Slip-Sliding Good Time!

This afternoon, our church held a family afternoon at the ice skating center. Kyra had never been ice skating before, so she was really looking forward to it. In fact, before she left the house, she informed me that she would be skatinga ll by herself and she was going to do a figure eight! That child just bursts with confidence! Of course, once she strapped on the skates, it was a little different story, but once she got her "ice legs", she did ok (as long as one of us was there to push the "ice walker"). Ian really didn't have much of a problem because he's been skating a number of times with school and is much more coordinated than his Mom or Dad! However, I must "brag" that neither Rich nor myself landed on our respective keisters the whole time. In the end, Kyra outlasted all of us (I think she could have gone the whole two-hour timeframe). Anyhow, here's some pictures from the event!

Kyra got the hang of skating once she secured a walker
Clearly skating was not as easy as Kyra thought it would be!
Ian took to the ice without any problem.
Another shot of Ian in action!

I Am Not Going Anywhere!

We had a late night last night watching football (and I won't even get into my bitterness about the Colts' loss) so I slept in this morning and planned on going to 10:00 services. A big thanks to Ms. M for the phone call because church cancelled all services because of the icy road conditions. Unfortunately, due to weather and travel, it's been several weeks since we've made it to services so I was disappointed as I was really looking forward to it.

So we are here at home now. Good thing I am well stocked from the grocery store as I almost killed myself going down the driveway to get the paper. Becca and ice are definitely not a good combination!

An AMAZING day!

I finally did it! I don't honestly know what took me so long but God really put it on my heart this year that I needed to go forward and be publicly baptized. The weather could not have been more perfect although the cleanliness of the water in Lake Michigan left a little to be desired. I survived though and am so glad that I made this huge step in going forward in my faith!

Thanks to Ms. M for capturing the moment!

That little girl makes me laugh!

Ian received a CD of Veggie Rocks! for knowing all of his Bible verses for the year in Sunday school. It's been a big hit with both kids and has now replaced Curious George as our most often listened to CD in the car (even though some of it's a little "hard core" for me). One of their favorites is "Promised Land".

Anyhow, after returning from running errands today, Kyra was playing in the living room. She got on her pink and purple car, looked at me, waved and said "See you later! I'm going to the promised land!" and promptly scooted away. This is one of those moments I will truly treasure!

Some tears and some laughter

We had our closing brunch for Tuesday morning ladies' Bible study today. There were definitely some thoughts to ponder as we enter into the summer season and I've even by identified as an "abductor" (but only in he nicest of terms). I'll really miss my Tuesday mornings but hopefully I'll find my way to a good summer study.

But she still doesn't want to miss church!

Well, we had a fun morning - NOT! We drove to church this morning and right as we pulled into the parking lot and I turned off the car, Kyra threw up! YUCK!!!! At least she wasn't in the nursery yet! So, we turned the car around to head home yet the whole time Kyra is screaming "I WANT TO GO TO CHURCH!" While I admire her willingness to go, momsense prevailed and she came home to take a bath and get a dose of Tylenol. (Of course, I did bring her back a new VeggieTales from the church library when I went back for second service).

And lest we forget the other "player" in this drama, Ian gets a hi-5 for his commentary on the way home: "I think I'm going to breathe through my mouth now." I love that little guy!

Apparently bigger is NOT better

Last night, we had our Ladies' Christmas Candlelight Tea at church. I volunteered to hostess a table this year. After much thought, I went with a Gingerbread Candyland theme. As a "take-home" gift, I baked and decorated individual gingerbread men for my table guests. Of course, when you are trying to make 10 "perfect" men, you are bound to have some failures in between. Thus, I had a few with misshapen body parts or missing limbs. Still, even the leftovers are fair game for my family. Ian was extremely excited to see the gingerbread men last night when he came home from school and wanted one for his dessert. Since I was at the tea last night, I did not see him before he went to bed so this morning he informed me that the next time I make gingerbread cookies, I need to make them smaller as the current cookies were just "too big" and made his tummy ache (even though the size didn't stop him from eating the whole thing).

