Trick-Or-Treat

Trick-or-Treat!!!!

We went trick-or-treating in Grove Park and it was so much fun! MEC loaded up on some candy for Mommy and Daddy. Way to go Mary Ellen! Aunt Bronwyn went with us this year and helped out tremendously. Let me just tell you - holding a one year old for more than an hour is not an easy task. It was nice to give my arm a break and pass her on to another arm. Wow is she getting big. I can't believe that I am planning a birthday party this month. My baby is going to be one. That is so not fair. I'm not ready for her to be one.

The streets on Halloween were flooded with trick-or-treaters and it made me think of my childhood. It was so neat to see the neighborhood out and celebrating with one another. I wish it could be like that more often. MEC had a great time. She laughed at some of the kids and even some of the adults who dressed up. She laughed at this one guy who was dressed as a clown until he turned around to talk to her. Then he wasn't so funny. In fact, he turned out kind of creepy to my little pumpkin.

The pumpkin outfit was made by Grandmother and of course she was just too cute. And she left her pumpkin hat on! Hooray!

I don't know why some of these turned out so blurry. Sorry. Just squint.

Aplin Farms

Saturday I took MEC to Aplin Farms for a day of pumpkins, sunflowers, animals and wagon rides. Daddy is on outage and has to work all day six days a week, so we invited Grandmother, Grandad and Aunt Bronwyn to go with us. We had the best time. MEC really loved the wagon ride. She bounced up and down the whole time, looking out over the rails. It was neat watching her enjoy the day and the outdoors. There is nothing more refreshing than a beautiful Fall day full of orange, red and yellow. The weather was breezy and perfect. We just wish Daddy could of been there. Next year we promised to go earlier in the year before his outage starts up in the Fall.

I do have pictures of me with MEC, but they were not taken with my camera. MEC's Alabama outfit was made by her Grandmother, who by the way is very talented.

On My Heart

Break out your ear plus. I joined the church choir. Well, at least for Christmas. We'll see how that goes first! This is something I always wanted to do, but often felt too intimidated to do so. I have felt led lately to get involved more. Yes, I am busy with work and school and being a mom and a wife, but I need to get involved more in the right things. I'm tired of giving God the leftovers. And you know what, for a long time that's what I've been giving Him. I want Him and His people to get the goods. So Heritage Baptist, ya'll are gettin' my sometimes on-key singing voice! I was also asked to be a part of the decorating committee, and I feel honored. I'm not sure if you want me decorating anything, but I'll show up nonetheless.

I also am making a commitment to share the Gospel. Not share it more. To simply share it. As Brother Van shared today during service, that's all it's about folks. If we're not sharing the Gospel, something is wrong. And we're not talking about sharing it through "the way we live" (oh how I've said that so many times). He means truly, verbally sharing the love of Jesus Christ. You know what, I am scared. I think it's scary to share the gospel because I don't feel so mature in my faith like I see in others. I'm scared because I don't want to be rejected. I'm scared because it is usually socially awkward to share the Word, isn't it? Why is that? I know this, though. God calls us to witness - socially awkward or not. He calls us to verbally witness, not just by living as a good example. Should we live as good examples. Yes! Absolutely. But that is not it. That is not enough. I was so led today by Brother Van's message. These are souls we are talking about. I can think of so many times that I could have shared the story of Jesus, but didn't. I want to change that. I am still completely afraid, but I want to do that.

Will you do that with me?

"It is not for you to know the times and dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnessess in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the Earth." Acts 1:7-8

I pray that God will give me - and all Christians - the courage and wisdom to share His word. I know he provides us with the opportunities to share it. I am so thankful that I had someone share it with me when I was in my twenties. I was so lost, but because someone cared enough about me, about my soul, I found the Lord. I feel so blessed and at peace to know that my sins were bought and paid for, that God loves me so much - so much - that He gave His one and only son so that I can be with Him forever. I don't deserve this love, but He gives it anyway. Hallelujah!

I encourage all of you to join me in promising to share the Gospel. I also encourage all of you
get involved, no matter where you attend church. I think it's a great way to meet new people and to fellowship. I'm so glad I finally did.

I wanted to share what was on my heart. I love all of you. Thank you for reading friends and family!

Making Memories

I love the term scrapbooking. I love how we use it as a verb and when you say it, everyone knows exactly what you are talking about, whether or not they, too, scrapbook. I first dabbled with scrapbooking a few years ago. I wasn't any good, at least not compared to some of the fancy smancy pages you see hanging in scrapbook studios today. In fact, I didn't know what I was doing. I'd find something neat to paste or tape in there and I'd just smack it down on the page. There was no planning. No layout. Just impulse. It was pretty sloppy.

I'm still not as good as some. Many people just blow me away at their skill of scrapbooking. I just do not have that much patience to take days to complete one page. I have to move on. There are just too many memories to record. I have gotten better, however, and most of that has to do with maturity and better finances. By the way, scrapbooking is EXPENSIVE! Too expensive. It's ridiculous really. I often find, make or invent my own embellishments. I refuse to pay $5 for a tiny bow or charm. Please.

Anyway, I have been working on a baby album for Mary Ellen. I am having the most fun with it. But the best part is enclosing small pieces of scripture on different pages for her to read when she is older. I want her to know that her life - her home - was surrounded by the Word and the Spirit of Christ since the day she was born...and before. I want her to know that when I was thinking of her, I was thinking of God. When I was creating these pages for her, I was creating for God. When I was praying for her, I was praying to God. I want her to know that they go together - she and Christ. I want her to know that her life - our family life - was filled with the joy a family can only experience through the love of Christ. I am so excited to present this book to her one day, to read it to her and to have her truly understand what it means to be blessed and to have His joy.

That is if I don't ruin her life before hand. (just kidding, ha)

I posted some pages for you to check out. Some pages are still works in progress, and please excuse the glare. A photographer I am not. But you get the idea.

Here are some random pics that have nothing to do with scrapbooking.....
Mary Ellen will eat absolutely anything....even a nasty lemon.

Mary Ellen reading...well, in one syllable words.

Mary Ellen loves TV. I mean really loves it. Being the good, responsible parents that we are, we move her when she gets that close to the TV... sometimes.