Happy Hands Ministry

 A and R were apart of our church's Happy Hands Ministry this fall. They had a BLAST last night at the Cr*s*s Pregn*ncy fund raising dinner getting to perform sign language to the song "Speak Life" by Toby Mac. R said "I will never forget this". A found she LOVES sign language and really wishes she could continue.

The song was perfect for the ministry. When people speak Christ's love to hurting people it is LIFE.
Unfortunately, how often does love get spoken to hurting people? Thankful that there are ministries that do just that.

What if we all spoke more of Christ's love not our own thoughts and opinions?

 Daddy trying to keep little ones happy during a waiting time for rehearsal.

The venue was beautiful. There was about 1,000 people there.

Pure. Truth Conference

Weeks ago I was telling the kids about a pastor I had growing up and how he was such a good pastor and so humble. Weeks after that conversation our church was advertising a conference coming up at our church for our youth group. The speaker for the conference was my former pastors son! How cool is that! The kids went and had a great time! They REALLY enjoyed how things were taught and could not say enough good about the speaker. He reminded G of his Grandpa J!

Time in the Trees!!

For his 9th birthday R wanted to go to this adventure park to climb the obstacle course in the trees. We looked forward to doing this but on Saturday when we went little did we know how fun it really was!! WE HAD A BLAST!! It was so much fun and such a great time. It was an activity, it required problem solving, strength, some guts, and we encouraged each other through the courses! If we could have stayed longer we would have but our time came up mid afternoon.

R would ask me to be sure that before I stepped off the platforms to come down that my gear was all properly attatched before I would step off. I thought that was so sweet!

On the way home I told him what I thought of during the day. Going on the obstacle course during the day made me think of Christ. In life we get into scary situations but as life goes on and we see that as a Christian Christ is taking care of us through all life throws at us our faith grows and strengthens because we know God will not let us fall. The obstacle course when you first start is SOOOO scary but soon you realize that you are always clipped in and that holds you through all your falls. Your confidence rises to do the obstacles of the course knowing that you are clipped in to a line that always holds you. So it is if we are hooked in to Christ, he is our life line in whom we can trust through the greatest of challenges and we can attack those challenges head on and with confidence knowing He is there to catch us if we need it.

R came to read me some verses that he had found and read in the Bible. He really liked the first 24 verses of the chapter but one verse stuck out to him and reminded him of that analogy that I mentioned to him on Saturday. He said this verse reminded him of what I was talking to him about on Saturday. It was Psalm 37:24 (Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand.) Like to see he is thinking when he reads. So thankful for my R. He is a kiddo filled with enthusiasm, ideas, strong opinions, and energy. I can't wait to see how God uses his life.

Growing up for G

G said the other day part of him wanted it to be next summer so that he could go on a big trip with his sister A that we have been planning for the two of them to relatives homes in the midwest but he was also enjoying this year so much. This was quite a statement for me to hear since last year he LOVED his school, teachers, studies, fellow students. I am so thankful. God led us to some neat opportunities for him online and that coupled with the fact he does school with his oldest sister has made this a fun year. God is good in his guidance and leading when we need it.

The other day G came and wanted me to read Romans 11:1-4 and said that this to him refuted the reformed theological view of Israel. I was so thankful for how he thinks and that he thinks. By the way,  a lot of his school training is by reformed theologians and we are so grateful for their EXCELLENT education and teaching him to think and read critically and he would say that they are the ones that taught him how to think about and analyze things.

He just started a study at our church on evangelism (Way of the Master) and he loved the one class he has been too. Unfortunately, that will have to go on hold while Dad is out of country.

Love this Song!!

This especially struck a chord with me being in the Navy that really we won't find that perfect place to be until Heaven and then what joy that will bring. We've seen Edinburgh, London, Paris, etc. but Heaven is so much better  . . . it has Jesus and that is all we need!

As I was playing this song today little J said to me "What city do we like?" (Ok, that is just sooo cute!) I said, "Heaven". He said "Ok" and I told him. "Jesus is there and that is all we need."

C enjoying Bible Club

C has been LOVING his church Bible club. He has been working hard on his Bible memorization and doing so well. He has some GREAT club leaders which is such a blessing.

Today when I was helping him I told him he was supposed to draw a picture of his favorite thing that God has created. I asked him what he was going to draw and he said "my family".

As I was reading the passage out of the Bible for C I got to the verse before the verse that says "but Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord" and C said "But someone found grace in the eyes of the Lord"! He knew that verse was coming. His Bible class this year is so good. May he hide all this in his heart.

A learning new things . .

"A" started a class at church learning sign language for songs so they can perform as a ministry at an event this month. She has worked hard and was picked for a small "solo". She has found she REALLY enjoys sign language A LOT and wants to continue learning it! We'll see if that happens. May it someday be used for God's glory!

Twins

CG now calls B "Da" and B calls CG "Kitty". Very cute and sweet!

In the video above you can hear B say "Awesome!" when she fits a puzzle piece.

B is very talkative and C is quieter but very compassionate.

Funny J Stories

Story 1 --J was in the van with Daddy and me and we were on our way to pick up one of the vans at Walmart after being serviced. He knew Daddy was leaving for Germany soon and was confused thinking Daddy was taking the van to Germany. He asked Daddy "How far away is Germany?" Anyway, he seemed to think he was going too and it was explained to him that just daddy was going. He said "Well, I guess I am going to Walmart." HILARIOUS!!! Then Daddy said that maybe someday he could come to Germany with him and J said (not harshly but just matter of factly) "I am trying." We get the biggest kick out of him! He just said these statements so matter of factly we enjoyed our life moment of humour.


Story 2-- He has had a problem lately that if I am not in the room that he thought I was in he will start screaming and crying and in my words freaking out. On one occasion I heard him do this and he was in the room with the twins and one of the twins was trying to kindly talk to him and he cried in sadness "I am thinking about Mommy!"

Story 3--Another day J did this and I talked with him about how it is dangerous when you are scared to "freak out" because that means you are not thinking things through and that can be dangerous. I said instead of freaking out he needs to calmly call out "Mommy, Mommy" and if he is scared he needs to pray. He immediately walked into another room and I heard him talking (I don't know what he said or if he was praying or what) but he then started walking and calmly calling out my name and trying it out! SOOO CUTE!!!! I praised him!!

Story 4-- One day J asked me to go downstairs with him to get a drink but then he stopped and said "I will go myself. God is with me!" and he went!

Funny 5-- He calls the twins "his babies".

Funny 6-- He often says the phrase. "Sure you can!"

Funny 7-R, CA, and J and I went on Saturday morning to buy our weekly doughnuts. The set up at the grocery story is strange in that the cart goes down one side of the checkout and the customer down the other. So the boys all went down the side with the cart which had J in it. J saw the check out lady scanning things and he took it as her buying things. He looked at his brother and said "Quick! Get me out of here before she buys me!! We got a kick out of that!!