It's that time of year again...

our backyard is alive with color.

even though this is not in focus...I think this look is priceless

Mondays with "GG"...

...your little man...

An Afternoon in the Park...

with the PA Maces...

there is nothing like family!

Free...

The boys releasing our butterflies...

"Christ has set us free to live a free life. So take your stand!" Galatians 5:1

More of God's handiwork...

Beautiful boys...

absolutely amazing feathers...

Marveling at God's handiwork...

Over the last month we've watched our little caterpillars...turn into big caterpillars, chrysalides and then...

yesterday the greatest transformation took place...in the picture below you see one butterfly that emerged from the chrysalis and if you look just to the right of that butterfly you can see another butterfly beginning to emerge from the chyrsalis...

once they emerge they rest in a vertical position while they pump their wings to full size

Micaiah screamed..."Look at his proboscis!" This butterfly moved it in and out as he entertained the boys...

and then it finally showed it's beautiful wings as it began to eat some "sugar water" the boys had placed in the habitat...

this morning Micaiah opened up the habitat to feed them and a butterfly flew over and rested on his finger...pretty soon we'll release them but for now we're enjoying their stay!

Patriot's Day...

the best way to start the day according to Micaiah...

then we took the train down to City Hall Plaza for the Flag Raising Ceremony and parade honoring the famous ride of William Dawes and Paul Revere.

The parade ended at the Paul Revere Mall and then we watched a reenactment of Paul Revere's famous ride...

now that is "living" history!

then off to mile 21 to cheer on the athletes in the 113th running of the Boston Marathon...

lead pack of women...Kara Goucher trying to bring a victory home for the USA...

Ryan Hall doing the same in the men's field...

the real hero...

and the reason we were there...Go, Dad Go!

reuniting with Poppy after his race...

and then one last stop...The Public Garden

to visit the Swan Boat and...

Mrs. Mallard and her ducklings.

Signs that spoke to me...

this was recently the topic of conversation with a good friend of mine...

and for some reason this sign gave me cold chills, and flashbacks that I didn't care to recall all at the same time! These girls had no clue as to why I was so intrigued with their sign...

I guess I can only pray that some poor soul about to collapse around mile 22 was encouraged and pressed on to the finish because of their kind advice!!

Mondays with "GG"

We love you and hope to see you soon!

The Best Way...

to spend Patriot's Day!

A few pictures from JJ's inaguaral run in 2006...

Pictures from 2009 to follow...GO Bib #3309!!

"Slimey"...

This afternoon Joshua found "a Slimey." There is something about this little guys tender heart toward others (even animals) that I adore...he asked me to pull them (Josh and "Slimey") in the wagon because "Slimey wanted to go for a ride."

Unfortunately during the ride, "Slimey" got a little dirty. Joshua was sad and wanted to clean him. So, we got some water and poured it in our large dumptruck for "Slimey's " bath. But, "Slimey" couldn't stay there because as Joshua put it, "this is not a safe place for him."

He thought this was a better place...

riding right along next to him. At one point Joshua even serenaded "Slimey" with a rendition of "I Saw the Light."

I had to chuckle because in my heart of hearts I knew "Slimey" was "seeing the light" but not because of a lack of love that is for sure!

Happy Easter 2009...

we hope this picture brings a smile to your face!

Little BMore Drummer Boy...

On the hunt...

for Easter eggs! Micaiah and a few friends looking for eggs...

Eli following suit...

Joshua showing off his treats...

Eli enjoying his treats...

Disney memories...

View Project at Shutterfly

Random Conversations About Nothing...

After drawing a picture of a Rhino Micaiah says, "Daddy, you're a good artist."
"Daddy is good at a lot of things", followed Jenna.
"Yeah, like flipping." exclaimed Micaiah. [Jenna laughs loudly] "Why don't you do a flip right now?"

Out of all the things he could have picked, flipping?

"Jenna..

remember my faithfulness to you in the past!" ...this has been my challenge from the Lord over the past few years. Over the last year, I have also sensed a need to have a heart of gratitude in the midst of all circumstances.

As I was reading from Streams in the Desert by L.B. Cowman today, I felt challenged in a new way...

2 Kings 6: 8-22...in this passage Elisha is surrounded by the Arameans and their horses and chariots. They are ready to capture him and Elisha's servant is afraid. "Elisha prayed, 'O Lord, open his eyes so he may see.' Then the Lord opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha."

Cowman says, "Once our eyes are opened to God, we will see all the events of our lives, whether great or small, joyful or sad, as a "chariot" for our souls." He goes on to say, "On the other hand, even the smallest trial may become an object crushing everything in its path into misery and despair if we allow it."

The difference then...is in how we view them. "If we simply lie down, allowing them to roll over and crush us, they become an uncontrollable car of destruction. Yet if we climb onto them, as riding in a car of victory, they become chariots of God to triumphantly take us onward and upward."

"There is not much the Lord can do with a crushed soul...we need to better understand these attacks of the Enemy on our spirit and how to resist them. He seeks to 'wear out the saints of the most High' (Dan. 7:25) through a prolonged siege, until we finally, out of sheer weakness, surrender all hope of victory."

"Lord, open my eyes so I may see"...

Let's Go O's...

We took the boys on a "mystery ride" today...and joined in the fun of Fan Fest at Oriole Park...