I made this coffee punch for my church small group!  I'm not a coffee fan but this punch was yummy! 

I leave you with one of my fave pins from my "Wisdom Words" Board:

(To see recipes just click on the images)

Happy Pinning! 

Sweet, calm, precious cousins.

Hillbilly Cousins.

It's dad's turn for a birthday post.   

(Dad and my stepmom at nephew's recent graduation.)

Love you, Dad! 

When I see this, I know I'm home.  This is the view I grew up seeing from my bedroom window.  It still takes my breath and sets my thoughts on our majestic creator. 

"Every father should remember that one day his son will follow his example instead of his advice."

(My mom, step-dad, and kiddos.)

Mom celebrated her birthday a couple days ago.  I just have to post this pic taken on our recent trip home in honor of her special day.  Love you, mom!   

"A cousin is a ready-made friend for life."

We were so happy to be reunited with cousins last weekend. 

A reunion in honor of my nephew's highschool graduation (he's second from left).

This is a bunch of them but not all of them.

I've been in children's ministry for fifteen+ years and this is what I've learned, winning our children to Christ begins at home. 

As moms and dads we've got to be active in our children's lives.  Being present often means making sacrifices.  Sacrificing income, tv time, fancy clothes, expensive toys... We've got to be more than a meal ticket and a chauffeur to our kids.   

Before I was a mom, I had the opportunity to be a teacher and leader to children of all ages.  I did everything in my power to love on them and show them Jesus in the limited time they were with me but ultimately my influence could never be greater than the influence of parents and home.  I promised myself that no matter what, winning my own children to Christ would be the priority of my home. 

As moms and dads we've got to be willing to talk through real-life situations with our kids.  Help them make wise decisions in their lives.  A 30 minute lesson will go in one ear and out the other.  We've got to live it out all day every day with our kids.  We've got to be there.  We've got to be loud.  Yep.  Louder than the voices all around them.  Louder than their peers.  Louder than the media.  We've got to win the hearts of our children.  When we win their hearts, we need our hearts to be a reflection of Jesus.  Our hearts and lives have got to point to him. 

The Chief and I are so excited about the upcoming eGroup for family.  Several have signed up.  It's going to be a great group!  (It is open to anyone, anywhere. Not too late to register.) 

Join us Monday June 11, as we encourage ourselves and others to radically renew our households by purposefully seeking to serve God as a family!  Click here to sign up.

This is my baby (named after my dad):

This is my dad as a baby:

Namesake look-alikes.

Growing and changing so fast.

More sitting, more jabbering, more teething (two teeth, so far)...

Crawls/scoots in reverse.  Baby can't get it in drive.  Yet.

Pics in the grass means grass in the mouth. 

Boy, n.:  a noise with dirt on it.