The State Fair

Yesterday the family and I went to the State Fair. Going to the fair ranks close to the top as far as fond Fall memories go. Racing around with my brothers from ride to ride, eating french fries and elephant ears... Ahhhhhh. I am fortunate enough to still be able to go with my parents and brothers as well as my husband and son. Here are some shots from last night.



Big Daddy and Gabe











Mama Becky/"Bec" and Gabe sharing some ice cream













Crazy Uncle Mark












Gabe getting some early motorcycle lessons













New friends :-)










Gabe and Mommy














Uncle Michael hard at work. He did get to spend a little bit of time with us.

A Thankful Heart

My precious child is grasping the concept of being thankful. He now not only says “thank you” when I give him something, but when I allow him to do something, too. A few days ago, for example, I told him he could go outside after saying no originally due to the terrible mosquitoes we have in our yard. (The way they swarm him you’d think the child was made of mosquito ice cream or something.) “Thank you, Mommy,” he said. I was floored. It was the first time he said that phrase in that context. I put some long sleeves on him and outside we went.

Gabe is also completely in love with Thomas the Train. He hasn’t seen any videos yet, but when we go to Book-A-Million, he will play with the Thomas display for an hour, easy. While at Walmart I happened upon some super soft Thomas fleece and decided to make him a blanket for the frigid nights we’re getting. (Ha ha. The Weather Channel says it is getting pretty cold this weekend…Maybe we’ll actually have a winter this year.) Gabe woke up from his nap while I was making the blanket so he watched me finish up. The next morning when Roddy went to go get him from his crib, Gabe's first words to him were “Thank you, Mommy,” while looking at his blanket. He then met me in the hall. “Thank you, Mommy. Choo-choo train.” My heart was melting all over the place. Even today he saw a small square of the fabric—you know, for matching blankets for his trains that he’ll be receiving for Christmas--and said it again, “Thank you, Mommy.”

Oh, the sweetness. I am so crazy about my family!

Letting it go

Acts 10:43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.

I had a friendly chat with two men who work at one of the local thrift stores in my town the other day when I was looking for old wooden bookshelves for Gabe’s room. (Digging through the huge Rubbermaid container to get to his books was getting pretty old.) This particular thrift store is cool because it is a ministry for men who have recently gotten out of rehab, being homeless, etc. and gives them an opportunity to work. These men had a zeal for the Lord that was contagious! What the Father had brought them out of and saved them from was so evident to these men that they talked about Him to whomever would listen.

As our conversation was winding up, I mentioned a struggle that I deal with off and on--the black cloud called “guilt.” It was humorous, actually, this self-proclaimed goody-goody talking about guilt with men that have done who knows what. I repeated something that a good friend of mine once told me. “Katie, you know, it’s like spitting in God’s face when you keep asking forgiveness for something He’s already forgiven you for. It’s as if you don’t believe His gift, His only Son dying on the cross for your sins, forgives you for what you’ve done.” Smack! She might as well have hit me across the face. Spit in the face of God!!! I don’t want to do that!!

As I spoke, the expression on this man’s face changed right before my eyes. His eyes teared up. “I’ve been asking God to forgive me for something I did every morning for the last 20 years.” He then thanked me profusely for saying what I did.

I hope that this man, and me, for that matter, will be able to wrap our heads around the fact that Jesus said “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” (Matthew 26:28).

So, my friend, “Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit.” (Psalm 32:1-2)