Little glimpses into the heart of God!

We are continually encouraged and challenged by the lives of so many but I never knew a 6 year old, two 4 year olds and a 2 year old could have such impact into our world on so many levels. We anticipated how much we would love them - yet never imagined it could be this much; we believe the word of God, so we knew that there is an innocence and faith that belongs to them - but never knew they could teach us so much about God's love, redemption and complete grace as they have taught us. We love how they simply believe and act out of that place of faith! When they see someone sick or hurt they ask God to heal them, when there is a need they remind us to ask Jesus. As we pour our lives into these precious 4 kids we are blessed beyond imagine how many things of God they get at a level that we don't fully grasp. We are thankful to God that we are enjoying every moment of this adventure of raising men and women of God. We pray that every plan God has for their lives would come to full fruition.

Psalm 139:16 All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

Field trip!

One great thing about homeschooling is lots of fun field trips. We went on our first field trip to the firefighters museum with the Nutt's last week. The kids had lots of fun! Papa gave us the full tour and lots of stickers and firefighter hats. We were able to see Grandpa Leroy's name for the first time on the fallen firefighters wall outside.


Exodus 13:21 By day the Lord went in front of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night a pillar of fire to give them light, so they could travel by day or by night.
Thank you God that you make a way for us!

Feeding the ducks!

The pictures don't tell the full story! The ducks were very aggressive and three of the kids were very scared; but they still loved it and ask to go every time we are on campus!

First day of music school!

Preslee started music school 2 mornings a week. She loves it! It is the same school each of the boys went to when they were two. The boys keep talking about what they think she will be in the program - it's so funny the things they have come up with! Here she is the first morning of school!

Preslee's Big Girl Bed!

Preslee is officially a big girl. She didn't get to move to a big bed until we moved back a few weeks ago because we didn't want to move her bed to Waco and then back again a few months later. She loves her bed and notice how many babies she has sleeping with her!

Bowling with cousins!

A new season!

I love the word season b/c God often speaks to me in them. Usually wrapping one up to begin a new one He is initiating. The past 16 months in Waco have been a season we are so grateful for b/c God has shown us so much, changed us so radically and flooded us with His presence. The Church planting school is now over for the most part. We will go on two-one week trips to Antioch church plants in San Diego and Wheaton. Jake is going to both, I will only go to San Diego. Then we will be in Waco for a week in February for staff training. We are now settled and ready to start school on Monday. I am getting to home school Kooper for his second semester of Kindergarten. I can say I feel totally out of my comfort zone in this one; but since God asked me to do it we are believing it is His Best for us in this season and I selfishly know the character of God enough by now to know that I want His best!
Antioch Norman will start meeting at our house next week; we are really excited for our team to be in Norman and to see what God wants to use us for in this city.

Exodus 33:15
If your presence doesn't go with us, do not send us up from here.

Christmas memories

Cousin PJ's

My Koop

Ella Rose's 1st Christmas

"Brax"

The Hartsock boys and all of their kids!

We wish you a Merry Christmas!

                       Nana & Papa

Our little drummer boy!  Kooper got drums for Christmas!

Papa & Michael

"The Shack"

Sometimes boys just need to duke it out!

I love looking back at all my Christmas pictures from years past. It is amazing to see how much our family has grown. When Jake and I got married my nephews Jake and Luke were the only 2 kids in our family; well our siblings kids. Now we have 6 kids on the Bower side and 9 kids and one on the way on the Hartsock side (no I'm not pregnant - Blake and Marci are expecting baby #3 this summer). Needless to say Christmases are just fun and we are committed to it remaining all about Jesus so I am sure we will have many things change in the years to come in an effort to help our children keep their focus on Jesus and the great gift He is to us - Thank you God for your son! On Christmas eve - eve (night of the 23rd) we have Christmas with Bob and Judi, and all their kids and grandkids. So all 17 of us eat dinner, open gifts and play. We all wear matching PJ's and spend the night at Juju and Grandad's. The next morning we wake up and after having yummy cinnamon rolls Sarah makes we go to the court's for some major fun. One big thing each of the cousins got this year are the cool camo trucks! We then had Christmas eve afternoon with my mom's family and then my family comes to our house for PJ's, gingerbread house making contest, games and gifts. No one left until the wee hours of the night b/c we had several gifts for the next morning that they graciously helped us assemble and paint. Christmas morning we played with all our fun gifts; read the Christmas story and talked about how grateful we are that God humbled himself and came to earth as a helpless baby in order to bring us back to God; and ate yummy french toast casserole. It doesn't end there though; we went to Juju and Grandad's for lunch to celebrate with the Hartsock bunch.

Loss

We traveled to Oklahoma on Friday, December 19th to celebrate round one of many Christmases with the Liddell (Jake's mom's family) and the Bower Christmas (my dad's side). We always celebrate the weekend before Christmas and it works well b/c everyone gets to be there. We got a phone call Friday night about 11:30 that my dad's dad had passed away. He had gotten very ill and weak the past few months but I don't think you ever are really ready for it to be over. There was so much peace though because about 4 months ago as my grandpa's health began to decline he moved in with my parents, and during that time my dad was able to lead him in making a decision to give his life to Jesus! His 7 kids decided grandpa's love was his family and that he would want a family run service; so Jake got to do his first funeral - it was awesome! He told great stories of grandpa's life and clearly presented the gospel. I know grandpa was blessed!

John 5:24
Who ever hears my word and believes in the one who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned, he has crossed over from death to life.

Happy Birthday!

If December is not busy enough we have 4 birthdays in 3 days in our family. Blake, Judi and then Braxton and Sutton! We celebrated in Waco on the night of their actual birthday with friends at Chuck e Cheese and then had a party at pump it up in Norman the next weekend. Here are the cool TP's Juju and Grandad got the boys! It's hard to believe our little boys are 4! They are a constant reminder to us of God's love and grace. We are amazed at only four years old how much they really get the things of God. How fun to get to hang out with your best friend every day. Every one talks about twice the work, but they are truly twice the fun and blessing!


Psalm 78:3-4
what we have heard and known, what our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from our children; we will not hide them from our children, we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, His power, and the wonders He has done.