Easter and more...

Easter was in here somewhere. We returned to sunrise service at Immanuels Church for praise, a short message about the linen, and the balloons. Having prepped Caleb for the balloon release yet again this year the Shullenbarger balloons once again joined the congregations without tears. Easter meal was celebrated at Uncle Scott and Aunt Mel's with and egg hunt to boot.
Elijah's nick name around the house is "Cuisinart". He loves to cook, mostly because he likes to lick the bowl but he does enjoy the process. Easter Monday we treated ourselves to homemade French Toast. Elijah just makes himself right at home cracking eggs, stirring, and dropping in "3 pieces" of bread at a time. Then came the griddle and he confidently suggested that "Mama, I do this all by myself" too. Right, hot griddle, egg mixture, not good. But after the first Jessica was inclined to let him take over. Enjoy the video!
We traveled back-to-back weekends. After getting home from New Hampshire we headed out to Pittsburgh for a very special celebration. Rebekah’s friend Ann-Marie’s had her 6th birthday party. Chris took a half day from work so we could make the 5 pm festivities. We were quickly reminded why we prefer to travel at night. We made 3 stops on a 4-hour trip! The theme was Super Star for Go Fish’s latest release. The activities were decorate your own guitar and go to the Go Fish concert held at her church. The cake was a guitar.

It was nice to be away again and fellowship for a second weekend with a family that shares our values and a couple that relates to each other in the same way we do. You know the question, if you could spend the day with one person and do anything you wanted? I’d guess a lot of the marriages we come in contact with wouldn’t pick their spouse to do something with. That’s just weird to us. With the exception of responsibilities, we like to do things together. The more Chris and I go along the more unique our marriage seems. It’d be nice if everyone was as happy we are, and even when we struggle because of an outside issue it just gets stronger. It’s hard hearing people’s choices and struggles associated with marriage. Call us naïve but we just figured most people’s are like ours. We keep finding out that it’s not so. God is carefully helping us not get down by allowing us to travel to see friends that used to be more local and notably enhancing the friendships that He wants us to have.

With many tired kids in Pittsburgh we spent the first finally glorious day is Spring outside. We watched Evan’s soccer game and then picnicked at a large man made lake. If you can’t tell we forgot the camera and pictures are missing. Grass, a beach, and water. The kids would’ve played for beyond the 3 hours we stayed there. Jess came home sporting some sunburn. We sadly had to leave Saturday night because the kids had church obligations on Sunday. Normally we join the Jeromes at their church for wonderful teaching and praising. Coming home Saturday night we were all ready to hit Dairy Queen for blizzards, something that somehow after one time became a tradition in Caleb’s mind. No one could find a reason that it shouldn’t be so it stuck. Unfortunately was got caught in construction traffic and arrived at the DQ 30 minutes after it close when we should’ve been there 30 minutes before it closed. Sad times! The kids were sleeping anyway.

Sunday caught us in a mad rush. Tired, tired kids and some miscommunications meant Rebekah missed her first service performance in the M&M skit. The boys sang Hallelujah Heart with their choir. Caleb was a ham singing at the communal mic instead of facing the congregation. Rebekah did well in her performance. She had one of the acting roles instead of just reciting a Bible verse. We thought that was cool.

After service and Sunday school and service we went home to Sunday dinner, which needed to be “light” so the kids could run at their first track meet hosted by our club. The jury is still out on the appropriateness of a Sunday sporting event, even though we were able to go to church. Our meet is important because it’s free and it is scheduled in such a way that 6 and unders go first. Their running event was ready to start (heats organized and all) right after the 800m was run. Rebekah edged out two runners to finish 1st and it was close at the end. Caleb finished 3rd in his heat and Elijah finished his race and stayed in his lane. Each accomplishment was great for each child! Jessicawas running the bullpen (helping organize runners for their events) so Chris had herding duty. Girls jump first, thenboys. The meet started at 1:15. The meet was still going on with probably an hour to go when Jess left at 530. The kids thankfully were done around 3:30.Track is special you compete then you hang out with your friends in between and cheer for friends competing—see Rebekah in the video at the end ofCaleb’s race cheering him on! It does a mom’s heart good. This year instead of being the only 6 and under crew we invited friends and found friends. Caleb’s buddies Benjamin (5) and Joseph (8) are running and Joseph’s sister Julianne (almost 5) is running. Much to Elijah’s delight Hannah Buhr is on the team and she and her 3rd gradegirlfriends dote on him to no end and he eats it up. So Rebekah landed a 6’4” jump in the pit to many Oooos and Ahhhs. Her jump could probably have placed her in the top 4 in the 7-8 division. Caleb landed two jumps. Last year he scratched both.They were good jumps and we look forward to seeing his potential as the season. Elijah likewise clearly JUMPED in his, which is a huge step forward even since last practice. Both jump were legal and measured. We enjoy Track and Field as it teaches them discipline and we can really work on Colossians 3:17 “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” While you compete on a team the best you can do is a personal best. Then you have to accept if your best was enough to win or place. Next Rebekah will be old enough to run relay. Using this verse we really stress work ethic and personal ability that is a gift from God.