Life and Death

I have to keep this short...there are so many things that I need to get done right now, but first I just want to share this praise with anyone who will listen/read. This afternoon while driving in the van, Jon told me that he really wants to go to heaven. Then he asked me to help him pray and he asked God to forgive him of his sins (which we explained as disobedience) and confessed that he believes (as much as a four yr old can) that Jesus died for his sins and rose again. We then prayed that God would continue to teach him what that means and make him into a man that honors God. What a privilege and especially today--the anniversary of my brother's death--to explain to my son what it means to call Jesus your Savior and have eternal life!

Me

Typically this blog is mostly about those cute little "Gross boys" and not so much about me, because let's face it, telling stories about toddlers is much more interesting than telling stories about their mom. :) Today though, I'm going to steal the stage for just a minute. Just long enough to ask you to pray. Today marks three years from the day that my younger brother Joe died. He was only 18. He was on his way home from college (Grace College, my alma mater) for the first time when he was killed in a car accident. There are days when I still feel like it can't be true. Like maybe he just decided to stay out in Winona Lake and not visit much/at all, but the reality is that he is in a place far better than Winona Lake. He had a very real relationship with my Lord and Savior and I know that he is with Him in a place where there is no more sorrow and there are no more tears. For now, I can't say that there is no sorrow or no tears here, but I'm trying to find the balance in remembering the truth and feeling my grief--even Jesus wept. If you're interested, I've linked a couple of old blogs related to Joe's death. Please keep my family and Joe's friends in your prayers today. Thanks so much.
one week after/what I shared at the memorial and some pics
some first thoughts on grief
sneaky grief blog
Reflecting on my birthday the year Joe died
The one year anniversary blog

Jon's memory verse project

First, I stole this idea from this great blog. But ever since seeing it, I've been wanting to do it with Jon. The beauty of this idea is that your little one doesn't have to know how to read, just be able to match up the words. Plus it does help with word recognition once they start to memorize the verse! Bonus! :) Here's a couple of pictures followed by a video of part of our project. We're going to try it with other verses--Jon actually asked if we could!! Yay!! I'd say that makes it a huge success! :) Also, like Leigh at Impress Your Kids, I posted the verse in our kitchen so that it reminds me to be saying it with the kiddos as well--which led my sweet husband to say, "Hey, great idea, hon!" Nothing like pleasing my boys, my husband and my Maker all at the same time! :)

Stats

These little boys fill my days with so much joy and laughter and frustration and craziness, but mostly joy and laughter. And I am so thankful to be their mom and to watch them grow and help teach them and mold them. I pray everyday that they might grow to know and love the Lord as their Lord and Savior at a young age and become men who seek after Him and serve Him all of their days. For now, they're learning about Him and all that He has placed around them more and more each day. Here's a little bit about them currently. :)

Jon

Age: 4
Height: 3 foot, 5 1/4 inches (approx. 75 %-ile)
Weight: 36 3/4 pounds (approx. 50 %-ile)
Favorite color: orange (or white depending when you ask him)
Favorite toys: Cars from the Cars Movie or Thomas the Tank Engine
Favorite movie: The Cars Movie
Favorite t.v. show: Backyardigans or Diego


Sam

Age: 2
Height: 3 foot (approx. 95 %-ile)
Weight: 30 1/4 pounds (approx. 75%-ile)
Favorite color: yellow
Favorite toys: whatever Jon is playing with!
Favorite movie: The Cars Movie
Favorite show: Curious George or Backyardigans or Thomas

My Singing Sensations

Sam singing Happy Birthday to Me:

Jon singing a song from Word World:

Catching up

We just had the treat of having Grammie--my mom--come for a week. Unfortunately, the boys were both sick when she got here with a nasty virus. Thankfully, Grammie was a huge help with them. She helped me to stay sane throughout the week! Then my brothers and Dad, cousin, Marcy and her son, Riley, came for a long weekend. It was so great to be surrounded by family. The kids were in heaven having people to play with constantly! Not to mention the fact that we celebrated their birthdays with everyone which meant more gifts and cake!! ;) Saturday night we got to celebrate my cousin Amanda's wedding with my mom's side of the family. All in all, the week was a whirlwind, but loaded with fun memories. Mom and I had talked about trying to get a family picture since we were all together, but it didn't happen. We'll definitely have to do that next time. Here are some pics I did get from the time: