Sunday, August 22, 2010

Marvelous Monday

"Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." Matthew 18:19-20

This came to mind recently while on facebook. You know those things, "Like this if your dog is awesome." Well I recently read one that several people liked, "Going to church doesn't make you a christian anymore than standing in the garage makes you a car." At one time I would have completely agreed with this. I still agree that just because you go to church does not make you a christian.

BUT, I also believe that as a christian you should be involved in some way with other christians. In my case it is church, life groups, small groups, working in the church, etc. Other people may do one of those things, or something completely different. I just believe that someone needs to be rooted in something with other believers.

As a teenager, I was offended by my church, and it sadly took me a long time to be free from that offense. Once we moved to Colorado, the church we attended was convenient for me. Go when I want, get in and out, not too much, but I was still a christian. Only now do I realize how much I was prohibiting my spiritual growth.

After changing churches, and becoming involved in our amazing church now, I see what I was missing. Was there anything wrong with those other churches? No. It was me. I like what my pastor talks about, to paraphrase, "it is not what the church does for you, it is what you do for the church." Jesus came to this earth to be serve, not to be served. Are we excepting our churches today to feed us spiritually, and and make us feel good, but we do nothing for the kingdom?

Things I have found after I became planted in the church are irreplaceable. I don't want to elaborate too much, but are you planted in a church? If not, is there someone who is in agreement with you? Are you involved in something that two or three are coming together, and praising God, and he is there with you? Are you planted and bearing fruit? Are you serving, and using your God given gifts to further his kingdom?

I was not, and this is something I will always be working on. I say this not to be boastful, or to lecture. I just know that this mindset changed my life. You can never have too many people praying for you. You can never have too many blessings. And you can certainly never be too close to God.

Saturday, August 21, 2010

Bugs deer and snakes, Oh MY!

Several weeks ago, we went on one of our family hikes.

We tried a new place, a park that is kind of in the middle of town. It was nice, but not very far away. Brady relaxed in the hiking pack and also walked some.

We saw a mama and baby deer, some bugs, and...

A RATTLE SNAKE! He was huge! Look closely in the picture and you can see him. We were walking and Jeremy mentioned seeing a sign that there are rattlesnakes around. He teases me often, so I thought he was joking. All the sudden he says "stop, look at that snake!" Sure enough there was a snake crossing the trail right in front of us. We don't think he saw us, he did not rattle or stop. I am so glad Jeremy was there. I don't think I would have seen him, and I was not getting close enough to take a picture.

Sure enough there was a warning sign at the end of our hike.

Run Brady! Just kidding, he was safe in the hiking pack for the snake incident.

Love Colorado, snakes and all!

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

last day of summer

Yesterday was the last day of summer for my niece and nephew so we decided to celebrate and head to the zoo. It was a beautiful day out, and a great way to end the summer. Lucky for Brady and I our summer fun is still going!

Lily the skunk, we fed her crickets

Feeding the new baby Giraffe



Ready to ride a pony

First pony ride all by himself

What a great way to end the summer.

I think some of us may be happy school is back in session :)

Monday, August 16, 2010

Marvelous Mondays

So Mondays are not always marvelous, sometimes they are down right yucky. But they don't have to be. They can be a great starting point to the rest of your week.

For that reason I have decided to start sharing things that have brought revelation and light to my life, on Monday's. Hopefully they can speak to you as they have spoken to me. Most will be scripture.

I may or may not elaborate on these depending how I am feeling. I hope nothing I say offends anyone. This is my blog, and just my opinion, but if you have a problem with the word of God, take it up with God. I will be praying each week, and I hope that God will speak to others through the blog.

Bear with me, and hopefully I will get to posting each Monday. Tonight it is late, so I will be starting off light, but there are few greater words.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength Mark 12:30

Have a blessed week!

Saturday, August 14, 2010

Library Party 2

Sadly because Jeremy's Grandma passed away we were unable to go on our camping trip, so we were able to make it to the big library party I talked about in this post. Brady and his cousins, Chelsey and Zack, had a great time. Enjoy the pictures.

The kids in the helicopter. We got to be very close and watch it take off, definitely my favorite part.

Zack and Chels on the police motorcycle


With the star wars guys

In the police car. The silly airforce falcon sat in the police car, and then afterward he sat in our empty stroller. It was quite funny.


You know these are not my children, because if they were, they would not be holding a huge pet roach! As Brady would say, "gusgusting!"

The theme this summer was under the sea, so of course they had a mermaid.

Not sure how I missed getting any pictures of Brady, but don't worry he had a great time too.

Sunday, August 8, 2010

One of those kids

I am a little scared that Brady might be one of those weirdo kids. I know he isn't really, he is just 2, but what if he never grows out of his strange traits.

The strange trait currently is sticking things up Brady's nose.

First were the eyes from his quiet book, which he eventually sneezed out.

Next were pieces of rice, while I was cleaning up dinner, and I guess he got bored.

Most recently, the other night, once again while I was cleaning up dinner, he stuck a peanut up his nose. We had chicken with a peanut sauce, which also had a garnish of peanuts, and a side of rice. I heard him snorting, like he was blowing something out of his nose. Since we had rice, I assumed it was rice again. I took the rest of his dinner away, and tried to make him blow out anything in his nose. I looked in his nose, and noticed a little something in there. I tried to get it out, but then he looked like he was in pain. I called Jerm for back up, and we both tried to get it out. I started to panic and run upstairs for tweezers, but just then I peanut comes flying out of his nose, all gross and boogery! ewe!

The Gross Peanut

Sad boy, after the peanut incident


So, sadly, Brady has to be watched closely for putting things in his nose. Again I pray this is a faze and he will not be sticking crayons up his nose in 3rd grade, no one wants to sit next to that kid!

Sunday, August 1, 2010

Library Party #1

We love our local library! We go there at least once a week, either for story time, or to use the other many other resources. In the summer, they have a great reading program for the kids, with tons of prizes. They also have a bunch of different things for the kids all summer long.

This summer we saw miniature horses, a singing mermaid, and a magician. At the end of the summer they have a party with tons of fun things for the kids. We were supposed to be out of town for the big party, so we went to the smaller, north Colorado Springs party. I had my two nephews, and niece with me that day, so anything we did would be fun for Brady.

The kids got their faces painted, and temporary tattoos. Brady did very well and sat perfectly still. They also got their hair sprayed cool colors.



They were doing Tae Kwan Do lessons, and though the other kids have done it before, Brady did not hesitate to jump right in. He was the youngest by at least two years. He thinks he is five!

Here is a video of Brady trying to be just like his cousins, so cute!

Brady doing Tae kwon do from Melissa Yeats on Vimeo.


After their lesson, the other kids got to punch, and break a board. The lady looked at me like, your little 2 year old can not do this, so he observed.



Lastly we got to meet some firefighters, and see the firetruck. The coolest thing was getting to spray the fire hose. Once again, Brady was not shy and ran right up to do whatever his cousins were doing.



The kids had such a fun day, and I must admit it was pretty fun for me to. Love the library.