Easter 2013

This year it was just our little Boone family, party of five here on Easter. It turned out to be wonderfully wonderful and we had a great day.
I was so exciting to see the kiddos catching on to the miracle of Easter and what we really celebrate every day in our Christian walk ...
He died, that we might live.
He mightily saved us from death, gracing us with eternal life.
He thought of us above all.
For God so loved the world.
What love is this?
Oh! Amazing love.
Saturday we went to an Easter Egg Hunt on the High School football field. Picture a gazillion eggs, but five gazillion children. And freezing temperatures. And teenagers from the history club trying to lead "the chicken dance" for toddlers who were throwing tantrums one right after the other waiting to fill their baskets
with no interest in said chicken dance (does anyone have any interest in the chicken dance? No? That's what I thought.)




After they blew the whistle the five gazillion kids darted onto the field getting their 2-4 eggs per person. And it was over in like 45 seconds. Kinda wanted my money back.
It did turn out to be a pretty day so we played all day at the park which was lovely.
Aaron went out that night to fill Easter baskets ... He said I always get to do the "fun stuff" and he wanted a turn (made me laugh). I've never seen more candy in my life. Wish I would have taken a pic, he did a great job. :)
Easter morning we woke up a little late (shocker) and so Easter baskets were eaten thru in the car in attempt to spoil their cute outfits. Good thing I snapped a pic early on!




Love these lambies!
Our series at church the last few weeks preceding Easter were about Epic Fails prepping us for a fabulous sermon on the Epic Win we have in Christ.
We are so, so blessed.
Dalton and Sawyer sang in big church that morning. Cutest, cutest thing.
We went to brunch at The Cellar in Owego, NY with the Knoxesband Noordhoek's; the food was oh-so-delish and the company was delightful. See ...












The rest of the day included looonggg naps and watching The Bible mini-series.
So thankful He rose! Thank you Jesus! Hurry back!
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Location:Owego, NY

Memorial Day Weekend

Well, hey.
It was a fun Pennsylvanian Memorial Day weekend. We played, we ate, we visited and then we ate some more. It was hard to not be with the fam at the lake as we usually are ... but we had fun nevertheless.

Saturday I sent Aaron and the childrens out of the house so that I could clean. I almost enjoy cleaning when there aren't juice cups to be filled, diapers to be changed and little hands undoing all my hard work. I opened all the doors and windows and turned all the TVs to the one of the music channels to clean my heart out.
While cleaning I peeked out the window to see these beauties:

Are. You. Kidding. Me?!?!? Peonies in my front yard?!?! They are growing all around our town like dandelions, I kid you not. It's fabulous. The whole town is just covered up in some of the most beautiful flowers I've ever seen, but these peonies are my very, very favorite flower. Love, love.

While I was busy trying to make-out with the plant life, Aaron took the wee babes to Farmland.





They heart Farmland.

Saturday night Aaron and I went to a church event that the Wesleyan Church put on (where Avery attends pre-school & we've been meaning to visit). It was a "Regressive Dinner" at three families homes (Think backwards Progressive Dinner ... we started with dessert).
I'm not gonna lie ... being the new girl sucks. I honestly think it's my first time being the new girl in my whole life. I switched to PA (Pulaski Academy) in seventh grade, but I practically knew half the grade from church. And then when I went up to the U of A it was pretty much PA's 13th grade ... especially in the greek circles. So, this was just a whole new deal. Definitely felt out of my comfort zone, but by the end of the night I was glad we went; we met some really nice peeps.

Pennsylvania started to overheat this weekend ... we're talking 91 degrees. Did I mention we don't have AC? We have a window unit that was totally fine until this weekend. Most of our windows are old-timey crank windows that really can't even accomodate window units ... so it was warm. No, no, no. It was HOT. Thank GOODNESS for the basement which stays MUCH cooler. As well as the Master BR because of the AC in there ... but wowzers. Please pray for my fam ... I get cranky when I'm hot. Um. that's actually a very kind description of my over-heated-self ... Yikes. :/
Aaron went and got the kiddies a little pool to play in in the back yard that was QUITE the hit after church on Sunday.
The babes were FREEZING since the water was so cold, but they still played and played and played. I never have understood how kids can swim in so much colder water than adults.








