The Greatest Story of All Time

As we are quickly approaching Easter Sunday and in the midst of Holy Week, I wanted to take some time to write through my thought processes on the Greatest Story of all time. We just finished a sermon series at our church called "News Flash! Getting the Sacred Story Straight." Pastor Tucker went through the Who, What, Where, When, and Why of the gospel message. And it wasn't a deep theological series, but it was about how we, who claim to be Christ followers, are called to share the good news to the whole around us and about being prepared to give an answer for the HOPE that we have in eternity! We are constantly bombarded with news all around us, but there is only 1 message that truly matters, one story that has the power to transform lives, bring healing, and give hope. And it is this......

Our world today is not what God intended it to be. When He created the earth and the entire universe, it was perfect. It was flawless, holy, and good, peaceful and right. All of creation was a testimony to the power and grandeur of God.
 But once Satan (an angel who rebelled against God) tempted Adam and Eve to disobey God, and they did.... Sin entered our world. Not only did sin enter into the fabric of our entire being, but it has literally broken the universe itself. The entire creation is under a curse. The bible says, "the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time." (Romans 8:22) As a result, we live in a fallen, sinful, broken, evil world. We see the effects of sin all around us.. death, sickness, pain, and suffering.

Because our God is perfect, holy, and without sin.. we, who are stained by sin, are separated from God. "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23) There is nothing we can do to bridge the gap between ourselves and God. And this is where the GOOD NEWS comes in....

The most amazing story of all time that has forever changed the course of history... God came down to us in the form of man, Jesus, fully human yet fully God, who lived a perfect life without sin! He sent Jesus as the Messiah, Savior of the world. And he died the most awful death on a cross as God laid on him the sins of ALL mankind, the sins of the entire human race, past, present, and future. His dead body was buried in a tomb. And 3 days later when a few women went to visit his tomb, they found his body was missing. An angel appeared to them telling them that Jesus is alive, He has risen! I love the stories recorded in the bible of Jesus appearing to people after He had risen!
When Jesus rose from the dead, God conquered DEATH, SIN, AND the DEVIL for eternity! He made a way for humankind to be restored into fellowship with Himself once again. Through the death and resurrection of Jesus, we are reconciled to God and all who believe in Him are guaranteed eternal life! Romans 3:22 says "This righteousness from God comes through FAITH in Jesus Christ to ALL who believe.. for ALL are justified FREELY by his GRACE through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus."!

So yes, we currently live in a broken and fallen world... Jesus said, "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33) THIS is the HOPE that believers have! 1 John 3:9 says "The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9) God promises that He is returning for a second time to create a NEW heaven and earth and restore all of creation to how He intended it to be. He is coming again to do away with sin and suffering once and for all! But, He is waiting. He wants ALL people to believe in the atoning work of Jesus and receive eternal life in heaven. What an amazing GIFT, that we do not have to do anything but to accept it.
And THAT is the greatest story of all time! THAT is what we celebrate this Easter Sunday!

I've been listening to this song today, and plan to listen to it all week, "The Scandal of Grace."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpsjgdLRf7E
Grace, what have you done?
Murdered for me on that cross
Accused in absence of wrong
My sin washed away in your blood

Too much to make sense of it all
I know that your love breaks my fall
The scandal of grace, you died in my place
So my soul will live

... The grace and love of our God is hard for us to wrap our minds around! It is like a "scandal" that someone took OUR place for the punishment of sin and we receive the free GIFT! That is just like our God =) Happy Easter!

Family Pics

My family was here 2 months ago, but I just have to post some of my favorite pictures before I move them over to the hard drive! It was just Mom and Chandler... Dad wasn't able to make it this time.



Reading with Uncle Chan

 

 At the park

Chan making his protein shake.. pump it up! ;) 

 

 Playing with Grandma

Geocaching

 

 Webcamming with Dad!

 



 Out for frozen yogurt, yummmm

 

 Climbing around

 

At the museum

 

Chan's puppet show freaked Wyatt out, LOL

 

This boy loooves reading

 

And he loooves his Uncle Chan! Climbing on him while he was trying to rest, hehe

 

Already counting down until they'll be back out to San Antonio! This time with Dad too! 4 months to go =)

