table for three

it was such a blessing to providentially run into our dear friend joy while we were in grand rapids last week. we knew she was going to be there at some point that week but didn't put it together until we were about 1/2 hour away that we were going to be there at the same time!! after some frantic texts we were able to meet up. we got a table for 3 at dunkin' donuts/baskin robbins in the wee hours of the morning. i prayed for joy today as i often do and wanted to encourage my hymn-writing, God-glorifying friend in God's sovereignty. i have big plans for her, but they are nothing compared to the plans HE has for her.

Well this day's been crazy

But everything's happened on schedule

from the rain and the cold

To the drink that I spilled on my shirt

'Cause You knew how You'd save me

before I fell dead in the garden

And You knew this day

long before You made me out of dirt

You know the plans that You have for me

And You can't plan the end and not plan the means

And so I suppose I just need some peace

Just to get me to sleep.

- derek webb

fun week

we had a great week with my mom and were sad to see her go. matt and i got to have a rare date night while she was here which was so nice. he recounted to me all the amazing sermons he heard at T4G on our way to grand rapids for our date. i love being married to a man who loves the gospel!

the "3" of us before we left for our night out

so sweet! i love this picture. stelly was quite sad to see my mom go.
stelly has had a few firsts recently. her hair is finally long enough to do pig-tails and i painted her little piggies for the first time! it's so much fun having a little girl!!

spring has sprung

nothing too exciting has been going on here this week other than spring cleaning. next week however, ammy comes for a visit so we are excited about that! my mom and i both have april birthdays so we always enjoy celebrating together. it is so fun having a birthday in the spring. it seems like the calendar year should start in spring when every thing is "bright and beautiful" and so fresh and new. actually, i think it used to until the mid 17oo's (during jonathan and sarah edwards life and times). anyway, we were able to get outside some this week which stella loved!! she ran and ran and ran. it was so funny seeing her run laps on our sidewalks, expending what seemed like 6 months of stored up energy!

nothing says warmer weather like sidewalk chalk!

these are stella's neighbor friends. we call them the "ella" girls b/c they all 3 have "ella" in their name - gabriella, stella and sabella.

finally getting to play on her playground!

finally

well, after i butchered our html, my tech savvy husband rescued our blog from destruction. it really wasn't that bad, but i got scared i would lose our archives and stopped messing w/ it until he had time to look at it and remedy my mistakes. it took him all of 2 minutes. anyway, i'm still working on updating the new look (thanks to ava, liela and connor for the inspiration - it's hard keeping up with the tallys! :)).

here are some pics of one of our spring activities so far this month - making edible bird nests. they turned out OK. not as good as kara's but it was a different recipe. stella had a blast regardless!