Just a few words Wednesday

Grace has had a bad cold this past week, so sleep is a good thing! Fortunately, I came in the room before she fell off the bed!

Awww...I love these two snugglers.

the love continues...

This past Sunday, when Lily and I got back from the "hair raising", Yana shyly told me, "Now I kind of wish that I had done it." I explained to her that she still could! But I suggested that she wait a couple of days so she could think about it, and then she could let me know. We would just send her hair to Locks of Love.

Well, on Tuesday I was at Panera (my favorite place to study and pray), and in walked the wonderful hairdresser who had cut Lily's hair. I walked over to her to thank her again for making Lily's experience so positive. She told me that a friend of hers got her hair cut that day and now her two daughters also wanted to donate their hair. I laughed and told her that Yana wanted to donate her hair as well. She was thrilled and offered to cut Yana's hair, too.

So, today was the big day and I have to say that I think Nyana (the hairdresser) did a fabulous job! Here are Yana's "before" pictures.

Here is our wonderful hairdresser, Nyana, cutting Yana's hair.

And here's sweet Yana, after her haircut! I think that it looks wonderful!! And I love, love, love that special smile!

Okay, so I know that I am totally biased, but really...could they be any sweeter?!

After Yana's haircut, Nyana told me that the woman whom she was with at Panera was a good friend who had had breast cancer. This friend was the reason why Nyana had volunteered her time at the benefit. Nyana told me that her friend was extremely encouraged by the things that I shared when we met at Panera. I was encouraged, as well! Who but God could have arranged that meeting...my sweet Yana was given the chance to give her hair, Nyana's friend was greatly encouraged, and we made a new friend (and definitely found a new hairdresser!).

By the way, Nyana wouldn't take any money for Yana's haircut. She simply wanted to give her time for the sake of those with cancer. What a special woman!

Wordless Wednesday

haircuts and love...

A few weeks ago I was visiting my doctor's office. I saw a flyer for an event put on by the Rocky Mountain cancer society. They were doing a "hair raising" and anyone with at least 8 inches of hair to give could donate it for cancer patients. I took the flyer home and asked if anyone wanted to donate their hair. Lily responded, "I do! I do! I'd be so glad to give someone my hair." ( Have I ever told you how much I LOVE this girl's bold love?!)

So, yesterday was the big event. Lily was so excited! Here are her "before" pictures.

We asked a friend from our church (who had donated in the past), if she wanted to join us. She said "yes!" and off we went. Here is Melanie's "before" picture.

Melanie was up first and they cut off a whopping 14 inches!

Doesn't she look wonderful?!

Next it was Lily's turn. She had the sweetest hairdresser.

Aren't these two ladies beautiful (inside and out!)?!

Love that sweet girl!

And I love her new haircut!

Bright and Beautiful

We've had such a fun bright week (week after Easter, in celebration of Christ's resurrection). On Tuesday, some friends from church and our family had a free lemonade and brownie stand. This was Lily's idea of a good way to celebrate. She was right--we had a great time!

Then we went to visit Oma and Opa, and the "cousies." Here is Aunt Susie, reading to Grace. Grace came home chanting "Aunt Susie...Aunt Susie..." I guess she likes her!

Grace and cousin, Noah.

Abie, Yana and Lily, having fun together.

Cousin Nathan must have asked for 50 husgs over the course of the 3 days that we were visiting. What a sweet little guy!

Oma and Grace.

Adam, Jadon, cousin Cobie and Uncle Matt.

While visiting my in-laws, I also had the opportunity to get together with my friend, Mary. What a blessing that was! She is such a wonderful woman. I wish that you all could meet her!

Praying that all of you are also having a "bright and beautiful" week. Christ is Risen!

Wordless Wednesday

Christ is Risen!!

I just love Easter. As a Christian, this celebration is the high point of the year. The resurrection of our beautiful Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, is a fact that is beyond compare. There is nothing else like it! The One who created the universe chose to die for us and give us new life. What can compare to this?!

But, as our pastor said yesterday, I don't want the fact of the resurrection to simply be good theology. I want to live it. I want the resurrection to shape all of who I am and every aspect of how I live. This is true worship! May God make it more evident in my life. And despite my many shortcomings and failures, I believe that He will, because He is good!

