Hello my friends, it's been awhile..........
We celebrated a nice Easter last weekend. We attended my old church, went out to breakfast, and then drove to Kyle's parents to spend the rest of the day and have dinner with some aunts/uncles. Ilsa was able to wear her beautiful new easter dress that Kyle's mom made her (pics to come when I download them :) ).
We've had a pretty busy work week with Kyle working like normal and me working 5 out of 7 days. I'm sooo not cut out for this 5 days a week business anymore.....eye roll, I know! Friday night and Saturday most of the day I attended a conference at a church in town here ....Kay Arthur was the speaker.......I was deeply convicted to get my nose in my bible more.... Quote: "How many books are in the bible? 66. How many does God want us to know? 66. How many do you know?". Ugh. Saturday night we went to a get together with friends in honor of our friend Sou who was in town visiting. Sou was my discipler when I first came to Rochester, my friend for the last 7 years, and sang in our wedding......Ilsa was very fond of her :) We had such a nice time getting out and hanging with some good friends! This morning we went to church, out to breakfast at a new cafe, and then I went to work :( I work tomorrow yet but then have 9 days off. Woo hoo! I plan to spend lots of time snuggling and playing with Ilsa and maybe getting some housework and projects done along the way :)
I'm 80% done making a valance for Ilsa's room....then the nursery will be done! I'd also like to get some soap, lotion, and cards made........we'll see :)
We're starting to talk about and plan our fall vacation. We have 3 weeks off in September (yes, 21 glorious days) and at this point we're planning on driving out to Yellowstone/ Glacier area. We think we'll pass through my parents, my mom's, and then out there and then maybe come back a different way stopping at interesting points. Any recommendations on camping, things to see, places to stay in that area??? I'm afraid of bear attacks after watching an episode of 'I shouldn't be alive' ........ eek.
Ilsa is doing great! She's 7 months old now. She weighed 15.5 pounds at her 6 month visit so is getting big! She's got two bottom front teeth. She can sit up pretty well with only occasional topples. She starting to get up on hands and feet and hands and knees and can somehow get wherever she wants to go. She enjoys her giraffe teether, johnny jump up, exersaucer, and stroller rides....she also really loves watching other people and especially other kids. We took her to the church nursery for the first time today ( I'm happy to report that we all survived) and she loved the activity. We don't have another hip check up until she is one so we won't know much else until then. I just keep praying that the harness worked and she won't need anything else-- I can't bear the thought of ..........blah, not even going to say it.
Godstop:
Easter always makes me joyful :) Christ is risen! Because Christ rose and overcame death.........because he took our sins on himself and died for them, paying the price, clearing our names........we can expect that death will not be the end for us either. For those of us who believe, we will come into the presence of God after we die, our earthly woes over, an eternity to worship him..............I want you there with me my dear ones :) Hell seems like a scary alternative.
I heard on the radio once, that knowing the truth of the gospel and not sharing with people is like having the cure to cancer and not telling anyone.
I love each of you and I can't bear to think that one of you might not go to heaven because I was too afraid to tell you what I know to be true. I never want to push anyone away and I know that everyone has their own reason for not having faith in God. If I can ever help answer any of those questions or guide you in the right direction, you know where to find me.
Here it is friends:
We are all sinful. NOT ONE OF US IS WITHOUT SIN. Because God is perfectly just, he cannot allow sin to go unpunished. The punishment for sin is death. We should all be put to death for our sins. Because God loved us sooooo much, He sent his son Jesus Christ to earth. He lived among us and faced the same trials we do.....but did so without sinning. Jesus supernaturally took all the sins of the world on himself. He was humiliated, tortured, and crucified for us....a bunch of sinners....because he loved us. When he died, the penalty for our past, present, and future sins was paid. Paid in full! When he was on earth, he told us to repent of our sins, follow him....and that he would prepare a place for us in the place where he was going (heaven). So friends, if you know that you believe what you just read and that you want to have a relationship with the Jesus that died so that you can live an abundant, free life............pray this prayer out loud:
Heavenly Father, in Jesus' name I repent of my sins and open my heart to let Jesus come inside of me.
Jesus, You are my Lord and Savior. I believe you died for my sins and you were raised from the dead.
Fill me with your Holy Spirit. Thank You Father for saving me in Jesus' name. Amen.
If you said that prayer for the first time, welcome to the family precious one :) You are a new creation in Christ- congrats!
Don't stop there.....start reading the bible. Get an new american standard version or new international version bible and start with the book of John.
You can go here and they will send you free info on what to do next:
http://www.backtothebible.org/Indexes/index.php?option=com_mosforms&Itemid=180
Or if you feel comfortable you can always come to me with questions :)
