Eva Camille Barnes

It was fun to have the Barnes' over the other night and to get to see Eva Camille. She is so cute.

Just thought you all might want to see a picture of her.

 

A Different Kind of Christmas

This year has definitely been a different kind of Christmas--but good. Since our family has been hit with the bug (namely, Tim & Micaiah), we had an "Airborne" party yesterday afternoon in an attempt to make the sick ones healthy and to keep the rest of us healthy. As you can see, we're not too sure whether we like this particular flavor.

After our afternoon naps yesterday (Dec. 24th), we all converged at the Steve Bixbys for a snack and game night. We had a great time together.

Now we're all getting ready for the Bixby Christmas Eve fondue tradition (taking place on Dec. 25th) and the Bixby Christmas day, which is scheduled to take place tomorrow, Dec. 26th. Of course, we're missing the ones who won't be with us for these exciting events (Dan Bixbys and Hansons). 

Becky Keiser & Jim Rulapaugh's Wedding

We were very excited to be able to participate in Becky's wedding last Friday. It went very well, and it was exciting to see her. Her dress was absolutely gorgeous, and her parents and brother were very handsome too. It was good to meet, however briefly, her groom. We drove up 6 hours and down 5 1/2 hrs on the same day. We got back about 2 am. There were torential downpours the whole way up and part of the way down! Poor dad had to endure the worst of it, because it was so bad even I didn't want to drive! Becky was beautiful. 

The Newly Weds

We saw Jo and Brian for a short time at Becky Keisers wedding on Friday. They were still glowing! Johanna got to sign her name as Johanna Hanson for the first time. We saw a few pics of their first couple days of honeymooning. They were having a great time and are not anxious to come back to the rest of us!  

Daddy misses his little elf...

I hear the elf has been shopping for daddy while he is gone. But apparently she has stopped to dance a little Christmas jig. Get back to work, Elf Patience! Daddy wants a Christmas gift from you when he gets back...

The O'hare traffic was horrendous. I couldn't beat the crowd that got on the first bus, so I stayed in the cold and waited until the 11PM buses came. Got the last seat. Got home well after midnight. But I am home.. It doesn't seem like home when the girls aren't here.

A Bixby Family Gathering

Thursday we gathered as an entire family--minus the newlyweds, of course. We enjoyed a large meal of ham and all the fixins (made up entirely of leftovers from all the previous week's activities) and then headed downtown for an evening's fun. We began at the Hyatt, then enjoyed pizza in a parlor, then did the "Mice on Main" search (found all 9 mice!), and finally ended up at Reedy River Park. It has been fun to be all together. 

Cute pose!

 

Parents of the Bride

They were a stunning couple! (from Donna) 

More Primping!

Even Grandma Hanson got in on the action!! 

More Fun Pics

 

Some Wedding Day Special Shots!

One of the extra special joys of these days has been being together as a family for the first time in four years! As parents, we cannot express the delight it has been to watch our grown children and their children interact. Each and every one of them is super! 

Mr. and Mrs. Brian Hanson

She was a radiant bride, he was a glowing groom, the weather was perfect and we were a joyful family as we witnessed the covenant of marriage and the making of a new family. Our cup overflows with love and gratitude to all of our family and friends who made the day so special. 

French Manicure

The ladies primped and decorated all day yesterday! 

Christmas program

Well, a long week culminated in the "production" of our Christmas program. I called it "A Simple Christmas" just to prepare people that it wasn't going to be as big of a concert as last year.

The kids did well. In fact, their best song, they sang in French! You can see the program here.

We used quite a bit of congregational, and just took a historical look at Christmas carols, starting with "Of the Father's Love Begotten," and going through a new song by the Getty's (In Christ Alone, etc.).

It is good to have it done, and I trust it was a blessing to all.

Bombay traffic

Mumbai (Bombay) in the rain.

Chocolate World

Finally able to blog again, but it looks short-lived. The computer seems to be acting up again. I guess I'll have to spend a few more hours on the phone with Dell. Anyhow, this is a little picture collage of our trip to Chocolate World on our way back home from Thanksgiving in PA. 

Snowflake Theme in 70 degree Weather!

