With the schools closing in the area for COVID-19, we now have a two week Spring Break!  We’re hoping to return to school at the end of the month, but nothing is certain right now.  We are enjoying more family time together with all of our activities and events cancelled.  It feels like Christmas break again, except none of us are sick.  A huge blessing!  We’re praying for health and safety and enjoying the time together until school resumes!  (Some of the photos are from earlier in the month.)

Play-dough roses

Anna helping make dinner rolls from scratch

James helping make Chicken & Potato Chowder

James making scrambled eggs and chocolate chip pancakes for dinner!

One of Anna’s art pieces from school was chosen to be displayed at a local library branch along with other students from our school!

James with a karate kick at our school’s Library Fun Night

New bike helmets

I’ve mentioned in previous posts that Kenny and I traveled to Florida in January for the Young Life All-Staff conference.  Every four years YL takes all staff members and their spouses – around 5,000 people – to Orlando for a week of fun.  It is a week to relax, reconnect with people, and be reminded of the mission of Young Life: to reach kids for Jesus.  I love that they include spouses in this; I appreciated being reminded of the mission too – why Kenny works so hard day after day.  

We left a few days early and flew into West Palm Beach to stay with some dear friends of mine, the Wibbels.  They were my bible study leaders and mentors in college and I’ve so enjoyed staying in touch with them all these years.  The flights were very difficult for me and I didn’t feel well the entire week, but did manage to enjoy the visit some.  

Alan and Marti drove us to a nearby beach and we enjoyed getting a token picture of the ocean.  Alan & Kenny collected a small bag of seashells for us to take back for the kids.  I was so disappointed that our visit with the Wibbels wasn’t all that I had anticipated, but am thankful for the time we had.  

We spotted Air Force One in the area while we were there!

We then rented a car and drove to Orlando; the YL conference is always held on Disney property – one of the few places in the country that can house everyone!  Our hotel was about ten minutes from the main hotel and conference center, which turned out being a huge blessing.  Our hotel was small and we had a ground floor room which meant I didn’t have to deal with the elevators at all.  So wonderful.  

The week consisted of many wonderful speakers, worship times, breakout sessions, videos, concerts, and meals.  I participated in very little of it but did enjoy what I could.  Kenny enjoyed spending some time with guys from work in a social setting.  And, he really enjoyed the couple trips to Disney parks. 

One of the highlights for me was hearing from a young high school kid who was greatly impacted through Young Life.  His life was a mess, he was reconnected with a YL leader, the leader invested time and energy into him, presented the gospel, and this young man is now living for Jesus.  These kinds of stories make the day to day work that Kenny does worth it all, and in the end, we’re very, very thankful for the blessing that Young Life has been in our lives.  

This month has been marked by frigid temperatures and snow!  We’ve had several snow days and a late start too.  While snow days are sometimes inconvenient – the plan I had for the day is suddenly cancelled – I still enjoy having the kids home.  Unfortunately, Kenny no longer has snow days, but at least he can work from home and doesn’t have to get out and drive.  Unexpected snow days have given us more opportunities to get cozy, and we all love that.     

Lots of Legos!

I’ve loved this magazine this winter!  So many ideas for cozy times and beautiful photography.  

Our Valentine’s Day tradition of Fondue continues!

Last week Kenny did lighting for the ECA high school play, Alice in Wonderland, and James got to help run the light board at the performance we attended.  A few months back James ended up running a spotlight for Kenny at the church Christmas concert.  Maybe we have another lighting guy in the family!

Last year I read through The One Year Bible and so enjoyed it.  I was way behind over December so actually finished it in January of this year.  I felt such a sense of accomplishment!  I’ve read through the bible before, but hadn’t tackled it in one year before.  I LOVED seeing the Bible in its entirety this way.  Reading such a large section (OT, NT, Psalms, & Proverbs) every day sometimes made it hard to really focus on any one part.  Sometimes I would just be going through the motions and would struggle to see how the passages were applicable to my life; specifically reading through parts of the Old Testament.  But more often than not, God would show me something I could take away – something I needed for that day.  Unbelievable.  

Hebrews 4:12 English Standard Version (ESV)

¹² For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

This year I’ve started reading through The Valley of Vision, a book of Puritan prayers, and Gracelaced, a study through the seasons of the heart as they correlate to the four seasons.  I’m so enjoying both of these books, but I’ve noticed that I’m really missing being in the thick of scripture of every day.  Gracelaced is a Bible study in a way, but it’s not the same as reading large portions of scripture every day.  Next I think I’ll choose a smaller portion of scripture, or just a few verses, to study or memorize for the entire week.  There’s such benefit to meditating on one verse for days on end.  

And, I’m loving the differences between The Valley of Vision – a plain, black book versus Gracelaced – a beautiful book, cover to cover that includes beautiful paintings and photographs. I look forward to opening that book – for both the aesthetics and the rich truths. The Valley of Vision is rich in it’s own way.  The words penned by the early Puritans are such solid truths – it needs nothing more.  It stands alone and is nourishment for the soul.  

What books or bible studies are you enjoying these days?