Stella's big Christmas gift was tickets to Disney on Ice. She waited patiently for 2 months (mostly b/c she didn't know what to expect) and enjoyed the show so much! She got her picture taken w/ her "twin" and loved the skating, music and princesses. Ruby got to enjoy the show too. Daddy was a... Continue Reading →

Those words rolled from my tongue pretty consistently for the first 3 years of living in MI. God provided a fun job for me that I really enjoyed managing a few different Curves workout facilities in our area.  I was taken back to those good old days at Curves with a recent post of Noel Piper's.... Continue Reading →

love seems to be the theme of several recent posts. we are still going thru the qualities of love from the month of february but are winding down our study. we've used some transcripts of john macarthur's "qualities of true love" series and they have been excellent as we try to define and seek ways... Continue Reading →

i hear myself telling the girls over and over something i learned in ethics class in college. dr. custer was teaching on the christian ethic of love from 1 corinthians 13 and said, "we must remember people are more important than things." i hear that instruction replaying in my mind nearly every time i tell... Continue Reading →

One of my favorite answers Matt gave at the ordination council last week followed a series of questions he was asked about if there was anything special about Christ's blood. Finally someone said, "Well then how do you explain 1 Peter 1:19 when the writer calls Jesus' blood 'precious'?" Matt answered, "Because of the amazing... Continue Reading →

Today's a big day for us and for our church. It's a day for which you have prepared many years now. You will be examined today by professors from our local seminary and several local pastors regarding your doctrinal qualifications for the Gospel ministry. In God's good providence, I was reminded even just this week how... Continue Reading →

this little piggy...still likes to suck her 2 baby fingers.this little piggy...is turning out to be quite a helper.this little piggy...has an extreme case of cuteness.this little piggy...loves to back her way into you with a book in her hand.this little piggy...is such a good mommy to her babies.this little piggy...is still a very lovable,... Continue Reading →

200 days happily and thankfully pregnant with schaeffer. 7 days looking eagerly and humbly forward to matt's ordination council."and God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." (2 corinthians 9.8)

brings out the worst in you."and other encouraging thots from tim keller in this series.seriously, one of the best marriage series i've listened to b/c he effectively communicates to people in thisday and age and the mindset we've all been influenced by whether we realize it or not.

we made 3 batches of valentine's day cookies this year:1) valentine's m&m cookie bars2) peanut butter blossoms (daddy's fave)had to take a pic of this. notice the orderliness w/ which the kiss wrappers were discarded - separated by color (pink, red and silver all organized in different piles) and even the kiss flags had a... Continue Reading →

that's something stella often says...and he deserves every bit of love his girls give him. he's a great daddy!stella learning to play wii for a family game night. let's just say she doesn't show promise of being a gamer. :)these 2 are 2 peas in a pod! always an adventure with this spunky, spirited duo!!stella... Continue Reading →

the last 2 posts on al mohler's blog (here and here) are a good reminder for me of how important it is to raise boys to be men. it is  humbling as we look forward to schaeffer's arrival that the helpless little baby we hope to hold in our arms will one day be called... Continue Reading →