Christmas 2010

The Story of the Candy Maker

“I am only a candymaker”, he thought sadly. “No one will listen to me when I tell of the wondrous love of my Lord, about how and why God entered our world, born as a baby in Bethlehem.”

“How can I tell the children about the love of Jesus?”, he wondered.

Then he smiled. “I will make them some candy. To remember the awful price of Jesus’ love for me, I shall include red to tell of the blood he shed to save me from my sins. It shall have three small stripes to show his scourging, and a large red stripe for his blood shed on the cross by nails and spear. So, the red and white stripes shall represent the blood of Jesus which washes away our sins and makes us pure and white as snow. ”

"Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." (Isaiah 1:18).

“I will fashion it into the letter J so that all may be reminded that it is by the name of Jesus that we are saved from our sins. It will also be in the shape of a shepherd's staff, which the shepherd uses as he watches over his sheep, so that we may know Jesus is our shepherd, our savior and Lord.”

" I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep." (John 10:11).

And so was made the candy cane: Crafted in love, and made to help us remember the costly love of Jesus.

The scriptures tell us that by Jesus' stripes we are healed.

"But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5).

Jesus was beaten and stripes were put upon his back when He was crucified for our sin .

"Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed." (1 Peter 2:24).

There are a lot of candy canes in the stores today made with different colors, but they are not true candy canes unless they are red and white and have one bold stripe and three fine stripes. True candy canes tell the story about Jesus, the Christ who came to be the the savior of the world.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son,
that whosoever believeth on him shall not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

The love of Jesus is for you this Christmas season and always. Will you open your heart to Him and believe?

Happy 6 Month Birthday, Josiah!!!

Dog Saying Grace

This is the cutest video ever so I had to share it!!!If you watch this and don't laugh or at least crack a smile, your funny bone is broken! :-)

Trimming the Tree...

"Okay boys, the lights belong ON the tree, not on...oh well, never mind...say cheese!"

Baby Josiah helps with the gift wrapping...

by eating the ribbon...

posing with the ribbon...

and by falling asleep on the job. Wake up sleepy head!

Big brother Jalen helps daddy hang the lights...

A few finishing touches...

And the tree wouldn't be complete without Jalen's first grade Christmas ornament, of course...
Here's the finished product...

From our family to yours, we wish you a very Merry CHRISTmas!

Human Anatomy 101

This video is just a snippet of Josiah demonstrating his basic knowledge of human anatomy. It is entered as further evidence to establish the validity of the assertion of my child's true genius. :-)

But all joking aside, our capacity for gaining knowledge is truly amazing. It is sobering to think that our children are watching AND absorbing EVERYTHING we do. I can't wait to see what else this little one will learn and am truly honored to be his teacher!

"I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well." Psalm 139:14

Light on, Light off...

No, this isn't Karate Kid, and I'll admit, though doubtfully, that perhaps I have too much time on my hands. Or maybe, juuuust maybe, my baby is a genius. You be the judge. Watch for yourself as my scarcely five month old son amuses his adoring mommy by adroitly turning the bedroom light on and off, on command. I call this, Obedience Training 101...What can I say, when your entertainment consists of little people all the day long, you have to find diversions... :-)