We truly had a glorious celebration this year. On Good Friday, David and a couple of other men at our church took some of the kids to walk through the stations of the cross at an abbey close to where we live.

The service at our church Friday evening filled me with awe as I contemplated all that the Lord has done for us. I was reminded of a poem by Denise Levertov.

On a Theme from Julian's (of Norwich) Chapter XX

Six hours outstretched in the sun, yes,

hot wood, the nails, blood trickling

into the eyes, yes--

but the thieves on their neighbor crosses survived till after the soldiers

had come to fracture their legs, or longer.

Why single out this agony? What's

a mere six hours?

Torture then, torture now,

the same, the pain's the same,

immemorial branding iron,

electric prod.

Hasn't a child

dazed in teh hospital ward they reserve

for the most abused, known worse?

This air we're breathing,

these very clouds, ephemeral billows

languid upon the sky's

moody ocean, we sare

with women and men

who've held out days and weeks on the rack--

and in the ancient dust of the world

what particles

of the long tormented,

what ashes.

But Julian's lucid spirit leapt

to the difference:

perceived why no awe could measure

that brief day's endless length,

why among all the tortured

One only is 'King of Grief'.

the oneing, she saw, the oneing

with the Godhead opened Him utterly

to the pain of all minds, all bodies

--sands of the sea, of the desert--

from first beginning

to last day. The great wonder is

that the human cells of His flesh and bone

didn't explode

when utmost Imagination rose

in that flood of knowledge. Unique

in agony, Infinite strength, Incarnate,

empowered Him to endure

inside of history,

through those hours when He took to Himself

the sum total of anguish and drank

even the lees of that cup:

within the mes of the web, Himself

woven within it, yet seeing it,

seeing it whole. Every sorrow and desolation

He saw, and sorrowed in kinship.

Grace was moved by the image of Jesus with nails in His hands. She kept saying, "I no like that." Her heart of love and compassion is so wonderful to see.

Of course, the highlight of the weekend was the celebration of His resurrection. We start celebrating on Saturday night with a beautiful and exuberant service, and then continue celebrating on Sunday with Jewish dancing, games and crafts for the kids and a fun time of fellowship (and eating!). We had some new friends join us this year, so that was neat.

Yana wanted to draw a picture (icon) in celebration of Christ's resurrection this year. It is patterned off of an icon that we have at home.

I pray that you all had a glorious Easter celebration this year, and that Christ's resurrection fills you with hope and encouragement this day and always!

A little note about Lily from Dad

This is one of the many fine pictures drawn by our Lily. She is a girly girl, that is for sure. She loves all that frilly stuff. The lady on the right must have at least 30 lbs. of hair. That is our Lily--she thinks and draws big. We love her so much and really enjoy her lady pictures, her enthusiasm, and her desire for the truth to be spoken. The Lord has blessed her in many ways.

It's Thursday!

One glance

"You have made my heart beat faster, my sister, my bride; You have made my heart beat faster with a single glance of your eyes."

Song of Songs 4:9

About a year ago, I was listening to a teaching series by Mike Bickle. The series was on the Song of Songs (or Song of Solomon). A couple of days ago, as I was reading through bits of the Song, I was again reminded of the extravagant love that the Lord has for His people. He tells us that we make His heart beat faster, with a single glance of our eyes. You make His heart beat faster with a single glance of your eyes. I make His heart beat faster with a single glance of my eyes. The fact is that our precious Lord is totally and completely in love with us. And He is greatly affected by our love for Him. He loves to have us love Him--so much so, that we can simply glance at Him and He is taken aback. We take His breath away! How amazing is that?!

The verdict....

I was talking on the phone, and a certain little girl (who loves apples, and will eat them all day and not eat anything else) asked for an apple. Since we were eating dinner soon, I told her "no." This little girl proceeded to go and get an apple and ask again, "Can I have apples?"

"Not right now, honey."

A few minutes later, I got off the phone and Grace innocently handed me this apple...

Hmmm....something doesn't seem quite right here.

Oh yeah, it appears that I have a little apple nibbler on my hands.

....definitely, guilty!

Five months!

Another month has flown by, and it has now been 5 months since Grace joined our family. All that I can say (and that the pictures clearly show), is that you belong sweet girl...you belong.