I need a guestbook.

According to this blog, all we do around here is host guests! It's really not true though. Most evenings are spent with just us, cooking dinner, watching tv, grading papers, and checking facebook. And playing Kinect. :) I just do a terrible job of updating when I don't have something major going on. I'll work on that.

Anyways, we had guests again this weekend! My grandma and grandpa came to visit. They drove here from Illinois and stayed for the weekend. We weren't able to do a whole lot due to the annoying cold winter weather even though it's SPRING. No sightseeing, or grilling outside, or enjoying the scenery, because it was just so stinkin' cold. Oh well. We had fun anyway! Our visit consisted of some eating out, some eating in, and a visit to a dinner theater here which was so fun! The evening began with a buffet, and then they moved all the food out and the show began! We saw the musical "Happy Days" and it was so good! We all enjoyed it and will definitely be taking future guests! Another highlight of the weekend is shown below . . . are you ready for this?

They played Kinect!

Is that not one of the funniest pictures ever? They were ducking under something.

I'm pretty sure I have the coolest grandparents on the planet.

So, all of that was very exciting, but the highlight of the weekend was Sunday night,for sure. After a conversation with my grandpa, he made the decision to accept Christ into his life!!!!!!! What a long-awaited answer to prayer! I know many of you have had a hand in praying for him, and this is such an amazing example of how God keeps his promises. We had the conversation Sunday night, they drove home Monday, and he was baptized around 6 pm tonight! I know I'm celebrating along with all of heaven tonight and I hope you'll join me in saying a prayer of thanks as well. :)

It's hard to wrap up after a story like that, but I'll just say that God continues to grow my faith and surround me with people who support and challenge me in my walk with Christ. I am so thankful for my husband, my dear friends, and our amazing Lifegroup and church that we've found here. We have been so incredibly blessed and I love to look back on how God has guided us every step of the way so that His plan is the one that is carried out, not ours. Amidst the challenges and unknowns of life, it's nice to know that I've got a God who always has the best in mind for me.

For I know the plans I have for you, plans to give you hope and a future. -Jeremiah 29:11

Indeed, God keeps his promises. Keep an eye out for how he's guiding you this week.

[Celebrating in MD] :)




Spring has arrived [insert a dozen nose sniffles here].

Dear Warm Weather [sniff],

I adore you and [sniff] your sunny smile and [sneeze] your welcoming  of my children outside for recess instead of being cooped [sniffle]up for crazy indoor recess which I [double sneeze]hate, and I also love capris [sniff] and skirts which you [sniffle] allow as well. However, next year, PLEASE [sneeze] leave the [sniff] allergies [triple sneeze] behind [sniffle, sniff]! Thank you!

Sincerely [sniff]
Mrs. [sneeze] M

So, it has been an absolutely gorgeous day here today, but my allergies are causing sinus and migraine issues that have left me on the couch with a box of kleenex on this Friday night! Ugh. Time to break out the Zyrtec. It's almost springtime! Good thing Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is on ABC Family tonight. :)

A special visitor came to us this week! Brent's sister spent the first part of her Spring Break with us, including her birthday!

We met her at the airport on Saturday . . .

On Sunday, we celebrated her 17th birthday with yummy homemade chocolate cake and sparkling cider!

Yum!

And what a lovely visit it was! Shannon even made us a delicious dinner on Monday night! It was so fun to have her here and just hang out. Anyone else want to come for a visit? I'll make you cake, too, even if it's not your birthday! :)

So, as I had mentioned before, our lifegroup is reading the book Crazy Love by Francis Chan. I must say, I have never been so challenged in my relationship with God before and I love love love it. It was time for me to make a change and this book was just what I needed. It is such a blessing to share discussion with our incredible lifegroup as well. I think the most challenging part has been looking at what God considers "lukewarm" and realizing all the lukewarm traits about my life and faith. What a kick in the pants! However, it has been nice to honestly discuss with others their opinions and thoughts about the topic. Such an encouragement. I strongly, strongly encourage anyone, no matter where they are at in their faith, to read this book. Be ready to change your life and fall in love with the amazing God who created us and the universe. Let me know what you think!

I'll stop there for today, because I could go on and on about what I've learned from the book. It's been a hectic few weeks and I haven't posted about it as much as I would like, but I hope to do so in the future, as well as update you on some changes I've made. If nothing else, this week, I challenge you to move away from being lukewarm and strive to love God the way he deserves. Don't forget to look for all the ways that I know He'll bless you as well.

Hope all is well with ya'll! Much love.

[hugsfromMD]