Tonight our son, Reece, was baptized. He has been worrying and thinking about this for a long time. He recently started working on a book "Becoming A Christian" - and could not put it down. Probably because he is our baby, it was hard for us to think he could have anything to repent of. He has been attending services of the church since he was 2 weeks old and is so wise and insightful for his age. Both of our other 2 children were baptized at around the same age. Anyway, it is a very happy, joyous night. He is so tender hearted and good - he makes me want to be a better person. Kent said a few words tonight that really made it all so clear. No matter what happens tomorrow - this is what is important.
My one desire in life is for my children to be faithful Christians. Nothing else matters to me. I feel so blessed to have a faithful husband who wants to do what's right and feel so blessed to see my children come to obedience to the gospel. I hope I can be more of what I need to be for them.
I was thinking back to when I obeyed. If we could only replay that in our minds every day - to think about the feeling of being saved, clean, new...... and live each day with that feeling in our hearts. I talked with a new convert recently and we were talking about how wonderful it is to know that we can always start over - God is faithful and just and will forgive us. We can feel that way every day. Wow! I needed that reminder.
Another blessing was that my father, who has been unfaithful for 27 years now, came to the baptism. He was not there when I obeyed and I really didn't have much hope that he would come tonight, but grandchildren can have more of an impact than we know. He told my Mom that he "couldn't miss it." He was there and it meant so much to Reece and to all of us. I can only hope that his heart can be softened as well.
Anyway, I had to share this - something wonderful and positive! I would appreciate your prayers for all of us and your continued encouragement to Reece!
After a week of being sick - again, I would like to say that a warm fire in the woodstove, soft jammies and fuzzy socks, and a piping hot cup of blackberry/sage tea with honey = Happiness!
Hope you are all staying well and warm! :)
**As it gets cold, the holidays are upon us. Are there any "traditions" you do? We may be at the beach for Thanksgiving this year. Last year we spent it just here (the 5 of us) it was nice, but we did miss the "big" family feeling. Of course there are all the usual foods, and we always take time to each name some things we are thankful for.
For xmas, we usually make a paper chain to count down the days. We like to make gifts for people, hopefully more this year than last. Each x-mas eve, the kids get to open 2 presents. They are always an ornament and a pair of jammies. They know by now, but still humor me by acting all excited! When they each move away (sniff, sniff) I will lovingly pack all their ornaments for their own trees (in about 20 years LOL). We love making cookies and hot drink mixes to share. I think blue jean purses, aprons, blue jean quilts, and fuzzy felt hats may be some things on the agenda for this year!
Any great ideas, especially for things to make for guys???
Tea sounds good, glad you're feeling better again. This year we're going to make Santa pins w/cinnamon sticks and puffy paint. I haven't thought of anything to make for guys. We have so many family memebers we need to make things very simple and cheap so we don't leave anyone out. The extended family always draws names but there's 6 of us so I don't feel like we need to buy that many big gifts for them so we something sweet and cheap for everyone. Would love to hear some ideas for the guys and I'll think some.
Mmmm, beef and cheese! haha! I love blue jean purses!!! I've made some with the twins. I just let them pick out what they want and then I throw it together. I don't what guys would appreciate...something with NASCAR? NASCAR purses! Nah, nix that idea, lol
Haha, that's funny that you said that. Last year we spent new years in the home of a couple from church and they had karaoke. One family brought their karaoke cd's which were mostly Hank Williams, George Strait, Hank Williams JR, Kenny Rogers, Merle Haggard and David Allen Coe. I will never forget their rendition of "You never even called me by my name..." or "Elvirah" LOL So funny!!!
I haven't heard anything about a trip, haha. I'm always the last to know ;) But seriously, I don't think the trip would be good for Grandma so I doubt it. Its crazy how rumors get started back there, haha
Wow! Brian Price had a great lesson on our attitudes tonight. I needed it big time! He expressed how that our attitude about life, and our Christian life espcially, can have impact on so many things - especially our ability to win others. Are we serving God joyfully? Does our attitude and manner of living/speaking/acting portray the joy we should have as Christians? Or in contrast are we disgruntled, angry, bitter people? He used the illustration something to the effect - When you enter a room do you lift the spirits of others with your good attitude or do you suck all the oxygen out with your lack of joy? Much, much food for thought!
Tomorrow is a very special day. No matter how things turn out with the election, I'll have reason to celebrate because it is our 20th year anniversary! I am praying that we will be able to celebrate with the election as well, but we will see. Pray without ceasing!
