rejoicing

Several months ago, Braden started asking about being a Christian. He talked about it to his teacher in Sunday School, he mentioned it to me at home. When Everett sat down with him to talk about it some more, he didn't seem to understand what it was really about. So we set the topic aside for a while. Every so often the subject would come up again, in passing, and we could tell it was on his mind. A few weeks ago, he told us that he wanted to be a Christian. So Everett talked with him again.

They talked about how we cannot live up to God's standard of perfection. Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

He explained the Bible's plan for saving us from the penalty of sin, which is eternal death and separation from God. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

What can we do to deserve earn or deserve this gift? Nothing! Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us

How did he save us? John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit

So now what? Romans 10:9 If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

Braden said that he understood and that he believed, so he prayed and he did! Amen and praise the Lord! We're so thankful to God for this blessing. We have prayed for each of our children, from birth, that he (or she) would put their trust in Jesus Christ at a young age. We prayed that his faith would grow, just as he grows, and that he would be used by God to do great and mighty things for the kingdom of God. Praise God, we know that God is already working in Braden's heart and can already see evidence of his growth in God as he has become more sensitive to his sins and more teachable when he is corrected. As the Bible says in Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

We know there is rejoicing in heaven when even one sinner repents, and we are rejoicing here too!

Leaps and Bounds

Just in case you were wondering what the baby girl is up to...



...she's pretty pleased with herself, don't you think?

Rosebuds

I knitted this hat for a dear little girl who just turned five and has an affinity for hats. It won't see much cold weather until they move next year, but I have it on good authority that it coordinated well with her sundress this morning.

Frills

I will admit it. It is so fun to sew for a little girl. Sometimes people say the "devil is in the details", but I think that's where all the fun is! I wore some of these little rompers when I was a toddler, and I think they are so adorable. I whipped out five of them, assembly line style, in just a couple of days. The pattern is so simple (you hardly need one) so that leaves lots of time for making each one a little different and special. Maybe the best part is that they cost me next to nothing.



I know, she can't believe it either! Almost nothing for these cute dresses? This pink flowered one was up-cycled from a dress that I wasn't wearing anymore. Almost everything else was found in my fabric stash. I admit, I did buy all new buttons for them, but even they were on sale at the fabric store!







I did buy the striped pink fabric because I didn't have any pink in my stash (big surprise). And I thought she needed just a touch more pink in her life. And maybe the next best part is that I didn't have to bother with any matching bloomers. Hooray for cloth diaper covers that already look sweet and cute!





This little bonnet was sewn while I had the sewing machine out. You saw the bonnet's blue twin sister in our camping pictures. I fell in love with these fabrics and bought them on a whim. They were supposed to be quick and easy. Yeah, not so much. I found the pattern here, and thought it was adorable. It should be simple, but I just had a difficult time. I tried to follow the instructions for this pink one, but ended up completely doing my own thing for the blue one. At least they look cute. But they are sure to be the only two of their kind!

Camping with Five

We had a great Independence Day weekend. We escaped the desert heat and headed up to the mountains a couple hours west of here. It was Fiona's first camping trip and I think she had a great time. She helped set up the tent, supervised the cooking and just generally looked cute.






We went for a nice hike through the mountain meadows. The weather was perfect and the scenery was gorgeous.



Apparently the wildlife agreed because we found a rattlesnake who had come out to play. He's the squiggly black thing in the picture. Ev lifted the boys up to view it from a "safe" distance. I think he and I have slightly differing definitions for that, but that's probably because I would have preferred to be about a mile away.



Ev and Trevor went mountain biking later that afternoon while the other two and I relaxed in the campsite. We read books around the campfire, talked about animal footprints and all sorts of other fun things. The campground was very quiet, so we had a peaceful, relaxing holiday. I think we'll have to go camping again soon!