Catch up

Yet another season has flown by, and it's finally Spring - although you would not believe it to look outside.  It's still thoroughly chilly, and even had a sprinkle of snowflakes a few days ago.  And yet we live in hope, of the promise that it will warm up soon.

The winter here was brutal.  More snow than in recent memory, causing days off school and trees falling (mercifully none of ours).  So, even more than usual we beckon the summer to arrive, when it will be "too hot" and the cycle continues!

We celebrated Easter this year with a visit to the UK.  The kids got their first taste of a British Easter, literally, with a dozen giant chocolate eggs, and accompanying chocolate bars, which I am slowly portioning out!  (I usually throw out much of the holiday candy they get, but this is English chocolate, and that would hurt me even more than having to resist eating it!)

It is always bittersweet to visit our other family, in the UK.  We quickly assimilate and adjust to the people and pace of life.  Only to leave again.  It is quite head spinning.  As the kids get older, and "family" becomes more precious, these visits are increasingly a priority.

It has been such a blessing for the kids to get to know two of their great grandparents.  To see your children as excited and running in to their arms as you once did is a priceless experience.

And as quick as we arrived, we were home again, and looking ahead.

Baseball season has started, and Scott is coaching one of Toby's two teams!!

(This was Saturday when it was 80f.  The next day dropped back to 40f!!)

The kids have two months of school left, and then it will be summer.  Every year summer presents a challenge for me.  It's a benchmark of how quickly the kids are growing up - Emma has 8 summers left and then she'll be looking at starting college!!  So while I work, I long to make the most of this time when we can create memories.  Every year so far I've fallen short.  So I'm being proactive and making plans this year!!!

At the end of August Scott will be heading off to the Amazon basin in Peru, leading a mission team from our church.  The trip will have them doing a few things, including taking a boat 12hours into the jungle, where they will construct a church for the indigenous tribes people that the local missionaries connect with.  Not just bringing the gospel to the people, but also water filtration and other positive things!  (You'll hear more about that, and have an opportunity to help send Scott!)

And so it's back to today.  Living in the moment, planning for the future, hopeful in eternity!!

At times we can become so consumed by the sheer weight of all that lies ahead, compounded my regrets or memories of the past, that we forget that God is very present hear and now.  He wants our attention, and obedience, in faith that He holds the future in His hands, and our past has been washed clean.

That reminds me - Toby has asked to be baptized!  This is a big deal.  If you recall, we don't practice infant baptism, following the scripture that baptism is an outward declaration of an inner change.  Once a person is mature enough to understand that they have sinned against God (as all have, Romans 3:23), and that only through Jesus Christ can sin be forgiven (Romans 10:9, John 14:6), and make a decision to turn from living for themselves, and invite God, through the Holy Spirit to be the leader of their life, then they are saved.  Then baptism is an act of sharing that decision.

Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

Mark 16:16

When I asked Toby why he wanted to be baptized, he shared that he knew he had done wrong things and wanted to be made clean and pure.  We prayed together for God to forgive him, and Toby asked God to lead his life. 

It is probably the greatest joy that a mother can have.  I couldn't make that decision for him, and I can not force him to make that same choice each day (because it is a daily choice for each of us, if we will deny ourselves and follow God, or do what we want!).  We will always try to lead our lives in faith, showing our children (and anyone else who is watching!) that we require God's strength to live right, and we require God's mercy when we fail!  

Time is flying by.  We need to be prepared!

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