Ben's Baptism

This month, we celebrated God's promises to us in Jesus through having our littlest boy baptized.  I grew up in a church that does Believer baptisms so this always goes again the grain a little for me.

Here are the three questions that are asked of us:
1- Do you acknowledge your child's need of the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ, and the renewing grace of the Holy Spirit?

2- Do you claim God's covenant promises in his behalf, and do you look in faith to the Lord Jesus Christ for his salvation, as you do for your own?

3- Do you now unreservedly dedicate your child to God, and promise, in humble reliance upon divine grace, that you will endeavor to set before him a godly example, that you will pray with and for him, that you will teach him the doctrines of our holy religion, and that you will strive, by all the means of God's appointment to bring him up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord?

I love the way it was put in a letter to us:
"You promised to communicate to your child the gospel.  The first two questions answered affirmatively, state plainly that your child is a sinner just like you and that the only way your child is saved is through saving faith in Jesus Christ.  The act of baptism did not save your child. It shows that this child is part of our community of faith and that he is blessed through your faith and your teaching."

"So how do you practically follow through on your answer to question three?  

...the word translated as 'bring them up' can also be rendered 'nourish'- we are, after all, offering our children the very 'bread of life' when we teach them the gospel."

This quote, included in our letter, is a good & needed reminder for me.

"It is the duty of a godly (parent), in order to confirm disciples in faith, to extol as much as possible the grace of Christ, so that being satisfied with that, we may seek nothing else."

- John Calvin in his commentary on 1 John 5:13

Last night, as we prayed at bedtime, Lily asked to pray for something.  And she repeated the prayer that Mike has prayed with them so often, and is prayed so often at our church.

"We pray that there would be a day that Ben stands up and says that he believes in Jesus."

Peter was squirming and said he didn't hear.  Lily repeated her prayer,

"We pray that there would be a day that Peter, Lily, and Ben would stand up and say that they believe in Jesus."

It is not an "automatic" thing.  It is personal.  And it is a known need- we sin, we are sinners.  We aren't "good".  We need Jesus to forgive us.  And that comes only through him.  Because he was the only person who was perfectly righteous and doesn't have to pay for his own sin.

We had an "after party".

Hannah + Ben  (June 2036)

 Our parents and faux sibling family joined us for lunch- our first feast for 8 at our table for 8.

  

 Our precious sweet gift- this boy.

I also think that I am officially done blogging. 

It was felt like too much since having 3 and more to keep up with.

It has been so good for the season of my older two being "little".

But it's a different season now.  Praise God!

He has been so good to us in so many ways.

Easter 2015

We spent Easter at my parents house with family.  

It was a lovely weekend to be in the country.  We had a sunshine sitting circle out back- it was so nice to just sit with them in the sunshine.

 It was so good to get time with my Holly.

 This guy caught a few winks.

 This girl (& all 3 kids) got gifts from NeeNee.

 Our wedding tulips were in bloom.

 Lily and I got some QT together on the hammock.

This is how Ben feels about any one other than Mommy or Daddy.  Uncle John tried hard.

 It was a windy day so my dad went into town and bought kites for everyone to fly.

 My niece, Audrey!

 Her momma & my sis in love, Jess and baby SK- so pretty!

 Uncle John picked up his elk antlers from Maw & Paw's house- I guess Maw was ready to get rid of those??

 And our family on Easter!

More on Spring Break to come...

A few March Pics

 The first weekend of March, after a long series of events, I convinced Mike to drive me to Northern VA to pick up a new dining table and chairs.  We got connected  thru a consignment shop at the river.  All of the pieces are hand made by a furniture maker in the Shenandoah Valley (Samuel S Case)- so how cool to have furniture from a local Virginia artisan.

His parents graciously agree to loan us their truck AND watch all three kids.  It was fun to have a day with my Michael.

We came home to a "surprise birthday party" for me. :)  Ben was asleep.

 Here is the new table & chairs.

 And another cake on my birthday night.

 We had several visitors.

NeeNee came to see her littlest man.

My Uncle Henry and Aunt Barbara came for the day.

Ben is not easily woo'ed by others.  Uncle Henry won him over though!

He has the chemistry & magic touch.

 I so enjoyed spending the day with them.

They brought me this 20 year old pic.  I love it because it portrays the joy & humor that Uncle Henry brings.  He makes me laugh like no one else. 

And finally, we had a family friend make curtains and a window seat cushion for our bay.

