Broken BUT made new

Recently, I was dusting Logan's book shelf and I dropped one of his trophies. It shattered into several pieces all over his floor. I collected the pieces and set them in a neat pile in Billy's office. Olivia, passed through the office shortly after and glanced down to see the pile of broken trophy pieces. She stopped and stared at the pieces and asked what happened. After explaining the situation she appeared concerned but accepted that it was an accident. Tim and Teri (our friends from NC) were on their way to the house for a visit and everyone was eager for their arrival and perhaps a bit distracted as we were not thinking about the trophy any longer.

The Grays arrived and we spent time talking and catching up and at some point during their visit  Olivia whispered something to Mrs. Teri and off they went into the another room. Little did we know that Olivia had collected the pieces of the trophy and she had attempted to put it back together with an Elmer's glue stick. She had been working diligently, with good intentions attempting to put it together but without success so she asked Mr. Tim and Mrs. Teri for help. The pieces were collected, the Elmer's glue was cleaned off and another type of glue was used as Tim, Teri and Olivia sat at the dining room table putting Logan's trophy together.

I would have never chosen or wanted Logan's trophy to break BUT the opportunity for his sister to show compassion, care and love for him was worth the broken trophy pieces. Also, Tim quickly reminded me that it was an opportunity for he and Teri to bond with Olivia. Olivia was so thankful that she had help, she was tired and wasn't making much progress (perhaps making it messier) by attempting to do it all on her own. I couldn't resist thinking of all the learning lessons and illustrations that were unfolding before my eyes.

That little trophy was broken BUT it has been made new and has a new story. It was special before BUT now it holds a deeper, more significant story. When I look at that trophy now, it's not perfect BUT its a treasure. We all have a time in our life when the pieces are shattered, circumstances are difficult and we can attempt to put it back together with our own efforts (perhaps making it messier) or surrender to our Savior and allow Him to restore, redeem and transform our lives with significant purpose. Surrendering and being transformed doesn't mean a perfect life but one that allows the flaws to be used for His purpose and to point others to the redeeming power of our Savior.

.......BUT^[c] God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, ⁵ even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— ⁶ and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, ⁷ so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. ⁸ For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, ⁹ not a result of works, so that no one may boast. ¹⁰ For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them Ephesians 2

Olivia wrapped up Logan's trophy, a note and some chocolate that was given to her in a small box. Here is a small clip....

English Riding

Madelyn has come a long way from her very first lesson. She has ridden 2 different ponies and one full size horse so far.

 

 Maddy enjoys jumping, trotting, posting, posting trot,sitting trot, cantering....well all of it. (terrible quality picture with my phone but wanted to include an action picture)

 

Ready to GO!

 

 

 

 

So, we try to keep warm during her lessons. The barn has this nice little office that has a window to watch the lessons and this great heater. This week when it was 17 degrees I was very appreciative of this little thing.

Throw Back Thursday-neighborhood production

Here is a video I dug up from the vault. This was Christmas Eve 2009 and the kids "made a church" in the woods and had several services for the neighbors. Once the people stopped coming the kids took the production to the neighborhood.  They went to all the houses on the street to share the Christmas story.

This all started when Logan's friend told him that he had not been to church and he didn't really know the Christmas story. Logan went to work building a cross out of sticks and Maddy organized some neighborhood children to fill the different characters. They alternated turns reading the story and were so serious as they taught others about Christmas.  I must admit the Lord was graciously teaching this mama that day as well as the kids. They were coming in and out of the house collecting bibles, towels, books (advent)  and other items.  Little did I know what the Lord was doing in their hearts as I looked up in my cleaning frenzy and noticed neighbors passing by my window to go into the woods.  The Lord was graciously teaching me a big lesson that day as he does very often through our children.
 click on the box below.....

Let's Play Some FOOTBALL!

It's hard to believe another year has come again and we are back on the field. Football, welp its no joke. Pre-Season is 5 days a week for 2 weeks and then you go to 3 days a week and a game on the weekend. Logan moved up to an older league this year and has adjusted well.

