In this world where there is such a decline in values, there is ever the need for us all to be true. Be true to the good in you. Be true to your families, to your children, to true principles.
That is how I feel today, be true, be true, be true!
Monday, July 29, 2013
Sunday, July 21, 2013
Happy Birthday Eric
Today is Eric's 13th birthday. We have been celebrating it all week since we had his friend party last week before said friends went on their summer vacations. So today we had his favorite family meal of fettucine and he asked for homemade brownies for dessert. We didn't have any candles and since we don't go grocery shopping on the Sabbath Day, we went without. Bruce, our 3 year old, looked at the pan of brownies and said, 'Put the candles on.' I then said, "We don't have any." After about 5 seconds of serious thought he says, "Let's just eat it." It was adorable and hilarious and gave everyone at the table a giggle and somehow it made the avoidance of candles not as big of a deal.
Eric is a good boy. He is entering teenage years with some trepidation and isn't as trusting of a soul as he once was. His nickname is EJ, but I often call him Jo-Eric. It is a combination of Joseph's name and his. He loves food. He has several friends who come over to be with him. He is in a phase of teasing, which is really annoying to the rest of us. Today as I was getting ready to prepare his brownies I took out the 2 sticks of butter. When I put the rest of the butter back in the fridge, I turned back to the counter to pick that butter back up and it was gone. I was beginning to think I'd gone crazy when I saw Eric over near the sink and I realized he was being a stinker and he was guilty of hiding my butter from me. This is the type of things he's doing these days. He gets these type of ideas from watching a prankster on youtube. I don't like him watching that prankster so I don't let him watch it anymore. He got a tablet for his birthday from Jared and I.
We love Eric. We are so happy he is in our home. He was born at 17:59, weighed 8lbs 4oz, was 19 inches, with red hair. He was the biggest baby in the nursery the night he was born. The 2000 July had record breaking heat with the most days over 100 degrees. His due date was originally July 22nd according to the ultrasound I had done, but according to my own thoughts and feelings, I thought he would be born on July 16th. I remember being huge and miserable, so when his delivery came, I was so excited. He was my second baby that I delivered unmedicated and Eric's delivery was a violent one. As I was pushing him out, my midwife noticed his umbilical cord wrapped around his neck 3 times. As my midwife was working to unwrap the cord, I was pushing with all of my might. He 'blasted' out of me with amniotic fluid flying everywhere, especially all over Jared, who was standing right next to the bed. My midwife stealthily avoided it. I made a rather large scream and looked down at our new little bundle of joy. His face was purple from being bruised at the quick descent into the world but he cried immediately. It's amazing how fast the last 13 years have gone.
Eric is a good boy. He is entering teenage years with some trepidation and isn't as trusting of a soul as he once was. His nickname is EJ, but I often call him Jo-Eric. It is a combination of Joseph's name and his. He loves food. He has several friends who come over to be with him. He is in a phase of teasing, which is really annoying to the rest of us. Today as I was getting ready to prepare his brownies I took out the 2 sticks of butter. When I put the rest of the butter back in the fridge, I turned back to the counter to pick that butter back up and it was gone. I was beginning to think I'd gone crazy when I saw Eric over near the sink and I realized he was being a stinker and he was guilty of hiding my butter from me. This is the type of things he's doing these days. He gets these type of ideas from watching a prankster on youtube. I don't like him watching that prankster so I don't let him watch it anymore. He got a tablet for his birthday from Jared and I.
We love Eric. We are so happy he is in our home. He was born at 17:59, weighed 8lbs 4oz, was 19 inches, with red hair. He was the biggest baby in the nursery the night he was born. The 2000 July had record breaking heat with the most days over 100 degrees. His due date was originally July 22nd according to the ultrasound I had done, but according to my own thoughts and feelings, I thought he would be born on July 16th. I remember being huge and miserable, so when his delivery came, I was so excited. He was my second baby that I delivered unmedicated and Eric's delivery was a violent one. As I was pushing him out, my midwife noticed his umbilical cord wrapped around his neck 3 times. As my midwife was working to unwrap the cord, I was pushing with all of my might. He 'blasted' out of me with amniotic fluid flying everywhere, especially all over Jared, who was standing right next to the bed. My midwife stealthily avoided it. I made a rather large scream and looked down at our new little bundle of joy. His face was purple from being bruised at the quick descent into the world but he cried immediately. It's amazing how fast the last 13 years have gone.
Saturday, July 20, 2013
Lots Of Pictures
Eric brought me Vanessa's SD card with all the pictures we've taken over the last several weeks.
Vanessa and Eric are good friends.
Eric doesn't like the horses so much because he is so allergic to them.
Vanessa with her best friend Nicole.
TV with the neighbors in our basement.
At home Bruce all tuckered out in front of a movie.
Picture of me up at the cabin. 2013
Bruce loves the horses!
Joseph loves the horses the most. He is in the background.
Jared had his hands full saddling all the horses himself and teaching kids what to do around horses.
Chillin' in the cabin.
The four wheelers were a favorite for everyone.
4th of July fireworks with the neighbors.
