Fun With Grandchildren

Sunday, January 27

 

When we were getting ready for church, Jere and Kristen's three youngest boys were running through the house playing Hide and Seek. I walked into our bedroom to fix the bed, and called to the boys that it was time to stop playing and get dressed for church.

As I walked by our closet and prepared to close the door, I noticed that Ian was hiding inside, and shooed him out, then pulled the door shut. I immediately heard Jesse saying, "Hey, I'm still in here!"

Somehow that made me think about how easy it is to miss people in out daily routine - and just "shut the door" to their lives.

~~~

Later, in church, one of our ministers, Marv, welcomed us by saying, "Welcome to the house of the Lord."

Jesse (who was looking at a Sunday school paper) looked at me and said, "Is this the house of the Lord?"

I love the perspective of small children when they hear adult terminology in church.

 

 

 

Elizabeth taught Jared (middle right) how to play Hand and Foot with Rook cards the day before - and he could hardly wait for lunch to be over so we play it again. Josiah (right) joined us as did Jesse (left).

 

 

Toward evening Jana prepared to make brownie pops.

 

 

 

 

While she made brownies, Elizabeth helped Sabrina set up her new computer.

 

 

I missed the part where Jana shaped the brownies into balls and placed a stick in them.

 

 

We were delighted to sample these delicious, sweet delicacies.

 

 

 

I am the Vine, you are the branches.

When you’re joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant.

Separated, you can’t produce a thing.

Jesus

John 15:5 (The Message)

 

 

 

Lunch

Saturday, January 26 - continued

One-Day Spiritual Refreshment

 

 

The kitchen staff was kept busy serving the ladies as they moved from the sanctuary to the fellowship hall for lunch.

 

 

 

 

Delicious Wraps

 

 

Fresh Vegies

 

 

Beautiful Centerpiece

 

 

 

 

Yummy Salad

 

 

Amazing Broccoli Cheese Soup

 

 

We were treated like queens for a day.

 

 

 

 

Brownie Ice Cream Dessert

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The entire meal was a feast for our taste buds!

 

~~~

We would have enjoyed staying for the afternoon session, but felt that we needed to go home and rescue Cerwin who was taking care of the boys.

~~~

 

 

Ian arrived home from a roller skating/birthday party shortly after we got home.

 

 

Look at his eyes!

He was telling us about a girl who gave him a quarter to hold her hands and roller skate with him.

 

 

Jesse playing a Webkinz game.

 

 

Jana, Elizabeth, and Jared playing Blokus.

 

 

It was a wonderful day filled with lots of variety.

 

 

 

Have your roots planted deep in Christ.

Grow in Him.

Get your strength from Him.

Colossians 2:7 (New Life Version)

 

 

 

Handmaidens of the Lord

Saturday, January 26 - continued

One-Day Spiritual Refreshment

 

 

Introduction to the day:

Have you ever realized after reading a book to a child that there was a life-lesson contained in it?

Barb Eby will look at several classic works of children's literature and find scriptural principles on topics like servanthood, giftedness, and suffering, along with some biblical and contemporary handmaidens of the Lord who modeled them.

 

 

Linnea led the ladies in singing several songs to open the morning service.

 

 

Rebekah, Abigail, Ellie provided beautiful music.

 

 

Kathy welcomed everyone to this special day for ladies.

 

 

The Ladies Fellowship Committee - Kathy, Dorinda (hidden behind Barb), Jen, and Deb - praying for each lady - especially for Barb.

 

 

Barb began her session by leading us in singing a nursery rhyme - since we were studying children's books.

 

 

Singing Itsy Bitsy Spider

 

 

The first story was The Little Red Hen. In this photo Barb is pointing to one of the groups of ladies who said, "Not I" at the appropriate time.

She used this story to remind us of the rewards and challenges of being a servant of the Lord?

 

 

The next story she used was Five Chinese Brothers.

Barb used this story to talk about giftedness - and a very gifted person did some great artwork for these props.

 

~~~

The plot of the story:

Long ago in China lived a family with five brothers who resembled each other very closely. They each possessed a special talent. One can swallow the sea; one has an iron neck; one can stretch his legs; one can survive fire; and the last can hold his breath forever.

 

 

When one of the brothers, a very successful fisherman, agrees to let a young boy accompany him on his fishing trip, trouble results. This brother holds the entire sea in his mouth so that the boy can retrieve fish and treasures. When the man can no longer hold in the sea, he frantically signals to the boy, but the boy ignores him and drowns when the man releases the water.

 

 

The man is accused of murder and sentenced to death. However, one by one, his four brothers assume his place when subjected to execution, and each uses his own superhuman ability to survive...

 

 

...one cannot be beheaded...

 

 

...one cannot be drowned because his legs extend...

 

 

...one cannot be burned...

 

 

...and one cannot be smothered.

At the end of the story, a judge decides that the brother accused of murder must have been innocent, since he could not be executed, and the five brothers return home.

 

~~~

God has gifted each of us to help, equip, and encourage each other.

~~~

 

 

Following the second story it was time for lunch in the fellowship hall.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I will tell you about lunch in my next post - tomorrow night.

 

 

 

Be gentle and show courtesy to everyone.

Titus 3:2 (GOD’S WORD Translation)

 

 

 

Beginning of a Blessed Day

Saturday, January 26

 

 

Jared was awake early asking for pancakes for breakfast.

 

 

 

 

Before long the sun was coming up over the freshly fallen snow.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Joram (who visits the man cave on a regular basis) and Josh offered to open the driveway this morning.

That was so nice of them!

 

 

By 9:00 a.m. Elizabeth, Jana, and I were ready to leave the house and go to One-Day Spiritual Refreshment provided by the Ladies Fellowship of our church. The men - Cerwin, Josh, Joram, Ian, Jared, and Jesse stayed home to take care of house.

 

 

A pretty snow-covered bush in the church courtyard.

 

 

The Hospitality Committee always creates a beautiful atmosphere in the Narthex and prepares delicious refreshments for this occasion.

 

 

Registration and Refreshments began at 9:15

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Doesn't this make you want to join us for this special day next year?

...and the day has only begun.

 

 

 

The amazing grace of the Master, Jesus Christ,

the extravagant love of God,

the intimate friendship of the Holy Spirit,

be with all of you.

2 Corinthians 13:14 (The Message)