Sunday Cool

Not at all sure why this video is insisting on uploading this way.... it's a shame. But I promised the kids of the BEST sunday school class ever that I would upload this video today. Please keep in mind these opinions were not in any way coerced by the fact that I had just given them honey-buns. Merry Christmas to Ramsay, Emma, Savannah, Hannah, Thomas, Winn and Michael!

Well hello my name is Simon....

Check out what Santa brought a little early this year! Sweet little Simon!

Riley-lina Ballerina

We feel so blessed that all of our children are healthy and strong! Especially Riley... she had her ballet "observation" yesterday and here's a little video of her doing her favorite tap step!

Snow Pals

I think the pictures say enough...

Thankful for Leaf Piles

From left to right, at least in the first picture: Cousin Gracie, Porter, Cousin Ethan, Riley, Lizzie, Cousin Rachael.

It's the End of an Era

Porter's soccer team, the Orange Crush, ended it's tour of domination last Saturday. They were undefeated in their age group thanks largely to a really great coach and one kid on his team who will most likely be bending it like Beckham one of these days. He improved a lot this year and had a great time. To celebrate their last game, we surprised them by lambasting them with sillystring ... look closely and you'll see a pink bundle being held by someone on the tunnel- Lizzie is Porter's biggest fan!

Boxin' Em In

No help needed! I thought this was pretty impressive.

Just Doing

A few shots from our first day back at home. Several people have asked Riley if she is getting sick of having to be off her leg. "No," she said the other day, "I'm just doing." We're so thankful that God has given us a litle girl that is so content to be in the moment- never asking what is next, and thankful for whatever is before her. There's lots of times where I've had to ignore her for quite awhile to help out Liz or Porter, be on the phone, etc. But she is (and has always been) the type of kid to just wait and enjoy whatever is in front of her. Thank you to everyone for the many gifts- as you can see from the pictures above both girls have enjoyed them. Riley has a new coloring book rotated every hour and enough books and stuffed animals that we may have to buy a larger house. I think Lizzie prefers our house cluttered because there's always something to get into. Thanks for the prayers.

Home Again!

We got home last night from an appointment in Jackson at a Pediatric Infectious Diseases Specialist. Dr. Palmer feels that we are more than likely fighting a low-grade baterial infection that is treatable with oral antibiotics. After we get the results of Riley's latest bloodwork, we will be able to judge more conclusively if she has an infection or arthritis. Apparently inflammation in a joint such as the knee can occur in children either as a result of a reaction to a bacteria in her system such as e-coli, or she may have a case of Juvenile Rheumatory Arthritis. The good news is we're on the road to figuring out which one of these things Riley's been suffering from, and none of them require further hospitalization!
She has been so brave throughout all this, and yesterday seemed more like her silly self than she has in a long time. She's limping around on that leg and wanting to do everything on her own. She does still tire out easily, but we're just so happy that she's in the mood to pose for pictures below, at our "celebration" dinner at Keiffer's after our appointment in Jackson.

Thank you to everyone who has prayed for Riley and for us, for the gifts, cards, facebook messages, hospital visits, food, and phone calls. All of these have been an expression of Christ's love to us. A special thanks to my mom for coming down for almost a week to help with the other kids.

Riley Update

It turns out Riley had every right to be crying about that boot from the last post. She didn't have a fracture at all. After several days in the boot, her knee swelled up to three times it's size, she started running fever, and we were told to rush to the ER. One long night and lots of tears later, we figured out she had some type of infection that had settled in her leg.
After a very rough couple of days, we now feel that we have our Riley back. She went to physical therapy today and showed off some ballet moves to the delight over several senior-citizens. We're so proud of our litte girl for being so tough. God is teaching her (and us) patience and we are so thankful that she is doing so much better. Hopefully we can get her home soon. Thank you for your prayers!
Our first time walking out of the room. She hasn't put weight on that leg in two weeks so this was a big deal!

Her bed is running out of room - if she gets anymore presents she may need a bed for her stuffed animals!

Gimme A Break

Riley is not too excited here to show off her new walking cast, or as she refers to it, the "ugly plain black boot." Riley is wiping away tears as I am saying "I'm just taking a picture of your boot!" Naturally, Lizzie obliged by showing off her shoe. It seems breaking bones is hard to do.

Flower Power

Who knew this innocent photo session would reveal such a violent power struggle?
Take one like this...

Now take one like this....

No Lizzie, you can't touch the flowers....

Now take one like this.... (as Liz exits the scene)

Hey, big spender

Porter's Last Stand

Lately Porter's artwork has had a slightly agressive quality...

Orange Crush

KK and Poppy got to come to Porter's game this weekend!

Porter and Andrew. Right after this picture was taken Andrew said "Now I'm going to kill you for beating us."

Can you feel the intesity?

Go Orange Crush!(I love the team name and anyone who loves REM the way I do will understand why)

Zoo Pals

Riley and Gracie on the train

Lizzie with Max Bowling.

Mmmmm.....

I didn't take this picture. So, apparently either Porter or Riley put Lizzie in the reindeer ears and sunglasses and snapped this shot while I was unawares. Sometimes breaking the rules can lead to some pretty funny stuff!

Hey, kids, I found the camera... act excited and I'll take your picture....

I can always count on Riley for expression.

The Lost Beach Photos

Here, a sampling of some of our lost beach photos from when we went to Dauphin Island with our cousins this summer. To make a long story short, we found our camera, and got to relive all the "end of summer" moments.... Look closely and you'll see Riley is flying a kite. Seriously.

