Jesus' Birthday

This year our kids sure got it!  They know that we celebrate Christmas because it's Jesus' birthday and He came to Earth to save us, love us, and teach us how to be kind, loving, patient, and giving to others.  They will tell us that first when we ask about it.  They love their angel they have instead of an Elf, we watch more Jesus centered Christmas movies, we give to others during the season, we look forward to Advent and our daily devotions, we focus on Jesus and they love it.  We do enjoy the gifts and Santa too, but they get it!  I am so glad!  This year Delaney told the whole Christmas story with the help of the manger scene on the fireplace, it was so sweet and she barely missed a detail.  We love our Christmas Cards from family and friends, we hang them all on our pantry door and then, sometime in February we will start to pick a card each day and talk about and pray for that family.  It's one of my favorite things.

Joy-Advent

Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love!  We love our advent wreath time.  We talk about what the theme is for the week, hold hands and all say a prayer, then the kids get to blow out the candles, the favorite part of course!  Lilli Jane did it with us today...notice the short sleeves, it's like 70 degrees out today!

God will like them

Delaney and I had a disagreement as she was supposed to be getting dressed this morning. She loves to look pretty for church but the white sparkly tights were scratching her legs so she changed last min, we were all in the car and were out of time, I saw her I asked what she was wearing and said they didn't match, she said that God would like them because they are fun colors.  I couldn't argue with that!

Thankful

We have really enjoyed talking about what we are thankful for this year, we have so much and we thank God each day for all that we think of for that day each night and morning.  Delaney has the sweetest prayer she says about how great today was and keep it just like that.  

One thing the big kids did this year, thanks to a suggestion from Mrs. Jackie Weeks, was make a cake and give it to the person that means a lot to them at this point in time.  Blake chose Mrs. Doyle and Delaney chose Mrs. Taylor (both happen to be their teachers, but they weren't limited to choosing them).  They presented them with it and told them how thankful they were for all they had done for them.  

One thing I am thankful for is god's beauty everywhere we look.  This tree that is beside our beloved church is SO pretty this time of year.  It's the last one to lose it's leaves which is great because it is the most beautiful tree in all of Rock Hill in my opinion.  I took this picture a little late this year, but you can tell how pretty it must have been.  

Sunday morning June 1

 

Best friend

People come into our life disguised as angels, and sometimes angels come into our life disguised as people. It is possible to see God anywhere. All it takes are open eyes and ears and the willingness to see miracles. They are everywhere. God is as available as we are. Having friends that inspire us to rise to higher and greater levels is an awesome gift. Surround yourself with people that inspire you to do better and inspire your friends as well. It is a profound truth that the people we spend time with shape the path that we travel.

 

Best Friends means different things to different people. Some insist that you can have only one best friend. Others assert that they have best friends for different aspects of their personalities. Whatever the precise definition, your best friend is the person who gets you. They understand who you are and what you are saying. The greatest distance cannot separate best friends. You will always feel a kinship with them, and be able to instantly continue the friendship even after not talking for many years.

Katie and I have been best friends since 9th grade. Even though we live hours apart it doesn't separate us from loving each other and being there for each other no matter what. We may not talk about everyday life each day, or see each other often, but when we are together it's like time hasn't passed. I love you Katie! Happy Birthday!

 

Serving The Lord

Dear Heavenly Father,

As I begin this day guide my mouth in all I say that is would be pleasing to you...that my thoughts would give you praise...that my hands would bless those around me...that my feet would walk in your paths. Grant me wisdom that I would be pure before you Lord.

Amen

I want to teach my kids to serve The Lord in all that they do...physically working to show this love is something I want to do and can do in the little things...for now if they see me and Kevin doing things then maybe it will impact them. You never know what will stick with them throughout life, the good and the bad, I hope to overwhelm them with good things so that they will remember more of those moments...when they get older I will be able to take them and do more it's them, for now it's inside our own walls, loving like Jesus and being kind to each other, it's a struggle with three little ones I won't lie, but we pray about it and work on it daily.

