Kaylie's Baptism

Kaylie was baptized into Christ!

She's been wanting to do it for a long time, but we have felt that she wasn't ready

and that she was wanting to do it for the wrong reasons.

She kept saying something in March because our church was doing a baptism bash,

so I told her to say something to daddy again.

Jeff decided to go through a study with her and he then felt like she was ready.

These are pictures that I took, as fast as my camera would allow.

All who were getting baptized.

(Kaylie sharing why she is getting baptized & getting in the warm water.)

Daddy talking to her about what baptism is.

Before the "dip" & after the "dip".

Getting out

Praying

Celebrating at Texas Roadhouse

All About Landon

10-10-10

This date was a big one for our family.

Landon, was baptized into Christ.

He has been talking about it for quite some time, but at first Jeff and I didn't think he was quite ready, but he made that call on his own. He decided he needed to wait.

He then brought it up again and said that he was ready.

Jeff went through the study that he used to go through with anyone who was wanting to get baptized and felt sure that he was ready.

On Saturday he lost a tooth!

Sunday.

Getting his confession of faith (which only required a yes),

and Jeff also tried to get him to share why he was wanting to get baptized,

but he got a little stage fright and wouldn't say a word and just smiled.

Jeff praying with Landon and Kurt, whom Landon shared his day with.

On Monday he lost his other tooth!

My Valentine's Day

My Valentine's Day was a full day. My alarm went off at 7:30, so I could get up and get ready for church, but I wasn't ready, so I hit the snooze button.

But my kids had another idea...

They came in with their Valentine gifts and cards for me. They each got to pick a gift for me. They were very thoughtful with meaning behind each one.


This is the only picture I have with the kids gifts because I wasn't alert enough, nor looked well enough to get the camera. Preston took the picture, that's why there is a cup of milk in the picture.

I then got up and walked into my bathroom and saw this...


God bless Jeff! He seems to have something with the "throne". It's where he sits, on a pillow, in the mornings to do his quiet time. So if it's good enough for God, it's good enough for his wife!?!


I also saw this outside...



We spent the morning at church.

You can see Jeff get a little surprise HERE.
(It's towards the beginning...but if you're married you might want to watch a few more minutes and watch "The Marriage Translators".)

We saw three people being baptized in the "holy horse trough".


After that we witnessed a couple from our life group get married.
(We first met them as Landon's baseball coach.)



We came home and the boys and Kaylie exchanged Valentine gifts with each other...



Kaylie got a gift from another Valentine...



and the boys got one from me with a "love note", that they get every year.



We ended our day eating with friends.


Ms. Marty heard I love fried chicken, mashed potato's and homemade gravy, with corn. It was DELICIOUS!!!! The only time I ever get that meal is when mom is around, and it's not even every time.

A Youtube Find

I just found this on youtube. It's Tanner's baptism in July 2008.

Sow, Water, & Growth Part 2

Here's the second part of "Sow, Water, Growth!"

Just as the kids and I sowed the seeds, we've watered them, and now we anxiously await the growth...and when we DO see it, the excitement comes.

Our family, especially Jeff and I, are experiencing the same thing with our neighbors.

We didn't go door to door and try to evangelize. We didn't always talk about God and the church. God placed us here at the right time, things were said at the right time. We've opened our door in the time of need. (Sowing).

We've been praying since we've moved in. The kids have prayed a lot at night and in the mornings for their friends to come to know Jesus. (Watering)

THREE of our neighbors, in our cul-de-sac, are coming to church! THREE of our neighbors are coming to our small group on Wednesdays at our house!! THREE of our neighbors are being baptized on Sunday!!! (Growth) WHOO HOO GOD!!!!

It is such a privilege and so exciting to see and hear them ask questions, to seek, to GROW! I see the changes in them, even in the little things. It's also exciting to not only know that their lives are changed forever but their children's lives will be different now, and their grandchildren's lives.

I truly am in awe of God! His grace, His beauty, His timing, His plans, His blessings are a true wonder. No one or no thing could have such a intricate plan and have it fall in place so perfectly like our Creator God.

A Special Day!

Yesterday was an extra special day for our family. Tanner, our second son, was baptized! He has talked about being baptized ever since Preston was back in January, but we would tell him to wait until he got a little older. He would bring it up every now and then but when he started going through his fear of death, he really started talking about it. He was really afraid he was going to go to hell. We would explain that if he's asked Jesus into his 'heart', that he wouldn't go to hell, and he had informed us that he had done it twice.

We then decided to take him through a study, that Jeff likes to take anybody through before they are baptized. He thinks that the study will help them to more fully understand, what baptism means, and what it means in their life as a believer. Jeff and I both felt comfortable with his decision to be baptized, and that it wasn't just because "it would be fun" or "other kids were doing it".

I believe since Tanner has made this decision to surrender at such a young age (7 1/2), and Preston at 9, that they are going to have a covering over them and that there will be many blessings in their life that their Father in heaven

will bestow on them. They are now in the hands of the Father, being molded into what He has called them to be. They are now instruments, no

matter how young, for the Holy Spirit to work in and to work through.

To celebrate Tanner's "special" day, he got to pick where he wanted to eat. He picked On the Border. We had some great friends who celebrated with us, and they even happened to celebrate with us when Preston was baptized. Tanner was brought out a "birthday" surprise and was sung Happy Birthday to by the On the Border waiters/waitresses. It was a great day!

(The first three pictures are of Tanner's baptism, the fourth picture is of Preston's baptism Jan. 20 '08, the last picture is the kids with our friends Kevin and Marty)