Some of you may have received an email about this already but for those who didn't. Please, please pray. Our neighbor's young son, Caleb 8, passed away last night due to a brain aneurysm. I cannot even imagine what his family is going through. Please pray that God will be with them through this horrible time. Thanks.

Love and Acceptance

As most of you are aware, my Mom has been coming to Church periodically. This in itself is mind boggling...to me. You see, she was raised in a very strict Catholic home. I was then raised in a not-so-strict, but Catholic, home. Everyone in my Mom's family is Catholic, that's just how it is...and anything else is unheard of. Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong (in my eyes) with being Catholic. It's just that most people I know of that religion aren't "practicing." Now my Grandmother, she is Catholic through and through and I know I will see that lady in heaven. But, she is the exception in my family. Anyway, my Mom didn't truly find the Lord in any Church. She was by herself in her own home. Very cool. My point? She has opened her mind to other possibilities, obviously, or she sure wouldn't be coming to our Church. And now...she has been inviting others to our Church as well. My Mom owns her own business. She has investment properties, remodels and repairs houses. Yes, she actually does the work...along with her "crew." Her "crew" consists of Angie (who brought her boyfriend to Church a couple of weeks ago) and some really, really rough guys. They are great guys, they have just really had a rough way to go...never being shown love and acceptance. This is something we take for granted. We think we are having a bad day when our hair doesn't look quite right or we have a headache or, heaven forbid, someone hurt our feelings. Most of us don't know what a bad day is. These are people that never had parents that even cared about them...Alcoholic or drug addicted parents...so consumed in their habits and themselves to be there for their kids. I can't imagine not caring if my small (or big for that matter) kids were home or not...not caring who they were with...not caring what they were doing...allowing them out of their own guilt to drink and do drugs........I won't pretend to know what that is like but, from what Mom says, these are descriptions of the homes her "crew" came from. They aren't used to hearing kind words or encouragement of any kind. They are used to hearing how worthless they are. She has been witnessing to them on daily basis, not preaching at them, but witnessing...through her actions. She has been trying to show them that there are actually people out there that will care about them, that will love and accept them as they are. This concept just doesn't seem possible to them...they don't know anything other than how they have lived until now. I could go on and on about how, in little ways, God is showing himself to these guys through my Mom every day. Finally, they have agreed to come to Church on Sunday. Hopefully the "punk" :) doesn't swoop in and keep this from happening. But, if you see that my Mom has a bunch of guys with her on Sunday...PLEASE...help me show them love and acceptance.

Chase and his Papaw

Chase had a basketball game tonight and he score 12 points!!! I was one proud Momma! He did so good but most importantly, he has so much fun when he is playing. We didn't think anyone else was coming to the game (besides me and Bren) but his Papaw showed up unexpectedly, which made Chase happy...This little guy thinks alot of his Papaw! You're a great Papaw, Dad Roberts. We love you and appreciate you more than you know.

Chase had his fist basketball game of the season tonight. He was too cute. He kept looking over at us (me, Bren, Papaw & Nana) just a smiling and waving. He scored two baskets and he was so proud!

Bren has asked to do something too so she will start gymnastics in a couple of weeks. I can't wait to see her in her little leotard!

My babies are getting too big. Chase starts kindergarten and Bren turns four in August...I can't hardly believe it.

My babies aren't babies any more! :(

Everybody's doin it...

Okay...I'm gonna be a follower...against my better judgement:)

I LOVE my family (I guess that one's a given.)

I love to play euchre.

I like to cook.

I hate doing laundry.

I used to be in Childrens Theatre and the Indianapolis Children's Choir.

I was a 10 year 4-H member (I showed sheep and pigs.)

I was voted worst driver and best laugh in my Senior Class.

Jonathan was my boyfriend in fifth grade.

I like Celtic music and Irish dancing (watching, not doing.)

When I was little, I was a biter and a tattle-tale (my only defense, my siblings loved to pick on me:)

I used to suck my first two fingers (okay, until I was in third grade...or fourth:)

I love gummy worms and chewy sweet tarts.

