I'll wrap up my list of favorite quotes from Sacred Marriage today with chapters ten through thirteen.
p. 188, God is always worthy of being obeyed, and God calls me to serve my spouse - so regardless of how she treats me at any particular moment, I am called to respond as a servant.
p. 222, Our passions are what make us come alive. The apathetic person is a pathetic person. While we often fear our passions because they can carry us into an affair, a fight, or some other destructive behavior, the solution is not living a less passionate life but finding the right things to be passionate about.
p. 231, They are not coming together in order to escape loneliness, more favorably pool their financial resources, or merely gain an outlet for sexual desire. Above all these other reasons, they have joined themselves to each other as a way to live out and deepen their faith in God. Even if you didn't enter marriage for this reason, you can make a decision to maintain your marriage on this basis.
p. 235, Love is an intentional movement toward another.
p. 235, The truth of the matter is this: By our words, we either draw forth God's presence or we push him away.
p. 236, Christianity does not direct us to focus on finding the right person; it calls us to become the right person.
p. 250, It is spiritual fraud to enter marriage and then to live like a single man or woman.
p. 252, Here's the kicker: Patience can be formed only in the crucible of frustration - making marriage, with its multitude of tasks, one of the best schools for patience there is.
I hope these three days of quotes have encouraged and challenged you in regards to your role in your own marriage. They are not things I've mastered, but areas I need to work on in my own life - some much more than others.
Here are the other Sacred Marriage posts. One. Two.
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
SACRED MARRIAGE #2
My last Sacred Marriage post highlighted some quotes I liked from chapters one through five. Today I'll share some from chapters six through nine. Ready?
p, 89 (quoting Gary and Betsy Ricucci) One of the best wedding gifts God gave you was a full-length mirror called your spouse. Had there been a card attached, it would have said, "Here's to helping you discover what you're really like!"
p. 92, The important things is to view the challenges of our particular life situation as a platform for growth.
p. 96, We must embrace the reality of having our flaws exposed to our partner, and thereby having them exposed to us as well. Sin never seems quite as shocking when it is known only to us; when we see how it looks or sounds to another, it is magnified ten times over. The celibate can "hide" frustration by removing herself from the situation, but the married man or woman has no true refuge. It is hard to hide when you share the same bed.
p. 97, Use the revelation of your sin as a means to grow in the foundational Christian virtue of humility, leading you to confession and renouncement. Then go to the next step and adopt the positive virtue that corresponds to the sin you are renouncing.
p. 106, So often it isn't that our marriages are either good or bad - they just are. We get tired of the routine and the sameness, and our souls occasionally grow numb toward each other.
p. 108, The righteousness God seeks is a persistent righteousness, a commitment to continue making the right decision even when, perhaps hourly, you feel pulled in the opposite direction. Holiness is far more than an inclination toward occasional acts of kindness and charity. It is a commitment to persistent surrender before God.
p. 115, Before a divorce is final, I'm usually going to encourage someone to hang in there, to push on through the pain, and to try to grow in it and through it. Happiness may well be beyond them, but spiritual maturity isn't - and I value character far above any emotional disposition.
p. 129, Struggle makes us stronger; it builds us up and deepens our faith. But this result is achieved only when we face the struggle head-on, not when we run from it.
p. 131, We have it so easy (speaking of Western Christianity) that we can begin to be lulled to sleep, thinking that life should be easy or that it will always be easy. Once it gets a little difficult, we tend to be consumed with trying to make our lives comfortable again. But by doing so we miss a great spiritual opportunity.
p. 132, It is unrealistic to assume that the initial pledge of marital fidelity will be an "easy" one to keep. / The reason we promise to love each other "till death do us part" is precisely because our society knows that such a promise will be sorely tried - otherwise, the promise wouldn't be necessary! We don't make public promises that we will regularly nourish our bodies with food or buy ourselves adequate clothing.
p.. 133, Christians who dodge all serious struggle and consciously seek to put themselves in whatever situations and relationships are easiest are doing the same things - they are coasting, and eventually that coasting will define them and - even worse - shape them.
p. 141, (quoting Charles Lindbergh) Never say anything you wouldn't want shouted from the housetops, and never write anything you would mind seeing on the front page of a newspaper.
p. 147, Marriage can never remove the trials - in fact it almost always creates new ones. But even difficult marriages to difficult men can give women the strength to become the people God created them to be. (So it is for men married to difficult women as well.)
p. 155, Falls are inevitable. We can't control that, but we can control the direction in which we fall - toward or away from our spouse.
p. 155, Intimate relationships, as opposed to intimate experiences, are the result of planning. They are built.
p. 164 (speaking of compromise) It's proof that we're willing to give ground for no other reason than that we value the ongoing relationship more than we do asserting our rights, preferences, or wishes.
p. 166, When you entered this relationship of marriage, you committed to keep moving toward your spouse. Any step back, any pause, any retreat, is an act of fraud. Learn to move toward the person God has given to you for the purpose of teaching you how to love.
