My Little Helper

Annual Tradition

I love this time of year, when the mornings are cool and crisp, but the afternoons are still warm! This is also the time of year for muscadines! We have developed an annual tradition over the last five years of picking muscadines and making jelly. I can quickly say that the "picking" of the muscadines is not my favorite part! Actually this tradition started years ago (only a fews years ago, of course) when I was in college. My aunt, Joyce, had a muscadine vine and would make jelly every year. I didn't mind picking the muscadines back then. Maybe it was youth that kept me from worrying about snakes and spiders, but now that part makes me very jumpy. Ronnie will tell you that he has heard me squeal a few times while washing the muscadines because I found a spider. Fortunately, we've never seen a snake while picking them.

The last couple of years, Ronnie's friends at Jaemor Farms have actually picked the muscadines and brought them to him. How nice is that?

So today, Joshua and I have been cooking up the juice from the muscadines. Talk about a wonderful aroma! I love that smell! Hopefully we can find some time to make up some jelly in the next couple of days. Yum yum! My favorite part is eating the jelly!!!

Favorite Book

Joshua loves to "read" his books. His favorite book right now is "My Big Truck Book". We read it at least twice a day. He is all into trucks and tractors these days - what boy isn't?

Again, I am amazed at how much Joshua knows; and I don't even realize that he knows it. For example - the days that I go to work, Ronnie gets Joshua dressed and takes him to school. Ronnie's routine each morning is to make us coffee, read his bible and play the mandolin awhile. One morning recently, I was getting ready for work, and Ronnie called me into the study. He told me that after Joshua finished his breakfast, he grabbed Ronnie by the hand and led him back to the study. Then Joshua pointed to his chair for him to sit down, handed him his glasses and pointed to his bible! Sometimes Joshua likes to sit in Ronnie's lap and hear him read the bible. Then, of course, he motioned to the mandolin hanging on the wall and wanted Ronnie to play it! How does he know every schedule in our house? It's difficult for me to remember all those things!






As I've said so many times before and I'm sure I will say many more times in the future - every day is a great day with Joshua. God has blessed us so much more than I could have ever imagined!

For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever. Praise ye the LORD. Psalm 117:2

Lots of friends

Joshua has lots of friends to play with at church. Although, it seems that Ivy is going to be outnumbered by all of the boys!

Little artist

Joshua is really enjoying drawing or coloring of any sort. Although this is an Alphabet Practice chalk book, he is practicing drawing circles! Aren't they beautiful?

Sesame Street Live - Elmo Makes Music

What a great day!

After a wonderful church service and lunch with some of our friends, Ronnie, Joshua and I headed downtown for the Sesame Street Live show. Joshua loved the show! He was mesmerized by all the characters, the music, and the dancing! In fact, we all enjoyed the show and can't wait to go again next year! The pictures, of course, are a little dark because of the lighting and I'm not sure you can make out the video, but Joshua was dancing right along with Elmo.

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Where is....

One of our favorite games is Where is? It amazes me that Joshua knows the majority of the pictures in his books. Every day with him is so much fun!

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Sonya and I have been able to have a few play dates recently with Joshua and Kylee. Sonya, Edgar and Kylee had dinner with us last week and we were able to get some video of Joshua helping with Kylee. He loves to play with Kylee! (as long as she's not playing with his toys!) He also likes to help give her a bottle and make sure she doesn't dribble any down her chin.

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Remembering 9/11

Do you remember where you were and what you were doing six years ago today? It seems so long ago, but then again, like it was yesterday. I remember being at work and getting the Breaking News email. Then we turned the TV on and everyone gathered around to see what was going on. When I heard of the Pentagon being hit, I immediately got on the phone and started calling my family. My sister and brother both work for the Department of Defense and many times have meetings at the Pentagon. Thankfully my family was safe.

