Fall

High Hill

Harvest Party at our church

We had a fun day with Samuel's class

Litybug

Lake Tahoe

July

Happy 1st Birthday Humility! After opening presents she was ready for a nap.

Samuel had a great time making things at the Sacramento Children's Museum with Grandma and Grandpa Bowler

Abigail turned 3 in July!

Lity Walks

We celebrated Lity's 1st Birthday this month. It's hard to believe that she is already 1! She is very good natured. And is a very happy baby and ready to go with a smile on her face when she wakes up at 6 in the morning. She loves to play with Samuel and Abigail and do what they are doing. And she loves shoes. She comes to me several times during the day with shoes wanting me to put them on her. She likes climbing on chairs, tables, anything she can get on. And when she wants to be held she reaches out to you and opens and closes her hand. Sweetest blue eyed girl I know.

Lity's First Steps!

Lity took her first steps when she was 9 months old on April 15th!

Easter 2013

Justice is Carried on the Shoulders of Sacrifice...

Justice is Carried Upon the Shoulders of Sacrifice…

         Justice is carried upon the shoulders of sacrifice. Justice cannot be carried forth apart from sacrifice. Or in less desirable terms, justice cannot be ministered apart from death. The cross extends to the world the justice of God, redeeming the damnable outworking's of mankind. Through the sacrifice of one man, the glorious life of God is laid bare for the world to receive. He breathed His last, that we might have a chance to breath the eternal breath of resurrection life.

         Therefore the courageous, inextinguishable, glorious light of the gospel shines forth through living sacrifice. Now, that Christ is seated at the right hand of His Father in triumphant glory, who will be the living sacrifice that extends the gospel? It is the sons and daughters of God who are called to become the living sacrifices. If the sons and daughters of God would rise to their rightful place as sacrificial servants they would loose the justice of heaven upon the earth. Men would once again cry aloud for a savior and be saved. The spirit of the Fear of God would once again rest on the church. The blind would see, the lame walk and the deaf hear. And hell itself will not stop the love of God if His people would dare to be like their Savior and take up their cross and follow Him.  

        We are therefore now called to extend the light of the gospel on the shoulders of sacrifice. Whose shoulders? Whoever is willing to live and die for the King of all Glory?

What is the sacrifice? What did Christ sacrifice? The sacrifice is the death of self for the sake of love. This is the pure Gospel, unfiltered and unadulterated. Sacrifice motivated by love is the fire of the gospel. It is the fire that will once again turn the world upside-down, the fire that cannot be quenched and illuminates the Glory of Christ.  The gates of hell shall not prevail against such a blazing fire as the pure gospel of love.

No matter how minute or lavish the sacrifice, if done with a pure heart, it breaks the powers of darkness and demolishes strongholds, exalting Jesus.  Whether a cup of cold water is given to one in thirst, or someone simply prefers another above himself, both the cup of water and the preference of another carry the light and glory of the Gospel of Christ.

Justice shines forth through the ministers of love. Crucifixion of selfish motives and actions for the sake of another person is the living power of love that cannot be restrained. How far will this love go? The love of God traverses the narrow path to death and back again. Love never fails.

To proclaim, teach, or even worse, live any other gospel than the gospel of sacrifice perverts and dilutes the triumphant work of the cross. We cheapen the blood of Christ and dishonor the slain lamb when we proclaim Christianity and live a lifestyle contrary to sacrifice. Those pouring out their life unto death carry the fragrance of the gospel wherever they go. Deny yourself and love another, this is the way of Christ at all times. Any motive or action other than this comes from the spirit of the world. And the works of the world will be paid in full, burned in the wrath of God, considered wood hay and stubble. But the eternal works of love are precious like gold and silver that are refined in the fire.  

In this hour there is long awaited cry from heaven. It is cry for revolution. The trumpet blast has not been sounded for a revolution in Government, neither the economy, or religious institutions. Rather, the roar from heaven is calling for a revolution of sacrifice. The call is to those who call themselves the sons and daughters of God. “Repent and turn from any other gospel than the Gospel of sacrifice.”

“Prepare the way of the Lord;
Make straight in the desert
A highway for our God” (Isaiah 40:3).

It is the Gospel of pure love, sacrificial love that plows forth resurrection power, a highway for God that glorifies Christ and His church.

What is it that stands in the way of you living for the gospel? Really, there is simply one thing. That thing is you. Stop hindering the Gospel of Jesus! Smash your idols, and live for God! Revolution is at hand, where will you stand? Sit with Christ who is seated in heavenly places because he laid down his life for many.

            Awake you who sleep,

            Arise from the dead,

            And Christ will give you light (Ephesians 5:14). 

7 months with Humility

Boy, does time fly when you are having fun. That seems to be the case with my kids anyway. They are a lot of fun and I feel very blessed to get to be their mommy. It does not seem possible, but somehow Humilty has mastered the art of crawling and is now venturing the world of pulling up and standing. I have told her that she can slow down, but she continues to crawl into new rooms and territories that she desires to conquer.  At her 6 month check-up she weighed 17.8 lbs. and was 26 3/4 inches long.

Things she likes: 

-whenever Samuel or Abigail come into the room

-seeing other kids

-rolling from back to tummy and vise versa

-grabbing her feet when I change her diaper

-when they sing or talk to her

-trying new foods

-banging her hands on her highchair tray

-feeding herself with a spoon

-jabbering (her new favorite word is on the video below :))

-chewing on things (anything)

-anything she can put in her mouth (we try to hide Toby's dog bone)

Things she does not like:

-taking a bath

-the sound of the vacuum 

Turned 7 months on February 6th

She loves her big brother and sister. She thinks they are the best. (I know how she feels)

Samuel's 5th Birthday!

Samuel had fun painting his jet that Heather and Jay sent him for his birthday

Samuel turned FIVE in December! We celebrated his birthday with family at Round Table pizza. He had fun playing the games and even shared some of his quarters with Abigail. He is such a great big brother and loves his little sisters so much. Wow! This sweet boy has brought so much joy to my life. Samuel is my big helper and has a heart to serve others. He is such a special gift from God and I am so blessed to get to be his mom. I feel so privileged that I have gotten to be a stay-at-home mom these past five years to watch him grow into the young man that he is becoming. 

I was home for Christmas

My niece Eden was 3 months old when we met for the first time at Christmas.

Humility was captivated by my brother playing the guitar.

Samuel wanted snow for Christmas. And it snowed when we went to my Uncle Mike's house.

Having fun during our layover on our way to see my parents for Christmas!!

Humility and Eden meet for the first time.  :)

We love sweet cousin Eden.

It was fun to see cousins that I hadn't seen in years! I also got to meet my cousins  daughter Okleigh. Abigail and Okleigh are only one month apart. All the "little" cousins had fun playing together.

It was so wonderful to be with my family for the Holidays. Making memories that we will treasure  always. We look forward to the next time we will all be together. We love you all!