Crusin' Time!

Corey and I headed to Jackson to drop the boys off at mom and dad's for the week of Spring Break so we could go on a much needed vacation...a cruise with our friends, the Cooks and the Alexanders! We drove to Mobile and left on a 5 day Caribbean cruise with stops in Cozumel and Calica (Playa del Carmen). We had such a wonderful time relaxing and enjoying the wonderful meals. Corey has worked so hard this past year and vacation came just in time to let him rejuvenate! I don't have time to post all the details, but we were able to have two relaxing days on the ship, a fun morning touring Discover Mexico...a museum about Mexican history with scale models of ancient ruins and other landmarks, an afternoon of snorkeling in Cozumel at the Chankunaab resort, a day of fun renting a Dodge Journey and exploring Playa del Carmen and driving to Cancun for a long walk on the beautiful beach, and a beautiful vowel renewal ceremony for Becky and Bruce's 20th anniversary...so many wonderful memories were made! Here are some pictures of the fun week we had!

Easter Sunday Continued

After the morning service, we headed back to our home for lunch. We snapped a couple pics before we changed. Special thanks to Nanny for the boys' adorable outfits...she always makes sure we celebrate Easter in style. And I was so excited to get this pic of all the cousins...it's not all that often we're all together and even more rare for us to get them all together in one spot for a picture! I'm so grateful for the fun memories they made during the time we spent together!

Easter Sunday...First Sunday in Our New Building!

I LOVE Easter...I know I say that every year, but the hope and joy and all that Easter reminds us of makes my heart so full! Jesus Christ is alive! "He is not here, for He is risen, just as He said!" What awesome words!

The morning started with our sunrise service...it was so neat because a year ago we were having the same service on a patch of grass at the property...no building, and not even a concrete slab at that time. This year instead of breakfast in the back of Randy's truck, we were able to have breakfast and coffee inside the fellowship hall and the service out on the parking lot! God has truly blessed us!
Along with the excitement of Easter was the anticipation of worshiping in the new building. God's amazing faithfulness along with all the hours of work and prayer have finally brought us to this day! The service was so very worshipful, and I pray the Lord was honored and pleased with our praise! It was incredibly special to Corey and me to have so many of our family members with us for this wonderful day. We are so blessed to be part of the Maplewood church family...I am so grateful God has allowed us to go on this amazing journey with them. I pray that as we are in this new building, it will be used to serve the Lord, grow disciples and lead the lost to Him so that we can be a lighthouse of hope for Paris/Henry County.

Here are a few pictures from the day...we had over 200 in Sunday School and over 300 in worship! Happy Easter from our family to yours!

A Family Tradition and Easter Family Fun

Each year for Easter since Caleb was little, the boys have a special tradition of dying Easter eggs with Aunt Michele. It's always fun to see how the eggs turn out...they were very pretty this year! Nanny, Aunt Beverly and Uncle Ferrell were in town also to enjoy the fun!That afternoon, Wave, Dave and the kids arrived so that they could be with us for Easter Sunday which also happened to be the first Sunday in our new building! So, that afternoon Nanny helped me get together lots of Easter eggs for another egg hunt in our backyard for all the cousins to enjoy together! Then they had lots of fun playing outside and having a pizza picnic.

Caleb's Spring Party

On the Thursday before Easter, Caleb's school had their spring parties. The kindergartners had an Easter egg hunt...I have never seen so many eggs! After the hunt, we went inside for snacks, face painting and a few stories. When it was all over we took Caleb home and began Spring Break!!!We love Mrs. Brooke!!!

Kids Triathlon Club

Ever since Corey participated in his first triathlon, Caleb has been waiting for the day that he would be old enough to do one himself. The youngest race we have found begins at age 6, most age 7, so this summer, Caleb will be able to compete in his first tri! Well, Corey, Fred and Tony Lawrence from our Paris Parks have gotten together to form a kids tri club here in Paris! There are about 10 kids involved currently. Tuesday was the first practice. They are splitting the practices into swim practices 2x per month and a bike/run day once a month. Caleb is so excited (and Bennett, too...I am swimming with him and we're going to take his bike, so he thinks he's training also!).

I am excited that this is something that our family can continue to do and enjoy as our boys grow in order to be healthy and to spend time together. I am thankful to Corey for investing this time so that our boys will be able to enjoy competing in triathlons!