{ Celebration }

{Our Little Monkey }

Easter weekend was beautiful

Sunshine
Warm
Time spent outside
.... and
Our little boy
Turned 6 months old
Oliver, how did that happen?
Half a year seems so big!
6 months on your very first Easter
So special!

Saturday morning we went to the big Easter egg hunt at a nearby park.

{ Walking home with friends }

{ Happy Family }

{ My goodness, you're handsome! }

{ First Easter Basket }

{ You're all about toys right now }

{ We LOVE you so much }

{ You're not much of a snuggler when you're awake, ... too busy, so we soak it up while you sleep }

{ Easter morning at church }

Hope your Easter was beautiful!
He is risen INDEED!

{ A Special Visit }

April has flown by, but before it goes away completely I'm throwing down the anchor to capture a little of the story this month has told, to return soon, I hope, with more.

Last week my mom and I were able to take a few days and steal away for some girls time to Western Washington to visit my sister and Oliver's Auntie B and my aunt and her family.

Two days before we were supposed to leave, I came down with mastitis again, which left me unsure I would even be able to go. I had to lay down my ability to prepare, pack or clean everything up the way I wanted before heading out, but I see that now as a blessing. I am slowly learning the art of sloooowing down! Miracle healing late Sunday night and I was ready to go Monday morning. Thank you Jesus!!

My mom came up the night before. Tim and I were grateful to take the opportunity to go out by ourselves for a quiet evening. We took a little drive on the country-est of country roads, and admired the emerald grass, and bright spring sun going down in gold. At one point I spotted a mallard and his mate, far from any pond happily heading across a green field, alone together, on a date, just like us. We ended the evening in a quiet bar sharing nachos and chatting happily.

It was my mom's birthday while we were there, so Bethany and I had put a little surprise party together for her. She was very blessed, as were we. Mat and Bethany also cooked us amazing meals. Seriously delicious!

{ Thoughts of Spring }

{Anne of Avonlea}

"We'll start off to the woods and spend a golden day making the acquaintance of the spring. We none of us really know her yet, but we'll meet her back there as we never can anywhere else. I want to explore all those fields and lonely places. I have a conviction that there are scores of beautiful nooks there that have never really been seen although they may have been looked at. We'll make friends with wind and sky and sun, and bring home the spring in our hearts."

~

"It seems to me that a pearl of a day like this, when the blossoms are out and winds don't know where to blow from next for sheer, crazy delight much be pretty near as good as heaven."

~

"How sweet you are singing, little bird. You are just putting the feelings of my heart into song ever so much better than I could myself."

~

"That is one good thing about this world... there are always sure to be more springs."

{ Quality Time }

Oliver and I spent this past weekend with my parents because Tim had to work. We sure missed him, but it was great just to spend time, at leisure, with them, with no shopping or errands that had to be done. One of the advantages of having them close by is that we gedt to see each other a lot. The disadvantage is that I don't often take the time to be intentional about it. It was great, therefore, to have this weekend set aside for quality time.


Oliver enjoyed discovering new things. This included tasting as much as possible. Grandpa had a great time giving him a tour of the yard.

{ First time to go to the park }


{ Yummy dessert my mom made... and so pretty! }

Saturday evening we all took a walk at the park along the river. On our wedding day, Tim and I had the majority of our pictures taken there. It was very nostalgic walking down there again. It was the first time since being married that I've gone back there. We walked down to the tree where these pictures were taken.

{ I had to get my picture there with Oliver. Maybe this picture can be titled "Cause and Effect" }

Consolation: My God the Rock in Whom I Take Refuge

Psalm 94

¹ The LORD is a God who avenges.
O God who avenges, shine forth.
² Rise up, Judge of the earth;
pay back to the proud what they deserve.
³ How long, LORD, will the wicked,
how long will the wicked be jubilant?

⁴ They pour out arrogant words;
all the evildoers are full of boasting.
⁵ They crush your people, LORD;
they oppress your inheritance.
⁶ They slay the widow and the foreigner;
they murder the fatherless.
⁷ They say, “The LORD does not see;
the God of Jacob takes no notice.”

⁸ Take notice, you senseless ones among the people;
you fools, when will you become wise?
⁹ Does he who fashioned the ear not hear?
Does he who formed the eye not see?
¹⁰ Does he who disciplines nations not punish?
Does he who teaches mankind lack knowledge?
¹¹ The LORD knows all human plans;
he knows that they are futile.

¹² Blessed is the one you discipline, LORD,
the one you teach from your law;
¹³ you grant them relief from days of trouble,
till a pit is dug for the wicked.
¹⁴ For the LORD will not reject his people;
he will never forsake his inheritance.
¹⁵ Judgment will again be founded on righteousness,
and all the upright in heart will follow it.

¹⁶ Who will rise up for me against the wicked?
Who will take a stand for me against evildoers?
¹⁷ Unless the LORD had given me help,
I would soon have dwelt in the silence of death.
¹⁸ When I said, “My foot is slipping,”
your unfailing love, LORD, supported me.
¹⁹ When anxiety was great within me,
your consolation brought me joy.

²⁰ Can a corrupt throne be allied with you—
a throne that brings on misery by its decrees?
²¹ The wicked band together against the righteous
and condemn the innocent to death.
²² But the LORD has become my fortress,
and my God the rock in whom I take refuge.
²³ He will repay them for their sins
and destroy them for their wickedness;
the LORD our God will destroy them.

{ Making Spring }

This little spot has been long neglected.
I've missed it. Life has been busy.
I know I am not the only one
who feels like the gray and rain is
going to last forever. With so much in my life to be
thankful for, however, I have been counting my blessings and
doing what I can to dispel the clouds.

I am helping decorate for a baby
shower this weekend. We are
making these flowers in orange... the mama's favorite color.
In fact, everything about her shower will be orange. Fun!

{SOURCE}

Because spring has been difficult to find,
I have been creating it as much as possible indoors.
Oliver and I ventured out for just a minute
yesterday to pick a sunny bouquet of daffodils and
grape hyacinth.

{ Our dining room }

In our breakfast nook we are making progress. Want to see?

{ We really had no idea how we were supposed to cut our bead board around the
windows. Lots of measuring maybe? Santa Christmas wrapping paper seemed
a lot easier. Here is Tim making a template. It worked great! }

{ Nailing: I learned something as a carpenter's daughter :) }

{This look tells me he was pleased to have conquered these lights! They went up last night. We were up until 10 pm playing with electricity.
Also, notice the paint. We weren't sure we liked these lights when we went to
bed last night, but this morning we did. It's a little early to judge anyway. We have
a long way to go. }

Last week Tim had a couple of long days, so I took
the opportunity to visit my parents overnight. It
was a wonderful time and included one day of 75 degrees
and a trip to the park. Oliver's first day to go to the park!
We will be without Tim this weekend as well, but we are
looking forward to spending more time with them.

My heart has been desiring more fellowship since
I moved to my new town after getting married.
I left behind a wonderful group of mentors and have
been praying that God would provide new ones.
Now that I am a wife and mother, I am so desirous
of the experience and wisdom of women who
have years behind them. Just today that prayer
was answered. God has provided a gold mine of
wonderful godly women. Today was my first morning
with them. I am excited to continue.

{ 18 From Forever }

Today we have been married for 18 months!

I love you, Tim. Now more than ever.