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"Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin..." Acts 13:39 

I stumbled across this verse today:  "There they crucified him, and with him two others--one on each side and Jesus in the middle." John 19:18

Revelation. Jesus in the middle. A truth that has escaped me all my life. 

The rest of the story:

"One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!"

But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong." Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."

Jesus answered him, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise." Luke 23:39 - 43

A lot of us have always known Jesus was hung on the cross between two criminals. What hit me today was the wording "in the middle, one on each side". Because Jesus is still in the middle. Each one of us is the first criminal, hurling insults and mocking and ignoring our own sin. But when we choose to believe Jesus is who he says he is...we become the last criminal, saved and promised paradise.

Those criminals could do nothing to rectify their behavior, they couldn't "fix" anything or earn their salvation, their time was up. All it took was to accept Jesus as the Messiah and believe him. That's how it is then, that's how it is now, that's how it will always be. I don't have to be clean and blameless to approach the cross, that's why Jesus is in the middle.

is anybody out there?

This past weekend, we got to visit with David & Misti and their girls for an afternoon.
David sweetly encouraged CHASTISED me for not updating the blog often anymore.
I wish I could tell you my reasons were virtuous...
...because I'm too busy volunteering all my time in my kids' classrooms...
...because I decided to go to college...
...because I've been traveling around the world, serving the needy...
Ahem.
No.
None of those things.
I have no reason! Except perhaps laziness!!
So please forgive me, and enjoy these excerpts from the past few months:

Spring decided to show up!!

Easter came and went...
Thank you Grandpa and Robin for the treats!!! The kids LOVED IT ALL!!!!
That last picture is a cookie Piper decorated to look like our babysitter, Elizabeth. hahaha!

This year, Piper's big ballet performance was the CAC School of Ballet's rendition of
"The Nutcracker", called "Clara's Magical Dream".
Piper was a peppermint.
The sweetest of all!
Yes, I am biased.

Mother's Day!
The top picture is the bag Piper decorated that held my Mother's Day present.
Notice she loves me...awww...
...but also that she is FARTING. Ahem.
On Mother's Day, we made the trek to Michigan to hunt for mushrooms.
While this was NOT my idea of the perfect Mother's Day,
(we just HAD to go THAT DAY or ALL the mushrooms would be GONE)
we all had fun and I enjoyed hiking through the woods with my little fam.

Randoms, from top to bottom:
1. Self-explanatory!
2. The last Friday of the school year.
3. Piper's class made a different recipe every Friday, then compiled them all into an adorable cookbook!
4. The first fire and s'mores night of the season.

Today is their LAST DAY of school!
We are very proud of them...they both worked hard this year.
They both made improvements.
They both learned new things.
But most importantly, we saw real spiritual growth in both of them.
THAT is a gift and blessing from above that this mama treasures in her heart forever.

christmas leftovers

The kids received this North Pole Communicator in the mail before Christmas from my Grandpa and his wife Robin. 

They got to call the North Pole every night before bed and have a conversation with various North Pole residents...

even Santa and Mrs. Clause! 

This was so much fun and the kids LOVED it!

Soon after Jason and I got married, we began daydreaming and wishing and hoping and even praying for another couple to share life with. In our WILDEST and most hope-filled dreams, this couple would have children the same ages as our children and the children would all get along splendidly and love each other like siblings. 

We knew our dreams and hopes were unlikely to come true, but we did dream on. 

Then we got to know the Gerbers. This family is a gift from God to us!! All of our wildest dreams have come true and even some we never dared to dream! Our families are scattered all over the country, so the Bakers and Gerbers have become family to each other. It's wonderful and we are so grateful and we know we are blessed!! We got together before Christmas for what we hope will become an annual tradition. We had Ashley's Swedish Pancakes with bacon and sausage, we gave gifts, we played games, we laughed and laughed some more.

"WE ARE TIRED OF WAITING!!!!!!!"

(Christmas morning)

"Alright, alright...come open your presents!"

"Will this fit in my mouth?!"

This was our backyard last week!! The kids got to have a WHOLE extra week added to their Christmas break! It was absolutely perfectly wonderful. We enjoyed every single moment!!!! Today the snow is melting, I can see patches of brown earth being revealed by the dwindling snow piles. The kids are back to school and I am slowly getting back to normal.

