Dedication-ed

**Okay, so I wrote some of this yesterday...and I'm not editing now  :)

And today is my parent's 41st anniversary!!  Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad!!**

Today we had lots to celebrate-

Caleb and Isabelle were dedicated to the Lord at church this morning!

What a humbling, awesome responsibility and privilege this parenting adventure is, and I truly felt the love and support of our entire church family as we stood in front of the congregation and were prayed over.

Thank you Jesus, from the bottom of my heart, for giving me parents who know and love you,

For giving Bill parents who know and love you,

so that we have the honor of raising our children to know and love you- what a legacy for our family.

Thank you for being the life force of our marriage and family,

for giving us the wisdom we (often) lack,

granting us mercy and tenderness when we fail (also often!),

and for loving us with a love unlike any other!

You amaze me, God, and it is my heart's greatest desire to lead our children to You,

Father, Creator, Redeemer, and Friend.

I just LOVE the way Caleb has his little hands folded up on his heart when we were praying!

A picture with Pastor Butler- our church has been blessed this past year since he and his wife joined us almost a year ago...and of course, someone had just had enough picture-taking for one morning, ha!

How this boy melts my heart!

For reals!

My little girl looked so beautiful in her *Easter* dress and new posa (butterfly) sandals

I think this will be her beach portrait dress too- I altered the pattern a bit and added a full lining, which was more of a headache than I'd anticipated, but I think it turned out pretty cute!

I was very proud of my children as they stood up in front of our congregation- Caleb was nervous, which I'm still not used to, as he is such an exuberant, life-of-the-party kind of boy, and this morning at home all he could talk about was not wanting to be dedicationed...it was his nerves, poor little guy.  I am so incredibly awed by all three of our boys' hearts for God, so giving and generous, and I strive to do everything in my feeble ability to preserve and encourage that wonderful spirit.

Isabelle Kate, as I suspected but didn't have total confirmation until this morning, can work a crowd something fierce!  She smiled and waved, waved and smiled, sang out "Hi, Hauntie" to Aunt Kristen, capturing the chuckles of the audience, which of course egged her on even more!  I know God has such incredible things in store for her bold and loving little spirit!  And Jonah was squeezing my arm so hard I'm practically wincing in some of the pictures, ha!  He was not letting go of me for nothin'!  Ethan was his usual crowd-friendly, easy-going self, smiling and at ease.  (He doesn't get that from his father, hee hee.)

I'd better log off- my family is taking me out to dinner so I don't have to cook...or clean up!  :)

**So...yesterday morning I was still up way earlier than I'd hoped to be, and no amount of gentle nudging would make the mister budge.  (Hey, it was my day!)  At all.  So I sicked a kid or two on him.  Still nothing.  Then I mentioned that some kiddos were heading downstairs to make me a full pancake breakfast.  All by themselves.  What do you know?  He moved!

Cutest partners in crime ever!

We don't usually do bath time in the AM...but vanity mandated it- her curls look so cute right after a bath, ha!

Oh there he is!  But he doesn't look terribly thrilled....hmmm....

I was given such wonderful homemade gifts and cards, my absolute favorite kind, and beautiful flowers to plant around the yard.  And as I mentioned above, a night off from cooking and cleaning- blissful!

Thank you Bill, Ethan, Jonah, Caleb and Isabelle for a wonderful, special day!

How did you celebrate Mother's Day?