Thomas's Party Invitation

I've also updated posts on Katie's birthday, the Valentine's Day Party and Edie's Baptism to include those invitations.

Blessed Assurance

I have been reminded over the past few weeks of how fleeting life is.  Reminded through the passing of loved ones but also in the celebration of our son growing older. 

Today in Alabama my family is laying my Uncle Gene to rest;  My mother's oldest brother.  I have very few childhood memories that don't include my Uncle Gene.  Growing up he, my aunt Priscilla and my cousin, Chris, would come over EVERY Christmas morning for breakfast, and bearing gifts.  He sat through a decade of 4+ hour dance recitals and brought a bouquet of flowers to every recital.  He let me tag along on a 12 hour car ride to Kansas when my cousin Chris was married.  For college graduation he and my aunt gave me a replica of the piece of luggage they had given my mother at her graduation.  

My uncle was generous, funny, a natural leader in business and in church, and someone who was really easy to like. 

I hate not being with my family today; not being there to honor the life of my wonderful uncle and to be present in the lives of my loved ones.  

Gene Baker...born July 16, 1939, went Home to Jesus February 23, 2011.... Uncle Gene is now completely whole and well sitting with friends and welcomed into Heaven's gates by his mother.... Only God knows the number of our days.  Thank you Father that your ways are always better than those of our own.  Thank you Father for paying the price of our sin so that we may live in your presence eternally.

"There's a peace I've come to know though my heart and flesh may fail.  There's an echo in my soul I can sing, It is well.  Jesus, has overcome and the grave is overwelmed.  The victory is won he is risen from the dead.  I will rise when he calls my name. No more sorrow, No more pain.

I will rise, on eagle's wings before my God fall on my knees, and rise." Chris Tomlin

Is it Time?

For Thomas's first haircut?!  I just cannot make the call.  Thomas has been saying that Pap's is going to cut his hair.  I'm not sure Pap's is prepared for that and I can assure you that I am not.  Yesterday as we were pulling into Lowe's (its almost Spring, yay!) Thomas says, "Mommy, I need a haircut."  I could only laugh out loud and say, "you do?".    

To The Circus

We took Thomas to the circus two weekends ago.

 Since we were just a few days shy of TWO, we let Thomas enjoy some popcorn. 

This is for Damaris.  She had given us some ear plugs, but we accidently left them on the counter at home.  D, I covered his ears. 

 Thomas got a light up sword,

 Saw an elephant up close and personal,

And got to pet a pig that wore sunglasses, silly pig.

TWO?!

Be back soon to tell you about our weekend.

Q & A

Sorry its sideways...

Right before we took this video Thomas woke up from a nap. I walked in his nursery and it looked like this....

Doesn't he look so proud? 

Thomas loves to empty his crib...

 and jump, jump, jump!

He's also become very concerned with Sonny. Asks about him everyday after naptime..."Sonny's outside?".

 It's been nice weather so we've spent some time outside this week.

 I got a new camera that I'm still learning all about.  But I see something really cool about this picture above... you can see my reflection in Thomas's eyes; I thought that was pretty neat.

 Thomas is ALL BOY ALL the time.  Loves dirt. LOVES IT.

Are You Ready?

My heart is heavy today.... I have a cousin who is in mourning.  The hardest thing I have been through in my entire life was the death of my precious grandmother.  She was the closest thing to an angel I will probably ever experience.  She had the a heart of gold and a constant eye on Jesus.  In her passing I felt doom; I experienced a sadness that became a physical pain.  I know what my cousin, Heather, is going through at this moment and my heart aches.

Last night I saw this.  How very cool is little Colton's account of Heaven!?  (you'll need to click on the word "this")
One day I will see my sweet Memaw again.  And Heather will see her grandfather. 
Do you know Jesus? Are you prepared to meet our Heavenly Father?  I know that this is a little bitty blog and that I have very few readers.... but I pray that I will see you in Heaven too.
I'm going to try to be present in today but keep my mind on the only future that matters- my future with HIM.  That which will last for eternity.  HEAVEN.  

I. Heaven is God's dwellingplace.
Deut. 26:15 Zech. 2:13 1 Kin. 8:30, 39,43,49

1 Chr. 16:31 1 Chr. 21:26 2 Chr. 2:6

2 Chr. 6:18,21,27,30,33,35,39 2 Chr. 7:14

2 Chr. 30:27 Job 22:12,14 Neh. 9:27

Psa. 2:4 Psa. 11:4 Psa. 16:11 Psa. 20:6 Psa. 33:13 Psa. 102:19 Psa. 103:19 Psa. 135:6; Psa. 113:5 Psa. 123:1