 

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Family meeting night

Each Sunday night we have a family meeting. Each person tells each family member something they appreciated this week, we go over our calendar, pick chores, get allounce, say a prayer for the week ending in the Lord's Prayer all together and change the special helper for the week. They love family meetings!

 

Easter Sunday

Jesus and His love is so beautiful...this day it really filled my heart. I captured some moments to remember during church and after that were so heart warming and remind me why we celebrate Easter. He has risen! He is alive and is there for us, what a beautiful thing!

 

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Easter at school

I am so blessed to have our children in a Dayschool that not only teaches them so much in writing, math, everyday stuff, but about Jesus. Blake has learned Bible verses all year, had prayer time each morning giving prayer requests, and many crafts and activities that are focused around God and Jesus. Easter was no exception. I was proud that our children knew so much about Christ's resurrection. ODS is a great preschool!

 

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Games

You never know what games the kids will play these days...this one was called, "Jesus died on the cross". We studied a lot about the Easter story for a long period of time this year. This is the beginning of it and they caught on early. Delaney loves to stand on the ottoman and preach about Jesus from her devotion books. She isn't afraid of being on stage!

 

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Beautiful children

Lord bless these children, help them grow to be strong, passionate, healthy, forgiving, humble, and faithful. Guide me to raise them the way You need me to so that they grow up to follow You and love you. Amen

 

Christmas at Williams & Fudge

 

Each year since 1985 dad has celebrated Christmas with the employees at Williams & Fudge. We are a private, Christian based company, and will stay that way no matter how much we grow, so many employees really appreciate this part of the year. We all gather together at some point the last week before Christmas and he reads the Chrsitmas story from the Bible, not an ipad or piece of paper, but the Bible. What an impact! Many people say that this is something they look forward to each year, others it's the first time they have heard it from there, and there are not many that don't attend. I am proud to be a part of company that keeps God and family first!

 

Ready for church

We had a little photo session before church today,

I am so proud of OBC and all they are teaching our kids already. Both big kids can say a few Bible verses, The Lord's Prayer, and sing many songs. They can both sit through the first part of church until it's time for them to leave and understand that we donate money to help other people. They know that a missionary is someone that goes where God tells them to spread His love and that we can be missionaries in our own backyard by giving the mission center things that we don't need anymore or have outgrown. I am proud that they choose their Bible to read at night and want to pray at meals and nighttime. I feel like we are on the right path, but couldn't be there without our church family. Thank you OBC whip for what you have meant to me for 32 years and what you mean to my children already.

 

Playing in the rain

Playing in the rain with daddy in the back yard. The kids look forward to rain days when they get to wear their rain coats and/or use their own umbrellas. They are both better about thunder and lightening now too, unless its at bedtime. They say its from God so it's okay and it won't hurt us.

 

Freedom

I found this in another blog I read and I am pasting it here because kids I feel the same way and loved his words on freedom inside ourselves.

 

Dear children,

I want to tell you some things about freedom. These are things that you will need to know if you hope to live in true freedom. I hope you will give careful attention to these things and live as free men and women.

The starting point for freedom is to recognize that it must first be internal. Freedom is not a matter of being free to do what you want. Instead it is about being able to do what you ought. You will meet many people who live to pursue what they want and claim that they are living free. I can tell you that they know nothing of real freedom. They are mastered by desire. True freedom comes when desire is mastered by the truth. The greatest enemy to your freedom is you. You will struggle to understand just how prone to sin you are. Apart from Christ you have no means to live free. It will only be by God’s Holy Spirit working in you that you will experience true freedom.

You need to know that freedom is very costly. Freedom has many enemies and if you want to live free you will have to fight every day. The good news is that the worst of the fighting has been done for you. Jesus alone paid the price for your freedom so don’t even think about trying to add to what He has provided. Your part in the fight is to believe. You must wrestle with the gospel every day of your life. Strive to go deeper into the grace of God. Refuse to remain ignorant of the means God has provided for the liberty of your soul.