Little Husky

Not the greatest picture, but I couldn't resist this one of Liz in her UCONN shirt. A nod to how much we miss Uncle Joey, Aunt Katie, and the girls.

I'm into it, but .....

Ryken - Page 65 & Psalm 143

There is no way to be made right with God except through faith in Christ. In Luther's Words. "Now the true meaning of Christianity is this: that a man first acknowledge, through the Law, that he s a sinner, for whom it is impossible to perform any good work.... If you want to be saved, your salvation does not come by works; but God has sent His only Son into the world that we might live through Him. He was Crucified and died for you and bore your sins in His own Body." - Luther's commentary on Galatians page 126

My Soul Thirsts for You

A Psalm of David.

Hear my prayer, O Lord;give ear to my pleas for mercy!In your faithfulness answer me, in your righteousness! Enter not into judgment with your servant,for no one living is righteous before you.

For the enemy has pursued my soul;he has crushed my life to the ground;he has made me sit in darkness like those long dead. Therefore my spirit faints within me;my heart within me is appalled.

I remember the days of old;I meditate on all that you have done;I ponder the work of your hands. I stretch out my hands to you;my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. Selah

Answer me quickly, O Lord!My spirit fails!Hide not your face from me,lest I be like those who go down to the pit.Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love,for in you I trust.Make me know the way I should go,for to you I lift up my soul.

Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord!I have fled to you for refuge! Teach me to do your will,for you are my God!Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground!

For your name's sake, O Lord, preserve my life!In your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble! And in your steadfast love you will cut off my enemies,and you will destroy all the adversaries of my soul,for I am your servant.

John Brown - Page 73

That the apostles were not dissatisfied with that part of Paul's doctrine which was peculiarly obnoxious to the Judaising teachers, ' that gentile converts were not bound to be circumcised or submit to the Mosaic law,' was made very evident by their conduct in reference to Titus. "But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised: and that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty with we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage: to whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour, that the truth of the gospel might continue with you." The construction of this paragraph is a little involved. Some, following a different reading from our translation, have in rendering it ;left out "no, not" in the 5th verse. They suppose that Titus was circumcised, and that the apostle is explaining the circumstance. Titus was not compelled to be circumcised, but he (Paul) acted on principles similar to those on which he took and circumcised Timothy. It is a very important remark of Dr Paley, that "whenever Paul's compliance with the Jewish law is mentioned in the history of the Acts of the Apostles, it is mentioned in connection with circumstances which point out the motives from which it proceeded, and this motive seems always exoteric, namely, a love of order and tranquillity, or an unwillingness to give unnecessary offence."

Derek Thomas - Page 38

A New Perspective?

Recent Studies in Paul ( and therefore of the letter to the Galatians ) have gone through what we might call a volte-face. This 'new perspective' insists that we have seriously misunderstood the nature of Paul's confrontation with Jewish factions in the New Testament, because we have misrepresented the nature of Pharisaism and the gospel opposition. This has, of course, serious implications for the way we understand Galatians. ....

According to this 'new perspective' the issue becomes one of Jewish intolerance of Gentiles rather than of the answer to the question of how we may become right with God. The issue becomes one of church membership ( who may be considered as belonging? ) rather than one of salvation itself ( how may we be saved? ).

Norm Better Watch Out!

I took the older 2 to Lowes this past Saturday morning and let them build a pirate ship at thier kid's workshop. The loved it. After building the rough mmodel at Lowes, we came home and they sandedand painted thier ships all by themselves!

Cuties

I had taken these pics on my phone and have not had a chance to download them until now. The one of Riley is old. The Lizzie was taken this morning.

Lazer Tag Buddy!



Piggie Tails!

Galatians

Well,


It's that time of year again. I am beginning to prep for Sunday school. Last major series I helped out with was the book of Numbers. This time I will be working through Galatians, which is really great considering all the NPP stuff going around over the past few years.









I'm going to try something new this time around and see how it works. During my preparation, I will be posting "NUGGETS" from the commentaries that I am reading. So far I have made it mostly thought the first 2 chapters of Galatians in the commentaries. So, I have some backlog to do.

For reference I am using the following Commentaries:

1. Calvin's Commentaries - John Calvin


2. Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon - William Hendriksen


3. Galatians - Reformed Expository Commentary - Phillip Ryken


4. Galatians (Paul's Charter of Christian Freedom) - Leon Morris


5. The Message of Galatians - John R.W. Stott


6. Let's Study Galatians - Derek Thomas


7. Geneva Series of Commentaries (Galatians) - John Brown

Of these I highly recommend 7 & 2 if you want to get into the meat of the book. For devotional purposes, 5 & 3 would be better suited.
Please feel free and comment on the nuggets as your input will help me in planning my lessons.

Brice

Cousin Reunion

We recently went to Memphis for my grandfather's funeral and got to do some serious catching up with our cousins! We've missed cousins Nadine and Lucie, and we took the opportunity to pose in (matching, natch) our new shirts from Aunt Katie.

ABC's and 123's

We've had all kinds of new beginnings this month. Mom started teaching preschool at Grace Community School. Riley is going to the four year old class and Lizzie gets to learn sign language and other uber-important baby socialization skills, like don't hit your neighbor with your shoe, and don't eat your paper.
Porter started school today at PCS. Kindergarden is sooooo last year, and he feels very big eating lunch in the lunchroom with the other big kids. So we've got a house full of teachers and students.