iPhone 6

Well, I do like our new iPhone 6's. But naturally I like Oliver even more. I think it is quite amusing to see him wearing a Genius shirt. So the combinations of this shirt and being the first picture taken by his daddy's iPhone 6 makes this layout very special to me.

I love the way the camera caught the light playing in Oliver's eyes.

Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the lord. Psalm 31:14

Amigos

Back to El Fogon for more pictures of the boys. We took full advantage of all the props there at El Fogon. Caleb even tried on the sombrero. And I captured the parrots  on the wall.

These brothers are truly amigos. They like each other's company. They are friends.

These minutes were precious.

At my age, I've come to appreciate that time flies quickly away. We need to make the most of sweet moments like these with the boys, who will grow up much, much too quickly. I like to make the most of my time, but that isn't always easy.  There are many things that I will call mundane that have to be done by someone.  And that someone is me. I like to be somewhat organized so that I can get the most out of a minute; yet I find myself struggling to master something new on the computer, wasting hour upon hour. That happened to me just today.

It is now time to catch some sleep in order to handle tomorrow's activities that have been planned of me.

I wrote all that so that it looks like I've actually had something to say...to  fill some space...but I don't and  I'm going to bed.

Good night, Sleep tight in the care of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Maggie Meets Ava

It would be interesting to know what Maggie is thinking as she tilts her head and gazes at the new baby visiting. I don't remember whether or not Maggie had met Brittanie before, but that really doesn't matter, since  she loves everyone. The new thing is a baby. She has only known one baby and he was big enough to sit in his carrier on the floor and reach for her. Oh, and I've not counted her brother John's baby, who is not still, but pulls himself up and 'walks' around the room. This baby is only a couple of weeks old. The dog just doesn't get it. She isn't really afraid, yet she is keeping her distance, while keeping that little one in her sight. 

As for me, I love all of them, Brittanie, our granddaughter, Ava, our first great granddaughter and Maggie the spoiled one of our old age.

Having this little one here has reminded me of a biblical passage  that I feel very strongly about:

Proverbs 22:6New International Version (NIV)

 Start children off on the way they should go,
    and even when they are old they will not turn from it.

A newer translation, the Message, says 

Point your kids in the right direction—
    when they’re old they won’t be lost.

This is good instruction for new parents. It can also be a great comfort to parents, whose teenagers seem to have lost their way...if in fact, those parents did teach their children by word and example while they were little children.

Bestie Selfie

Here is Ashley with a couple of her friends. Do you get the picture?  Looks like they are having a good time

Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days... Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it? Psalms 34:12, 14

Not that these young girls are plaqued by evil yet, but this Biblical advice is good for any one at any age.  Of course these days, evil is knocking on more children's doors than ever before...at least not in the lifetime of this nation.

Spend some time on this verse and you will be better.

Positive Thoughts

Lauren is active in Crossfit...very active. These pictures were taken over a few weeks time. Recently, she climbed a mountain as well. I'm not sure whether or not there are pictures from that event. But I surely hope so.  It certainly seems like a worthwhile activity for the scrapbook.

This is a positive activity. I'm working now on the following verse.

Philippians 4:8 

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

This good advice has been my aim for years.  However, lately, I've let myself get away from it because of the state of the world.  But thanks to our minister bringing it up in his sermon this morning, I will be trying hard to let it drive my life  again. It is certainly good for one's health and relationships. And of course it is much more attractive to others. We are to be a light unto the world and we can't do that and be living in the dark world of fear.

We are to be good examples of Christ's teaching. We should trust God, our father, to guide us and do everything in love. The Bible says that  they will know we are Christians by our love.

Chicken Meatballs A Hit

As I promised myself, I've gone back to finish my summer book before working more on the fall one.

I don't think we have to wonder whether of not Oliver and Caleb liked the chicken meatballs. Their mother is an excellent cook and I wish I'd had some of those myself.

There are quite a few things I do wonder about these days. One is, how did people get so ignorant so fast?  I'm not saying that about any specific person, but society as a whole.  I certainly hope that with God's help we can get back to thinking again and living our lives for others and not just for our selfish selves.  Sometimes it takes a big tragedy  to teach a lesson. I'm praying we learn before it gets that bad...Wishful thinking, because it is getting progressively bad day and day...if one can believe what we hear and see in the news.

May the good Lord bless and keep you through the night and into the morning light. Amen.

El Fogon

I missed one night and then another...and then another. Soon it had become easy for me to go to bed without posting on the blog. I'm not sure it mattered to anyone. It didn't bother me at first, but when I noticed today that I hadn't blogged since the last day of September,  I  was a little shocked.  Time goes by so quickly now.

So here I am...and I'm trying to get this posted before midnight...somewhere.  

John, Beth, Caleb and Oliver have been here for a short time. I took LOTS of pictures and so did John and Beth. I don't have any excuse  for not making layouts. Seriously, I want to give up everything else...especially work, labor, toil, cooking, cleaning...just to work on my books. 

I made this one layout...and only this one, so far, of the boys this trip.  You are seeing this one, just because I couldn't help but get ahead of myself. These boys are soooooo cute. We took them to our favorite Mexican restaurant, El Fogon. We do love the food, but my main intent in going to lunch that day was to photograph the boys with the interesting furniture that adorns their entrance way by the fireplace. It worked well and we all thoroughly enjoyed our food as well.  

It was not our first outing of the day. We were following a trip to the Harry London, Fanny Farmer candy factory near us. I have wonderful pictures taken there as well.

Tomorrow, I'll be back with pictures that were taken during summer that I've not finished.

The election is coming up. Please study and get out there and vote. We need every single vote we can get to counter all the counterfeit votes we are getting from the other side of the fence...graveyard votes and people bussed from one precinct to another, voting over and over and over again.  Sometimes I think there is no way we can get our country back. Then I think about God's promise  to heal our land if we turn from our wicked ways.  There will always be wicked people...Satan will see to that, but we do have a larger number, than the libs like to think, who believe in our God and seek to follow him.