Here are the other Sacred Marriage posts. One. Three.
p, 89 (quoting Gary and Betsy Ricucci) One of the best wedding gifts God gave you was a full-length mirror called your spouse. Had there been a card attached, it would have said, "Here's to helping you discover what you're really like!"
p. 92, The important things is to view the challenges of our particular life situation as a platform for growth.
p. 96, We must embrace the reality of having our flaws exposed to our partner, and thereby having them exposed to us as well. Sin never seems quite as shocking when it is known only to us; when we see how it looks or sounds to another, it is magnified ten times over. The celibate can "hide" frustration by removing herself from the situation, but the married man or woman has no true refuge. It is hard to hide when you share the same bed.
p. 97, Use the revelation of your sin as a means to grow in the foundational Christian virtue of humility, leading you to confession and renouncement. Then go to the next step and adopt the positive virtue that corresponds to the sin you are renouncing.
p. 106, So often it isn't that our marriages are either good or bad - they just are. We get tired of the routine and the sameness, and our souls occasionally grow numb toward each other.
p. 108, The righteousness God seeks is a persistent righteousness, a commitment to continue making the right decision even when, perhaps hourly, you feel pulled in the opposite direction. Holiness is far more than an inclination toward occasional acts of kindness and charity. It is a commitment to persistent surrender before God.
p. 115, Before a divorce is final, I'm usually going to encourage someone to hang in there, to push on through the pain, and to try to grow in it and through it. Happiness may well be beyond them, but spiritual maturity isn't - and I value character far above any emotional disposition.
p. 129, Struggle makes us stronger; it builds us up and deepens our faith. But this result is achieved only when we face the struggle head-on, not when we run from it.
p. 131, We have it so easy (speaking of Western Christianity) that we can begin to be lulled to sleep, thinking that life should be easy or that it will always be easy. Once it gets a little difficult, we tend to be consumed with trying to make our lives comfortable again. But by doing so we miss a great spiritual opportunity.
p. 132, It is unrealistic to assume that the initial pledge of marital fidelity will be an "easy" one to keep. / The reason we promise to love each other "till death do us part" is precisely because our society knows that such a promise will be sorely tried - otherwise, the promise wouldn't be necessary! We don't make public promises that we will regularly nourish our bodies with food or buy ourselves adequate clothing.
p.. 133, Christians who dodge all serious struggle and consciously seek to put themselves in whatever situations and relationships are easiest are doing the same things - they are coasting, and eventually that coasting will define them and - even worse - shape them.
p. 141, (quoting Charles Lindbergh) Never say anything you wouldn't want shouted from the housetops, and never write anything you would mind seeing on the front page of a newspaper.
p. 147, Marriage can never remove the trials - in fact it almost always creates new ones. But even difficult marriages to difficult men can give women the strength to become the people God created them to be. (So it is for men married to difficult women as well.)
p. 155, Falls are inevitable. We can't control that, but we can control the direction in which we fall - toward or away from our spouse.
p. 155, Intimate relationships, as opposed to intimate experiences, are the result of planning. They are built.
p. 164 (speaking of compromise) It's proof that we're willing to give ground for no other reason than that we value the ongoing relationship more than we do asserting our rights, preferences, or wishes.
p. 166, When you entered this relationship of marriage, you committed to keep moving toward your spouse. Any step back, any pause, any retreat, is an act of fraud. Learn to move toward the person God has given to you for the purpose of teaching you how to love.
Here are the other Sacred Marriage posts. One. Three.
Monday, November 5, 2012
11/5/12 FORMING FAMILIES - FOSTER KIDS
I read a post a few months ago about an opportunity to make Welcome Boxes for kids entering foster care in the Portland metro area, but at that time I hadn't made a commitment to blogging about helping parent-less kids to find families and didn't pass the info along. Today, however, there was another post and I'm spreading the word. Foster kids are just as important to me as kids waiting to be adopted. Both are in need of a family, one temporarily and the other permanently.
