In my previous post, I mentioned that Easter was tough this year.

I was vague.

Because I feel I have to be sometimes.

A wise friend told me that whatever I write here, assume that it’s going on the church announcement overhead.

And I keep that in mind.

Always.

But my heart struggles with accuracy.

Honesty.

When you read, I want you to see our reality.

When I read back, I want to remember the way things truly were.

Not the way I wanted them to be.

I don’t want to miss out on God’s work in our church.

In my life.

If I’m not honest about the peaks and valleys of this journey.

So when I said Easter was full of yucky feelings.

They were YUCKY.

Dave, sensing my pending meltdown, does what he does best.

Googles nearby concerts.

He’s excellent at sensing when I’m about to lose it and we run off together.

And this, my friends, is how we ended up in Sacramento on Tuesday.

And why I write today, still sane.

A 17-year-old that looked like Napoleon Dynamite but sang like Dave Matthews opened.

Weird combo that I think I had a nightmare about last night.

But he was good!

Keep your eyes out for Zack Heckendorf.

But he’ll probably change his name.

Keep your eyes out for Zack Heck.

Talented kid.

So.

Super small movie theater like venue.

And we rushed the stage like Zack Heck would.

But a million times worth it.

I could see he has a filling in his back right molar.

That close.

Crisis averted.

Thanks babe.

I love you more than Mat.

And Zack Heck.

Hello Good Friday service.

Hello future Hope worship team.

You guys are cute.

Hello little family at the first of two outreach events on Saturday.

I love you.

Hello 100+ kids hearing the gospel at two separate Good News Clubs.

Thank you Pam, Camilla and Tamara.

Your love for Jesus and heart for the lost challenges me greatly.

Hello sweet little egg hunt turned competitive and ugly.

Guess who won?

Hello Easter morning.

Hello yucky feelings of inadequacy and doubt and insecurity

because I had hoped and prayed more would come to service.

Hello CHURCH. PLANTING. IS. HARD.

And it makes me cling to this verse.

Hello waking up this morning and being reminded that the only Person who needed to show up, did.

And powerfully.

Hello trampoline without a safety net at my aunt and uncle’s.

Hello mom-of-a-kid-with-a-device-in-her-head ANXIETY.

Hello real bunny.

Hello 4,678 requests from Ashlyn for a real bunny on our way home.

Happy Easter, friends.

Linking up with Lisa Leonard.

I have a love/hate relationship with this Instagram photo-a-day challenge.

Like today.

I have to take a picture of my shower.

But at the end of each month, I’m thankful for the little bits of history it forces me to record.

Here are some of my faves.

And some rambling to go along with.

Or women.

My version of the photo challenge is open to slight interpretation.

Here are the girls before church.

Set-up team prays.

We read.

When pastoring a church, it’s important to have pastor friends from different churches.

Accountability, Support, Fellowship.

And fun.

The Cybulski’s are fun.

And a huge blessing to us.

Dave washing Ashlyn’s feet during service.

An illustration of Christ’s work on our behalf.

A stretch.

The other option was a self portrait of my coffee pot clean up duty.

This was 1,000 times cuter.

This little circle has changed our lives.

And given us a very chatty daughter.

“I don’t hear you.”

“You don’t hear me.”

Her favorite response when I ask her to eat her vegetables.

I wonder if it has a filter.

That needs to be up.

April 19 is the day after Ashlyn’s 5th birthday.

And stay in your own bed forever day.

Pray for us.

The Hungry kind.

These are my not-creepy-at-all friends I met over the Internet.

Erin hosted us for a super fun, way-to-fast weekend.

That included a gift exchange at dinner before the movie.

Hi Jules.

Technically, the Chef’n StemGem Strawberry Stem Remover.

Technically, the best gadget ever made.

We’re on our third.

We have a strawberry problem.

And that’s a wrap on March.

Hello April.

Oh.  One more thing.

This is happening on Thursday.

Just a little friendly reminder.

Goodbye.

Good morning.

My brain is kind of empty still.

But I get anxious going a full week without a post.

Self imposed blog stress.

Which is ridiculous.

But it’s real, people.

So I will bore you with miscellany.

Our church’s website looks like this right now.

So scary, right?

Darn you, Google.

Have you no regard for Holy Week festivity information sharing?

Taking over the world and our little website.

Patrick and Jason Garvey to the rescue.

Although Jason texted last night saying: “no bueno.”

