Jacy loved the balloons.

Jacy with her cousins (Jeremiah, Riley, Jonathan) and brother, Noah.

Jacy with her princess birthday hat.

Jacy feeding (or suffocating) her new baby.

The boy cousins sporting their new look.

Jacy and Jeremiah playing with the rocks.

Our family (most of them anyway).

Jacy with her birthday pancakes and candles. She actually blew them out!

Noah and proud sister, Jacy.

Noah thinking, “Do you have to take all these pictures?”

Noah and his new Hot Wheels backpack.

Noah all buckled in Daddy’s cool car.

Noah and a Michael’s Bakery chocolate donut for breakfast!

Noah thinking, “I hate all these pictures!”

Noah and Jacy outside the school entrance.

Noah and his Kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Lantz.

Noah and Jacy are ready to head to the pool.

Noah and Jacy floating in the pool.

Noah and I taking a ride on the three-wheel bike.

Noah and Jacy playing some shuffleboard.

Noah and Beth walking to the ocean.

Jacy looking cool at the beach.

Isn’t she just adorable?

Jacy and Beth on the beach. My girls!

Noah loved the ocean and his star inner tube.

Jacy playing in the sand.

Noah and Jacy eating lunch at the beach.

“Hey, Noah! Want a carrot?”

Jacy relaxing on a rocker at Troyer’s Dutch Heritage restaurant.

Noah absolutely loved mini-golf at Smuggler’s Cove.

A common sight where we stayed.

Our son, Noah, turns 5 today. I love you, buddy! (He really doesn’t wear glasses. Those are Nana’s. Doesn’t it make him look older?)

Happy Birthday to you

Happy Birthday to you

Happy Birthday, dear Noah

Happy Birthday to you!

I’m starting a new message series this Sunday entitled “Revolutionary Parenting.” I stole the title from George Barna’s book. In fact, many of the ideas for this series come from that book. It’s a great book! I’d highly recommend it to every parent. I hope you’ll come this Sunday for the first message. Bring a friend too! We’ll be talking about four conditions for success as a parent. It’s going to be highly practical and hopefully equip every parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, etc. to influence the next generation to love God with all their heart, soul, and mind. Below is a synopsis of the series. See you Sunday!

Description: Whether you have kids or are thinking about having them, you won’t want to miss this five-week message series that explores the common denominators to parenting success. Want to raise a spiritual champion? What does it take? If you’re like most parents, you think you’re doing an okay job – and you probably believe you’re doing better than most. But if your goal is to raise kids with a life-impacting faith, that may not be good enough.

Message Dates & Titles:

4/18 – Conditions for Success

4/25 – Putting First Things First

5/2 – Planning for Spiritual Champions

5/9 – The Rules of Engagement (Mother’s Day)

5/16 – Real Life Stories (Graduation Sunday)

Here is Jacy eating her 1st birthday cake. Priceless!

Below is a picture of her birthday cake – using cupcakes and art – before we started eating it. Beth is pretty creative, don’t you think?

Another highlight from our trip to North Carolina was touring Biltmore Estates. It was unbelievable! I’m hoping this is similar to what Jesus is preparing for me right now (see John 14:2-3). There was a room for everything. Five floors total with a basement! In the basement there was a bowling alley and swimming pool. The outside was incredible too. Beautiful gardens and views! Below are a few pictures we took.

Anyone ever been to Biltmore? What impressed you the most?

A storm rolled in. Luckily we made it back to the car just in time!

Beth and I attended the NACC Minister & Spouse Retreat this week in Ridgecrest, NC. It was held at the LifeWay Ridgecrest Conference Center. What a place! One of the highlights of the retreat was Mark Lowry. He was hilarious! We got to meet him after the concert (see picture above).

My favorite part of the concert, joking aside, was when Lowry sang “Mary, Did You Know?” He wrote the song back in 1984. It was powerful! “This sleeping child you’re holding is the great I AM…” Wow!

Have you ever seen Mark Lowry? What is your favorite joke or memory?

This is our daughter, Jacy, after eating some peaches. I think she missed her mouth with a couple! It’s hard to believe she’ll be one year old in a couple weeks. Wow!

Noah with his special Ohio State birthday cake. He picked the theme – really!

Noah trying out his new red bike. He also got a cool Lightning McQueen helmet and knee pads.

Noah getting ready to blow out the candles with a friend.

Noah’s sister, Jacy, enjoying the party too! She loves her big brother.