Brooke got a new best friend......

This past weekend, we were blessed to be able to spend some time with my cousin Amy. Of course, I know Amy and her family well, so I already loved her and was excited about having her come to visit. However, after 4 1/2 days with Amy, the rest of my family fell in love with her too! I think Brooke thought that she had a new sister, a new big sister. I was ironing Amy and Brooke's dress for church today, and Brooke was watching me....."Whose dress is that? It is super big?" Well, I guess in comparison to Brooke's dress, Amy's would be "super big." Brooke and Amy both had "cozy blankets", so they would both sit on the couch and read their books. After dropping Amy off at campus this afternoon, we came home and the minute we got out of the car, Brooke said, "I miss Amy already!" When we got in the house, Wesley hung up her name on the fridge. "I miss Amy because you and dad are too big and busy, and Andrew and Brooke are little and like to whine, but Amy is just right." Well.....there you have it, wisdom from the mouth of an 8-year old (?). Anyway, you look at it, WE MISS YOU, AMY!!!!

Time to Trim the Tree

Our family custom includes trimming the tree every year on the Friday after Thanksgiving. After a day of shopping, we buy the tree and get it decorated. It is always fun, and good this year to have my cousin Amy joining us. Everyone had a job---Michelle made the finger foods, Gary hung the lights, the kids placed the ornaments, and Amy made the bow to place on top of the tree. It is the start of the Christmas season for all of us---we have alot of fun and like to stretch it out for as long as possible.

The faith of a child

For some reason, while Brooke and I were sitting and eating lunch yesterday, Brooke said, “Do you want to go to the lake of fire?” I proceeded to explain to her that God made the lake of fire for Satan, and that if Satan is there, I don’t want to have anything to do with it. Brooke agreed, “I hate Satan. He is very bad and mean.” (I have told the kids not to say “hate” about anybody, but Brooke once asked, “Can I hate Satan?” I said yes, so whenever she mentions Satan, the word “hate” always comes up.) I then proceeded to tell Brooke that we all will have to go to the lake of fire with Satan unless we are saved. “Am I saved?” she asked. I hate answering that question---no, Brooke you are not saved, though you have such faith in anyone or anything. I just ignored the question. Brooke proceeded, “How do I be saved?” I asked her if she was a sinner? “I think so,” she said. I told her what sin is, and she said, “I did sin before, but not today.” I told her that to be saved she has to trust in Jesus, to choose Him to be her Savior. I said, “Do you believe God?” Of course, she said, “Yes!” Do you want to obey Him? There was a long moment of silence, and a pondering look on her face. After a time, she answered, to my great joy,…….”I choose God!” I love to plant the seeds of faith in a young child’s heart. Brooke is just starting to understand the truths surrounding God and our eternal destiny. But, what faith, and what a conscious decision on her part to choose God. When confronted with this decision each day---to choose my own way or choose God's way, I hope we all, like Brooke, choose God.

Harvest Festival

Yes, my children look amazingly wicked, except for my sweet Brooke. Wesley and Andrew have so much Star Wars attire, that it just seemed natural to have them dress up as these creatures from the "dark side." Gary painted Andrew's face, and when Andrew washed it off later that evening, I told him I was happy to have my precious "good" boy back. Anyway, we had alot of fun at the church harvest festival, and came away with enough candy to rot all of our teeth :)

Brooke as Minnie Mouse; Wesley as Darth Vader; and..... Andrew as Darth Mall

Unusual Mail from a Wonderful Gramma!

Hey, Aaron, I borrowed your title for this post, but edited it a bit. I don't want Gramma feeling too "unusual." It is always fun to get mail, but even more fun when it is as unusual as a bottle full of goldfish. The kids are kissing the bottles, so I guess that means they like them. I included a close up of the bottle---cute label, and they stayed secure, but they did get a bit smooshed. Thanks, Gramma! We Love you and your goldfish !

