Sunday events.

The Boyles family came over on Sunday to hang out and witness the shaving of Seth's head and give him moral support. He was a tad nervous I think. A drastic cut like that can take a bit of time to get used to. He survived it and it looks really nice on him. I don't know how thrilled he is about it yet, but I like it. That is what counts right? Just playin'. Thanks for letting me get my hair high from shaving your head Seth. It's not every day that I get to do that. It isn't as good as a God buzz (that is for you Becky and Lauren) but thanks just the same :)

It was getting kind of late in the day and of course the kids come out of Grace's room begging for food as usual. I said no at first but then I realized what time it was and told them to go ahead after a few choruses of PLEASE from Tali and Grace. They skipped into the kitchen and ran back into the room with their prized peel cheese. Just as they closed the door I heard one of them say "See whining works every time!" I thought it was Tali that said it so I teased Becky about it, saying she was just like her momma. I had to eat those words. We called the girls back in and asked who said it and YEP it was my little Princess that uttered the words. It is funny because nothing makes me refuse to do something like whining. NOTHING. I can't stand whining at all. I guess she felt like she had won a huge battle with her stellar whining skills so I let her have her moment. She almost never wins the whining wars because I usually just shut down and refuse no matter what. That doesn't stop her from whining obviously! I just hope I didn't open Pandora's box of whining wisdom. I refuse to speak whineese.

Secret Gift for Seth

Grace and I bought Seth a wonderful gift and we can't wait to give it to him on Sunday. I will give you loyal blog readers a few hints....it is something you wear. It's cute so he might hate it. (Since it comes from a little girl that means he will have to wear it or break her little heart.) Here is another clue...she found it at Wal-Mart. Stumped aren't ya! I think it is pretty cool and even cooler that Grace just HAD to get it for him. LOL! So, go ahead fellow bloggers guess away. I know Lauren will love this most and maybe Carol too. If you guess right I will tell you but you have to promise to keep the secret! No general guesses you have to be dead on or I won't tell you and you will have to wait like everyone else :) Muahahaha Muahahaha haaaaaaaa!

She melts me

Yesterday Garry and I took Grace to Monroe City for his Mom to watch her while we went out to dinner. As we drove down the road I noticed how beautiful the sun was coming through the rain clouds. It was beaming down in streams of light. I told Grace to look and she said she thought it looked like God was coming to earth. I asked her what would happen if God came to earth. She said that all the people that believe in Jesus would go back home with him. She asked me if she would be able to go with him. I told her that God knows what is in her heart and that she didn't have to worry. I told her why people get baptized and told her that there was nothing magic in the water and she didn't have to worry about that right now. She seemed happy with that answer so I was a little surprised when all on her own she went to ask Seth if she could be baptized. I had a hunch that is what she and Tali wanted when they went on the mission looking for him. Grace was so honest and pure in her answers to Seth's questions that I kept tearing up and couldn't help smiling at the same time. She cracked me up when she called the valley between us and God the "sin pit". Lauren got to pray with her and she was so patient and loving.
I will never forget this special moment in Grace's life with such special people whom we both love. It is amazing that Grace gets to share this with her best friend Tali. It is also amazing that I get to share this with my best friend Becky.
As we left the church I gave Grace a hug and told her she was the reason I started coming to church. I felt like I wasn't equipped to answer the big questions and I wanted to raise her knowing the love of God. I wanted her to know the love of a church family and be involved with the community in a positive way. I got all of that and so much more. God is so good.

Yea church camp!

Grace just got back from church camp. She had an amazing time. I missed her while she was gone but I didn't cry this time :) The other two times she has been to camp I bawled like a baby. There are many reason why this time was much easier. Seth, Lauren and Anna happened to be there at this camp and that made it easier. Grace was so excited to go with Tali and that made it easier. I just felt a peace that she was going to be with people that love her and that she loves. I never got the chance to go to church camp when I was a child. I really feel liked I missed out on something really awesome. I don't want Grace to ever look back and feel like I held her back or became a helicopter mom hovering over her all the time. She is getting to be a big girl. She is already excited about next year and I love that she can't wait until she goes for a whole week. The truth is that I won't like it much. I don't like not having her around but no more tears because I know she is having a blast while she is gone. It takes special people to be camp counselors and camp staff (and camp pastors). Maybe some day when Grace is a teen she will get to be a counselor and share God's love with little kids. I can't wait to see what wonderful things she is going to do. Just like they learned at camp this week, she is such a light! Shine on baby Grace.

Ask and thy shall recieve

Some of you may know that there are some little girls of the church that are interested in doing a dance for the church like Grace and Tali do sometimes. I have been racking my brain for what song to do. Three times I have had "the perfect song". Three times I have been told NOPE NOT THE ONE! Sometimes you just know when something isn't right even though it is what you may want. (Not about what I want right? *sigh*). I finally asked for help. Seth sat with me in his office, MP3 player in hand and let me go through song after song to find the "right one". Did I mention how patient this man is? I am soooooooo picky when it comes to the song. It has to have the right eight count and it also has to be very distcriptive. You have to be able to listen to the song and get the message right away. Can't make the dear audience have to think too hard about it or they spend too much time trying to figure out the song and not enough watching the dance. Being descriptive also helps to make up the dance. I know it is strange but it makes total sense in my head. Seth helped me find the song "Here I am Lord" by the Micah Tawlk Band. I listened to it for a few days anytime I was in the car to get the feel of it. Tonight I sat down to map out the dance for the girls and it took me little to no time at all. It was really a blessing. Sure, things will get changed a bit. I like to have Becky put her two cents in and tweek what she thinks may need to be tweeked. Sometimes it even gets changed on the fly as the girls are learning if something just isn't working out. Not only was the right song sent my way but I learned a valuable lesson, it is ok to ask for help. Sometimes I have to learn a lesson more than once. We will see if this one sticks. :) I can't wait for you all to see the little ones dance their little hearts out for Jesus in all of their pink tutu glory!