Dear Nathaniel

Dear Nathaniel,

I am not really sure how it happened.... but you are 8 years old and in second grade. You have an awesome teacher and she makes every child in the class feel so special.

Yes, this is your school picture this year.

Because you are a social butterfly, you absolutely love school. You have always really liked school. I remember when I signed you up for full time four year preschool and I was not going to actually take you on my day off but you begged to go everyday. 

I don't think I have ever really received a bad report. However, I have received some funny ones though and in years past you have hopped a few frogs. 

When I opened your folder the other night and read this letter I first thought she must have put this in the wrong folder.

Don't get me wrong..... I love that you make good grades but what makes me most proud is that you are a helper to others and you go above and beyond what is asked of you. 

By the way....can you do these things at home too?

Letters like this make all the exhausting parenting worth while. A letter like this makes a mama proud. 

I am so very proud of you!!!!!! and Dad is too!!!! We love you very much!

According to 1 Timothy 3, it is mine and dads job to raise you and Nolan to be all these things:

Temperate

Self Controlled

respectable

hospitable

gentle

not quarrelsome

not a lover of money

good reputation

Sincere

 honest 

We do not care if you make straight A's (although it"s nice) We don't care if you are the most popular, the sportiest, or if you are the class clown. But we do want you to be compassionate, courageous, and kind. And if you have the qualities listed above, Jesus will shine through you and you will go far!

Here are a couple of verses that I want all three of you to always remember.

Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified: do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.  Joshua 1:9

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it; Love your neighbor as your self.

Matt. 22: 37-39

Going on a Mission

Yes, I am going on a medical mission trip to Nicaragua!

This is something I have wanted to do for a long time. However, the last 12 years or so I have made every excuse I can think of. You know... the ones we all use money, time, kids, etc. 

My biggest excuse would have been that I could not leave my kids for a week.I think leaving for a week last year to go to South Korea allowed me to realize that I can do this. My kids will be ok because they have an awesome dad, grandparents, and Mrs. Vivi that loves them too and will take care of them while I am gone. 

There are kids there that are not ok. Yes, I am going to want to bring them home with me but I know that is not possible so I will just love on them while I am there. 

Have you ever read the book Radical by David Platt? Well, my 6am bible study group read it. It's hard not to go after you read it. This book was that little whisper that said, "Go!" David Platt quotes Romans 10.

"Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

How, then can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent?

People say there are plenty of mission opportunities here and yes that is true. More than likely if you are exposed to TV here in the US, especially in the past few weeks, you have heard the word religion and God just from following Tebow.  But what about those outside of the US who have never heard of Jesus?

We had our first meeting two weeks ago on a Sunday. We went to church that morning and our pastor's sermon that morning was titled The Greater Famine. Even as Christians we should be hungry and thirsty for God's word. But what is it like for those who have never heard?  It's our job to spread that word and feel their hunger and emptiness. He quoted Matthew 5:3-10

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. 

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. 

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 

At the meeting another man, who has been on multiple trips,  also quoted these verses. Coincidence? I think not.

 I will not be alone on this trip. There is a group of 60 going and two of them are my boss and a friend of mine. Most of the other 50 something will be doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and eye doctors from six different states.  

We will be flying into Managua and traveling by bus to a village called Cuatros Esquinas in the mountainous region. 

I have to admit when I read the packing list and it says to bring flashlights, insect repellant, and moth balls to keep around your mat where you sleep makes me cringe a little. Bathing and going to the bathroom will be an adventure too. But one thing is for sure..... I will appreciate my lifestyle a lot more. 

I am very excited!. Our team leader is still trying to raise money so we can buy rice and beans to feed these families once we get there. Because we are in the mountainous region it will be poor. Maybe you are not able to leave for a week to go on a mission trip but you would like to give to help buy food. If so, please contact me.

 Please pray for our team.

23 Months

You are GROWING, GROWING, GROWING!

You are all about some Dora the Explorer. When we ask you what swiper says you scream Ah Man!

You love ring around the rosy, london bridge, singing songs, coloring with markers, and chocolate. 

You are BUSY!

Getting ready for your birthday!

