"Do this in remembrance of Me."

We just became members of our church this past Sunday and with that, came many questions as to how and why the church does certain things. One thing that is interesting about our church is that they take communion on Wednesdays instead of Sundays. I found this to be interesting so I asked why this was done this way. The women who lead the new members class told us that communion is encouraged not only to be done in church but at home with your own families. When she said this I thought "What a great way to take Communion, with your family at home. I love the idea!"

As a result, Daron and I decided to set aside one day a month to take communion as a family. I love this idea because usually Communion is done when the kids are in children's church and I have often felt that they miss out on a great opportunity. So, Monday was our first experience taking communion as a family. It was wonderful! We had the liberty to talk and read and pray together as a family, something that would be difficult to do during Communion in a church service.

Daron read to the kids about Jesus explaining to his disciples what the bread and wine symbolized. The kids were fascinated by it all and were full of questions. We explained the importance of what his body and what his blood did for us and how it correlates to the story of the Passover. We explained that when we partake in communion it reminds us that God's judgement and wrath passes over us and we receive His grace and forgiveness just like what happened in the time of the early Israelites on the first Passover. It was such a sweet memorable time as a family. This is something all of us will look forward to each time we do it. I want my kids to look back and remember the times we took communion as a family. I think next time we take communion we will sing a hymn as well. A great hymn that will be perfect is "Nothing but the blood of Jesus". Ah! Ha! I found our new hymn to learn for hymn study, Yes! Nothing but the blood of Jesus!

What can wash away my sin?

Nothing but the blood of Jesus;

What can make me whole again?

Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Oh! precious is the flow

That makes me white as snow;

No other fount I know,

Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

So, my calendar is now marked off one day each month for communion. Let me just encourage you to pray about including this into your family time. You will create some wonderful memories! I am looking forward to the ones we will make.

As an ending note or simply an observation, I find it interesting that during the first Passover, God passed over families and individuals in homes. So I think there is something to be said about taking communion in our homes as families. I'm sure there is something significant about that.

Isn't it great that there is nothing but the blood of Jesus to wash us and make us whole again!! Hallelujah!

Our Daily Schedule

OK here it is! My schedule for the next school year. I realize it will need some tweaking once we get started, but for now it seems to be what will work for us. I tried very hard not to change some routines that have worked well for us so far. Mainly the morning routine is untouched. I am trying not to look at my schedule as that, a schedule, but simply a routine to strive for. We will be doing a lot more reading, especially for Rebekah, this year and I still haven't decided if Brianna will be joining Rebekah and I in this. Finding something for Zachariah to do during this time will be a challenge. It has been a challenge so far since he has shown no interest in school at all. I don't want the TV on during the day so I'll try really hard not to have that as an option. I usually read to him or have a hands-on project for him to keep him busy. I'll see how this plays out. So, as we start gearing up our brains and lives for a new school year I can't help but get a tad excited about what will happen. I'm always up for a challenge in this area.

Family

Here are some pictures of us from recent weeks. We've had a busy and fun summer so far.


Zach and Daron getting ready to light a fire cracker. They were fun to watch!


Zach loved the results of the fireworks.

Kelli and Brianna. The mosquito's ate us alive until Nana came to the rescue with some fabric sheets. They really work!

We were ready to see the fireworks at a local church in town.

Rebekah practiced the Pledge of Allegiance for this day.

Brianna and Daron.

Zach and his friend Night.

Rebekah and her friend Dari.

A great summer day.

The kids had a great visit with their Nena.

Nena and the kiddos.

Nena and Brianna.

Rebekah's crazy face.

Daron, Daron's dad, and Tommy. It was a hot day!

Swimming at Nana'a and Papa Tommy's. There's really nothing wrong with Kelli, she's just making a silly face. :-)

Childlike Faith

There are some days when you wonder when you will see spiritual fruit in your kids, and then there are days you are in amazement at their level of faith. Today, I got a beautiful glimpse at that fruit in Rebekah, and it was....Oh! So Sweet!

The kids were excited because we had made plans to go to the library. There were several movies we were going to pick up but the main reason we had to go was because we had a library book that had been several days overdue and needed to be returned. I had intentionally placed the book by my purse to help remind me about it. Later that afternoon we loaded up and left in route to the library and about half way there I realized we left without the book. So....we u-turned and went back home to retrieve this book. I knew exactly where I had placed it so I quickly ran into the house to get the book. But to my surprise, it was not there. I immediately became frustrated because I knew one of the kids took off with it and there was no telling where this book could have disappeared to.

I stomped outside to the car and commanded that the kids get out and help in the search for the missing book. (Hey! This sounds like a good title to a Nancy Drew book:-) Well to my dismay, the book was no where to be found. Of course, I did have two 6 yr. olds and a 3 yr. old looking. What did I really expect?

I quickly became flustered and announced "WE ARE NOT GOING TO THE LIBRARY IF WE DO NOT FIND THIS BOOK!" The kids immediately became horrified. And the search was taken more seriously at this point. After 10 min. of looking, Rebekah piped up and said "You know Mommy, when I can't find something I ask Jesus to help me find it. Maybe if we pray He will show us where it is." I stopped dead in my tracks and stood there in awe at my daughter. It was at that moment that I rejoiced. Here, my 6 yr. old daughter got it! She realized that only Jesus could help us. We stopped right there and she prayed the simplest of prayers. "Jesus please help us find this book."

Lo and behold! Not a minute later I found it tucked behind our very dusty fake tree. We took time at that moment to thank the Lord for his faithfulness and goodness. I used this teachable moment to point out to them that what Rebekah demonstrated was called faith, believing in Jesus when we need help and trusting Him to do it.

It was a beautiful moment for me, to witness the childlike faith from my daughter that Jesus wants us all to have. It makes all that I do so worth it when I see that they are growing in the Lord. I love these moments, they are priceless!