Today, I watched one of my dearest dearest friends bury her precious baby boy.  I can not even find words to express this week.  It literally takes my breath away. As I keep thinking about this week, I keep coming back to one thing.  I have seen the grace of God this week and it is truly amazing!  God has shown me (us) his power in using weak people.  Now, I could sit here all night and tell you all the reasons why she has been one of my best friends for almost 15 years--but what I have seen this week has  been God's sustaining grace.  His grace is sufficient takes on a whole new meaning.  He is enough! There has been joy--a joy that only God gives.  There has been peace-- a peace that only God gives. Many many prayers were answered this week.  This little boys death was not a surprise.  It is one that we have known was medically certain for months.  We have talked, prayed, and cried about it from every angle.  What a sweet gift to them that his funeral was held on Good Friday.  It is because of Good Friday and Easter Sunday that they have been able to face each day.  I can't help but sing, "Because He Lives, I Can Face Tomorrow".  God knows what it is like to bury a Son.  Because of Easter, he will protect our souls for all eternity. He has bought an eternity for us that is safe and secure where there is no more illness and no more tears.  When I left the hospital Tuesday night, I wanted to run up to everyone I saw and say "Do you know Jesus...Let me tell you what he did for my friends today."  Because they cling to him as their Lord and Savior, He has comforted them in ways that I can't describe.  All the while they have constantly been pointing their family and friends to Jesus. They know that this life is not all there is and that because of Jesus they will one day be reunited with their child. It has been an absolutely beautiful and absolutely heart breaking time.  Jesus is not their crutch to get through this life, He is their life.

EGGS!

Leigh had her class egg hunt today.  It was an absolutely beautiful day to spend some time outside.

Part of her class

I brought some eggs for Sam to have his own egg hunt.

On the hunt...

Graham could not possibly be any cuter!

Precious friends! These two make me laugh.  They talked NONSTOP in the car on the way there and back!  They must get that from their mothers!

Leigh helped her brother do a little digging.

Keeping up with 5 year olds is hard work!

Spring Break

Still haven't blogged about Christmas (guess it's too late now), friends coming in town, or a wedding, but I am going to skip ahead and do our spring break!  We did a lot of partying for the girls' birthdays, hanging out, and listening to Sam scream (he had bronchitis).  It was a nice "break" from the norm and we made some good memories!

Jake and Bec joined us for lunch at McCallisters while the big kids went to lunch with Honey.  Rebecca laughed at me because she said I would have never let the girls play on the floor.  True, True!

My mom gave both of the girls American Girl highchairs.  So, of course, we had to take Kit and Ruthie on a tea party and try them out!

This picture cracks me up--the bunny and my kids look like they are miserable!

Sam on the floor again!

We had the most fun at the children's museum.  We went early and it was not very crowded!  We had to pose for a Team Andrew picture!

Then I got to relax and sip on tea while...

Sam did the dishes...

and Leigh did the laundry!  It was such a nice break!

Painting bird houses

The weather was perfect most of the week, so we had a lot of fun playing outside.

We went for the annual egg painting.  This is one of my favorite things I do with them.  I have taken them the last couple of years and let them paint an egg.  I try really hard to keep my mouth shut and just let them have fun!  I have a bowl on my table with the beautiful eggs they have done.  I would love to have bowls all over my house one day filled with their eggs.

We ate several meals outside on the deck.

Sam thinks he looks like daddy!

Sam had two bad falls both on the same elbow!  He is a tough boy!

5

On Monday, my sweet and funny little girl turned 5! It is absolutely amazing to me how much she has matured in the last four to five months!  She is really becoming a big girl!  Since her birthday falls during Spring Break, we have spent a lot of the week celebrating!  We started off Monday morning with doughnuts and presents.

Graham and Jake came over to play for the morning!  I love that Graham is her best friend!  Works out perfectly for me and Bec! (and not to mention that Jake is Sam's only friend right now!)  Then Honey came and took Sara Beth, Leigh, and Graham to lunch.  They all felt so big going off by themselves!

Zeb took off about 3:30 on Monday and we all went bowling!  It was a fun (and expensive!!) family activity!  I haven't bowled in a really long time and I'm really bad! Sara Beth said, "Momma, you are good at some things, but not bowling!"  

Leigh had her party on Tuesday at Bops! 

 The birthday girl!

Believe it or not, she gets shy when all the attention is on her!

That is more than enough pictures for now, but believe it or not, there was even more celebrating!