Phase 1 "Busy Bees"...

We began updating our "Busy Bees" classroom (for 1 & 2 yr. olds). We will also be putting in new cabinets, a counter top, storage bins for the toys and paint the walls. Today, they built a new back wall, insulated it and drywalled it.

Phil & Ed, framing in the wall.
Jason helped run some new electrical outlets.
Bart, putting in new ceiling tiles.
Karl & David also helped with the drywall.
Melissa, myself, Karl IV, and Ethan cleaned the toys and chairs. Well, okay, Ethan didn't help too much, he just played with the toys. We are on our way to a nicer room. There's more to do next week, so stay tuned.

Home Haircuts...

"Uncle Mike" came over and gave Ethan his 2nd haircut yesterday. He basically just trimmed it up on top, over the ears, and around the back. Ethan did very well, and was very patient, as long as he had something to chew on. Thanks so much, Mike, for making a house call, too."Hmm, this looks like it will taste good."
"Okay, let's get this over with, so I can get down, run around and play."
"Just a little off the top, please."
"Woa, wait a minute. You're getting awfully close to my ears."

Trying to get the right pose...

Have you ever tried to get just the right pose for a picture, to no avail? Well, this afternoon I was trying to take some pictures of Ethan, I just couldn't seem to get just the right shot. He has so many facial expressions, and different actions that he does that are so cute, and I just couldn't seem to catch them with the camera. Not to mention, then there's Spencer. Every time the camera comes out, Spencer jumps right in front of it (and Ethan turns the other way). How frustrating! Well after almost 40 pictures (call me crazy!), here are a few I did finally get.

Ethan is going after his ball. (See Spencer's nose? He always jumps in the way!)
Playing with his ball.
This one was cute. Both "boys" waiting at the door, because they heard the garage door go up and knew that meant that Daddy is home!
Daddy's home for lunch!
Ethan does "blowfishes" on any surface that makes noise: windows, doors, the floor, books, even on his ball! (I know... we usually try to keep him away from the stove, don't worry!)

"When is spring going to be here? I want to go outside and play!"

Carrying around his EMPTY cup.

Climbing up the basement stairs, with Daddy right behind him. (He does a few steps, and then stands up and wants to be picked up.)

Ethan DOES know how to crawl normally now. He does not army crawl too often any more. (It's probably too much weight to DRAG around now. :-) )

(This is right AFTER a blowfish on the ball, that I was trying to get.)

Finally, a good smile ... once I pinned him! :-)

Have a good afternoon!

Bowling & Dinner...

The last 3 Tuesdays, Bart has done a new Jr. High "Outreach" activity of bowling. He has gone into the Jr. High at Manton, and invited any Jr. Higher to come bowling for 2 hours Tuesday after school. He has had an opportunity to meet some new students this way. Midway through the afternoon, he shared a short devotional challenging the students and sharing Christ with them. A few Sr. High students from our Youth Group have also gone to interact with the students. Following bowling, we have had anywhere from 4 - 6 extra guests for dinner. They are students who then go to Volleyball at the church, and rather than send them home for dinner to turn right around and come back, we offered to feed them. This has been kind of fun! A great way to interact with students on a more casual atmosphere. We've enjoyed having them in our home for this. I try to feed them a good meal too, which I enjoy doing (and they enjoy eating).

Our guests last night included Rachel, Amy, Emily, Jacob, Corey and Wyatt.
Ethan enjoys hanging out with the "kids".
Ethan is checking out Corey's laptop computer, while Wyatt is holding his "Jesus Loves Me Bunny".

More Easter picts...

Here is Ethan surrounded by his Easter "basket" of gifts from Gramma Brenda & Grampa Don. He got a bunny that sings "Jesus loves me," two books and a nice card. Ethan also got a basket of baby juice from Grandpa & Grandma Haase. Thank you Easter "bunnies."
Ethan is trying out his new baby "boggin" we bought him today (on clearance for $3). If Ethan looks half asleep.... he is. He just woke up after a short ride home from shopping.
Some down time for Ethan ... quietly sitting, quietly watching...
... his Praise Kids Worship DVD.

Easter Breakfast...

Rollins' had its Annual Easter Breakfast at 8:30 Sunday morning. There were about 150 people that attended. A crew of men (mainly) made: french toast, pancakes (plain & blueberry), hashbrowns, scrambled eggs, sausage, biscuits and gravy, coffee, juice, etc. It was delicious! We were glad to be able to be in church this year for Easter. Last year we were in the hospital for Easter Sunday! Our little blessing, Ethan James, joined our family last year on Easter at 6:10 PM.

People waiting in line for their food.
Filling our plates with delicious food.
Ethan and I are way in the background here to the left of the lady in the blue shirt. Can you see Ethan in his blue Bumbo seat? This is the only picture I have of him on Easter. Can you believe it? Sunday was such a busy day that I didn't even stop and take a picture of him in his cute dress shirt. I'll take one next time.
We enjoyed Easter dinner at our friends' home, the Morris's, Sunday afternoon. This is right in their back yard. There were 30 deer out feeding right in their back yard! What a sight to see!
The deer are all lined up eating their dinner, while we were eating ours. I wish I had this view all the time! They would jump up on their back hooves and fight too. It was fun to watch! I know you're jealous, Dad! (That's why I had to take pictures, or else, I knew you wouldn't believe me!)

