Our New Babies

Check out this video of the brand new baby robins in the nest in our front porch. Mama has been sitting on them alot & one still hasn't hatched. I just watched her feed them this morning. Amazing!

Memorial Day

Hope you all had a nice holiday weekend and had the chance to reflect on our veterans and brave soldiers who sacrafice so much for us all...( a special thanks & many prayers for my brother Jonathan). We spent the day in Lancaster at Bill's parents home celebrating the holiday as well as Sarah's 2nd birthday. The kids had fun as usual and Madison had the chance to try golf for the first time at the driving range. Here's a shot of her.

Swim Season Begins

We are all excited for the swim team to start. Madison had her first practices this week at a local middle school. It's fun to see her do really well and take what her coach says and apply it in the pool. Bill & I hope she continues to love the sport. Yesterday she did her first flip turn and completed 2 laps without stopping. We asked her when she learned a flip turn & she said she just saw the older girl ahead of her do it so she just followed her. Here's a funny shot of A & Matthew on the sidelines amusing themselves with Madison's swim caps. They were crackin us up. Our pool opens this weekend...Yipeeee! Have a great weekend everyone!

Science in Nature

I try to make every day an opportunity to teach the kids, and I've learned that I can make our own backyard into a science class. Mama bird decided that our new front porch is a perfect place for a nest and has been sitting on her 2 eggs for 3 days straight...only leaving when my loud & active son forgets to be quiet & walk slowly on the front porch. We are all rooting for her & those little eggs and can't wait till they hatch. The other day Adrienne was thrilled to have found this beautiful green caterpillar (sorry the focus stinks) in their favorite tree. This led into a great conversation about the life cycle of a butterfly. We are all enjoying spring and are grateful for all the wonder God created in nature!

And a Happy Anniversary to my mom & dad! We love you guys!

My Pantry

After posting the last post, nothing really seems appropriate to follow it. If you haven't watched the video of Rachel yet...you must do it! So this morning as I begin my same routine, school, wash & more school, I wanted to show you a picture of my new pantry. OOOH fun and exciting! Aren't you glad you checked the blog today! (haha) Well I'm sorry but this really excites me. I have very limited storage space in my kitchen so when I go food shopping I have to buy everything, every time. But now I have a place to store cans, side dishes, mac n cheese, pb & j, plates, napkins....YIPEE! This not only saves us money cause we can buy in bulk, but it saves me alot of time in the supermarket....(and every minute is crucial when carting around 3 crazy kids at the Giant!) Thanks to my man for cutting down the bench to make room for it....yur da best!

Death is not Dying

Please click on this link to view this video of Rachel, a 37 year old wife and mom of 2 who is dying of breast cancer that has spread to her liver, bones and skull. The hope and faith she has will inspire and change you as it has me.

Monkeys

That's what my kids are. Here's the video of Adrienne & her little stunt. Hope my mom & mother-in-law had a wonderful Mother's day. It was a busy day for me, (hence the fact that I have no pictures to share)...but wonderful just the same. Also, A Happy Birthday shout out to my Mother-in Law! Thanks for all you do...have a great day!

PS. Don't try this at home...you may just rip your arms out of joint.

My Gospel Spot

The year, 1990. The place, the bathroom of an all guys floor in my freshman dorm at Temple University. Drunk. Just got sick. Can't get up. Can't talk. Ashamed. Embarrased. Lonely. But wait. 19 years later I remember it. You saw me laying there. You protected me. You had compassion on me. You called me out. You picked me up. Clothed me with righteousness. The righteousness of your Son. You sent Him for me. You turned away from Him. He bore all the wrath I deserved. Wrath for my pride, my vanity, my selfishness, my foolishness. On that night you were there.

The year, 2009. I am your daughter. My name, Christina, is written on your hand. Your beloved. Your handiwork, the apple of your eye. How could this be? I don't deserve it. But that's what grace is. Oh Amazing grace! I deserve hell but I get Heaven. I deserve punishment but I get mercy. I deserve curses but I get blessings.

This is my Gospel Spot. (Jim Donohue's message: Forsaken). I go there when I am drifting. I go there when I am complacent. And when I go I always return filled with joy and thankfulness for my Savior.

Pray for Noah

I was invited to join Noah's Road group on Facebook and I found the blog here. Noah is a 5 month old baby boy who is fighting for his life after a childcare worker shook him one day. I was struck by his parents faith during what must be an absolutely terrifying time. One of the blog entries tells us to grab our kids, kiss them, hug them and remember to always be thankful for the gifts they truly are. Visit the blog & join me in praying for this little guy.