Good Friday

If you've read my blog at all, you know I love holidays. I got to admit though, I sometimes let Easter spring up on me (haha, just caught the pun). This year I've tried to be more intentional thinking about why we celebrate- Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice, paying the penalty for my sin! Wow!

Being pastors this year has brought along an added responsibility and humbleness as we are in charge of Children's Church on the "Superbowl of Sundays". We get to help share the message with the children who attend our church and many who will be visiting for the first time. It can't be just about candy, and eggs and bunnies! For months I've been browsing catalogs and online for the perfect craft, lessons, and treats and praying that the kids would hear and believe the gospel. I was blessed to hear of a 4 year old girl who was excited to go see the Easter bunny at school. When her mom asked her if that is what Easter is about, she said, "No! Jesus died for my sins!" Wow! Even as I type that I'm getting choked up. THAT is what Easter is about.

So today ( even as I am preparing my home for Easter brunch) I am preparing my heart to hear the message at the Good Friday service we will soon be leaving to. I don't want to let Easter pass without remembering what Jesus' death, and maybe more importantly, his resurrection has done for us. Because he died, we have eternal life.

Enjoy this song Glorious Day, by Casting Crowns as you take time to think about how "Living He loved me. Dying He saved me. Buried He carried my sins far away. Rising He justified, freely forever! "

http://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=KLGYP7NX

Aubri was checking out the Easter bunny at Farmers Market. She wasn't a fan.

Nojoui Falls

This post is long overdue, but I just came across the pictures and had to share them. For weeks I had been wanting to go to Nojoui Falls. We kept getting having rainy weather, but one day we had a break in the clouds. I somehow convinced Jose that it was perfect falls weather, and we got Savannah to come with us. We all tried to ignore the sprinkles on the window on the drive! It was beautiful! The rain made everything green and lush, and the misty air reminded us of being in Hawaii! Aubri was so excited to go in the hiking backpack

Savannah loved getting up close and feeling the spray.

Savannah was proud of the wildlife she found. (roly poly)

Afterwards we stopped at the honor system organic produce store. We got there late in the day so a lot of the produce was gone. We still had fun exploring.

Aubri deciding what to buy

"Why do you guys keep taking pictures of me??"

It was a long day and the girls were wiped out! So cute to see them asleep the way home.

Cell pics

Ever since I upgraded from my much loved, but ancient cell phone I've been taking a lot more cell phone pictures. It seems like daily Aubri does something that Dada needs to see or her grandmas' need to know about. Here are a few of my recent faves. Papa and Jasen came over one day, and Aubri wanted to know where Nana was. I had to send a text to Nana! We got to pick Savannah up from school one day while Grammy was out of town. It was really hot and we needed ice cream. We had to let Grammy know we missed her. Nana and Papa were coming to pick Aubri off. The jokingly told me to have her waiting with her stuff by the step. So we did just that! I didn't know how long they would take so Aubri waited there for 10 minutes with me hiding on the porch. She looked so cute holding her doll and eating her raisins! I was too scared to leave her alone to grab the real camera, and to worried we'd be inside when my parents pulled up so cell phone quality is what we got. Had to show Carolyn Whitaker that everyone loves her food! Could not believe my picky picky eater could not get enough of cooked spinach leftovers! Aubri and Ella wanted me to text their picture to their friend Canaan ;-). Aubri wouldn't sit still and instead of retaking it, I sent it anyway because it is totally their personalities! This is what happens when Mommy answers Daddy's question of what Aubri should wear with, " I don't care. Anything you want." Besides this bedtime routine being absolutely precious, had to show Nana that the new baby doll never.leaves.her.side. (Yes I know that it is no longer Christmas. No I don't wash pajamas every other day. Of course I wish I would have bought more when Costco had them cheap!)

Mazatlan Mission Trip

Dear Friends and Family, After much prayer and consideration, Marlene and I have decided to participate in a mission trip to Mexico. Joining together with a team from our church, Five Cities Vineyard, we will be headed to Mazatlan, Mexico on May 3rd. While in Mazatlan we will be working closely with La Vina Church doing various projects needed in the nearby colonias. Our goal is to provide encouragement and support to La Vina, and participate in a unique opportunity to serve God and take part in His work among the poor of Mexico. We plan to meet people’s spiritual needs with outreach and sharing the gospel, and at the same time meet their tremendous, physical and material needs. With these goals in mind we will spend our time doing construction, taking a food truck into the impoverished communities, ministering to and feeding as many as we can, delivering clothes, and doing outreach at the land fill. We are very excited for this opportunity and look forward to all we will experience serving others! Aubriella will also be joining us, and though she may not remember much of our trip, we hope we can begin to instill in her the values of missions and service for others. The cost of the trip is $1000 per person. We have decided to pay Marlene and Aubriella’s fare out of our savings, but are attempting to raise the funds for my way. We’d like to humbly ask for your support of our trip. Whether you can pray for us daily, or financially support us, we would be grateful. All donations are tax-deductible, and can be made out to Five Cities Vineyard, and mailed directly to us. We’d also like to invite you to our mission trip fundraising “Taco Feast”, April 17th at noon at FCV 1052 E. Grand Ave, Arroyo Grande. We look forward to updating you after we return from Mazatlan, and hope to share all the great things God uses our team for while there! Jose

Time to buy some Kleenex stock

I meant to post this last week, but the pictures weren't uploading....

"Aubri has been sniffle free for three weeks! Thank you Jesus! Before that it had been 3 months of runny nose (with two, one week breaks in there). That is a lot of tissues.

Found these pictures of her that I took the day she got sick again after a week break (which happily fell during her birthday!). For the most part she never complained or slowed down (except Mexico) but this day she wasn't napping well and *gasp* actually sat to watch TV. "

Should have posted it when I had the chance, because a runny nose has hit again. I am so sad, frustrated, mad, and I'll be honest, pissed off that my baby girl suffers from this so much! Another mom recently told me that it that it was a good sign kids don't know how to blow their noses because it means colds dont' stick around long enough. Wish I knew what that was like! Aubri has been blowing her nose for a couple of months! I'm praying she recovers quickly and we find out for sure what is causing it. Germs from other sickies? Allergies? Teething? Lord heal her fast!

Starting to eat

So here is the messy evidence that Aubri is starting to like food!

Funny story...we had just got home from the beach and I bathed her to clean off the sand (hence the wet ringlets). DUMB mom, she pretty much needed another bath after this!

Aubri has improved so much in her eating. She especially loves spaghetti, yogurt, peas, blueberries, olives- pretty much anything that is "fun" to eat. We showed her how to bounce the peas "little green balls", put olives on her finger, and slurp spaghetti (gonna have to unlearn that) She went from barely 20 pounds 3 weeks ago to almost 22 lbs at her doctor visit a couple of days ago!

Beach bum

LOOOOOVE the hot weather we have had! Perfect excuse for a last minute beach trip with my friend Sonya. Sonya got to see firsthand my weight loss secret- chasing after Aubri! We didn't stay as long as expected (you can only chase a little girl so long) , but it was fun to be out on the beach.

Even though my feet hurt from the cold water, Aubriella couldn't get enough! As soon as I put her down, she would take off towards the waves. She was fearless...and soaked!

Bummed I didn't take the camera, but got a cute picture of Aubri running away on my phone.