The attack was most definately a staggering blow to the American people, but we have survived. The war is a sore subject for many people, but truth be told; no one wants to go to war. Unfortunately sometimes war is necessary to preserve our freedom and the future freedom of our country (our children). I am so grateful for the men and women who serve our country. If not for these brave individuals, where might we be? Scary to think about.

A few months ago, I found out that one of my childhood friends, Sean, had volunteered for an assignment in Iraq. He is an FBI agent and not required by his agency to serve, but felt drawn to be of service and, therefore, volunteered for an assignment. Below, are some excerpts from his emails; words of encouragement, words of patriotism, words of hope ~

July 6, 2007
So far its been quite a ride,figuratively and literally. The C-130 trip into Baghdad from Doha (Qatar)was as the pilot put it "more eventful than most of my simulated training sessions and actual flights". We are in a war zone and I will leave it at that. On base yesterday at approximately 6 PM four incoming rockets from outside the wire hit the base less than half a mile from our office leaving 1 KIA and 11 WIA. The brave men and women fighting here for our freedom live in poor conditions - (heat, dirt&dust, sewage&and related biological hazards, bugs and insects with diseases etc). They must deal with long periods of time away from their loved ones and are yet they are here, and most that I have dealt with want to be here, because there is some great stuff going on and they believe in their mission. To be here on the fourth of July along side these heros was a true honor. The only fireworks were the dropped flares and lum rounds marking areas where the neighborhoods were experiencing high activity. It was business as usual fighting for a cause that will make our country safer in the future.

Early this morning our crew had to investigate and process a KIA that happened just after 11 pm last night when their humvee passed an EFP(explosively formed projectile) IED. It was a very daunting and humbling experience, again, heros outside the wire patroling. Processing a scene that involves a soldier fighting for the freedom of our country is much different than anything Ive experienced.

All that being said. I have been in Iraq for less than a week. It seems like a month, only b/c there is a huge learning curve, intensive training and a s-ton of info to absorb before the guys we replace take off on Sunday. This has been an experience of a lifetime in only a short period of time. The people here are motivated, smart and high speed go to war, go figure.

August 26, 2007
My tour is just over halfway complete. I am that much closer to home. My tour has continued to be a great learning experience. The teams we have working together in my shop are dedicated, motivated and extremely competent. I have learned that government, military or civilian, has a certain amount of red tape and inefficiencies everywhere.

The weather is consistently hot, in the mid to upper 110 - 120 degrees. Have not seen rain since arriving. From what I understand the dirt/sand mixture turns to mud of a peanut butter consistency and is impossible to remove and is all over, go figure. There is a possibility that I will escape before the rain season starts(Oct-Nov).

Hope this finds everyone well. I am doing well. Well fed, I think I have actually gained 5 or 10 pounds. The amount of free time is limited so I cant say I've gotten to enjoy much outside of work.

The soldiers and civilian efforts here are still highly commendable. The VIP interuptions by US Congress personnel and military stars is annoying at best. They want the place to look like it is a clean, fun environment to work in. Uh, yeah.

Thanks for all the letters, care packages, thoughts and prayers. God Bless.

My prayer is that God will continue to bless the families that have lost loved ones, our men and women in the military, and our country.

DESIGN-HER GALS - Virtual Walk for Stage IV Breast Cancer Patients

My good friend, Jennifer, over at Walking by Lamp Light has a link to this website Design-her Gals which is a website where you can design stationary, cards, etc. The ladies who designed this website are hosting the first ever "virtual" walk to raise funds for stage IV breast cancer patients and their families. Please visit their website for more information on their design products, and the walk as well as the Gal to Gal Foundation. Here is the press release:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MOMENTUM BUILDS FOR DESIGN-HER GALS™ GROUND-BREAKING VIRTUAL WALK TO RAISE FUNDS AND AWARENESS FOR STAGE IV BREAST CANCER PATIENTS

Bend, OR – The hugely successfully Design-her Gals website, designhergals.com will be making “virtual” history when they launch their interactive virtual walk to benefit the Gal to Gal Foundation, the non-profit organization dedicated to raising funds and awareness for Stage IV breast cancer patients and their families. Design-her Gals hopes to create a viral outpouring of support during October’s Breast Cancer Awareness month with a goal of registering 1 million walkers in 31 days. Pre-registration for The Gal to Gal Walk will begin September 24, with official walk dates of October 1 - October 31, 2007.