They're the cutest.

After the men grilled out quite a feast the women and kiddos went home for naps as the men left for a round of golf. Ahhhh .... Delightful.

Then ... a BONUS weekend day for Memorial Day. SOMEHOW, I'm really not in any way sure how this happened, but the kids talked us into going BACK to Farmland. We haven't found any outdoor pools in town yet, but that is first on my agenda for the weekend. Sister needs some sun.

I sent this pic to my mom and sisters (we "chat" all day everyday via group text pretending we still live close)
to show my excitement about heading to Farmland as opposed to Lake Ouachita.
I was so, so happy.
Clearly.


It turned out to be a fun time.

After lonnngggg naps we headed over to the Hurst house for slip 'n slides, more grilling, and a fun time all around.







The Sweet Knox's

It was a fun weekend playing and eating and enjoying time with friends. I know it's not just another day. Not just another holiday. I'm so thankful for the brave men and women who have defended our country so we can have so many of the freedoms we do today. I still tear up saying the pledge of allegiance sometimes. It's an amazing, amazing gift that we've been given that I'll never take lightly. Thank you.

"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world." John 16:33

Mamas.

Most of my favorite people are mamas. They just tend to make the very best friends. After many years of putting themselves last, they usually grow to be quite selfless. They make great encouragers, as that's pretty much a job requirement in the mom field. They are excellent secret keepers, amazing cheerleaders, and soft shoulders to cry on. Mothers hearts just seem to be a little more tender, and I love that.
Growing up I had the best mom ever. No, really. She made everything special; she loved us unconditionally and just made life fun. She was an awesome "girl mom." She loved doing girly things with us and made major sacrifices to make sure we never went without anything. She's the best friend a girl can have, which is why more than one person count her as theirs. My sisters and I all blow up her phone multiple times a day for advice, love, or laughs. She's amazing. And I can't imagine living life without her.





Her silence can correct me without a lecture, her wisdom embodies every aspect of the Proverbs 31 woman, and her loving friendship is invaluable to me. She has set the bar so high.





Almost five years ago, God let me share the same privilege that I'm sure most women esteem in their hearts as their deepest pride and greatest joy: motherhood.





It is indescribably hard, but incomprehensibly gratifying. I daily praise the Lord for my three precious blessings. It has helped shape me into almost an entirely different person. It has taught me so much about God's love and sacrifice in a way my simple mind can understand. It's a lifelong course written just for me on some of God's most complexing attributes: I love knowing that God always sees the best in us, even when we're at our worst. I love that there is truly nothing I can do or not do that will make Him love me any more or less. I love that He has great plans and hopes for me. I love that He delights in me. I love that He would do anything for me. I love knowing that He is jealous for my attention and time.
Avery, Dalton and Sawyer have made me love Jesus in a whole new way. I've heard people say that once you become a mother you end up with your heart living outside your body, so much more vulnerable. It's is terrifying thing. I have written pages and pages in my journals and prayed for probably hours and hours for God's protection of these people that hold my whole heart in their little beings. I would do anything for their sweet selves and I only see the best in them... Even when they're in a funk that has lasted 3 months. Even when they pour out an entire jug of chocolate milk on the floor, and even though they manage to spill out half of the bath water on a nightly basis.
It makes me love them no less or want anything less than the best for them.
They are my treasures.





"If these are the treasures afforded sinful man, what must God have in store for those whose hearts are His?" -Augustine



I love pictures.

Clearly.
So I just want to post (and re-post) some of my very favorite of the wee babes.





















































































I have loved celebrating the humbling and blessed GIFT of being "Mommy" to Avery, Dalton, and Sawyer today. I just love them with my whole, whole heart.
I tried to get a picture with my littles, but as mothers know ... This is quite the challenge. Add in the fact that we are all high on Benadryl and swollen from having terrible allergies and I threw in the towel after only a few shots.
Nevertheless, it was a wonderful day! Thankyou Aaron, Avery, Dalton, and Sawyer for always making me feel loved and special!!