Mack received this car-maker from Grandpa & Robin. It's so fun and really cool!! There are wax sticks that get melted into a mold and once it's cooled, he can customize his creation however he likes with stickers and various chassis'. 

We've all enjoyed this gift!

'tis the season

'tis the season for...

...sipping a hot beverage while ruminating by the tree...

...going over the river and through the woods to grandmother's house...

(for Thanksgiving)

(in Wisconsin)

...for crisp breezes bringing in puffy clouds...

...for stop-and-go traffic in Chicago...

(who am I kidding?? the traffic didn't GO at all!)

(8 hour trip turned 12!)

(with 2 bored children and 2 frustrated parents)

(crammed into a Honda Civic)

(these are memories we're making, right?!?!)

...for beautiful sunsets that remind us God is always in control and always good...

...for fun rounds of boisterous games with family...

(lots of laughs!)

(precious memories I will cherish forever)

...for loving on my niece & nephew weens...

...for finding a NEW way home that was much more peaceful...

(much more scenic)

(NO Chicago!)

(turned an 8 hour drive back into an 8 hour drive instead of 12)

...for old life to rest and make way for new life...

...for cuteness...

(ok, it's always the season for cuteness!)

...and for snuggling in with your favorite people and your favorite festive entertainments.

We hope you are also enjoying this season with family and friends and loved ones!

This year we are being intentional about stopping, about savoring, about remembering.

It is for FREEDOM that God gave us his son, may we all rest in that freedom this Christmas as we remember the LOVE he has for us...the love we cannot even comprehend!

{fresh encounter}

 

Yesterday I got to spend the whole day at a prayer retreat aptly named "Fresh Encounter". I have never done anything like that {ever} and it was wonderful. We were sent out "into the wilderness" a few times throughout the day, just to sit and be still before God and bask in Jesus' presence. It was amazing and like salve to my worn-thin and exhausted soul. If you ever get an opportunity to do something like this...DO IT.

God's Disappointment

"I know God LOVES me, but I disappoint Him."

That's me. That's been me for as long as I can remember.

The word "disappoint" or "disappointed" is only found in scripture (God's WORD) a handful of times, in some translations not at all or only ONCE. And where it IS found in scripture, the word is not referring to God's disappointment. For example:  "And this hope will never disappoint us..." Romans 5:5

God is NOT disappointed in us.

disappointed:  (of a person) sad or displeased because someone or something has failed to fulfill one's hopes or expectations.

It is IMPOSSIBLE for God to be disappointed. Look at that definition! We can never fail to fulfill His expectations of us because He already KNOWS who we are, what we are, what we will or will not do...better than we know these things ourselves! "You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely." Psalm 139:1-4

So do you see?? He CAN NOT be disappointed!! He knows us completely AND WITH THAT KNOWLEDGE, HE CHOSE US!

He chose ME.

HE CHOSE YOU.

"You did not choose me, but I chose you..." John 15:16

Let that truth sink-in today. Let it fill you up to overflowing with the FREEDOM of His LOVE and GRACE!!! I am! I am choosing to believe what HE says about me and I have never felt so much peace and love and FREEDOM.

(I must give credit where credit is due! I got to see Beth Moore live via Simulcast yesterday and this is just one small nugget of truth she shared. I may share more as I continue to allow God's truth to settle in to my heart and soul...she called it a "growth spurt of grace" and that is indeed what I experienced!! God is amazing.)

blessings

Rain pouring down in the bright sunlight.

An unexpected gift from my parents.

Seeing Beth Moore LIVE via simulcast with my very beloved and precious friend Ashley. This day was a life-changing soul-drenching celebration of Jesus' GRACE and I will never be the same. #nolonger

I ADORE FALL and everything about it!!!

I hope your weekend is full of contentment in the blessings God has richly given YOU!

completely out of order update

I have a lot of stuff to share but today I only have a minute! 

LOOK what we did today!

Yes, I know we go back early here on the banks of the Wabash.

But we are out before Memorial Day, barring any huge blizzards.

It was H.A.R.D. on this mama to watch our baby go off to Kindergarten!!

Waaaa waaa WAAAAA!!!!! :(

We have awesome kids and we know they are salt and light in this world.

But it's hard to let go.

"For this child I prayed..." 1 Samuel 1:27