Jesus Is More Powerful Than...

The kids at church have been learning about Jesus' miracles and how that shows that he is God.  Last Sunday both Jon and Becca's classes did a "Jesus is more powerful" activity.

We had the letters spelled out on a large paper in painters tape.  Then the kids took turns covering the paper with paint and markers.  While they did this, they talked about the following:

Sometimes I get scared in the dark, but who is more powerful than the dark?  Jesus!

If my brother gets sick, who is more powerful than the sickness?  Jesus!

Sometimes I make bad choices, but who is more powerful than my bad choices and can forgive me?  Jesus!

When it is thundering and lightning outside, I can get scared, but who is more powerful than the storms?  Jesus!

In our story today, there was an evil spirit, but who is more powerful than evil?  Jesus!

If I fall down and get hurt, who is more powerful than my bruise?  Jesus!

When I have a bad dream, who is more powerful than my bad dreams?  Jesus!

Then, they removed the tape and hung up this sign.

The activity ended with the kids finishing the sentence, "Jesus is more powerful than..." as many different ways as they could.

I asked Jon and Becca today and they came up with:
a lion
an elephant
a thunderstorm
the sun
an ocean
a moose
evil
bad guys
sickness

Jesus sure is powerful!

A Whole Family of Pumpkins

Last weekend we had the Michigan contingent of the DeJong family over to our house for some pumpkin fun.  We had a great time eating and talking together and watching the kids fill every square inch of floor space with toys, but the main event was the carving of the pumpkins.

I think all of the kids' favorite part of the process was drawing faces on the pumpkins.  After that, most of the kids 6 and under kept wandering away from the actual carving process and were constantly called back to "help."







Jon was extremely weirded out by removing the insides of the pumpkin.  In fact, today when he saw me post this picture he commented on how he didn't like it when I made him use his hand.  I had him try his hand after a few minutes of removing one seed at a time with a spoon.


Becca was so excited for this day.  She was very insistent that she was going to carve her pumpkin with Grandpa because he knew how to make the right scary face.  I think they had read a jack-o-lantern book the week before together and she was planning for this day after that.


Michael went Mine Craft and wanted a creeper face on his pumpkin.  He did the whole thing by himself and was proudly working on it for a full hour I think.


And before the day was up, in an effort to top this great picture we took 3 years ago at a similar gathering...


We got a picture with all the cousins!

Chair Excersizing

Yesterday we hung out for a while at our gym while Michael had his tennis lesson.  Usually Jon and Becca either go to the kids play area or the pool for this time, but Jon had a sore throat so I kept them with me.  For part of the time we watched Michael and for part of the time we played some basketball.

It just so happens that the basketball court is in-between the weight machines and the treadmills, so it was no surprise when this morning I found these two "exercising."  They turned on their Psalty music and went to work.  Here is Becca showing off the chair treadmill and Jon the chair weight machine.  :)

So what does a little girl do with her brother's toys?

2 sixth graders, 2 third graders, and a kindergartener

These are the boys on our street and they play together all the time.  I have been praying for this - this childhood life that I remember.  My boys will drop everything, including video games, when the doorbell rings inviting them to come out and play.

As it turns out, they've decided that each others yards are perfect for certain sports.  So two of the families live across the street and their back yards together make a perfect capture the flag forest.  Last summer, late into the nights the kids were waring over handkerchiefs and frisbees or what ever was the flag of choice for the day.  Those were the times when you know your little ones should be long tucked into bed, but you can't stand to be the first parent to break up the fun.

And then our other neighbor apparently has a back yard just perfect for a soccer field.  All through the world cup, the boys spent hours making teams, scoring goals, and high-fiving each other.

Our yard has been designated the football field.  Michael got a flag football set that they use sometimes, while other times they go all out tackle.  And can I say that I love this.  Right now as I type I hear, "That was the best play ever Noah!" and "Great job Jon!"  These are good boys and I love the friendships they are building.  I hope those 6th graders don't grow up too fast and become too cool for these little ones.



In addition, our swing set has been turned into an angry bird game.  The "pigs" hang out on the swings, slide, and monkey bars.  Then someone else throws angry soccer balls at them to see who they can hit.  I just cracked up laughing the first time I saw it and the second time I quick grabbed a picture.  Oh, and yes, that is a slide on top of a slide for double the fun.  Watching them get it up there was another great humorous moment.

Aunt Katherine's Concert

A while back we wend to Ohio to hear Aunt Katherine play her senior recital.  We all had a fabulous time and I finally got around to scrapping a page for the event.  I love how it turned out.  :)

Tulip Time

The tulips arrived just in time this year.  Jon and Becca and I joined some friends for a picnic lunch for Tulip Time.



And then we went and watched Michael walk in the parade.