As a mom, I LOVE when my kids are really loving each other…not arguing over little things, not negotiating, not trying to compete in a race up the stairs, but REALLY laughing and loving and playing together. Sibling love is so sweet to me. I am so thankful for my own sweet brother and our relationship, as well as sibling-in-laws now, and I hope and pray that our kids have a deep, loving, growing relationship as they go through both childhood and adulthood. Really a gift from the Lord.
Here is one moment captured that I love:
We had a sick household at the end of September and beginning of October. Swine flu made its appearance and sent Olivia to the hospital. It was so sad, but we are SO VERY thankful to the Lord for healing her little body and that no one else went to the hospital.
Here is part of her hospital stay:
One friend described that above pic as the sweetest, sadest thing to see! So true…
The iv’s and shots were so hard for her of course, but she was such a trooper…
So, the day she got home was SO SWEET. She missed her brother and sister so much! It was sweet to see that sibling love…he walked in the room and she was so excited she was squealing and they gave each other the hugest hug!
Austin was telling her something and she couldn’t keep her eyes off of him…she held her hands together like this and just listened so intently to his every word. She was just so happy to be around him again! Too cute! I love it!
…I pray that they are close through all their years….
THAT was a long break! My sweet nephew’s birthday was like 3 months ago. I did want to catch up a little, so I will write a little at a time over the next few days…
SO much has happened! One biggie: Austin started kindergarten!!!!! It is crazy how time flies, and I know that EVERYone says that, especially when talking about their kids, but seriously…A couple of years ago, I thought that I had plenty of time to think through schools for Austin…I had NO idea how quickly that time would go by. There was so much to think about, like how God has wired him, his gifts, his struggles, how he learns best, etc. in choosing where he would go to school. We have been so happy with his school and his teachers. They have been GREAT, and we are so thankful to the Lord for them!
Here are some pictures of his first day:
Here he is at his table with our neighbor–his buddy in another class:
And…I thought this was so cute…this was during their dedication of the playground (it was a brand new building for early childhood, along with a new playground).
Another sweet one…Olivia came with us to drop him off, and she was getting her last peek at him in his classroom. It was REALLY sweet. She loves him SO much, and misses him when he is at school!
It is my sweet nephew’s first birthday, tomorrow! We can’t make it to his birthday party, so I thought I would just let the kids sing to him on here! We love you, Luke! You are such a blessing in our family! We can’t wait to see you!
And, I was so proud of myself for posting my first video!
Every year we vacation with Brian’s family to Gulf Shores! We just got back from the “super” (as Olivia would say) fun adventure a few days ago. It was so great to hang out with family, watch the kids jumping waves, catch some hot rolls at Lambert’s, and watch Brian get caught–I mean—catch fish (yes–we had a trip to Urgent Care to get a hook removed from his finger–OUCH!). I am sure there will be some spiritual connections with this story later. Anyway, here are a few of the pictures!
BIG BUDDIES:
Aunt Becky painting Olivia’s nails…
Popsicle time with Mimi!
Here is a good one up close of Eliana for those who haven’t seen her in a while…it was at the birthday party that Mimi and Pops had for all the grandkids:
Wow…I am FINALLY putting all my pics from my camera on the computer. I have been wanting to talk about our trip to FL for a while now!
A couple weeks ago, the kids and I packed up and headed down to see our amazing family (who we are also privileged to call FRIENDS!!). What a fun trip! The car ride was actually really good–the kiddos were very patient! We got to go to the beach a lot, to the pool, to the Y, and just enjoy their everyday life with them.
When I leave them, my cup is always overflowing! And, I can say the same thing for the kids…they LOVE their Uncle Chad, Aunt ‘E’–yes, they call her Aunt E, even though her name is Karen????–, and cousins!!!!
Here are some pictures from our trip!:
Woelke’s, here we come!!!
My sweet neice was a HUGE help with Eliana! She loved to feed her (even solids!) hold her, talk to her, play with her! So sweet!
Playing on the beach!
Naptime!
What a cutie! LOVE that boy!
Buddies!
Hanging out with Uncle Chad and Poppy!
About to jump in!
The four older cousins…
Thank you, Woelke’s and Poppy for a GREAT time! It was a blessing to get to spend the week with you! We love you so much!
And, while I am getting link-happy (thanks Ashleigh for teaching me how to do this!), last week’s was incredible, too…go HERE to listen …it was on the parable of the two LOST sons (on this same topic).
Some things to ponder:
RELIGION SAYS:
I obey-therefore I am accepted.
