What is Easter to you?

It seems Easter can be viewed as a day to get all dressed up, head to church to sing praises to Jesus all the while looking forward to family get-to-gethers with all sorts of food and let's not forget the Easter egg hunts.  Nothing is wrong with dressing up and hanging with family and hunting eggs BUT IT IS EASTER, people.  Let's not forget OUR RISEN Saviour!!!  Our Resurrected Lord!  The One who has rescued us from the mess we have made of our lives! 

“And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.” -Paul, 1 Corinthians 15:17

Father has taken over my heart this week as I reflect on Easter & THE GOSPEL - the fact that there would be NO Easter and NO GOSPEL had Jesus not been in FULL SUBMISSION to His Father's plan and obedient unto death (Phil 2:8).  There would be no GOSPEL if Jesus' dead body was still dead.  But He isn't dead, HE IS ALIVE.  Jesus' life reminds me again and again how I want to live mine - in FULL submission to Father - ready and willing to put it all on the line for Him.  Jesus modeled it perfectly for us.  After He ascended into heaven He sent us the Holy Spirit which is the SAME Holy Spirit that raised JESUS from the dead.  CAN YOU SAY POWER?  In my own strength, I am powerless but as a believer in Christ, we have access and can tap into the most incredible power - the resurrection power - the very heart of God - that lives inside of us.  That thought leaves me speechless!


Thank you Father for your redemptive plan!  Thank you for the gift of salvation that you offer to the entire world!  Thank you for Good Friday and Sunday - for Your Son's death, burial and RESURRECTION - which changed the course of history!!!  Thank you for the abundant life that you offer right here, right now!!! 

The Easter message is so radical - I pray that it penetrates you to the very core of your heart.  Why not jump on board and live this life radically for Jesus?   

*Backyard Fun*

You can only imagine the number of pictures that have been taken over the last year of the backyard.  Are you wondering why?  It is a playground for all sorts of animals!  Rance spends MUCH time outside OR inside looking out the ginormous window that is in our living room that has an up close & personal view of the backyard fun going on at all times.  In fact, this is one of Rance's favorite things about our house.  You will see squirrels, birds, hawks, rabbits, and animals we have yet to name.  Rance is faithful to putting bird seed out constantly to make sure the birds have plenty to eat AND making sure he sets up ways to prevent the squirrels from climbing into the birdhouses and eating all the seed.

I must say it is quite fascinating to watch the interaction in the backyard and to dwell on Father's creativity!  I use to think Rance was totally kidding when he would flip out over a bird singing and just 'know' that it was a red cardinal or specifically what kind of bird he was hearing before he ever saw the bird.  He was not kidding.  He was sitting in his chair studying the other day when he heard a bird singing outside and before going to look out the window he said "Jenni, it's the red cardinal, it's him, that's his tune."  And, he was right!

Just a short story of Father's sweet grace being lavished upon Rance ~ he was driving over Stecoah Gap the other day when he saw a blue bird fly by his truck (one like he had never seen before) and he prayed out loud and asked DADDY to send one of those blue birds to our back yard.  Most people would think this request is crazy but Rance didn't.  Sunday morning a week ago, Rance was studying before church when he looked outside and guess what he spotted in the backyard?!  A BLUE BIRD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Father LOVES to grant us requests no matter how big or small.

Hawk just hanging out on the right hand side of the cross!!!

What do you see?!

*Red Cardinal*

These pictures were taken several different days and it seems Mr. Red Bird knows where his home & food is!

Can you find the squirrel?
he is hanging out on top of the cross!

...and now the squirrel has jumped down to the left hand side of the cross!

HAHA...do you see him jumping to the bird house?!

Yes, it has snowed several times here! :)

Mr. Red Bird as he flies away...

Sitting in the chair looking outside!

How many birds can you find?

Spring is hiding...

...as the snow keeps coming!!!

How funny is it that the first day of spring - it snowed?!  Not to mention, Graham county schools were closed yesterday and today also due to the snow!  I'm not sure how much longer the winter weather is going to hang out with us but at least me and the snow are friends now unlike when I first moved here!

Happy Tuesday Friends!  Enjoy Jesus today :)

March 20, 2010...

Three years ago today, Rance proposed to me and on that day when I said "YES" - I knew I had signed up for CRAZY.

By CRAZY - I am not talking about Rance's personality because YES that is CRAZY (and I super duper love it).  What I meant was - I knew that day when I accepted his proposal, screamed yes, cried like a baby, and placed the engagement ring on my finger - I was not only committing my life to my future husband but to a man that without a doubt seeks God's face and His sweet will daily and who is ready and willing to yield to Father no matter what that looks like, which in turn meant I was saying I was willing to do the same no matter the costs.  I was saying YES to living a life fully submitting to my husband as he is in full submission to CHRIST no matter where that might take us or what that might mean.  That's the kind of crazy I am talking about.  Rance was not proposing to someone he thought would question his leadership, resist his authority, or refuse to yield to Christ & His direction.  Afterall, sweet boy Rance made it clear where the Lord wanted him long before he proposed.  He never asked if I wanted him to move - he let me know where I could move :) 

One can only imagine how much Jennifer has had to DIE to SELF along the way.  But hello, the world needs a lot LESS Jennifer and a lot MORE Jesus so I'm thankful that I've died a LOT the past 3 years!   

So yes, I signed up for CRAZY but who wants to sign up for BORING anyways?

where it all went down :)

So here is to CRAZY, an abundant marriage, and no turning back!

Simon says...

When I came across this quote I could not help but think how incredibly true this one statement is.  So many people have Matthew 28:19 memorized but that is the extent of it.  That use to be me. 

