Hello All!
Happy Spring!!!!
Only since... well, this morning has it actually started to feel like Spring is in the air... since the several days following the the First day of Spring we had SNOWstorms. :) BUT now it is getting quite lovely and... well, smushy. Yes, smushy. You wouldn't believe how incredibly SMUSHY our dirt (now mud) road can get in the spring, indeed this is really the very smushiest of springs I have seen! haha But, this morning, snow or no snow, we all stepped out on the front and back porches and heard the little twittery birds all around which was absolutely wonderful. There's something about stepping outside in the first light of morning with the shadows still stretching across the yard, and hearing all different birds tweeting. (yes would you believe ME talking about the FIRST light of morning?? Spring MUST be in the air! :)
Anyways, on a different note, the last post may have been confusing to some as I failed to write an intro of any kind. haha :} It was just a neat, fun week that God worked out for us to be able to visit lots of our friends (as while we're traveling we don't have time for simply visiting people) so it was really great! :)
Now, I just really want to encourage everyone to seek the Lord - Jesus is returning very soon and He is looking for a people set aside for Himself. As we face these trying times and the imminent judgement of God on our land for our abandonment to sin, we need to turn away from these things, these distractions and perversions, and earnetly ask God's forgiveness and cleansing of our hearts! Oh how distressed I have been for our land - I SO look forward to Jesus' return and cleansing of our land- we need it so badly! We are past the time for just simply letting ourselves be distracted, assuming that we'll have time to get ourselves ready for His coming- He IS coming and we need to wake up and turn from our sins while we still can. I just read these verses last night and they're really encouraging:
"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself a people for His Own posession, zealous for good deeds."
~Titus 2:11-14
So let us pray and practice these things and become that people who He is purifying for Himself!
God bless you all and have a wonderful night!
In Christ, Miriam

-Monday-

the day of our depature from the Lueken home arrives

and we share some parting thoughts...

and parting photos

Now, on to visit our friends in Newton...

in which we have a lovely lunch with the Guyons, the Linnehans,

Marti Lynes, and the Nelsons :)

another shot with the group :)

*special thanks to our kind waitress*

and God arranged perfectly for me to see my dear, sweet

sister Melissa on our way to CT!

I love you Mel! :)

And THEN-- upon our arrival we found that our sister Christa

had sent up a musketeer's hat for Seth- so the guys proceeded

to don the auto-suave chapeau...

all three of whom had different takes on it- but the display and

write-up of it in the mag looked awesome so 'course we

assumed it to be a natural thing

Fortunately, it wasn't a terrible amount of time before we figured it out

and righted it

Tuesday!

we head off to Sturbridge...

a wonderful, if brief visit with my dear sisters Victoria and Jackie

Yay! :)
I love you both so much!!

then off to visit the Johansons where we had a very fun visit...

Linda and I :)

Gabe playing some music while..

the girls perform their "wakening flowers" dance :)

So sweet!

the whole gang

(minus Mr. Johanson who was at work)

We love you guys!

It was great to reconnect! :)

Now off to visit the Greeniers!

******

Aaaaaaaand I'll have to start with the next day

since I really didn't get much the first :)

the guys take to the slopes!

on our way to go bowling!

(this was a really difficult angle to get a shot of!) lol

Joel goes for the gold!

Can he do it??

STRIKE!!

it was the stance that did it :)

(lane 29- I just didn't catch it in time)

preparing and contemplating

*Ahem.* Now then... take careful aim....

Woosh!

Now that's how you bowl!

*I also hand out my "Bowl like a Pro" dvd on the side

for anyone who might want some pointers* :)

the fellows

WOW the style, the form, the exactitude with which

he carries out the bowl

Hannah's getting the form-thing down too! :)

2 Strikes!!!! Glad they're on MY team! =D

(actually, I think they each got at least 3)

and turning away from the lanes, we see our teams...

each with mixed emotions in their eyes..

very mixed emotions

and a shot of both teams before we leave...

the guys team-

game well played :)

and the girls team- woohoo!!

game even better played!
haha juuuuuuust kidding.... =D

in which we toss around the football :)

and that's the last of the pics with the Greeniers.

Or... at least the last ones I'll post...

which I'm sure everyone else will appreciate =D

And lastly we visit with our awesome friend Theresa-

It was SO great to see you again!!

And Congratulations Dear! :)

As you can see, we had an awesomely splendid time in MA & CT during the week...

and managed to visit so many wonderful friends! Thank You Lord!

I hope you all enjoyed seeing some silly pics and fun stuff. :)

God bless!!

*** A continuation of the wedding .....***

"O Lord, what is man, that Thou dost take knowledge of him?

Or the son of man, that Thou dost think of him?

Man is like a mere breath; His days are like a passing shadow."

~yet~

"How precious are Thy thoughts to me, O God! How vast is the sum of them!

If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand..."

~Psalm 139:17-18

Amazing how intimately aquainted with us God is... at all times. :)

the recieving line

waiting... :)

My dear Emma

the bridal party pauses for a moment before heading off again

to further engagements :)

*eight bridesmaids, eight groomsmen- what a wedding party!*

the first dance

a lovely pair! <3

Ahhh Joel is in his element!

Service with a smile!

seeing the new couple off

the bridal party aloft!

me with my dear friend Sarah Thompson! =)

Jordan and Melissa

Sunday afternoon we went to the Thomases after church.... :)

gathering

chattin' with Jordan

looking at wedding pics... ahhhh the memories-

it takes me back! ...well, to yesterday... :)

the fellows

with GREAT enthusiasm we all get together in the living room =)

woohoo!

a sweet time of singing and prayer followed....

that really was the sweetest fellowship we've had together...

and finally, one last group picture to end the night :)

It was wonderulf reconnecting and meeting new friends-

we love you guys so much!