Ethan's visit at Grandma & Grandpa's....

This is a great picture for several reasons. One, it has Grandpa with all four of his grand-SONS. Two, it shows Grandpa playing a game, which he doesn't normally like to do. Three, even Ethan is having fun playing with Grandpa. Priceless!

Ethan sat in Grandpa's chair, but it was a few sizes too big.
My sister is holding Ellie in the background, along with my parents' dog, Bandit, who thinks he needs some attention too. He's feeling left out. But he gets along with the kids great!

I left Saturday morning, after the big snow storm Grand Rapids got AGAIN Friday night. They got around 8 inches of snow Friday again. The roads weren't great coming home, but they were much better as I got north of town. Here, Dad is outside snowblowing, so I can leave. (They had NO snow when I got there on Thursday. My mom blames me and says it's because me, "the northerner" brought it down to them.) We're getting some more again tonight and tomorrow. I guess winter is not quite over with yet.

Happy Easter!

This is pretty powerful. It's almost 10 minutes long but worth it to watch. It really makes you think...
Can you imagine what He did for us all??...This is awesome...Please view this and think of the Resurrection this wonderful day..Have a blessed Easter.
You're invited to a powerful, inspirational presentation from Max Lucado. It's a vivid, emotional reminder of Christ's work for us on the cross. Visit http://www.hechosethenails.net/#null

Visiting my new neice...

I came down to G.R. for a couple of days to visit my new neice. My mom and I are spending a couple of days helping my sister out.

Here's Ellie Jean, 8 days old.
Ellie loves to be talked to. We're deep in conversation here, can you tell?
Caleb was around to play with Ethan too.
Beautiful Ellie by some beautiful spring flowers.
Ethan and Grandpa were having quite a fun time last night making faces and spitting back and forth.

Another new baby...

Congratulations to our friends, Brad & Sara, who had a new baby girl yesterday evening. Her name is Natalie Renea (not sure on spelling of her middle name). She weighed 8 lbs. 3 oz. and was 21" at birth. We were able to go visit them at the hospital today. Natalie is just adorable. She is very close to the same size that Ethan was when he was born (almost this time last year, minus 3 weeks). (It's hard to believe how small she is, and to be reminded of how much Ethan has grown this past year. He has tripled his birth weight.) Natalie showed us her bright eyes just before we left the hospital. This makes 3 new babies to our friends and family within the past month! We were reminded once again that she is just another precious gift from God.

2 new teeth and crawling...

In the last week, Ethan has been working on popping 2 new teeth through. (These are numbers 5 & 6 for him.) They are the right side top and bottom corner "eye" teeth. He has been a little bit more fussy for these two than others, but he still hasn't been terrible. No runny nose, diaper rash, or any of that horrible stuff, thankfully. Just a big whinier than usual. He's still our good boy though.

Ethan also has decided now that he's just about mastered walking, that he should start crawling. So just over a week ago, he started crawling up on all fours. He still drops down to his infamous "army" crawl if he wants to get somewhere in a hurry.

Ethan has great balance (most of the time - when Spencer's not knocking him over :-) ). He stands in one place and bends over to pick up something. He can grab it and stand back up without falling over probably 8 times out of 10, maybe even 9. Sometimes, he'll grab onto something that he's standing close to, like the couch, stool, entertainment center, etc. and then bend over, but he does do it in the middle of the room also.

Finally, Ethan is beginning to try some new foods. He is working on gumming at the "fruit puffs" (I still break them into a few pieces though) and the baby toast biscuits. He has also tried some of Mommy's homemade rolls, pudding, Jell-o, Macaroni & Cheese (mainly the cheese), yogurt, and even some cupcake crumbs. I think he is branching out finally and realizing that there is much more in the world to taste than baby food. Last night for dinner he had a baby "Chicken Noodle Dinner" which is the thickest baby food he's had, with a few small chunks. He did great on that too. So he's turning a corner in the food arena also.

We're excitedly looking forward to his 1st birthday, and planning for his big party, coming up very soon! I can't believe how fast time has gone! In this picture that I took above, he even looks so much older, doesn't he? We are still so thankful for our little blessing.

Perfect Peace...

I just finished my study on "Peace" as part of the Fruit of the Spirit, a Bible Study by Beth Moore. I would like to share some of the things that I was encouraged with through this chapter.

First of all "life without peace" is unbearable. Job faced terrible circumstances that were definitely not peaceful. In Job 3:25-26, he says this, "What I feared has come up on me; what I dreaded has happened to me. I have no peace, no quietness; I have no rest, but only turmoil." Satan delights in our lack of peace! He desires to "sift us as wheat" just like he was trying to do to Jesus' disciples.

