Around Our House

Grams and Gresham are "resting" while she visited with us! So comfy!



Silas and Kace were sick recently and so we spent some time taking photos and all three boys "did" my hair (although I won't burden you with those photos!) it was fun to be sick together!



Winter seems to be in the air and we busted out the winter coat and hat for my girl!

I think she enjoyed it, in spite of the fact it lasted all of five minutes in the car!

I am tenacious though, I don't give up too easily!

These faces are the cutest I know, How can you resist a grin like this?

Okay couple it with a giant mess and it makes it easier!


Cuteness seems to be genetic! I think both faces are sooooo CUTE!

How could you not want to kiss these fellas? I ask you!!!

Are Children Really A Blessing?

I hope that your answer to this question is a resounding “Yes!” However, the troubling reality is that many in our nation would not only give a different answer but would also offer up a host of pathetic reasons why children are a bane and not a blessing. With such insane sentiments abounding we would do well to be reminded of the many ways children are indeed blessings from God. In this post I have no intention of providing an exhaustive list. Rather, I merely want to offer up 5 reasons why children have been and will always be blessings.

Children are blessings:

1. Because life is precious.
This is a simple truth but one I believe many Christians have expressed verbally yet denied practically. So many say they believe life is precious, yet they want very little to do with any life that makes their life uncomfortable. We need, now more than ever, to affirm by our actions not just our words that all lives, even the youngest of lives, are precious -- precious enough to trade our comfort and quiet for diapers and colicky cries.

2. Because they present the greatest opportunity to fulfill the Great Commission.
Where is your greatest opportunity to make disciples? It is not first and foremost in your neighborhood or in your community. It is not first and foremost in a village tucked away in the Ukraine. It is under your very own roof. Do you realize the blessing this is? For better or worse your greatest sphere of influence is your home. Make it count for the Kingdom. Love your children deeply, teach them God’s precious word, model humility, spend more time crying out to God for the souls of your children than whining about your 401k, and let them know every chance you get that they are desperate sinners in need of a Savior.

3. Because they are professional idol-demolishers.
The statement I am about to make may be a stretch but I doubt it. You probably have a lot of things around your house that are idols you didn’t even know you had. Am I wrong? Junior will vindicate my proposition the minute he slams into your 52 inch flatscreen and smashes it up. What do you have around your house that is so precious to you that you just can’t do with out it? Your child will help you find out. Now, you can either lash out in anger or stop and appreciate an unsolicited reality-check. I am not advocating allowing your children to be destructors but you miss a redemptive moment when you yell at them for jacking up one of your things instead of repenting for clinging more to junk than Jesus.

4. Because they drive us to prayer.
Nothing can bring a man or woman to their knees in prayer like a child in need. I have seen people who ordinarily want nothing to do with God all of the sudden become self-professed prayer warriors. Unfortunately, many of these “prayers” are pleas for some sort of physical deliverance. But what our children help to show us is that their real need is not Cipro but Christ. Do we pray for their eternity or simply focus on today’s emergency room visit? Our children drive us to prayer and we ought not squander such an opportunity. May God help us to passionately pray for their souls not just their bodies.

5. Because they comfort us in our old age.
Before I comment on this last reason I want to state an important preliminary fact -- no matter what their age the only person anyone ever needs is Jesus. Having said that, it never hurts to have adult children who comfort, encourage, visit, and speak truth in one’s twilight years. Though I have yet to experience these benefits first hand, I have witnessed the joy of old dads and the loneliness of childless old men. Contrary to much selfish rhetoric abounding today, children truly are a blessing. Not only as five year olds, but also as fifty year olds.

Be Bold...and Yet Grace Filled

Wrote this post several months ago and although a little dated I still believe the points are true! So here goes....

In light of the many abhorrent realities of our current state of culture, I have truly felt burdened to encourage many of the people of the Church. I know that the recent elections and inaugurations have left many of us feeling dissatisfied, no matter who you voted for no one ended up with every choice they wanted. But as believers in the cross we are often scared to engage the problems that are very apparent in our culture, more now then ever. God has in many ways given our nation over to it's sin. Open and flagrant disregard is not only practiced but heralded in the guise of personal freedom and moral plurality. Truly the base truths of the Book of Judges are manifesting themselves in our culture..."Everyone did what was right in their own eyes."

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Jesus Is Not Ashamed I'm His Brother

Does your family ever embarrass you? If you are like me, your "Yes!!" answer was more an involuntary reaction than a well thought out response. I mean, who needs time to contemplate the obvious. Nearly all of us have cousins or uncles that we are sure were adopted into the family. Perhaps, some of us have even wondered about relatives a little closer to our own branch on the family tree.

The truth, however, is that all of us have been an embarrassment to somebody at some time. When sinners sin it is always embarrassing to somebody. Being a sinner is a shameful thing BUT for all those sinners who have been made saints we have reason to hold our heads high.

Hebrews 2:11 says that Jesus is "not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters". "Them" the context tells us are "the ones who have been sanctified". This means Jesus calls every believer his brother or sister. He does not roll His eyes at the thought of me. He has not proposed any conspiracy theory about the "adoption agency" that made me a part of His family. He has not (and never will!!) deny that I am His brother. Nor is He at all ashamed about this fact. Despite the everpresent truth that I do much that is shameful, He is not ashamed that I am His brother.

Now, I could end the post at this most encouraging of realities but there are two things I don't want you to miss. First, if Jesus is not ashamed of me or any other believer, what right do I have to be ashamed of the siblings His death made possible. Now, I am not talking about unconverted church-goers. They are no more my relation than an anthiest. I am talking about genuine brothers and sisters in Christ. If Jesus says they are His siblings than who am I to treat them any different! Do we really treat other believers as brothers and sisters? Do we really view the church as one big family? If we don't, we must. Secondly, this word "ashamed" is the exact same word used by the Apostle Paul in Romans 1:16. If you don't quite remember what this verse says, take the time look it up. Are you "ashamed of the Gospel", the very message of the One who is "not ashamed" to call you His brother? I wish it were true that we could honestly say that we are not ashamed of the message of our Brother who is not ashamed of us. But the sad truth is that our lives often reflect the embarrassing reality that we are ashamed. If this is true of you don't be discouraged. Simply repent. Turn to your Brother Jesus and know that he will forgive you not disown you. After all, that's what true brothers do.

A Grief Sanctified Passing Through Grief to Peace and Joy (9780892838417) J. I. Packer, J. I. Packer, J.I. Packer, Richard Breviate of the Life of Margaret, Daughter of francis Baxter |PaperBackSwap.com

A Grief Sanctified Passing Through Grief to Peace and Joy (9780892838417) J. I. Packer, J. I. Packer, J.I. Packer, Richard Breviate of the Life of Margaret, Daughter of francis Baxter |PaperBackSwap.com

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Two Months of Smiles

A hodge podge of recent pictures with only one

thing in common, faces and smiles that I love!

I hope you do too!

note: not really sure how silas fell back into the bath after he was dressed (nearly for bed time) not even sure he knows how he fell back in. HAHAHAHA!