Easter and Zoey :0)

I'm a little late in my Easter post, but I wanted to share pictures of my sweet Eden. Since Gene is on staff at our church, Easter is perhaps the busiest time of the year for him. So, we stayed home and laid low. We took a trip to the zoo on Thursday with one of Eden's sweet friends, Carley, from her gymnastics team. It was a great day!

We enjoyed communion together on Good Friday. On Saturday, Eden and I dyed eggs and baked a cake for dessert on Sunday. We invited some good friends of ours to eat with us after Sunday services. We actually attended the Saturday night service so that I could serve in preschool both hours on Sunday. Eden and I got to hand out flowers to the preschoolers as they came in so they could flower the cross. I LOVED seeing all the precious little ones ALL dressed up!

Eden ready for Saturday Night Service

Handing Out Flowers on Sunday Morning

Hunting Eggs

My Beautiful Girl

I have been preparing to speak at a Women's Retreat this coming up weekend. In my studying, reading, writing and preparations to speak, I have been reminded of the incredible truth that Jesus is ALIVE. This is something that I have heard my whole life, but I don't know that I have really pondered the implications of this truth in quite some time. I so often fall into the trap of trying to live "for" Christ, without living "with" Christ. In Jesus, the fullness of God dwelt in bodily form...that is utterly amazing...I am coming to understand in a new way that God desires to be known through Christ. Not known about...but known. Theology, church involvement, missions, even orphan care is not the point of Christianity. Jesus is the point. He is the goal. If I spend my life on these pursuits, but miss the joy of just being with Him, I have sadly missed the point of His resurrection. Needless to say, the Lord has really been working on and in my heart :0)

And I am overwhelmed as well at the great love and concern of God for my sweet Zoey, living in that orphanage on the other side of the world. A couple of weeks ago I had asked the Women's Ministry leadership team at my church to pray specifically that someone would just hold my baby girl. Well...this weekend we received video and photos of Zoey from 2 different people who were working in her orphanage. I am so amazed at God's sufficiency and grace to carry us through, and to minister to her heart, while we wait during this final stretch of paperwork.

So, enjoy new pictures of my girl. When the pictures were sent I was told she was high fiving and had a smile that lights up the room. Can't wait to see for myself...in person! Love to all :0)

And Finally, Sweet Zoey Faith