Facing Coronavirus - Sunday, March 15, 2020 from Shadow Mountain Community Church on Vimeo.

birthday breakfast

Happy 6th birthday sweet boy!


He’s been counting down till his big day all month. He gave lots of cuddles his last night of being five and woke-up extra early his first morning being 6. I peeked in as we were preparing his breakfast and he had one eye open with a big smile on his face.


I ordered his Amazon gifts a couple days too late so ventured out from the house to an empty Target to find some gifts. Star Wars pajamas and Legos and  a soccer goal were exactly what he wanted.



This was supposed to be the year of birthday parties but plans changed with Covid-19. Thankfully all our little guy wanted were a few family traditions and some time together. Since he birthday fell on a Saturday it was a cleaning day but EJ spent the afternoon working on a cake. She made it by herself!


After dinner he finally got to see his cake.


His excitement just melts my ❤️

darth vader cake

she’s got them!

Happy 70th Birthday Mom!


It was a little different than planned but we are so thankful for the time we had together.

afternoons at the beach

sunset at Ft. Pickens

Instead  of flying home she rented a car and drove...she still has her  adventurous spirit!

an early morning farewell

We love you!
❤️😘🥰😍❤️

The kids got to experience first hand the amazing properties of water. 💦 🤚 🔥
#EricHovind challenged the kids (and adults) to critically think about the world around them and equipped them to logically engage with skeptics. Last night’s session had the kids at the edge of their seats and they can’t wait to see what science experiments he does tonight!
 


 Lighting methane hydrocarbon bubbles.

 
The thin layer of water coating the arm protects the skin from the heat

So cool:)

 Consider this!
https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/global/2015/may/11/water-weirdest-liquid-planet-scientists-h2o-ice-firefighters

Mind of a Skeptic:

Creation:


God's Glory:

#CreationToday

Is there evidence of a creator God in Japanese history and culture?
This international Telly Award winning documentary does a wonderful job answering that question. We were first introduced to it by Japanese group handing out DVDs at a Cherry Blossom festival in Washington D.C. When we watched God's Fingerprints in Japan we were blown away by the beautiful cinematography and fascinating information. Enjoy!

Part 1:


Part 2:

Happy Hinamatsuri to our dear friends in Japan. You are in our thoughts and prayers during these uncertain times.



We didn't get the kimonos out this year but we did pick up sushi for lunch and then mochi ice cream after dinner as we watched videos from Japan and reminisced about our time there.

Albert and Capri

Albert got to spend some quality time with Capri, our first fur baby.


Capri is PopPop’s baby now.


Albert also got some time with Lily


 She doesn't usually get along with other doges but seemed to put up with him.


Though she's sixteen she can still keep up.

“Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she
With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
~Emma Lazarus, 1883
 

In 1903, this poem was cast onto a bronze plaque and mounted inside the Statue of Liberty’s pedestal.

The region’s top snocross riders raced against each other at New Hampshire’s Magic Mile. The kids were amazed to see the speed and power of the snowmobiles and the fearlessness of the riders.




The boys found another form of racing they’d like to try.

The most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched, they must be felt with the heart.
~ Helen Keller

loaded up

 This road-trip we wanted the kids to experience a little of our childhood memories. Remember those Dodge Caravan and Plymouth Voyager days? 


 We put the back seats flat, covered them with sleeping bags and then stopped at parking lots for a few hours rest (or until the car got too cold) in between driving.

a pile of blankets

While it may not have been our best night of sleep, the kids said it was the "most fun ever!" 

One of the advantages of driving is getting to bring the Albert along. He didn't sleep a wink.


After 12 hours of driving we made it to Wilmington, NC for lunch


 and to drop of DaddyO's motorcycle for repairs.

unloading the trailer

a couple months and it should be a new ride

Another six hours of driving and we made it to family and a good night sleep.


This makes all the hours driving worth it!

The kids don't mind taking Albert for walks in the rain when the temperature hovers around 70 in the winter.

We found an art teacher from the neighborhood. She brought some wild azaleas from her yard when she came to meet the kids for the first time. The arrangement inspired EJ to paint and so she made this mini masterpiece for her teacher.


Looks like the beginning of a creative relationship.

A go to meal when on the go. So simple yet fills the kids up with the carbs and protein they need before a sports practice.

Just make some steaming hot rice and add a fresh egg on top.


Sprinkle with some Japanese furikake (seasoning.)


The rice is so hot that it cooks the egg into a creamy mixture.