Beautiful Florida

Now who couldn't relax in a place like this? This was the scene I got to look at and share with Skylar each night on our vacation together in Florida. We did so little according to what others might expect when you tell them of a trip to Florida. No Disney trips or Sea World just endless trips to the pool,sitting side by side reading and soaking up some sun or doing dolphin dives into the pool. I don't think I could have imagined a better time with Skylar. It is such a different story when you can devote your total attention to one. I enjoyed our, much needed, time together, Sunshine. Now I have more than one reason to call it the 'Sunshine State.'

Happy Birthday, Dustin

Who could have imagined that it would have gone so quickly from this...
To this...
Oh, that precious feeling of holding you for the first time and wondering how I will ever be able to savor that moment, such a loving feeling...no words could ever compare to how much love I have for you, my first born son.
I love you, Dustin. Happy 7th Birthday.

Perepity

Perepity On The Cross

As we celebrate Easter we wanted to make sure that our children recalled Easter to be more than just egg hunts and fancy dresses. So we took them to Christian Fellowship's Easter Contada. What a realistic reminder of the sacrifice that was made for us. We were sure to walk them through every act and assured them that this was not real but the sacrifice that Jesus made for us was.
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“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.” 1 Peter 2:24

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Although I did not bring my camera to the show, I know, one of the most priceless reminders and I did not bring a camera...I did capture the sweet faces of those children celebrating Easter with family the following day. We went to Auntie Rachel and Uncle William's for a nice small family gathering for lunch. The kids all played so well together. Such smiling faces and happy times.

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Getting to know you...

Spring Princesses...

There are 2 more boys, but try getting them to sit still long enough for a picture together...

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Perepity For the Garrisons~"A sudden turn of events that reverses the expected or intended outcome."

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As I went to bible study and learned about God's plan and how perepity worked through the study, before the night was done, I felt that plan of the Lord in my own life. At the end of the study, as I was walking out the door, an old softball teammate of Adam's, told me how there was no team this year. What a surprise to us. Adam had played with these same guys for just short of 10 years! These Christian men and their families were such an important part of our Christian walk. We sometimes used the forshadowing of softball coming to get us through the winter and knowing there was a respectful group of men to play ball with was just the tip of what we would lose out on.

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We knew that we needed to be a part of something that held us accountable. So while I drove home Adam and I discussed, over the phone, the possibility of maybe the Lord wants us to move on and consider another group to grow with both on the field and off. This led us to another church team. Knowing the coach for the team, since I grew up with him as a teen and Adam played with him for CLA and H&R Block, we thought about considering an entire move. Again, before the evening was done, we received an email from that coach stating that Adam could play on his church team but it was more challenging considering he did not attend that church. WOW!!! Does the Lord speak?! Yes.

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Though it is hard to consider, with the emotional attachments that seemed to be at our old church, we know that this is a move that has been coming for some time. Our family needs the bonds and friendships of other Christians to grow. As I considered the move, with my head, it seemed that I was holding onto the wrong things at CLA. I thought about the friends I had in the past there, the families that knew my childhood, and the Pastor that married Adam and I and dedicated each of our children to the Lord. All these things are wonderful memories but as Adam stated..."it is just the house, the family is leaving, it is time for us to focus on the reason we attend church, it is for growth and our family needs that. Do not hold onto the walls of the house the family used to live in, hold the memories and rebuild." After 18 years of attending Christian Life Assembly under the same leadership we had considered a move. Then to our surprise the last piece that I had been holding onto as a memory seemed to be moving on as well. On April 11th our Pastor gave his resignation. What a perepity for the Garrisons.

We may return to that house some day but for now... we will follow that Lord into whichever house He calls us to so our family can grow in the Lord, leaving our eyes open to the fact that sometimes the Lord does call us to change.

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"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the words I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neithre can you bear fruit unless you remain in me." John 15: 1-2

A kiss goodbye to the ways of old, and time to begin to grow again.

Frogs, Hedgehogs, Turtles and Bunnies

March 29

The "Tincess and the Frog". Hey, they did this on their own. This is one of Dustin's favorite costumes to squeeze into. You know he is squishing into it when it is the size his brother, 5 years younger, fits into comfortably.

March 30

Skylar had a field trip to the Lutz Children's Museum with her school. Although I did not ride the bus with her, was able to go as a chaperone. This seemed like a great one to bring Kamden along for. Hey, Skylar got to go when Dustin was in preschool. He especially liked the turtles. One of my favorite things to photo, is the kids enjoying something together. I like capturing the moment from the back as to not interupt the moment. Here they are looking at the hedgehog.

April 2

The boys roaring at eachother, in play.

April 3

Today was the annual Easter Egg hunt at the Ashford Fire Station. This year they were looking for new volunteers since some of the formers had stepped down. So the day before, the kids and I helped set up for the big, town event. It was nice to see them helping out and enjoying doing so. Then the big day, getting to find the eggs and see what prize you had won after seeing all those baskets of stuffed animals the day before. Dustin was nervous about it being his first year "in the woods." But he did great with daddy and Kyle. Kamden joined Skylar in the preschool group and she was willing to take some of her own nervousness away and focus on helping Kamden. The priceless image of her wrapping her arm around him to guide him to finding the eggs but doing it without being overtaken by the other anxious children is an image I hope to keep for some time. The way she just sets her emotions aside to care for him...what a wonderful big sister. You are such a loving spirit.

~Andrea

Easter Celebration With Mom

March 27-March 28
For a number of years my mom has decided to host an Easter celebration with our side of the family, on Palm Sunday weekend. This eliminates the rushing from family to family on Easter weekend trying to visit both sides of our families. Our household, as well as my sister's, head up to her house on Friday night and head home midday on Sunday. It is nice time to hang with family that we otherwise seem to only see in passing. Though the time seems to go so fast, we fill it with fun. One of my favorite parts is that my mom, my sister, and I are all there with nothing specific to have to do, well that is other than color eggs...and do egg hunts...Sometimes even the most obvious are hard to find. Can you find the shiny orange egg in this picture?

"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory."

Colossians 3:1-4