Fun with the boys

We enjoyed a LOVELY spring day today! We tried to stay outside as much as possible, picnic lunch, yard work and of course play too... here are a few other random pictures:

Big brothers are such a blessing!!! We couldn't stop laughing when the boys feed they open their mouth when the baby is supposed to open theirs (this shot caught the closing mouths together!)-- do you do that???
boy was that GOOD!

Ok this one is just plain goofy --- and you can tell whoever took the picture is laughing so hard they can hardly stand still!!! Yes our 8 year old is in the exersaucer!!! he is pretty spindly but still over the weight limit I think!

School work -- why write with my pencil when I can stick it to my nose???

hope this gives you a few laughs for today! more of the girls soon!

Pictures of the birthday girl....

Found the pictures....

A fun birthday lunch - PIZZA! with Gr Q, Julia, Mags, Eva and Nikki our helper!

The winter time fort, the girls love washing the dishes, hanging things to dry and sweeping -- why they don't want to do that INSIDE, I don't understand!

The Valentine party --cake walk -- here are some WINNERS!

Look how tall she's grown!

and a Happy Birthday to YOU!

one day at a time...

We just want to say thanks for all your thoughts and prayers over the last few weeks.

Most people think we are crazy -- this week I have felt like we are too!

But God is so good, he gives us hugs from a friend, a smile on someones face, and sunbeams (thankfully we aren't in MI or that wouldn't be so!) just when we need a little does of encouragement!

And there is hope for tomorrow!

Because we serve a mighty God.

Thankfully this journey of life we will never walk alone.

May you be filled with his peace today!

Love the Q fam

a happy birthday to YOU

Another double digit celebration last week for our little girl! (sorry can't find pictures right now! we'll post them as soon as we find them!)



We had a special pancake breakfast -- she didn't mind that the decorations didn't get hung or that the cake never got baked -- I'm feeling like a bad mom but there has been alot going on! We enjoyed going out for dinner with Gr and Gr Q -- that was a treat! And yes the waitresses sang happy birthday, totally embarrassing her! Lots of mail and packages made her feel VERY special!



We celebrate the beautiful young lady she is growing into and I am SO thankful for all her help with the baby and just around the house! She is always quick to help the other children in school, or in play. Very willing to help in the kitchen often surprising me by cleaning it all up!

She is enjoying Bible In Me on Wednesday nights and does well with her Bible memory, she enjoys piano lessons and playing with her sister (most of the time :)) She enjoys friends but is content to just be home as well. We are so thankful for the blessing of Eva in our family and pray the God will use her to bless many more in her life!

Happy Birthday sweetie!

Resting in HIM

I have been reading Psalm 116 -- a friend, Beckie B put it to music and sang it to me Wednesday night, I have been so blessed to read it over and over. Here is the passage from the Message version:

Psalm 116
1-6 I love God because he listened to me, listened as I begged for mercy. He listened so intently as I laid out my case before him. Death stared me in the face, hell was hard on my heels. Up against it, I didn't know which way to turn; then I called out to God for help: "Please, God!" I cried out. "Save my life!" God is gracious—it is he who makes things right, our most compassionate God. God takes the side of the helpless; when I was at the end of my rope, he saved me.
7-8 I said to myself, "Relax and rest. God has showered you with blessings. Soul, you've been rescued from death; Eye, you've been rescued from tears; And you, Foot, were kept from stumbling."
9-11 I'm striding in the presence of God, alive in the land of the living! I stayed faithful, though bedeviled, and despite a ton of bad luck, Despite giving up on the human race, saying, "They're all liars and cheats."
12-19 What can I give back to God for the blessings he's poured out on me? I'll lift high the cup of salvation—a toast to God! I'll pray in the name of God; I'll complete what I promised God I'd do, and I'll do it together with his people. When they arrive at the gates of death, God welcomes those who love him. Oh, God, here I am, your servant, your faithful servant: set me free for your service! I'm ready to offer the thanksgiving sacrifice and pray in the name of God. I'll complete what I promised God I'd do, and I'll do it in company with his people, In the place of worship, in God's house, in Jerusalem, God's city. Hallelujah!

When the grief of this earth seems too much -- we can look in hope to what is to come for those who love Jesus.
Do you love him? http://www.needhim.org/ if you want to read more!

May God fill you with his grace, peace and love today!
Amy

sometimes its hard to understand WHY...

WHYdo paper cuts hurt so much?

WHY is it so hard to change the sheets on bunk beds?

WHY does the dryer take longer than the washer?

WHY do we have to eat with silverware? (ok that was for my oldest!)

WHY does hair tangle? (ok that was for the girls!)

WHY is there cancer? WHY can't doctors make everyone better?

WHY doesn't every mommy know how to love and care for her child?

I could go on and on!!!

Some of the WHYS are ones we say just because and life goes on. But as we are walking through each day, more and more in awe of what a gift today is, I ponder how huge the whole picture of life is. This life of which we only see this little glimpse.

There are so many thoughts in my head, so many ponderings. Knowing that our God is loving and good so the infamous question -- "why do bad things happen if there is a loving God?" I do know that God uses all things for his glory. He loves us and desires to grow us closer to him through each struggle. As we've studied James "considering it joy... when we face trials ....and growing to be mature and complete" All of that is easy to memorize HARD to live! There are so many scriptures that float in and out of my mind --I am SO thankful that God is surrounding me with his words!

As we morn the end of Lisa's life on earth we have hope and are able to rejoice in her complete healing and celebration with her heavenly father in her new home. I know Lisa desired to be a wife, mother, friend for much longer than she was able yet God's plan is different and perfect. This new friend of mine, who I had only just begun to get to know, has challenged me to live every day full of love and peace -- none of us know how many days we have. Lisa was an incredibly fun loving person who enjoyed her family, laughing, reading books, and playing together. I am honored to team up with this family in schooling together. We will miss Lisa's fun spelling tests, and reading our French history, as well as her jokes at lunch time!

THANKS FOR YOU PRAYERS FOR THIS FAMILY DURING THIS TIME!

I am sharing some of our fun memories with Lisa from some of our field trips:

Lisa planned a scavenger hunt at the zoo, here she is trying to get some of the kids excited about it --they weren't so sure it would be fun (Mal, Eva and Alex)

On a trip to the Bray conservation center Lisa gives Luke a hand as they explore the pond and its amphibians.

The St Louis Zoo was a fun day where Julia is king of the apes while Lisa looks on.
A family photo: Brad and Lisa with Alex(11), Renee(16), Julia(8) and Luke(13) (Robbie 18 was not with us)

"Until you have given up your self to Him you will not have a real self..." --Mere Christianity by C S Lewis