Well, our theme was SNOWflakes--but we had no cold, let alone snowflakes! Jeanine was initially in charge of this Christmas church b-fast, but due to her grandmother's health ended up not being there. It went okay inspite of the change of plans. It was a good southern meal (one I've never made before)! Biscuits and "scorched" gravy--the scorched part wasn't planned, of course! Rosettes--in shapes of snowflakes (which are technically Italian!!), b-fast casseroles, fruit soup--which was a hit, Jennie; and beverages! 

Uncle Tom, The Saxophonist

Few people know that Uncle Tom sacrificed a career as a jazz saxophonist before following the Lord's call to be a Baptist deacon.

When Uncle Tom picks up his old sax, this is what he hears!

A foot of snow...

We got a snow day today!! Three of four of us were thrilled to get a day off... Milou was less enthusiastic when he realized that he still had to "go" outside! Poor thing the snow is over his head. I was scheduled to work this morning and was happy to stay home and take down my fall decor instead. Please don't tell Patience what a snow day means to most kids as she did school today! It was nice to be home bound all day and tonight I'm hoping for some hot chocolate, fresh cookies, and maybe even a Christmas movie! (Christmas decorating has been put off until Monday afternoon, unless alternative plans arrive!) 

What is your theological worldview?

Okay, family and friends, here's a game. Who dares to do it? This is a computerized (be assured, not scientific) test to discern what you really are theologically. Here are the rules that must be strictly adhered to.

1. You must take the test by yourself without input from anyone.
2. You must not google up terms or look up terms in any other way.
3. Helpful hint: If you don't know a name or term choose "disagree"
4. You must give the results of your test for the rest of us to see as Jennie and I are doing in the comment section below.

Have fun!

Here is the test. What is your theological worldview?

Pics of family

 

G-ville Wedding Reception for Andrew and Emily

We had a wedding reception for Andrew and Emily on Saturday night at BJU's CVA Blue Room. It was very nice. About 50+ people in attendance. Aunt Donna did the cake which, as you can see, was beautiful and there was enough for an army! Andrew found out he has 3 weeks of leave and will probably not deploy until February. I'll add another blog with some cute pics of our family.  

Hebrews preaches!

I put this on my church blog as well, but I think you will enjoy it. The fellow is from North Hills Community Church in Taylors. ~

Throughout the series on Hebrews you have often heard me say that I agree with the scholars who speculate that the Epistle was a sermon before it became an epistle. It preaches! Well, here is an outstanding illustration of what I mean. In the following video clip we have only two chapters of Hebrews, but it makes you want to hear the same person deliver the entire book. He "preaches" chapters 9 and 10. Listen to it (and watch)! It is an 11 minutes well spent.

St. Dad

There should be no more doubt now that a sanctified camera was able to catch the halo that is invisible to the naked eye. Dad IS a saint. May all the nay-sayers be forever silenced.

If only they would believe. For if they would believe, they would have this - um - blessing (?) signed over them... I'm glad our expert cameraman was able to catch the evidence. (Of course, the thing about sanctified cameras is that they discolor everything else. We do not have purple chairs.)



The Blessing

Thanksgiving at 604

Okay, this is my third try to get this to go up. If ANYONE can tell my why I am having such difficulty with the blog, I would greatly appreciate it. So, this blog won't be as long as the last two--each one gets shorter!

We had a very good day at 604 Confederat Circle. It was Jo's and my first time to have Thanksgiving there since Grandma and Grandpa died. It brought back a lot of memories. I ended up doing most of the meal, since Aunt Donna was in Denver at Andrew's wedding, and Amy was called out to a birth on Wednesday and Amber and Na???? Well.... :-)

Our menu: sweet and white potatoes, brocolli casserole (oops I just realized I forgot the corn--o well, no one mentioned it!), dressing, turkey, salad, green and red jellos (made by Aunt Donna and Naomi) rolls, pecan pie, pumpkin crunch, and chocolate chess pie. I think that's all! Johanna made the pies and Brian did his wife-to-be proud by eating 3 pieces of pecan pie plus one of all the others! (My rolls--well, I may be able to cook, but rolls just are, apparently, not my thing--they weren't bad, but they certainly weren't the best--and they rapidly became the joke of the meal!)

