Cherries in the snow

This is one of my favorite desert recipes, i'm not usually big on "cherry" deserts. however this one is a keeper! So i thought i would share....
Cherries in the Snow

1 cup flour
1/2 cup margarine
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup nuts, chopped fine

Filling and topping
1 (8 oz) pkg. cream cheese, softened
2 cups confectioners' sugar
2 tsp. Vanilla
1 cup heavy cream, whipped
1 (32 oz.) can cherry pie filling

Preheat oven to 375. Use an ungreased 9 x 13 pan or 10" pie pan. Combine flour, margarine, brown sugar and nuts. Place in pan. Bake 15 mins. Crumble and pat down into pan; Cool.
Cream the cream cheese, sugar and vanilla; fold in the whipped cream. Spoon over crust. Spoon pie filling over top. Chill several hours or overnight.

Banquet night

Tonight was Holland christian high schools senior banquet night. Bill and i took Levi (Eth was taking a nap so we figured we'd be better off leaving him with grandpa than trying to get him in a costume and making him sit still.) to Centennial

park to take pictures of Joe and Jenna, Jake and Ellie. (Joe is Bill's brother and Jake is my brother). We managed to get a few snapshots of Levi by the tulips in the dutch costume my mom made for Jake when he was a baby! They all looked amazing! Jenna and Ellie were stunningly gorgeous!!!

Longing

I long for something greater. something radical and world changing. something that fulfils me in a way that i cannot describe to you. To feel God working through me like when in Haiti or Cambodia. I guess i just miss the "thrill" if you will, of being apart of something HUGE! Feeling the presence of God in such a tangible way like bringing Jesus to the nations.... I always dreamed of opening an orphanage overseas, rescuing children off the streets....of bringing people to the Lord! Lately i feel like God is imparting to me that THIS. This is my job right now. Raising my boys to love and fear the Lord. To be radical world changers for him, because after i am gone. THEY are going to be the next generation. Sometimes it's so hard to see things in these terms in the day to day of life. Changing dirty diapers all day, making dinner, doing laundry, sleepless nights and ear infections! (Levi right now unfortunately). But i think we must see things in a bigger picture. I just get so discouraged thinking I'm not doing a good job raising my boys! That i am a failure!
I am listening to the Lies of Satan. Of COURSE he does not want me to be raising men of God who are going to bring people to Christ and stand up against him! The devil wants me to put my children in day care all day! have a prestigious carer and make tons of money so that i do not need God! SCREW THAT. and screw Satan because that is a LIE.
(Just to clarify i have nothing against mom's who do work, i just am having a revelation that it is not my calling.) And i am sick of feeling guilty for staying home! Our society is so backwards. Being a parent is a huge calling. and a very important responsibility.
Lord help me to raise my children to love and fear you... to teach them your laws and to impart to them YOUR heart.... your unconditional love and grace. Help me to not be discouraged in the day to day monotony of life. but to see my life and my calling through YOUR eyes. not my own.
I can do ALL things through Christ who gives me strength.

Family Pics

SpRiNg!

I absoloutly LOOOOVE spring! Today is beautiful. the windows open with the birds singing. mmmm awesome.....
Levi is MOBILE! In a minutes time i had walked away to get something, and when i got back this is where i found him. (first pic) He is obsessed with power cords too. Ethan was the same way! I cannot take my eyes off the little bugger! He knows when i leave the room too. haha love that naughty little stinker. I posted a few more pictures of things we've been doing. Bill and i went on a date last weekend...bek's soccer game and just getting things ready to start LANDSCAPING and seeding the GRASS! We went to pick out boulders and steppers at the allegan gravel pit last week and had cement patio poured under the back deck. last but certainly not least GUTTERS put in.( no more neighbors almost killing themselves on the ice skating rink at the front door!)
It's going to be alot of hard work this summer, but we plan to do the rest on our own. it will probably only be a few bushes and trees to start!
A few weeks back we spent the day out at great grandpa and grandma's farm. (last 2 pics) Ethan LOVED the tractor ride with "grandpa grandpa"!

Us lately....

Here are some recent pictures of the GROWING boys! Levi
is crawling!! and sitting up on his own at 7 months! He is eating more and more foods like pieces of fruit, bread, Cheerios and of course his fav sweet potatoes! Ethan freaks out when I'm feeding Levi his sweet potatoes b/c he thinks it's totally disgusting and cannot bear the sight of it going into his mouth, yea, i am still working on getting him to eat his vegetables. I seriously envy mom's out there who's children eat all their vegetables.
Ethan is extremely smart. and does not miss a beat. ...girls have boobs... he says to me... that makes them pretty. I was taken a little off guard. HE IS ONLY 3! little bugger..... but yea, he can get away with murder he is so dang cute.
I love love love being a stay at home mom. Above is a preview of our photo session a DeVries studio last week! I can't wait to get them all back, they turned out awesome! Oh and next week Bill goes down to only part time school!
A few of the growing boys: