Grace is 18

Who can believe that this little girl . . .

has turned into this young woman?

 

Her parents sure can't.  It seems like only yesterday that Grace was running around the back yard in nothing but her pink rubber boots.

Daddy and I had big plans on Grace's birthday to take our girl and the rest of the family on a picnic at a park to which we haven't been in years.  However, the weather didn't cooperate with those plans.  When we saw the storm clouds gathering, we quickly decided on an alternate arrangement.  I finished preparing the food while Matt and Paul got the play house ready for a (very) intimate dinner for ten.  The guys even put table cloths, candles and fresh flowers on the tables.  We all were able to squeeeeeze into the play house moments before the thunder started.

As the storm raged outside, we enjoyed our picnic sandwich, grapes and Bible time with Daddy.  The kids were thrilled (with the exception of Jude, who is scared to death of thunder).

We dodged raindrops to get back into the house after dinner.  Grace is practicing making wedding cakes (she'd like to make a wedding cake for her aunt), so she made one for herself for her birthday.  Grandpa Bob and Grandma Dianne joined us for cake and presents.  Paul gave Grace a nice knife--surprise, surprise.  Grace does like it.  She keeps it in her skirt pocket so that it's always handy.
Grace has many interests including music, gardening, knitting, sewing, baking, photography and theology.  She's the official photographer of this blog, as well as the official picture uploader and all around help-Mom-with-anything-technical person.

Grace is also a loving big sister.  She's got a sizeable job being the oldest in such a large family, but she does it with patience and grace.  Her Daddy and I marvel at the young woman the Lord has produced in spite of us.

Jude is 5

Jude turned five at the end of August.  He got to celebrate his birthday numerous times with lots of different people.  One of those times, his godmother, Peggy, hosted our family for a swimming party.  Jude requested hot dogs for his birthday dinner, so he got one.  Jude's godfather, Floyd, was kind enough to grill hamburgers for the rest of us.  Jude received two foam disc shooting guns from Floyd and Peggy because they know a gun fight is no fun with just one person.

Peggy also earned the "Best Godmother of the Year" award when she delivered a McDonald's gift card to Jude on his actual birthday.  He was thrilled to be able to take all of his brothers and sisters out for lunch.  Happy Meals complete with Smurfs were enjoyed by all--a rare treat!

Happenings

In addition to doing a lot of this. . .

 

 

 We've been doing a lot of this. . .

And this. . .

 

We also went to the county fair to see the pictures Grace entered in the photography department.  She got two blue ribbons and a red.  The series of pictures she took of Joseph received one of those blue ribbons.  We also saw the animals (the boys liked the "reptiles" the best), picked up a bunch of swag (much to Daddy's dismay) and ate elephant ears (big pieces of fried and cinnamon-sugared dough--we divided 2 amongst the 9 of us).  Daddy also bought each of the kids 2 carnival rides (much to Mommy's dismay--so spendy).  Time got away from us and even though we left fairly early in the morning and had packed a snack and eaten elephant ears, when the clock struck one, Paul asked, "Are we going to eat lunch here?"

I said, "No way.  Our pocket book is already bleeding. We're going home to eat lunch."

"Well, when are we going home then?" Paul asked (with only a bit of desperation in his voice).

"When people start going crazy," Matt replied.

We left soon after that, but when we finally trekked all to way back to the van and loaded all eight kids, folks were getting a little testy.  Someone, who shall remain nameless, but clearly was not kidding about being hungry, bit someone else's head off about an inconsequential matter.  Then Daddy said, "Well, we're starting to go crazy, so I'll guess we'll go home."

We've taken some nice evening walks together as a family.  God has given us some glorious sunsets for our viewing pleasure during these walks .  The boys even spotted a small snake as it slithered into the rocks for the night.  Joel touched it--eww!  Boys!

We celebrated Rosh Hoshanna.  Grace baked the traditional sweet challah bread, shaped in a circular loaf to symbolize the wish for a well rounded, peaceful new year.  The bread spirals up toward Heaven, just as our prayers do. Matt and I took the kids to throw bread crumbs into the water after dinner.  We reminded them that the crumbs represent our sins and that in Christ, God washes our sins away. (If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse up from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9)

 In addition to all of these things, we celebrated two birthdays, spread a cold amongst every single person in our family and started our school year with all its accompanying craziness.  Getting back into the Fall schedule with all of the extra activities and obligations is always difficult for me, but especially this year when I'm not yet running at full speed after having Joseph.  I feel like the train is at the station, the conductor is yelling, "All aboard!" but I'm still at home and I haven't even started packing yet.  Yet the train is leaving whether or not I'm ready, so I'll just have to roll with it.

