Easter take 3

Easter take 2

Beautiful song lyrics

How deep the Father's love for us,
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
And make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss,
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the Chosen One,
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the Man upon the cross,
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice,
Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished.

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

Easter take 1

At The Bono house, Ellie had her first Easter egg hunt. Avery and Jack invited over their friends, Penelope and Wiser. Ellie loves to say Wiser and calls Penelope, P. Nana and Bopbop hid the eggs an hour before we got to the house. Each kid was told the rules of no taking eggs from others baskets and they each get to find 20 eggs each. Once the hunt started we came across eggs with holes in them and the chocolate was gone. A dang squirrel cracked into the egg before the hunt started and stole the candy inside. This happened to a couple of eggs. I wonder if squirrels CAN eat chocolate or does it kill them like dogs?? Next the kids went inside to decorate cookies. Ellie had about 7 pieces of chocolate by then, so eating the cookie was not happening. I think everyone had a great time.

Easter take 2 tomorrow .....pictures to come

Bravyn is a week old! Wow, time flies by. Here is an updated picture of this precious boy sleeping.

Sister time!

Laura's new haircut !! Ready for spring and a fresh start! No more permed ends. Hahahahah

Bunny Snow Bunny Snow??

Matthew

Since being back from the Encounter I went on at the beginning of the month, I have began reading the 4 gospels. The goal is to finish them in about 5 weeks. I am done with Matthew and just starting Mark tonight. Came at a good time since Easter is just next week.
Here are some key points that stuck out to me while reading:

*Josephs faith in trusting God's about his wife Mary's pregnancy. Can you imagine being told your future wife who is a virgin is pregnant. I would have FREAKED!

*Jesus performed so many miracles. I thought there was just one story of him feeding thousands of people, but there were 2 stories of this taking place!

*I wonder why Jesus asked his disciples MANY TIMES not to tell people about his death to be, or his resurrection to come. It was like a secret at first.

*Jesus being SO CLOSE to John the Baptist, I couldn't imagine him hearing that John was beheaded. He not heard it BUT began healing people and feeding he hungry. He could have been so angry
and struck those people dead, but he
didn't.

* Matthew 19. The Pharisees were bothering Jesus about asking of divorce. Jesus says that no one should desecrate Gods art by cutting the two apart. But if adultery is present, there is an exception. But Jesus DID SAY, "not everyone is mature enough to live in a married life. It requires a certain aptitude and grace. It isn't for everyone, but if your capable of growing into the largeness of marriage, do it!"

Pre-Easter weekend

We have had a wonderful family day. We all went to go see baby Bravyn. Steve needed to hold him ;-) He thought baby Bravyn was PERFECT. Then we had to have some lunch and nap time. After we all had nap time we went to VV mall to ride the train/see Easter bunny and pick up wedding gifts. We have 3 weddings coming up that we have to go to. Here are some train pictures Steve took of Ellie and I. She liked the ride so much we rode twice. I gotta tell ya, those seats small. Makes me realize I never want to be huge or I couldn't experience these things with Ellie. :) oh, and some baby Bravyn pictures:)!!

15 lbs 34 inches

Sad Swine

I just don't think I can eat meat anymore (for right now). I have seen the movies and read tidbits in the news and the thought of eating meat has put me off. Don't get me wrong I LOVE HAM, but right now the thoughts are grossing me out. Couldn't eat chicken salad the other day at work, having sausage on my pizza freaked me out so I have been getting protein by shakes. I am not saying this may last forever just that for now, I am disgusted.

I know I couldn't ever live on a farm. I would truly be a vegan. Not really fond of animal cruelty before they go to be slaughtered. Yes, of course I know God made them for US TO ENJOY and eat. I just prefer to pick out THAT protein right now. ;)

He's here, he's here!!!!!

BRAYVN CROIX DEVER!!!!

Congratulations to Alan and Kate Dever! What a beautiful bundle of joy you have there, all 9lbs of cuteness! Steve and I cried looking at this picture!! You both look truly the happiest we have seen. I believe I saw this smile on Alan's face as Kate walked down the isle. Probably the BEST DAY of his life and NOW ...we see it again. Pure joy, excitement and proud!!! Steve and I couldn't be more happier for them. We are so excited to share with them the joys of being a parent and offer up any advice or babysitting dates they may need. I can't wait to put my arms around this boy. It's been 20 months since I felt those tiny toes and little hands. Uh oh. ;)

We love this family so much and can't WAIT TO WATCH this family transform. Shewwwww crying again!!!

It's been a chilly day! I didn't want to go out once I stepped outside but I had some errands to run. It's never fun when you have a kid to tote around and it's raining and 32 degrees outside. So the grocery store must wait till this evening, after Steve gets home from work. Here are some shots of what's been going on today. It's always a good day when you get presents in the mail. (Thanks etsy) While Ellie napped I got some time to be creative and took down the 'st. Patrick's days' bunting and put up new spring bunting and made some puff balls to hang in the kitchen doorway.

