Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Winter Pictures
After our big day of bowling, we met our neighbor, Amelia, for her to take some pictures of the girls. She had contacted me and offered a mini winter session outside. She is so talented and I love her photography style, so we decided to take her up on the offer. She said to bring their winter hats and she would have some "hot chocolate" for pictures. Honestly, Justin and I weren't prepared to have our picture made, but she snapped a quick family photo while we were there too.
Their First Attempt at Bowling
A few weekends ago, we decided to take the girls bowling for their first time. Lainie always loves playing on the Wii, so we thought she would probably love it even more in person. :) They were so excited and had such a great time. We used the ramp so it was easier for them to knock some pins down. While the big girls bowled, Ellie was content to sit, watch and eat some popcorn! We will definitely be going again soon. Lainie has been asking to go back since we left.
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Best Friends
These two girls are absolutely the best of friends. They love each other so much, and really do play really well together. Of course, they have their moments of frustration and selfishness, but really love each other well. I hope that they remain close as they grow, and eventually realize how fortunate they are to have each other. Of course, I know Ellie will become a very best friend to them and them to her as she grows. Sisters are the best!
Monday, March 5, 2012
The Storm
The sky slowly transitions from blue to grey, and the clouds become more present above. The trees begin to sway and dance as the wind blows through their branches. Wind chimes sing, waters ripple, and the air becomes thick and moist. A storm is coming. It is possibly one that has been predicted, or it might have come on suddenly, a surprise to those that feel its force. No matter how it comes, it leaves its mark. The wind and rain, who are sometimes peaceful and tranquil, are forceful and powerful this time. The lightning crashes, and immediately thunder strikes, not in the distance, but instead directly in front of us. It is loud, dark, strong, and destructive. To some, it brings anxiety, fear, hopelessness, doubt, for it is bigger than we are, more powerful than we are.
The winds die down, the thunder rolls off into the distance, the rain begins to stop, and the clouds glide through the sky. The sky goes from grey to blue, the wind chimes hang still. Where bright bolts of lightning were seen, there is now a golden ray of sunshine. However, there is aftermath of the storm. Trees lie on the ground, objects blown to their sides, puddles are pooled, and mud is smeared throughout the grass. Surprisingly, through the aftermath, we are able to see an amazing beauty that wasn't there before. Flowers are brighter in color, grass is greener in shade, the sky is a piercing shade of blue, the air is cool, crisp, and the landscape is picturesque. There is a clarity surrounding us that is new, fresh, clean, peaceful.
In life, when we are in the midst of a storm, it is very hard to feel protected, strong, fearless, powerful, for the storm is bigger than we are. The air around us is thick, there is a spirit of darkness that surrounds our souls, doubt begins to loom, and we are shaken to our core. In the midst of the storm, we often wonder how we will survive. Through the sheets of rain, the crashes of lightning, the pounding of thunder, can we be seen? Can we be heard? We lose sight of what is truth, what is possible, for we cannot see through the storm. Is there an end in sight? As the winds strengthen and the rain becomes spears in our sides, we begin to wilt. It is more than we can bear, more than we can handle. It leaves an aftermath.
Just as we are about to give up, something happens. Circumstances change, and the storm moves on. The air becomes clearer, the spirit of darkness turns into light, doubt becomes thankfulness, and we are again shaken to our core. Not because of fear, anxiety, or sadness, but instead because of amazement. The storm did not destroy us. It left an aftermath, but one that will be used for good. One that will change us, strengthen us, help others who will weather this storm. Even with the aftermath, the beauty that is seen in our cleansed souls is almost more than we can bear. For without the storm, this beauty would never have been seen. We have experienced a cleansing that cannot be brought about by us, but instead by circumstances that we have been called to experience.
He was with us through the storm. Not only was He with us, He protected us, walked with us, held us as we shook in fear, talked us through our doubt, strengthened us as we felt ourselves wilting. He was with us, and throughout the storm, was cleansing us. He washed our dirty souls, cleansed our minds, created a stronger, more faithful, more loving soul who was willing to get dirty again, was willing to brave another storm, a stronger storm. For after seeing His strength, His protection, and His cleansing, we realize that this storm was for our own good. It taught us things that we would not have learned otherwise. It strengthened us in ways that we didn't know were possible. And our new, cleansed self, although bruised and battered from the aftermath, will be ready to be used for His glory in ways that we could only have hoped for before. We are an image of His strength, His faithfulness, His love. We are beautiful.
The winds die down, the thunder rolls off into the distance, the rain begins to stop, and the clouds glide through the sky. The sky goes from grey to blue, the wind chimes hang still. Where bright bolts of lightning were seen, there is now a golden ray of sunshine. However, there is aftermath of the storm. Trees lie on the ground, objects blown to their sides, puddles are pooled, and mud is smeared throughout the grass. Surprisingly, through the aftermath, we are able to see an amazing beauty that wasn't there before. Flowers are brighter in color, grass is greener in shade, the sky is a piercing shade of blue, the air is cool, crisp, and the landscape is picturesque. There is a clarity surrounding us that is new, fresh, clean, peaceful.
In life, when we are in the midst of a storm, it is very hard to feel protected, strong, fearless, powerful, for the storm is bigger than we are. The air around us is thick, there is a spirit of darkness that surrounds our souls, doubt begins to loom, and we are shaken to our core. In the midst of the storm, we often wonder how we will survive. Through the sheets of rain, the crashes of lightning, the pounding of thunder, can we be seen? Can we be heard? We lose sight of what is truth, what is possible, for we cannot see through the storm. Is there an end in sight? As the winds strengthen and the rain becomes spears in our sides, we begin to wilt. It is more than we can bear, more than we can handle. It leaves an aftermath.
Just as we are about to give up, something happens. Circumstances change, and the storm moves on. The air becomes clearer, the spirit of darkness turns into light, doubt becomes thankfulness, and we are again shaken to our core. Not because of fear, anxiety, or sadness, but instead because of amazement. The storm did not destroy us. It left an aftermath, but one that will be used for good. One that will change us, strengthen us, help others who will weather this storm. Even with the aftermath, the beauty that is seen in our cleansed souls is almost more than we can bear. For without the storm, this beauty would never have been seen. We have experienced a cleansing that cannot be brought about by us, but instead by circumstances that we have been called to experience.
He was with us through the storm. Not only was He with us, He protected us, walked with us, held us as we shook in fear, talked us through our doubt, strengthened us as we felt ourselves wilting. He was with us, and throughout the storm, was cleansing us. He washed our dirty souls, cleansed our minds, created a stronger, more faithful, more loving soul who was willing to get dirty again, was willing to brave another storm, a stronger storm. For after seeing His strength, His protection, and His cleansing, we realize that this storm was for our own good. It taught us things that we would not have learned otherwise. It strengthened us in ways that we didn't know were possible. And our new, cleansed self, although bruised and battered from the aftermath, will be ready to be used for His glory in ways that we could only have hoped for before. We are an image of His strength, His faithfulness, His love. We are beautiful.
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