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Saturday, March 30, 2013

His Love...

Have you ever felt like you were being called to share so much, that it was just too overwhelming, so you didn't share anything at all?  That's been me this week while doing the #shereadstruth Holy Week study.  

I have been longing to write and knew I was supposed to, but didn't know if I could get it all to come out right, or if I could even make any sense.  My heart and soul have been learning so much and it makes me so happy, that I wanted to share it with you and I wanted to get it out for myself, to help me try and process it all again.  And so that the knowledge and wisdom sticks with me even more than from before.  So here we go.

Yesterday was Good Friday.  Easily, the most bittersweet day of the year.  The day our Lord Jesus died for our sins.  Not His and our sins, but OUR sins alone.  Who does that?  ONLY OUR JESUS!  We've all heard it before, but have your really thought about it?  He wasn't just getting up there and dying for Himself and saying, "Oh, might as well die for y'all's sins too since I'm already doing it for myself."  No.  He solely did it for us.  His children. 

Isaiah 53:5 tells us"He was pierced for our transgressions and He was crushed for our inequities." 

I went ahead and looked up transgressions and inequities after reading this verse and found...
transgressions-violation of law
inequities-immoral or grossly unfair behavior

This gives us a better idea of the terrible things, that are ours, that He died for--our sins.  We have to remember that Jesus hadn't done anything wrong!  NOT.ONE.THING!--and here He was dying on the cross--for OUR sins!  AMAZING!  

"The sinless servant of the Lord offered Himself for our sins" --NIV Life Application Bible

"We become righteous, not by our own works, but by the Messiah's great work on the cross."  --NIV Life Application Bible

This really stood out to me because so many people belief that we are saved by our "good works" here on earth, but that's not the case.  He already did all of the great work that needs to be done...and by Him doing that, we become righteous, meaning our lives full of sin have been stripped away and we are clothed in His goodness.  But we must also accept and claim Him as our Savior and Lord, the one, righteous Savior.

Isaiah 53:7 says, "He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth."

He did not open his mouth.  WOW-is all I can say!  I am truly in awe that someone being put through the things He was being put through, and he didn't utter a word!  I know that was something I always had trouble with as a child (and some may say that about me even now... ;) )... and we can't even fathom what Jesus was being put through, yet He didn't complain, He didn't fight back, He did not open his mouth.  Once again, truly amazed at our Loving Lord and all He has done.

John 19:30 tells us, "When he had received the drink, Jesus said, 'It is finished.'  With that He bowed His head and gave up His spirit."

It is finished.  Paid in full.  The full penalty of our sins.  

Up until this point, sin had always separated people from God and the only way that they could be forgiven for that sin and come clean with God, was through a sacrifice of an animal.  Through Jesus' death, the sacrificial system ended because Jesus took all the sin upon himself.  He was the final and ultimate sacrifice!  

Because of what Jesus did, we can now freely approach God--and for those who chose to believe in Jesus' death and resurrection can live eternally with God and escape that penalty that comes from our sinful lives.  

But, we must believe.

I am thankful to be able to say that this Easter has more meaning to me that it ever has in the past.  I have learned more, studied more, cared more, and tried to fathom more than ever before.  Growing up this story was just part of the story and I never really realized that it meant my life--my eternal life--and without this story it there would be no eternal life.  That's why I wanted to share what I've been opened up to over the past week.  Yes, it's the same ole story--but there is so much too it and I just want to soak it all up, like I can't get it enough!  It is good stuff!

I want to thank She Reads Truth for being such a great community of woman providing us with such great, in-depth, life changing devotionals for free!!  I've been part of the community since last June, and have two journals filled with things I have learned or been touched by  during these studies and love going back and looking at all the things I have learned and grown from.  If you are looking for a devotional to do on your own time throughout the day, but still want to have people to talk to about it, then this is your place!  Feel free to leave a comment if you have other questions, I'd be happy to answer them!  We should be starting up a new plan on Monday!

I will be hesitant to hit "publish" because I am no expert in this area...but I wanted to share this with my readers.  If it changes just one person's life, then I will have done my part.  It has been on my heart to share for two days now and I am finally saying, "Yes, Lord."

Thank you for reading and Happy Easter! =)
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Project 365...Week 12 {Round 2}

{March 17}
 Fun day at Oaklawn with my parents!

{March 18}
 Somebody found his clown nose in his dress up stuff!

{March 18}
 Jump Zone with Mimi & Hannah!

{March 19}
 Bowling with my sweet boy!  I love nothing more than spending special time with him making memories!

{March 20}
 What do you do when it starts to snow on Spring Break?  Go get ice cream of course!

