Egg Hunt

Elijah had so much fun finding color round eggs in the grass at our near by park (Stanton). We packed in some Kix, socks, and some fruit snacks in his eggs. We also put out some bigger items that wouldn't fit inside the eggs, but he seemed more fascinated with the round noisy things. We enjoyed watching him explore and run around everywhere, and get the point of the game quick. So the Tibayan's 4 have officially decided that our egg hunt will be the Saturday after Easter (for various reasons).

I have no idea why he was smelling the Tiger, but he had a funny face:) Perhaps he was remembering the Tigers at the circus the night before???

Counting his findings with abba, he attempted to put them all in his sweater pocket.



One of the various tries of getting a good family photo using park props...where art thou gorilla!


The day was a blessing and I thank the Lord for allowing us to make Elijah happy by simply putting eggs in the grass. For Sunday school (although CHBC calls it "core seminars") in our parenting class we talked about children and how the men/husbands, need to spend time with their children and if anything schedule time to hang out. Great reminders of what it means to be a parent and love your kids unto the Lord.

"The Greatest Show On Earth"

Last night we took Elijah to "The Greatest Show On Earth" the Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus. I've never been to a circus before (for protest reasons :) but it was great for Elijah to see live Elephants-- he's been practicing being an elephant for awhile.

At the pre-show, they introduced the beautiful Elephants. That's Elijah in the red sweater.Daddy and Elijah were amazed at the acrobats...well, PJ more nervous.I was amazed at these beautiful tigers, especially the white Bengal Tigers, but then I'd get sad because they were there at the circus instead of roaming the grasslands.
The novice mommy and Elijah :) Oh, and of course Key!

When we came home and did family worship, I was reminded that there are remnants of the authority God gave to man to rule over the earth, including animals. Since the whole world and believers have not been fully redeemed (until heaven of course) we still see the consequences of the fall, like animals attacking trainers, or bystanders. One day believers in Christ Jesus, shall again rule faithfully and loyally to the KING of KINGS.

Yogurt

Elijah was eating yogurt and getting into a mess. The shirt had to come off and his hair up :) There will be a day when his hair will be gone...the memories.

Happy Resurrection Day!

A was having a hard time focusing on God during service because of a silly seating situation. I kept asking the Lord for forgiveness and wanting to be excited for this special day....oh boy, what a struggle. The Lord was kind enough to get me focused before the sermon started and it was encouraging. Mike Gilbart-Smith spoke and said something along the lines that in the Old Testament the sacrifices were not exhaustable, only Jesus on the cross exhausted God's full wrath on sin, he then said there were no resurrected lambs walking around. That hit me! Praise God that Jesus was the full satisfying sacrifice, and that is why HE was raised. To God be the Glory!

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On a side note, I am a nerd and forgot (once again) to take pictures of our family during Resurrection Day. Right after church we had lunch with the Lawrence's where we spoke about the sermon and the blessings from it. We then came straight home and all took naps, and then PJ went to evening service. Elijah and I stayed and slept some more--we were beat.

So this Saturday we will do our family outing with an egg hunt. Elijah doesn't know yet :)

If you remember please pray for me, I am feeling soooooo tired and not wanting to do much. Key is a heavy load!

Day 4

These crazy guys did their own thing while Elijah napped and kuya RC arrived at our apartment. They have their own story of what they did and adventured to.

We all went to dinner together at our favorite Bistro Italiano, but had to sit separately because they couldn't accommodate such a big party. So the girls sat together with Elijah.

Jenny, Lou and Reinna tried to lure Elijah to them-- to see who'd win, but there was no question, although he grew very fond of all of them, they couldn't match up to his "auntie".

Day 3

Saturday we headed to Union Station for lunch. I just figured out that there was a scene in "The Sentinel" at Union Station. Go Jack Bauer!!!


Elijah distraught over leaving the water fountain.

Then we all went home to take naps. Praise God for rest.

Day 2

After my doctors appointment, I took Jennifer, Reinna, and Elijah out on a short tour. PJ and Louie were occupied with the 9Marks Weekender.

Jenny wanted to be the photographer, so she had lots of opportunity to show off her "eye" for a good shot.

1st stop- Capitol

2nd stop: Botanical Gardens
He had so much fun at the pond--splashing away and flirting with a little girl doing the sameAuntie showing him to hit and destroy flowers! Good thing we didn't get kicked out.

3rd stop: American Indian Museum
We basically walked in and out, our attention span, unfortunately, was very low here but the outside was beautiful. Elijah, in tears, wanted to play with the water.

