Growing up!

Just a quick update on our lives...

The Lord has opened a few doors lately and we are pursuing where He would have us serve. This next month will be a busy one for us, but we hope that we will know soon in which direction we are headed. We feel like this last year has been a great time of seasoning and preparations for ministry. We still don't know where we will be or what exactly what we will be doing. (church planting or becoming the pastor of an existing church) We truly covet your prayers during this time. We have had a lot of transition over the last 5 and 1/2 years, and we are ready to settle in and plant some roots. Below are some fun pictures of the kids. They've done a lot of growing in this last year as well!

Easter 2009

Here are out photos from Easter this year. We went to service Sunday morning, to Davin's grandparents for lunch, and then we had dinner at my parents house. It was a great day!

The day before Easter 2009

Easter has not been one of the holidays that we were home for in the past. So, it was great this year to be near family. We just relaxed and enjoyed the weekend. These pictures are out of order...sorry about that. We went on Saturday morning to New Victoria Baptist Church for an Easter egg hunt. After the hunt we ate lunch at Five Guys and Fries and then the boys went for a haircut and the girls went for a manicure/pedicure. Above is Hudson having his hair done...just a trim!

We knew this day was coming above Naomi is sitting with Mimi having her toes and nails done. She loved soaking her feet! She sat so still the whole time and let them paint her toes and nails. They even painted little flowers on her big toes and thumbs. What a treat!
Enjoying some Five Guys! Check out the ketchup mustache! Do your kids eat ketchup on everything, too????

Family shot at the egg hunt. This is the only family shot we got this Easter. For some reason they never turn out anyway.


My parent's brought Chandler down to hunt eggs too! Isn't he a cutie??? He knew exactly what to do. In fact, my dad was having to hold him back. He wanted to run and pick up all the eggs before the hunt started.
My little helper...

Before the egg hunt I needed to iron a shirt. Naomi saw me and she pulled out her ironing board, too. Every time I would pick the shirt up I was ironing and move it, she would do the same with hers. After we were done she said, "Thank you for ironing with me." Does it get any sweeter than that?!

Just a quick update on what I've been up to. I've had several opportunities to paint recently, and I've been very grateful for the work. It is such a fun way to add a little extra income to our family. This picture below is a present I'm working on for my mom. Her and my dad just recently bought a new house. I offered to paint the playroom for all the grandchildren. This is the first part of the mural. I will paint several other little scenes around the room, and then add a few verses from Psalms 127 around the top of the room. This next picture was from a painting I did last week. They wanted something creative to fill the space over their fireplace and above where the TV will sit. You can see the black wall mount where the TV goes. This by far is the highest up I've been to paint a mural. I was a little nervous, but it was easier than I thought.
I worked with Sarah Hayes on this one. She does interior design work. So if you live in the area and are interested in hiring her for your next project, I can get you her number!
Okay, so I took a break from making bread for a while. Then recently I discovered that I could make my favorite whole wheat bread recipe in the bread machine. If you have ever tried to make your own loaf of bread from scratch then you know how exciting this was for me! Here is a picture of my bread. We are still getting used to how dense the bread is. It really fills you up, but sometimes we miss how light and airy store bought bread can be.

Easter party at school

On Thursday of last week, Hudson had his Easter party at school. He attends Wee School at our church First Baptist Woodstock. I have to say that the Preschool department does an amazing job. They turned the indoor playground into several scenes from the life of Jesus. They called it "Walk where Jesus walked" They have different stops along the way with people dressed up telling Bible stories and reenacting the life and times of Jesus. Here is the picture I took in the "market place".
Hudson's teacher is Ms. Taylor (she's the one with bunny ears) She does an amazing job and Hudson loves her.
Here is Hudson with his Easter basket. I didn't get any shots of the egg hunt, and my camera battery died while we were walking where Jesus walked.
The class also dyed eggs. I was nervous, but the kids did great and no one walked away messy. Naomi also got to participate as well. She tells me that she wants to go to school, too. Maybe in another year.
Look at the excitement on his face. He can't wait to dye eggs!
Whew! Well I think I am finally caught up on all our recent activities. There are several more new posts so keep scrolling down. Sorry they are all at once like this.

Big Canoe

My sister Amy and her husband Larry invited us up to spend the weekend with them in Big Canoe. It was an incredible little get-away. Amy and Larry took such good care of us. Here is Naomi sitting on the edge of the tub helping Auntie Amy give the boys a bath.
We went down to the pool. All the boys jumped right in. Naomi told me on the way that she just wanted to put her feet in. Here she is relaxing in a pool chair. This could be a very real sign of what is to come!
Here the boys are playing.

Eating lunch. Look at those happy faces!
Chilling with sippy cups and watching some TV.
Hudson's first time sleeping in a bunk-bed. He was very excited.
All three of the kids slept in the downstairs playroom together!!!!
This was such a fun trip! Thanks Amy and Larry.

Have to share...

Mimi thinks we took her paci away too soon...maybe so!One thing we have really enjoyed is being close to family. Hudson was making play-dough people the other day, and he made a boy, a girl, and a cousin.
Hudson's cousin Chandler came and spent the day with us a while back. Here they are enjoying some homemade lemonade popsicles.

Good Friends...Good Food

We met up with our very dear friends the Martin's a couple of weeks ago at Cracker barrel. It was so much fun to hang out, enjoy a good meal, and catch up on all that has been going on. We met half way in Newnan and wondered why we hadn't done that sooner! I didn't get very many pictures but here is one of Davin and Justin hanging out on the front porch of Cracker barrel.Here are the kids...all but Elizabeth. What a joy to get to meet(and hold) their newest addition before they move overseas!
I didn't get a photo of me and Chandra...maybe she'll send me the one she took of us. hint hint:)