“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?"  Matthew 6:2-27

Josiah's not worried. 

Okay guys, this is too good!  Our family made marshmallow popcorn (click on the pic above to see recipe) and we couldn't even wait until it was finished cooling to enjoy it!  It is the perfect combo of sweet and salty.  Mm..mmm...

See for yourselves:

I recently read about a mother who enacted the "3 for 1" rule.  Each time one of her children said something negative about a sibling, they had to say "three nice for one bad".  I LOVE THIS! 

I love it so much that we adopted the rule.  I have found it to be a great way to restore harmony in the family.  When you have to think of three nice things about someone, it is easier to forget or overlook the one bad.  Acting in anger never sovles a problem.  Acting with love is always the solution. 

(Josiah loves bath time!)

(Tree climbing sisters.)

(Judah hiding from the camera.)

Still captivated. 

Yep.  We're still using the crockpot.  It's been interesting to try lots of different recipes.  I'm posting the keepers to my blog. 

This keeper was a kid favorite!

1 lb. ground beef, browned and drained

3 T. ketchup

2 t. mustard

2 c. cheese spread

10 hamburger buns

Place ground beef in a slow cooker; add ketchup and mustard, mixing well.  Top with cheese spread.  Cover and cook on low setting for 3 to 4 hours.  Stir gently; spoon onto buns.  Makes 10 sandwiches.

Especially yummy with tator tots!  Just saying.

Last Sunday, we  stood before our church and the Lord. 

Our dear friend, Herb Houston prayerfully/powerfully spoke over our family and our baby.

We're committed to bringing our children up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4). 

Thanks Herb!  And thanks Ralf (our videographer)! 

Her last regular season basketball game for the year.

Only the tournament remains.

And these little guys are...

stinkin' ready for the season to be O V E R. 

Our mild winter...

yielded early strawberries...

sweet...

sweet...

sweet...

Carolina...

strawberries.

18-1/2 oz yellow cake mix

20 oz can crushed pineapple

Vanilla ice cream

Set aside 1/3 cup dry cake mix.  Spray a slow cooker with nonstick vegetable spray; sprinkle half of remaining dry cake mix in slow cooker.  Spread half the crushed pineapple with juice over cake mix.  Repeat layering.  Sprinkle reserved cake mix over final layer of pineapple.  Cover and cook on high setting for 2 hours.  Serve with ice cream. 

The way we spend our days is, of course, the way we spend our lives. - Annie Dillard

I have a sense of certainty about being exactly where God wants me.  Just as solid is the fact that I wonder at times what on earth I am doing here. I have two choices, I can look back like Lot's wife or I can look forward to God's perfect plan. I can choose today to live each day looking forward.  I can take steps toward my goals and my passions. 

Don't wait "until" to do the things we are passionate about.  Live with purpose.  Life doesn't have to just happen to us, we can happen to life.  Today is the best day to live our dreams. 

I have learned, that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.  - Henry David Thoreau