Mom in the Fishbowl

As with any good vacation, we make it a point to take in some baseball.  After all, our non-spiritual goal is to see all the ballparks.  No MLB trip this year, but it’s always great to take in a few days in Gainesville, FL, where my cousin is the shortstop for the Florida Gators.  Imagine growing up a FSU fan, with a family (aunt and uncle) that went there…and then imagine us all in Orange and Blue…pretty funny huh?  Well, it’s Nolan’s sophomore year and he is doing great and we have all embraced the orange and blue!  In fact, the only color Noah really knows and recognizes is orange…is that weird?  I guess that’s a whole ‘nother blog post.

Here the boys are on a walk…they loved the Gator!

And then with their favorite player…Nolan!

After a Sunday game

We then headed to Orlando for a little R&R with my aunt and uncle…and my dad came over too! It was nice enough to go in the pool, but I will say, that water was still ice cold! Do you think the kids cared? Not. A. Bit.

My cousin, Dan, who is engaged to a beautiful girl named Allison. I am so happy and excited for them!!! Hard to believe he was 15 in our wedding 10 years ago!

And here is my cousin, Lewis…he gets the family name, and also gets the family gene of playing on the floor with the kids. That’s Noah trying to blow on his belly…Noah doesn’t actually get the point of putting his lips on and then blowing to make the strawberry sound…so, he just stands above his belly and blows/spits…it’s awesome.

Danny, Lewis and Nolan are like my brothers to me…I remember when they were born and I spent weeks in the summer time helping take care of them. I love them!

And so that concludes Spring Break. It was fun and I always enjoy seeing my family. All my aunts and uncles were there and it was such a good time!

Love,

Karen

Have you had the chance to hear Steven Curtis Chapman’s new CD – Beauty Will Rise?  Oh. My. Stars. If you have not heard the songs or bought it on iTunes or at your local Christian Bookstore…Go. Now. Do not hesitate. It really is incredible.  I knew I wanted it when last October I heard him sing the song Heaven about the young daughter they lost because of a tragic accident at their house.  I had to pull over because of the tears!  Every song on the album was written out of their pain and relationship with Christ during that time since losing their daughter…I am telling you…you will worship! I believe that’s part of the reason for the songs…their love of Jesus and the outpouring of Love the Father showed them during that time.  In one of the songs, Beauty Will Rise, it says “I have seen the signs of Spring…just watch and see!” It was if the Lord was telling them…the signs of Spring are coming, wait and see!  What are the signs of Spring?  Do you see it first? Feel it? Smell it? Hear it?  I was thinking about it a lot lately because I love Spring.

The air turns just warm enough to put those sandals on.

The sun shines just a wee bit brighter.

I hear coughing and sneezing from my little ones.

I hear birds chirping outside my windows…early too…don’t they know to sleep in?

God, in all seasons of life, makes EVERYTHING new. He takes those dismal days of winter and turns them into rays of sun and shine in the next season. Not every season of our life is guaranteed to be rays of sunshine, however, no matter how you look at it, I think finding a little sun in the darkness is a GREAT thing….in fact, in my world, it’s a MUST! Life is just too short to live in dismal winter. 

Praise Him today for making All Things New!!!

In His Love-

Karen