Happy Egg Day!

We decided to do all of our fun Egg/Bunny Easter stuff today, so that we could concentrate on the really important things throughout the weekend. We made Easter parfaits, had many Easter egg hunts and even dyed our hard-boiled eggs with our new "no spill" coloring kit. It was a very fun day. Happy Easter week everyone!

my green pastures

There are days when I have to schedule in my time with God so that the day doesn't slip away, and then there are days when I can't think about anything other than spending time with Jesus. Today I experienced the latter. As soon as I woke up I wanted to grab my Bible and sit down, but unfortunately because of the events of the day I wasn't able to until the kids laid down for their nap.

I was desperate to read Psalm 23. I'm not sure why it was so important to have my Bible, since I know the chapter by heart, but I had something I needed to see for myself. There were 2 verses that seemed brand new today....

Psalm 23:2,3
"He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul."

For some reason I've always read this verse thinking of physical provision... God, being my shepherd, wants me to not go hungry or thirsty. Today I saw something different. When I flipped through my Strong's Concordance I realized that what I felt God was showing me was right on. God doesn't want to just provide for my needs, he leads me to places of refreshment so that my soul is restored. I needed that today.... the kids had too many time-out sessions coupled with quite a few meltdowns. I need restoration... not a spa day (although that would be nice), not a day of shopping (wouldn't argue with that either), and not even a day just to myself... I need a supernatural leading to bring me to a place where I can hear God's voice above the others. I'm ready to follow my Great Shepherd.

what's the worst that can happen?

We noticed it before, but it was very evident in Isaac's Easter Program pictures that he was due for a haircut. I was slightly nervous when Chris brought out the clippers, because we have discussed buzzing his head for quite awhile now, but I was very happy with the results. He does look a lot older to me, which, I have to admit, is quite disturbing.

easter program

Tonight was the kid's school Easter program. I tried to get them to cheese it up for a couple of pictures beforehand. Both kids brought smiles to our faces tonight!

and in all things... session 22

Things I am thankful for on March 26, 2010...

1. Psalm 90:14
   
2. MultiGrain Cheerios
3. My son's love of puzzles
4. Corporate prayer meetings
   
5. My daughter's leopard pants
   
6. That my children love to clean
7. My Thinline Bible
   
8. Cherry Coke
   
9. The kid's rooms were cleaned and organized this a.m.
   
10. The price Jesus paid for me
    

opportunity missed

I walked out back and both kids were sitting on this chair hugging and kissing each other. As soon as I run and grab my camera they decided they were done. So bummed!

my new nephews

David Thomas Sheerer
6 lb 12 oz. and 18.5 inchesJonathan Edward Sheerer
7lb 1oz and 20 inches

Isaac has waited for this day for a long time. He skipped the whole way to the car because he knew we were going to see the babies. He cried the whole way home when we had to leave. He is definitely going to be ready for his own baby soon.

Zoey wanted to keep staring at the boys as she said "bebe! bebe!" I can't get enough of these handsome boys. Do you think they would notice if I just took one of them home with me?

Congratulations to Tommy, Keri and Alina. The boys are perfect!

heading up-town.

Yesterday we spent our sun-shining day in Birmingham.
Picnic at Booth Park. The Cupcake Station. Panera. Westborn Market.
These 2 kiddos are at such a fun age, as long as I can keep them in my eye's view. Thank you Jesus for the beautiful sun!

just a little reminder...

Psalm 121
I lift up my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD watches over you—the LORD is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day,nor the moon by night. The LORD will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

Happy St. Patty's Day...Eve

Today we had an "under-the-weather" kind of day, so home sweet home it was. Finally after our naps we were feeling a little better so we decided to celebrate St. Patrick's Day Eve. We made St. Patty's Day cakes, colored rainbow pages and even made our own personal St. Patty's Day pinatas (a little culture fusion). We had a wonderful time just hanging out together with the lovely color green.