Which is probably no bueno.

Jason and Niki ushered in Hope’s newest member yesterday.

Abigail Anne.

Isn’t she cute?

We love her already.

Welcome, sweet Abi.

Spring has sprung.

So has ghetto swing making in skivvies.

My hydrangeas are almost blooming.

I love spring.

Dave is going to Africa next month.

Which means I find docs like these saved on our desktop.

Which kind of stresses me out.

But not really.

I’m lying.

No I’m not.

I don’t know.

Kim and I are headed down to the OC for a quick jaunt.

Hunger Games premiere with my favorite RHOC.

Leave late tonight. Home Saturday morning.

Sometimes I feel like a real jet setter.

Until next week.

Maybe.

It’s been a while since I graced this space with a traditional InstaFriday post.

Random rambling about random pictures.

Not really having to think.

I like not thinking more and more these days.

Lots of this game being played around here.

She thinks she instantly wins any time she picks up a Sorry card.

And I just agree because I don’t remember what the Sorry card means.

“Ohhh sahhh-weee!” she says.

This book and I have issues.

The premise: Camilla turns rainbow stripey when she doesn’t eat her veggies.

Sure, Ashlyn ate lima beans that night.

But is now afraid of stripes.

So when she sneaks into our bed at 3 am and I give her the cross-eye?

She whispers: “But the stripes!”

If you’re coming over to visit, wear solids.

‘Tis the season!

I do love how Girl Scout cookies pretty much sell themselves.

Except for Thank You Berry Much and Dulce de Leche.

Stick to the classics, people.

And yes, we sold at church.

I don’t believe Jesus would turn tables over Thin Mints.

Dulce de Leche?  Maybe.

Happy 1st Birthday, Addison!

I think the older kids would have taken this sweet baby out for her frosting.

Good thing she didn’t like it much.

I can’t believe she’s one.

Teri, make her stop.

Birthday Party #2 that day for Kayla’s friend, Grace.

The Lorax in 3-D.

Gracie’s dad went ahead of us and prepped goodie bags for all the girls.

Followed by a sleepover.

Gracie’s mom is still recovering.

Oops.

Why can I never remember picture day??!

Have you had these chips yet?

Have you had Emily‘s guacamole?

Find anyone’s guacamole.

And add these chips.

I love how much Kayla loves babies.

Although look at those cheeks.

What’s not to love??

Happy 8 months, Hayden!

Our playroom is off the house, on the other side of the garage.

I think it used to be a porch and the previous owners closed it in.

It’s still not finished.  The decorating, I mean.

So it makes me feel OK that kids eat dinner on the floor, reading books.

Childhood is the best, isn’t it?

Happy Friday, friends!

Lots of Kony talk around these parts.

Lots of Invisible Children talk.

Sketchy or not sketchy?

Have not had time to properly research.

And I don’t like to speak without knowledge.

Which is why I generally only talk about Jesus, my kids and cupcakes.

But.

In the meantime.

Let me share with you a 100% non-sketchy campaign I can vouch for.

And a hideous picture to prove I’m vouch-worthy.

Pictured L-R: moi, Kim‘s sister Laura, Ang (Hi Ang!), Ash and Jaxie.

Final Supertones Concert at Biola University.

Fun fact: First Facebook photo EVER tagged in.

Had to scroll through 800+ to find it.

November 9, 2005.

Crazy that Facebook has been around so long.

Crazy that I wore that shirt in public, to a concert nonetheless.

Crazy that I didn’t wax my brows in 2005.

Anyhoo.

The Supertones are back!

And the Johnson’s are thrilled.

Their sound brings back such great memories.

Summertime festivals.

Youth ministry.

Long drives down Highway 5.

Camping in tents.

Simple times.

They need our help.

And they are giving away some fun prizes.

Got $2k in your couch cushions?

You get a pool party.

Julie will make you cookies.

Go.  Now.

Still a little sick.  Still a little bossy.

Ska!  Ska!  Ska!

Still a little delirious.

Good morning!

I’m guest posting here today.

And I get a little preachy like my husband.

With less facial hair.  And no pacing back and forth.

Have you read Leslie’s blog?

If not, change that.

Stat.

Her words are rich and encouraging.

Chicken Soup for the Blogger’s Soul.

But 500 million times better.

Panera Broccoli Cheddar for the Blogger’s Soul.