Family Pictures-2007

Spin-Tacular Basketball

At our church this evening, we had Guinness World Record Holder Bruce Crevier. He is a ball handler who also shares the Gospel. He challenged the audience to not focus on getting your name in anybook here on earth but in making sure your name is written in the Lambs Book of Life. We had a good crowd and were thrilled to see many of the visitors place their faith in Jesus Christ.

Of course, all the kids, including my three, loved the show! Gary was named as a volunteer and had the challenge of throwing the basketball over his head and catching it by putting his hands between his legs. Gary got close :) Nobody actually did it in the 30 second time limit; of course, Bruce then proceeded to do it with 2 basketballs. He holds the world record for spinning 21 basketballs at the same time; he did 12 for us.

Crazy days in Southern California!

If you have been watching the news, you may have noticed that southern California is experiencing some wildfires. With the great Santa Anna winds that we get every fall, there is always the increased chances of fires starting and spreading. Yesterday, we had several uncontrolled fires burning in different cities nearby. Normally, these fires are in dry fields or the mountain areas, and rarely are homes damaged. I took a couple of pictures through the window (thus, the distorted view) into our backyard. These were taken at 1:00 in the afternoon---a rather typical sunny day turned dark with orange glow in the sky. At dusk, it looked like it was snowing, because their was so much ash falling down. Gary was quick to shut ALL windows and try to keep out the smoky air. The kids have had to stay indoors (the boys are on a 2 week fall break), so they are keeping busy playing indoors. The static has really gotten the better of Brooke :) Notice, Aunt Danielle, that Brooke got some more stickers in the mail today. She is having such fun with these; I hope Mackenzie has gotten some from Brooke's friends. Thankfully, today has cleared up quite abit!

Think and Pray about this........

This morning at 9:25 PST, I knew that a murder was being committed. I knew because I had been told hours in advance. I knew this, and yet, I did not call the police. I didn't call anyone. I just sat in my home, and I cried. I knew that at that precise moment, a life was being taken, and yet, I could do nothing about it.

Let me explain. I am teaching an internet course, with 30 different students. Since it is an online course, I only see the students 3 times during the entire semester. It has been interesting getting to "know" these students by communicating with them through e-mail, phone calls, and message boards; yet, I would not recognize them at all. One of these students, a young girl appears to be happy, yet always distracted and busy. She e-mailed me this morning. Her message reads something like the following: I will not be able to make it to campus today. I recently found out that I was pregnant. I am nearly two months pregnant, and this pregnancy must be terminated. I am going to be getting an abortion at 9:25 this morning, so I will be unable to attend the mid-term. I hope this does not offend you (oh, no.....it mortifies me), but I would like to take the test at a later date.

I have always been against abortion, but this was the first time in my life, that I actually knew it was going to happen. I sat at my desk and just stared into space. As a teacher, I knew what my policies were regarding the test, but as a Christian, and as a mother, my belief system was yelling out......What do you mean you have to terminate this pregnancy? Why did you even tell me this.....I don't really want to know......I don't want to think about the fact that every day innocent lives are being killed in my town.....involving some of my students.

All day, I was somewhat haunted by this reminder. But, it has been good for me to remember, and better yet, for me to pray. I prayed alot for this young lady today. I don't know how and if God will use this situation in her life......but, it has been good for me to really pray....earnestly.....and to just remember.

The ten commandments

Last evening, our church hosted a pre-screening for a movie that is to be released October 19th, 2007. The movie was excellent! The producers were at the pre-screening last night, and it was encouraging to see men who were dedicated to providing good, Biblical, films. This story of Moses was an animated version of his life detailing events from his birth to his death. It was somewhat humorous, when we got to the children of Israel standing at the edge of the Red Sea and the Egyptians coming from behind, Wesley said, "This part is going to be really good!" It was! It is always fascinating to be able to visualize a familiar story, and actually "see" the power of God at work. It was good, accurate, and quite entertaining. I highly recommend :) You can check it out at http://10cmovie.com.