{March 21}
 Him & Poppy ended their fun day together at Moo Moo's--one of R's favorite places!  =)

{March 22}
R loves his KeeKee Mama!  =)

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Monday, March 25, 2013

Weekend Wrap Up

Last week, when it started to sleet and snow outside...I decided to take my son out for ice cream.  Sounds about right!  :P
Poppy took Ryder out for an adventurous day on Friday while I was out doing some shopping with Allie!  They went to a restaurant where a train delivers your food to you at your table!  This is R saying, "This is cooooool Poppy!"

Then they went to a fun little play place that has a grocery store, theatre, vet clinic, water table, sand table, inside play gym, etc. etc. and R just had a blast.  I've taken him before but it was seriously a LONG time ago!  He was just shy of two years old actually...you can see that post here.
& no Poppy trip would be complete without a trip to MooMoo's for some FroYo!  =)
I came home to my little man, and we enjoyed a nice, chill, relaxing Friday night at home together.  I worked on addressing some invitations for an upcoming shower and R played and watched a movie!  
Saturday morning we got up and around because I thought I had a work day at school on our big heart that we're building....well.  No one else was there, but one other girl.  :/  I don't know what happened...it was the Saturday after SB, and maybe people just forgot?!  I'll find out tomorrow in class though!  It felt good to be up and dressed and ready at 9:30 on a Saturday morning though...so we went and ran some errands!
Shoe store of course to get R some new Sperry's for Easter!  He loves this horse!  Funny thing...me and my brother used to get on the same horse every time we went to the shoe store when we were little!

Then we came home and R helped me stuff all of his old Easter eggs for his school party on Friday!  I loved that he was able to be involved!

Overall we had a great weekend--even though it was FRIGID out yesterday!  GEEZ LOUIS!  Back into the swing of things today though...always hard after a nice, long week off!

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Writing his name...

Ryder has been learning to write his name at school for a while now.  I had no idea he could do it until he just busted it out one day!  He has just about perfected the "R" and is working on the rest!  I am so proud of him though...he tells you exactly what to do when writing a capital "R"--it's too cute! 

I got this marker board at a toy store when it was going out of business, for things just like this!  I found the markers and mini magnetic erasers at the dollar spot at Target!  It makes practicing his name just a little bit more fun! ;)

I was curious to see if he could write "Mom" and he did a pretty darn good job I would say!  :P 
I am so proud of my little guy and all that he is learning and accomplishing!  You can NEVER under estimate a child!--You just have to take the time to teach them...and then maybe show them over and over and over again...and them let them practice it all on their own!  He still amazes me every day!
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Sunday, March 24, 2013

Oaklawn!

Last Sunday, on St. Patrick's Day--mom, dad & I drove down to the horse races to attend a fun St. Patty's Day part at the races!  We weren't able to attend last year, and I'm so glad we were able to this year!  It had been seriously beautiful last Saturday and then was extremely cold and rainy all day Sunday--boo!  But we still had fun!  




We went outside for the third race because it was named after our party of people!  How fun!

We had a blast, and I am already looking forward to next year's party!  =)


While I was away...Ryder man was at his Mimi's being the crazy boy that he is!  :P
They always have too much fun out on the farm!
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Thursday, March 21, 2013

Spring Break @ Home

We have had a great Spring Break!  Especially since we didn't really have any plans!  R stayed the night at his Mimi's on Sunday night and then they went to JumpZone on Monday and had complete blast as always!  He is lucky to have such a loving, selfless, and caring Mimi!  =)
We've just been doing random things we don't usually get to do during the week, without caring about the laundry or the dishes or the house being picked up or cleaned.  It's been nice, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't ready to get back into a routine--I always am.

I've enjoyed watching this guy take naps every day and sometimes indulging in a nap myself...like I said, it's been really nice.  
Somebody found a clown nose in their dress up stuff!
We worked on some stuff in his numbers stickers book...he loves that thing!


We helped Poppy back his boat into the driveway...with a little help from Sister!  



Took my sweet boy on another bowling date...he seriously love that place!  We always have fun together!
& then of course we had to have a lunch date @ chick...I mean, we were right there!  :P

We ran into a boy from Ryder's school...Bristol!  They wanted to "be silly" together!  =)
& we always trade in his kids toy for ice cream!  I was brave letting him eat it in the car!  I just couldn't handle the crowd at chick any more!
& then I drug the poor child to TJ and Target...but he lived!  :P

Today was a chill day!  He went to the dumb with my dad, helped him out in the yard, ate lunch at KeeKee's, I tried to make him take a nap, but that didn't happen!  We went & got ice cream together (even though it was practically snowing outside) and then ate dinner with KeeKee & Poppy, watched Grey's and hit the hay!

I am truly blessed, and I love this little boy more than anything in this world! I tell him every day he is the best thing that ever happened to me!  & then he tells me, "Your the best thing that ever happened to ME!"

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