Merritt is in LOVE

Completely and utterly in love.

You know, the kind of love where he won't stop talking about her.
He brings her up multiple times a day.
He asks us to call her family and see if we can visit her regularly.

Don't worry... he still thinks girls have cooties.
But boy, oh boy does he want a horse.
It's funny how quickly the birthday wish list can change
from video games to cowboy boots and riding lessons.

This love affair started like this...

But has progressed to this...

He doesn't mind watching and waiting patiently to get a turn

And when he's getting some instruction, he listens carefully.
He really wants to learn!

And oh what joy to not be on the lead...

He even WANTS to help out with the work (at least so far)

He isn't the only one who gets in on the fun...

He's just the only one who's in LOVE!
(at least so far)

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Pretty Lips

She has a bit of a love affair with lip gloss,
Or as she calls it "pretty lips."

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Good Friday

Today has been a busy day.
But as I get ready to share in the Passover meal with my family at Epic,
here is where my heart is meditating...

He was despised and rejected -

a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief.

We turned our backs on Him and looked the other way.

He was despised, and we did not care.

Yet it was OUR weaknesses He carried;

It was OUR sorrows that weighed Him down.

And we thought His troubles were a punishment from God,

a punishement for His own sins!

But He was pierced for OUR rebellion,

crushed for OUR sins.

He was beaten so we could be whole.

He was whipped so we could be healed.

All of us, like sheep, have strayed away.

We have left God's paths to follow our own.

Yet the Lord laid on Him the sins of us all.

He was oppressed and treated harshly,

yet He never said a word.

He was led like a lamb to the slaughter.

And as a sheep is silent before the shearers,

He did not open His mouth.

Unjustly condemned, He was led away.

No one cared that He died without descendants,

that His life was cut short in midstream.

But He was struck down for the rebellion of my people.

He had done no wrong and had never deceived anyone.

But He was buried like a criminal;

He was put in a rich man's grave.

But it was the Lord's good plan to crush Him and cause Him grief.

Yet when His life is made an offering for sin,

He will have many descendants.

He will enjoy a long life,

and the Lord's good plan will prosper in His hands.

When He sees all that is accomplished by His anguish,

He will be satisfied.

And because of His experience,

my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous,

for He will bear all their sins.

Isaiah 53:3-11

May God bless you this good Friday!

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