Chicken Noodle Soup and Crusty Bread

When I took Isaac to lunch for his birthday yesterday, I realized I was by a very special place. Ventimiglias is an Italian store I spent a lot of time at the month before my grandma passed away. Isaac always made her laugh, so I would drop him off with my mother at my grandmother's condo and run to Ventimiglias for her favorite chicken noodle soup and crusty bread. It was one of the only things she had an appetite for. Isaac and I ran inside to buy some soup for Grandma and Aunt Keri... and it didn't seem to disappoint. Just one of the many memories I have of one of my favorite woman who ever lived.

Happy Birthday Isaac Christopher

Happy 4th Birthday to our little man. Just yesterday I was holding you in my arms hoping you were warm enough... and now you are getting roller blades for your birthday! That's enough growing up for you!Thank you to Aunt Nina for our amazing race car cake. It was PERFECT!

this is the life.

there are too many smells!

I really don't think too much about smells... except when I'm pregnant. I can smell EVERYTHING and most of the time I don't find the smells very appealing. Smells are more powerful than I thought, and there are certain smells that jog my memory and no matter what the scenario, I always think back to the same thing.

When I smell the blue Teen Spirit Stick Gel I think of my trip to Uganda when I was 15. That's the deodorant I brought and since we were unable to shower for an entire month, I would reapply that deodorant all day long. It's amazing that every time I smell something even close to it, I am brought back immediately to the orphanage I stayed in and I start craving plantains.

Whenever I smell the original classic Chapstick (you know, the black tube with the pale pink inside) I can picture my dad kissing me good-bye for school in the morning. For some reason he always has his mustache.

The smell of "Woods" cologne from Abercrombie and Fitch makes me picture my 10th grade locker with my orange science book and I get butterflies thinking that Chris is going to come around the corner any minute.

The smell of burnt toast makes me think of my grandparents and waking up to them sipping their coffee at the kitchen table reading the newspaper. I always picture the red woodpecker feeder hanging outside the window as well.

It's SO weird! The bad part is that I have certain smells during pregnancy that don't sit well with me because of previous pregnancies... Jimmy Johns, coffee and cheese. But then there are smells I crave during pregnancy as well... gasoline, lumber and lime. I can't wait until smells aren't really on my mind anymore!

saying hi to baby

This morning I had my 1st ultrasound for baby #3. I know that the picture of this baby is no different than the pics I have of my other two... or any baby, for that matter, but seeing this one is so different. When I see this baby, I'm not just pregnant... I'm carrying around a personality and a child of God. This baby doesn't know it yet, but he/she has already been saturated with prayer and has been thought about for many years. He/she has a brother that is so excited and a sister who already loves to jump on him/her. Thank you God for another life inside me ready to bring forth destiny.. Isaac was very excited to see the pictures of his new baby brother/sister.
He does think that he/she has big ears.

The Republic of Haiti... Rewind.

I had the wonderful opportunity to go to the country of Haiti 3 times when I was in Jr. High and High School. They were trips that definitely changed my life and gave me a love for missions. My parents just posted some old pics of our trips on their site, so I thought I would reminisce as well. Wow, does time fly! Pretty soon it's going to be Isaac's turn to go on his first mission trip!

1992

Going to church.

Cutest kids in the world.

Rebecca and I doing a special dance for the kids.I wanted to take this girl home... I remember that like it was yesterday!

1993
Passing out treats to the children after a week of VBS.

Doing VBSThe girls did a dance to "Jesus is Still Alright" by DC Talk. If I tried that back-bend now I would never get back up!He didn't know it yet, but I was so in love with this guy.
No one could throw a frisbee like him!Praying for the people of HaitiOur youth team doing our "Our Turn Now" human video.
The guys LOVED doing this!My man... before he was my man... fixing a guitar

The girls in Artise would love to do special hand-claps. We would do them everyday because you wouldn't need an interpreter to connect.

1995
My dad and I in my favorite place in Haiti: City of Soleil
Yes, he is rocking his mustache.This is one of my favorite pictures of my sister Keri. She was so amazing with the kids over there... actually she is amazing with kids anywhere.

I remember my sister taking this picture because she wanted to show my mom I was being lazy.

Here Chris and I were using string and soap to make huge bubbles for the kids. They loved it.

It's so funny how I don't have many pictures from each trip... if I went now I would probably take over 1,000. The pictures I do have do remind me of incredible times, with incredible people.