I was 'iffy' that I'd made a quick material decision on a cold January day and wouldn't love my material choice, would wish I'd chosen something brighter & happier. But I do love it!  Its been so nice to have this area mostly done. (But daily life bring plenty more clutter and it rarely looks like this.)

Gimme some girl.

She is the only girl among our neighborhood friends, so far. 

She is rambunctious & loves to be active (love this about her!).

She is thoughtful & sweet (a nice touch among the wild boys).  

Last week, lots of friends were hanging out on our cul de sac.  She asked to bring out our loaf of banana bread and serve it to the friends (she is a little Brenda & shows me the generosity of my mom).  Then she asked to go inside and make a gift for each of the kids.

She has thrived in Kindergarten this year.  She has an amazing teacher who she adores.

She enjoys playing school & loves learning.

She has some sass too.  

I hope she will keep this confidence & continue to excel at all she does. 

 * Peter was off playing the boys during the taking of these sunny pictures.

In the Sunshine & Date Night Conversations

* These pics are deceptive.  It still isn't warm enough for me.  But the sunshine is nice.

The kids, however, really are this good looking.

Mike & I had an at home date night last night.  With a glass of wine & conversation.

We talked about lots of things and then I was telling him that I wish I could have our kids do a personality test so I could really figure them out, and by knowing more of who they are, I could let them be and have more reasonable expectations for them.

In talking about that, we were refreshing our memories on who we test out to be.

I am an ESTJ.  Mike is an INFP.  I had sorta forgotten that we really are perfect opposites.  We talked through each of those, him trying to explain to me the difference in an S & N ;).  Today I read more online about each of us & again, my jaw is on the floor at how spot on it is.  

And this brings to the front of my mind: God's faithfulness to us.  

 We could have stayed perfect opposites.  When we got married, I would have thought of myself as superior.  I think I've mentioned this before.  And a lot of it would have been because I didn't really understand Mike.  I think I would have continued on with that assumption (my greatness, isn't that the nature of an ESTJ), but this thing called STINT happened.  We lived in another country (something I didn't really want to do) and we were removed from so much that year and this great couple came over and counselled us and our team that year.  And they helped us to see each other.  I think that helped me to put words to our differences.  And, further living and parenting with Mike has taken it a step further to cause me to love our differences.  To love and appreciate all of the qualities about Mike that are so opposite me.

* Pics below courtesy of Lily.

The Gospel takes it even a step further.  Mike doesn't just get frustrated with me, he loves me (romans 5:8).  And his love calms me and helps me to not be so fixated on my way.  He helps me to let go of my determination and trust his love.  In the same way, I can trust my Heavenly Father, trust Jesus because I know He loves me and acts in my best interest (romans 8:32).

But he doesn't demand my submission, he earns it.  

Jesus does that too. 

{Lily's first word was "kee" for kitty.  Following suit, Ben's first word is "ta" for cat. He likes her a lot.}

Now, I don't do any of this perfectly.  We would both tell you that.  But it made me smile to think on this through our conversations last night.  And it encourages me to know God's faithfulness to us to bring about His will, despite my determination to bring about my will.  (Although I think my will is much less than it used to be.)

You can pray for Mike.  Because I now realize I am the harder one to live with.  

It also encourages me to think about parenting.  Because I am still VERY MUCH at the beginning phase of that process, not knowing what is going on & most of the time sure my sin is screwing it all up.  I am thankful for a partner who loves and seeks God, knows what Jesus has done for him, what it cost, and is iNtuitive in attempting to understand these kids.

I am thankful that God sanctifies us and is stronger, calls us to follow Him over our personality types and leads us to live in ways that are different than our natural tendencies because He is most trustworthy.

I also think my husband is pretty great.

Ben in the Bath!

Benny enjoys his {weekly- shhhh!} bathtime after the big kids are off to school.
He is enjoying freedom from the baby bathtub & is crazy about the water.

 I see you, sweet boy.

 He has quite a few forehead bruises in these pics.  I think one was from an ordinary fall & one was from a collision between our heads when I was holding him up above me at his hips and he crashed down. I felt horrible.

 Its been fun to see him grow into a more physically capable boy and be on the cusp of feeling like a little boy, and less like a baby.  

Although, you'll always be my baby, sweet Jammy.  I love all of the moments I get to hold you and have you in my arms, baby boy!  God is good. You are my reminder of that.

And here are a few more.  

I think he is pretty scrumptious.