Thursday, April 15, 2010

Virginia Beach Aquarium


We had such a full day today, but SO MUCH FUN!! We went with our homeschool group (100 of us) down to the VA Beach Aquarium. I hadn't taken the boys in over 9 years when we first moved to the area. It has been majorly renovated and we had a blast!! We got to hang out and tour the Aquarium with our great friends, The Brittan's. Caleb had the privilege of being my photographer, so all of the pictures of the animals were taken by him. I was pretty impressed with his photography!! I thought all the cousins would love to see these neat & awesome pictures of God's creation. He took over 100 pictures, but don't worry I won't post that many. All the pictures that he is in, obviously I took.




Love this shot he took of the seal in action!!






Lauren, Josh, Jonathan, Caleb, Benjamin, and Jacob. This was the coolest "mirror" tunnel!!








Sea Turtle.


Crazy shot!!



JAWS!






The Jungle.




Some type of Crock.




The boys being silly, I think they were sick of taking pictures.








Caleb's favorite, the Kimono dragon.







The outdoor marshy swamp.













Seahorses.




"Puffer" fish. Lauren liked these.




Cool picture of the crabs in their holes. The kids also loved petting the sting rays. Lauren wasn't sure at first, but then we had to go back again to pet them before we left.

Let's Play Ball

The other night while I was cooking dinner, Josh and Lauren were out back. Little did I know he was teaching her how to hit a ball. It was too cute!! I had to get my camera and take this precious brother/sister moment!! Lauren was really getting some hits, thanks to her brother's coaching!! Shaun's already talking about getting her on a softball team. I think we'll stick to ballet, if it's up to me. I guess we'll see what she wants to do as she gets older.






This is Caleb's second year playing in the Major's and on the Cardinals. This year he has been starting and playing first base. The night started out great and ended with it pouring down rain!! I wish I would've gotten a picture of the two double-hits he got, but it started to rain.



And Mimi, the under armor has come in handy, thanks!!

Saturday, April 10, 2010

Coastal Community Church


I had to post some new pictures of an almost finished project, our church building. We are only a few weeks away from being done but then we have to wait for the certificate of occupancy. We have the landscaping done and the road paved. Outside is almost done.




Worship area still needs some work.



Office side of the building is almost done just waiting for furniture.



Kid's Praise area.


The other part of the Kid's Praise area.

Please pray that this tool God has blessed us with will reach many for His Kingdom!!

Sunday, April 4, 2010

March & April 2010

My Three Beautiful Children


Happy Resurrection Day!! We had an awesome time of worship today!! Lauren was in adult worship for the first service and her most favorite worship song was sung,"Mighty to Save". It was a beautiful sunny day which is so symbolic of celebrating Christ's Resurrection!! Thank you Jesus for the Cross and Your sacrifice for each of us!! I haven't blogged in a while, so sorry this will be long!! I usually don't write too much, but this is our journey and I want my kid's to remember and me as well, so there is a lot I want to write. A lot has gone on this past month as you'll see in the pictures below. Some photos are just random ones. I am so thankful to the Lord for so many things, and the picture above of my little ones is what I want to write about. They are each so different and so special!! I thank God for each of them!! There are days where it is so hard raising kids, exhausting and draining at times. But praise God for the small glimpses into their lives that awe me and inspire me to not give up as a Mom!! It hasn't been the easiest year and a half since I started homeschooling. I don't know how long I will continue, but I have seen so many rewards lately!! God has truly been working in their hearts!! Josh has grown so much in his faith!! Both Josh and Caleb have been witnessing to kids so much!! I have to share this neat little story. There was a boy from Josh's baseball team that came over to play and while they were on the trampoline, they asked him if he knew Jesus. They talked about what it meant to be a follower of Christ and prayed a prayer with him to receive Jesus into his heart. They didn't run in and tell me right then and there, but they told me later after he left. Wow, I thought, they are more brave to share their faith sometimes then I am to share my faith. It has been cool to hear Caleb share a Bible verse with Josh while I was in another room, they didn't even know I was listening in. And to hear them share things about God with Lauren is even more precious. Lauren has been asking so many questions about heaven and Jesus, which as been so sweet. Thank you Lord for these times!! Now, it's not always this way. There are days where there is fighting, time-outs and all that fun stuff, but I guess God knows what we need and He blessed me during those precious moments!!




Lauren still using this wagon that Mimi found for her (in someones garbage pile) the week she was born. Toby still lets her baby him. Lauren has grown so much as well. She is a little artist and dancer!! I can't believe she is almost 4!!


This was our homeschool Easter party. We had the coolest missionary share his ministry. He goes to countries where people have never heard the name Jesus and tells them Bible stories in a really cool and exciting way. God has used him to reach people groups who are starting churches in places where they can be put to death if they believe in Jesus!!



Josh got to dress up in some of the clothing he used while in some country. He has been to 5 continents, and 25 countries. My boys loved it and were ready to go on a Missions trip after his presentation.



Josh's travel baseball team, "61's"! He's become quite the pitcher!!



Lauren sporting my shades.




WinterJam


Josh, Logan & Caleb. We got to sit very close to the stage, thanks to a family in our church who gave us VIP passes to WinterJam. The boys brought their buddy Logan, from our neighborhood. We all had a blast watching Kutless, Sidewalk Prophets, Tenth Avenue North, and Newsboys!!




These balloons were huge!!



Kutless



Love to see the drummer praising the Lord!! He was awesome!!




Not sure if this video works, but I took this of Kutless changing up an old hymn "It is Well", love this one!!