This past Thursday night, I had to privilege of talking to Red about his salvation. He has been asking questions for quite some time now. Thursday night he started asking and was worried about if Christ returned Friday then he would be left and he didn't want to be left. It was then I knew that he was ready. We used a witnessing aid that was given to him a few years ago when he played Upward football at one of the local churches. After we read it and discussed it, we prayed together and he accepted and trusted Jesus as his Saviour. I was so excited. Today we went and discussed this decision with our pastor who confirmed that he knew and understood things. I know that my daddy is not here, but I know that he is rejoicing in heaven because another one of his grandchildren is saved.
Now we just have to decided when he is going to make it public. See Red is terrified of getting up in front of people. Playing sports is no big deal, it's the standing up and people looking at you while you look at them. But we assured him that I would be right there with him. I joke that one day God is going to call him to preach because of his fear of being in front of people, but you never know. I am just praising God that he is saved.
Monday, December 20, 2010
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Wordless Wednesday - Christmas Time
Christmas is one of my favorite times of the year.
The stockings hanging on the mantle...
... the laughter, ...
... the sweetness of the kids ...
... but the waiting seems to take forever.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
A Moving Reminder
At Back to Bethlehem, there was a short clip that was shown after viewing the live nativity. I have seen this clip so many times but it always gets to me. This is the entire video but our minister of music took bits and pieces of it to show.
The video plus the song brings it so real to me. Amazing.. that one word describes Jesus so well. It's amazing that God allowed His Son to come down as a human, to live among us and then to take our place on the cross. Amazing that He could have called an army of angels to rescue Him, but He choose to die for us. Amazing is the love that He has for us.
As I watched this video it was all I could do each time to hold back the tears. To first see that innocent baby lying there and then to see the clip showing his life as an adult was at times too much for me. It made me think of my own two boys. I can't imagine me freely giving them as God did His Son to take the place of us on the cross. There is no way that I could, yet that is exactly what God did for us over 2000 years ago. Amazing is the only word that can describe what He freely choose to do for us.
I pray that we remember that there is more to Christmas than gifts, decorations and parties - there's the birth of the One that gave His life for us.
The video plus the song brings it so real to me. Amazing.. that one word describes Jesus so well. It's amazing that God allowed His Son to come down as a human, to live among us and then to take our place on the cross. Amazing that He could have called an army of angels to rescue Him, but He choose to die for us. Amazing is the love that He has for us.
As I watched this video it was all I could do each time to hold back the tears. To first see that innocent baby lying there and then to see the clip showing his life as an adult was at times too much for me. It made me think of my own two boys. I can't imagine me freely giving them as God did His Son to take the place of us on the cross. There is no way that I could, yet that is exactly what God did for us over 2000 years ago. Amazing is the only word that can describe what He freely choose to do for us.
I pray that we remember that there is more to Christmas than gifts, decorations and parties - there's the birth of the One that gave His life for us.
Back to Bethlehem
This first weekend of this month our church put on an event called Back to Bethlehem. It is such a fun and wonderful event to be a part of. In this event, you travel back in time to the night that Jesus was born in the town of Bethlehem. The streets are crowded and there are so many "selling" their goods and wares. The visitors are led to several key points along the way to hear people talking about the exciting news that is being spread through out the land that night. At the end, you stop at a live nativity scene that is always moving.
We have done this several times and each year I am moved just by being a part of it. I especially enjoying being a guide and leading people through the streets. Watching the eyes of the little kids light up as they see the people all dressed up and the live animals we have. Some of them get so excited and ask where the child is. Some adults too get all into it and some actually want to walk ahead of the guides and some almost get lost from the group because they want to stop and look at every little thing.
The older two were only able to participate the last night since they were gone to their dad's for the weekend. They were so excited when I picked them up and they loved dressing up. My nephews were there too selling furs. I had to make a stop at their place every time I brought a group through. What a great way to remind ourselves and others what the true meaning of Christmas is.