Thursday, July 11, 2013
Death And Life
The chapter heading in 2 Corinthians says Godly sorrow for sin leads to repentance—The sorrow of the world leads to death. The very first verse says this,
1 'let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.'
And then verse 10 says:
10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
Speaking of death of the physical body we know how much sorrow comes to us when we lose a loved one.
But what about the death of the spirit? Do we sorrow when we see a loved one set their hearts on the things of the world? Worse, are our hearts set on worldliness? Do we attend church and take little thought of the lessons and allow our hearts to wander off to what the other church attendees are wearing, the latest hairstyles, how popular we are or are not, etc.
I have been studying what godly sorrow is and it has been a worthwhile study. Since repentance comes before baptism, and baptism comes as the gate by which we must enter to get on the straight and narrow path back to Heavenly Father, repentance is the first place to start.
Lastly, it is hard to repent if we don't know we are doing anything wrong.
Sin leads to spiritual death. When we're spiritually dead we are in Satan's grasp. Think of having a spiritually dead spouse? They teach children to find happiness in committing sin and that there is no happiness in following Heavenly Father. They don't find happiness is following anyone but themselves and whatever appetite is needing to be fed at that moment. Principles mean nothing or very little to them. They call good evil and evil good. How sad it is when we see a husband get angry at his wife when she is offended by evil?
The good news is that there is a remedy for spiritual death. The answer is repentance. Jesus Christ came so that we could learn from our own experiences the difference between good and evil. Through Jesus Christ we can become new creatures. Once where there was death, there can be life because of Him.
1 'let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.'
And then verse 10 says:
10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
Speaking of death of the physical body we know how much sorrow comes to us when we lose a loved one.
But what about the death of the spirit? Do we sorrow when we see a loved one set their hearts on the things of the world? Worse, are our hearts set on worldliness? Do we attend church and take little thought of the lessons and allow our hearts to wander off to what the other church attendees are wearing, the latest hairstyles, how popular we are or are not, etc.
I have been studying what godly sorrow is and it has been a worthwhile study. Since repentance comes before baptism, and baptism comes as the gate by which we must enter to get on the straight and narrow path back to Heavenly Father, repentance is the first place to start.
Lastly, it is hard to repent if we don't know we are doing anything wrong.
Sin leads to spiritual death. When we're spiritually dead we are in Satan's grasp. Think of having a spiritually dead spouse? They teach children to find happiness in committing sin and that there is no happiness in following Heavenly Father. They don't find happiness is following anyone but themselves and whatever appetite is needing to be fed at that moment. Principles mean nothing or very little to them. They call good evil and evil good. How sad it is when we see a husband get angry at his wife when she is offended by evil?
The good news is that there is a remedy for spiritual death. The answer is repentance. Jesus Christ came so that we could learn from our own experiences the difference between good and evil. Through Jesus Christ we can become new creatures. Once where there was death, there can be life because of Him.
Sunday, July 7, 2013
Beauties
As I sit here on this beautiful Sabbath early evening, listening to the rain gently drop on the windows and listen to Vanessa practice the theme song from '17 Miracles,' I am simply amazed at God's love to mankind. It warms my heart to think of all the beauty around me. When times are tough and it seems like the world all around me is so full of sorrow, I love to think on all the joy I feel from the simple beauties of life. Our grass and garden have been so thirsty lately that it occurred to me to pray for rain. It was a simple prayer, really, and went like this, 'Heavenly Father, I don't know if anyone else needs or wants rain right now, but we do here at our house.' Since that prayer, and I've prayed a similar one a few times since, we have received rain 3 times. My lawn looks so much better and it seems that the rain from heaven turns the grass a beautiful green. I wish my lawn would look this nice from the sprinklers. We got to partake of the first yields of our vegetable garden 2 days ago. What a joy! It was zucchini and summer squash. Jared and I have to fight over it because Rex, Bruce, and Joseph love it. Bruce, age 3, looked on my cookie sheet to see what I was making and when he saw the vegetables he exclaimed, 'Oh yes, I love these! I can't wait!' I love that he loves them. Joseph is the usual culprit that we have to fight over the fruits and vegetables with, so now Bruce and Rex are worthy contenders. It is a good thing we planted a garden so I don't have to feel stingy about sharing in all the good food.
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
Great Smiles
We took the kids to the dentist today and not one of the kids had a cavity. How impressive is that? We were so excited. Vanessa has about 5 months left of having braces. We might have to get braces for Joseph and Rex. Joseph's top teeth bow out a little and Rex's teeth to the sides of his two front teeth are coming in sideways. Bruce was totally terrified of the dental assistant and we had to calm him down a bit. Once Bruce calmed down for the dental assistant, the rest of the appointment went well for him.
Other than that, we are still trying to beat the summer heat. Our vegetable garden is growing nicely. The front perennial garden is struggling a bit from the heat. I have already lost 6 of the plants.
Other than that, we are still trying to beat the summer heat. Our vegetable garden is growing nicely. The front perennial garden is struggling a bit from the heat. I have already lost 6 of the plants.
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