Happy Mother's Day!

Guest post by Andrew...

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there!  It seems like each mother's day for the past three years we have had something new to celebrate.  Two years ago we were ecstatic at the prospect of being first-time parents as Amanda was about 5 month pregnant with Joshua.  Last year was a chance to celebrate Amanda's first mother's day and have Joshua dedicated at Desert Springs Church.  This year was similar as we had the opportunity to, once again, come before our church body (this time at Redemption Church) and commit to raise Makayla up in the way of the Lord.  Our prayer for her (and Joshua) is that they would come to know the Lord at a young age and desire to follow Him faithfully for the rest of their lives.  I read a scripture during the service that I pray over both of our kids.  It is a wonderful promise that God gives to all those who desire to follow after Him, and I pray that its words would ring true for our children:

"Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name.  When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him.  With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation."  -Psalm 91:14-16

I am so thankful to have a wife who is an amazing mother to our children.  It's even more cool to see how much the Lord has transformed her now that we have two kids!  She is a great example to both Joshua and Makayla (and me) of sacrificial love - continuously laying herself down for her children and our family.  So, I want to take this chance to once again wish her a happy mother's day and tell her how much I love her.

Of course, we also want tell both of our mother's how much they mean to us.  Without them, we would not be the people we are today.  They were the first to show us this same sacrificial love, and it's their example to us first that has led to us becoming good parents.  But more importantly, it was their influence in our lives that had such an impact in leading us both to Christ, and ultimately this is the thing I most hope that our children will be able to say about us in 28 years.  We love you both so, so much.

Lastly, here are some pictures from today:

Makayla's dedication (Joshua trying to grab the mic... and the spotlight)

Our beautiful little girl

Joshua reading the funnies (where's Dennis the Menace?)

Family Photo