It was quite the Bixby induction for poor Brian. I don't think he knew which way to turn at the table--16 people means 16 conversations!! (Well, minus Emily who was totally engrossed in her new husband and therefore too busy to talk!) And, minus Brian who didn't know what conversation to participate in! We played games, sang around the piano, and talked until about 10:30pm.

Okay, this got a little longer than tries one and two! I thought you might enjoy a glimpse of the family that was there--'cept me. We had a good time, but we certainly missed the Bob Bixby Thanksgiving tradition--maybe next year.

Hope you all had wonderul Thanksgivings,

The Newlyweds!

Andrew and Emily Bixby made an appearance at Thanksgiving dinner less than 24 hours after they were married. It was a great sacrifice on their part, but the family was all very glad to get to meet her and heartily approved. Aunt Donna and Uncle Steve were thrilled to have been able to go to the wedding. Aunt Donna cried when she thanked me! That made it all worthwhile. We really enjoyed them, but we were glad to shoo them off to their awaiting "honeymoon suite." (The Wiginton's PC.) They are a cute couple.

Happy Thanksgiving To You All!

Well, it is almost Friday here and our Thanksgiving is over. Most of our company has left and the rest are headed for their beds! We have had a nice day. Our group was smaller than usual, but we had a wonderful meal, sweet time of singing and special songs and readings and lots of good fellowship. The Bergmans are up from Spain, Cheloudchenkos from Bayonne (with their brand new Anna Grace who is one month old), Christys, Roxanne, Huguette, and "our girls." We were 20 in all. Ruth, who was here two years ago, is also back for a visit but she got in too late for the meal (but not too late for leftovers!). Thought you might like to see how big turkeys grow in France. 

Read for the Lord, Track One

The Pilgrim's Progress, John Bunyan

This is a classic. It is a must-read for the Christian today because it has earned its reputation as a valuable companion along with the Bible for many great Christians of times past. Charles Spurgeon read it over 100 times. William Carey could only afford to take a very small collection of books with him when he went to the field. This was one of them.
The Power of Praying Together, Oliver W. Price. 181 pages. Kregel Publications.

I have selected this book because it speaks to a subject that has been a central theme for our church - corporate prayer. The author is theologically sound and you will find the account of revivals to be inspiring. This is easy to read!

Spurgeon, A New Biography. Arnold Dallimore. 244 pages. Banner of Truth Trust.

The first biography in our Read for the Lord program just has to be one on Spurgeon! Dallimore was a well-respected Canadian pastor who wrote several outstanding biographies. This one on Spurgeon is short, but captures the essence of Spurgeon's life and ministry.

Knowing God. J.I. Packer. 275. IVP.

Our first in the theology category. This is a very popular book by a very popular author. We appreciate this esteemed author for his many helpful contributions to the cause of Christ. We regret that lately he has compromised much of what he has taught. This volume, however, is an excellent overview of the study of God. As a young man I read throught his little book every year for a period of five years.

Spiritual Leadership. J. Oswald Sanders. 202 pages. Moody Press.

This is a classic on spiritual leadership.

Spurgeon v. Hyper-Calvinism, The Battle for Gospel Preaching. Iain H. Murray. 160 pages. Banner of Truth Trust.

This is the first book for the "thorny issues" category! Sadly, most people do not understand the issues and they assume that Calvinism is Hyper-calvinism. You will see in this book that Spurgeon, an outspoken Calvinist, fought Hyper-calvinism with holy fury. I believe this easy to read book will contribute to your understanding of this critical issue. Iain Murray is a respected conservative theologian and Chief Editor of the Banner of Truth Trust. Enjoy!
The Pursuit of Holiness. Jerry Bridges. 157 pages. NavPress.

If you find a book by Jerry Bridges, pick it up. This man's writing is simple and humble. Everything that he writes is good. This particular study is invaluable to the Christian walk. Thus, it is our first in the "Christian Walk" category.
Foxe's Book of Martyrs. John Foxe.

Another one in the "Classics" category. Though the accuracy of some of these accounts has been questioned by professional historians, it is still remarkably trustworthy - a near 500 year old book written by an author running for his life! John Foxe has sometimes been called the Father of the Puritans. Read of the faithfulness of the martyrs and be stirred to be more dedicated to God.