Steele Creek

Enjoying our time with Grandpa, and keeping plenty busy, we ventured to Steele Creek park for a morning cool off in the (numbingly cold) creek.  

Playground

We were so thankful to have Dann and Julie, Aubrey and Shelby with us for the Baptism weekend.  After the Sunday service, we took the kids to Warrior's Path playground to run off some extra energy and enjoy a picnic of Bojangles' chicken and biscuits. 

*It was such a treat for us to meet our newest niece/ cousin - Shelby is such a sweetie! 

Baptism

"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."  

Matthew 28:19

Baptism is a Sacrament, an outward sign of an inward grace.  It is a sign of belonging to Christ and becoming a part of His Body.  It is a sign of belonging to the covenant people of God.  It is about dying to sin and rising to new life.

Baptism is an appropriate act for someone who has come to faith in Christ - it is a step in identifying with and following Jesus, a symbol of what Christ has done.
Baptism is also appropriate for someone who has been nurtured from birth in the faith, raised to live out that faith, and growing into that faith.  For a young child, baptism is a sign that God's grace already rests on that child and that they have been adopted by the Spirit into the church by virtue of the parent's faith.  God willing, the child will continue to grow in their faith as they mature.

Salvation is not a one time event.  Salvation is a process.  Baptism is a step in the process of this amazing and mysterious and awesome gift from God.

Sunday, June 11, we were thrilled to have all eleven of our children baptized in our new Church.  Priest-in-Charge Father Nick Henderson, Godparent's Dann and Julie (Godparent's Dan and Linda wanted to be present too!), Grandpa, and the members of our new church community celebrated with us, welcoming our children into God's family through baptism.

"Dearly beloved, ye have brought these children here to be baptized; ye have prayed that our Lord Jesus Christ would vouchsafe to receive them, to release them from sin, to sanctify them with the Holy Ghost, to give them the kingdom of heaven, and everlasting life."  

Hendrick, Jackson Tesfaye, Davis, Burke, Hanna Hiwot, and Maegli answered for themselves, renouncing the devil and sinful desires, confirming belief in the Apostles' Creed and desire to obey God's holy will, by God's help, accepting Jesus Christ, the Son the of Living God as their Savior and Lord, and speaking their desire to be baptized in this Faith.

Kolpin, Maclaren, Dabney, Addison, and Emory were baptized as part of our household, with Father Nick presenting us and their godparents with the questions of faith and asking us, by God's help, to continue to guide them in their Christian education.

"O merciful God, grant that like as Christ died and rose again, so these children may die to sin and rise to newness of life.  Amen.
Grant that all sinful affections may die in them, and that all things belonging to the Spirit may live and grow in them.  Amen.
Grant that they may have power and strength to have victory, and to triumph, against the devil, the world, and the flesh.  Amen.
Grant that whosoever is here dedicated to thee by our office and ministry, may also be endued with heavenly virtues, and everlastingly rewarded, through thy mercy, O blessed Lord God, who dost live, and govern all things, world without end.  Amen. 

It is very meet, right, and our bounden duty, that we should give thanks unto thee, O Lord, Holy Father, Almighty, Everlasting God, for that thy dearly beloved Son Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of our sins, did shed out of his most precious side both water and blood; and gave commandment to his disciples, that they should go teach all nations, and baptize them In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.  Grant that these children now to be baptized therein, may receive the fullness of thy grace, and ever remain in the number of thy faithful children; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, be all honour and glory, now and evermore.  Amen.

I baptize thee In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.  Amen." 

- Holy Baptism from The Book of Common Prayer, 1929

*Addison giggled while she was baptized :)

We were so pleased to have Uncle Dann and Aunt Julie as godparents, and cousins Aubrey and Shelby, present to stand with our family during the baptism, along with Grandpa. 

After the church service, our church family hosted a luncheon in celebration: cake and cookies and lots of great food.  We are so thankful for their support and encouragement. 

Glasses

We have one more stud in glasses!

At our most recent visit to our family doctor, thanks to a basic eye exam, we discovered Davis has impaired vision in one eye - off to the eye doctor we went.

Davis has a form of lazy eye: Refractive Amblyopia.  His vision impairment affects only his left eye.  Unknown to us all, Davis has a "good" eye which has been providing his brain with a clearer picture and became dominant causing the other eye to become weaker.  Thankfully this condition was discovered and we hope that with corrective glasses (and a +2.75 lens for his left eye), his brain will start utilizing both eyes and any loss of vision will halt.

We are so thankful for this discovery and so thankful we are able to get the corrective eye wear he needs.  
He sure looks handsome in his spectacles! :)

*Davis joins our growing crew of glasses wearing kids: we now have FIVE!!!