I really do miss mail. Seems emails are the way to go but I enjoy taking time to write a letter and decorate the envelope. So I thought I would break out my stamps and markers and write some cards. Uh, Ellie is awake, this blog will be short.

Ps: Had to post a picture of the flowers Steve gave me a couple of days ago. I love that he likes flowers as much as I do, if not more than I. Always sneaking me treats and presents :)

Check this 5 year old!!!

http://youtu.be/e3oNVmSaMsE

Love my family!!! Thanks Kris for the photo

Ellie started to get sick while I was out of town. By Sunday evening she was restless, definitely not eating and had a high fever. By Monday morning I could tell baby girl was not herself. She used her stomach muscles to breath while breathing quickly, so off to the doctor we went. They wanted to treat Ellie with early stages of pneumonia in her left lung.
This morning/afternoon she seems better. Very low fever but she is very restless/cranky/on top of me and whining. More than normal I mean:) After Ellie not taking a nap longer than 25 minutes today and I am fighting a HEAD COLD AGAIn, I might not be the most pleasant person today. This just brings out the selflessness you have to be when your kid is sick AND YOU ARE TOO. Just keep GOING even though your teeth hurt and your head is banging. One kid is plenty. I am aware of this ;)

Front door done

Got the 2nd coat of paint on the front door. Just need to do the front steps and level one side.

Morning!

I put on my spring colored shoes today thinking it just MIGHT bring warmer days. Don't get me wrong, I love the SNOW but not this here today, gone tomorrow stuff. I want to be out of work for 3 days due to snow. So here I say 'goodbye winter' come onnnnnnn SPRING!

To the mountain I go later this afternoon. Lots of prayers here while I am up there is appreciated. Pray for radical changes, broken chains and freeing spirits. Love you all. Check in on Steve and Ellie for me :) ps: I won't check my phone till break or at night before bed. No calls unless its an emergency ;)

Preparing to Encounter God

This week I will be gone Thursday-Saturday to Floyd with Church Alive Intl. I will be disconnected with the wold here at home. They have asked that we keep our cell phones off till break time or at bed time. To truly open our minds with no distractions, trusting God that everything at home will be fine while we are gone. Doesn't sound bad since I know how consumed I get with technology. But to be able to completely focus and listen to God.

They say when you go on these encounters you come back emotionally exhausted. BUT IN A GOOD WAY. :) That you go up on this mountain and let God deal with you. To bring to surface what needs to be dealt with on your spiritual life journey,to recognize/let go of things, while digging deep In Scripture. I can already sense Gods spirit working in me since this weekend. As in He is already preparing my heart.

Encounter definition verb: unexpectedly experience or face something NOUN: meeting SYNONYMS: meet,face

Pray for me while I am gone. Pray that we encounter with God something AMAZING, life changing. I want to come back a changed woman, daughter, wife, mother and friend. I have always had God in my heart and life, but I want to be shaken up/cleared out/redirected/pushed out of my comfort/given a new direction if that's His plan. I only want Him to be in our lives and direct our family, keep us close and rely on Him to guide us.

I will keep ya posted until I leave if I feel the need to type again:)

Also, this Sunday another family I have known for 15 years lost their father this weekend. He was 51 and his name is Chip Gray. He was a Christian and such a Godly man! Such a beautiful family he leaves behind but with strong Godly faith they will make it:) He got sick a year ago with cancer and had a hard battle. Laura got to meet him and his family at the hospital. I am sure she took great care of him while he was in her hands. Just wish he could have been healed but God had another plan for Chip. He is now in heaven with his Mom,Myrtle who passed away 2 years ago in October from cancer. Lift them all up as well, please!

Night night

New white fireplace ;)

Spirit break out

Spirit break out, break our walls down.
Spirit break out, Heaven come down.

Our Father, all of Heaven roars Your name.
Sing louder, let this place erupt with praise.
Can you hear it? The sound of Heaven touching earth.
The sound of Heaven touching earth.

And Jesus, would You shine and let the Father's glory fill this land of mine. Blaze, Spirit, blaze. And set our hearts on fire 'til we roar your praise. And flow, river flow now. Let the Spirit break out to break our walls down. And Heaven come down, Heaven come down, Heaven come down. Spirit break out.

Spirit break out, break our walls down.
Spirit break out, Heaven come down.

King Jesus, You're the name we're lifting high.
Your glory shaking up the earth and skies.
Revival - we want to see Your kingdom here.
We want to see Your kingdom here.

Spirit break out, break our walls down.
Spirit break out, Heaven come down.