Some light reading...

While hanging out at a friend's house on Friday night, Haven came into the living room carrying this book, "Just Call Me Assassin."  She's advanced.

Farmer Haven

Grammy bought Haven some overalls from a garage sale.  We decided to get them out today!

Little Miss-B-Haven

I have always been told (since the day she was born!) that Haven is a very expressive little girl.  I think she wears her heart on her sleeve (like her mommy).  Well, her heart must be sassy and full of attitude these days.  All of the pictures below have been taken this month!

Easter....a little late

Here are some fun pictures from our Easter activities this year:

Getting prepared for dying eggs...

Kamryn (Haven's cousin)

Haven Annabelle

Steph and Kamryn

Lindsey came over to help!

Typical Haven look

Easter morning...Haven's Easter Basket contained a princess coloring book, bibs, sippy cups, a book, Alice in Wonderland movie, and Smores Goldfish Crackers.

Looking at the goods

We met Grandpa Mark, Grammy Tammy, and Uncle Cass at The Machine Shed for brunch and then went to their church with them at New Hope Assembly.

Grandpa and Havee

Grammy and her Havee Bells

After church we headed up to Slater to celebrate with Adam's side of the family at Grandma Dottie's house.  Here are Kamryn and Haven playing the piano in their pretty dresses.

All the kids getting ready for the Easter Egg Hunt.

Funny Story:  Later that evening, when I was putting Haven to bed, I read her the Easter story out of her Children's Bible.  I then said, "So that's what it's all about.  Easter eggs and candy are fun, but the real story is about Jesus and that is the most important story!"  Haven then looked at the Bible and at me and with much inflection said, "Ohhhhh."  Ha Ha.  Like it all made sense to her now. 

But seriously, it is so easy to get caught up in the things that don't really matter. Like getting Haven an Easter dress, dying eggs, Easter Egg Hunts, and even spending time with family.  All of those things are fun and great but Adam and I have talked about how we don't want those things to be the focus.  We really tried to spend time around Easter this year thinking about what the Lord did for us when he died on the cross.  We are already talking about how we can do this better around Christmas this year!

We're Moving!

We sold our townhome in Ankeny on Friday and bought a home in Des Moines on Sunday! The plan is to move on May 21. It is a cute little ranch with three bedrooms (plus a non-conforming 4th in the basement) and cute yard and a nice finished basement. We are excited to have more space to better serve our family as well as to be able to use our home to serve others! The location will be so great. Adam's work and our church will only be about 10 minutes away! Many other stay at home mommies live nearby so that will be wonderful.

A few downsides to moving....living in a new townhome we have been spoiled with a home that needs no maintenance as well as all of our lawncare/snow removal is taken care of. So, we will be moving from a home built in 2003 to a home built in 1956. We also currently live in a very quiet and beautiful neighborhod that has many trails and parks very close by. We have some dear friends and family that also live close that will be hard to be further away from. But, in the long run we believe this is the best decision for our family and the place that God wants us to be most useful for Him.

Please pray that everything with closings of both homes goes well so that we can be eligible for the $6500 Tax Credit which will be so helpful!

Here are some pics:

Front of house

Living Room

Living Room/dining Area

Kitchen

Kitchen

Kitchen/Dining Area

Bedroom (bad pic)

Bedroom 2

Bedroom 3

Upstairs Bath

Basement Bath (has a shower and toilet...bad pic)

4th Non-Conforming Bedroom or office or playroom...not sure yet

Family Room

Family Room (looking into Rec Room)

Rec Room

 Backyard-adorable playhouse on top of shed!

Backyard-fenced for the dog!  YES!

Adam's Dream Garage....insulated, heated with nice work bench area!

We feel so blessed and are amazed at God's answer to prayers!  He really came through in ways we couldn't have imagined.  His timing is so perfect!

"Pillowcase" Dress

I have branched out with my sewing from simple blankets, burpcloths, and nursing covers and finally made some dresses!  They are pretty simple, but I think they are adorable.  The two below I made for Haven's two cousins, Kamryn and Samara.  I have tons of fabric to make a bunch for Haven!  I'm sure she will be wearing them all summer.

Haven trying one of the dresses on.  She's not happy.

I got the pattern off of Etsy.com.  Go to Etsy.com and look under the shop name "macymade."  It was $3 and had a great tutorial with lots of pictures.

You're Beautiful

Today, as I think about Good Friday, I am humbled and amazed at what the Lord did for me on the cross.  I know I can never fully understand all that it took for Jesus to live a perfect life and then bear the sins of the world on the cross but the small understanding that I do have of what that means to me fills me such a wide array of emotions.  On one hand I am so thankful that I can live in such freedom thanks to my Lord.  On the other hand I am saddened of what my KING had to go through.  I can't listen to the song below without tearing up. 

Here's a video of the song:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGlTzH9xkXQ

Beautiful by Phil Wickham

I see Your face in every sunrise
The colors of the morning are inside Your eyes
The world awakens in the light of the day
I look up to the sky and say
You’re beautiful

I see Your power in the moonlit night
Where planets are in motion and galaxies are bright
We are amazed in the light of the stars
It’s all proclaiming who You are
You’re beautiful, You're beautiful

I see you there hanging on a tree
You bled and then you died and then you rose again for me
Now you are sitting on Your heavenly throne
Soon we will be coming home
You’re beautiful, you're beautiful

When we arrive at eternity’s shore
Where death is just a memory and tears are no more
We’ll enter in as the wedding bells ring
Your bride will come together and we’ll sing
You’re beautiful, You're beautiful, You're beautiful

I see Your face, You're beautiful, You're beautiful, You're beautiful
I see Your face, You're beautiful, You're beautiful, You're beautiful
I see Your face, I see Your face
I see Your face, You’re beautiful, You’re beautiful, You’re beautiful