Careful, it's Slippedy!

We have an irrigation canal that floods our fields in the spring, right behind our house. They drain it in the winter but there is just enough water left in it for us to ice skate on. We can skate down the ravine for about a mile. It's been quite fun even though I earned a fantastic bruise from a funny fall. If you look real hard you can see it on my right hip from my vacation pics.

Going to Extremes...

Brady and I were extremely blessed this past week. We took the opportunity to go and visit one of my sweet Christian friends from Galveston who recently moved to Grand Cayman. Her husband is an "annointed business man" with a great sense of humor and Tara a genuine woman after God's own heart.

We had a wonderful time appreciating the warm tropical weather, fantastic food, and the heart to heart conversation was the best part! She drug me to boot camp at 5:30 in the morning, I got to stand beside her and worship with her and her sweet girls at church. We spent a day on a boat snorkeling and feeding stingrays. It was truly a welcomed change of pace. We drove home from the airport in -21 degree weather. But there was nothing we experienced in Cayman as warm as the welcome we got from our five cuties. Thanks to Mimi, as well as my sweet friends Leah and Adrian for standing in the gap while we took a much needed break! Thank you Lord for going to extremes to show us how much you love us!

Going to Extremes

The Girls Got Baptized!

I have wrestled with this for at least four years. I know it seems like I would be rushing all my kids down the aisle to get them baptized. However, Brady and I have been putting it off and praying about it for a long time. Riley accepted Christ as her savior several years ago. Hallie this summer. Bailee this December. Did she say putting it off?? Yes! Here's why...

I was baptized in the seventh grade. Unfortunately, I did not choose to follow Christ completely until I was 29. I worry that at their young age they won't feel the weight of their own sin, and as a result can't grasp the magnitude of what Christ did for us on the cross. Therefore, not falling in love with Him and living for Him (YET). I know it isn't the baptism that saves them, but that they asked Jesus to be their Saviour. But, it symbolizes the decision.

They have all been begging Brady and I for months to be baptized. I wanted to make sure it wasn't just so they could have a "snack" of juice and crackers when communion was passed by their little noses. I wanted them to know that things aren't going to be perfect from now on! Most of all, I want them to follow Christ completely from this day on!!!! But, I also know this is their decision and not mine. It is their spiritual walk and not mine. I know my ramblings might be confusing. Why do I make things more complicated than they need to be. Thank you Jesus for making things simple. "Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them."

So now that it has been done... It was a wonderful moment. The girls were giddy, giggling, and so excited. It was a wonderful day, with a gorgeous sunset just to remind us how much He loves us.

The Girls Got Baptized!

I just threw a marshmallow down into the basement so Charlie would go get it. That should buy me a couple of minutes to tell y'all some exciting news!!! The girls were baptized this morning along with our preacher's daughter (she is also Bailee's best friend). As you can see Jay was very excited! He wanted to join the party too (his exact words, yet he was crying). I will go into greater detail of each of their individual stories later as Charlie is coming back for more marshmallows!!!!

Words to Live by..... "Jay"isms

Bungly (bun galee) adj. 1. A sense of messiness; disorderly 2. Being unattractive Ex. Charlie's hair was bungly this morning!

Sploot (Spl oot) verb 1. To be shot out with great force
Ex. The lava will sploot out of the volcano.

Slippedy (Slip eddie) adj. 1. Slick; slippery 2. Causing one to fall
Ex. The sidewalk was slippedy because of the ice.

Jay has been memorizing scriptures for his cubbies class at AWANA. One of the first ones he understood completely was "all have sinned." Whenever his siblings would get in "trouble" he would say "is that all have sinned?" Yes Jay Whenever he would get in "trouble" he would say "is that all have sinned?" Yes Jay. He gets it and thus the rest of us are reminded of our sin as well.

The above picture is Jay experimenting with a Sharpie. (Why do I even have those in my house?) Jay, What were you doing? "I wanted to make you smile!" He Did!

Skating Lessons

Hallie and Bailee are taking skating lessons on Monday and Friday nights. The season is suprisingly short. Just the end of December thru Feburary (I think it has to be below freezing). They are loving it. Riley already does pretty well without lessons, she and I like to go when they open the rink for public skate.