Strawberries, Blackberries and Blueberries!

We went blueberry picking with our friends Josh and Lila and their little baby Wesley! We had so much fun and the blueberries were SOO yummy! Isaac liked them a lot:) Afterwards there was a beautiful sunset and we made blueberries and vanilla ice cream milkshakes. We have loved getting to know Josh and Lila and have been so blessed by them! Lila is a nurse in the Special Nursery at MUSC and took care of Isaac when he was there. Back when Isaac was 4lbs!


Chad, Josh, Wesley and Isaac!!

My friend Lisa and I took our babies to pick what was left of the strawberries and a tun of blackberries! Isaac loves Lisa's little Matthew!

Chad works nearby Boone Hall Farm so he came and surprised us while we were picking!

May

I can't believe that this month is almost over!! We have been enjoying the Spring so much! Isaac is growing and discovering more and more everyday. I am so blessed by him all the time. Isaac all tuckered out (above)
We have had so many beautiful and sunny days recently but this week has been suddenly cold and rainy:( I think these green bajamies are so cute and snuggly, it has been awhile since Isaac has been dressed so snuggly...I enjoyed hugging him in it:)
He wanted to help me hang up some clothes:)

These bloomed in the backyard! Beautiful!!
Isaac and Mommy's memory verse this week:
Hebrews 2:17 "He (Jesus) had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people."

Today is my Mom's birthday! Happy Birthday Mom! I love you so much and miss you a lot!

Community Thrift Store in North Charleston

Our friend Gray from church, told me about this great thrift store in North Charleston. They had so many cute baby clothes and nothing was more than a dollar! I got a great deal and was very excited about it! Isaac's wardrobe is pretty much set for this fall. And I also was able to find 2 bathing suits( I guess I need to say, "trunks"). I had been looking for some swimming trunks for Isaac!
(I did buy one very cute pair of little pants for a baby girl...just in case I ever need them:)
Chad surprised me with flowers the other day! He said he had to go get some "ice cream" and he came back with ice cream and 1/2 dozen roses! I have SUCH a wonderful man! They smell sooo good!

Jumper Seat and New Flowers!

Isaac is slowing getting the hang of his jumper seat. He can just barely touch the ground and make himself bounce a little:) I think once his legs get longer he is really going to enjoy it! And we found the perfect spot for it, in the doorway so he can feel the breeze!

My mother-in-law came and stayed with us for a couple days last week and helped me clean up the garden. She also bought me some beautiful flowers to plant! I had a lot of fun planting them. I have been taking Isaac outside with me everyday to water them. He is going to be my little helper:)
It is fun watching them continue to bloom! God made such beautiful flowers!
Last Saturday I mowed the lawn for the first time! haha It was tiring, and Isaac was crying the whole time but Chad had left and I didn't want to let go of the mower b/c I was afraid I wouldn't be able to crank it again... haha I will get better:) Isaac was fine, he just wanted mommy!!



I put Isaac in his Moby Wrap sometimes when we go outside to water our flowers
He is "slightly" bouncing:)

Isaac is almost 7 months!!

Mommy and Isaac on Easter Sunday:
Isaac has been SUCH a joy!! He is growing so much. He is using his hands to grab things very well. He loves to look at books and is putting everything (including books) in his mouth! I am so thankful that he seams to be very healthy and happy. We definitely miss being around my side of the family, since they are all so far away:( Aunt Natalie is going to come and visit us next month, May 22nd and we are really looking forward to that. I am very thankful that I can talk to my Mom and Dad and Billy (Grammie and Grandad:) on skype.
April seams to be flying by! I am hoping to go strawberry picking this week at Boon Hall Plantation right near our house. I am sure Isaac will enjoy that. He loves to be outside! God is so gracious to us and we are continuing to be so in awe of Him and how wonderful He is. I have been reading to Isaac in his Children's Bible and it has helped me so much to hear a simplistic version of God's never leaving, steadfast love for His people. We also had a wonderful Easter remembering that Jesus has conquered death, He is alive, and pleads on our behalf to the Father! We need to celebrate and remember this everyday, not just Easter!

meditation for Good Friday

Isaiah 9:6-7
"For to us a child is born (Jesus), to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

notes from my Bible, "The Reformation Study Bible" :
Mighty God- As a warrior God protects his people
Everlasting Father- The Father and King cares for his subjects
Prince of Peace- His Government brings peace
That this King and Mighty God would be slain on a cross to save His people and bring them fellowship with God is a sobering, joyful, unbelievable, awe-filled, glorious truth. I am so grateful that the curtain was torn allowing his children to come to him without the weight of our shame but instead with robes of righteousness from His Son.
"Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great high priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from a evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water." Hebrews 10:19-22

A Day at the Beach

Bryan and Melissa came last weekend for a visit. We had so much fun with them. We had a picnic on the beach for the first time. Isaac seamed to love it! We are really enjoying being in Mount Pleasant, 10 min. away from Isle of Palms! Here are some pictures:

chubby baby!