So, here's the deal. Many times a child is removed from their home, then ends up sitting in the DHS office for an hour or two while their caseworker finds a placement for them. They have little or nothing of their own with them. They've just lost everything familiar in their lives. They know nothing about the people whose homes they're about to be taken to. They have had their whole life disrupted. They have nothing to do while they wait. They just sit.
That's where Welcome Boxes come in! Each box must contain something to write on, something to write with, non-perishable snacks, toothpaste & toothbrush, flashlight with batteries, and a nightlight. Additionally, each box will contain seven extra items that fall more on the fun side of things than the practical.
This Friday there is going to be a private box packing party and they are asking for some last minute filler items to be donated. Does that sound like something you, your family, office, or group of friends would like to help with? There is also a need for public locations for people to drop off donations through Thursday, businesses with easily accessible parking and regular business hours. If either of those things interest you then please go to today's post on Frugal Living NW to find out more about what is needed and how you can help.
If you would like to be involved in making Welcome Boxes, but won't be able to help with this week's project, then please read the post from August. It has detailed directions on how to assemble the boxes, labels to use, and contact information for the woman in charge. Please follow the directions exactly, as these boxes need to be a blessing to all foster kids and comply with DHS rules.
At the time of the first Welcome Box post there were boxes being delivered in Clackamas, Multnomah, and Washington counties, and now Clark county is in the mix. If you live outside of those counties, but are interested in coordinating something similar in your area, then please read the August post for some info or contact your local DHS office directly.
So, here's the deal. Many times a child is removed from their home, then ends up sitting in the DHS office for an hour or two while their caseworker finds a placement for them. They have little or nothing of their own with them. They've just lost everything familiar in their lives. They know nothing about the people whose homes they're about to be taken to. They have had their whole life disrupted. They have nothing to do while they wait. They just sit.
That's where Welcome Boxes come in! Each box must contain something to write on, something to write with, non-perishable snacks, toothpaste & toothbrush, flashlight with batteries, and a nightlight. Additionally, each box will contain seven extra items that fall more on the fun side of things than the practical.
This Friday there is going to be a private box packing party and they are asking for some last minute filler items to be donated. Does that sound like something you, your family, office, or group of friends would like to help with? There is also a need for public locations for people to drop off donations through Thursday, businesses with easily accessible parking and regular business hours. If either of those things interest you then please go to today's post on Frugal Living NW to find out more about what is needed and how you can help.
If you would like to be involved in making Welcome Boxes, but won't be able to help with this week's project, then please read the post from August. It has detailed directions on how to assemble the boxes, labels to use, and contact information for the woman in charge. Please follow the directions exactly, as these boxes need to be a blessing to all foster kids and comply with DHS rules.
At the time of the first Welcome Box post there were boxes being delivered in Clackamas, Multnomah, and Washington counties, and now Clark county is in the mix. If you live outside of those counties, but are interested in coordinating something similar in your area, then please read the August post for some info or contact your local DHS office directly.
SACRED MARRIAGE #1
I read Sacred Marriage: What If God Designed Marriage to Make Us Holy More Than to Make Us Happy?, written by Gary Thomas, back in September. I read through the whole book quickly on my own, then have been slowly working through one chapter at a time with some friends, a group of ladies whose marriages range from solid to rocky and who all want their marriages to become stronger over time.
No author is perfect and everyone is bound to disagree with something in a book they read, but this book is filled with excellent things to consider. It challenges me as a wife to do the right things and to have the right attitudes. I'm a work in progress, no doubt about it, but we all are. Right?
I thought that writing out several of the things I'd underlined in the book would help them to stick in my brain a little easier and, perhaps, help me see improvement a little sooner in some of the areas I'm not doing so well with. If I'm going to take the time to write them out, I may as well share them with all of you.
Though the book is written from a Christian perspective, I think my non-Christian friends will themselves encouraged and challenged by many of the ideas presented. And though it's written about marriage, I think many of the concepts in the book can also be applied to our relationships with other people.
