Great Read...

I have been reading this book and really enjoying it!

If you are blessed with boys, I would HIGHLY recommend it.

I am so thankful for my boys!

How about YOU, any book that you have read lately and would recommend?

Go Cubs Go!!

On Wednesday we had the opportunity to go up to Chicago to a Cubs game. Our whole family went and my dad. It was so fun! We just cherished the time with our kids.

Walking the streets of Chicago to Wrigley Field. There is something so fun about visiting Chicago.

That famous sign...



Caleb was pumped!

The girls. It was a little cold at first, but then it warmed up by the 5th inning.

Travor ready to catch a fly ball.

Haley all bundled up.

The Cubs were playing the Colorado Rockies and the Rockies won 5 - 2. Caleb called Grandpa Lehman on the way home to tell him the outcome of the game. He said the "Rockies smoked the Cubs!" :-)

Clapping for her team!

The 'new' latest happenings...

I guess I like to do big, all-encompassing posts...here we go...

We went to Leo with Steve and Danae to see Gerb and Natalie for a weekend.

I love this pic of Caleb and his cousin-bud, Eli.

Hope at Barnes & Noble.

Hamming it up!

Hope hanging with her cuz, Violet.

Caleb singing in the rain.

I feel like Hope has transitioned from baby to toddler. She thinks she is big stuff now that she is walking.

All ready for the church Easter program on Palm Sunday. I give up on a "normal" picture. Normal is boring, right?

Today, we caught a toad in our window well. After much screaming from me (I kept apologizing for being such a wimp!) we got it into a bucket.

Haley got out her animal book to look up what kind of toad we caught. We think it is a 'Common Toad" -very exotic sound - I am sure my screaming was justified? Our neighbor, Tyler is in the pic too.

From the Heart...

Our church has been study the book of James together. I was doing my devotion in James today which I have to confess, a bit half-hearted, more because I know I need to get it done rather than a deep desire. I have been feeling tired and just plain unmotivated lately.

God is so faithful. I just felt so ministered by Him during my devo (thank you God!). I wrote this e-mail to Andy and thought I would share it here too. Maybe it will be an encouragement to you...




Also, I was convicted of my tiredness... I read these verses:

Ps. 34:1 " I will extol the Lord at ALL times; His praise will ALWAYS be on my lips."

Heb. 13:15 " Through Jesus, therefore, let us CONTINUALLY offer to God a sacrifice of praise - the fruit of lips that confess HIS NAME."

Eph. 5:20 "ALWAYS giving thanks to God in EVERYTHING, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."

I was convicted to have more "praise on my lips at all times." I think it is easy for me to feel down with all the sour news of the economy and all my fears with raising a family, doing a good job etc... This attitude of mine does not honor God and certainly zaps energy! He is honored by faith and trust. It feels good to be convicted of this and I am going to focus on praising Him today!

What can mortal man or a bad economy do? My HOPE and salvation is in God - THE creator of Heaven and Earth. He speaks and it is done. He is so powerful and yet, He allows me to know Him personally, to live in my heart which is dirty and filthy but made clean by Him?? Awesome! I have EVERYTHING to be thankful for!

Latest Happenings...

A little bit of Hope cuteness...

Hugging her daddy's leg. She gets so EXCITED when he walks through the door. Hope is just starting to walk too!
Cheese! I love pictures of babies. They are just their cute selves without even trying.


Andy and I had a quick get-away to Florida for a few days. Very relaxing and refreshing. Thanks to some generous friends for the use of their beautiful condo and a big THANK YOU to my parents and A. Elaine for helping with babysitting! This is the ONLY picture I have of the trip - pathetic! I only took a few more but I accidentally deleted them (brother!). How do you like the complete stranger in the background??

When we got home, the kids had decorated our garage door for my birthday the next day. Very sweet!

My mom helped the kids make a birthday cake too. Notice - Caleb did not want to take a picture - real family life at it's best :-)

Upwards basketball

Travor played Upwards basketball this year.  It was great!  We were so impressed with the Upwards basketball program.  The program is held at a local church. Their goal is to have the kids learn basketball but more importantly, to learn to glorify God and to play with character.  

At each practice, the boys would learn a verse for the week and a devotion was given.  At the games, the players, fans and coaches are instructed to be encouraging and edifying to all the players and a half-time devotion is presented to all who came to watch the game. 

 One neat story from the season:  Trav's team had won a game and his team was meeting together to get their character & achievement stars when one of the boys said to his team mate, "did  you see how many points we beat the other team by?"  

The coach quickly and kindly responded, "boys, there will be no boasting."

Thanks to the encouragement of some great friends (you know who you are :-) ), we are really thankful to have been a part of this wonderful program!

Faithful fans!  Thanks dad for coming many Saturdays to watch Trav play!!  Andy was there many times too.  The week I actually remembered to take pics, he was on business and my mom works on Saturdays or she would have been there too.

Sorry these pics are not great quality, I did not have my camera, only my phone.  Here is Trav and his team getting some instructions from their coaches.  

Setting up for a free-throw.

GREAT JOB TRAVOR!!  WE ARE PROUD OF YOU!

Mama Said There Would Be Days Like This...

A friend sent me this a long time ago. She has 5 kids. This is not her child or mine for that matter, nor has she or I ever done such a deed and if you look real close, you can tell this picture is staged - so no worries, no one actually did this to their child

...But some days, well...you could feel like it for a split second ;-)

Just in case you are having one of those days...