The First Day of....

...our daughter Lulu's new life in Christ!

Today she prayed that God would save her!

 Mark and I have been noticing for about the last year or so that Lulu has been really interested in heaven and hell.  She loves talking about Jesus dying on the cross and why He did that.  She's been asking so many wonderful questions and has shown concern for people in our life that don't love and follow Jesus.  Her heart has always been burdened for the lost people in our family.  She prays for these family members who don't follow Jesus because she knows that they are heading to hell and that really bothers her.  She knows that when they are in hell there is no way for them to get out.  She knows they will eternally be separated from God with no hope.  She wants so badly for these family members and friends to know and love Jesus so they won't be in hell when they die.  But what Lulu didn't know (maybe she did) is that her dad and I have been praying for her. We have been praying that her love for Jesus and the lost would turn into her crying out to God to save her.  We have been praying that God would save Lulu and that He would draw her to Him at a young age.  The thing that Mark and I have also been praying is that it would not be our doing but God's.  We didn't want to have her repeat some prayer that we told her to pray.  We truly wanted to see a heart change in her and for her to see her sins and want to run to our Lord to save her.

This morning we were all talking about heaven and hell.  We were talking about that many people don't believe in hell, they just like to believe in heaven.  We talked about how we know hell is real and that God has made it very clear in the Bible that hell is a real place.  Also God has made if very clear that EVERYONE is heading there.  Why?  Because of our sins.  Some questions we asked: Have you ever told a lie? Have you ever stole anything?  Those are just 2 of the 10 commandants that God gave us.  If  you have done any of those then you are guilty of sin.  If you are guilty of sin where do you think God should send you?  Heaven????? No, you are guilty!  Hell is where sinners go.  And God has made it very clear that being a good person will not make up for your sins and being good will not get you into heaven. It's only by Jesus who died on the cross paying our debt that we owed.  We were sinners and Jesus stepped in and payed the price for OUR sins so that we can be in heaven someday with Him.   

So Lulu, Mark and I talked about her sins.  She told us she has sinned.  I then asked her if she were to die today where would she go?  And she told me "hell." She was very concerned and very burdened that this was where she was heading.  We told her that her mommy and daddy were once heading to hell.  We also told her that we cried out to God to save us and that we needed Jesus and His amazing grace.  She thought about all of this for a bit.  We could see in her eyes and how she was in deep thought all morning that God was working on her heart. Mark told Lulu that when God calls us we don't wait.  We need to run to Him right then.  Then she thought some more.  Mark and I started talking a bit and noticed that Lulu wasn't next to us.  We were wondering where she went.  We looked out in the living room and found her.  I asked her if she was praying and she said "yes." So we told her to go down to her room and spend some time praying to God and that when she was done to come out and tell us.  She was so excited that she ran down the hall into her room.  While she was down there Mark and I sat and prayed for her.  When she was done she came back down the hall with tears running down her cheeks.  She was crying tears of joy.  She was so joyful and she had a peace about her.  It was such an amazing thing to witness.  Mark and I were crying, Lulu was crying.  It was so special.  Lulu was so happy and was dancing around the house because she was a new creation in Christ.  

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 2 Corinthians 5:17

We have been celebrating all day what Jesus did for Lulu.  Jesus died on the cross for our sins and it is an amazing feeling to know that our little girl is now saved. 

We hope you have a...

Merry Christmas!

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14

Happy Easter!

 This morning Lulu and Levi woke up to their Easter baskets full of fun goodies.  We had an early start because we had to be in Seattle around 8:30am for our church service. 

 My mom drove with us and we made it to Quest Field where the Seattle Seahawks play football.  Our church Mars Hill Church rented out the stadium and 8 out of the 9 campuses (Albuquerque, NM is the 9th) came together to worship and CELEBRATE Jesus rising from the tomb.  And it was one amazing celebration! 

 We found our seats.  It was raining of course (this is Seattle).  But Mark found some great 48 yard line, covered seats that were on the 200 club level so they were even padded.  This entire worship celebration was free to everyone and the last count we heard was over 17,500 people attended. 

 Here was our view of the stage.  Mars Hill Church did a great job. 

 My brother Todd and his wife Stephanie came and celebrated with us.  They now live in Seattle and it's been so nice to see them so often.  We love you both so much! 

 Then about 7 min. before the service started the choir came out.  It was so exciting sitting in a football stadium knowing we were all there to worship and celebrate Jesus!  Goose bumps. 

 Then one of my favorite things was that instead of raising the famous 12th man flag that they fly at the Seahawks games, a Seattle Seahawks player came out and had them raise the Jesus flag.  This is a pretty amazing thing to do in Seattle.  Seattle is the most un-churched city and to be flying a flag that says Jesus is just unheard of.  Another goose bump moment. 

Then we had a great time of worship.  The band and choir were great. 

 Then Pastor Mark Driscoll came out and gave the powerful Easter sermon.  You can watch it HERE.

 Then after Pastor Mark was done they had more worship music and invited anyone who wanted to be baptized to come down.  They had 20 tubs and the last count we heard was around 500 724 (final count) people got baptized!  I was crying watching all the different people who were down there.  Young, old, men, women.  It was such a blessing to see them get baptized. 

 Here we are after.  My dad had to work so he couldn't join us.  We had a great time and it was unforgettable. 