THE GOSPEL SAYS:
I am accepted-therefore I obey.
RELIGION SAYS:
Motivation is based on fear and insecurity.
THE GOSPEL SAYS:
Motivation is based on grateful joy.
RELIGION SAYS:
I obey God in order to get things from God.
THE GOSPEL SAYS:
I obey God to get to God-to delight and resemble Him.
RELIGION SAYS:
When circumstances in my life go wrong, I am angry at God or myself, since I believe, like Job’s friends that anyone who is good deserves a comfortable life.
THE GOSPEL SAYS:
When circumstances in my life go wrong, I struggle but I know all my punishment fell on Jesus and that while he may allow this for my training, he will exercise his Fatherly love within my trial.
RELIGION SAYS:
When I am criticized I am furious or devastated because it is critical that I think of myself as a “good person.” Threats to that self-image must be destroyed at all costs.
THE GOSPEL SAYS:
When I am criticized I struggle, but it is not critical for me to think of myself as a “good person.” My identity is not built on my record or my performance but on God’s love for me in Christ. I can take criticism.
RELIGION SAYS:
My prayer life consists largely of petition and it only heats up when I am in a time of need. My main purpose in prayer is control of the environment.
THE GOSPEL SAYS:
My prayer life consists of generous stretches of praise and adoration. My main purpose is fellowship with Him.
RELIGION SAYS:
My self-view swings between two poles. If and when I am living up to my standards, I feel confident, but then I am prone to be proud and unsympathetic to failing people. If and when I am not living up to standards, I feel insecure and inadequate. I’m not confident. I feel like a failure.
THE GOSPEL SAYS:
My self-view is not based on a view of my self as a moral achiever. In Christ I am “simul iustus et peccator”–simultaneously sinful and yet accepted in Christ. I am so bad he had to die for me and I am so loved he was glad to die for me. This leads me to deeper and deeper humility and confidence at the same time. Neither swaggering nor sniveling.
RELIGION SAYS:
My identity and self-worth are based mainly on how hard I work. Or how moral I am, and so I must look down on those I perceive as lazy or immoral. I disdain and feel superior to “the other.”
THE GOSPEL SAYS:
My identity and self-worth are centered on the one who died for His enemies, who was excluded from the city for me. I am saved by sheer grace. So I can’t look down on those who believe or practice something different from me. Only by grace I am what I am. I’ve no inner need to win arguments.
RELIGION SAYS:
Since I look to my own pedigree or performance for my spiritual acceptability, my heart manufactures idols. It may be my talents, my moral record,my personal discipline, my social status, etc. I absolutely have to have them so they serve as my main hope, meaning, happiness, security, and significance, whatever I may say I believe about God.
THE GOSPEL SAYS:
I have many good things in my life–family, work, spiritual disciplines, etc. But none of these good things are ultimate things to me. None of them are things I absolutely have to have, so there is a limit to how much anxiety, bitterness, and despondency they can inflict on me when they are threatened and lost.
(from Tim Keller)
Oh, Lord…continue to root in me THE GOSPEL…NOT RELIGION…I beg you.
Well, well—it is a celebration again at the Crenshaw house!!!!! Happy Birthday BRIAN!!!!!!!
I have been working on this post since yesterday, but I don’t even know how to put my sweet husband into words to celebrate him on here! I can’t say enough about how thankful I am for him. This morning I gave him a simple list of 33 reasons why I love him (he turns 33 today), and I realized that I came up with 33 in about 2 seconds. I should have done AT LEAST 99, with 3 for every year, although I could easily do 999999! He is such an incredible leader of our home. The Lord knew EXACTLY who I needed in a husband–he loves me so well, and challenges me to love Jesus more and more. It is sweet how the kids ADORE him…I mean, ADORE him! If we are leaving somewhere and coming home, Austin or Olivia will say, “Do you think Daddy is at home?” If his car is there when we come around the corner, they squeal with delight and say, “He IS! He IS HOME! YAY!!!!!” I love it. I love that they want to be like him–he is an incredible example to follow. I pray that they will “follow him, as he follows Christ.” And that he does…he is such a Christ-follower! I learn so much about the love of Christ and the life of Christ through him. I love asking him Biblical things. I say he is a genius and he helps me understand so much! Happy Birthday, B! Love you! Thank you for leading us so selflessly!
Here are some of HIS loves:
P.S. It is obviously his twin brother’s birthday, too…not like he reads this, but Happy Birthday to Brent, too!