Without further ado, here are several of the quotes that stood out to me in the first five chapters. Here we go!
p.17, If we find that the same kinds of challenges face every marriage, we might assume that God designed a purpose in this challenge that transcends something as illusory as happiness.
p. 31, As long as a couple is married, they continue to display - however imperfectly - the ongoing commitment between Christ and his church. Thus, simply "sticking it out" becomes vitally important.
p. 32, If I believe the primary purpose of marriage is to model God's love for his church, I will enter this relationship and maintain it with an entirely new motivation, one hinted at by Paul in his second letter to the Corinthians: "So we make it our goal to please him" (2 Corinthians 5:9).
p. 34, Everything I am to say and do in my life is to be supportive of this gospel of ministry of reconciliation in my personal relationships, especially in my marriage. If my marriage contradicts my message, I have sabotaged the goal of my life: to be pleasing to Christ and to faithfully fulfill the ministry of reconciliation, proclaiming to the world the good news that we can be reconciled to God through Jesus Christ.
p. 35 He lists the following divorce rate statistics, which I find disturbing: non-believers = 23%, self-described "born again" Christians = 27%, and those who consider themselves "fundamentalist Christian" = 30%
p. 36, And how can I proclaim reconciliation (with God through Jesus) when I seek dissolution (in marriage)?
p. 40, Marriage can be the gym in which our capacity to experience and express God's love is strengthened and further developed.
p. 42, In the marriage context, we have absolutely no excuse. God lets us choose whom we're going to love. Because we get the choice and then find it difficult to carry out the love in practice, what grounds do have to ever stop loving? God doesn't command us to get married; he offers it to us as an opportunity. Once we enter the marriage relationship, we cannot love God without loving our spouse as well.
p. 42, Yes, this spouse might be difficult to love at times, but that's what marriage is for - to teach us how to love.
p. 43, While our society has become expert in self-care, we seemingly have lost the art of caring for others. Sacrifice has taken on such negative connotations that people fear being a "codependent" more than they fear being perceived as selfish.
p. 45, (quoting Brady Bobbink on the topic of Christian service) To fail to love my wife and kids rightly in the name of loving other people rightly is a sham.
p. 57, Giving respect is an obligation, not a favor; it is an act of maturity, birthed in a profound understanding of God's good grace.
p. 67, Contempt is conceived with expectations. Respect is conceived with expressions of gratitude. We can choose which one will will obsess over - expectations, or thanksgivings. That choice will result in a birth - and the child will be named either contempt, or respect.
p. 76, In fact, much Christian teaching has gotten it exactly backwards. We're told that if we want to have a stronger marriage, we should improve our prayer lives. But Peter tells us that we should improve our marriages so that we can improve our prayer lives.
p. 77, Godliness is selflessness, and when a man and woman marry, they are pledging to stop viewing themselves as individuals and start viewing themselves as a unit, as a couple.
p. 82, Dissension is a major prayer-killer. Looked at from this perspective, the institution of marriage is designed to force us to become reconcilers.
Here are the other Sacred Marriage posts. Two. Three.
No author is perfect and everyone is bound to disagree with something in a book they read, but this book is filled with excellent things to consider. It challenges me as a wife to do the right things and to have the right attitudes. I'm a work in progress, no doubt about it, but we all are. Right?
I thought that writing out several of the things I'd underlined in the book would help them to stick in my brain a little easier and, perhaps, help me see improvement a little sooner in some of the areas I'm not doing so well with. If I'm going to take the time to write them out, I may as well share them with all of you.
Though the book is written from a Christian perspective, I think my non-Christian friends will themselves encouraged and challenged by many of the ideas presented. And though it's written about marriage, I think many of the concepts in the book can also be applied to our relationships with other people.
Without further ado, here are several of the quotes that stood out to me in the first five chapters. Here we go!
p.17, If we find that the same kinds of challenges face every marriage, we might assume that God designed a purpose in this challenge that transcends something as illusory as happiness.
p. 31, As long as a couple is married, they continue to display - however imperfectly - the ongoing commitment between Christ and his church. Thus, simply "sticking it out" becomes vitally important.
p. 32, If I believe the primary purpose of marriage is to model God's love for his church, I will enter this relationship and maintain it with an entirely new motivation, one hinted at by Paul in his second letter to the Corinthians: "So we make it our goal to please him" (2 Corinthians 5:9).
p. 34, Everything I am to say and do in my life is to be supportive of this gospel of ministry of reconciliation in my personal relationships, especially in my marriage. If my marriage contradicts my message, I have sabotaged the goal of my life: to be pleasing to Christ and to faithfully fulfill the ministry of reconciliation, proclaiming to the world the good news that we can be reconciled to God through Jesus Christ.
p. 35 He lists the following divorce rate statistics, which I find disturbing: non-believers = 23%, self-described "born again" Christians = 27%, and those who consider themselves "fundamentalist Christian" = 30%
p. 36, And how can I proclaim reconciliation (with God through Jesus) when I seek dissolution (in marriage)?
p. 40, Marriage can be the gym in which our capacity to experience and express God's love is strengthened and further developed.
