Happy Easter from the Sloan's!

We have had an incredible Spring season of knowing and feeling the Lord's presence.

We know that the stone has been rolled away and our soul's have been set free according to his great mercy.

Asher has been unable to escape the story of the cross and crucifixion and daily asks questions about it. We have been reading the Bible to him and Lucy and he just can't get enough. The other night, we were on the Good Friday story and he begged to finish...to hear the Good News.

All he could say at the end was "Thank You Jesus."

I couldn't ask for more.

I hope for that same response to be as natural within my own heart on a daily basis.

My friend Mike Sweeney lost his battle with cancer this week. I have been so sad and yet so glad for him to experience the sweetness of battle being over. His wife Cabell, has been left behind to grieve and has written the most incredible reflection in light of Easter and her husband's death this week. Please read it if you need to go a little deeper today: Caring Bridge

My heart needed to read what she wrote this morning. Maybe yours does too.

Lent

Its the annual Lent post.

Ash Wednesday was yesterday.
I went to services last night and both kids totally freaked out over seeing Ashes on my forehead.
I had to spend the better part of the night explaining to them why they were there, it didn't work. All they kept saying was, "I don't want that."

Ok then.

But the point of Lent?
To point out that we really need Jesus.
The end.

How do we do this?
Some people do this by instilling disciplines in their lives that are bigger than themselves that point out (in some way) that they are not good enough on their own. Perhaps, a discipline that is just out of reach.

This year?
I am attempting to not raise my voice.
Why?
I realized that I do. A lot.
To my kids. To Matt. In my head. In my car.

So there you go.
Not for glory am I telling you, which is the opposite of the point. But for accountability.
I already failed by the way.
I totally need for Jesus to have died on the cross on Easter.

I realized that I raise my voice because I am angry.
Why am I angry?
Because I am not content.
Because I want to be in charge.
Of everything.
And when things don't go my way, I get frustrated, flustered and angry.
And I lose sight of the fact that this is not the end all, be all of life and I let everyone have it.

So I am going to try to give it up.
For 40 days.
And hopefully for the rest of my life.
Because I am going to see the goodness of God in my life.

I hope.
I pray.
That is the point of Lent.

Mama's Got A Brand New Bag

Yep.
After posting that if I could do anything without failing I would jump into photography...we decided to at least explore that by getting a more serious camera for me.

It is still an entry level DSLR, but it is a MAJOR step up from my last camera and I am oh-so-in love. And I am in love with having bought a 50mm lens to go along with the lens kit that goes along with it.

I can't wait to use it a ton. Get ready for photography gifts people!
In the meantime, here are some pictures of the kids that I snapped this morning:

Yep that's me. I look like I turn 31 next week don't I? Time for some eye cream.
Is it too late for sunscreen?

We have been playing in the sandbox a lot in anticipation of our beach trip coming up next month. The kids don't know about it yet, but Matt and I are hoping for 80 degree days that are probably not possible. But one can always hope.