Secondly, Jesus Christ came as our "Prince of Peace." He became our peace by shedding his blood on the cross for our sins. His death brought us peace with God for an eternity of peace. "We could not experience peace with God until the fullness of the Godhead made peace with death." Through Christ's death, we have been given ACCESS to the heavenly Father!

Christ gives us a peace that transcends all understanding (Phil. 4:7); a peace that the world cannot give (John 14:27); a peace that guards our hearts and minds (Phil 4:7); a peace that belongs to Christ and is only His to give (John 14:27); and Christ offered His peace to us, if we choose to accept it (John 14:27). Christ promises to graciously give us all that we need (Phil 4:19; Rom. 8:32), that should bring us a great peace. If there is a need that we have, we must bring it before the Lord, give Him all we have to offer, and allow Him to answer. "Are you sitting down in a posture of trust and sitting quietly to receive it? If so, prepare the baskets!"

"Peace means the absence of fear and turmoil, not the absence of pain and grief." Jesus experienced peace in the midst of tears. He saw the pain and loss that Mary & Martha experienced when they lost their brother, Lazarus. Jesus was moved to tears by their love for Him. Yet, He remained peaceful during the whole situation, because He knew that it was all happening for God's glory. "Christ had perfect peace in ALONENESS...in PROVISION...in the STORM...in the WAIT...and in the TEARS."

"Only at our invitation can Christ surgically open the blocked artery that connects our head to our heart." Judas "knew" Christ very well, yet he never fully accepted Christ for his own. He led the soldiers to Jesus for a little money. Judas then hung himself because he lacked the peace with God that only Christ can give.

Judas thought he was handing Jesus over to the Pharisees, but in reality it was Jesus who, even in the garden, gave his life peacefully. We too can have peace only in God's perfect plan. God give us peace through the Holy Spirit once we have accepted him.

Finally, may you find the lyrics to this song... peaceful:

LIKE A RIVER GLORIOUS

Like a river glorious is God's perfect peace,
Over all victorious in its bright increase;
Perfect, yet it floweth fuller every day;
Perfect, yet it groweth deeper all the way.

Hidden in the hollow of His blessed hand,
Never foe can follow, Never traitor stand;
Not a surge of worry, not a shade of care,
Not a blast of hurry, touch the spirit there.

Every joy or trial falleth from above,
Trac'd upon our dial by the Son of Love;
We may trust Him fully all for us to do;
They who trust Him wholly Find Him wholly true.

Chorus:
Stayed upon Jehovah, Hearts are fully blest;
Finding as He promised; Perfect peace and rest.

MAY YOU FIND PERFECT PEACE AND REST IN OUR RISEN SAVIOR THIS EASTER SEASON ESPECIALLY!

Teen Service ...

Here are a few pictures from our Teen Service, yesterday, March 16th, during our PM Service.The teens led in Worship;

Shared personal testimonies of how they are growing in Christ,

or being challenged in their relationship with Him,

and performed a skit called "The Crate Escape," portraying how we become "trapped" in our own sin. Here "Mr. Hunter" is luring his prey by their curiosities.

Alonna has been trapped by sinful desires. Her friend, Chelsea, says, "You got yourself into this mess, you get yourself out." Alonna is then met by several people who attempt to help her get out of her predicament.
Then she is met by a New Age "friend" who is trying to help her "believe" the box is not there, and then she will be "free."
The next "friend" comes along and tells her that if she gives him all of her worldly possessions, including her money, then he will "free" her. (Then he takes off, of course.)
Next, along comes a Preacher, who makes her feel that "God hates your kind, you sinner."
Along comes another person, also stuck in a box, who is simply choosing to deal with and live in her box, without hope of getting out of her "stinky" situation.
Another "friend" tries to convince her to burn up the box, so she can escape, which would harm her obviously, so she said NO.

Alonna's next friend is battling against Mr. Hunter, but she claims the power of Christ to defeat him, and he falls back away from her.

Finally, a believer, who has been freed from her "box" of sin, shares the Gospel with Alonna and encourages her to live in her newness in Christ. All of the other people tried to show her ways to become "free," but only a real relationship with Jesus Christ can set us free from our bondage to sin.

Alonna is so excited that she has been released from her "trap" of sin, that she can't wait to share the good news with others who are also trapped.

Bart concluded the service by a short challenge including Genesis 4:6-7, which says, "Then the Lord said to Cain, 'Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it."

Romans 6:1-2 says, "What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?"

vs. 6 goes on to say, "For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin - because anyone who has died has been freed from sin."

Finally, vs. 11 says, "In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus."

The teens did a great job presenting the skit during the service! Several people were encouraged by this service. There was even one man there, who has never attended before I don't believe, that came up to Bart at the end of the service and said, "When that box came off at the end, I just about lost it, because that's exactly how it felt for me when I was freed from my past life of sin!" What a powerful testimony from a fairly new believer who was impacted by this skit, on the "chance" that he happened to be in our service Sunday night. (He was invited by another man who has been attending our church recently. This other man has recently been diagnosed with Lymphoma. He is only 29 years old.) God is so good! We give Him the honor and glory for His work that He is doing in people's lives.

Thank you for your continued prayers for us in our ministry. We really appreciate them!