A few of our favorite things...

Friends and Playdates

Birthdays: our little friend Amos turned 1! The kids were so excited to give him an edible crown, necklace, and bracelet. He kept it on just long enough for the picture. :)

Family shopping: even if it is in the hardware store for garden supplies!

Church (complete with fancy clothes from Grandma and Grandpa):

Each other: Lots of love (most of the time) ;)

Baths, and funny hair:

SPRING!!!

No pictures of this, but we have had several sunny days this week, and even though they still need jackets, they have spent HOURS outside.

One of my favorite things these days is my children's prayers. 

Martin's are very confident, persistent, and at times quite random. I have GOT to get a video. I just love the things he prays for. 

Confident: He tilts his head up, and talks to God quite loudly - almost like he's speaking up to make sure God hears every word. He is sure God is listening, and isn't bashful about asking and thanking Him for everything.

Persistant: His number one item every single prayer time is that God will give us a baby. He has been praying this for MONTHS, and just doesn't give up. He's full of faith that it will happen, and hasn't shown the slightest sign of discouragement that it hasn't been answered yet. He never ever forgets to ask God for this. I have my own prayer requests that I've been praying months off and on about, and my tendency is to get down because God hasn't "come through". Recently he has thrilled my heart with requests like: "God, make my heart clean inside." or "Sorry for my sins God." or "Please take me to heaven someday when I die God". or "Help me obey you God". or "Thank you that you died on the cross, Jesus, to take all our sins away."

Random: He pops out with everything from requesting a stuffed elephant for his little friend for his birthday to asking God to help Papa's friends at work to love Jesus. He prays for his friend who is sick. He asks God to help our supper taste good. He thanks God for sending the sun out so he could play outside. He asks God for some random object for his birthday (which is 6 months away). And I could go on and on. Sometimes his prayers are so random that I am still smiling when he says "Amen". 

Olivia's prayers are pretty basic. She clasps her hands together and scrunches her face up (in an attempt to close her eyes.) She doesn't have a "Dear God" or anything, but just launches into a list of "thank yous".

"Tank Ooo trinken. Tank Ooo Um um. Tank Ooo Drink (in case God didn't follow the German). Tank Ooo Milk. Amen."

But her list that she is thankful for is always a little different. Although she usually says thank you for the food and drink... 

The Bible talks about the faith of little children, and becoming like a little child. Just listening to them pray strengthens my faith. And I am sure that if their little heartfelt prayers delight me so much, then our dear Father in heaven must enjoy them even so much more. 

Matthew 18:2-6 "And He called a child to Himself and set him before them, and said, Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. "Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me; but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea." 

Und als Jesus ein Kindlein herzugerufen hatte, stellte er es in ihre Mitte und sprach: Wahrlich, ich sage euch, wenn ihr nicht umkehret und werdet wie die Kindlein, so werdet ihr nicht in das Reich der Himmel eingehen. 

Darum, wer irgend sich selbst erniedrigen wird wie dieses Kindlein, dieser ist der Größte im Reiche der Himmel; und wer irgend ein solches Kindlein aufnehmen wird in meinem Namen, nimmt mich auf. Wer aber irgend eines dieser Kleinen, die an mich glauben, ärgern wird, dem wäre nütze, daß ein Mühlstein an seinen Hals gehängt, und er in die Tiefe des Meeres versenkt würde. 

Mark 10:13-16 "And they were bringing children to Him so that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and said to them, "Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all." And He took them in His arms and began blessing them, laying His hands on them." 

Und sie brachten Kindlein zu ihm, auf daß er sie anrühre. Die Jünger aber verwiesen es denen, welche sie herzubrachten. Als aber Jesus es sah, wurde er unwillig und sprach zu ihnen: Lasset die Kindlein zu mir kommen und wehret ihnen nicht, denn solcher ist das Reich Gottes. Wahrlich, ich sage euch: Wer irgend das Reich Gottes nicht aufnehmen wird wie ein Kindlein, wird nicht in dasselbe eingehen. Und er nahm sie in seine Arme, legte die Hände auf sie und segnete sie.