Birthday and Baptism - Roman style

I've been scarce in blog world lately so I'm going to rewind the VHS tape of life for a minute and pick up where I left off, and what I've missed.

I appreciate all of you cyber friends and loyal lurkers who follow along on our wacky little journey here, so don't think I've forgotten you.

My biggest boy had a two special days in the last month or so.  The first one was his baptism.

A few posts ago we spent a weekend camping with our church family.  It was such a great time.
A highlight was an afternoon of baptisms of new believers.  One of those baptisms was my son.

He's been asking to be baptised and jumped at the chance this summer.  While I am cautious of children being baptised too young or being coerced in anyway, I am also cautious of discouraging or hindering children who have a good grasp of the gospel, who love and follow Jesus, and who know what the purpose of Baptism is.  The act of baptism has no actual power to save or "seal the deal" in any way, only perseverance in faith, and continued growth, will be the proof of regeneration in my child.  So right now I take his faith, repentance and belief at face value, and will not discourage him from taking that step of obedience to Jesus.

Being reminded of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus on our behalf is always a good thing.  

Seeing it pictured in the baptism of new followers of Jesus is also a great reminder that He is still drawing people to Himself.  



 By the act of being baptised (immersed in water) we are picturing that the death of Jesus and His resurrection was for us.

In being baptised, we are publicly proclaiming three things:

1. To God: Thank You for saving me!  I belong to You.

2. To Believers: Celebrate with me! Jesus has saved me!  Remember when He saved you?  Encourage me, help me and keep me accountable to following Jesus.

3. To Unbelievers: I want you to know the Jesus that I know.  If you see  anything good in my life, that’s jesus.  He wants you to know Him, as well.

Below you can experience a few excerpts from the day and our camping trip, captured on video:  

 Summer Baptisms from Grace Fellowship on Vimeo.

I really do love my church.   Like I've said before, the Church is not a place, an institution, or a Sunday morning event...the Church is the people.  I really love these people. 

A group of people on mission together, loving God and loving others.  A group made up of all different races, ethnic origins, age demographics, political persuasions, and backgrounds with one overwhelming uniting factor that makes us community and family...

Jesus. 

This boy loves sand and water....almost as much as he likes to snuggle. 

Silas and his buddies "baptising" each other. 

A slightly unorthodox post dunking dunk.

The next special day was the day that my fluffy haired, blue eyed, freckle faced little boy was born.

10 years ago!

A whole decade. 

We celebrated by going swimming at a neighbours back yard pool. 

Auntie Brook with her big water babies.  We've been enjoying our summer time household  of 9.  

My sister in law Brook and her son are spending their 4th summer with us!  I'm loving having an extra set of Mama hands around the house, and someone to laugh and visit with all day.  

Elijah learning to swim Burlando style. 

Then we partied with hamburgers, pineapple upside-down cakes, and camouflage cups.

...and minion pinata 

It was also my mom's birthday so we had a joint party...which means TWO cakes.

Then came the 10 year old boy gifts.

Congratulations on 10 years of life Roman!!

I sure do love this boy.

Soli Deo Gloria, 

A Drinking Binge, and Canada Day

We're pretty boring with our beverages around here (at least as far as the kids go).   My kids get a bit of milk and a lot of water.  You won't find juice or soda in our fridge...unless it's some unusual occasion.  In the summer I go hog wild and put lemon slices in the water pitcher.  My kids think it's lemonade.  Seriously.  

In the summer we also pull out the juicer, not that we couldn't in the winter too, but it's just more fun (and affordable) when fresh produce is more readily available, or free from the garden.

Two of these children pictured above are my pickiest eaters, and most resistant to suspicious substances that could possibly be toxic waste (because I've been known to serve up toxic goo for dinner).  It's always a toss up whether they'll be adventurous enough to consume the juice we create. 

So far so good though.  This summer Silas is my biggest juicing fan and is always eager to make juice.  I think he just like shoving the produce in the noisy machine.  Whatever works. 

This is the pile of fruit and vegi's consumed by these three kids at mid morning snack time.  We've been experimenting with all kinds of combinations of various fruits and vegis to find things that are somewhat kid approved.  

 I'm a little more hard core and I like throw back some straight mean green juice with lots of spicy fresh ginger.  Right now my garden is packed with all kinds of various greenery... fresh kale, swiss chard, spinach, baby beet greens, cilantro, and various lettuces.  Stocking up on colour before the long anaemic winter returns. 

Juice is way more fun when you can make it yourself. 

Elijah wasn't so sure, but after seeing the other two down their glasses he gave it a go.   He's a great eater though so I'm not too worried about getting nutrition into him via juice.  He likes to eat his greens. I've been making a consistent effort to combat the malnutrition/ anaemia that he had developed.  It seems to be working, he's growing lots, and has had only one short lived cold in 5 months. 

On July 1st we celebrated Canada Day. 

We went over to our new neighbours to invite them over for a Weiner roast, but instead they were already cooking up a storm making food for us.  Our new neighbours are several guys  fresh from the Philipines, brought over to work at a local manufacturing business.  They live  in a "camp" down the road from us and they all have wives and kids back in the Philipines waiting to come over. 

Those home made spring roles were delish.  

I was super impressed...not bad for a bachelor pad feast. 

We spent most of the afternoon hanging out, it was good fun.  

 I'm thankful that we have some new faces, and new friends, in Hickville. 

It was a great way to spend Canada Day. 

In other news....

my summer house guests will be arriving Monday!  My bestest friend and sister in law, and her son are coming for their 4th annual Canadian summer.  July is going to be a busy whirlwind...lots to fit in when we only get about a month and a half of summer (before harvest starts).  So if I don't blog much you can assume I've either been sucked dry by a raging swarm of Saskatchewan mosquitos,  or am just having too much fun to turn on the computer.  

Soli Deo Gloria,