i like this

"If we commit ourselves to one person for life, this is not, as many people think, a rejection of freedom; rather, it demands the courage to move into all the risks of freedom, and the risk of love which is permanent; into that love which is not possession but participation."

- Madeleine L'Engle, The Irrational Season

ezekiel 9 months

crawling
clapping
smiling
babbling
eating
waking up during the night
loving his brothers
listening
watching
drooling unproductively = no teeth

invitation/decalogue

there are times in my life when i am more aware of how God moves and works. it is in these moments that i think i listen more than i talk, or i am quiet more than busy. or i see something that makes me stand or sit in awe. the invitation sculpture has been for me from the time i was introduced to it something that has made me aware of God's movement.
this weekend i had the honor of meeting livui mocan, the artist, who created this beautiful sculpture. he is a man who loves Jesus and i believe honors God through his calling as an artist. creating amazing pieces with deep purpose. in the short time ryan and i have been able to be with him, hear his story, listen to his insight we have been blessed. livui spoke with a group of us today about how art speaks to our hearts - it opens our hearts to see. it's true. i think of amazing paintings, photos, sculptures that stir something inside me. i remember the images. the invitation stirs something in me. this sculpture is coming to bellflower from Geneva Switzerland and eventually to grand rapids (that's right all my mi friends and family you get to experience it as well!) i am anticipating its arrival, i am praying for the installation. wondering about the conversations that will take place as people see it, walk through it, sit on it, and just stand in awe. good things to come.

from livui's website:

invitation / decalogue

the monument consists of 10 golden pillars, around 5 metres high, resembling human fingers. set in a circle, the pillars have two sides: a smooth, contoured side facing towards the centre, creating a sense of peace and wellbeing as one stands in the circle. the other side, facing outwards, forms a sharp,
unyielding blade.

this interactive sculpture will invite visitors to walk in and out of the circle of pillars, to touch the gold, to sit on the small seat cut into each pillar, and to reflect on the artwork and the ideas that
inspired it.

at one level, the sculpture is a study on the nature and purpose of law in society: to create a space for freedom and human flourishing, while providing protection and security. at another level, the work of art speaks of the universal human quest for peace and spiritual
well being.

jonathan tame
president of the patronage committee for invitation/decalogue in geneva


more about invitation / decalogue
www.invitationsculpture.com

Easter Week

Bless Bellflower Easter Egg Hunt
the parent assisted hunt section before everyone got there....crazy!





sunrise easter morning at the beach






baby molly


the best "easter shot" we got

beautiful eggs used to crack on one another - romanian tradition

listening to iona tell the easter story


the girls included me in their sister pic...makes me miss mine

i see the king of glory coming on the clouds with fire the whole earth shakes the whole earth shakes.
i see his love and mercy washing over all our sin the people sing the people sing.
hosanna hosanna, hosanna in the highest. hosanna hosanna, hosanna in the highest.
i see a generation rising up to take their place with selfless faith with selfless faith.
i see a near revival stirring as we pray and seek we're on our knees we're on our knees.
hosanna hosanna, hosanna in the highest. hosanna hosanna, hosanna in the highest.
heal my heart and make it clean open up my eyes to the things unseen show me how to love like you have loved me. break my heart for what breaks yours everything i am for your kingdoms cause as i walk from earth into eternity.

8 months old

we took a picture with all 3 boys on our bed when we came home from the hospital so here we are 8 months later. ezekiel is trying to sit up. malachi is showing me his transformer bandaid on his toe. abram looks like he is about to bite ezekiel. these boys are crazy! this morning abram walked into the kitchen with blue marker all over his face. he looked at us and said, "kai did it." he was right, his brother was pretending to put lipstick on him. i know this is only the beginning because i have another incident to post involving aquaphor...oh my!

ezekiel is moving all around - doesn't quite have a crawl down but he gets up on his hands and knees, moves forward, falls, and starts over. therefore he gets where he wants to go and reaches what he wants to reach. he has started following our lead to dance by moving his head all around. he waves hello and bye. he is generally a happy baby who is quick to smile. he love eating real food!

foundation poured

this has been months in the making. we poured the foundation this past weekend for the addition. wow - its been almost a year since we ripped off the back of the house and had a dirt pit in the backyard. now i can walk out the back door again! so thankful for friends who helped us make this foundation a reality, who framed in the foundation and helped us pass inspection. it took 3 cement trucks to pour it and the boys had a ton of fun watching all the action. we love paramount ready mix!! now the boys love running around on the concrete and playing tag. i love that i no longer worry about children falling in the holes in our backyard... next step is the framing. ever heard of an amish barn raising? well be prepared to be invited to a verwys house raising!

big boys in the bath

whenever one of my boys started sitting in the tub i always felt like they were getting so old. that move from baby bath to big baby in the tub. ezekiel is now a big boy in the tub with his brothers. he loves to splash and be with his brothers. he also is starting to get around. he is up on his hands and knees and kind of scooting. he sits up and gets on his tummy and pushes himself up again. not full on crawling but he gets what he wants. therefore my latte i left on the floor (don't ask why it was on the floor) was spilled all over him and the carpet this morning.

this is a side note - while i am typing this i am drinking coffee. abram loves to drink my coffee! i am admitting i give my 2 year old sips. well he asks for a lot, not a little. this gives away the obvious, my coffee has a lot of creamer. maybe i need to cut back on the creamer....