Family Fun Night At "Skippy's"

We had fun running errands and having dinner at our favorite fish place, Skippers!!! This is a local place and is one of Lindsey's favorite places to go with Nana and Papa!!

Go Zags!!!!

It is so exciting to say that this week on Monday the Gonzaga Men's Basketball team was ranked #1 in the nation.  Our whole city has Zag fever and we are excited for March Madness.  As I love to say every March, "Let The Madness Begin.":),

Wow, Has It Really Been A Whole Year?

I really can't believe that it has been a whole year since I have blogged.  Then again, I can!!!  To anyone who follows this blog on a consistent basis, I am sorry that I have neglected telling our story.  Well, a lot has happened in the last year.  Lindsey is 4 and as grown up as ever.  She has been learning to sit in church and learning so much in Sunday School, Jr. Church and Patch Club.  This year we started a club for the girls of our church.  The name of the club is Stepping Stones.  The theme verse is I Peter 2:21, "For even hereunto were you called, because Christ also suffered for us leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps."  The girls also learned the first and last verse of "Stepping In The Light."  We meet on Sunday afternoons before church and the girls are learning different sewing skills, crafting and homemaking skills.  The girls have different categories that they learn in their books.  Lindsey is having a great time.  She is so cute and loves all the things that she is learning.  This last Christmas we got Lindsey a violin.  She has loved learning the violin and is learning that it is not all fun and there is some work to learning an instrument.  She will be starting Kindergarten this fall and we are still praying that she will receive Christ as her Savior very soon. 

 

Now for Lauren!!!  She is our corker.  She is full of life.  She is walking and talking well and can not be stopped.  She makes us laugh all the time.  She loves her Nana and Papa, as does Lindsey.  Lauren loves to play and push her sister's buttons.  She is counting and is starting to learn her "C, D's".  That would be her "A, B, C's".  The world is opening up to her and she is loving life. 

 

Jake is still teaching Bible in the Christian School and working with the Youth Ministry, as well as whatever the Pastor (Dad) asks him to do.  I have had the opportunity to teach a history class this semester and am loving it.  It has been a time of adjustment in out schedule but the Lord is ever faithful and is helping us as we serve Him. 

 

Well, I know I have said this before but I am going to try to blog once a week and keep those of you who keep up with our family this way more informed.  We love you all and ask that you would pray for us as we serve the Lord as a family.  Have a wonderful day!!! 

Heaven's Gain, An Earthly Loss and A Great Reminder!!

One month ago today Heaven gained a little angel. Her name is Azlynn Cretzman. I am sure that many of you have heard the story. Azlynn and her family were on the deputation trail. They had been at a meeting in North Carolina and were headed out on the morning of February 20, 2012. As they headed out the frosty morning they traveled down the highway and over a bridge. The van they were in spun out of control and slammed into a highway sign post. Azlynn's mom, Lana, was injured. Azlynn's little sister, Maddie, and her dad, Matt were ok with just bumps and bruises but the force of the impact was right were Azlynn was sitting in the van. She went to heaven at the scene in the arms of her father. I do not know this family personally. I do know friends of theirs and Azlynn's great grandfather and great grandmother.

You see, Azlynn had just turned 3 years old in December. Lindsey is 3 and 3/4's. She will be four years old in June. As I heard the news of this acident on that morning my mind went right to Lindsey and Lauren. You see, we were headed out on that same frosty morning to attend the President's Day Tournament that our Christian School plays in. I had to take a deep breath and trust the Lord that even though we don't understand what He is doing that He is good all of the time and that His ways are better than our ways. These truths were impressed upon my heart as I began to follow the Cretzman Family and see the beginning of their journey that they never thought would be part of their lives. As we began to learn about dear little Azlynn, Jake and I were struck with the similarities between Azlynn and Lindsey. Just a few were their love for being a princess, animals, and that the last verse they were teaching Azlynn was Psalm 23:1. Lindsey's Sunday School class just started a curriculum based on Psalm 23 and we have been working on these verses. Even more I have been learning to trust the Lord with the details of life that I cannot control. Maybe that's because control is my issue and trusting the Lord tends to be a hard thing for me.