4th stop: Air & Space Museum
Upon Reinna's excited request, we headed here, but all we did was walk through to sit at the McDonald's for 30 minutes and say how tired we all were and then headed home...go figure.
Key was just vegging it too.

A sweet reunion: Day1

Jennifer, Louie, and Reinna arrived Thursday evening. We had everyone wait outside except Jennifer, so PJ and I could see Elijah's reaction. Oh boy, was he excited! He recognized her immediately and said "Auntie" and jumped into her open arms.

The sweet reunion.

Familiar faces...
Elijah taking pictures
...and of course crazy Rein

A lovely surprise

I recently heard a sermon by Dave Harvey titled "When Sinners Say "I Do": Marriage is More Than Me" and he says something profound that I deeply enjoyed. He said that God is suppose to be our "favorite thing," and expanded on that thought and then he made the connection that our spouse "is uniquely designed by God to expose in you your favorite things-- and that is not referring to God." I was so rebuked and encouraged! My spouse (PJ) is used, by God, to expose to me and in me, who or what are my favorite things. God should supremely be our favorite thing, but other idols (wife/husband, comfort, materialism, etc) are revealed by our spouse, whether they know it or not. I am so thankful that PJ shows me, what I value more than God. I always wanted a marry a man who would lead me and love me with Christ in the center. Romance is great and you need it in your marriage, but may it never be in the center as Christ should be in the center--that is true romance.


PJ surprised me with tulips...my favorite!
As I see my beautiful tulips flourish may I be reminded that Christ MUST flourish in our marriage.

Love (PJ),
Thank you for your loving care and how you seek to make our family Christ centered. Thank you for your diligence in family worship and how you showed me the absolute importance of it. Thank you for your constant revelation of what my "favorite things" are and how you don't EVER want yourself to be my favorite thing, but Christ. I love you. Soli Deo Gloria.

Crazy Interns

Last Thursday we had dinner with the interns and family at the Bull Mouse (the men's housing at CHBC). We had a great time and were excited to meet up every other Thursday for fellowship, dinner, and of course much laughing. I could really see all of the interns and families coming out of there shells...even PJ and I! They are a great bunch and we will miss them dearly when we leave.
PJ was playing Jenga with Caroline, and Elijah. There's Mark, Justin, and TravisCaroline and Elijah got along well for the most part :)A whole lot of belly laughs over gobbled up dinner.

Justin entertained us with real life Ronald Regan jokes (his favorite President), Travis entertained us with silly (or as I called them "lame") facts about himself, and Patrick told us horrific animal tales of his childhood. It was a blessing getting to know everyone better. Praise God for conversations over meals :)

The babysitters Club

Well, I took care of Drew (on Thursday) while Elijah played with Drew's toys. Drew is our associate pastor's son and Rebbecca (Drew's mommy) needed some alone time to prepare for our upcoming women's retreat.Elijah heading straight to the new toys...he doesn't have much of a selection here in DC.At times Drew would follow Elijah as he roamed around.It appears like Elijah was crying but he wasn't, he was trying to tell me something.I thought this was so cute! Elijah wanted tissue to clean Drew's drippy nose.
Red ball+ 2 boys+ little cute sinners= roughness
Elijah hid under the table and Drew would just crawl around the table laughing hysterically :)

We shall soon return to the Johnson's home to hang out with Drew again. I'm excited to attend the women's retreat and hope I'll be able to go. It's an overnighter so I think PJ will be able to take care of Elijah, we'll see.

The Search...

The charming prince rushes to catch up to her....He swiftly jumps into his carriage (or buggy)

What a charming prince.
Where can she be? Is she in here? Or is she over there?
He searched high and low for her...
but she was no where in sight, but he recognizes her sparkling shoe she left behind.
He examines the shoe, hoping for more information of this princess.
He realizes his present circumstances (his age) and decides to leave it for another day.
A nostalgic memory-- he'll keep wondering where his Cinderella is.

As Elijah continues to grow, PJ and I want to prepare him for adulthood early. We often talk about Elijah getting married in the future (if the Lord wills) and dream and hope and pray of how we will strive, by the Lord's grace to prepare him for marriage early too. Sometimes I get sad thinking I won't be the woman in his life but I am reminded that I am not God, and that God may have a wonderful young lady who he will one day call his wife. We pray for her frequently and desire they both will call upon the name of the Lord, live godly lives, remain pure until marriage, her parent's salvation, etc. I also pray and hope that he does not awaken love before he ought to, so he can save himself from physical temptation and emotional attachment too early. As I watched Elijah examine the little girl shoe, it reminded me of his future search of his wife.

Lord, how PJ and I pray they will enjoy displaying Christ and the church accurately, by your grace.