March 19, 2009

Hello everyone!

I have been asked to update our blog, but I never know where to begin or what to write.  I guess I'll jump in with what's going on right now with Caleb (since let's face it.... that's what everyone wants to know, right?!)

Caleb will turn 3 years old in about a week.  Very depressing for me to think about!  He is talking in full sentences and repeating everything we say.  He'll answer a question with a full sentence even.  It blows my mind!  He can go full speed on his tricycle by himself and loves being outside!  He loves to read... anything.  We are in the beginning stages of trying to potty train; he's shown no interest until now.  We are celebrating a major victory when it comes to eating...  He has added pepperoni, sausage, bacon, hamburger, and even ham to the list of foods he will try.  (Before this point, he would only eat cheese, fruit, bread, mac and cheese, and vienna sausage.)  We are going to have his birthday party at our house, and I'm still trying to figure out how we're going to get 50 people in here (we have a TON of young couples in the church that are in his class)?!  

Grant is doing well with choir stuff.  We have a small orchestra and a senior adult choir to add to the mix now.  He is planning a fourth of July celebration and a Holiness concert for the adult choir.  He will turn 34 in April, and life's going well.

As for me, I am still accompanying the instrumental majors at Charleston Southern University about 9 hours a week.  I get to stay at home with Caleb the other time.  I am the children's director at the church (which is my volunteer full time job.. hehe).  Part of that consists of me directing the children's choir, and I just got finished writing a musical for our kids to present on May 17th.  It's called Mission not so Impossible, and it's principle message is how to be saved and grow in Christ.  Christian walk begins, not ends, at salvation.  

I guess that pretty much summarizes what's going on with our family.  I hope this blog finds everyone doing well.  I pray everyone is being strengthened and renewed daily in their walk with the Lord, as well as sharing the awesome hope we have in Christ with those God has put in our paths.  May God bless you and keep you.  May He make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to You. The Lord lift up the light of His countenance upon you and give you peace.

Reminders

Through a movie I watched this weekend, I have a refreshed urgency about impressing Biblical principles in the children of our church (Caleb included).

This movie gave me a gory look into the warped minds of our culture today. It left me with a burden: We must IMPRESS God's truths on our children if we have any hope of teaching them to choose the things of God. You can't make an impression without being diligent about pressing. Left to choose on their own, our children WILL choose the world because they haven't been trained about the spiritual battle enough to understand their choices!! Choosing soccer, football, friends, tv, or anything else over coming to the Lord's house on a day that He has set apart for Himself might seem harmless enough when the children are young, but it is setting an example for them to follow when they are old. What will those choices look like as they grow older?

Here lately attendance has been VERY down in our children's choir program, and I have been very discouraged but determined.

However, tonight, I had taken to heart the low attendance, and discouragement had filled me almost to the point of abandonment. After getting home, I came to check my email. I was brought to my blog site and read the last entry...

Faithfulness in the work is my part, and faithfulness in the results are up to God....
How awesome is His timing!!

This fact reminded me of a passage of scripture this week about Samuel. Samuel was upset that the people were requesting a King. They didn't want to trust the Lord to lead/protect them; they wanted someone they could see. After going to the Lord in prayer, Samuel was told by God, "it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you." (1 Samuel 8:7-8)

If I feel this sorrowful over people allowing their children to choose the things of this world over the things of God, then how must God feel?

How thankful I am that God sends us reminders when we are discouraged!! And I will continue to follow the Lord's direction for our program and lift up our children and parents.

The top picture is of Caleb riding the horsie.
The last is a video of Caleb singing VT theme song.

Mommy and Caleb at the Park

Thankful

I'm so thankful that God holds me in the palm of His Hand, and that everything that comes into my life has been filtered through Him. The things of this world have no hold on the believer who rests in His shadow and allows His covering to do the protecting. Christ has overcome sin, and He has already won the victory. If we remain in Him, we will bear much fruit because Christ is responsible for the outcome; we are only responsible for remaining. What an awesome truth to celebrate today!!

Mom's request

At the request of my mom, I have started this blog. Since I already had made the slideshow, I am very thankful that slideshow.com links up with this site!!

As for the family, Caleb is recovering from strep throat, and he has given it to Grant. Praise the Lord, I have not gotten it... yet. We are knee deep in church activities. Grant is getting ready for our God and country musical this Sunday. I am getting last minute preparations done for our mission trip to Blytheville, AR; I'm still trying to finalize the list of music we are going to teach the children, and then I will do choreography. We are also doing our Kidzfest leaders training for the music for Franklin Graham Conference. Life has been moving very fast in our little corner of the world, but everything's for the glory of God and to His purposes. Well, this is it from our corner of the world. :) God's glorious blessings to you.

Check out my Slide Show!