Also, I’m fighting a cold, didn’t get a ton of sleep and am delirious.

Excuse that terrible reference.

But go.  Read.  Now.

We went to see Toy Story on Ice on Sunday.

And Ashlyn keeps asking for her Buzz Lightyear doll.

But she calls him “Bud Light.”

“Where’s my Bud Light?”

Our trip to the grocery store later could get awkward.

Also, please make these.

Look.  She even made us a cute little recipe card printable.

I’m bossy when I’m sick.

Use Oreo’s 100th Birthday limited edition cookies.

Buy 15 extra boxes because they are limited.

They are also on sale at Safeway right now – 2 for $6.00

I don’t know who’s most likely to be running against Obama.

Or whether the stock market is up or down.

But I know the current price of these bad boys.

And you need to add sprinkles to the batter.

I made them for Leadership Meeting last night and Ellen brought the leftovers to her work today.

And now I’m regretting leaving them.

Because I want five for breakfast.

Starve a fever, feed a cold, right?

Happy Thursday, friends!

Now go say hi to Leslie.

Blogging.  In the dark.  With ice water.  Very standard.

Ashlyn had a Valentine’s Day Party at school yesterday.

Ashlyn also had a mini panic attack on the front stoop because she forgot Play-Doh for her speech therapist.

I’m sure Rachel was super relieved she was not left out.

A $43 Starbucks date with a friend.

I dislike Burlingame parking meters.

I dislike them more when I forget about them.

As if you’re not rich enough, City of Burlingame?

Groceries.

Lots.

My lunch.

Frozen raspberries and peaches.

A banana.

Spinach.  You can’t taste it.  Promise.

Flax Seed.

Coconut Almond Milk.

One Packet Tangerine Emergen-C.

Weird?  Yes.  Good?  Yes.

$1.99 at the grocery store = balloon artist in training.

And hundreds of requests that I adjust the balloon to fit over the puffer thing.

Which I’m sure has a technical term.

After school iPad, cartoon and cereal time.  Pantless for one.  Also, standard.

Overseeing Taco Friday prep.

Trying to decide if she does, in fact, like meat.

She doesn’t.

Opening their Valentine’s from Nan and Pops.

They play music.

Well Ashlyn’s did.

Until she ripped out the music box.

We call her The Beast for a reason.

The Office nightcap.

Stuck on the couch.

Because it takes me 15 minutes to get up.

Thanks, Crossfit.

Do you like my new Target slippers?

All comfort.  Zero cute.

In case there was need for clarification.

Whelp.

That was our exciting 10th day of the month.

How was yours?

This month I’m participating in two photo-a-day challenges on Instagram.

Because obviously my life is not crazy enough.

I feel the need to drive around in a frenzy looking for mailboxes and front doors to take pictures of before the sun sets.

Yesterday’s challenge was my favorite so far.

Because what doesn’t scream romance more than a 90s mix tape?

Last month I participated in just one.

And I’ve been meaning to post my recap.

But crafting in Kansas wrecks you.

I’m just now recovered.

Just in time to participate in my first ever Crossfit work-out.

Now I’m a little bit wrecked again.

Which I guess is good.

It probably didn’t help that Ashlyn was sitting on my back during the push-up circuit.

Anyway, back to the pictures.

Here was January’s challenge:

And my response:

See?  Cute.  Fun.  AND I took a picture a day.  Which is kind of an accomplishment in itself.

If you’re weird and like to take pictures of mailboxes.

Happy Friday, friends!

Hello, Monday.  Hello, laundry.

Hello, spending more time in the Houston airport during one unexpected layover
than total hours of sleeping all weekend long.

Hello new canvas for Ashlyn’s room.

That I’ll probably re-do because I have crafting OCD.

Hello new burlap bunting for Ashlyn’s room.

That I’ll never re-do because burlap is an angry fabric.

And I’m allergic to it.

Hello nerd alert.

Hello new ruffled apron for Kayla.

Which was originally mine.

But she loves ruffles more than I do.

Hello lots of help from Chicago Jenny because sewing machines hate my guts.

Hello cute new tote bag.

Filled with amazing swag.

Hello five pounds more to lose thanks to lots of delicious food and desserts.

And Houston layover food.

Hello 13 new friends.

I can’t wait to tell you all about it.

I just need to take a nap first.

Oh!  One more thing.

THIS Thursday.

Be sure to link up.

Thank you and goodnight.