Supporters will participate in The Gal to Gal Walk by creating their virtual likeness online and then watching themselves take a virtual walk across America. The walk will commence in the Virtual World of Harvard Square in Boston, MA, and concludes on the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, visiting 29 cities along the way. The landscape walkers travel through will change on a daily basis, giving people a reason to return to see where they are walking that day. New walkers will be joining all the time – sharing their stories and building momentum as more people participate in this innovative fundraising effort.

This unique approach to philanthropy has attracted strategic partners such as Yoplait, Checks Unlimited, FTD.com, Lucy and Fodor’s who have pledged to mobilize their communities to join the walk. In addition, dozens of celebrity ambassadors such as Lynn Redgrave, Kristin Chenoweth, Molly Sims, Mena Suvari, Diane Farr, Leisha Hailey, Marg Helgenberger and Jorja Fox will lend their support and participate in the virtual walk.

“We are honored to have these notable individuals and companies enhance the virtual walk experience, which will join women from all walks of life. This initiative will help benefit a group of individuals who are facing the most difficult battle of their lives,” commented Jeanne Fitzmaurice, founder of Design-her Gals and Gal to Gal Foundation. Fitzmaurice was selected by Yoplait and Susan G. Komen as a 2007 Yoplait Champion. “As we strive to raise awareness and funds for Stage IV breast cancer patients and their families, our goal is to bring dignity and comfort to those who need it most.”

Visitors will register for the Gal to Gal Walk at
www.galtogalwalk.org for a $3 donation. After designing their character, they will be added to the walk landscape where they can also invite their friends and family to join them. Supporters will receive a virtual goody bag with items donated by the Foundation’s strategic partners. Walkers may also purchase merchandise featuring their character on www.designhergals.com to support The Foundation.


ABOUT GAL TO GAL FOUNDATION
Gal to Gal Foundation honors the courage of those diagnosed with Stage IV, and forges a global community of caring, intelligent individuals who want to make a positive difference in the lives of others. In many cases, Gal to Gal Foundation is a voice for those who may lose the fight but whose courage can inspire us all.

Jeanne Fitzmaurice, founder of Design-her Gals, was personally affected by this disease when two women close to her lost their battle to Stage IV breast cancer. Jeanne discovered that although many wonderful organizations support breast cancer research, prevention and treatment for earlier stages, minimal dollars are dedicated to Stage IV needs. The reality is, until breast cancer is extinguished in all forms, there will be those who do not respond to the treatments that are currently available.

Gal to Gal Foundation currently dedicates its funds to Making Memories, an organization that exclusively grants wishes for Stage IV patients and their families. The Gal to Gal Walk will allow the Foundation to also sponsor a new global web site designed for those affiliated with or needing access to Stage IV resources.

Design-her Gals is spreading this compelling message through national media and celebrity attention and through the viral support of their community that has already grown to nearly 250,000. This initiative will increase awareness of those diagnosed in Stage IV breast cancer, and play a role in supporting hundreds of thousands of patients each year struggling to live out their lives with dignity.
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PRESS CONTACTS:

Beth Feldman (917) 797-8054 Beyondpr@gmail.com
Emma Rosenbloom (917) 514-4344 Emmarosenbloom@gmail.com

Why I Am a Primitive Baptist

People often think of the word "Primitive" as something strange or backward, but it can also convey the idea of "simplicity". This idea of simplicity describes the Primitive Baptists very well because the church services consist of nothing more than preaching, praying and singing.

