Usually around spring time I am ready to be done with school.
No more lesson plans.
Math.
Grammar.
Science.
Done.
But about two weeks after we've finished school for the summer...I'm ready to start again!!!
And by August time...everyone is ready to start again too!
Jackson is only doing reading, math, and language arts...the rest of the morning is filled with PLAY - which, of course, fuels the brain!
Lil Miss Hailey is starting preschool.
She already knows her letters, numbers, colors, etc...but I cannot take any credit for that!
Her teacher thus far has been her older sister...I'm just trying to build on that foundation!!!
Amy is in fifth grade this year - but reading ANYTHING she can get her hands on.
Her favorite series - the Mandie collection - has been read twice thru - and if I let her...it would be three times!
And finally...my big kid...Tyler.
He is starting SIXTH grade (gulp)...a little nervous about this one!
While he would rather be outside playing football...he works hard and gets most of his work done by lunchtime.
I am so thankful for another year teaching these crazy hooligans...
2015-2016 here we go!!!
Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray.
Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises.
Is anyone among you sick?
Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him,
anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord;
and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick,
and the Lord will raise him up,
and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him.
Therefore, confess your sins to one another,
and pray for one another so that you may be healed.
The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.
James 5:13-16
Sometimes words are hard...
how do you explain how life was grand and wonderful...
happy and fun...
full of excitement and promise...
and then it was not?
How does one phone call cause everything else in life to blur...
but at the same time bring all that is important into crystal clear focus?
How do words like: cancer, treatment, prognosis, life expectancy become part of a normal conversation?
How do hugs seem to communicate so much more then mere words ever could?
How do years of separation seem to melt away and impossible distances evaporate?
How do moments become engraved in your heart...and become achingly sweet?
How does all this happen with a phone call?
When there is no guarantee of tomorrow.
When life is short.
When you are desperately seeking a miracle.
When prayer means faith and faith means healing.
When you rejoice because there are no small victories.
When you rest and trust in the goodness of God.
With the summer sun keeping the weather nice and warm...and a very GRACIOUS family offering up their lake house...our home church decided to go down to the water and pray...and baptize!!!
Tyler and Amy had been asking to be baptized for awhile. Thankfully, we were meeting in a home church fellowship...so Jason was able to baptize them himself.
There were also two other families that wanted to participate...so each of the dad's were able to baptize their children.
We started off with a time of worship...and some study in the Word.
Then it was time to head out to the water.
Jason baptized Tyler first...
And then Amy...
Gabriel Fisher was also baptized...
And his sister, Ashlyn!
And then Darcy Howard was baptized by her daddy!
After the baptisms, each family prayed over their children and dedicated them to the Lord.
Asking Him to protect them and watch over their commitment to follow Him.
It was an incredibly beautiful day...it was such a blessing to have our close friends gathered together to celebrate such a special occasion in our families' lives!
We spent the rest of the afternoon eating and splashing around in the water.
We also snuck in a quick happy birthday song to Jackson and Miss Courtney!