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Easter in the Boonies

Happy, Happy Easter!
It is an amazing gift that we get to celebrate the Cross and the Empty Tomb showing our Savior is not dead, but ALIVE! The power of the Cross is so powerful and exciting that I scarce have words. Thank you Lord for worship songs that sometimes help me to verbalize everything I want to say. I love most contemporary Christian songs, but there are a couple songs that are so special to me I can tear up just thinking about them. I can hear the first opening notes and have to change the station if I'm driving for fear I'll get some sort of D.U.I. (the Influence of the Holy Spirit in these songs just brings me to MAJOR tears!!) One is The Revelation Song and the other is In Christ Alone. Worship music is just incredibly emotional, personal, and spiritual to me and these songs just bring it to another level.
Here are the lyrics to In Christ Alone ... Love, love.


In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm

What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand

In Christ alone, who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless Babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save

?Til on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live, I live

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again

And as He stands in victory
Sin?s curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From a life?s first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny

No power of hell, no scheme of man
Could ever pluck me from His hand.
Til He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I stand.

I will stand, I will stand
All other ground is sinking sand
All other ground, all other ground
Is sinking sand, is sinking sand
So I stand.


This was our first holiday away from family (of course, Maw and Bobo were here to bring the fam to us! Thank you Lord!!) and so we celebrated Easter with Home Church in our home and everyone ate lunch with us.
We woke up this morning to see that the Easter Bunny had made a stop to see the Boone kids!

























After everyone got here this morning Lynda, Bobo and I took the kiddos downstairs to do our own little version of Sunday school. I picked up the Resurrection Eggs at Hobby Lobby and was thrilled to see when I opened them up they were by Family Life in Little Rock, Arkansas! I love any little homey reminders.
The kids did great and loved the eggs. They colored their little Easter bookmarks and were good listeners. I think a fav was playing some songs for dancing and singing though!




















After church I went upstairs to finish lunch while Aaron led a fun Egg Hunt which was a big hit - and provided QUITE the sugar rush.


























































































Love this sweet pic of Emily and Isaiah!





It was TRULY an Easter miracle that the weather warmed up enough for lunch outside. I had ordered some tables and chairs a couple weeks ago when weather was in the 70's-80's. But then, the weather dropped to averages in the 40's-50's ... A wee bit chilly for an outside meal. We prayed and prayed and prayed for warmer temps and God totally answered us!! Thank you LORD for sending us sunshine and 60 degrees!



































This was my first Holiday to do the bulk of the meal, so I chose the easiest menu I could! Emily brought a ham and Lisa brought The Pioneer Woman's Strawberry Shortcake Cake which could very possibly be the best thing I've ever eaten. I've already have had two pieces and fully intend on eating a third before the day is through. Oh, didn't you know, Easter calories don't count!
For lunch I made a few pork tenderloins, cheese grits, "unbundled" green beans, deviled eggs, yeast rolls (no Sister Schubert up here ... Booo Hooo!!!) and a cranberry-apple salad. I had planned on making some little birdie nest cupcakes but it just didn't happen. And now that I've seen all the sugar consumed, I'm pretty happy about that!

























**Please note that Avery is wearing a dress I wore as a child. Proof that clothes are an investment.













































After lunch we napped, blogged, and played outside while Aaron and Dalton headed out with the men to play golf.















And I would be remiss without telling Miss Maci Rowlett HAPPY 7th BIRTHDAY- We love you oodles!! And to post a couple of pics of my fam at home celebrating Easter ... Miss them more than words. Funny how you take for granted things like driving over to Mom's for lunch ... Tear.




















Love all my people ... In Arkansas and Pennsylvania.
Because He lives we celebrate this day! Happy Easter from the Boonies!!
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Location:Sayre, PA