 After church we headed over to my parents for Easter brunch.  My mom had baskets for Lulu and Levi. 

 Papa was there when we got there and Levi got to snuggle with him a bit.

 Then the kids got to do their first egg hunt.  My dad hid the eggs before we got there.  I remember when I was little we hunted for hard boiled eggs.  Lulu and Levi were hunting for candy filled and money filled eggs.  I hope next year I can join in.

 Levi found an egg!

 Papa and Grammie-goo with Lulu and Levi.

Here we are, all 5 of us!

I hope you had a wonderful Easter.  He Is Risen!

On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.  Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'" John 7:37-38

Christmas 2010

 We had a really nice Christmas.  We saw all our family and it was nice to have Mark home for and extended weekend.  This first picture is Lulu Christmas Eve right before she headed to bed in her new pajamas that Grammie-Goo made for her.  Levi was already asleep. 

 Christmas morning my parents came over before the kids were up so they could be there to see the excitement of them opening up gifts.  Here is Lulu running out to the living room.

 Levi's being shy.

 Here is Lulu digging through her goodie-bag.  We were going to use stockings but these bags worked so much better.  Levi's in the background inspecting his new Tonka dump truck.  Mark had the same exact one growing up.

 Mark and I both agree that Lulu is looking too old.  We can't believe how fast they grow.  People tell us all the time that it goes fast but pictures just seem to prove it. 

 Here is Levi opening up his Matchbox cars that Mark picked for him.  I think Mark wanted them so he could play with them too.

 Here's Lulu giving me a hug after I opened up her gift to me.  A beautiful necklace that she picked out herself.  When Mark took the kids out Christmas shopping one Saturday they came home and Lulu told me she couldn't tell me what she got me.  But she did tell me that I could sell the necklace I had on....lol.  She picked out a little sliver heart with rhinestones in it.  I love it and haven't taken it off yet. 

 Mark's office just moved to a new building and Mark's new desk has an entire wall of windows.  He's been saying how he needs a plant for his desk with all the light he gets.  So Lulu got him a cactus and Levi gave him a really neat curly leaf plant....don't know the name.  He loved them!

 Here is Levi playing with his new dump truck.  He's got his own way of making the truck dump. 

 For Christmas we got Lulu her own jewelry box.  I found this tool box and filled it with hair things, beads, necklaces and some other fun trinkets.  She loves going through my jewelry box, so now she can organize her own. 

And here is Levi sporting his new pajama bottoms that Grammie-Goo made him.  They have little VW beetles and buses on them.  We ask him where the beetle is and he bends over and points to his pants with both pointer fingers while saying "beetle." 

Later that day we headed over to my parents house.  I didn't get ANY pictures over there.  We were having too much fun.  My mom made a wonderful assortment of food that we nibbled on all afternoon while we visited with family.  I hope that I can be as hospitable as my mom someday. 

Merry Christmas!

1 John 4:19 We love, because He first loved us.

Prophecies foretold about the coming Messiah:

Isaiah 9:6 For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign:  Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.

Micah 5:2-5 "But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you One will go forth for me to be ruler in Israel, His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity," therefore He will give them up until the time When she who is in labor has borne a child.  Then the remainder of His brethren will return to the sons of Israel.  And He will arise and shepherd His flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord His God.  And they will remain, because at that time He will be great to the ends of the earth.  This One will be our peace.

We hope you have a wonderful Christmas focused on the Gift God sent us, His Son Jesus Christ.  

The First Noel

 This is how we are celebrating the First Noel in our home this year.  It's been so fun to be surrounded by our nativity scenes and Lulu has been acting out the birth of Jesus quit a bit. 

 I love this Mary and baby Jesus because she's holding her new born baby.

This is the town of Bethlehem.  Mark's mom bought it for him when he was in high school for his home someday.  It's now in our kitchen on display.

 Here is our Jesse Tree that Mark made us this year.  We don't have all the correct ornaments yet but we are slowly collecting them.  We have some "regular" ornaments hanging on there too.

 Here is our basket of Christmas cards.  Lulu loves digging through this and looking at all the pictures and fun cards.   And the picture below is the "fun" nativity scene that the kids can play with.  Under that table is where we are keeping all the presents. 

And here is our little Mary.  She loves acting out the story of Jesus being born.  I have to play Joseph and knock on all the doors looking for a room for her to give birth in.  But of course no one had room for us so we have to go to the stable in the living room amongst the cows and sheep.  It's very entertaining in our home right now.  Come on by and we will put on a show for you!

Luke 2:11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.  This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Happy Earth Day?

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1

The popular "worship" of the earth today in 2010 is no surprise to God. It's too bad they're worshiping the creation and not the Creator. Truly we should not be so self absorbed to really think we can actually save our planet.....because we can't. God is going to destroy the earth and we should stop wasting our time on pointless endeavors that will go nowhere. We need to start giving God the glory.

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. 2 Peter 3:10 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator - who is forever praised. Amen. Romans 1:25 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. Romans 1:18-20

The entire world can bear witness to God through its beauty, complexity, design and usefulness. We have plenty of evidence of His existence, unfortunately many reject this evidence.

For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. Romans 1:21-23 People today devote their lives to, and trust in, many things other than God. The "peace" that they are all looking for will not be found in saving the whales or having clean air. We are all given a gift that will truly give us peace. And that gift is Jesus.

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23