God is so Good!

Wow-I really don't know where to start-I am almost speechless. It hit me today that tomorrow is Easter Sunday and yesterday was Good Friday. Jeff and I really don't do Santa, the Easter Bunny, or Tooth Fairy with the kids and I didn't have anything prepared in the way of Easter Egg baskets filled with candy and toys. We just never really talked about these fictional characters with our kids and it has never been a big deal. For us personally, this is the best decision as it allows the real reason for each season to be taught and celebrated.

When it hit me that Sunday is Easter, I thought to myself-how am I going to convey the importance, seriousness, gratefulness, thankfulness, grace, love, and sacrifice of Easter to the boys. How do you describe all that Jesus has done for us- to a three and four year old. Jeff and I want to show our boys how important it is to walk with God everyday. When the thought crossed my mind about the closeness of Easter-I stopped and prayed that the Holy Spirit lead and guide me. I prayed that he make an available opportunity so perfect that I would just know what to say and do. Did he ever answer my prayers!

I have recently witnessed the benefit of a nightly quiet and prayer time with my children and I have vowed to try my hardest to make sure it happens every night. Well, tonight was no exception-even though I was tired and ready for some relaxing mommy time-I did it. About a year ago a sweet woman gave my boys a beautifully illustrated and wonderfully written book called "How Miss Ladybug Lost Her Spots." (author by Lara York) I value this book so much that I will not let them look at it without sitting right next to me-to avoid any pages being torn out. The book describes what Jesus did for us-but it is woven into the storytelling so perfectly that children are able to understand-in that little innocent way that children understand biblical truths.

The boys were listening quite intently and following along while I read-and there it was. As Miss Ladybug asked questions about Jesus' powerful, pure, and true love; the little girl who was witnessing to her said, "I will tell you all Jesus did, he wants us all to be free, he came to this earth to live and die for you and me." She went on to describe Good Friday and Easter with illustrations of Jesus' empty tomb!! I knew immediately God had answered my prayer-I was filled with joy and emotion that I could hardly read without tears. The boys knew that something was different about the words I was speaking. This passage was the perfect opening to discuss Easter and what it meant. Again I will say God is so Good-and the Holy Spirit will lead and guide when we ask and open ourselves to it. May we all remember Jesus' sacrifice tomorrow-praise him and thank him-for it was LOVE that he so freely gave.

Stylin' and Profilin'

It is getting really close to haircut time for the boys. After his bath today, Lane decided he wanted his hair in a "Ho Hawk", which is his language for a Faux Hawk. After we got it just right, I decided to get the camera out and document the occasion. Notice the "good" shot, the "side" shot, and the "silly" shot. Lane is so photogenic-and hilarious. I love this kid!!!!

Little Boys in Baseball Hats

Why is it that little boys in baseball hats are so CUTE? Is it because they look like a miniature version of their daddies when they don the same apparel? It is because the vision totally encompasses our true idea of "little boyness"? Or is it just that this little boy is mine and I think he looks cute in just about anything? Whatever it is-I am so glad that I caught him wearing his favorite red hat and took a picture! It really is the little things in life!

Luke David is 3

That's right my baby Luke David is three. I suppose he is not a baby anymore, but he will always be my Little Lukey! It seems like yesterday that he was born, but he has been on this earth for three whole years. Three years of blessings, three years of sweetness, and three years of getting to know this tender hearted little boy. Jeff and I feel so very blessed that God has entrusted these beautiful children to us.

We had a wonderful time celebrating, complete with presents and a Chicken Little cake. Luke received an exciting surprise in the mail from Great Grandmother Gibbs in Arkansas. The big yellow envelope was full of colors and coloring books, which he absolutely loved. He also got a LeapFrog (just like his big brother) from MaeMae and Grandad, as well as a LeapFrog game, DVD's, and books from MiMi and BigDad. He was so very excited about all of his presents and would like to thank everyone for thinking of him on his special day!

!!!!!!ROCK ON!!!!!!!!

Just a quick little post about guitars!!!! Lane got a guitar for his birthday b/c his cool cousins in Houston TX had one. Come to find out his little brother Luke really likes to play as well!!! Before this last weekend we only had one-but MiMi was able to score another one! Now we have 2 little guitar players!!!! It is so cute to watch them shake their rear and bob their head while playing. Anyway daddy got the camera out on Saturday and took some pics!!!

(Oh and it just hit me that I forgot to spell check last night before I posted about Lanes b-day) Sorry!

Lane Jeffrey Gibbs is 4!!

Can you believe it-this handsome young man is already FOUR YEARS OLD-as of September 23. (So I dont quite post things in a timely manner) I can believe it, but it is hard and makes me want to tear up a little, or a lot! I remember the day that this character was born-Lord Mercy did my life ever change. He kind of had a hard time getting here (thanks to the Doctor, but lets not go there cause I gave that to God) and there were many prayers said before and during his birth. Let me also say that there were many prayers said after his birth-and you know what-I have realized that the prayer for both my children will never cease. Even though sometimes I have days where I feel like "Calgon Take Me Away" is my motto-nothing compares to the love for a child or the blessings that they bring. I would have to say one of the biggest and best blessings that I have recieved would be a better understanding of God's love for me, as HIS child.

You might be asking (and I am sure you are), "What was the party theme this year?" Well, we had round 2 of a baseball party! That's right, we had baseball for year 3 and for year 4. It is kind of endearing, isnt it? Let me tell you, it made things quite easy: same balloons, same wrapping ideas, and even some of the same presents. MiMi and Big Dad cooked yummy hot dogs, hamburgers, and nachos; just like at the baseball park. But we did have a differnt cake-thanks to Mae Mae- we had an adorable group of cupcakes all decorated together to look like a baseball glove with a ball. It was absolutely adorable and delicious! I think that it was very cute that Lane asked for a baseball party the second year in a row and he was very adament about getting a baseball glove, ball, bat, bike, guitar (thanks to cousin Jax and Brooks), and a whistle (shout out again to cousin Jax and Brooks). Come to think of it-I have not seen the whistle since the party....hmmmmm! All in all we had a wonderful time and I was so very glad that my parents could be here this year for the fun! My life is so full of blessings, I really cant even express it. God is Good!!!!

Brotherly Love

Angels? Don't they look like angels, like they just absolutely love each other and get along perfectly all the time? Doesn't it look like there is so much brotherly love between the two of them, that they just cant stand it? Well don't be fooled-they are very smart!!

I decided that it was time to have some pictures taken since it has been a little over a year since I had some made. My moms birthday and Fathers day both fall in June so I decided that I would do something that I thought they would both really like. One evening my mother-in-law and I took the boys downtown Tampa to snap a couple of pictures. My mother-in-law has a friend that lives in an absolutely beautiful house on the bay and her lawn provided a wonderful setting. Needless to say it was a little stressful, but we were able to get some great snapshots! My parents are now retired in Arizona and very far away from us-so I thought a new set of updated pictures of the boys would be a great surprise! I really could not decide which pictures I liked best, so I copied almost all the pics I had taken of the boys their whole life (including the new ones) onto a disc to send in the mail. I added the birthday and Fathers days cards along with drawings from the boys. Mom and dad were very happy to receive their package, and I was excited that they would be able to enjoy it anytime!

The pictures posted here are just a few, but they are some of my favorites. I absolutely love pictures of my boys and I get very sentimental looking at ones taken in the past. Now that I am able to stay at home with them I try to cherish every day because I know in the back of my mind that I will turn around and they will be driving, graduating, getting married, having kids of their own. I really cant hardly think about it without getting teary eyed! I love them so much and I am so blessed!