Jack says...

My Jack turned four yesterday. He really loves birthdays. Especially his own. :)



I thought in honor of him I'd write my first blog post entitled "Jack says...". I intend to start keeping better track of all those funny things that you hope you will remember but should make a point to log.

Jack says lots of funny things. But the first one I thought I would share is "Mad Scarf."

Jack says, "Grandpa and the train conductor from the Polar Express both have mad scarfs."

What is a mad scarf, you say? A mustache of course! And of course my boy who loves to dress as all his favorite characters, uses a Mr. Potato Head mustache for his own "mad scarf".



Our sweet boy opening his pirate hat and hook from Uncle Greg and Aunt Emily. He was so excited.

So happy birthday, sweet Jack! I love you so much and I can't wait to hear all the things you have yet to say!

Cardboard Testimonies

For Easter this year our church organized people to share "cardboard testimonies."

These are just what they sound like - pieces of cardboard with a summary of the before and a summary of the after of people's testimonies. And testimonies not just about first accepting Christ's gift of forgiveness and eternal life but testimonies about how God continues to change hearts, lives, and circumstances as His people follow Him.

It was a wonderful, moving part of our Easter celebration. Something that in the midst of churches growing and changing we kind of miss - we don't carry around signs that say what God has done in us lately, nor do we really have moments to share those amazing stories. I'm so glad I got to not only see all the great things God is doing but I also got to share...

Check out the video.

He is Risen and He is Changing Lives!!!!

Blessed are the Peacemakers

A few weeks ago, we received a letter. It said that Ella had been nominated for a Peacemaking Award. Since we are just beginning this adventure into public education (Ella is just a kindergartner), we really didn't know what that meant. But the letter explained that 250 students in the district were to receive this award and that we were invited to a ceremony at the end of March. We also got a copy of what Mrs. Bowen (who had nominated Ella) had said about her. It was awesome. Here is a part of what Mrs. Bowen wrote:

Ella demonstrates peacemaking skills by standing up for what is important and leading by example. Ella knows that standing up for her friends and helping others when they are in need are important traits. When someone is treating a student poorly, she is the first one to help her friends deal with the conflict.

Wow.

I cried. How incredible that this little girl is already so clearly reflecting Jesus that Mrs. Bowen can see it in her everyday interactions with her peers. Awesome.

And well sometimes public education does not support our beliefs (or a lot of times), this award gave us such a concrete opportunity to really encourage Ella to be who Jesus has created her to be and to continue to let His light shine through her. I love those moments!

At the ceremony, the president of the board of education explained how much he like the peacemaking awards because it was an opportunity not to award academic achievement or sports achievement but achievement in character. Wow.

The ceremony was very much graduation-like and Ella received her award from the superintendent and shook all the school board members hands. Check out a few pics from the event. I am so proud of her. I just had to share.



Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Matthew 5:9