Happy Reformation Day!

I am so excited to share with our church once again in the celebration of the Reformation on October 31st. This year we will be eating French and Swiss food as we learn about the work of the great reformers. This year we celebrate in honor of John Calvin's 500th birthday!

People tend to ignore history making the same mistakes again and again. Sometimes it seems like our government officials were home sick during this particular class! We have much to learn from history both as a nation and as the church. Recently our pastor reminded us that Scripture can never mean what it never meant. This is why it is so important to study church history and question the credibility of what we are learning. From whom have we learned? 2Tim3:14

Happy Reformation Day!

The other kids :)

Piper has been reading like a pro. for a little while now. Seems like once it finally 'clicks' they can't help themselves and just want to read constantly. I can't even tell you what it means to me to see them sitting still reading to their younger siblings. Life is sweet. Ooooooh BTW she had her 5th birthday this past September!

Is it just me or does Rowan dwarf everyone else?

Piper sitting by one of her BFFs, Beth.

My MIL brought Rowan this costume. He doesn't like it. ;)

This is certainly not the best picture of them. But I absolutely adore this one.

Those are for you, Sondra!

This should brighten up your day.

My adorable baby Fiona!

Sacrifice

The more and more I experience personal sacrifice the more I understand how great the ultimate sacrifice really is. Being a mother is full of sacrifices, some of which I wouldn't have made two, four, or six years ago. Sometimes I fear that I'll never be known as an individual person with individual interests and hobbies again. Though I know the season will come again. I've sacrificed a moment of my life to bring new lives into the world and faithfully train them. Mothers sacrifice their very bodies to carry children, birth them, and nurse them. This was extremely hard for me as a young mother of 18 with my first child. Still, I see women my age (25) without the scars and ties of motherhood leading exciting, free lives, who consider my life dull bondage. I may not have excitement daily but with my freedom I've made these sacrifices. These things may have appeared dull and burdensome to me years ago but now I see it much differently. Like an investment, I might say, that if carefully looked after will reap interest that can't be touched by a failing economy.

I thank God that he has given me the oppurtunity to sacrifice and serve. I pray that I would learn to do all things as unto Him remembering His sacrifice on my behalf.

Shaking Things Up....

Cody and I are making a list of silly things we want to do before we hit thirty years old. We've got a few but we'd like some help so if you have an idea please post it in the comments. We're looking for inexpense, fun, and maybe a little unusual or silly. We want to get ten ideas and try to do 2-3 of them a year. They may or may not include the kids. So far we have....

1. Go to a BINGO hall!
2. Go to a high dollar store or car lot *think Porsche* to gawk for an hour or two.
3. Go to a minor league ball game.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

As you can see we still have some slots....So please help us think of things we can do just to say we did! If you all can help us out we'll be sure to post how things went!

Oh no! She's slipping through my fingers....