Things that are making me think.

I'm just going to jot some things out on this post that may or may not make sense to someone else.  These are written in no particular order and are not flushed out thoughts at all.  If you feel like commenting, go for it.

Pictures of the kiddos.

I know many of you can identify with me when I say that it can be difficult to take a great picture of your children when you have more than...let's say....ONE?


This year I thought in order to avoid mayhem on Easter morning I would dress them earlier in the week, one at a time, and try to get some nice pictures of each child.  


I think it worked.


Sofia (age 7 years old)

Selah (age 4 1/2 years old)

Isaiah (age 22 months)

Second Haircut

I've got to admit, I'm one of those moms that likes to document all of the firsts with my children.  You know....first bath, first tooth, first steps, first haircut.  Hmmmm....first haircut.  Sofia was three years old, Selah was 22 months old, and Isaiah?  He was 18 months old.

18 months old.  Yes, that was four months ago but guess what?  Someone cut his hair and didn't tell me.  No, not Sofia.  And not Selah.  But daddy.  That's right.  Daddy.

Over the Thanksgiving holiday Kevin noticed that Isaiah's hair was starting to grow in.  Not much on top or the sides but all in the back that gave him this little duck tail.  According to Kevin this is a trait in the Sheckler family.  That Saturday after Thanksgiving Kevin comes out of the bathroom with Isaiah and says to me, "What do you think?"  Oh my.  Isaiah's hair looked great BUT I DIDN'T TAKE ANY PICTURES!!!

So in preparations for Easter Sunday, Isaiah got his second haircut (again, just the duck tail) but this time I took pictures.  Enjoy!

Sofia helping to keep Isaiah's attention facing forward.

See the little duck tail?

Daddy the barber.

"Cheese!"

Our family on mission.

I believe I shared before that we decided that our family would not stop going on mission trips simply because of the ages of our children or whether or not Kevin and I could both go.  We examine each opportunity through prayer and trust that God uses us in all circumstances.

All that to say, Kevin recently returned from a six-day trip to Haiti.

 He traveled with two men from our church and then met up with my brother and 12 others from California.  

God provided opportunity for Kevin to lead a seminar on "Servant Leadership" to over 100 Haitian pastors.  The devastation of the earthquake two years ago brought many people to Haiti with hammers and tools for rebuilding structures, however, a great need for rebuilding the Church is great.  Kevin and the others were able to do this through the seminars, encouragement, and prayer.

The team also took time to minister at two orphanages.  Simple actions of playing, laughing, and hugging were opportunities to love on little ones who have a great need to be loved.  

We are so thankful as a family that Kevin was able to minister in this country that doesn't seem to have much hope.  Our prayer is that hope will take root in Jesus Christ.

And while we weren't able to travel as a family, the kids and I did minister during daddy's time in Haiti through prayer.

Our boy.

 I just read a friend's blog and she stated that after three boys she is finally getting it down.  Well, after two girls, I can say that I'm still trying to get this boy thing down.  HA!  


Just the other night our kids spent some time at a church family's home.  When we came to pick them up they shared how Isaiah just loved the trains.  This was new information to me because well, we didn't have any trains in the house.  But I shouldn't have been surprised because Isaiah loves to line his blocks up in a long train.


Being that our friends' boys have outgrown their trains, they insisted that we take at least some of the train toys.  What a wonderful gift.  As soon as we got home from church yesterday, Isaiah was down on the floor playing with the trains.  This morning, the first thing he wanted to do was play with the trains.

Our boy who loves cars, balls and TRAINS...