A Date with Eternal Dividends

Abbie & Mama had a sweet date last Saturday. We were blessed to have Pure Freedom bring their Secret Keeper Tour to our town. This evening was filled with worship, precious time for mothers & daughters, encouraging words for our young ladies today on modesty, and great fashion show (which Abbie's lifelong buddy, Ellie, was in). It was so nice to have the lessons we teach at home to be taught to her & her peers, then also see it applied. I was so happy that Abbie had something that encouraged her inner beauty and love for Jesus. We have had some great conversations spring from the evening. As well as Abbie doing modesty test on all of her clothing. She cracks me up. We both had a blast. It is so sweet to see my baby girl growing into a little girl who desires to please God. God is so faithful that it melts my heart!

Easter 2008

I know I am running behind! It is the story of my life in this season! I wanted to share our Easter with you. We started our celebration that day with church (I just wish you could hear Hopie say "church"). Pastor Curt did an amazing drama as Hosea. It was special to me because we have been studing the Kings and Minor Prophets this year in CBS (Community Bible Study) and had recently covered Hosea. Pastor Curt showed us the sweet truths of being Christ's Bride and His great love for us. It is always humbling to me the great love He shows us because He is God. Worthy of all glory, praise, and honor and yet loves a wretch like me. I love Him so and desire for Him to glorififed in this life of mine because when it is ALL said and done ~ nothing else matters but Him!
I thought I'd share some pictures of our day. We headed up to my sister's house to be with my family that day. As you can tell the girls get swimsuits in their Easter baskets and wear them that day. Luke had a fun first Easter too, although no candy for him.
Hopie is a girl after my own heart~ a cowgirl hat goes with EVERYTHING, right?

Papa & Luke checkin' out the candy scene!

Abigail enjoying some candy!

Hopie & Nicholas playing in the sand box!

This is my HOT man!

I love his smile!!!

We hope & pray you had a blessed Easter celebrating that we serve a risen Savior! Praise the LORD!

Our Little Guy

Just a quick picture of Luke exploring the front yard.

Man, he is still so stinkin' cute!

Note to self - Liz

As an addition to the previous post, you can get back into the United States WITHOUT a picture id. Ask me how I know this! Because little Miss Liz left her driver's license at home on her desk. I knew I wouldn't need my Palm pilot while in Mexico. BUT I keep ALL my credit cards, Palm pilot, and driver's license in the same carrier, so I left them home thinking I wouldn't want to lose them! Silly Liz! I didn't realize this until one of team members said to get out our picture ids as we were heading to the border, going home. I had a look of sheer terror at her words, realizing what I had done. Not to mention I had driven in Mexico, where Alto (Stop) is more of suggestion then a command! After a couple of hours of sitting in the lines at the border we faced the border officer with his question of picture id for us adults. I could not believe how understanding he was! I took Aaron's advice on "say little" but I wanted to spill my guts to the officer. We were surprised at what came next. "Do you have any apples or oranges with you?" It was my girlfriend's bright idea to pack lunch in case we got stuck at the border. That lunch included apples & oranges. We got pulled into secondary inspection to get rid of our fruits that we were "smuggling" into the states! Hey, don't get me wrong, I was THRILLED to throw away my fruit versus keepin' the gal who didn't have any picture id! It has given my friends some good ammo on me! I aim to please!

Ecclesiastes 3:4 .....a time to laugh

Grace Children's Home - Mexico

We were so truly humbled and blessed by our Easter vacation this year. The Abshire Clan along with three other families, laded up and headed to Tijuana, Mexico. Our focus was to help with construction on a new building that consists of dorms for groups coming to help, an educational & health floor, and housing for the missionary family floor. The Lord had a different plan for Aaron. Upon introductions, Aaron stated that he ran an automotive shop and he had a whole new purpose of being there. He worked on the fleet of vehicles as his service to them and the LORD. He loved it! Our girls loved meeting new friends! Hopie continues to say "Buenos diaz" most days since we have been home. Keri & I loved on all the children and did crafts with them each day. We loved it. Luke did amazing! What a blessing the whole trip was. It made us so thankful for new friends in Mexico, the wonderful children at Grace, the work God is doing there, and fresh appreciation for all the LORD has put in our lives. May we be good stewards with what He has placed in our lives.

