Awana Awards

Asher participates in Awana every Monday night at our church.  It is a great time for the children to learn Bible verses, about the Word of God, and make new friends.  Being a working mom has made it tricky to get him there, fed, knowing his verse on time every week, but it was a commitment I'm glad we kept.  Asher had so much fun and I know he learned a lot!

This past Monday night was Awana awards.  Asher got an award for being a first year Cubbie.  He was so cute accepting his award.  Once again, he did not sing.  Oh well!

My friend Kristy (and the kids' sitter who they LOVE) took these pictures for me because my camera was dead.  Surprised?  Kristy's daughter Carissa was inside the Cubbie bear.  Asher thought that was the coolest!

Here he is with all his Cubbies buddies...

At receiving his award (he was behind the stand).

Finally with Cubbie Bear!

Better late then never!

***Please ignore how late this post is...Someone took my camera at church, and finally returned it two weeks later when they figured out it wasn't theirs. I was so upset when it was gone, but it taught me to download my pictures, and that I should blog for more memories! Plus, Mike bought me that camera for Mother's Day two years ago with his own giftcard money, so it has sentimental value.***


We had a wonderful time celebrating Easter this year. The Good Friday services at our church were beautifully done, and I was given the privilege of singing with several people who are very talented and a joy to be around.

Easter was the debut of our new sanctuary design. Dan, our worship pastor, worked very hard to get it all done in time. Mike put in several long nights of work (along with Asher a few times!). I think it turned out beautifully. Don't you? The lights change with each background, and there are 3 screens now. I was joking that I should start matching my outfit to whatever lights were going to be used.

Here it is on Easter morning...LOVE the colors!

Another shot...

Asher was finally old enough this past year to sing with all the kids on stage. They range in age from 3-5th grade. He LOVES to sing, but for some reason never really sings when he is up front. He will do it perfectly before and after, but only sings a little on stage. Our Christmas singing was lacking, to say the least, so I took it upon myself to make sure that he new those songs PERFECTLY for Easter. They have a great message, and I'm glad that he's learning worship songs. He did okay this year. Happi and I laugh because all the children of the worship team are the ones normally getting in trouble or not singing! Caden (her little boy) and Asher always give us a run for our money! They are so stinkin' cute.

Here are our two stinkers Caden and Asher....so adorable!
(Ash is obviously an aspiring model in this picture!)


Finally singing (kind of!). At least they look cute!

I don't have any pictures of Avery at Easter due to my camera mishap. I was so disappointed! I decided that I am going to redress her up so I can have a cute picture of her in her Easter dress and frilly headband...these are what they at least looked like!

Avery's dress was from Gap and had a little off-white sweater to go with it. She's not really a "girly-girl" so it worked well since it isn't all frilly and lacey. I love dressing little girls!

Hope you all had a wonderful Easter! He is risen!

Hillsong Part II

I know this might seem obsessive (and I certainly do not have an obsessive personality. ha!)...another Hillsong post, but my husband just sent me this picture of it from his i-phone. (I left mine in the car, so no pictures here!).

Hillsong

Mike and I love worship music, and our favorite group by far is Hillsong. I was sceptical of the whole worship music scene a while back...I thought it was cheesy and I definitely did not listen to any of it. A few years ago, Mike challenged me to listen to a Hillsong CD. He was always playing it, so I decided to appease him and just listen. Once. Well, twice. An hour.

We love their music. It is always on playing at our house or we have the DVDs playing while we do housework. Ash and Ave can both sing almost every single song (including the guitar riffs and drum parts...scary, I know). I love hearing my kids praising the Lord in their carseats in the back. So cute! It blesses this mommy's heart.

So when we heard they were touring the USA in April, we jumped on the bandwagon to buy tickets. We ended up going to the soldout concert at Sears Center with some friends. We (my husband..) were the crazies who bought general admission tickets. Decoded that means "Standing room only...really close to the stage...so loud your ears bleed, your entire body feels the bass drum (including the credit cards in your pocket)...and you are in a mass of people praising the Lord (and not all singing on key)."

It was an awesome experience to be worshipping for 3 hours straight with thousands of strangers. We were so close to the stage, the is was just like being a church...with really cool lights, amazing sound, and thousands of people. Okay, so it wasn't like church, but it was so neat. If you don't have their CDs, check them out. Their newest is Faith+Hope+Love.

And before my husbands bashes me...yes, there is Hillsong and Hillsong United. Both equally fabulous. :)