Halloween

Here are a few pictures from Halloween night. Olivia only wanted to be a princess if she got to hold the sucker and that is Ella with our neighbor Lawton who dressed up as a mad professor. :)

Grateful

Guest Post from Christina:

Sometimes we forget how good feels until we don't feel good anymore. The girls and I have been sick/injured for the last 2 weeks. We are finally starting to feel better and it sure does feel good!!

Through the last weeks being home alot I have realized how grateful I am for all the things God has blessed us with. What a wonderful life, healthy children, my most wonderful blessing Kevin (the best husband in the world). God has been so good to us!! 

The girls are going to be princesses for Halloween and we thought we would make it out trick or treating a little bit but it looks like due to our sicknesses we will just hand out candy to any one that comes by our house. Anyway Ella can't remember Halloween. She just knows she gets to dress up so she has changed this holiday to "dress up day". Here are a few snapshots of the girls trying on thier dresses.

Teachability

I am now in the blogosphere.  It's dark in here.  And it smells like a paper mill.  

Anyway I thought I would start off by trying to be spiritual and write about something I've been thinking about.  In Matthew 13, Jesus talks about different types of ground that seeds are planted on.  You know, the walked on, stony, thorny  and good ground.  What's interesting is that later He tells the disciples, "Do you not understand this parable?  How then will you understand all the parables?"  So you could say that this is the KEY to all parables (I thought the renewed mind was the key!  Thanks anyway, church dancers Youtube sensation).

So now there's some pressure to really figure out this parable.  We already know it's about what type of ground you are but I have to ask myself "How receptive am I really?"  How well do I receive not only scripture but correction (God corrects those He loves)?  And how well do I receive correction from other people?  Maybe this parable is about teachability (it is a word no matter how W-ish it sounds).  If someone isn't teachable how will they ever learn anything?  To be teachable you have to humble yourself because to be taught is to admit you don't know it all, and that can really hurt your pride.  

On the other hand, humbling yourself can be very liberating.  Think about it: wouldn't it be nice to stop caring so much about your image.  I think we all spend way too much energy on keeping a good image.  Imagine the stress relief.  And you can go around and throw out plenty of compliments to people and feel great about it.  You don't have to defend yourself so much.  It's nice. 

Holding the Birthday Girl!