Beth Mari turned 1 year old while we were in the USA. (July 3)
Our friends, James and Jocy had us over for a belated party with
Beth Mari.
Beth Mari
Friends enjoying good food and fellowship!
James riding Uncle James' motorbike backwards!
James and Ben on Uncle James' bike!
Kuya Ben giving Jerard a 'dirt bike' ride!
A Forex box we had shipped while in the states arrived yesterday evening. It was filled with items our sending church had collected for us....cold cereals for the kids, angel food cake mixes, a really cool flannelgraph set for the Dumoy Children's Bible Club, and lots and lots of mega blocks for James and Jerard to play with!
Thanks you all!!!!!!
The box can be more fun than the toys inside!
I really was blessed to read this by John Piper.......
"I was born into a believing family through no merit of my own at all. I was given a mind to think and a heart to feel through no merit of my own at all. I was brought into the hearing of the gospel through no merit of my own at all. My rebellion was subdued, my hardness removed, my blindness overcome, and my deadness awakened through no merit of my own at all.
Thus I became a believer in Christ through no merit of my own at all. And so I am an heir of God with Christ through no merit of my own at all. Now when I put forward effort to please the Lord who bought me, this is to me no merit at all, because ...it is not I, but the grace of God that is with me. (1 Cor. 15:10) ...God is working in me that which is pleasing in his sight. (Heb. 13:21) ...he fulfills every resolve for good by his power. (2 Thess. 1:11) And therefore there is no ground for boasting in myself, but only in God's mighty grace. Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord. (1 Cor. 1:31)"Oh, How He loves us!
James and Jerard are a lot of fun....enjoy some pictures!
Enjoying Ice Cream!
Jerard enjoyed feeling the cold ice cream and rubbing it on his chest.
James' favourite stuffed animal is this Tigger.
At nap time and night time, Tigger has to be with him or he
can't/won't go to sleep! It is adorable to watch him cuddle with
Tigger.
Jerard's balance is getting better and he can actually sit
in the rocking chair without slumping down and out!
Jerard's favourite item to chew on is string of any kind!
James came up with this idea all on his own.
He put the wheels of his scooter over the brace of the stroller
so that while Lola pushes Jerard in the stroller, James can
have a ride, too!
Play time. Jerard plays in a box to keep him sitting up right.
Jerard
James
Psalms 127: 3Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD...
James has decided that naps are not what he needs during the day.
But in the interest of sanity for his Mom and himself, he definitely benefits from a nap/rest time after lunch.
In trying to establish that routine in his life I spend some time after lunch rocking him gently and patiently in order to help him relax and rest.
Yesterday he spent about 40 minutes complaining "no, let go", wiggling, kicking, trying to get me to release him from my arms.
As I rocked him I wondered what spiritual lesson could be learned from this event.
How often am I enfolded in the loving arms of my patient, heavenly Father while I kick and scream, "no, let go..I don't want to do what you're asking me to do", only to have him continue to patiently hold me and wait for me to relax and be at peace with his way.?
When I take the risk of obedience, I find solid rock and peace.
John 14:27Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
Just as James finally fell asleep in my arms for a much needed nap, may I always rest in my Heavenly Father's arms.
Psalm 131: 2 But I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me.