Here is an excellent article from Elder Michael Gowens at Lexington Primitive Baptist Church that answers the question that I am asked frequently - "Why are you a Primitive Baptist"?

Why I Am a Primitive Baptist

By Elder Michael L. Gowens

Today after more than three decades of trying to preach the gospel, I want everyone to know that I deem it a privilege to be identified with the Primitive Baptists.

Sadly, I haven’t always been able to say that. Like a teenager with an “identity crisis”, there was once a time that my attitude toward the people with whom I had been identified from childhood was dangerously negative and critical. Driven largely by personal ambition and an excessive concern with what people thought of me, I flirted with the notion of greener pastures. The departure of a few close friends in the ministry in the late 80’s and early 90’s, however, was a “wake-up call” to me. I discovered three important facts: (1) That every group has its share of negatives; (2) That the positives of the Primitive Baptists far exceed the negatives; (3) That the positives of the Primitive Baptists, on an aggregate level, cannot be found among any other group.

Allow me to enumerate some of the positives. The following characteristics are (in my estimation) the non-negotiables—the key emphases that distinguish, when taken as a whole, the Old Baptists from other schools of thought. These are the reasons I am a Primitive Baptist today.

First, I share the Primitive Baptist’s strong commitment to Biblical simplicity. Unlike most professing Christians, the Old Baptists believe that simplicity is preferable to complexity. We want to minimize distractions—whether in terms of physical decoration and adornment, or in terms of liturgical formality and extracurricular programs—from the central theme of Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I prefer the simple worship-structure of congregational singing, public prayer, and Biblical preaching observed by the typical Old Baptist church. I don’t want to have to sort through a complex maze of religious activity in order to find one morsel of bread for my hungry soul. I like the solid theology and rich experience expressed in the old hymns and sung acapella by an entire congregation in four-part-harmony better than the low-cal, feel-good, musical performances, bands, and praise-choruses that are becoming increasingly more commonplace in many Christian circles today. I had rather hear a Spirit-filled, extemporaneous sermon that explains the Bible, proclaims the good news with enthusiasm and passion, stirs my mind on the most sublime and noble themes, and confronts and challenges me to greater godliness, even though the preacher tends to end his sentences with a preposition or leave a participle dangling, instead of a refined and polished twenty-minute, four-point, pre-packaged lesson that is mechanical and Spiritless. I get that kind of simplicity among the Old Baptists, and I readily confess that it suits my case.

Second, I am a Primitive Baptist because I agree with the way they interpret Scripture. No one makes sense of the whole Bible like the Primitive Baptists. No other group interprets Scripture with greater consistency than these people who understand the discipline of “rightly dividing the word of truth.” The habit of distinguishing between sonship and discipleship—between unconditional and gospel salvation—between relationship and fellowship—between union with Christ and communion with Him—between regeneration and conversion—between eternity and time—between judicial and parental judgment—between the objective fact and the subjective experience—between reality and the perception of that reality—is the hallmark that separates Primitive Baptists from virtually every other school of Biblical interpretation. The doctrine embraced by sound Primitive Baptists makes room for both the “shalls” of Isaiah 1:18 and the “if’s” of Isaiah 1:19, affirming that eternal life is certain and guaranteed by God, while insisting that the life of Christian discipleship is conditioned largely on our obedience and faithfulness. Old Baptists are virtually alone in their ability to reconcile apparently contradictory texts like Ephesians 2:8 (a text that teaches that salvation is not of ourselves) and Acts 2:40 (a text that exhorts us to save ourselves from this untoward generation), because they understand that the first verse has eternal ramifications and the second does not. I’ve never heard any preacher make sense of the Bible better than the average Primitive Baptist who understands the need to rightly divide the word of truth. I’ve never heard anyone but an Old Baptist explain how it could be that Christ died for “many” (Rom. 8:29; Heb. 9:28) who will ultimately live with Him in heaven, but that only “few” are traveling the narrow path of Christian discipleship (Mt. 7:13-14). I am convinced that the Primitives are correct to make this distinction between eternal and temporal salvation and this is one of the main reasons that I am happy to be a Primitive Baptist today. Take away this hallmark of Old Baptist doctrine, and the Primitives are no different theologically than any other group.

