Family Fun Night

One of the things that we try to do as a family (though we are not always successful) is to do a Family Fun Night on Tuesdays where we spend time in a short lesson directly from the Bible and then do an activity that goes with it.

This week we looked at Ecclesiastes 4:9 "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work"  As a family we are going to memorize this verse and apply it to interaction within the family as well as all of the people that we work with on a daily basis either at church or at school.

I decided that we would make caramel corn together, Ryan was the director but can't read yet, so Kate had to help.

The kids had never seen one of these:

They then could not bend their elbows to eat the caramel corn, they figured it out quick.

Lead by example, right?

And you have to add one "artsy" photo!

Time to start

Accept on another, then,

just as Christ accepted you,

in order to bring praise to God.

Romans 15:7

Last night was the official kickoff to our semester of ministry, which we brought in with a pool party.  60 or so teens and adults showed up to my home to hang out, have fun and, if we are honest, feel accepted and a part of something bigger.

 

This year we are really working to integrate the ministry of Capernaum, Young Life's ministry to young adults with disabilities.  Last night 10 or so friends from Capernaum were there.

 

As I was kicking all of the kids out, sending them home at the end of the party, a mom pulled me aside and we had a brief conversation about acceptance.

 

You see, her daughter rarely feels accepted because of her developmental delays.  She is a sweet, friendly girl and was having a blast at the party, meeting new friends, swimming and having fun.  Last night, as her mom shared with me, she felt accepted as part of the group.

 

That got me thinking about acceptance and how all of the young adults that we are reaching out to seek acceptance in their lives.  The question is, where will they find it? 

 

I pray that this semester, as we meet more high school friends that they will feel accepted by our leaders, not because our leaders are cool, friendly people, but because our leaders have Christ in their lives.  I pray that these teens will see that the love and acceptance that is offered by the adults that hang around Young Life comes from Christ and the acceptance and love that he offers us.

 

Will you pray these things with me? Will you also pray for more workers?  We need more female leaders for this school year.

Season of Celebration

Today marks the end of the Baker Holiday Spectacular where we celebrate 4 birthdays, a dating and wedding anniversary all within about 60 days.

Rachelle turns 29 (plus a 1st grader) today, and we are spending the day going to other birthday parties before we end up at Rachelle's parents for some dinner and cheesecake, made by yours truly.

Doesn't quite look like the picture, but I'm sure it will taste just fine.

Jack of all trades....

How's that phrase end?

Over the last few years I've been trying to deal with the issues that come with being a "well-rounded" person. Think of it this way. When we see someone that has a different set of skills than we do or maybe is really good at something, we comment, "Wow, they are really good at that, I could never do that!"

I rarely think that way. My comment is, "I wish I could do that as good as them." This haunts me at times;
I'm a guitar player, but not as good as...
I'm a coach, but not as good as...
I'm an area director, but not as good as...
I'm a husband, but not as good as...
I'm a Bible teacher, but not as good as...
I'm a father, but not as good as...
I'm a discipler (?), but not as good as...
I'm forgiving, but not as good as...
I'm a prayer, but not as good as...
I'm a disciple, but not as good as...
I'm a student, but not as good as...

My job requires of me many hats, so I think I get to see these fleshed out more than others do.

As I read and study His Words to us, I see that God has made me in this way for a reason, I am confident of that and feel like I've even been allowed to see a bit of why that is.

I am haunted when I get stuck on comparing myself to others. I've often written it off as being a "male" thing, but realize in my times of clarity that it isn't. I believe that it's the enemy distracting me from what God's created me to be. Instead of living in the 'comfort' of who God has created me to be, and working to remain close to God so the Spirit can change me, I dwell. I dwell on who I 'could' be, on what someone is doing better than me and on what I should be doing instead.

I've done too much of that, it was even the catalyst of this post (I have two friends that are really good bloggers, but I'm not...you get the point).

I texted a friend tonight to encourage him and found that the words I was typing spoke more to me than they ever could to him.

"...the hard part is trying to align your thoughts and emotions with Christ's."

...master of none. That's how it ends. God made me that way for a reason, and I pray that I am able to keep that my focus, even if I don't see that reason.

Life goal

I have a new life goal.

To make it back onto the list of People We Know at the Pilgrims at Oak Ridge blog.

It will require more blogging, this I know. Maybe even thoughtful blogging.

James

These last few weeks have been nothing short of difficult for me personally.

I've read and reread James and desiring to find joy in this persecution, but really don't like how it feels to be hated, even though it is promised in His word.

On my Birthday, I pray that I will not lose focus on the great work that God is doing in and around me.

Kara at 9 months

Kara has become a walking machine at 9 months! She rarely crawls now. She can squat to pick up a toy, turn while walking, lose her balance a bit and recover without falling, crawls up the stairs, and is overall dangerous. She wants to climb everything, but can't quite do that, so gets frustrated. Kara is also becoming quite a character! She LOVES to laugh, especially at something Kate or Ryan is doing, frequently belly laughing at a silly antic of theirs! Tonight Ryan and Kate were pushing her back and forth in the pool while Kara was in a floating device. She thought it was the best, giggling the entire time!


