Mazatlan Fundraiser

Our Mazatlan Taco Feast Fundraiser was a great success! All the money raised is going directly to our outreach work (buying food and supplies for our daily projects). We are only a week away from our mission trip and we are getting very excited! We can't wait experience this mission trip and are looking forward to serving others!

Allow me to introduce you to a few of our team members:

Shannan- our church office assistant. She is amazing with kids, and detail oriented. Also a hard worker!

Fred- church attendee who I am excited to get to know better!

The bbq crew

Dennis- co-leading the team. Has the biggest heart ever, and is passionate about serving in Mexico. He is the real grandpa of 3/4 of the kids going on the trip, and "Papa" to everyone else.

Andy- he is Aubri's godfather so of course we think he is pretty great. He is fun to have around, and will probably be in charge on our construction projects.

Ben- maker of the Perfect Pickles (which we are selling by the way as another fundraiser. Anyone want a jar of some perfectly sweet and spicy dills? $10. Proceeds towards the Mazatlan trip). Ben is ma good friend and food connoisseur who we are counting on to lead us to the safe restaurants (clarification, the places where we will not get diarrhea from!)

Don Jose- In case you don't recognize him, this is my husband :-)

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Aubriella- The youngest girl on the trip. Her best bud Canaan will be coming and she is very excited.

She unfortunately got her first scraped knee at the fundraiser.

Straight Sue

Normally we call Aubriella Curly Sue, but the other day she was Straight Sue! Her godmother Joy bought her a tiny hair straightener for Christmas. I have been too scared to use it (for fear of burning her or damaging her hair) but I decided to give it a try. Aubri sat so still while I did, a true miracle compared to our usual hair struggles, and she was so proud of it afterwards. I really think she could tell she looked different!


I couldn't believe how different she looked, so grown up! I took a million pictures and of course am sharing a lot with you!

It is done!

A few weeks ago, a rain-free forecast and no plans finally coincided! The swing set made it out of the boxes and was assembled by Jose and my dad with help from Matt!

They worked all day putting together Aubriella's clubhouse with a rock wall, swings, slide, monkey bars, and underground level...just kidding about the last part, but this thing has it all!

Aubri has already thoroughly enjoyed it- though the slide is really fast even for my daredevil. We have spent time almost everyday in the backyard, and even enjoyed a couple of bbq dinners! We are finally enjoying our backyard. I do feel bad for all our surrounding neighbors though because we often have had a backyard full of noisy kids.

Check out all the pieces!

Matt and Amanda called the day before asking if they can come up for a last minute visit. OF COURSE!

Aubri loved it even before it was assembled!

I loved how she wanted to "help"

We love sharing it with our friends and cousins!

Aubri and Ella love playing on the swing set. They didn't like sharing the toddler swing, so Ella's mommy was nice enough to buy another swing for Ella. PERFECT!

It hasn't completly eliminated the problem with sharing, but they are learning.....

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.