I would eat Subway every day of my life, if I could.

My favorite show of all time is Little House on the Prairie...I've seen every episode at least five times and I still cry at the end of each one.

I love to have nothing to do although that doesn't happen very often.

I can wiggle my ears and curl my tongue (three curls, actually.)

I love to laugh.

My mind is blank...that's it for now.

Chase

This little (big) guy is so funny. He says the funniest things. Jess sent us some pictures of Ella today. Chase said "Mom it breaks my heart that she is so cute" and "I just can't stand it." He is such a tender hearted kid. Anyway, hope everyone has a happy Easter!

MY MAN

I talk a lot about my kids so today I thought I would talk about my hubby. I love Jonathan so much. We have been married for 6 1/2 years and I love him more and more every day. A lot of people don't know Jonathan (I mean really know him.) He is the best husband, the best father and just plain best person I know. He may want you to think otherwise, but Jonathan LOVE's people. He genuinely cares about people and what they are going through. He is very sensitive. He does not like to hurt people and he absolutely hates the idea of someone being (even mildly) upset with him. He is a people pleaser (much like myself.) He goes out of his way to make sure other people are happy and taken care of before looking at himself. He thinks he is not good enough (at anything) when he is the most talented person I know (yes, I know that I am a bit partial:) He tends to keep his heart guarded as he carries around a lot of hurt and baggage (although the Lord, I know, will deliver him from this.) He loves his wife and kids. He hates his job with a passion but he sticks with it (because he loves his wife and kids) and he puts our needs above his own. He has big dreams, although, I don't think he believes enough in himself to think they will ever come true. My point? Jonathan, I love you, more than you will ever know. You are a truly amazing person and you are way too hard on yourself. The kids and I are so blessed to have someone like you in our lives. Some day, your dreams will come true. I truly believe that. Just hang in there...the Lord is going to do some amazing things in our lives...we just have to trust him.

Our Church

I love our Church. I think we have a wonderful group of people that I can actually call my family. It is wonderful to see our people reaching out to new families and to each other. We have wonderful Pastors, a wonderful leadership team, a wonderful praise and worship team, and just plain wonderful people. I am blessed to be a part of CFC.

So thankful...

I have not been where I need to be (in God) for a long time and this was my fault. Jonathan and I have been through so much in the last year or so. Battle after battle after battle. I felt discouraged and stuck. It is so easy to get caught up in our circumstances and before you know it, your whole outlook has changed. I just realized yesterday that I can't change our situations. Worrying about them sure didn't help. I don't want to just "deal" with whatever life has to throw at us. I want to be strong enough to have faith and truly believe that God can make a way for us where we don't see one. Yesterday I was reminded of how good God has been to me and how I have taken it for granted. I used to be so sensitive to the Holy Spirit. I remember when there wasn't a single Church service that I didn't feel God's presence and cry and cry. When I first was saved I remember thinking...How could anyone that has ever been touched like this turn away from it? Now I know cause I have been there. I never intended to turn away from God. I just got so wrapped up in everything we had been going through that I slipped farther and farther away. It got to the point that when I went to Church and the Spirit was flowing, I felt nothing. God could have been standing right next to me and I wouldn't have even known it. I had allowed my heart to grow cold. For the first time in a very long time (yesterday morning) I felt the Lord. It was as if he just wrapped his arms around me and said "I'm still here." How amazing is that? I didn't deserve another chance and the crazy thing is that I didn't even ask for one. He just showed up at a time when I had already given up. And then last night...wow!!! Church was amazing. God moved for so many and it was awesome. I had that hunger back. I wanted to pray and believe for others. I wanted to praise and worship God like he deserves for me to. I am so thankful for what the Lord has done for me. Have my circumstances changed? No. (Not YET.)...But now I realize that no matter what I might be going through, God wants to be there for me and if I will just stay strong and put my trust in him...I KNOW that things will change for the good.