An Afternoon at the Zoo

This afternoon my family journeyed to the Indy Zoo with some friends. Dad and I stayed behind because of work responsibilities, but the rest of the family enjoyed themselves tremendously! Now, we're no family of photographers, but I would say it was a great day to capture some amazing color contrast. ;-)





Ha! He really looks like he's smiling at us, doesn't he?


ALERT Cadets =)








Contemplating


Trying to get a better view?


Watching






Grinning...or something like that

Stopping to smell the flowers

The goats were cute, but's it's the door I'm in love with ;-)

Again with the green door

Eating

No, we don't like llamas, but we thought the red flattered her very well.

Kissing

Smiling

Resting

Posing

Trying

Almost

Perfect

Jumping

Competing

Tagging along

The Theme of My Life

On Tuesday evening I had the remarkable honor of sharing a testimony with the Hair Design girls. I'm afraid that my life is very, well...normal, so I wasn't sure that any testimony of my life would be at all meaningful. But I agreed to share anyway. As I gathered my thoughts together beforehand, the Lord very clearly revealed to me a common theme threading throughout my entire life. Surrender. Isn't this what He asks of all of us? The Lord has asked me to surrender many things throughout my life (I shared about eight of the hardest of them with the girls), from homeschooling, friends and clothing to my vision for hospitality, home and marriage and just about everything in between! It amazes me how real something becomes in my own life when I simply share it with others.

A few thoughts that came to mind when preparing to speak to the girls....
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.” John 12:24

“Castles in the air take a vast deal to keep up.” I have found this to be true in my own life, and no matter how long or precisely I’ve labored to build those precious castles of mine, the Lord has always asked me to surrender every one of them—to experience the “death” of all vision. There is nothing so hard to do than surrender what is precious to us, is there? But just like the seed that dies to bring forth life, so every good dream and desire must die to bear fruit. When we surrender our wills and allow our dreams to die God is glorified, because death yields fruit, and fruit brings glory (John 15:8).

God's desire is that we be wholly and willingly surrendered to Him, His life flowing through us as we empty ourselves of self (2 Timothy 2:20, 21), and allow ourselves to be filled with Him.

Brokenness is having no will of our own. When we allow God to bring us to the place where He is the only thing we ask for, the only thing we desire in life, where we no longer seek our own will but His alone, only then can we truly hope to be filled with Him as He dwells in us. The way to the heart of Jesus Christ is not by striving and working on our own, but by surrender and submission, by faith rather than by self. No one can perfectly surrender anything to the Lord, but if we’re willing to surrender, Jesus Christ can do for us what we can never do for ourselves, and that’s what He desires—a willingness in our hearts to give up ALL things that we might take hold of ONE thing—Jesus Christ.

A Day of Happy Remembrance

Twenty-four years ago today our father and mother were united together in the covenant of marriage. They may not have understood the implications of covenant faithfulness at that moment, but over the years our parents have painted a portrait for us of love that endures, for better or for worse. We’re so grateful that the Lord, in His perfect sovereignty, brought our parents together to be our parents, and His sovereignty becomes even more meaningful to us as we’ve learned to trust Him to provide husbands and wives for each of us children in His perfect time.
We are so blessed by our parents’ example of love and commitment. Just as they have modeled for us the faithfulness of Christ, we children pray that we also will be faithful examples of Jesus Christ to many future generations!

Sshhh...

April 20th is a special day for our family... Tomorrow marks exactly twenty four years of married life for Mom and Dad! So we children have a few things planned, but since tomorrow is a rather busy day for us, we're going to spread the celebration throughout the week....pictures forthcoming! =)

We go together like....

a wink and a smile.

Momma, 1985

Daddy, 1983

One of very few wedding pictures! 1985

Dad, Mom, Suzi, and Sara--1987

Anniversary 2000

Of death defeated and life without end...

A debtor to mercy alone, of covenant mercy I sing;
Nor fear, with Thy righteousness on, my person and off’ring to bring.
The terrors of law and of God with me can have nothing to do;
My Savior’s obedience and blood hide all my transgressions from view.

Praising the Lord for life everlasting through His ultimate sacrifice on our behalf!

It's a family tradition to have the children's picture taken on Resurrection Sunday...even if they don't really want their picture taken. =)

Our lovely family meal table. We had the Carson ladies over for dinner after church, with all the traditional food, of course. It's so nice to be able to fit our entire family--plus additional guests--around our new dining room table!