More thoughts/memories on the anniversary to come! I know you all can't hear enough about our cheesy love story! This time 20 years ago I couldn't sleep and was trying not to think about the fact that this was my last night ever in my parent's home as their "kid". Heavy stuff! ha ha
Don't worry, be happy. I've come to realize that you just have to be happy. Do your best and be happy. Beccause there comes a point when you can't do antyhing about it and being grumpy won't help it any! =D
Our (Brad and I) meeting anniversary just past on the 12th, I should have posted something about that. We have a sweet little boy meets girl love story.
We are slowly getting better - wow - not good! Anyway, what are some of your favorite Halloween memories? As a kid I remember picking out a costume at Woolworth's - usually the plastic kind with the "crunchy" plastic mask. They all basically looked the same - or we would be a hobo or an old man/woman! Funny times! Where we live we had to drive from house to house since they were few and far between, but we always got GREAT treats. We got popcorn balls from Miss Peg out the road - oh how delicious! And everyone gave the BIG candy bars - no fun size for us! I remember always sorting everything into piles when we got home and giving my Dad the yucky stuff! He loved black licorice and the candy wrapped in the orange/black paper. My parents sometimes dressed up too. It was fun!
Since being an adult we have always made a pretty big deal out of it and I LOVE making the costumes and getting everyone all excited. These days we usually each have several costumes for different parties, ect. I always hit the clearance after Halloween too so our dress up box is always growing. I want to get a slide show on here of our past Halloweens if I can figure it out. I love carving the pumpkins with the kids and Kent and I generally always dress up. It has made for some really fun memories with our kids. This year will be no exception! We hit up the Goodwill Stores and Craft 2000 tonight for our first party this weekend! It is just a blast. I cannot believe this will be Chloe's 18th year dressing up. She was a pumpkin when she was only 2 months old! :)
For last minute costume ideas, check out familyfun.com - we have made a bunch of their ideas over the years!
Yay for Goodwill! I went bargain hunting for warmer clothes this weekend and there were a lot of people out looking for costume stuff. The funny thing was, I was actually looking for real clothes to wear, haha.
Awww...glad to hear someone else enjoys Halloween...I love getting all dressed upp and going to parties...but usually I get shot downa nd told how evil I am for it. I just do it so I can eat the candy when they go to bed..LOL!!!
I love Halloween, too:) I remember every year my sissy would make my costume. My fav was Poochie. I loved those days, but we actually walked from house to house to get candy from only the people we knew. School was fun too we always had a Halloween parade so everyone could see our costumes and we were judged...I won every year! And Tina, I miss Craft 2000, can you please tell them to open a store near me!
I was just thinking about popcornballs today. Mom bought me a whole box of popcorn before I went back to school this semester and I think I only actually popped one bag. So now I have 20 bags of popcorn collecting dust. I thought I might make popcorn balls and then peddle them off to the girls on my floor, haha. Or I could leave them as gift for the janitors... What else can you do with popcorn???
They may not be the same thing, but they are both sick and disgusting. Taking a human life, whether they are innocent and thus saved or forever lost is terrible. That's why I don't understand why people are more okay with one than another.
We have the flu! UGH! Reece started Monday evening and we thought it may have been something he ate. Then Wednesday night in the night Kent woke up sick with me right behind. Then Spencer got up next. So yesterday was a very yucky day at the Parks' house. Today we are some better, but now HURT ALL OVER! Chloe has so far escaped and has a big weekend planned - I hope she doesn't get it!
One nice thing has been having Kent here. I'm sorry he is sick too, but it was really nice to have him here. We haven't spent that much time together doing "nothing" for a long time. He has always been so good about caring for the sick! Never did I have to clean up the kids throw up (sorry for TMI), but that has been great! He carried me drinks and adjusted the heating pad all day/night- even though he was sick too! Awww! I think I'll keep him around another 20 years! :)
Oh, I am sorry you have the flu. :( Spencer does have spunk and he is one intelligent kid. I happen to think that brains and looks run in our family. As for the in-school elcetions, I remember having one in kindergarten and Bush Sr. totally one that one. There was one little girl in my class that said that she was going to vote for Bill Clinton because her mommy said that he was good because he makes us pay more taxes. huh? She's wasn't the sharpest crayon in the box. And that teacher should be fired. If I were to give a speech in any classroom and say that John Kerry wanted to kill little babies I would be fired immediately! (Except if I said that in certain school districts in AZ because we have a high Mormon population and they wouldn't care, haha).
Expressing any opinion to impressionalbe children that is not based on fact (which clearly that teacher was basing her ideas on emotion) is clearly unethical. Yet it is allowed in the public education system so long as you express the views of your liberal union, whether it be the NEA or whatever. ugh...What am I getting myself into?!?! lol
I saw Chloe tonight and asked her if you all were going to the game, she told me you were all sick. I hope you all get feeling better soon and I hope I get to see you on Sunday. =)