A New "Forever Friend"

Today at church, the parents were invited to come to Inspiration Island with their children as the theme was salvation. Ian is at an age where he has been asking more and more questions - especially after attending the Easter service and seeing the alter call. So, I am very proud to say that Ian said the sinner's prayer and accepted Jesus as his "forever friend" this morning. Congratulations, Ian!

The Good Samaritan

Yesterday, I packed up the kids and headed back to Sun Prairie for closing on our old house. Midway between Sheboygan and Fond du Lac, there was a loud bang and then the dreaded noise that no woman with two children in the car wants to hear - a flat tire.

I was literally in the middle of nowhere, so I called AAA and they told me it would be about 30-45 minutes before someone would get out to me. Kyra woke up from her nap and was not happy that we were not moving and she was stuck in her car seat. Anyhow, a car pulled up and a gentleman asked if I needed help and offered to change me tire. I was so thankful I almost cried.

It only took him about 5-10 minutes. I told him that God was looking down on us and I thanked him for stopping. As it turns out, the man was Paul Bawden, pastor of Grace Evangelical Church in Madison. He was on his way to my church for the Forest Lakes District Conference (see my tale below). He had been on his way to Manitowoc, saw us, turned his car around and came to help.

I was telling my hairdresser this story this morning and she said, "Wow, you have good karma." I told her it wasn't karma, it was God's love in action.

HAPPY EASTER!!!!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter. It is cold here, but we had a great morning and went to church as a family. It was a very powerful service and I was moved to tears when several people accepted Christ for the first time. It was such a reminder of what Easter is all about.

There's wisdom in his youth

Yesterday Ian came home from school with a note saying that he was pushing in line. When I asked him why this happened, he told me it was because two kids "budged" (in my day, we called it "cutting" but apparently "budging" is now the new word). So we started discussing how he might approach the situation differently the next time - that really being the first one out the door to recess wasn't going to change the course of his life. I told him that maybe the next time, he might just let the other kids go in front of him to show kindness. In response, he said, "or I could just go to the back of the line because that's what Jesus would do. He always puts others first." It took everything I had not to break down crying right then and there. Sometimes we can experience God through the littlest of messengers.

Time for my whap upside the head

Every once in a while, I will just be going about my business and all of a sudden God brings a verse to me when I need it most. This move has been very difficult for me to adjust to. I've been missing my old "life" and friends terribly since we've moved here. When you add in the troubles that Ian has been having at school and his teacher's instance that we "do something about it" (i.e., medicate him), I've been questioning why God led us here.

Things have been getting better though and yesterday I joined a new Bible study group at the new church. We are reading Elizabeth George's Nuturing a Heart of Humility, a character study on Mary. We were discussing how Mary completely put her trust in God even though she knew it was going to make her life infinitely more complicated. Our study leader gave us this verse from Proverbs 20:24 - "Since the Lord is directing our steps, why try to understand everything that happens along the way." It was just the whap upside the head that I needed.

I guess my decision has been made!

Since we have moved here to NE Wisconsin, I have been trying to find the "right" church for us. I left a church that I loved dearly back in Madison and when you are used to a certain "style" it is certainly hard to make the change. I have narrowed it down to two churches and wanted to go to a sermon series at each church before planting myself.

Today, Ian wanted to go with me, so I took him to the bigger of the two churches I have been attending. They have an AMAZING children's ministry and he had so much fun! I had been worried because he doesn't do well in some social situations, but they took him right in and he had a blast (and learned a thing or two in the process). He keeps asking if we are going back next Sunday. I had been praying for God to show me a clear sign of where I "belong" and it appears He has answered that prayer!

Now, I feel an incredible burden has been lifted and I can finally get involved again! I just wanted to share my praise!