Here are some pictures from our trip to MS and others taken in March.
March was a good month for our family. I ran my first 5K on March 5th. It was the Thin Mint Sprint in Emporia, KS. A Girl Scouts fundraiser. My college roommate Jenny met me there and we ran it together. She was very kind and spent most of the run waiting on me to catch up! But I finished AND...it shouldn't be too hard to improve. So, my next 5K is in 2 days!!
Scott's D1 rugby team (kcblues.org) won big in Las Vegas in February, then won their first 3 games in March. The team is having a great season, but still have several tough weeks ahead! Go Blues Go!!!
Blake, Eli and I flew to Ocean Springs, MS for spring break. We met up with Scott's parents and visited lots of family there. Aunt Tootsie, Uncle Dave, Aunt Jenny, Cousins Jerry Lee, Stephanie (and Mark), Angela and Sarah Kate. Eli was a baby the last time we were all together. We went to the beach and the boys LOVED it. Eli didn't stem (flap his arms) at all the whole time he was sitting in the waves! We saw alligators and rode on an air boat. We ate at some really great restaurants. We mostly loved that everyday it was sunny and warm!! On the last night of our time in MS we hosted a St. Patrick's Day feast with corned beef, cabbage, potatoes and carrots. It was delicious and we all enjoyed visiting with one another. The next morning we finished loading the car and started toward Sikeston, MO. We stayed the night at Aunt Susie and Uncle Buddy's house. Ben, Rhonda and Mallory came over from Kentucky and we got to visit with Micah too. Uncle Buddy fried chicken and Blake enjoyed 3 Houchins (sp) donuts for breakfast! We made great time to KC and met up with Scott for the last leg of our trip home. Pat and Emma decided that since they were so close to home they would just make there way back across the state to Holt's Summit. Everyone arrived home safely. It was a good trip! BTW...my capri pants fit!!
Now March is over and we are all anxiously awaiting the real arrival of spring...the spring with warm sunny days and NO MORE SNOW!! We all look forward to spending time outside.
From my May 2007 message:
5) The challenges we face in life are simply opportunities for us to have a closer relationship with the Lord. He wants us close to Him. We are going to go through the challenge…whatever it is. Don’t resist, don’t grit your teeth and struggle with the fact that you have to face this challenge. Go through it inviting God to be with you for every step. Remember the scripture… Matthew 11:29-30, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." I just imagine the Lord watching me drag all my stuff around in a wagon. He just shakes his head at me and says, “Amy! Put that down. Come over here and walk with me.”
This lesson has proven true over and over and over! The last several years have presented many challenges. I didn't like most of these challenges, but because I know this lesson to be true I knew there was a lesson to learn. There is always a lesson to learn. There is something the Lord wants us to learn through every challenge we experience. The big challenges and the little challenges. He is so good to prune us so we can bear fruit. We must stay close to Him though so he can direct our path. After all, He is the one who knows the way.
May you consider this universal lesson one of your own.