p. 42, In the marriage context, we have absolutely no excuse. God lets us choose whom we're going to love. Because we get the choice and then find it difficult to carry out the love in practice, what grounds do have to ever stop loving? God doesn't command us to get married; he offers it to us as an opportunity. Once we enter the marriage relationship, we cannot love God without loving our spouse as well.
p. 42, Yes, this spouse might be difficult to love at times, but that's what marriage is for - to teach us how to love.
p. 43, While our society has become expert in self-care, we seemingly have lost the art of caring for others. Sacrifice has taken on such negative connotations that people fear being a "codependent" more than they fear being perceived as selfish.
p. 45, (quoting Brady Bobbink on the topic of Christian service) To fail to love my wife and kids rightly in the name of loving other people rightly is a sham.
p. 57, Giving respect is an obligation, not a favor; it is an act of maturity, birthed in a profound understanding of God's good grace.
p. 67, Contempt is conceived with expectations. Respect is conceived with expressions of gratitude. We can choose which one will will obsess over - expectations, or thanksgivings. That choice will result in a birth - and the child will be named either contempt, or respect.
p. 76, In fact, much Christian teaching has gotten it exactly backwards. We're told that if we want to have a stronger marriage, we should improve our prayer lives. But Peter tells us that we should improve our marriages so that we can improve our prayer lives.
p. 77, Godliness is selflessness, and when a man and woman marry, they are pledging to stop viewing themselves as individuals and start viewing themselves as a unit, as a couple.
p. 82, Dissension is a major prayer-killer. Looked at from this perspective, the institution of marriage is designed to force us to become reconcilers.
Here are the other Sacred Marriage posts. Two. Three.
Saturday, November 3, 2012
11/3/12 FORMING FAMILIES - SPECIAL NEEDS & REECE'S RAINBOW
I have friends who have adopted and I have friends whose children have Down Syndrome.
I also have friends who have combined those two things and adopt children with Down Syndrome.
I have other friends who have chosen to do all they can to support orphans with Down Syndrome and the families who would like to adopt them.
Enter Reece's Rainbow, an organization that helps raise funds for those who have a desire to add a child with Down Syndrome to their family through adoption. Please keep in mind that the future of an orphan with Down Syndrome is bleak and short-lived in some countries. For those children, adoption isn't just an opportunity to be part of a family, but also a chance to simply live.
I want to introduce you to two friends who are currently involved with Reece's Rainbow.
RUBY - Ruby is an Angel Tree Warrior for Simon, a little boy whose third birthday is just a few months away. Her goal is to raise $1000 toward Simon's adoption fees by the end of 2012, money that will help a family cover the cost of bringing him home. She just started fundraising a couple days ago and has $25 in the account so far. You can check out some of the items she's selling in her Etsy shop, True Ruby. She's also made some cute felt ornaments, which I'm hoping will be in her Etsy shop soon.
Maybe you'd like to make a cash donation toward her goal. Perhaps you'd like to buy something from her shop for yourself or as a Christmas present, knowing that some of the proceeds will benefit Simon. Maybe Simon has tugged at your heart and you'd like to have your caseworker help you bring him home ... to your house. No matter what you're wanting to do, I'd encourage you to read more about Ruby's project on her blog, families for the fatherless.
TANA - Tana and her husband have adopted multiple times, brought home various numbers of children at a time, and have three countries (well, four, if you count America) represented in their family. I love the story of how their family has been created! Right now they are all anxiously waiting to bring Thalia, their newest daughter and sister, home, something they're hoping will happen in the next few months. You can read about where they are in that process and see some cute pictures of Thalia right here.
Thalia has a family now, but the financial cost of uniting them is high. If you would like to make a contribution to help defray the cost of Thalia joining her family, then please click the Reece's Rainbow "Donate" button on the sidebar of Tana's blog, Harmony and Havoc. Thalia is the name Tana and her husband have chosen for their newest daughter, but Song Guo is the name on all the paperwork. I mention that so that you won't be confused to see "Song" or "Song Guo" on the donation links. Song Guo is Thalia.
I also have friends who have combined those two things and adopt children with Down Syndrome.
I have other friends who have chosen to do all they can to support orphans with Down Syndrome and the families who would like to adopt them.
Enter Reece's Rainbow, an organization that helps raise funds for those who have a desire to add a child with Down Syndrome to their family through adoption. Please keep in mind that the future of an orphan with Down Syndrome is bleak and short-lived in some countries. For those children, adoption isn't just an opportunity to be part of a family, but also a chance to simply live.