It is important to understand these two points I have briefly described if you hope to know something of freedom in an earthly kingdom. The freedom of a country is always tied to the personal, internal freedom of its citizens. We have largely forgotten in our time that we cannot remain a free people if we cannot rule our own hearts, and we cannot rule our hearts apart from God. You see, freedom is founded upon the rule of just laws, the just exercise of mercy and a spirit of generosity. In other words, it is the very characteristics of God that provide the foundation for freedom. Don’t look to your government for freedom, because it cannot give it to you. Look to God’s means for freedom; that is your greatest hope of living free in an earthly kingdom.

One final thing: Be brave. Countless men and women have given their lives to keep our country free. You may be called on to do the same. The perfect picture of freedom in this life is the ability to face death with the assurance that Christ has overcome it.

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. -John 15:13

 

Church on the Beach

All dressed ready for church on the beach.

I put this shirt on her today because it was a onesie and had a sweet lamb on the front for church. I didn't realize there was a verse on the back until I was wearing her. How sweet! The big kids were so cute reaching up to put their offering in the box before the service. I wish I had a picture.

My kids have LOVED church on the beach this year. They ask to go each week, not because they can play in the sand, but because they get to go down front for a short time and have a lesson. This morning it was on freedom, she briefly talked about fireworks, asked who's birthday it was, gave them time to give some "cute" answers, then had them turn towards the crowd of a few hundred and asked those that had serve to stand, then she did a short repeat after me prayer for those Veterans. It was simple, yet meaningful to them, and the adults. They also ask to go back to "their other church", which is their great-grandmothers all the time because they got to go to the front there for a 5 min lesson too. When I was about 8 I sang a song for our children's sermon one day, I remember several other lessons we had even today, but I don't remember the sermons from that age.

My dad took this picture of me standing listening to a beautiful song during the service. The pelicans were soaring above the soloist, the waves were crashing behind me, and the sand was in my toes while I held my precious new miracle in my arms, I couldn't be more close to God in that sweet, unforgettable moment.

The preacher has everyone turn toward the ocean for the benediction...it's beautiful!

 

Christmas Day afternoon at Mama and Granddad’s house

Christmas with my family always warms my heart with wonderful traditions.  It was different being in a different house this year, especially since I was in the house we are usually in with just the four of us in the morning.  We enjoying all being together and in a new place was great!  There was a new kayak for Granddad!  A toy we’ll all enjoy at the beach next summer.  We read the Christmas story out of a new book this year, the pictures were of Lego people! 

We exchanged names for stockings and had lots of fun with that. 

We all enjoyed opening presents and of course our favorite, mom’s traditional dinner!  Glad I had an excuse to eat a lot this year!  Taylor and my kids made the cake for Jesus this year and mom and dad ended up with the baby Jesus for next year’s cake.  What a wonderful day!  An exhausting day!  I can’t seem to quit thinking of all the sweet boys and girls getting their new bikes that we helped Santa with this year though!  Many happy, happy kids!

Christmas morning…Santa came!

 

We awoke about 7am Christmas morning and the kids found their 3 gifts from Santa…Blake got a cardboard train, Spiderman stuff and a remote control car.  Delaney got art stuff, a Barbie house with dolls and a car, and a Big Wheel.  My parents came over to see their excitement too.  Santa ate the cookies that mommy and daddy had to leave out since they were fast asleep when we came home from Nanny’s house.

 

Then we wrapped our baby Jesus’ in swaddling clothes (toilet paper) and did the last Advent while we ate our chocolate chip pancakes that daddy made!  We read the Christmas story from the Alice Bible Times book and blew out the candles one last time while saying “Come Emmanuel”!

 

We opened our stockings and enjoyed a little morning candy!

Then we opened presents from each other…the kids were both SUPER excited about watching each other open the one they bought for their sibling.  I loved seeing the excitement in their faces!!  It warmed my heart seeing their heart full of joy while giving.

We played a little while, then after Delaney climbed in my lap and said “I’m tired mommy” we ate lunch and took naps.  What a wonderful morning.  Christmas is such a fun and magical time with kids.  I am so glad we were so balanced with Santa and Jesus too, they really understood why we have Christmas and who we celebrate for, I am so proud of them!