Some rest & fun at Hungtington Lake

We had a wonderful time away with some friends of ours to Hungtington Lake. It was four days filled with LOTS of snow, beautiful scenery, laughter with friends, and the choas of two full families in one condo! We all had so much fun. Okay, in all honesty, Aaron wouldn't agree that wrecking a snowmobile was his idea of fun. I personally said a "Thank you Jesus" for keeping him safe. It was nothing that a game of sequence, after children went to bed, wouldn't fix! It was such a blessing to get away and visit with friends, enjoy God's creation, soak up family time, and share some laughs.

Walk thru the bloosoms

All too soon..........

The scene is the Abshire kitchen, Sunday morning with 2 out 3 children too sick to go to church. Abbie, the well one, is having breakfast with me. She asks me if she could have a mug of hot cocoa with breakfast. I am busy cooking oatmeal and go on autopilot. I am sure my friends with young children are nodding in understanding! Next thing I know I have Abbie's cute pilgrim mug (which the little boy to whom she is betrothed to gave her) & my coffee mug together on the counter. I proceed to pour TWO mugs of coffee, mind you; I am the ONLY person in this house that drinks coffee. As I looked at the mugs of coffee, I am flooded with feelings and images that surprise me. Surprised I just poured my seven year old a mug of coffee; images of a grown daughter sharing a pot of coffee with me someday; and a rush of feelings; and images of Abbie growing up right before my eyes. It amazed me how many feelings one can experience in a split second. As I brought myself back to reality, in my kitchen with my seven year old who is eagerly awaiting her oatmeal & hot cocoa; I poured her mug filled with coffee back into the pot and happily filled her mug with hot cocoa topped with whip cream! We sat together sharing breakfast and I kissed her sweet young little head and had a fresh appreciation for each day knowing all too soon she would be sitting here having a mug of coffee with me. Knowing also that mug of coffee would bring things bigger than her seven year world and I welcomed the time line between those two mugs!

S is for Savior

I treasure up conversations with my children. Okay, maybe not ALL of them but especially the precious ones! Today as Hopie & I were driving home from Community Bible Study we started talking about her going to pre-school tomorrow. She asks if she had homework and I tell her no because there was no school Monday. Then I told her that Friday she would have to take pictures of things that begin with “S”, like sssssssnake. I was promptly corrected by Hopie with “S as in SSSSSavior”. Silly Mama! I appreciated the great reminder to keep my mind on Christ. Any parent who has had a Sparky (Awana) would identify with this conversation because they cover this in their handbook. S is for Savior (1 John 4:14 “the Father has sent His Son to the Savior of the world). I am so thankful that He has hidden His Word in Hopie’s heart. And yes, she will be taking a picture of her Savior, Jesus, to school on Friday!

Psalm 8:2 “From the mouth of babes You have established strength

Taking In God's Creation

We are so thankful for a great God who created such beauty on earth. We enjoyed a beautiful day of the sea breeze on our faces, as kisses from God. We enjoyed friendships that bind our lives together. Laughing at the antics of both children & parents that brought joy to our hearts. Don't be fooled, there was the occasional disobedience as well! We are thankful for a gracious God, as our children are thankful for gracious parents as well. On our travels home the van was filled with "thank you Papa & Mama for taking us to the beach". What joy it brings to be thanked. So this is a "shout out" of thanks to our awesome Creator who filled that sea with water (that fits in the palm of His hand), the waters with creatures (of such beauty and intrigue), the shore with sand (that is innumerable to us), and who gave us lives that we may enjoy His creation and bring Him glory. May our lives bring You all the glory You so greatly deserve.
Psalm 150:6
"Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!"