Our Birds

* If you haven't caught up with the rest of the bird story, click here to see the beginning on the other blog. It's been really cool to see this story unfold on our front steps!

So we knew the birds must be ready to fly the nest sometime soon. Last Saturday I heard

* cheep * cheep * cheep * cheep * cheep *

outside the front door and ran to see one baby bird on the ground, but he was a fast little guy and was gone before I grabbed the camera. This one pictured was apparently the third bird who flew the nest. He just stood up, looked around....and then he JUMPED!

At the sound of the baby birds chirping, in flew five adult robins, diving through the air and swirling around. They landed on the neighbor's roof and just checked things out.

The baby bird then "flew" into our house and got wedged behind the couch, flapping frantically. At this point, Trevor started loudly praying:

"Okay, Jesus. We really need You to help here. Jesus, You need to help that bird because his wing is hurt and he NEEDS that wing. Jesus, this is really, really serious, so HELP THAT BIRD. We know You can do it!"

(Here are the kids praying)...

I managed to get him unwedged--his wing was bleeding, but didn't seem to be broken. He let me hold him for a long, long time. I just stroked his feathers and he settled in. He even seemed calm enough for me to take pictures of him with one hand (thank goodness the camera was around my neck!) and he seemed so relaxed after such a frantic beginning to life outside the nest!

About three seconds after this picture was taken, my baby bird friend flew away. I wasn't sure I was ready to let the little guy go!

Just Like Her Mama

If you've ever been to our blog before now, you've surely read my praises about hand-me-downs, consignment sales, and Goodwill for clothing our kiddos. I truly praise God for His provision through these ways. This dress was a hand-me-down from the V-clan, and I love these little platform shoes I found at Goodwill. This morning I got Aila dressed for church and just had to smile, because from the dress to the shoes, it was something I would wear!

Not to mention that ol' family resemblance. :)

Dirt!

The weather's been awesome lately. And my "all-boy" little 4-year old is loving being outside. The kids take a LOT of baths these days!

Resurrection Sunday

Sunday morning at North Star, a nap for Aila in her toddler bed (a first!), and then we spent our afternoon with the Grahams. A wonderful day celebrating our RISEN Jesus!

Couldn't Want Anything More For You

When I think about what I want for the kids, I want Jesus. I want them to know Him and love Him and follow Him and trust Him. This week there have been some really sweet moments where I'm seeing that, even though they're young, they love Him. I had to run and get my camera to capture this moment because during breakfast, Trevor started talking to Aila about how to ask Jesus to be her savior, and here he said, "I am going to pray for you, Aila." And then he went on to pray that she will want Jesus to live in her heart someday, too.

More prayer. Let prayer be the mark of Trevor's life.

Aila was singing and worshipping while we were in carline to pick Trevor up. I smiled as I saw her in the rear view mirror. I had my camera with me and was happy to catch the moment.

Give them Jesus...give them Jesus. You can have all this world,

but give them Jesus.

Wow. What an Attractive Family.

We got some gummy bunny teeth and had some fun. Guess we know now what we'd look like without orthodontic intervention! :)

After All These Years

Do you know the first day you ever spent time with your best friend? Oddly enough, I do! It was March 23, 1989. Kelly and I were 7th graders at Turlock Junior High School, and we became the best of friends right away. So every year we celebrate our "Best Friend Anniversary." This year marks 21 years!

So a million laughs, hundreds of notes passed, one house-egging, a few break-ups with lame boyfriends, twenty viewings of the movie "Beaches," several prom dresses, one car accident, two weddings and four children later, we are still the best of friends!

Celebrating Salvation

On March 22, 2009 Trevor and I were reading a book about Easter and he asked if Jesus could come and live in his heart. And today we celebrated Trevor's very first Christian birthday!

Beauty for Ashes

March 20, 2010

Beauty for ashes * The oil of gladness instead of mourning

...redemption.

Handsome

The wonderful Wilson family gave us some clothes for Trevor, and he was so excited that he wore some of his new duds to preschool today...tie and all!

I couldn't get over how handsome and grown-up he looked.

I love my Trevor so much. And it's going SO FAST.

St. Patty's Day

I just love St. Patrick's Day! We have lots of Leprechaun fun around here. Here are the kids leaving out some green M & M's for the little green guys.

I fed my children an unhealthy amount of green food coloring, but they had so much fun with the green eggs, green milk, and green applesauce.

Trevor was NOT, however, happy that I snuck some authentically green stuff into his green eggs, i.e. spinach. That kid can pick a veggie out of anything!

I didn't have anything green for Aila to wear, so this "dress" she's wearing is actually my green tank top. Hey, whatever works! :)

We made a sign to welcome the Leprechauns...

....then we waited.

...and when we ran an errand to the bank, the little green guys snuck in and left something special...

....little green footprints leading to a pot of gold!
HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!

Soaked, But Smiling! :)

It's been raining a lot the last few days. So after day after day of rushing from car to house trying to stay dry, we decided to play in the pouring rain. It was so. much. fun. I'll never forget the laughter, the joy, and the puddle-splashing until we were soaked from head to toe! :)

"I LOVE YOU, JESUS!!!"

A few weeks ago we were having family prayers before bedtime. Usually Justin or I will pray, and sometimes Trevor, but this one night we let Aila do it.

She bowed her head, closed her eyes, and began praying in whispers. Finally I said, "Aila, can you pray just a little louder, please?" And she took a deep breath and said (quite loudly, I might add)...

"I LOVE YOU, JESUS!!!!"

She says it a lot now. And needless to say, it has caught on. :)

Our Beach

We love Acworth Beach. It's always packed in the summer, but on the off-season we often find ourselves with the whole beach to ourselves. :)

Helloooo, Essie Bessie!

Ali (aka "Essie"--short for Bestemor, the Norwegian word for Grandmother) flew down from Boston last week--we loved having her here! Pop sent his love from the wintery north.
The kids were so excited to go into the airport to pick her up.

My little bag lady insisted on carrying a purse.

We love Essie!