At BSF on Monday, we sang this hymn. Now I have to say that many times
during the hymn singing at BSF, I'm frustrated by the vocal range the songs
expect of the singer and too often I'm just thinking, "That's crazy!" But
thank God for His Holy Spirit that convicts and works even in a
distracted heart like mine. The lyrics hit me so strong because this is
my heart's cry. Daily I pray for this to be true in my life.
Breathe on me, Breath of God, Fill me with life anew,
That I may love what Thou dost love, And do what Thou wouldst do.
Breathe on me, Breath of God, Until my heart is pure,
Until with Thee I will one will,To do and to endure.
Breathe on me, Breath of God, Till I am wholly Thine,
Till all this earthly part of me Glows with Thy fire divine.
Breathe on me, Breath of God, So shall I never die,
But live with Thee the perfect life Of Thine eternity.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Breathe on Me Breath of God
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Easter Memories
We had a beautiful Easter day! Started off with the kids hunting for their Easter baskets, which the Easter Bunny hid really well this year! Even stumped Ben & Zeke for a long time! Of course, they stuffed themselves on candy and they all have their favorites!
We headed over to the Oesterles afterwards to have a family dinner, but much of the family was missing this year! Cheryl and Mark were on a cruise, Nichole was at her boyfriend's family dinner, and the Gorrells & Townsends came later. So those of us who enjoyed Mom's great cooking were stuffed and laughed a lot because of how my boys smother Craig! They just adore him, enjoy teasing him, laying on him, and egging him on to wrestle with them. They sandwiched all around him at the table and he is definately still their "captain" whether he likes it or not.
Mom and Dad prepared an egg hunt (outside the perimeter of Ebony's electric line of course) and our children so enjoy it! It definately is a race, with a few of the older kids still sneeking in and nabbing an egg or two.
Then off to the Sinnaeve's we went. Of course there was more eating involved and more candy! The cousins played out on Grandpa & Grandma's porch and giggled and giggled! I don't know what was so funny about the swing, but they couldn't stop laughing! We also played cards which is always a lot of fun! I think that is one thing I'm thankful for, that my kids are growing up having fun with their grandparents - they are always willing to include and play card games with them.
Thank you God for the blessings of FAMILY!
Nate loved the Spongebob Crabby Patties, 
Maddie loves Nerds and Laffy Taffy, 
Ben enjoys Reeses & his huge Kiss, 
Isaiah isn't particular as long as the main ingredient is chocolate, 
Jake enjoyed the Robin Eggs.
Maddie loves Nerds and Laffy Taffy, 
Ben enjoys Reeses & his huge Kiss, 
Isaiah isn't particular as long as the main ingredient is chocolate, 
Jake enjoyed the Robin Eggs.
Then off to a nice church service where Jake and I played Love is Here together. 
Christ is Risen - He is Risen indeed!
Christ is Risen - He is Risen indeed!We headed over to the Oesterles afterwards to have a family dinner, but much of the family was missing this year! Cheryl and Mark were on a cruise, Nichole was at her boyfriend's family dinner, and the Gorrells & Townsends came later. So those of us who enjoyed Mom's great cooking were stuffed and laughed a lot because of how my boys smother Craig! They just adore him, enjoy teasing him, laying on him, and egging him on to wrestle with them. They sandwiched all around him at the table and he is definately still their "captain" whether he likes it or not.
Mom and Dad prepared an egg hunt (outside the perimeter of Ebony's electric line of course) and our children so enjoy it! It definately is a race, with a few of the older kids still sneeking in and nabbing an egg or two.
Then off to the Sinnaeve's we went. Of course there was more eating involved and more candy! The cousins played out on Grandpa & Grandma's porch and giggled and giggled! I don't know what was so funny about the swing, but they couldn't stop laughing! We also played cards which is always a lot of fun! I think that is one thing I'm thankful for, that my kids are growing up having fun with their grandparents - they are always willing to include and play card games with them.
Thank you God for the blessings of FAMILY!The Blessings of Family
I cannot express the joy FAMILY brings to me and my children. I don't know if it's because we homeschool or that God's just given us this appreciation for each member of our extended family soo much! There have been so many things I've wanted to blog about, but time is one of the things I have in shortage around here. So I want to take some time to share some of the sweet memories we've had in the past month or so.