This One Is For Both of Our Girls

I heard this song tonight and I couldn't help but think of both of my girls. There is not a day that goes by I don't think about Cambell Grace. She would be five years old. That is so hard to believe. Our life would be so different today if we had not lost her and I would be a different person. Cambell is the reason I am who I am today. 
Cambell paved the road for Nolan and Ella and I am grateful for that. 
I thought I would share the song lyrics to Mark Scultz's song in honor of Campbell Grace and Ella Marie.
The chorus is perfect for both of our girls.
What It Means To Be Loved  
For five months and eight days my wife and I had waitedGettin' ready for our baby girlBut when he called the doctor said I need to see youand could you come in soonthen something died inside of me to sit with him and hearthe tests that said our baby may not live to be a yearthen turnin' to my wife and he said "whata you wanna do?"and she said...

I wanna give her the worldI wanna hold her handI wanna be her mom for as long as I canand I wanna live every moment until that day comesI wanna show her what it means to be loved

so we spent each day, watchin' every minuteand prayin' for our baby girland I will not forget the way I felt that momentwhen she came into this worldbut they took her from the room just as soon as she was bornand watchin' through a window I could see her holdin' onwhen a voice inside me said...
I wanna give her the worldI wanna be her dadI wanna hold her close for as long as I canand I wanna live every moment until that day comesI wanna show her what it means to be loved

I said everydaywe've got to bring her homeshe's been out to prove the doctors wrongoh and you should see her nowshe's as pretty as her momand theres a boy at the front door waiting just to take her to her high school prom...

and he wants to give her the worldwants to hold her handand someday she may get a wedding band

but she's gunna live every moment until that day comesand we're gunna show her what it means to be loved

Oh yeah (what it means to be loved)

show her what it means to be lovedwhat it means to be loved

Starbucks Sisters

 

                Since August I have been hanging out with these awesome ladies on Monday mornings. We meet at Starbucks at 6:00am. I know....... it's early but it's the best part of the day! 

                Some are old friends while others are new friends. They are all fantastic and I learn a lot from       them. There are a couple missing in this photo.

Brittany, second on the bottom row, is our ring leader and she does an unbelievable job!!!! We will be studying the book of John for the next 12 weeks.  Brittany even got us shirts made for Christmas that says Starbucks Sisters. They are pink and super cute and comfy.

I have already been reading and came upon a verse I have liked for a long time.

From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. 
John 1:16

 Looking forward to starting the book of John in the morning!

Brooke and I, we are the last two on the bottom row, will be going on a mission trip soon!!!!
More of that story to follow.

My Sports Lover and My Little Picasso

Nathaniel has played basketball the last couple of years with Upward. We really liked Upward basketball but Nathaniel wanted to play in the city league at Parks and Recreation because they keep score and there is more competition.  Well he got what he asked for! We play on a 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade league so lets just say he is one of the smallest but he loves it!!

Some of these kids could eat my boy for lunch!!! But his confidence rocks and he doesn't let them scare him.

 I have always been a football lover but these days I am loving watching my little guy play basketball.

He had some really good shots the first quarter and I did not catch them on camera. Isn't that how it always goes. I never seem to catch the true highlights.

Looking forward to the rest of his games! Go Wildcats!

This four year old loves to paint. He may just be a little picasso. His Mimi was an excellent artist. I hope he gets her skills. 

This goes on just about everyday at our house. I cannot tell you how many times he asks me if he can paint. Our neighbors next door is an amazing artists. They gave Nolan this easel. 

And here is one of his masterpieces!

He calls all of his paintings abstracts. 

Love my boys!

New Year's Eve

 We got crazy on New Year's Eve hanging out with these seven kiddos.

We ordered pizza and had some yummy homemade desserts thanks to Catherine and Brittany.

You can imagine how loud seven kids can be at times.

The big boys, Nat and Blake, disappeared for a while and they went to Blake's house just down the street where it was quite so they could watch a game. 

Typical men!

The girls got to talk and catch up though which was nice.

Of coarse I got Ella a New Year's headband for her first!

These two precious babes love some Dora!

And these two just have a lot of fun together when they are not whining or telling on each other. 

Isn't that what 4 year olds do best?

Next year we decided that we will actually go out since it has been 9 years since we had a "real" adult type of New Year's celebration. 

Maybe!

Ella's First Snow!

I know..... it was not much but it was Ella's first with us so we had to make a big deal out of it!

I raised the blinds in the playroom yesterday and she kept pointing to the snow saying, "Snowman!"

Now all we need is a big show so we can build her first snowman!