Easter...Past and Present

I am so far behind on post. Wanted to post about Easter so this is completely out of order. Maybe one day I will catch up...or not. :)

Below is a picture of the kids this Easter. I am so crazy about these five fearfully and wonderfully made blessings! As I was cleaning out my inbox on my email I came across a few emails from 2010 that were  off my phone.

Look what I found! Below is a picture of Easter 2010. This was right after we moved to Tennessee. I cried when I saw this picture. One, because the kids have grown up so fast. Two, because I remembered all the pictures we lost in the fire. Some never to be replaced.

As a family we have so many reasons to celebrate...life, pictures, family, and most of all Jesus who is alive and well. If it were not for Him we wouldn't have anything to celebrate. He is amazing! Thank You Jesus for coming to earth, dying for our sin, and raising from the dead!! Thank you God for your Love and sacrifice!

My Haircut

Sarah and I have donated our locks a couple of times in the past. The last time we did it Joanna was not even a year old. Last summer Sarah was ready for a hair cut and it wasn't long enough to donate but we still got it cut. :) The first of this year I was to the point of needing and wanting a hair cut but wasn't sure if mine would be long enough.

In February I made an appointment and went in to see if it was long enough. It had to be 8 inches and we decided to cut 10 inches. :) 

Here is my 10 inch ponytail that was cut and I sent off to Pantene to be made into a wig for cancer patients.

One of my friends from church works at the salon I went to and she had her hair cut that morning. We thought it was a great time to have a picture together. ;) As you can see my hair cut was much shorter than I was expecting. Has taken time to get used to it but I am enjoying having short hair for now. ;)

Kitchen Table

Here is our Amish built 10' dining table. We really like it. Very nice when family is here and we can all sit at the same table together! There are five chairs on one side, two chairs at each end, and a bench on the other side. This table also has three drawers on each side. We have been using the drawers for games and school stuff. 

Joanna turns 4!

In January we celebrated Joanna's fourth birthday. On her birthday we we celebrated as a family and enjoyed spending the day with her.

I made cupcakes for us and to take to church to share with her friends. 

Each of our kids got her something for her birthday. They all like getting gifts for others and it is so sweet to watch them give to others.

Then grandparents came up and helped us celebrate!

Joanna loved opening her gifts! 

Pop and Gigi gave her a "Ziggle" and she loves riding it! We had basketball games that day and in between games we went to Davy Crockett State Park. They gave her the Ziggle there and she was able to ride it on the pavement. 

We enjoyed the time at the park. The weather was nice and the kids enjoyed being outside. 

Here is another view of her birthday cake. After ball games we went back to our house for cake and ice cream. Lots of fun celebrating our baby turning 4! 

4-H Public Speaking Contest

Isaac and Sarah started 4-H this year. One of the things they had to do was give a speech to their group. Then they were able to compete in the County Speech Contest. 

Sarah receives her first place ribbon for 6th grade.

Isaac receives his first place ribbon for 7th grade.

They both went on to compete in the sub-regional speech contest. Isaac won the 7th grade contest and Sarah placed 4th in 6th grade. Very proud of both of them! For Isaac this says a lot....when he was 4 years old he started speech therapy and continued therapy until we moved to Tennessee. God has done great things!