Today is Easter Sunday and also our son Noah's second birthday! We've been trying to celebrate both at the same time and honestly... our hearts are a little full trying to hold all of it. But before we jump in, should we go ahead and do a tiny liturgy with yall?

Us: He Is Risen!
Everyone: He is RISEN INDEED! 🙌

If you've been around a while you know what the road to having children looked like for us. And somehow here we are with three boys... our middle one turning two today. We keep saying it to each other like one of us is going to finally have a different reaction. (we never do lol)

James 4 says life is like a vapor. We used to read that and kind of nod and move on... that's honestly just what you do with certain scriptures. You file it under "true" and keep scrolling. But something about watching your kid turn two makes that verse stop being something you just nod at.

We also got some news this week that made it land even harder. We mentioned last week that our pastor and mentor Michael was fighting for his life. He passed away... And what made it so jarring is that this was a man in genuinely amazing health who truly lived for the Lord with every breath. I know a lot of people say that as kind words after experiencing loss… but I said this about Michael even before his passing. And here he is encouraging us even after death.
And just to give you all some connection to him, if you have watched our main channel, or read this Sunday Send for a period of time, you have been impacted by Michael’s wisdom, faith & counsel over our lives. He will live on in many ways, and through our content is one of them!

We aren't sharing that to put a cloud over Easter Sunday! But it has been sitting with us all week and it's honestly the reason this birthday and Easter season is hitting the way it is. The brevity of life is real.

It's not just that time moves fast. It's that it's really easy to spend years feeling like you're walking with Jesus when really you were walking with the idea of Him. You had a general sense of the direction. A feeling about the kind of life you wanted. You were taking steps... but somewhere in the busyness you stopped checking in and just kept going.
& going.

We can look back at the last two years of Noah’s life and genuinely see where we walked closely with Jesus. And we can also see where we didn't. Hindsight is a little uncomfortable like that! But that discomfort (is that a word lol) should not keep us from taking a peek backwards.

So on this particular Easter Sunday we just want to ask you something.

If things keep going the way they are right now, you keep doing what you’re doing, saying what you’re saying and thinking what you’re thinking… Where do you end up in two years? Five? Ten? Is that where God has been directing you?

Are you aimed in a direction that your actions, words and thoughts consistently lived out will take you to where He actually wants or are you just... moving? In hopes you end up in a decent place with close proximity to God’s will?

Get somewhere quiet today or this week if you can. Even your car for ten minutes, or if you have to retreat to the restroom if you have littles.. that still counts. 😅 Bring a journal. And just ask Him to illuminate the ways you have been moving, but in the wrong direction.

Not out of guilt! We serve a God who purchased new life for us and our desire is to actually walk in that new life, not the old one we keep around from time to time. We want to go where He leads, say what He nudges us to say, love the people right in front of us like we actually mean it. Michael was great at that, we want to be great at that and we want to train our kids to be great at that!

Because we have new life. Let's live like it and not waste time pursing things, saying things and thinking things that are not aligned with the abundant life He purchased for us! 🕊️

Happy Easter you guys! We are reminding ourselves today that Jesus didn’t just give us new life but He is the resurrection of life!
And happy birthday to our sweet Noah... can’t wait until you can read these emails and see how you make us better people!

He is risen. HE IS RISEN INDEED!

Love yall!

Okay but have you seen this..

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Tori: Spring has sprung over here and I’m learning that parenting little boys is honestly 90% easier outdoors lol. We’ve been outside constantly — watching them get muddy, scooter around, and laugh together has just been such a blessing. We’re starting to see glimpses of their friendship as brothers forming and it’s the sweetest reminder of what a gift their close ages really are. Also recorded my first two Talks with Tori episodes this week and Chad joked we should rename it Tears with Tori because of all the Holy Spirit tears haha. Truly cannot wait for you all to hear what’s coming. 🤍​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Chad: hard for me not to mention work.. this is a BIG work month for us as a family. A lot is riding on decisions, execution, consistency we work with! So would honestly love yalls prayers as we sense a shifting tide that started in our hearts and is now being reflected in our vocation progress! Praise God, but we are not out of the weeds yet. Tori is bringing back Talks W/ Tori and I am launching A Better Way (which are resources to help believers get out of survival mode)! So fun stuff happening!

The boys: Tori mentioned a bit of this in her life update, but the boys are thriving! We’re working on our listening but in terms of joy, fun, and adventure that part is nailed down haha. Currently watching them play with squirt-guns outside as I write this!

P.s. Below are 3 ways we may be able to help or encourage you!