Eccl. 5:2 Isa. 57:15 Isa. 63:15 Isa. 66:1 Jer. 23:24

Lam. 3:41,50 Dan. 5:23 Dan. 4:35

Matt. 5:34,45 Matt. 6:9 Matt. 18:10,14; Matt. 10:32,33 Matt. 11:25 Matt. 12:50 Matt. 16:17

Mark 11:25,26 Mark 16:19 Acts 7:49

Rom. 1:18 Heb. 8:1 Rev. 8:1 Rev. 12:7-9

Rev. 21:22-27 Rev. 22:1-5

II. Only the righteous will be in heaven. The wicked will not be allowed to enter.
Matt. 5:20 Matt. 25:34 Gal. 5:21

Eph. 5:5 Rev. 22:15

III. What will heaven be like?

A. There will be continual praise and worship.
Neh. 9:6 Job 38:7

Psa. 103:20,21 Psa. 148:2,4

Isa. 6:3 Ezek. 3:12

Luke 2:13,14 Luke 15:10, 7.

Rev. 1:6 Rev. 4:8-11 Rev. 5:9-14

Rev. 7:9-12 Rev. 11:16,17

Rev. 14:2,3 Rev. 15:3,4

Rev. 19:1-7 Rev. 22:3


B. Heaven will be beautiful.
Rev. 21:2 Rev. 21:11, 18, 19, 21


C. Heaven will be a place of great joy and satisfaction in his presence, for there we shall see God.
Psa. 16:11 Psa. 17:15 Isa. 33:17

Isa. 49:9,10 Matt. 5:8 Luke 15:7, 10

1 Thess. 4:17 Heb. 12:22-23

D. Heaven will be eternal.
Psa. 23:6 Matt. 25:46 John 10:28

1 Pet. 1:4 2 Pet. 1:11 Rev 22:5



E. People of all races and tongues and every nation will be represented in heaven.
Rev. 5:9 Rev. 7:9

IV. In describing heaven, the Bible tells us much about what will not be there.
A. No sickness or pain.
Rev. 21

B. No sorrow, or crying, or mourning.
Rev 7:17 Rev. 21:4


C. No violence or wars, but only perfect peace and rest.
Job 3:17 2 Thess. 1:7


D. No more death.
Luke 20:36 Rev. 21:4


E. No more hunger or thirst.
Rev 7:16-17

The promise of heaven should be a great source of joy and hope to us. (Luke 10:20). Jesus longs for us to join him there (John 17:24).

When I look at my life, I am constantly reminded of how I am a sinful, terribly flawed person who is given grace, forgiveness, hope and peace.  I am no example of how to live.  If you know me well, you might say I am the example of how NOT to live.  

 Thankfully I serve a God whose strength is taking the sinful and terrible and bestowing an unmeasurable heritage. 

In The Mail

DANGEROUS

Thank goodness Damaris and I are training for another half-marathon in April.

 Thomas, unlike myself, was not tempted by the seasonal sugar.  He preferred to remove it from the bowl.

Out of sight, out of mind.... I guess.

We'll make sure and get the word to Henley about the increased rate for those kisses. 

Happy Valentine's Day!

We had a special Valentine's breakfast this morning.

This expression on Thomas's face cracks me up.  He has so much personality.

By the way, Thomas is doing great eating with forks and spoons these days.  Sarah gave him a little place setting and he wants to use it constantly.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!

Valentine's Party turned Rough

I was upstairs, those 4 stairs, with the momma's when we heard a scream.  I walked in the playroom to find blood running down T's cheek. Thank goodness Lindsey is cool as a cucumber or I probably would have called 911.  Poor little fella cried for a long time. 

But we got him calmed down and he hasn't batted an eye at his injury since. 

This was bathtime.  We had sweet potatos for dinner that night.

 He and Brian are working on this Hulk Hogan pose.  More on that later; but it cracks me up. 

Oh Thomas, one thing is for sure.... You are no sissy.

Pretending

Thomas and I play lots with play-doh, Lots.  When we make pretend food with the play-doh we will then pretend we are eating it....

Yesterday I was getting dressed and I hear Thomas talking to someone and so I walk out of my room and wish I could have gotten my camera faster.  Thomas was kneeling down to Sonny, who I'm certain was sound asleep, and was saying, "pretend eat Sonny, yummy! yummy!"

It amazes me how much he understands and how quickly he catches onto things. 

Such a smart boy.

{Sonny didn't eat the play-doh}

Valentine's Party

Thomas and I had some friends over Monday morning for a Valetine's Party.

When we sent out the invitations....

We had no idea it was going to be a blizzard that day.

But our sweet friends still came to play.

 My sweet sugar pie.

Snack time.

 Craft time.

Lindsey with Sawyer

 Emily, Baby Hathcock, and Sam

 Sweet Wyatt

 Leslie with Cannon.

 Sawyer precious picture smile.

 Candy lips were a hit

 

So thankful for our sweethearts of friends.  We are blessed and thankful.