Story In Pictures ~ Josh's Graduation

Josh had toyed with the idea of going back to school to get his doctorate off and on for several years.

Three years ago he felt like the Lord gave him the green light and he dove in.

He was placed in a cohort with 3 other guys.

Over the course of these three years Jacob, Josh, Kelly and Jeff would create a friendship that would keep each other accountable in school and 

encourage one another in their own ministry and mission fields.

They would later find out how rare it would be to all make it through to the end at the same pace.

Jacob, Josh, Kelly, Jeff

Each graduate is invited to the President's home, Magnolia Hill, to visit with the professors

before graduation.

Dr. Robinson, one of Josh's panel professors

Dr. Akin - President of SEBTS

This is Magnolia Hill

the "hooding ceremony"

Dr. Reid - Josh's Major professor

Dr. Akin got to meet all the kids.  Jude was being compliant as always, ha!

The cohort Doctors

Josh and his dad

Josh and his parents

Josh and my parents

Josh's brother, Jared, and his family made it down for the graduation.

along with Josh's sister Joy and her family.

the hat got passed around quite a bit among the Colony kids.

Even Uncle Ray came to support Josh!

So thankful for this opportunity for Josh and even the rest of us as we get to glean from all that God did and is doing through this season.

Friday Photos

Zeke, heading up another one of his amazing inventions.
He laid a dolly down, placed a board on it, colored pedals and buttons,
added seat cushions and a wii remote steering wheel,
to make an amazing "go cart".

Amazed at how things like this can grow through tiny little cracks in brick steps and cement driveways.

Jude insisted that we take his training wheels off.
I reluctantly (after much of his persistent requests) took them off and led him to the soft grass to help with the falls.
While we were instructing him on how to get started, he jumped on, pushed his feet forward on the pedals
and rode away!  He can totally keep up with the big kids!

Reading stories to "get hot" before diving into the 3-ring 2-ring blow up pool.
I don't know what is funnier...watching Cai tell his version of stories or listening to Jude laugh hysterically at him!

Sometimes math just makes more sense when somebody other than mom explains it.

We were able to use our rose bushes to bless neighbors all around us this past Mother's Day weekend.

We've been without a laundry line for about a year and finally bit the bullet and got another one.
I.Love.Air.Dried.Laundry.

I caught Jude and Alethia playing "family" in the field.
Their relationship is SO sweet.  They rarely ever even fight.

These two love playing hand clapping games with the rhymes that we used to play growing up.

Friday Photos (on Saturday, minus graduation pics)

Not only did Zeke bring me the most beautiful weeds flowers from the field...
he brought the roots WITH them, ha!  He is such an all or nothing kid.

Rainy has been SUCH a huge help with Jude in school and helped him finish out his year this week.

They have really grown a sweet relationship this past year.
We're gonna miss Jude when he goes to school in July. But we won't mind the quieter atmosphere, lol.

Regrown lettuce is growing in nicely.

Cai, for the first time in his life, has really begun to enjoy reading.
He has made a goal for himself to read 3 books every day after he finishes his homework:-).

We found a tree frog.
And of course he became our pet for a few hours.

I.Can't.Wait.

Jude has been on an Insanity kick with SeanT the past couple of weeks
He completed three 45 minute videos this week all on his own.
It's so cute to watch, and even cuter when he yells out to me to grab him some ice water for his 30 second breaks, haha!

Oh yeah, we got a bunny this week for me!
He is TINY, although this picture of him is deceiving.
The Colony has appropriately named him Cocoa.

Friday Photos

The Colony Pool is open for business!
Hellooooo MAY!
This photo credit goes to Rainy.  She is becoming quite the little photographer!

Clearly the dad is having just as much fun in the pool as the kids are lol.
I wonder how all the grass and dirt gets in there...hmmmmm...
(photo credit: Areyna Via)

A rare quiet moment with Zeke...
in the little blue wagon:-)

It's always sweet to spend some time with friends while we drink root beer, eat pizza and watch the kids swim

The longer the grass the better!
That's the motto around here.  At least for the fields surrounding our house.
Because that means I can get the riding mower and make fun paths for the kids to run in like a maze.
We are always sad when the big mowers come and cut it all down a few days later, but they sure enjoy it when it lasts. 

We've been doing "all the farm things" this past week as we prep the coop for the littlest chickadees to roam around with the big ladies.  Jude took great pride in scraping the poop off of the roof, because our chickens are apparently too good to sleep INSIDE the coop and and prefer to stargaze from the top, ha!

Alethia doing what she does best...being a little mommy to one of our cute friends that came to play.

Hand picked with love for mom.

Rainy had a couple of extra cooks in the kitchen on her day to cook dinner.

Always adventuring outside, walking sticks in hand, friends and siblings close by...
this is what childhood memories are made of.  

Scheming up the next magnificent plan.

Whenever I capture these five doing anything, I am reminded of just how blessed our family is!
God has provided more than we could ever need!
Thank you Craigslist, Dr. Joe and everyone else who made F-I-V-E bikes possible for these Colony kids.

Finding "Unreached People Groups"

Sometimes finding unreached people groups means...

grabbing the bikes and scooters from the shed after dinner

and taking a family walk/ride around the corner and across the street

hiking down the hill

through the forest

and over the bridge.

And then repeating it over and over again.

There are a lot of people in this world that need Jesus!

Pray that God will go before you as you seek those whom He is drawing near.