The best Father's Day gift EVER!

No, it was actually not this slideshow I made with pictures and music that support the fact that Tripp is in deed, the most awesome dad!

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The best father's day gift ever, is one of our children asking Jesus into his heart! It was Casey! Tonight as he said his bedtime prayers, his prayer was particularly "grown up". It wasn't the usual reportoire that he recites. But actually an original heartfelt prayer for people who don't the Lord to start going to church so that they can know Him. Even Ryan commented that Casey's prayer sounded like such a big boy prayer.

So I said, "that sounds like the prayer of someone who has Jesus in his heart."

Casey grinned big at me.

I asked him, "do you want to have Jesus in your heart someday?"

He said, "yeah".

I asked him, "why?"

"Because I love Him so much."

I told him that someday when he's sure he's ready, he can pray and ask Jesus to come into his heart.

He said, "I want to do it now!"

So I called Tripp over, who was sitting on Ryan's bed tucking him in.

"We have a situation", I said.

Tripp talked to Casey about what Jesus did for us and explained what it means to have Jesus in your heart. I know we gave him information overload, but we were so excited that he was ready to make this decision and wanted to make sure that he understood what he was about to do.

Tripp prayed and Casey repeated him, very clearly and confidently.

There was a party in Heaven tonight and I'm sure that my mom and Gram were heading up the celebration!

Running

This is a trendy little sport these days, don't you think? I know so many people who are running now and those who aren't are saying, "why is everyone on this running bandwagon?". I'll tell you why, it's because of Meredith! She is a passionate person and when she loves something, she wants the world to know - and the world listens! I mean it! Just ask anyone who heard her schpiel on cloth diapers and then actually started putting their sweet baby cheeks in colorful fuzzibunz! Anyway, this post is not really about my dear sweet friend, whom I adore with all my heart. It's about me and running.

Me and running have never been good friends. We've been good acquaintances for many years. I have a few fond memories of running in friends backyards as a child, playing freeze tag. I have not-so-fond memories of running the dreaded mile in junior high. And in college, when I was on a mission trip in Denmark, I ran for my life as a prostitute was close on my heels (but that's another story for another time).

But lately, I've opened up a little more to running. We have more of a relationship than an acquaintance now. For the past couple of months, ever since I decided to run a half marathon with Meredith in October, I've made running part of my weekly routine. And, I have to admit, I like it! I never thought I'd say that! I run 3 times a week and our dog Lucy joins me. Although now, it's getting too hot and I'm going too far to bring her along. But there is just something so (forgive me for sounding cheesey) "magical" about going out in the quiet morning and pounding the pavement. I've got some good tunes on my iPod and I just thank God for all the blessings in my life and that I'm healthy and able to run.

I ran farther than ever before on Sunday. My goal was 7 miles, but it was too darn hot and I got a late start so it ended up being 6.825 miles (the last mile I walked off and on, if I'm being honest!) And as much as I enjoy it, there are times when I come home from a run and I need someone to tell me that I did a good job. So that's when I call Meredith! She is also my cheerleader! Can't wait to run the half with her in October, but also excited to run 8 miles with her and Tripp when we go to Vancouver for a visit in July!!

Summer's Here!

Well, not officially. Technically, the first day of summer isn't for 2 more weeks, on June 21st. But here in AZ it's reached triple digits temps and I don't care what month it is - triple digits equals summer!

To kick off summer, here are some cute pictures of cute girls in cute swimsuits with cute matching french braids!

Aren't they CUTE? I watched our friends' kids one day. They have 2 boys and a girl just like us so our kids all play really well together.

Here's the whole gang eating lunch

So obviously we've been in the pool a LOT already. That's just a given when it's already this hot. But I'm so excited because today at Walmart I discovered that a few of their Cricut cartridges were marked down from $45 to $34!! I couldn't resist. I had to have me one.

I am sooooo excited to use this baby (and the new one that my MIL bought as a result of me informing her of the awesome deal at Walmart!) this summer, specifically mid-July, when a few of us head up to my MIL's newly completed cabin for a weekend of scrapbooking! I can't wait to a) get out of the heat for a few days and b) scrap to my heart's content with no children interrupting! Glorious!