I am posting a few verses and the video of Celebration of Azlynn's Life in honor of Azlynn and her family and the wonderful testimony that they have had. To find out more about the Cretzman family and there ministry go to http://www.cretzmantocuba.com/. Please continue to pray for them even though you may not know them. They need it even more now and every day!!!!

Isaiah 55:9 - "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts."
Psalm 23 - "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever."

Azlynn's Video:

Lauren Is Walking!!!

Just thought I would share this video of Lauren walking. She is holding on with one hand in this video but later this evening she walked about 5 steps with out holding on. This is the most I have seen her take. Anyway, today we officially have a toddler. She is growing so fast. Thanks for stopping by!!! Have a wonderful day!!!

Lindsey's 3rd Birthday!!!!

Here are just a few pictures from Lindsey's Birthday. We had a great night. We had lots of fun with family and friends. I can't believe how grown up Lindsey is getting. Today she had her 3 year check up and the doctor said she is doing just great. We are thankful for the little girl God gave us three years ago.

Cherish The Moments!!!!!

Pictures with our cousins is one of our favorite activities. The Lamphere's had to come into town to pick up the campers that went to camp with our church. So they came a little early and we all met at Tot Shots, our favorite photo studio. For all my local friends, this is the best photo studio in Spokane with the best prices. The website is www.totshotsphoto.com. Lindsey and Lauren
Lindsey - 3 years old

Lauren -5 months

All the Boyle Grands

It was so much fun spending time with family and making memories. More than ever this weekend I was reminded to "Cherish The Moments" that we have with our family. We have a lady in our church who spent many years with her family in Alaska. While there she made many lifetime friends. One family in particular became very close to her and they have remained friends to this very day. These are friends who have helped each other through the worst of times and rejoiced in the best of times. Well, this last weekend was one of the worst of times. While traveling on a highway in Alaska, Grandmother, mother and 2 grand babies (one 4 years old and one 5 months old) were involved in a horrific traffic accident with a semi-truck. Grandmother broke her pelvis and Mom had several broken bones. Both babies were killed in the accident. As we were given the news our hearts broke. They broke for our friend, her friends and the church there in Alaska. Then came the moment of truth for me. A picture was posted on the Internet of the two birth announcements asking for special prayer. Of course we were praying even as we didn't know how to pray. The birth announcement for the 5 month old said that she (yes, a girl) was born on Feb 11, 2011. This is Lauren birthday also. I had to quickly click the picture off the screen. Why did this happen? What is God's plan? I was reminded of the verses in Isaiah 55:6-9.

"Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your way my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your way, and my thoughts than your thoughts."

I was reminded that at all times I need to seek the Lord. I need to seek him for wisdom and strength. I can not do all that I need to do without the wisdom and strength of the Lord. I was reminded to call upon the Lord. In everything God wants us to call upon him. He wants to hear our every need, want and fear. I don't know how many times in recent days Jake and I have looked at each other and said,"There are just so many hurting hearts right now." God wants us to bring those burdens of our own and those of others and give them to him. I was remind to forsake my own thoughts. I may have an opinion about things in my life or circumstances of others lives but really my thoughts are so far below the thoughts of the Lord. I need to try to have the mind of Christ. Think in ways that are biblical and not fleshly or earthly. I was reminded that God loves this family more than they love themselves or each other. He loves them more than there closest friends and family. He loves them more then there church family. He knows what is best and although we don't understand, we can trust that God would never do anything that was not for our best. I thought, what if that had been me and my mom? What if those had been my children? Would I be able to trust God the way that I need to? To be honest, I just don't know. I am trying to use this lesson to seek God more, trust him more and think his thoughts and not my own thoughts. I have to remember that God loves me and my family more than I do and give them all to the Lord. This is the only way to have peace. Resting in the goodness and faithfulness of God. This dear family needs more prayer now than they have ever needed. They have just begun this journey of healing and trusting. I am praying for them. Will you pray with me? Pray that the Devil will stay out of this family and that they will trust and rest in the almighty arms of our all wise God. Because it is only Him that can heal their hearts.

I hope this has been a blessing!!!!! Thanks for stopping by to see us. Have a wonderful day!!!!!!