Over the last few years, the Lord has radically changed my viewpoint on this verse (or I should say two verses) and what it actually means.  I use to have the viewpoint that "Go and make disciples of all nations..." - was going and sharing the gospel and that's it.  In my little finite mind - I thought going to Trinidad once a year and sharing the gospel was fulfilling the Great Commission.  Don't get me wrong - sharing the gospel and those kids that trusted Christ in Trinidad was NEVER in vain (Praise God!) but Father gave me a paradigm shift on "make disciples."  Thank God for His Spirit for showing me different and disciple-makers for teaching me different. 

¹⁹ Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen

Before I elaborate - dwell on what this verse means to you?

FaMiLy Weekend in the GREAT OUTDOORS!

My mom, dad, brother, cousin Brooke, and Uncle Craig (my mom's brother) ventured to the mountains last weekend and it was one of the BEST weekends together.  I was honored that my mom and dad left their business in someone else's hands in order to be here on a SATURDAY for the first time since I moved to Robbinsville.  My Uncle Craig was another surprise addition to the weekend and I am so glad he came.

We thanked God many, many times last Saturday for the weather!  All through the week, the forecast showed rain, rain and more rain but the Lord intervened and allowed us to enjoy a beautiful day in the GREAT OUTDOORS without a drop of rain! 

On Saturday morning, we loaded up and headed out to enjoy a day of riding and bonding with each other and the Buchanan family (Charla, Trevor & Charlton).  I love the way the Lord knitted our families together in such a special way.  I'll never forget the way Charla, Trevor, and Charlton loved on me and my family on some of our first trips here before Rance and I got married.  Since then, we have become one big family and I love our times together.  My brother & cousin Brooke are use to Charla's good cookin' after our 4-wheeler riding trips but my parents and uncle got to enjoy God's goodness through Charla's cookin' this time around. 

Let the good times roll...

Parking & Unloading!

Rance and I LOVED riding behind mom & dad because my dad LOVES to cut up!

Uncle Craig rollin' on!



We made it to Charla & Trevor's cabin so they could join! 
(their gorgeous home away from home)!

Charlton's 4-wheeler under surgery...

How many men does it take?!

My sweet mom looking better than any 4-wheeler rider I've ever seen
(that was actually my dad's comment to her...awwww)

Eating peanuts :) A sweet tradition!



These two have been best buds since Rance taught Charlton in the 7th grade!



Brother & Cousin
Two peas in a pod

LOVED them being here for the ride!!!

LUNCH TIME!

This conversation looks serious :)

Cousins :)

Brother & Sister

Husband & Wife - Glory to the LAMB!

F-A-M-I-L-Y

The picture above was NOT compete without Rance!

I love camo & carhardt!

A couple of Rance's dads friends rode with us for the day too!!!

Brother & Sister
Uncle Craig & Mama Gale



Never a dull moment when the 4 of us are together!



Daughter & Mommy

Brooke's always ready to SMILE for another picture!

Another serious conversation!  I love my daddy's face!

We ventured through a LOT of mud & water!

Mud-slinging baby!

I was raised to LOVE this :)

Do you feel like you are on the ride with us?!

Uncle Craig thoroughly enjoyed his first ride in the mountains!

We may have got a little muddy ;)
You are staring at Brooke's feet, my feet and Rance's feet!

We had to take a few detours during our ride due to an awful land slide that blocked the area we were riding through.  This detour caused Mama Gale great distress.  We had to go through some pretty rough areas and she kept saying "and you call this fun???"  Uhm, yes we do!  She looked at my daddy at one point and said "Jennifer definitely gets her daredevil, adventurous side from you."  Bless her heart.

The land slide where we turned around...

Detour here we come...

Mama Gale was holding on for her life.  This picture does NOT even do it justice how awful this was.  Everyone was getting hung on the LOG (part of which you cannot see) and almost flipping.  It was so slick - mud was flinging everywhere and it took daddy 3 times to make it up the bank.

Brooke has complete trust & confidence in Travis in this picture.

Uncle Craig attempting the first time...

Backing back down and trying from a different angle...
You know it's serious when Travis and Rance are there to guide each person coming through and to hold the 4-wheeler from flipping.

Going back through...

This time I got off and walked across...



Mama Gale did too...I loved watching daddy help her!



She is tensed :)

Rance made it through :)

This picture is my favorite of mom & dad :)

Saturday's ride ended at Charla & Trevor's cabin with a warm fire built and some of the best homemade cookin' you'll ever eat. 

Ready to be BLESSED by Charla's good cookin' at the cabin!

I LOVE A FIREPLACE & Brooke too!

Oh my...praise JESUS!!!

Warmin' up!

Travis was caught snoozing after the BIG MEAL :)



Enjoying coffee and an evening together!

daddy, mama, Charla & Trevor!

On Sunday, we celebrated Rance's birthday since the family was here!  It worked out good since I didn't get to see Rance at all on his actual birthday.  On a side note - there is noone more fun to give gifts to than Rance.  His excitement goes beyond words.  I love his heart of thankfulness.

Mama and I after church on Sunday!

Rance's birthday gift from my brother & my parents!  HIS VERY OWN LEAF BLOWER! :)  I know our landlords are going to be just as thankful for this.  They have graciously allowed us to borrow theirs weekly since we began renting from them.  THEY ROCK!

Uh oh...another man gift!
I gave Rance a chain saw so he could return Tom Sawyer's and
have his very own for all the wood cutting for the wood stove!
Thank you to everyone that allows us to borrow things :)

I think he was excited do you?!?!?!

My dad said "When I come back there will probably not be a tree left in the yard."  HAHA!

Last picture before the family departs!!!

Until next time... :)

1 Thessalonians 5:18
In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.