Third, I believe that the Old Baptist’s interest in cultivating true, apostolic, New Testament churches is legitimate. Many in the current Christian climate of ecumenism reject the idea of church identity. But throughout history, there have always been those who sought to pursue a pure church, free from institutionalism. Historians term people with these convictions “the Free Church Movement”, a category that includes such relatively obscure groups as the Donatists, Novatians, Waldenses, Lollards, and more. Each of these groups maintained an identity exclusive of Catholicism. Each practiced believer’s baptism and valued Holy Scripture as the sole rule of faith and life. Though each had its flaws and blemishes, they shared one important thing in common—a commitment to apostolic purity in the face of ecclesiastical authoritarianism. They are often dismissed as heretics because only the works of those who wrote against them have survived. But each of these groups sought to tailor church worship, polity, faith and life to the Biblical and apostolic pattern, and to keep the church free of magisterial entanglements. They believed that God would continue to bless His true church and they sought to be identified as such a church by conforming themselves to the Biblical pattern. The Primitive Baptists share this commitment to purity—in doctrine, practice, and the ethical conduct of their members—with a view to pleasing the Lord. In a day when many (if not most) denominations are “measuring themselves” by each other, competing with each other for popularity, and governing church life by popular fads and preferences, the Old Baptist concern to please God, to have authentic and true churches, and to be thoroughly Biblical is refreshing to me. That’s an important reason that I am a Primitive Baptist today.

Further reasons could be cited, but I trust these will suffice. Perhaps I could find one or two of these features among another group of people, but I’ve never yet found anyone besides the Old Baptists where all three of these critical components are present. I know the Old Baptists are not perfect; but then, neither am I. The faults of those of us known as Primitive Baptists notwithstanding, I am more committed today than ever before to be nothing more than a simple, old-time, Bible-believing, salvation-by-grace-preaching, Primitive Baptist, even if others think I’m weird or ignorant or out-of-touch with the modern world. I concur with Primitive Baptist convictions regarding believer’s baptism, close communion, age-integrated worship, and the need to maintain church discipline. I am satisfied with the arguments against musical instruments in the worship service, Sunday Schools, mission boards, secret societies, and parachurch auxiliaries. I agree with their views of congregational church government and the role of women in the church I am convinced that the Old Baptists are correct regarding the utility (or purpose) of the gospel and the conviction that God does not employ human means or instrumentality in regeneration. I now know that this is where I fit. No longer do I struggle with an identity crisis. These are my people. They sing my song; they understand my story; they speak my language. I cannot speak for anyone else, but these are the reasons I am a Primitive Baptist.

The Old Baptists have been good to me since I united with them 37 years ago this month. I pray that Lord would prevent me from ever doing anything to harm them. I want to spend my days serving the Lord among them and seeking to promote their spiritual welfare.

You can visit the Lexington Primitive Baptist Church website at http://lexpbc.org/.

Who doesn't love a Carousel ride?

Joshua loved his first Carousel ride! Although I can't remember my first ride on the Carousel, I do remember it being one of my favorite rides when we would go to the amusement park near home. Even as I got older, there was always something magical about the Carousel ride, especially at night with the lights and the music. It was always one of the last rides (or the last ride) to shut down, so there was always - "please, just one more time?!". For just a dollar, this three-and-a-half minute spin was worth every cent.

Ice Cream

I was recently asked if I have my camera ready at every moment of the day and well, yes, I do (or try to anyway). I have realized that the days pass too quickly and I want to document as many days and moments as possible. So, here is a cute video of Joshua and his ice cream cone. We love ice cream at our house....maybe a little too much!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com