celebrating together

This is how we spent out 15th wedding anniversary....

 Watching the ocean come in and go out, talking, laughing, and reflecting on  God's amazing blessings and goodness in our lives over the past 15 years, and dreaming about the future and all that God is going to do.

Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot wash it away. If one were to give all the wealth of his house for love, it would be utterly scorned.  Song of Solomon 8:7 

The Champions!

Rangers win the Championship Game 

I must say they are the cutest ball players EVER!!!

Happy Memorial Day

Happy Memorial Weekend, so thankful for the country I live in, the soldiers who bravely protect my freedom, the home I live in and the blessing of my WONDERFUL family!

I think that this is the best way to celebrate...swimming, watermelon, BBQ, more swimming, and fireworks!

Praising in the storm....

Has there ever been a time you've felt God calling you to give Him  glory in a way you just weren't excited about?....last night during our small group my husband asked this question.  At first thought the answer was simple, No, then  I was suddenly flooded with the emotions that surrounded the day the twins were born.  During the crisis we were thankful for their life, but found it hard to praise God immediately, not knowing if they were going to make it more than 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 1 hour or one day.  I became so caught up in the immediate crisis of  fear and unknowing that I was afraid to praise God because I wasn't sure what it was I was praising Him for, then in what seemed like a matter of seconds I was flooded with the truth of God that throughout my life I am going to face situations that is beyond what I can handle, and that is exactly where God wanted me.  

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

⁹ But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. ¹⁰ That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

We turned our fears over to God, and gave the babies to Him, they were his creation and his children and we understood that He was ultimately in control and we would praise for each day and take it one day at a time.  

While life is uncertain, God is not

While our power is limited, God's power is limitless.

While our hope may be fragile or completely shattered, God is hope himself.  

Has there ever been a time you've felt God calling you to give Him  glory in a way you just weren't excited about?

If you need it just ask....

Yesterday I was working out in my living room, yes I am one of those weird ones who works out  in front of the TV (right now it is with Jillian Michaels, we kinda have this love hate relationship, haven't found the love yet, but boy is she good ), so while I work out I usually listen to podcast, and the message was on wisdom.  Boy was this one I needed to hear, as I listened it hit me, I can ask God for wisdom!!! and not just me, but you can also AMAZING, and even more amazing he wants to give us wisdom, how awesome is that! 

 In James 1:5 says "If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking."

That's quite a promise.  In 2 Chronicles 1:7 God appeared to King Solomon and said "what do you want, I will give it to you."  Solomon had the opportunity to ask for anything he wanted, riches, long life, power, success, gold and he asked for wisdom.  God was so pleased at his request that he not only granted his request, but also gave him riches, power and fame as well (2:11-12).

My life as a wife, mother to 5, and a pastors wife demands a lot from me, and sometimes when things are crazy up to my eyeballs I tend to freak out and then I hear the soft calming voice of my heavenly father speaking to me, "just ask."  There have been so many times that I have cried out to God for wisdom, and he has granted me just enough wisdom to handle the current situation, sometimes He waits what seems like forever to teach me that oh so uncomfortable thing of patience, but He comes through continually and faithfully  with the wisdom I need to handle each situation.  As a mother this is so comforting, and as a pastors wife this allows me to sleep at night.  My husband is amazing and so wise, (he prays for wisdom a lot, too)....I love seeing God offer that same promise of asking and receiving wisdom to others.  

I'm not sure what you are going through right now.  I'm not sure whose advice you are seeking out.  Sometimes in my life, I run to everyone except God.

God promises wisdom to those who ask.  Sometimes that wisdom comes from people He has placed in your life.  But only after you have sought Him first.

So maybe today, if you are like me and crying out for help, maybe you just need to ask Him for wisdom.

made me laugh

this is definitely a brain that belongs to somebody in our home...not mentioning names, starts with a Kev- and ends in a -in!

Happy Thanksgiving

The smell of turkey is in the air, and we are surrounded by some of the most fantastic people, and the cutest kids ever!  God is Good all the time, and all the time God is Good! Happy Thanksgiving!

Sassy pants.....

Sometimes being a parent is tough but most of the time it is the funnest (&funniest) thing in the world...I told my beautiful princess the other day who was being just a bit too sassy that she had better watch her mouth and use kind words when talking to me, her reply "how am I supposed to watch my mouth when I can't even see my nose my eyes are waaay to high to see my mouth" I stared at her, and then started laughing hysterically, what a smart little pistol she can be...she must get it from her daddy :)

Monday Morning...(or Tuesday evening) commentary

So I am thinking of trying something new on my blog....when I say I am going to try something new,that is usually when my husband gets up and walks out because he knows that he will very soon be involved up to his eyeballs in my latest crazy project, God Bless that man, but anyways it doesn't require him to do anything (as such) so he will not have to worry.  

With all the said and a terribly long run on sentence I am starting a Monday Morning Commentary or in today's case a Tuesday evening commentary on the past weeks message @ Vertical Church.

I think that we have the greatest pastor ever at Vertical Church, and not just because he is my man, I love my church and I love my Pastor!

This weekend we wrapped our "Toxic" series with toxic religion, and it was probably the most passionate sermon out of this series my husband has preached.  He taught that the root word for religion literally means a return to bondage.  Jesus did not come to make us religious, but He came to set us free.  In fact in its essence, Christianity is not a religion, in its essence it is a relationship with a living God. He spoke from Luke 18:9-12 about spiritual pride, among many other versus, but one of my favorite things that he said was that Vertical Church is not here to compete with other churches.  We are encouraging and praying for all churches in the community that are teaching the Gospel of Christ, and believe God's word.  So often we get caught up in the fact that our church is the only way, or we are the only "right ones" Satan so wants us to look at ourselves, and off the lost, which will begin to bring toxic religion in our churches and loose sight of the one who we serve and love. No matter where you have been Jesus has a fresh start for you, and wants to free you from bondage into a relationship with Him. 

Have a great Tuesday!

The darn scuba mask....

Sometimes its hard to be like the big brother, especially when the mask is way to big.

4th of July...Dunlap style!

 One of the benefits to living where we do is that we get to run across the river to get fire works, and then amaze our children and win the coolest parent award! We had a great time blowing things up and ooohing and aaahing at all the pyrotechnics! Who needs the big shows when you can have one on the front drive way!

Kaden turns 10...oh my gosh!!!

So the big brother is finally 10, and wow the double digits came all to quick!  We have had such a blast with the last 10 years and wonder where the time has gone, but we are not taking a second for granted and soaking up and loving every day with our Kaden!  He is pretty much the most awesome 10 year old ever! He makes us laugh and we are so proud to get to be his daddy and momma!

My favorite 3 years olds

These are my two most favorite 3 year olds in the whole world, the make me laugh. Have you ever seen such passion, determination and excitement?

I have to admit that they do look like twins in this picture, it is not too often that I think they look alike, but they do here!