So, everyday there should be something to get excited about, but today was a very special one. Scott was able to baptize someone for the first time as pastor of Redemption Baptist Church. Some may be thinking, "huh, what about all those people coming each week?" Well, they have not yet taken the step of addressing being baptized or joining. Some of them are questioning and we're just praying that Dennis' step of obedience will prompt others to do the same. We're finding more and more with the non-denominational attitude around that people don't think it's necessary to be a member of a church. It's good enough to go on a pretty regular basis. It's not that we don't consider them like family and treat them like a brother and sister in Christ, but there's just something different about it when you see a person step forward, willing to identify themselves with Christ and becoming a member. When I've thought about it, the best illustration I can come up with is relating it to a marriage relationship. Many countries have taken to calling people that are living together "common- law" spouses. They're looked at by many as being just as good as those who are married. It's sad to me because they get the same benefits as many of us who waited, got married and commit to a lifetime of marriage to one person. Many people these days seem to consider themselves common law members of the church. Not willing to take that final step of commitment. I have found that I talk to the Lord about it more and more these days. I don't want to become impatient with people and see them leave because of my attitude. The Lord is patient and loving to me, even when I don't do what He wants me to do right away. If I'm growing to be more and more like Christ then I should be doing the same. Through this the Lord has helped me to keep refocusing on all the good things that HE is doing here. Praising the Lord for today and looking forward to seeing what HE will do in the days to come! The kids had lots of fun helping to empty the baptistry. It had a sump pump and a fire hose attached for draining the water. Elyssia was given the hose and used it to her advantage:) Thankfully it was a pretty warm day and her brothers didn't mind getting a little wet! We had a potluck afterwards and although Caleb got his little paws on the brownies, they weren't ruined and everybody seemed to enjoy them. One lady commented that she was happy Caleb didn't eat them all because they were Soooo good:) Always a nice thing to hear.
Scott made buns for the first time yesterday. They were awesome! Garrison said he could eat dozens of them. So glad he didn't, but it is a good way to fill them up. I made a practice ice cream cake yesterday too. I should have taken a picture, but I was more into enjoying the food, rather than remembering to take pics. There's always next week! Can you believe that Kiersten will be turning 1 next Sunday? It really seems like only a couple weeks ago I was driving to the hospital to deliver her. Since she's still quite small I could pretend that she's not having a birthday, but her siblings are very excited, so I guess we'll have a little party. Just us, but I'll make another ice cream cake and give her a couple presents. I don't know if it's just me or not, but by the time you get to your 4th child's birthday, it's not really about the gifts anymore because there are already too many toys in the house. Nana did find something all the kids will enjoy, but I'll wait until next week to show a pic and the kids reaction to it. Nothing like a little suspense to keep my blog readers interested, eh?
So, Garrison, our little usher has been doing a good job for well over a year and a half now. Today, I thought he was going to start throwing the basket up in the air or something. I missed the signals that he was having an off day and maybe should have had another usher reassigned. The Lord spared us the embarrassment though and he ended up keeping hold of it and being pretty calm. I have to remind myself that he's just 3 and he's making lots of memories right now. Tonight he had a wiggle bug and was sitting next to another couple in church. He wasn't noisy or anything, just wiggly. Perhaps he needs to sit with me next week and earn back the privilege of sitting with others. I rather enjoy him sitting with another couple though because it gives me the extra hands needed to sit with Caleb and Kiersten in service. They were both pretty good in the evening service. We didn't have to go downstairs, which is always a good indicator of how they behaved:)
So, tomorrow promises to be the start of another busy week. School in the morning, then a baby shower in the afternoon. I'm not sure if we'll be having playgroup yet. It might be nice to take a week off. Looking forward to seeing what new words Garrison can read this week. I'll have to see whether he can recite Psalm 1. He was really close on Friday, but having the weekend break may set us back a bit. I'd like to start another poem, but we'll make sure he has this one memorized long term first. Til next time, when my kids make life so memorable that I have to share the laughter with others:))).
P.S. Kiersten is now waving Bye bye, saying Dada, Mama, Nana, "ank oo" and other gibberish that she thinks mean something. Another sign that she's growing up. So thankful that the Lord gave her to us and that we've had such a wonderful first year with her:) Looking forward to many more, Lord willing!
I'm happy to hear about the Baptism! "Common Law" situations make me very upset too. I think that's a good analogy for th given situation.
ReplyDeleteMaybe "ank oo" actually means "thank you". Those were actually my first words. Not mom or dad, but thank you. Actually according to my baby book it comes out as "tank too", but that's a childs voice for you. MY second word was turtle. We had one when I was little. Talk about keeping it neutral an the peace in my home at an early age;)