My sister, Charissa, and I have gotten together about every 2 weeks since Jake was a little baby. We had lived up near them in Grand Rapids at that time and when we moved away, we were determined to stay close and to give our children the opportunities they needed to be close as well. So it has been a tradition we've kept for going on 12 years!
A few weeks ago, we spent the day up at their house and tackled the project of making bible covers for my husband, my brother, and myself. If you've never met Charis, let me share she is amazing! She can do anything she sets her mind to and this was something she decided she could make. We worked all day long until about 7p.m. hammering holes and attaching rivets, cutting and sewing the leather, and then dying it.
They turned out beautiful!While we were doing this, the boys were playing guitar and having nerf wars, while Chaney and Maddie played games and made muffins together. My children just adore their cousins! 
This visit was followed a few weeks later by a visit from the Townsends during their spring break. They spent the night and we had so much fun! Our time consisted of everything we all love - music, pictures, James Bond, Memory, Suduko, Spongebob Uno, guns, knives (okay those are things the boys love), listening to Chaney play the Thunder song on the piano, Jake singing his Transformer song, adventuring out in the woods and freeking our neighbors out about the "boys walking around with bb guns" (okay - another thing the boys love), making calazones together and enjoying them with delicious slush and Madagascar 2.
It was just a precious time of building relationships and memories together. I know Chaney and Landon are both growing up so fast and maybe always hanging out with their "little" cousins isn't always fun (like when they are doing the automatic deoderant to you and won't stop), but the love and laughter we share is priceless. 
My sister, Charissa, and I have gotten together about every 2 weeks since Jake was a little baby. We had lived up near them in Grand Rapids at that time and when we moved away, we were determined to stay close and to give our children the opportunities they needed to be close as well. So it has been a tradition we've kept for going on 12 years!
A few weeks ago, we spent the day up at their house and tackled the project of making bible covers for my husband, my brother, and myself. If you've never met Charis, let me share she is amazing! She can do anything she sets her mind to and this was something she decided she could make. We worked all day long until about 7p.m. hammering holes and attaching rivets, cutting and sewing the leather, and then dying it.
They turned out beautiful!
This visit was followed a few weeks later by a visit from the Townsends during their spring break. They spent the night and we had so much fun! Our time consisted of everything we all love - music, pictures, James Bond, Memory, Suduko, Spongebob Uno, guns, knives (okay those are things the boys love), listening to Chaney play the Thunder song on the piano, Jake singing his Transformer song, adventuring out in the woods and freeking our neighbors out about the "boys walking around with bb guns" (okay - another thing the boys love), making calazones together and enjoying them with delicious slush and Madagascar 2.
It was just a precious time of building relationships and memories together. I know Chaney and Landon are both growing up so fast and maybe always hanging out with their "little" cousins isn't always fun (like when they are doing the automatic deoderant to you and won't stop), but the love and laughter we share is priceless. 
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Love is Here
This past weekend, my brother, Carl, and Jake played at the Good Friday Service in Dansville. They played Love is Here by Tenth Avenue North and it was so awesome! Below is the video of them practicing before the service.
What surprised me was how nervous Carl was when the time came! He is such an awesome guitarist and has such a beautiful voice, I never imagined he would be nervous. He was amazed at how "Joe Cool" Jake was about the whole thing!
It has been such a blessing these past few months to spend time with my brother and for my children to hang out with their uncle. I sometimes find myself understanding the happiness the father felt when his prodigal son returned because for so many years it has felt like Carl's been lost to our family. Prayers do get answered though and these past 6 months are a good example of how God can take a difficult time in his life and bring good out of it. Carl has renewed his walk with God and as a family, we rejoice in the time spent with him.
Anyways, I played along with them whenever they practiced, so on Easter Sunday I got the opportunity to play it with Jake for our church service!
I absolutely loved it! Jake seemed more nervous there and sang very softly, so I was trying to sing softer so I wouldn't dominate, so I'm not sure if anyone heard the words - but I'll never forget it. It may not be as cool for him to play with me, but it is definately cool for me to play with him and worship God together! Love is Here - not only God's love, but family relationships!
Nothing is Off Limits to You
The idea that nothing is off limits to God in my life - that He has the right and the permission from me (not that He needs it) to move and do His work - is my heart's passion - my constant prayer.
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