I want to introduce you to two friends who are currently involved with Reece's Rainbow.
RUBY - Ruby is an Angel Tree Warrior for Simon, a little boy whose third birthday is just a few months away. Her goal is to raise $1000 toward Simon's adoption fees by the end of 2012, money that will help a family cover the cost of bringing him home. She just started fundraising a couple days ago and has $25 in the account so far. You can check out some of the items she's selling in her Etsy shop, True Ruby. She's also made some cute felt ornaments, which I'm hoping will be in her Etsy shop soon.
Maybe you'd like to make a cash donation toward her goal. Perhaps you'd like to buy something from her shop for yourself or as a Christmas present, knowing that some of the proceeds will benefit Simon. Maybe Simon has tugged at your heart and you'd like to have your caseworker help you bring him home ... to your house. No matter what you're wanting to do, I'd encourage you to read more about Ruby's project on her blog, families for the fatherless.
TANA - Tana and her husband have adopted multiple times, brought home various numbers of children at a time, and have three countries (well, four, if you count America) represented in their family. I love the story of how their family has been created! Right now they are all anxiously waiting to bring Thalia, their newest daughter and sister, home, something they're hoping will happen in the next few months. You can read about where they are in that process and see some cute pictures of Thalia right here.
Thalia has a family now, but the financial cost of uniting them is high. If you would like to make a contribution to help defray the cost of Thalia joining her family, then please click the Reece's Rainbow "Donate" button on the sidebar of Tana's blog, Harmony and Havoc. Thalia is the name Tana and her husband have chosen for their newest daughter, but Song Guo is the name on all the paperwork. I mention that so that you won't be confused to see "Song" or "Song Guo" on the donation links. Song Guo is Thalia.
Friday, November 2, 2012
HALLOWEEN 2012
I took off after church last Sunday afternoon and was gone until about midnight. Sometime during my absence Tim carved pumpkins with the little Ws. I really don't give a rip about carving pumpkins and it's not important to the kids for it to be a family affair, so it was nice of Tim to do it while I was off enjoying time with some friends.
L-R, Devon's football helmet, which is upside down here but was worn around the house a few times, Silas' house, and Naomi's bat.
L-R, Devon's football helmet, which is upside down here but was worn around the house a few times, Silas' house, and Naomi's bat.
Wednesday night we headed off to our church's Harvest Festival, which I think is the first time they've ever canceled Bible study. They've done the Harvest Festival at various places over the years and it's always a blast. So much work goes into making it look amazing and be so much fun! Our kids don't always dress up, but they busted a few things out of our dress up bins for the occasion this year. Although all non-creepy/scary/evil costumes are welcome, people are encouraged to do biblical ones. Here's what the little Ws came up with.
Naomi chose to put on the dog costume, even though it's too small ... but she was happy and that's what mattered. Silas donned some solider gear and said he was part of Gideon's army. Devon snagged a snorkel and mask to wear while he waited for the flood, circa the days of Noah. Then off we went!
We always hit the photo booth first so that we can avoid the long lines that come later in the evening. Here's this year's picture, the first time with 6 Ws.
The kids, as per usual, had a ton of fun. They played games, ate hot dogs and popcorn, drank cider and hot chocolate, watched a skit, threw balls at the dunk tank, bounced in and slid down inflatables, tried (unsuccessfully) to land on the right number during the cake walks, and Silas got to help in one of the booths for a bit. I don't think any of them made it to the jewelry making, face painting, or pumpkin decorating areas. Tim and I supervised Naomi and Tyler, while visiting with friends.
Both of the big boys succeeded in dunking different members of the pastoral staff. I happened to catch Devon as his turn came up. He knew he had three throws and was thrilled when he dunked someone on the first toss. He turned to walk away, assuming he had three tries and had already succeeded, but was then pulled back to take two more shots. He was giddy! Getting three throws, regardless of how many times he hit the bulls eye, was the highlight of his evening.
Naomi played a variety of games and was hysterical to watch as she pumped air into a balloon until it popped.
Yes, she had de-dogged herself by that point. It's a little toasty to hang out with an extra furry layer on your body.
As per usual, lunch on November 1st was candy they collected at the Harvest Festival. Here's the spread - each kid's pile of candy and glass of water, the wrapper bowl, and the "don't like it & no one wants to trade for it" donation bowl.
The bigs got ready to dig in.
And the little enjoyed a bottle before eating a delicious blend of roasted carrots and broccoli in applesauce.
Fun times!
Thursday, November 1, 2012
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