We have done this several times and each year I am moved just by being a part of it. I especially enjoying being a guide and leading people through the streets. Watching the eyes of the little kids light up as they see the people all dressed up and the live animals we have. Some of them get so excited and ask where the child is. Some adults too get all into it and some actually want to walk ahead of the guides and some almost get lost from the group because they want to stop and look at every little thing.
The older two were only able to participate the last night since they were gone to their dad's for the weekend. They were so excited when I picked them up and they loved dressing up. My nephews were there too selling furs. I had to make a stop at their place every time I brought a group through. What a great way to remind ourselves and others what the true meaning of Christmas is.
Friday, December 3, 2010
One of Life's Little Lessons
Life lessons are hard to learn at any age much less when you are a tween. It's in these moments that we can either point our children to the world or point them to God.I choose to point them to God. The pressures that kids are under these days is enourmous. There is the pressure to be a certain weight, wear the right clothes, look a certain way and be like everyone else. It's mind boggling to think about it.
This week I had the pleasure to have such a life lesson with my kids. It was to stress the importance of what we speak - to speak the truth even if you yourself are at fault. Words are a very powerful thing and can damage others without little or no effort. Kids don't realize at their young age just how powerful their words are. And I am not talking about bullying or making fun of another kid. I am talking about speaking truth - telling both sides of the pancake. There is a phrase that I preach with my kids everyday - "Remember there are two sides to every pancake". They come home to tell me about something that someone did or said and I tell them that they need to remember that they are only hearing one side - what about the other person - what's their story?
All of the happenings of this week pointed me back to James 3. Paul talks about the tongue and how it is a two edged sword. As small as it is, it has the power to bring down nations. Out of our mouths we bless God and curse men. It shouldn't be this way and it hit home with me. I had to be honest with my kids about it. So often we bless God and want to get back with words and actions at those who have wronged us or just didn't give us what we wanted. We have all been guilty of it and something that I am not proud of. Praise God for His Grace that speaks to us when we are wrong and forgives us for our sins. I am thankful for His Word that comes to us when we need it at the right moment. We have to take moments like this and learn from them so that we can be more effective and open to God and His Will for us.
For my kids, I don't care if they never wear the latest fashion or if they are considered to be among the popular of this world. I desire for my kids to be a man/woman of God. One that has the good morals, character and one whose word can be trusted. I pray that it's their desire too.
This week I had the pleasure to have such a life lesson with my kids. It was to stress the importance of what we speak - to speak the truth even if you yourself are at fault. Words are a very powerful thing and can damage others without little or no effort. Kids don't realize at their young age just how powerful their words are. And I am not talking about bullying or making fun of another kid. I am talking about speaking truth - telling both sides of the pancake. There is a phrase that I preach with my kids everyday - "Remember there are two sides to every pancake". They come home to tell me about something that someone did or said and I tell them that they need to remember that they are only hearing one side - what about the other person - what's their story?
All of the happenings of this week pointed me back to James 3. Paul talks about the tongue and how it is a two edged sword. As small as it is, it has the power to bring down nations. Out of our mouths we bless God and curse men. It shouldn't be this way and it hit home with me. I had to be honest with my kids about it. So often we bless God and want to get back with words and actions at those who have wronged us or just didn't give us what we wanted. We have all been guilty of it and something that I am not proud of. Praise God for His Grace that speaks to us when we are wrong and forgives us for our sins. I am thankful for His Word that comes to us when we need it at the right moment. We have to take moments like this and learn from them so that we can be more effective and open to God and His Will for us.
For my kids, I don't care if they never wear the latest fashion or if they are considered to be among the popular of this world. I desire for my kids to be a man/woman of God. One that has the good morals, character and one whose word can be trusted. I pray that it's their desire too.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
15 Month Old Checkup
(Hanging out at my mom's house watching some college football.)
Today the Hubs took the twins for their 15 month old checkup. Yes we were behind due to the holidays but our physician was cool with that. So here are our stats:
Bulldog:
Weight: 27.2 lbs
Height: 32"
Sweet Pea:
Weight: 23.6 lbs.
Height: 31"
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