A New Chapter

Most of you who read my blog already know this, but just to make an "official" announcement..... We are in the process of getting licensed to be a Foster Home, with the hopes of adopting from the Foster Care system! The last few weeks have been extremely busy, having to go through the 30 hours of training classes, tackling the mound of paperwork, taking online modules and tests, getting CPR/FA certified, TB tests, and on and on! We passed our fire inspection yesterday, so now we are just waiting for our health inspection next week. After that, our agency will schedule us for our Home Study!! Then once we sign the final contract, we will officially be waiting for our first placement (a.k.a. baby!) However, we have been warned that we will not be waiting long. As our trainer says, "Children wait" and homes are needed.
So we are getting very close and are definitely getting anxious to see what the future holds. I constantly have thoughts swirling around in my head about all of this, but most of it goes into my journal. However, I do want to document here on my blog also but I just haven't decided how much/little to share. I know we are not allowed to post pictures of the baby online (at least not of his/her face) and I will have to change names/give nicknames as I do share stories. (Family - we are allowed to send pictures via email)
We are getting all the baby stuff back out and doing our best to talk with Wyatt about bringing home a baby... not sure how much of that is soaking in, lol =)
Above all, we know we are following God's call for our family.. it won't be easy, but it will be worth it and we're just trusting for God to be with us each step of the way.

Happy 2013!

The first 2 weeks of the New Year have officially gone by in the blink of an eye! I have a few posts I need to get to, but I have to post at least a little something about Christmas! Surprisingly, my folder from Christmas Day has very few pictures!! (shocker, I know)  But that's because Wyatt wanted nothing to do with the camera.... he actually got MAD when I would try to take his picture, even while he was opening presents! Little stinker. I did manage to get a few that are worth sharing =)

Opening Presents

This was on the way to church, in his outfit from Great Aunt Debbie! His hands were covering the train so I said, "Let me see your train" and this is what he did, LOL.. 

As soon as we got home from church he wanted to paint with his new paint set!

During lunch, checking out the food tray my Grandparents sent from Minnesota

He picked out the 2 little pieces of candy (no, he did not get to eat them)

And that's all I have from Christmas Day! I'll just remember it was the year Wyatt wouldn't let me take pictures, lol We rung in the New Year with my mom and brother visiting us! Pics to follow...

Merry Christmas Eve! and a Birthday Video

Merry Christmas Eve! It's just me and little man today as Tyler is working until 7:30, which is kind of a bummer, but I'm thankful he has such an awesome job that is one of our biggest blessings in 2012 so it's ok =) He is off tomorrow and we will cook breakfast, open presents, go to church, and relax the rest of the day....

On Saturday, Wyatt had his 2nd mini birthday party with his Grandma and Grandpa here in Texas. He was MUCH more into opening his presents this time which was SO FUN. He even tried soo hard to blow out his candles! And of course I didn't get it on video, but Gammy did so I'll have to get it from her! We just had to post this video of Wyatt opening a present from my mom... He has never reacted to a present before like this so it was just hilarious! We have watched it over and over. It's really just the beginning of the video but I uploaded the whole thing...

 

THANK YOU SO MUCH to all our family (and friends!) who sent gifts for Wyatt's 2nd birthday. It made it SO special for him and us! =) Love to all!

Happy 2nd Birthday, Wyatt!

Wyatt turned 2 on Wednesday! Since Tyler doesn't go into work until 11, we had a little birthday celebration with just the 3 of us that morning. (I didn't do a big party with friends this year, which I was feeling a little guilty about, but after having such a sweet, stress-free time with just us, I couldn't be happier with that deicison =) ) So, Tuesday night after he went to bed we hung up streamers on his doorframe, in the dining room and in the kitchen. I hung up a birthday banner and got him a birthday balloon. Tyler blew up about 20 small balloons that we just had on the living room floor and then we set out half of his presents for him to open (from my side of the family).
 When we brought him out of his room Wednesday morning he was in awe! He noticed and pointed to every little thing! It was so special to my mama heart. We had a little birthday breakfast and opened presents. Here's a little peek into our morning singing, "Happy Birthday" to him....

 

(I have a candle lit in the kitchen almost every day that he loves blowing out, but of course he didn't want to blow out his birthday candles! lol)

 

Teddy Bear toast

 

 

He LOVED his balloon.. he held it the entire time he ate and then it did not leave his side alllll day, too funny

 So excited

 So proud of his banner by his table =)

 

 The aftermath, with the tornado running through ;)

 

 New fridge magnets

 

Later in the day (and still in jammies) we watched "UP" and he sat and watched with his balloon in hand

 

The morning is his best time of day so we had such a sweet celebration. This boy was spoiled rotten from family so tomorrow we are having another mini birthday party with Tyler's parents and opening his presents from his side of the family!

 

I'll do his usual update after his 2 year Dr. appt. next week!

 

P.S. Our Christmas tree is having lighting technical difficulties, don't judge, HA