Kara is eating like crazy - bananas, watermelon, cantelope, cheese, pizza, cheese crisp, ANYTHING with cheese, bread, yogurt, soft granola bars.....she has stopped the bottle and only drinks from a sippy cup. This has helped while I work - she drinks more from a sippy than she ever did from a bottle! And she is my most thirsty baby - Kara chugs the water!

Kara waves bye bye (although her hand is backwards when she does this), gives open mouth kisses, says Mama and Da (for Daddy). It is cute when Keith is on duty and Kara wakes up from a nap. You can hear her in the monitor, yelling "DAAAAAA".

Kara is a HAPPY child! What a blessing! At first she cried a lot (first couple months of life), but now she is rarely fussy. She cracks us up daily ....SO much fun!

First Day of School

Last Monday Kate started 2nd grade and Ryan started kindergarten. Kate was so excited she could barely function! Energy, twirls, bouncing, jumping describes Kate when she thought of school beginning (this started a couple weeks before the first day of school). She counted down every minute on the morning of school starting.

Ryan was a bit more calm, as expected. He had the butterflies in his stomach, even told Keith one day during the week leading up to the start of school that he was scared. We were worried that it could be a rough couple of weeks for Ryan as he adjusted to kindergarten. The boy just does not like change. What a pleasant surprise and a gift from God on the first day of school! We had to wake Ryan up at 8 am, but he woke up excited about school, got dressed and ate a good breakfast.

As we drove to school, he was disappointed to find out that we were walking him to his classroom. He wanted us to drop him off at the drop off lane! He walked ahead of us with Kate into the school, with confidence. When the bell rang, he gave me a hug and knuckles to Daddy and insisted on walking into the classroom on his own (we stayed outside the door). When we picked him up, he was all smiles, and had a fabulous day. Every day since, we have dropped him off at the drop off lane! The boy is growing up!

Kate on the other hand, was a bit disappointed that she had to do work on the first day and is finding 2nd grade to be a bit more serious than 1st grade. She is quite jealous of what Ryan gets to do every day!!

Kids make us laugh

Kate says to me : "Mommy, I cannot imagine you being a little girl like me. It does not fit your personality!". Completely serious!

Another funny Kate saying as Kara crawled toward a Dr Seuss book that I had not yet read to Kara: "Mommy, you should start reading that book to Kara. It is at a higher level and she is at that point."

Funny one from Ryan...Keith was not at home, but Kate really wanted Ryan to play with her and he was contently lying on the floor, pretty much just staring into space. I explained to Kate that sometimes Ryan does not want to play or really do anything, but just likes to lie around and do nothing. Ryan quickly responds, "Yep, just like Daddy!".

The Difference Between Kate and Ryan

After meet the teacher night (Kate starting 2nd grade, Ry starting kindergarten), we were talking about school. Kate's classroom did not look quite as cute as Ryan's and I was explaining that she is now getting a little higher in the grades, so things may not be as "cutesy". This does not deflate Kate's excitement (and excitement is an understatement) for school. She says, "Do you know what is SO great about getting into higher grades? You get to do sculptures! I have seen the sculptures as we walked through the upper grade classrooms before!". Excitement was just ooozing out of Kate as she said all of this. Ryan then immediately says, "But you have to do a lot more work", with an all knowing look on his face. And that is a classic difference between the two kids- Kate super excited about school and challenges that will come with it, while Ryan would just rather not do the work. He'd rather stay in kindergarten his entire life and relax! He once told me he does not want to get any older and just stay at home with me his entire life!

New Author of the Baker Blog

I have officially taken over the blogging, not that Keith will never blog again. Kate is now 7, Ryan 5 and Kara 9 months. They do and say such cute things every day that are not getting recorded, so thought I should finally start blogging!

Totally

So, I'm never remembering to get onto my blog and post, so here are some things that are swimming around in my little head lately.

• I'm blessed with my family. Rachelle puts up with a lot with my job, and the kids are such a gift. Kate is starting 2nd grade, Ryan Kinder and Kara is a walking 9 month old with a firecracker personality.
• This generation of teens needs to serve. They feel best connected when they are serving. I'm trying to figure out how to attach that to our outreach and what the best way to attach it is.
• People are going to attack. I've dealt with a un-fun situation with a family within the group that I am reaching out to and these Christians are attacking me something fierce, naturally behind my back and refusing to sit and talk with me about the situation. I try to avoid it, but they are too close within this circle. Next may be grabbing a pastor from their church and sitting down to discuss.
• The Volvo may be near death.
• People surprise me less and less the more I get to know them.
• I realize I lived a long time in a bubble in many ways.
• God is good.