way too fast. I continue to thank God for the precious gift of this friendship!!!

Oh Happy Day!!

What an awesome blessing to get to spend the weekend with my sweet friend, Stacy!!!!!

It has been over two years now that God first planted the seed of this friendship as our families prepared to bring home our newest sons! Since then, it is amazing to see how God has continued to grow our friendship across many, many miles.

We will spend the weekend hanging out, catching up, eating lots....and hopefully finding a cow for that girl to milk!!!!

Stay tuned for pics....or should I try to snag a video of that???

The best thing about him....was Him.

Ten years ago today Rich Mullins was killed in a car accident. Despite the fact that he was....IS....my all-time-favorite-ever singer/songwriter, it is hard to really "mourn" his death...probably because I just picture him in heaven hammering away at his dulcimer for his Audience of One.....feeling far more at home there than he ever felt on this earth.

If I Stand
Awesome God
Step by Step
Creed
Screen Door
Let Mercy Lead
Elijah
Boy Like Me
My Deliverer

....I could go on and on and on and on.....
Great songs.
Great voice.
Great lyrics.


And, yet, what I love most about Rich Mullins' music, is that I don't come away from it saying/thinking "wow, Rich Mullins is so great."......Instead, I come listen to His music and find myself saying/thinking "WOW...I SERVE A GREAT GOD!"

I was telling Chad last night, that one of the things I love most about Rich Mullins is that he was never really that "lovable".....I mean....he wasn't that cute, he sounded kinda goofy when he talked, he was awkward at times....and yet he consistently, passionately sought after God like CRAZY! I love that....and I think his music is just like that.

Anyway....celebrate with me today... the life and music of a true believer.

Happy Birthday, Paps!!

Happy birthday to you.
Happy birthday to you.
Happy birthday, dear Paps.
Happy birthday to YOU!!!!!!!!!

We love you, Paps!!

p.s. We won't mention how old you are, because nobody can really see the "65" on the cake in the picture!!

Have you seen this?!?!

Our pastor played this video a couple of months ago....
but I had forgotten just how stinking cute it was.

It also "re-motivated" me... to be sure that our family is consistently hiding God's word in our hearts.

Yes, we do have other children.....

I know that I seem to post 10 pictures of the little one for every 1 picture of Brock and Erica, but how....oh how in the WORLD...could I not post this super cute picture???

Brock piled some bubbles onto Micah's head....and both boys thought it was an absolute hoot. So I went a grabbed my camera...



I really must try to give some equal press to B & E....so I will try to do more of that (although don't worry, no tub pictures!!!!!)

Have yourself a WONDERFUL weekend!!

Mama's Breakfast Buddy

Micah and I started the day just right....we knew we had some serious shopping ahead of us (well....not really serious.....but shopping, none-the-less), so we decided to get our strength up with a VERY yummy bagel.

Mocha-chip bagel. from Panera's.

Micah apparently likes his mocha-chip bagel with EXTRA cream cheese, as evidenced by his double (and triple) dipping!!

What an absolute blessing to have such a fun breakfast with my "littlest" man.

Welcome Home, Sparkles!!!

Oh happy day!! Sparkles arrived safe and sound on Saturday!!

So far, she seems to be doing well. She has been VERY patient with us, as we learn all we can about taking care of a HORSE!! All 3 kids are abolutely LOVING her!!

Friday's Funny

They're gonna do WHAT?????

Please pray for me tomorrow! My parents just told me that I am having something called a circumcision bright and early tomorrow morning!?!?

What kinda way is THAT to start your day? and I don't even get breakfast???

Meet "Ace"

Ace wandered into our driveway....and into our lives...almost 2 weeks ago. To be honest, I didn't really think he had much of a chance...but the little guy seems to be doing quite fine now. The kids have had fun changing his "habitat" every so often, and Erica did some research on the internet to help us all know a little more about our newest "pet." (And actually, I forget, maybe she told me that "Ace" was a girl????)

The biggest problem that I have with Ace is that he (?she) keeps hiding. Can you find him (?her...for goodness sakes, IT!!) in that picture? Every once in a while, I walk up to take a peek and can't locate Ace....at which point I am convinced that I will feel a little snap on my toe at any moment!!!

Oh the joy!