Atticus loves blueberries

 Kaitlin and Marisa's Sunday School class went on a picnic.  Kaitlin brought her camera.  Atticus enjoyed blueberries and humus.

Foolish Galatians, Foolish Ellen

Carl is teaching Sunday School this semester on the book of Galatians. I have learned so much.

- Many of the same issues brought up in Galatians are in Romans
- The Law is like a mirror, it shows us how things are but also like a mirror, it can't fix anything.  If you look in the mirror and your hair is a mess, the mirror can't fix your hair!
-my inheritance doesn't start when I die, it started at redemption
-chapter 4 vs19- Christ is formed in me- this shows the passiveness of salvation
-Paul's conversion was amazing, Isaac's birth was supernatural and my conversion and yours equals the amazing, supernaturalness of both those events.  Every conversion is a wonderful gift!  Marvel in that today!

Above is a new Bible that my friend, LindaG recommended.  I have enjoyed the layout and comments that I have read so far.

Below is Gpapa with Mr Wonderful and boy are they having some kind of conversation.  I hope Atticus always listens to Gpapa like this.  On a side note, isn't that a cute little fat baby hand!

Aunt Elaine, Uncle John and Atticus

 One of my favorite weeks of the year is the week that my brother, John, and his wife, Elaine, come to visit.  This was the 29th year in a row that they have taken the time to come and stay with us.  They started their visits when Andrew was 2 in 1984.  This year as Uncle John got in the car with Kaitlin, as she took him to play racket ball with John and Robert, it was not lost on me that he has been coming to see us and taking care of us since before she was born and now she is chauffeuring him around.  For the record, he beat John Austin 3 games on Wednesday and Robert two games on Thursday.  John Austin did beat him 2 games on Thursday.

The timing of their visit this year was Atticus' first birthday.  As Marisa said, it was like a mini vacation-  We ate out, got to visit in John and Marisa's home, ate out some more, the guys played racket ball, Aunt Elaine went with me to Bible Study, we went shopping, they got to visit with Jennifer, Uncle John took a few naps, we watched TV and we ate out.

They also helped us celebrate Atticus on his birthday.  Kaitlin brought us all lunch, we ate cupcakes, put on party hats, sang and took lots of pictures.  A fun time was had by all.

 All the pictures on my blog today were taken by Aunt Elaine.

 She has a unique gift with Atticus.  Any time she takes her camera out to get a picture of him- he posed.  She even tried to take a video but she couldn't because he stopped what he was doing and just looked at her, mostly he smiled.  We all got great enjoyment out of it.

 Uncle John and the birthday boy.

 I decided to get in the action.

It was a great visit!  Come back soon Uncle John and Aunt Elaine and see this happy fellow again and us too!!!

Has it been a year already?!

 A year ago today a fine young man was born into our family.  Here are few pictures of his first year.

one month

his baptism

Christmas

first birthday party

Dearest Atticus,
Your Gpapa and I pray daily that you may not know a day without Jesus.
 Love, Bubbles

Christmas Day aka the day we lost power

It all started out like we planned!

This may look like a picture of the front of my church on Christmas Eve but it is really a picture of the Advent Wreath.  Our family read and lit it that night.  That is a big deal because 10 years ago we also did the reading and Andrew lit himself on fire.  I think our pastor knew that Andrew wasn't going to be in town so he asked us!  Robert lit the candle and did just fine.  It was a non-event.  Whew!

My favorite part of the service is singing Silent Night by candle light!

This good looking fellow was there!

Along with his good looking parents.  Didn't get a picture of the rest of the group!

This was our tree this year.  We opened presents with just us four and then John, Marisa, Atticus and her brother, Marc and sister, Kaelyn, were to come over for more presents and supper.

One of my favorite gifts!

Robert looking at his new watch.

Kaitlin and Papa looking at some spices she gave him to use on the grill.

So the weather got bad faster that we expected.  We decided to gather up their presents and go to their house.  This fellow was playing and sitting up like a big boy when we got there.

We stayed about an hour.  We all opened up presents and took lots of pictures.  They are on the camera and will be seen soon.  I love this picture of Atticus.  With all these new toys he prefers a ball off the tree.

We got home just as the ice started to fall.  We cooked a wonderful supper of brisket, hash brown casserole, BBQ green beans, mac and cheese plus sister shuberts.  It was wonderful.  I sent lots to Marisa.  We lost the rest, see my very sad face here.  About 11 that night, we lost power.  That was Tuesday, we left on Saturday, we still didn't have power.  More about our trip soon...  I am going to bed and sleep under my electric blanket and I am enjoying having power.  It is a wonderful invention!

Grandson fun!

We had lunch for Carl's birthday on Sunday. Robert, Marc, John, Marisa and Atticus joined Carl, Kaitlin and me for lunch. Atticus came in wearing his super cool shades so I put mine on so we could get a super cool picture!

The Baptism of my first Grandson!

 Three generations that have worn this gown.

 The beautiful family with Bubbles.

Four generations.  Pastor Tim shared that often in the Bible, God uses families to spread the Gospel.  He shared that he thought it was neat that four generations were at this baptism showing this example.

 I love that Atticus got his little, darling, foot out.

Our family

We usually sit on the right side of the church on the third pew. Because of the baptism we sat with all the family on the left side.  We did ask Pastor Tim if he could handle seeing us sit on the 'other' side.  He was teasingly unsure.  We were able to get some photos on the down low.  The is always an elder that stands up with family.  Carl got that honor.  I would call him by his grandfather name but we have not idea what that is?!?

During the baptism when Pastor Tim was talking to John and Marisa, Atticus began cooing at him.  It made Tim pause and smile.  Very precious.

 Pastor Tim always kisses the babies after they are baptized.

Marisa's family

It was a beautiful service.  I hope to often remind Atticus of the faith of his parents in bringing him to be baptized.  It is our prayer that Atticus doesn't know a day that Jesus isn't his Lord and Saviour.