Boulder Field

This past weekend we took a ride to the Poconos where we saw Boulder Field in Hickory Run State Park. Basically, it's a sea of boulders...16 1/2 acres of boulders!! The kids started counting the rocks and found it would just take too long.

We stopped at the lake in the park on our way home. It was such a beautiful day!

The backpack that the kids are carrying are their official hiking packs (even though they are supposed to be used to carry their Bibles) given to them by their Grandma and Pappy. We pack water and snacks for them to have on our outings. They love them!

Neelima Comes to Visit

I hope you all had a wonderful Easter. Our friend, Neelima, came to visit! She was a resident with Bob in Pittsburgh who spent a lot of time with our family. We had a wonderful time visiting, hiking, eating chocolate cake and ice cream, playing football, eating more chocolate cake and ice cream, going to chocolate world, playing Chutes and Ladders (although in India they played Snakes and Ladders), and again eating more chocolate cake and ice cream!!

We made an Easter basket cake!! We managed to polish off most of it in a few days!!

Here we are on our hike near Mt. Gretna.

The kids really love her!

And Emily made her debut as a running back!

Happy Birthday Samuel!

My baby boy turned 2 today!! This past weekend Bob's parents came to visit and to help us celebrate Sam's 2nd birthday. Jack and Emily decided that Samuel would want a train cake. After much prompting from his older siblings, Samuel eventually said he wanted a train cake for his birthday. So thats what we did!

I keep telling Samuel that he isn't allowed to grow up. He doesn't seem to listen so all I can do is treasure the pictures and the memories.

We had a great time with Bob's parents. Of all the gifts they brought for Sam, it seems that the Dollar store glasses were the favorite this year.

Even Pappy thought they were pretty cool!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SAM!

A Little Glimpse of Heaven

Have you ever been struck with a little glimpse of Heaven? This past weekend I had the privledge of attending a women's retreat through our church. There are so many things that God reminded me of this weekend, but I was particularly taken back by the music. It was awesome hearing the voices of so many women lifting their voices up to God.

We are a chosen people and a holy nation. Take a minute to think about the expanse of God's holy nation. If we could gather every Christian on the face of this earth and add them to all of those who have gone before us and are even now praising God in the Heavenlies, can you imagine what that might look like? When Christ redeems all of creation, the only purpose of every heart will be to praise God!!

We sang a song titled "The Lion of Judah." It talks about when Jesus comes back to usher in the new heavens and the new earth.

And the angels will cry, "Hail the Lamb!

Who was slain for the world. Rule in power!"

And the earth will reply, "You shall reign

As the King of all kings and the Lord of all lords."

Even though we don't deserve it, this is where we belong. We are part of His holy nation. He has chosen us to be a part of this Kingdom.

Although this is not the song I referred to, it also speaks of the whole earth singing to the Lord with joy. (Psalm 100) It was so beautiful here in a sinful world, what will it be like in a redeemed world?

Baby Gibson

My brother Joel and his wife Alison gave birth to their 4th son on Tuesday March 4th. His name is Gibson John Martin.

The proud father with Gibson

Grant and Lincoln (2 of the older brothers)

Please say an extra prayer for Alison who has her hands full with her 5 boys, 4 of which are under the age of 7!!

Best Friends

Some days it seems that the kids do nothing but fight and push each other's buttons (Emily is particularly gifted in the latter). Other days they are joined at the hip. They currently share a room. Jack is on the top bunk and Emily is on the bottom. Each day this week we have gone in to check on the kids before we go to bed and have found them sharing Jack's top bunk. It seems that Jack is even willing to share his bed with Emily's blankie and her baby. They really are each other's best friend.