A day at the orchard

Friday, we were able to enjoy a day at Center Grove Orchard with Amy, Isaac, and Eli. We all had a blast and want to go back again sometime. We played, had a picnic lunch, and ended the day with cider doughnuts and slushies.

Feeding the goats

Mary and her little lamb

The three cousins

The "corn pool"

Eli wanted to "hold" Noah

Peeking from the outhouse (not a real one of course)

Isaac said, "Emma, let's hold hands." Too cute!

Jumping on the big pillow

Great fun until we were invaded by a kindergarten class. All three of ours fell down crying to be rescued from the big kids.

Apple cider slushies

Three very dirty children who enjoyed themselves!

Not shy...

We were getting ready to head out the door for story time at the library this morning. I noticed a couple of guys in our driveway who were laying sod in the neighbor's yard. I told Emma that we would have to ask them to move so we could back the car out. Before I could stop her, she heads right out the door and yells, "You guys need to get out. We are going to leave so you need to move." I was so embarrassed! We obviously still have some manners to work on. Children are very humbling...

My beloved, my friend...

I have been doing a Nancy Rolinger study on my own of Titus 2. This last session was on loving your husband and she had some excellent points. I've now been married almost 9 years and I am still learning each and every day how much work marriage requires. I've learned lots from this study and want to apply it to my own life. Here's some highlights that I thought were great and hope they encourage you too:

• The definition of love in Titus 2:4 means "friends." This is something the enemy doesn't want married couples to be.
• Why would the Lord have to command the woman, the relational one to have a friendship with her husband? Because SELF comes in and she wants to live her own life, do her own thing. It's costly to have a relationship with your husband. What things do you put before your husband...hobbies, girlfriends, children? Being best friends isn't natural, you have to learn it, work at it.
• People say marriage should be a 50/50 relationship. Instead it's a 0/100 relationship. You expect nothing and give everything! It's the small things that ruin your relationship. Don't give for what you will receive back. 
• Strive to be best friends. Protect your oneness. Refuse to do things that take away from your relationship. Attack life TOGETHER!
• STOP criticizing your husband, give the guy a break. Instead pray about the things that irritate you. The Lord may start changing you instead. You can either make something of your man or tear him down."The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish woman tears hers down." Proverbs 14:1
• Respect him and praise him especially in public. There are things about him that you like (you did marry the guy), TELL him.
• The bottom line is giving up yourself. When Christ died, He gave us the opportunity to live a new quality of life when we die to self. He died for us so that we don't have to live for ourselves.

We have scheduled a date for Friday night so we can work on our friendship by doing something fun together. We even have a sitter lined up already!