Joseph's Baptism

Joseph was baptized this past Sunday.  Our church baptizes infants (adults are also baptized), which can be a real sticking point for some folks.  I get that.  However, Matt and I obviously wouldn't have our children baptized as infants if we didn't believe it to be a theologically sound practice.  Good arguments by godly men have been posited by both sides of the baptism debate.  One of those is found here:  John Macarthur in defense of Credo-Baptist (believer's baptism) vs. R.C. Sproul in defense of  Paedo-Baptist (infant baptism). This debate can also be found on YouTube, for anyone who would rather listen to it, instead of reading it.

Anyway, Matt has had his heart set on a full immersion baptism for a number of months.  Martin Luther's preferred method of baptism was full immersion, specifically for infants.  When Matt approached our pastor with the idea, he was very enthusiastic.  I wasn't so sure.  Matt showed me this video of an Orthodox full immersion infant baptism.  I have to say, I still was not convinced.

So last Wednesday, Pastor came to our house so that we could have a practice session, as he had never done an infant full immersion baptism and Matt and I had never been involved with one either.  Things went fairly smoothly.  Joseph only sputtered a little bit.  Pastor, Matt and I settled on a plan.  As for me, I just committed the whole thing to the Lord.  He, as always, was faithful.

On Sunday, grandmas, grandpas, aunts, uncles and friends came to church to witness Joseph's baptism.  God saw to every detail.  Before Pastor baptized Joseph, he gave a very nice explanation of how well a full immersion baptism illustrates Romans 6. Joseph probably fared better than his mama did during the baptism.  I believe God was glorified. God, through water and the Word, accomplished His work, as only He is able to do.  It's all His grace.  He is truly rich in mercy.

 

Matt and I asked our three oldest children, Grace, Elizabeth and Paul, to be Joseph's sponsors.  They will be responsible to come alongside Joseph, to pray for him and to help to instruct him in the Christian faith.  In the event that something should happen to Matt and myself, they would be also be responsible for ensuring that Joseph would continue to attend regular worship services.  As a baptismal gift, the kids gave Joseph a cross to hang above his bed.  All of Joseph's siblings have crosses hanging above their beds, so the kids wanted him to have one, too.

We ended the day with lunch at our house.  It was so nice to have a fellowship time with family to celebrate such a joyous occasion.  The Lord is worthy to be praised.  Here's the video:

Baby Joseph

 

 

Baby Joseph Update

Baby Joseph is doing very well.  He was back up to his birth weight at his first visit to the pediatrician on Tuesday.  So far, he's a very even-tempered baby, which is nice in a house that is already full of activity and noise.
Joseph and I are still in the process of negotiating a sleep contract.  He insists his nutritional needs must be met at least every two hours, sometimes more.  He brings powerful tools to the negotiating table--the most deliciously kissable chubby cheeks and little blue eyes that study my face very intently.  So far, he's got the upper hand and I've been willing to oblige him on all that he asks in the negotiation process.  Oh well, sleep is overrated, at least that's what I keep telling myself.
Today, as I was reading my Bible, I prayed that the Lord would show me how to be loving and patient with my family.  So many times Jesus is recorded in the Bible as having been very weary, yet He still willingly and lovingly met the needs of others.  I prayed for the strength to do the same today and in the days to come.

On another note, I'm adoring the new muslin swaddling blankets a friend and my two older girls sewed for the baby.  I first saw a swaddling blanket like this last summer, when I went to visit my friend who had just had her baby.  When I saw her little one, all snuggled up in white muslin, I said, "Oh! He's all wrapped up in a tea towel!"  She laughed and explained that muslin is the new thing in receiving blankets.  So she made Joseph three blankies and my girls made him two (they're outrageously expensive online).
Matt wraps the baby so tight in these blankets that he looks like he belongs on one of those Russian maternity ward baby carts that I've seen in documentaries.  Daddy says Joseph likes it that way.  He probably does.  Even Daddy isn't immune to Joseph's persuasive negotiating skills.  We're both totally, head over heels in love with our little baby boy.  (So is the rest of the family.  The biggest arguments Matt and I have to mediate are over whose turn it is to hold the baby.)

Joseph is Here!

 

Born July 31st at 4:30 pm.

8.4 pounds, 20 inches.