Tuesday, November 20, 2012

CELEBRATING LIFE






"Behold, children are a blessing from the Lord."
Psalm 127:3 



Our most recent Baby Blessing celebration:  Brunch buffet with chalkboard menu,
ceramic birds on nests, homemade dishes and haystack nests with Jordan Almond "eggs."




We all love a good celebration.  One of the enjoyable distinctives of our fellowship is the happy celebration of each new life.  Whether it is a couple's first baby, or their eighth, we all get together to enjoy a time of fellowship and thankfulness for God's kindness.

It makes sense. We celebrate what we value. And as we do, our children get a peek into what we esteem-- and why.

As we enter into a time of celebration with Thanksgiving and Christmas, I am praying that God will help me to find ways to include our children in meaningful celebration.


Celebration that produces thankful hearts towards the Lord.

Celebration that ties heartstrings between us. 

And celebration that grounds us in right thinking.


 


Brunch, waffle with chocolate chips and croissant sandwich, sherbet punch preparation by Sarah and Lydia,
guessing one anothers baby photos, Grammie (my mom) with her new grandson.  Sweet friends.




"Where there is no vision, the people perish..."
Proverbs 29:18


We realized afresh with the recent election that our children count on us to provide vision.  They are standing by with eager hearts and minds to hear and understand how to discipher the world around them.  To be reminded- or hear for the first time- how our God is sovereign over the affairs of men- and that He knows the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10).

We need vision.  Daily vision-- even in celebrating.  Why does our family chose to observe one holiday and not another?  We should each be convinced in our own minds (Romans 14:5) and relish the days we celebrate as living pictures that point our children Home. 




Rainbow fruit kabobs.  Precious  Eve.  The celebrated mommies.  Fun gifts.  Homemade desserts.


    
I know that I will have eager little helpers in the kitchen who will likely spill ingredients this week.  I will have other little girls who are battling with the flesh and need of a moment away with Mom for a bit of redirecting and prayer.  And I know that I will have thousands of opportunities to smile into their sweet eyes and point them to truth if (by God's kindness and grace) I only remember to...  

May we relish this small window of time. 

Happy celebrating friends,



____________________________


We love the free coloring pages at Honking Donkey.  I hope you will enjoy their Thanksgiving collection this week.



We also treasure Barbara Rainey's book, Thanksgiving, A Time to Remember.  We enjoyed it again this week and we hope to read excerpts around the dinner table on Thanksgiving.



3 comments:

  1. Rebecca, the pictures of the baby shower you did for Liz and Judah are amazing! THE most beautiful baby shower I have ever seen! Sure wish I could have been there. You certainly display your love for your sister by sharing your lovely God given talents for making things beautiful!
    Love you my sister and friend!
    Susie

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  2. BEAUTIFUL DAY!
    ~Sandi

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  3. Thanks for your post, Rebecca! I always love it when I see you have updated your blog. :)

    Would you consider doing (SOON) a post on Christmas gift ideas for a variety of ages? We give our kids 3 gifts and this is the first year I am stumped for our 5 year old daughter. Any recommendations would be lovely.

    Bless you,
    Teri

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