I have constantly been feeling that there is far too much do be done.  When I don’t accomplish tasks, I feel as through I am letting others down, myself down, and God down.  I’ve constantly felt torn, as though there is always more to do.  At times I feel defeated, feeling that I could always do more at camp, relationally, in the community, at school, in our marriage.  It can be exhausting.  I carry these weights of “to do’s” and “should do’s” with me everywhere.  And in the midst of it all….I say that I think I understand the gospel….

“The point on which the wold goes astray is imagining that man, however partially defective he may be, still in some degree merits the favor of God by works.”  -Calvin… 

And then I read Romans 3.  Stop reading my silly blog and go read Romans 3.  Seriously…God’s word is way better than mine.  Just read it…k?  It is convicting, yet so very sweet.  Such a reminder of my ridiculous misconceptions about so much of my life.  It is not who I am.  It is not what I do.  It is Christ in me.  Nothing more.  Nothing Less.  Christ in me by HIS GRACE.  God, give me the faith and grace to embrace this!  Is there really peace of conscience in my life because of this truth?  When I loose this Christ-like perspective, I fall into the confidence of my own works.  God help me.  In the midst of it all, I am trying to live by allowing God to order my day, learning how to be sensitive to his spirit. My prayer this morning….

In Christ alone my hope is found,
He is my light, my strength, my song;
this Cornerstone, this solid Ground,
firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
when fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My Comforter, my All in All,
here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone! who took on flesh
Fulness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones he came to save:
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied -
For every sin on Him was laid;
Here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain:
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave he rose again!
And as He stands in victory
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine -
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me;
From life’s first cry to final breath.
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand.

Be encouraged….Commit to HIM ordering our days….  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xerKqtH_ZEA

Yup, you read it correctly, “spring fling mural thing!”  I don’t often write a lot about my involvement with the schools as an Americorps Member.  I honestly LOVE being at the schools.  While the bulk of what I do is tutoring and mentoring 7th grade students along with working in the afternoons with high school students, I also work with overseeing after school programs.  Because we are a part of a small school, there are limited after school opportunities particularly for middle school students.  My friend and I organized a mural painting activity this past month.  Teachers looked at us like we were crazy; Students loved it. 

As if painting a really cool mural wasn’t enough, we were selected as “Class of the Week” and honored on the channel 9 News!  So proud of these kids!!!!!!
Check out this link with the news report:  http://www.waow.com/global/video/flash/popupplayer.asp?ClipID1=4766326&h1=Class%20of%20Week%205/7%3A%20Rib%20Lake%20Middle%20School&vt1=v&at1=News&d1=152233&LaunchPageAdTag=News&activePane=info&rnd=97672450

I have loved the opportunity to take an adult pottery class…..yay for community education!  May sound dorky, but so much fun.  I posted pics a while back of the process so here’s a glimpse of the finished product. 

(okay, I gotta admit, I felt a little silly displaying this because I am no master potter, but I had fun….)



(cool glaze, eh?!)

(though it may look like a 1st grade art project, they are lil Hoffert magnets.)

Okay, so I don’t coin myself a baker, but this good stuff folks!  Home made Artisan Bread that is EASY and delicious!!!!  (Thanks to Tawnya I checked this lil book out from the library this winter when I was craving cozy carbs.  After renewing it multiple times, I bought it and have loaned it to others.)  So this is my lil plug for Artisan Bread in Five Min. A Day.  If there are any faithful blog readers out there, you are worthy of my sharing this nugget of crusty bread goodness.  Check out the link:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFJZPm-_2-M  or http://www.artisanbreadinfive.com/ 
Enjoy!

(seriously…we never have left overs….)


(We even tried home-made bagels, thanks to April’s recommendation!)

(...makes our morning with ham, egg, and cheese!)

Eggs…this Easter.  It was unique for us to simply stay put this spring as we celebrated Easter at home.  Thankful for the time to simply be here, rest from sicknesses, and get projects done around the house, we were glad to reflect on God’s continual grace. 

I sat on the couch reading the familiar scripture, thinking on how we can so easily be Peter—fervent in one breath, and denying Him in another.  Then, broken by our sinfulness, and brought back to the cross of justice and redemption of grace.  It is impossible to fully wrap my head and heart around, yet I desire to know my amazing Savior deeper!

Easter came as a day of celebration and we found ourselves with staff friends.  We were elected to stuff and hide the eggs for the kids—250 eggs!  It was so fun to watch them all search!  We also spent time decorating Easter egg cookies with Yeung Gi, who is visiting for a few months from Korea to volunteer and learn more about camp.  We laughed at our crazy American egg traditions, but savored the icing from the cookies! 

Later Easter Sunday, Larry and I headed to Harvest Home Farm where we watched a baby lamb being born….ironic, the significance of that on Easter….lamb of sacrifice….new life….hmmmm….anyway, they decided to name the new lil lamb, “Holmes” in honor of Larry.  It was sweet to see and spend time with Mike and Becky and their family!

Yup, that’s right—-I turned 30 on April 11th.  I am not one of those people who gets really bummed out by getting older.  I am excited to be 30, I have never been 30 before and I get a whole year to try and be good at being the age 30.  I had the best birthday celebration ever.  My best friend Garrett was here for 5 days.  We celebrated all 5 days!!!  It was awesome.  I am so blessed to have such a good friend like Garrett who would fly from Los Angeles for my birthday.  The morning of my birthday I woke up to about 25 birthday cards spread all over the counter and a wonderful breakfast made by Garrett.  The birthday cards were full of encouraging notes for me.  Sometimes it is difficult for me to accept encouragement from others, but on Sunday I was overwhelmed with the encouragement.  Thank you to all who sent cards.  After breakfast we headed to church and then on to Wausau to eat at the Texas Roadhouse.  Did you know that you have to sit on a saddle when it is your birthday at the Texas Roadhouse?  A little warning, you do!!!  After eating lunch/dinner we said our good-byes to Garrett at the airport and then headed to small group, where there was cake and ice cream waiting for me.  My wife made my birthday celebration special by organizing Garrett’s trip here and getting everyone to write me cards.  Once we got home from our long day out our home had been broken into and decorated and still more cards and gifts. 

So far 30 is not so bad.

Birthday Cards full of encouraging notes…what else can one ask for to start their day???

Birthday Breakfast!!!  Thanks Laura and Garrett.

Best Friends at the Texas Roadhouse!!!

Surprise Decorations!!!  Thanks Reanna.

—————————-
Okay….Laura here….breaking in to add more pics that Larry didn’t include….Like some of the goods that his mother sent him from his childhood.  That’s right, she was cleaning the attic and thought that now that he is 30 he needed some tangible childhood memories.  Like his first Eagles shirt and his first pinstripe pants.  And his favorite he-man belt.

Te belt up close, in case you missed it.  (Still fits when he’s 30!)

Small group b-day celebration….

Gotta love him…..