Happy 8th Birthday Jonah!

Happy 8th Birthday to my sweet Jonah! This beautiful, smart, and inquisitive boy has brought so much joy to our lives. We are so proud of him! He loves to discuss hypotheticals and draw pictures. He dreams of building a go cart and a shed for his club. He is a wonderful big brother to Jude and he is so kind. Daddy, Jude and I love you, Jonah!! Happy Birthday!

My Baby Turned Five Today

Today, we've been celebrating..it's Jude's fifth birthday! We'll celebrate again with our family on Mother's Day..Jeanie's birthday is that day also. Come to think of it, we'll probably celebrate Lesh's, Jeff's and my birthday that day also! Lots of May birthdays in our family! :)

Jude has brought so much joy and fun into our lives. His laugh is wonderful and his smile lights up any room. He also builds patience in me..if you know Jude, you know what I'm talking about! He is witty, enthusiastic, and LOVES to rough house. Many bear the scars of playing with Jude. ;) He is also a sensitive soul..and has a beautiful singing voice. He still loves to snuggle with me (at least for a few moments) and his favorite thing to do is to pull Lesh and I together for a group hug (which he refers to as a "crowd hug").

Wow..I wouldn't trade one moment with him. He enjoys relaxing in the evenings in Lesh's lap watching YouTube funny animal videos. He is a Jonah's favorite playmate and they are truly best friends.

Jude, this post is for you...thanks for bringing so much JOY to our family these past five years..we love you!!!

Hosanna! Salvation is here!!

Like many of you, we have sung "Hosanna" year after year around Palm Sunday or on Resurrection Sunday (Easter Sunday). We sang this version of Hosanna by Hillsong United in our worship service yesterday and Jean Guy shared background on the word "Hosanna" that we found here. Jean Guy didn't know it, but Alex had just shared nearly the same thing in Adult Class. :)

I am thankful that I can cry Hosanna in confidence and know that "Salvation is here!!"

Enjoying Fritz's for the 1st time in 2011!

Tough guy. :)
















Amazing child.
















Enjoying delicious custard!..or "Frintz's" as Jude refers to it. :-)























So huggable. I am immeasurably blessed.

12 Years of Lesh and Jen

I'm a week late on this, but Lesh and I celebrated our 12th wedding anniversary on Sunday, November 21st. Oh how I love him. God knew just who I needed and I am so thankful for him. We have been through some really great times and some challenging ones as well, but he has been the best teammate. I love you, Lesh and I hope for many more years together with you.

Some Thoughts On Choosing A Spouse & Sowing & Reaping

I am so thankful that I married a man that believes in me, appreciates my talents and skills, and that he encourages me to be all that I can be through Jesus Christ. If you are a young woman still trying to find your life partner, I hope you take time and care and choose a man as great as mine. Any man who loves you will do so through his words and his actions. Marriage is a beautiful, lifelong commitment. Choose carefully..if you don't, you will set yourself up for a lifetime of heartbreak. You have heard "we sow what we reap." Well, it's true. The choices you are making right now..today, will affect the rest of your life.

Here are some signs you might have the right guy:
1. He serves God wholeheartedly.
2. He respects and honors you.
3. He respects biblical boundaries.
4. He respects and honors your family.
5. Your "true friends" like him. (Not the friends that agree with everything you say..)
6. You are not ashamed to introduce him to the people who care about you the most.

I was blessed with really awesome parents who encouraged my sister, my brother and I to choose carefully when choosing who we would date and who we would marry. (You will most definitely marry someone you have dated..right?) I always knew that my parents believed that I was an incredible young woman, that they believed that my well being was more important than any amount of fame, popularity, or wealth, and that they knew I deserved the best.

Parents, if your children do not know that you think they are the best and that they deserve the best, go tell them! We cannot lose our children to a world that would harm them and use them for destructive purposes. Our children and family members..and friends..are the only ones we can bring into eternity. Invest now. If you don't invest now..you will invest in the future..and it will be in legal fees, counseling for broken hearts, and in so many other ways for the rest of their lives. Sow now and sow carefully.

Haven't done everything just right? Begin now..you can still make a difference. Give your dreams, hopes, disappointments, brokenness..all of it, to Jesus. He can help you re-build your life, one step at a time.

Proud of My Boy

I'm going to have to be the "proud momma" here for a bit. We were invited to a reception honoring some good friends, Robert and Evangeline Rodenbush, on 42 years of missionary ministry. We were planning to take the boys with us to the reception, but they were a bit confused about what we would be celebrating..and why they wouldn't be attending Wednesday evening service as we always do. We explained it was kind of like a party. Jonah asked if it was our friend's birthday. We said "no..we'll be celebrating that they shared Jesus with people all over the world for many, many years." He didn't say much after that.

Wednesday afternoon, my mother sent me a note and said that she and my father would take the boys with them to church so that Lesh and I could enjoy the more "adult friendly" event without the boys. We agreed, and then told the boys they would be going to church instead of the reception. I could see Jonah was torn, but he surprised me with this. "Okay mom. Tell Brother Rodenbush that I said "hi"." I agreed. "And tell him congratulations." I assured him that I would. He continued "and tell him that I said thank you for telling all the people in the world about Jesus...okay mom?" I agreed to do that, and then I went in my room and got all weepy. So proud of my boy and that he understands that is worth celebrating.

Before we left, he made me repeat the message I would be relaying to Brother Rodenbush. Then he said "If you forget what to say mom, just call me and I will tell you." LOL

Lesh delivered the message to Brother Rodenbush. Jonah has a heart of gold. I couldn't love that child more than I do.