My sister-in-law Sarah and I had a day away together last Saturday. We both have a lot in common and shopping is one thing. We spent the day at the mall and kept saying how nice it was to have the time to freely look and take our time without worrying about anyone else. I loved having the one on one time with Sarah!
Back at home, our wonderful husbands took care of the kids, mowed the lawn, plowed the garden and had supper ready for us when we got home. What a day!
That night our little brother, Immanuel, spent the night and celebrated his 11th birthday with us on Sunday.Over the past week I've been reading alot about the thought life...about taking my thoughts captive to Christ...not letting them control me. Tearing down lies that Satan puts in my mind and replacing them with God's truth. Thoughts I've struggled with personally in the past are fears, low self esteem and even depression. This week in my devotions I read and meditated on verses like 2 Corinthians 10:5 "We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ" and John 8:32 "Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free". I learned to look up verses specific to the struggles I faced, write them on note cards and take them wherever I go...claiming God's truth.
Verses like
2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
Psalm 28:7 The Lord is my strength and shield.I trust him with all my heart.He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy.I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.
Ps 139:13-14 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. (14) I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
Why is it that when you're focusing on a particular topic, it seems to creep in and at times become a struggle again? That happened for me a bit this week.
"Our thought life is something we'll work on for the rest of our lives in our desire to be godly. Staying at work on our thought lives is the very essence of godliness."
"Is godliness perfection? No, it's giving our hearts, souls, minds and bodies to God and desiring to obey Him more than anything." -Beth Moore
Philippians 3:12[ Pressing on toward the goal] "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me."
My sister planned a day out this week to go to the Vera Bradley outlet sale. My mother-in-law came and met us all for breakfast then stayed with my kids at our house while we went to the sale. Thanks Ruby for making the trip and helping me out! It was nice to have the break since Kevin was out of town a few days.
While at the sale, my nephew turned up missing. We texted him and found out that he was helping a couple of ladies out. They had collected more Vera Bradley than they could carry and needed some assistance making it through the long line for checkout. The limit for purchasing was $2500 and they had both maxed that amount out, so he had quite a load to carry. We waited for him in the van to finish helping them load their car and when he got to the van, he was grinning from ear to ear. They paid him 30 bucks for his services. That will come in handy for prom this weekend. 
God really worked out my week wonderfully...keeping me busy with fun things to do with family and friends while my hubby was away. That night I met these beautiful ladies for dinner to celebrate a couple birthdays.
Seriously, I haven't laughed this hard in a long time. I love these girls and feel blessed to call them friends. 
Chatting & laughing our heads off in the Target Garden Center
I've been talking with them about the amazing Easter story of Jesus' death and resurrection a couple weeks leading up to the big day. We got several Easter books from the library and read them over and over. I loved hearing them ask their little questions about death and heaven. What an amazing privilege to watch them learn!
This one was a little out of reach...
Uncle Curt had to use the fork lift for the rest.
Caedmon pulling a basket full of eggs from a tree branch with mommy hanging on tight. 
It will be pretty hard to top this Easter egg hunt. Wonder what Grandpa is gonna do next year.??
...it went fast and let me tell you, we each fought for as many bites as we could get....by the time it was all said and done, I had chocolate on my white coat and Caedmon had chocolate on his white sweater.
This past weekend, our family...including my parents, my sister's family and us...stayed at Pokagon for one night to do even more celebrating with the birthday girl.
Maci & Kaiya
sweet baby emmi
Daddy helping Caedmon paint his wooden whistle
Kaiya working on her bead chick
Kevin and Dad working on a puzzle overlooking Lake James
We walked to the nature center then stopped by the playground on the way back.
She sure doesn't act like she's 60!
Emmi Klair
relaxing back at the inn
Grandma passed out Easter baskets for the kids...
...and had her famous Easter egg hunt...golden eggs included $$. 
It's just like mom to turn a party that is supposed to be all about her into something where she gives to others...and that is exactly who she is...a giver! If I could only be half the woman she is, I would feel so richly blessed.