16!!!

Look who turned 16 years old recently!
The transformation this young man has gone through in the last

three years is nothing short of dramatic!!

It takes our (his parents's) breath away.

We would never be able to classify him as our "easy" child,

but I think that he has grown physically and become more pleasant socially

in these last few years more than ever before that.
Like at lightening speed!
More than making up some ground!

What awesome moments when folks from church or our neighborhood

tell us some lovely thing that he did for them or said to them.
I kinda peek over my shoulder to see if they are talking about my child!!

But God has been good in His life and we're starting to see some fruit

of the years of labor we've invested into him.
We love you, Grant,

and can't wait to see what God is preparing you for in the future!

Just the week before his birthday,

 Grant had the awesome opportunity to take his first ever flight

out of his home state to California.
What an adventure for him!
While there, the group he was with took an afternoon to visit
Six Flags Magic Mountain.
I was a little nervous for him because the last time he went to
Six Flags Over Texas (last summer),
he spent half the time losing his lunch.
To compound that problem, he wouldn't tell the adults he was with

when that was about to happen.
Surprise!!!!  (On the floorboard of the van)
So I quietly, discreetly prepped the adults he was traveling with
to not badger him about riding huge roller coasters if he was resistant!
While they were gone, I got these fun pictures from a Mom who kept an

eye on him for me!!!

Grant's birthday fell on Sunday this year,

 so we spent a good part of the day with our church family.
It was also "First Responder's Sunday" and we had
a delicious Bar-B-Que lunch served for our family as well as other

families of first responders.
Our minister of music is very special to our family
and he gave Grant just the most precious spoken blessing
to encourage Grant on his special day!!

  

The following evening our family took Grant and Ashlyn to dinner

to celebrate their milestone birthdays!

Happy Birthday, Grant!!!
We love you!!

Celebration week!

April is a very busy month for our family!
My husband's and daughter's birthday fall within two days of each other
with our wedding anniversary sandwiched in between.
This year our second daughter turned 18!!

Who got to spend her 18th birthday in California?!?
This girl!!

You heard me right.
CALIFORNIA!!

She and her oldest brother were able to travel with a group of youth
 and some Moms from our church to a youth conference at

West Coast Baptist College in Lancaster, California
for three days.
The second day of the trip just happened to be her birthday!!

On her actual birthday, they took the group to Six Flags Magic Mountain!!
Say WHAT?
So much fun!

While Ashlyn and Grant were in California,
my husband and I were able to get away on a fun overnight for our anniversary!
It was actually the annual deacon's retreat that our pastor hosts,
but it was a "Win-Win" for us!!!
Dinner, breakfast and lunch was provided

at a lovely Christian campground in East Texas
complete with horse back riding on the second day
 which was also my husband's birthday!!
What a unique way to celebrate 22 years of our married life together!!

Texas Bluebonnets

Part of the cultural experience of living in Texas,
besides football, Mexican food, Whataburger, and Blue Bell ice cream,
is the annual spring arrival of our state flower!!

We never know exactly when the bluebonnets will bloom,
but it's roughly end of March to middle of April!
They only last for a couple weeks, and are at their peak

about a week after you first see them pop up.
These wildflowers are prolific along the highways up the embankments,

and you have to be careful to watch for cars parked on the shoulder as

entire families try to get pictures in the bluebonnets.
This year, they were spectacular on Easter Sunday

so there were lots of cars parked as people got their pictures together!

This year, it seemed like the bluebonnets were especially vibrant and lush!

Reminded me of God's grace!
Splashed around with wild abandon at no expense to ourselves!
We simply enjoy the beauty!

"Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,

Freely bestowed on all who believe!
You that are longing to see His face,
Will you this moment His grace receive?

Grace, grace, God's grace,
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
Grace, grace, God's grace.
Grace that is greater than all my sin."

 

Below are some family pictures through the years

 that we have done in the bluebonnets.

 

The Living Last Supper 2018

This year, during the week of Good Friday and Easter
our family was super busy participating in our faith community's

presentation of The Living Last Supper.

Two years ago, I had the distinct privilege of directing this same drama,

but my role was more behind-the-scenes this year.
My husband resprised his role as the Apostle Peter,
and each of my children were happy to be helpers in any way they could.
We had late nights and busy days, but this ministry is always worth it

and we love watching it all come together and bring glory to the Lord.

You can watch this performance in its entirety here.