Cutie Pa Tootie

"Yea I got a dimple. Cute huh?"

Wii weights of the Brooks Girls

Wii: mommy lost another 1.1#. 

E gained .2 (29.5#). 

F gained .4 (12.6#). 

Name That Veg!

No, that's not a beet. It's a radish!

Some Like It Hot, Hot, Hot

What better way to enjoy 90 degrees than a pool party?  It will probably be our first & last of 2013 as it has been a cool, wet summer in general. 

Visiting Ely

Deck Staining-before&after in 1pic

We got both the north & west decks cleaned, pressured washed, used a brightener (which made a dramatic improvement), & stained. The cedar really  turned out sharp. Good job David. 

Jack Sprat Nursery Rhyme

This about describes David & my diet. We could split a hamburger and he could eat the bun while I eat meat. Haha

Jack Sprat could eat no fat.

His wife could eat no lean.

And so between them both, you see,

They licked the platter clean.

To Die to Oneself ...

The following reflection is courtesy of Don Schwager (c) 2013, whose website is located at DailyScripture.net

What can a grain of wheat tell us about life and the kingdom of God?  Jesus drew his parables from the common everyday circumstances of life. His audience, mostly rural folk in Palestine, could easily understand the principle of new life produced by dead seeds sown into the earth. What is the spiritual analogy which Jesus alludes to? Is this, perhaps, a veiled reference to his own impending death on the cross and his resurrection on the third day? Or does he have another kind of "death and rebirth" in mind for his disciples? Jesus, no doubt, had both meanings in mind for his disciples. The image of the grain of wheat dying in the earth in order to grow and bear a harvest can be seen as a metaphor of Jesus' own death and burial in the tomb and his resurrection. Jesus knew that the only way to victory over the power of sin and death was through the cross. Jesus reversed the curse of our first parents' [Adam and Eve] disobedience through his obedience to the Father's will his willingness to go to the cross to pay the just penalty for our sins and to defeat death once and for all. His obedience and death on the cross obtain for us freedom and new life in the Holy Spirit. His cross frees us from the tyranny of sin and death and shows us the way of perfect love. There is a great paradox here. Death leads to life. When we "die" to our selves, we "rise" to new life in Jesus Christ.

What does it mean to "die" to oneself? It certainly means that what is contrary to God's will must be "crucified" or "put to death". God gives us grace to say "yes" to his will and to reject whatever is contrary to his loving plan for our lives. Jesus also promises that we will bear much "fruit" for him, if we choose to deny ourselves for his sake. Jesus used forceful language to describe the kind of self-denial he had in mind for his disciples. What did he mean when he said that one must hate himself?  The expression to hate something often meant to prefer less. Jesus says that nothing should get in the way of our preferring him and the will of our Father in heaven.  Our hope is in Paul's reminder that "What is sown in the earth is subject to decay, what rises is incorruptible" (1 Corinthians 15:42). Do you hope in the Lord and follow joyfully the path he has chosen for you?

"Lord Jesus, let me be wheat sown in the earth, to be harvested for you. I want to follow wherever you lead me. Give me fresh hope and joy in serving you all the days of my life."

A Different Perspective

 My previous pastor is actively dying of prostrate cancer. His wife or dtr posts for him daily if he cannot on FB. His wife is losing sleep caring for him since he's @ home & has become so restless as they strive to comfort him. 

Opens my eyes that I'm losing sleep because of caring for a new life vs caring for one slowly leaving this world & it makes the job seem not-so-bad.  

Heavenly Father, I lift up those to you tonight who are restless & ask that you give then comfort. In Jesus' name. Amen. 

Felicity's Baptism

Godparents Jen & Jr

Grandma Koney & Papa Earl

Elizabeth: "Oh, baby sister not happy."

Fr Gabriel

Papa Gary & Grandma Candy

Auntie Grandma

"Christmas" outfit that won't fit by Dec.

Strike a pose

So blessed to have such great family & friends!

Toaster Oven Hard Cooked Eggs

Toaster oven eggs: 325-degrees for 30 min. Place in ice water afterwards & I put in the fridge.

I love this: way less babysitting than waiting for water to boil and they peel so much more easily. No more boiling here!

Just hanging w/ the Girls

Elizabeth reading to Felicity

"Mommy, I pack my lunch in my pack pack."

My Girls are Growing Up So Fast!

Big girl on her 2-wheeler ( w/training wheels) :)

Felicity's 1st bottle-and accepted well!

New Bridge

Top of bridge. 

Under bridge. Water is temporarily being re-routed via pump/generator. 

 

 Big dump truck tires!

Big crane.