He was just talking away at the wind and the sun

Isaac at 6 months

Here is a video of Isaac! Isaac has been doing so well. He has started to make more and more noises. He is so much fun to watch!

Taste and See By John Piper

How can Eternal Life Be A Free Gift and Yet "According to Works"?
meditation on Romans 2:6-8
God will render to every man according to his works: to those who by patience in
well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are factious and so not obey truth, but obey wickedness, there will be wrath and fury.

One of the questions raised about death is whether Christians face a divine judgment and, if so, why and what kind. It is a good question because, on the one hand, we believe that our acceptance with God is based on free grace purchased by the substitutionary sacrifice of Christ and that this acceptance is attained through faith and not through meritorious works. But, on the other hand, the New Testament frequently teaches that believers will be judged by God along with all men and that both our eternal life and our varied rewards will be "according to works."
For example, Romans 2:6-8 says,"God will render to every man according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immorality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are factious and do not obey the truth, but obey wickedness, there will be wrath and fury." (RSV)
This passage teaches that eternal life will be "according to works." To those who seek glory by patience in well-doing, God will render eternal life. The same thing is taught clearly to believers in Galatians 6:8-9, "The one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap [eternal life] if we do not grow weary."
So in both Romans 2 and Galatians 6, eternal life is rendered in accord with patience in well- doing.
But this does not mean that it will be earned by works instead of obtained by faith. In Romans 6:23 Paul says, "The free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Eternal life is not earned. It is free. "By grace you were saved through faith, and this is not your own doing, it is the free gift of God, not of works lest any many should boast." Ephesians 2:8-9. Faith receives eternal life freely as a gift. There is no way it can be earned as a wage through works.
But eternal life is rendered according to our works. This is made plain not only in Romans 2:6-8 and Gal. 6:8-9, but also in Cor. 6:9-11; Gal 5:6, 21; Eph 5:5; James 2:14-26; Hebrews 12:14; Matthew 7:24-27; Luke 10:25-28; and many other places that teach the necessity of obedience (which is the fruit of faith) in the inheritance of eternal life.
So we must learn to make the biblical distinction between earning eternal life on the basis of works (which the Bible does not teach!) and receiving eternal life according to works (which the Bible does teach!) Believers in Christ will stand before the judgment seat of God and will be accepted into eternal life on the basis of the shed blood of Jesus covering our sin (Eph 1:7) and the righteousness of God reckoned to our account through faith (Romans 3:2;4:5, Philippians 3:9). But our free acceptance by grace through faith will be according to works.
"According to works" means that God will take the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22) and the "good deeds" by which the light of our faith shines (Matthew 5:16) , and he will accept them as corroborating evidence of our faith.
He sentence of acquittal will not be because we are not guilty. It will be because Christ bore our gilt. The place of our works at the judgment is to serve as corroborating public evidence that we did indeed put our trust in Christ. "We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren." (1John 3:14), "By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments" (1 John 2:3). Therefore when we are acquitted and welcomed into the kingdom, it will not be earned by works but it will be according to works. There will be
an "accord" or an agreement between our salvation and our works. (See A Godward Life, Book One, reading #90.)
If these things are so, two practical effects emerge. One is a sense of peace with God that Christ has died for us and lives again to intercede for us with an all-sufficient sacrifice and a perfect obedience. "We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:1). This is precious beyond words in the times of assailing doubt. The other effect is a sense of urgency and seriousness about the demand that we be real and not phony in our faith. If a changed life of love (the sum of good works) is the evidence of our faith, then oh, how vigilant and earnest and passionate we should be about the things of God and the fight of faith. Lord, let us deed 1 Timothy 6:12, "Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called."

February

little munchkin

Isaac is getting so big! He is 4 months now

I love his little tiny baby hands. Looking at them makes me so amazed at God and how He forms us so wonderfully.



Isacc has started just staring at things, not taking his eyes away! Here is a video of Isaac cooing!

Isaac has learned how to smile! He is such a funny little guy! I am having so much fun with him:)