2nd Grade Field Trip - Gator Farm

Thanks Stanley for these great pictures and videos from the field trip to the Alligator Farm today. (Glad I didn't have to touch them!)

Thanksgiving in Pictures

Playing in BIG TX pecan trees at Tutu's House

My husband's grandmother's 90th birthday party

Tutu with all the great-grandchildren (all boys!)

The whole Mearse tribe

Tutu with grand and great-grandchildren

Our Sweet WM

All the boys

In high cotton as far as the eye can see

Our Sunshine

Hardin Simmons University wall of fame father class of 1971 (below), son class of 1999 (above)

Wonder what our future holds?

Family Christmas ADVENTure

Last year we started the advent tradition with our young boys. We decorated this thing that has 25 small boxes in it and we put things in it that told a Bible story each day. You can read about that here. This year our boys are a little older so we wanted to change it up a bit. Every year we try to make Christmas a memorable and meaningful time where we focus on celebrating the gift of Christ Jesus. This seems to get increasingly more difficult over all the racket in our culture of Santa, elves, and the greedy attitude of what can I get for me. We want our kids to grow up to be generous givers, compassionate  and kind. Humbly understanding the awesome gift of grace given to us by God. With that said, this year we are going on a Family Christmas ADVENTure to discover more about who Christ is. Each day in the month of December we will read from the Bible one of the names of Christ. Then we will do an activity that either helps us think about the meaning of the name or gives us an opportunity to share, give, or serve. I'd like to share this with you for FREE in the hopes that you would make Christ the center of your Christmas too. After all, Jesus is the reason for the season.

Blessings to your family,
Lydia

Click on the title Family Christmas ADVENTure to download your free PDF copy.

One Nation Under God

While feeling a little let down after the election yesterday, I began thinking about the pledge my son's class recites to the flag everyday which says, "one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."  It seems our nation keeps choosing to get a little further away from the one true God each election. How long will God keep silent? How long will He delay bringing judgement? Surely He isn't pleased as our country elects to allow gay marriage, abortion, drugs for recreational use, and embraces a leader who probably wouldn't know Jesus if he met him face to face. It's an abomination to God. Frankly, I was a little surprised when the sun came up this morning. I thought to myself, surely the end is near. God has promised to return and bring an end to all this chaos and the reality of our evening news is eerily similar to end-time prophesies of the Bible. But then I am gently reminded, "through the LORD's mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not.  They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness." (Lam. 3:22-23). Because God allowed the sun to rise this morning, He is allowing us one more chance to turn to Him. One more chance to tell someone about Him. One more chance to choose Jesus.

I Choose Jesus by Moriah Peters is healing to my soul today. It reminds me to stand unashamed, trusting in the ONE TRUE GOD no matter the cost. Stand firm Christians! Pray for our nation. Pray for people to turn their hearts to the Lord and make choices that reflect God's will. May we be the light in this dark world that He has called us to be. May He break our hearts for what breaks His as heard in the song Jesus Friend of Sinners by Casting Crowns. Make us compassionate, authentic, humble, merciful servants to this lost and dying world. 

No song has moved me more today than the one my seven-year-old son wrote by himself yesterday. He had the day off from school, went with me to vote, and at the end of his to-do list for yesterday he wanted to write a song. He read it to me just before his bedtime as I was trying to eagerly watch the election results on the news. It goes like this:

God Almighty, God is good, all things God does miracles, boom that He must slowly grow angry, there must be a key to get to God Almighty, God of Glory, God Almighty, God who is the King of Glory. 

It might not make sense to you, but to me it shows me even a child can understand God's mercy, forgiveness, compassion, and Holiness. It reminds me that even though we all make bad choices, God is still in control. He is still the one true God that is over all the nations. May we seek Him as King of Glory and bow before His righteousness humbling ourselves as we ask for His mercy. God bless the USA.