It's been awhile...

It's been awhile since our last post.  Time flies when you're having fun.  Here's what we've been up to.

Micah's Baby Dedication

We've committed to lead Micah, whom God has entrusted to us, back to Him.  It brought back so many memories of Maddie's baby dedication.  Here are some of the goals Emily and I discussed in preparation for the baby dedication:

• That they would understand that they are not only accountable to us, but to God.
• That they would bring glory to God in everything they do.
• That I would be the husband we want Maddie to marry and Micah to be and that Emily would be the wife we want Micah to marry and Maddie to be.

We invite you (whoever you are) to hold us accountable as we do the things we need to do to achieve these goals and lead Maddie and Micah back to Him.

We Moved

We will never forget the story surrounding our move -- one only God could write.  We're settled for the most part.  Here's our little helper painting the play room.

 

  

Record Snowfall in Atlanta

We had the most snow we've seen in Atlanta since we moved here five years ago (3+ inches).  

 

Unfortunately, they don't sell sleds in Georgia.  So we did what most southerners do -- use an empty Rubbermaid.

 

 

And Maddie had a good time making snowmice with Bop Bop.

 

If you're wondering, "Why snowmice?"  Maddie's into Angelina Ballerina.

So it begins...

Maddie tried getting Micah in Time Out last night.  You're probably thinking, "Isn't he too young for time out?"  Yes, but I was trying to be consistent with "consequences".  Here's how it went down:

Micah was stuffing his mouth with one of Maddie's trains.  She wasn't happy because he was getting slobber all over it.  We don't want him doing that, so I took the train away and told him that he was going in Time Out if he did it again. (Teachable moment?)

He then picked up a train.  As if she had busted him, Maddie shouted, "Micah's touching a twain!"  I said, "Oh, he's allowed touching the trains.  He just can't put them in his mouth."

I turn my head for a second and hear, "Look!"

Maddie was stuffing a train in his mouth......

Christmas 2009

It's Micah's first Christmas.  Maddie finally understands OPENING presents.  Unfortunately, it didn't go as planned.  They're BOTH getting over bronchitis.  Here they are with their nebulizers.

 

Maddie with her Zhu Zhu pets.

 

Maddie and Micah with their Thomas train table.

 

 

 Micah and Aunt Bethany.

 

Our new tradition -- a birthday cake for Jesus.  Notice the Zhu Zhu pets and Birthday Thomas joined us for the fun.

 

Christmas Fun!

Just in time for Christmas.  Here are some pictures from the neighborhood Christmas party.

 

 

 

 

 

Is it too late for FALL pictures?

Christmas Eve is tomorrow, so why not share some FALL pictures?  I was browsing our pictures and came across some pictures from this fall.  Don't mind the turkey bib.

 

 

 

 

 

Santa: The Great Debate (Part II)

InTouch Magazine offers an interesting perspective on the man in red as well.  It's taken from Stories Behind Men of Faith by Ace Collins.  Here's a good excerpt:

"Yet what ultimately made [Nicholas of Myra] a legend was his love of children.  As he grew older, he used more and more of his funds to purchase gifts for children.  Giving toys or candy to little ones, Nicholas told stories of Christ and the gift He had given through His death on the cross.  Then, he would add, 'Jesus loves little children, and He loves you.'  Through these gifts, many began to understand the full measure of their salvation."

It goes on to describe him as a "servant of God" and a "legend of faith."

Santa: The Great Debate

Our Santa trains didn't collide until we had Maddie.  Emily was in the non-believer camp.  I, on the other hand, believed and was devastated when I found out.  I recall standing at the top of the stairs and yelling down to my parents, "I guess that means the Easter Bunny isn't real either!"  Believe it or not, it's the source of all my problems today.

To believe, or not to believe?  That is the question.

Here's a great resource for those trying to figure it out -- Thinking About Santa.  In my opinion, the best excerpt is this:

"...we think about how confusing it must be to a straight-thinking, uncritically-minded preschooler because Santa is so much like what we're trying all year to teach our children about God.  Look, for example, at the "attributes" of Santa:

• He's omniscient -- he sees everything you do.
• He rewards you if you're good.
• He's omnipresent -- at least, he can be everywhere in one night.
• He gives you good gifts.
• He's the most famous "old man in the sky" figure."
  

For those debating, I highly recommend checking it out.