As a competitive mama, I love to see how focused he is during football

 

 

My "wild at heart" boy is growing up

 

The parents spend a lot of time together on the sidelines. I have enjoyed helping as team mom again this year. Perfect opportunity to talk with all the parents and get to know all the kids on the field.

 

Team Picture

2012 Susquehanna Township PeeWee Indians

Logan at Center

 

Huddle!!! Logan #55

what a tough looking kid

 

 

 Just a little talk between dad and son or coach and child

 

 my boy, ready to hit somebody

 

 

We head out on Friday nights to watch the High School Indians play. We have so much fun at the High School games. We go as a family and we are soon surrounded by many people that the Lord has woven in our lives, cheering on our Hanna Indians. Breanna scoots away to be part of the student cheering section and to hang with friends.  We scream and yell and the kids always find friends to hang out with. (click here for Lisa's post of the High School game)

 

 

Very cool for Logan to see his buddy CJ at Center too.

We love cheering on CJ #79!

memories in the making...the kids have so much fun at the games



Visit from friends from NC Whooo-hooo!

Some friends from our Brewers Glynn neighborhood came for a visit last week. We surprised the girls by joining them for a fun day at Chocolate World. Here is the video of the surprise! 

Our first stop was to make our very own chocolate bars. This was a lot of fun and would totally do it again!

Here we are watching the instructional video before we get started making our candy bars.

So cute in hair nets and aprons..as you can see I stay way behind the camera so I don't end up in these photo shots!

Dark chocolate, dark chocolate chips...chocolate, chocolate, chocolate.....yumm!!!

Here is our crew, so much fun to go as a group. It was neat to watch the kids create their own packaging after they bars were done.

Maddy stuck beside "Grammy Sue" like glue.  "Gammy Sue" was recently diagnosed with cancer and is undergoing treatment. Maddy has shed many tears the past few weeks as it is difficult to be far away from someone you care for so deeply.   

Our next stop was the 3-D Movie at Hershey. Very fun experience.

Then it was off to the falconry experience at the Hershey Zoo.

Maddy and Carina hanging out at the Falcon Show

Here is Grammy Sue's Son Matt and Toni. We had fun catching up and filling them on all the exciting things the Lord is doing here in Harrisburg PA.

Very cool birds indeed....a little intimidating if you ask me!

What a sweet visit, always difficult to say goodbye and never easy when your friends are already in tears. My ohh my, goodbyes are difficult.  Please pray for Ms."Gammy Sue" as she battles cancer and is going through tough treatment currently.

DC to Baltimore-family fun

Breanna flew out of Baltimore to visit friends in NC so we decided to take some time to explore DC and Baltimore before we picked her back up at the airport.

We spent a day in DC visiting musems and looking at monuments...it was HOT!

This was in the Natural History museum. Pretty good museum but way over the top with evolution.

Maddy takes any opportunty she can to study animals...dead or alive.

I just love her curiosity, her intrest in God's creatures. I can't wait to see how she uses this passion to further the gospel.

We all liked the photography display from National Geographic.

Here the kids are talking about the move "The Night at the Museum"

Our little "sweet pea"

just beautiful

Dinner Time! Hot Spot in DC

It was so hot during the day that we waited until the sun went down to check out the White House and a few monuments.

So tired, done for the day!!!

Billy took Logan by the Redskins stadium...Happy Boy.

So the next morning we headed to Baltimore to hang out before we picked up Breanna at the airport

. Billy took me by Charm City Cakes...very thoughtful indeed.
One of the girls who works there was outside but when she saw me coming with the camera she took off around the alley.  I'm sure they are over people like me stopping by all the time.

We checked out a few sights in Baltimore, it was HOT!  Very HOT!

We were all very excited to go pick up Breanna from the airport.  We all missed her very much and we were happy to have her back home. Logan cuddled with her all the way back home from Baltimore. She did a great job flying by herself for the first time.

We had a fun time getting away together for a couple days, much needed with how fast paced life seems to be this past year. The next time we make this trip I sure hope it is not as hot!