Symanzik Family Update

James and Jerard turned two on October 26th. That morning a couple friends with their young children, James, Jerard, Arlene, and I went to Play Zone at a local mall. The kids played for one hour there, then we ate lunch at McDonalds - a special treat for James and Jerard. They both love coke and french fries!

Jerard

James

Helping Jerard down the slide

James!.... finally, a computer he can touch!!!

Jeralyn, pushing her son, Silas

Friends - Ashlyn, Keighly, Ewan

Jerard with Arlene

Lydia, Louise's daughter

Silas giving James a ride on the roller coaster

All Saints Day is being celebrated as usual. It is almost a carnival-like atmosphere at the local cemeteries.

Here is more about the holiday:

"In the Philippines, it is called Araw ng mga Patay (Day of the Dead), Todos Los Santos or Undas (the latter two due to the fact that this holiday is celebrated on November 1, All Saints Day), designated by the Roman Catholic Church). The Filipino citizens treat it as an almost festive event and has more of a "family reunion" atmosphere. It is said to be an "opportunity to be with" the departed and is done in a somewhat solemn way. When November 1 hits the calendar, the "Araw ng mga Patay" for the Filipinos start, as a celebration of the solemn and collective remembrance of the Day of the Dead. The almost festive movements are not short, for in fact lasts till the next day, which is the All Souls Day. Catholics in the Philippines have a tradition of setting aside their days to wind down and remember their dead loved ones. Since the Philippines have the most number of catholic citizens in the whole of Asia, a lot of people celebrate the fact that the whole of the state has a mandatory two day vacation for the whole country."

Since the arrival of James and Jerard, God has been teaching me that no matter what I am doing, be it changing diapers, holding a crying baby, mopping the floor, picking up toys, playing with toddlers, etc.,...it is all for His glory. Two verses that have been key in this teaching are "So then, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31).

"Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him" (Colossians 3:17).

I wish I could say I'm always thankful for and patient in these opportunities to worship Him in the mundane of every day living....but that would not be true!!!!

So I found today's blog from John Piper's ministry, Desiring God, very interesting.

The Gospel Infuses Daily Activities with Meaning
October 28, 2009 | By: Matt Perman

Mark Driscoll has a great word in his book The Radical Reformission: Reaching Out Without Selling Out :

Every day, people eat, sleep, work, play, love, and hate, but they do not know why. Not knowing where they come from or to whom they are going, they lack the ability to make their lives meaningful. Consequently, our culture is filled with "successful" people who are mired in anxiety and confusion because they do not know the point of all their toil. But the gospel reveals Jesus as Lord over all of life, who infuses even mundane tasks such as dishwashing with meaning as acts of worship.

This also makes me think of Stephen Curtis Chapman's song "A Moment Made for Worshiping." When you first hear the title of that song, you think he's talking about a mountain top experience or miracle moment where everything is going so right that you can't help but worship.

But instead, the first line of the song is: 6:30 Monday morning.

In other words, the ordinary moments of the everyday are the moments made for worshiping. Everything we do can and should be done as an act of worship. This infuses even the most mundane activities with meaning.

And, ironically, it rescues the more amazing moments from futility as well, for it turns out that even those moments derive their meaning not from themselves, but from God.

"So then, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31).

"Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him" (Colossians 3:17).

Today we celebrated James and Jerard's 2nd birthday. Their birth date is tomorrow October 26, but we celebrated with friends today since it is not a work/school day.

Jerard and James with Chaim and Shaul - who are also twins!

Friends! JR, Ben, Michael. 2nd Row - Lani Lou, Lori Ann, Kirsten
Amy, Elise

Jocy and Jambi (Beth Mari)

Jocy, Jambi, James, Lori Ann, Bebe, Lani Lou

Mark, Chaim and Shaul talking

Lola Arlene and Jerard

Barb and James

Blowing out candles.........................

Enjoying Cake and Ice Cream..................................

Opening up gifts.........................

"For the joy of human love, brother, sister, parent, child, friends on earth and friends above, for all gentle thoughts and mild; Lord of all, to thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise."

It has been 7 years since my Mom went home to Heaven following a 2 1/2 year battle with leukemia.

"When we asunder part,
It gives us inward pain;
But we shall still be joined in heart,
And hope to meet again."

I do wish she'd been around longer to see her grandchildren grow. She would've been so pleased that we are on the mission field and adopting two boys.
But God in His providence has a reason for each event in our lives.
I'm thankful for the Mom God gave me.

"Blest be the tie that binds
Our hearts in Christian love;
The fellowship of kindred minds
Is like to that above."