The Cutest Tale of Jonah and the Whale

This little girl is adorable. I had a hard day yesterday and this video made me laugh again. Hope you enjoy it! Watch it full-screen.

Dedication Service

Well, the chocolate babies got dedicated to the Lord yesterday! We had a special service at our church for Glenn and Nathalie and their sweet little family. We sure do love these people! The Lord has grown them in so many ways. Please keep praying that our ministry will establish and strengthen good, solid families who can serve the Lord in this country where the family is basically nonexistent. We see boyfriends and girlfriends and their children living together like a family, though the parents aren't married, and we see single moms and single dads with one illegitimate child or multiple children from several different relationships. I know things are bad in the States, but here in Holland it seems to be a plague. What's scary is seeing unmarried couples who are more committed to each other than those who have legally been married. And then there are those who have a baby with a girlfriend/boyfriend, split up, and have difficulty seeing that child as much as they'd like to. It has never made much sense to me, but now that Russell and I are courting, I find it even more mind boggling. For the life of me, I cannot comprehend why anybody would do that...put themselves through that kind of torture, not to mention how confused and insecure the poor children must feel as they are tossed like a ball between two opposing players. God's ways are so much simpler. If only we would follow in them instead of walking our own willful path. So much heartache could be avoided...

We had a full house. I was in the nursery, but I believe Dad preached a message about Abraham offering Isaac. What an excellent topic for such an occasion! Glenn's mother and sister got saved as a result! Praise the Lord! They are only the ones we are aware of. Only God knows who else might have accepted Christ as their Saviour.

Here are Glenn & Nathalie and their 3 boys. They are such a joy to our church and to our family! Some people have the idea that children are a burden, but let me say that when they are brought up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, my, what a blessing they are! Glenn and Nathalie are doing a good job! We pray they keep up the good work and that God might use these three precious souls and raise them up to be the next generation of godly young men. Perhaps even preachers...you never know!!! =)

Bro. Mischa and Mom made an adorable banner. "Jezus zegt: Laat de kinderen tot Mij komen. (Mat. 19:14)." Mom outdid herself, decorating with bright balloons and colorful flowers and matching napkins. Sister Milly made delicious food for the after-service meal, and other ladies brought dishes as well. Though our family was kept quite busy, it was a blessing to see our people and visitors having such an enjoyable time. I love our church! It's hard to even imagine that I won't always be here. I've never experienced such conflicting and utterly confusing emotions in my entire life. On that subject, I've gotten some teasing from church folk about my ability to cook and take care of babies. Everyone is concerned about my capabilities and determined that I should be well practiced up to be a wife and mother. =)

At a serious moment, Baby Jonathan thought Dad was rather amusing... That baby is too cute!!! I've considered kidnapping him, but I think he might miss his mommy and daddy. Nobody can so easily get a smile or gurgling laugh out of him like his parents and big brothers can. That is something I hope to experience one day.

Daniel was a good boy, though he was sick and feeling somewhat miserable. I actually took care of Daniel for several days when he was a tiny (premature) baby, so I guess I know how a mother feels waking up several times a night for feedings. (grimace) See? I do have some experience! =D

Is it this side of my face you wanted to see?

Nathan is adorable! He isn't super smiley like Daniel is, but, similar to his mommy, when his face lights up in a smile, your heart just about melts.

We love the Kerkeboom family! Lord, bless these dear people!

photo credits to: Lyd

What Does LOVE Mean?

Yesterday I came across a cute forward I had printed off several years ago that was sent to me by a friend. It made me laugh and cry at the same time. It's no wonder why kids are so precious to the Lord. "Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger." ~ Psalm 8:2

~ * ~

A group of professional people posed this question to a group of four through eight year olds: "What does love mean?" The answers they got were broader and deeper than anyone could have imagined. See what you think...

"When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love."
Rebecca ~ age 8

"When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth."
Billy ~ age 4

"Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other."
Karl ~ age 5

"Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs."
Chrissy ~ age 6

"Love is what makes you smile when you're tired."
Terri ~ age 4

"Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK."
Danny ~ age 7

"Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more. My Mommy and Daddy are like that. They look gross when they kiss."
Emily ~ age 8

"Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen."
Bobby ~ age 7

"If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate."
Nikka ~ age 6

"Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday."
Noelle ~ age 7

"Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well."
Tommy ~ age 6

"During my piano recital, I was on a stage and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling. He was the only one doing that. I wasn't scared anymore."
Cindy ~ age 8

"My mommy loves me more than anybody. You don't see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night."

Clare ~ age 6

"Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken."
Elaine ~ age 5

"Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford."
Chris ~ age 7

"Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day."

Mary Ann ~ age 4

"I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones."
Lauren ~ age 4

"When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you."
Karen ~ age 7

"You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget."
Jessica ~ age 8

The purpose of the contest was to find the most caring child. The winner was a four-year-old child whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there. When his Mother asked what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said, "Nothing, I just helped him cry."

And these are a few extras I found without the names and ages of the kids:

"Love is when someone hurts you. And you get so mad but you don't yell at them because you know it would hurt their feelings."

"I let my big sister pick on me because my Mom says she only picks on me because she loves me. So I pick on my baby sister because I love her."

"Love is when you tell someone something bad about yourself and you're scared they won't love you anymore. But then you get surprised, because not only do they still love you, they love you even more."

"There are two kinds of love: Our love and God's love. But God makes both kinds of them."

"God could have said magic words to make the nails fall off the cross, but He didn’t. That's love."

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." ~ John 3:16-18

I would say that many of these little kids came to a conclusion that most adults do not even grasp. Love is sacrificial; love is selfless. This is true love!

Enjoying the "Chocolate Babies"

We love the little "chocolate babies" in our church, although two of them aren't really babies anymore. Here are more pictures of them. Sorry if you think I'm boring; I think they are pretty cute! =)

When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid:

yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.

~ Proverbs 3:24

I think babies understand this verse better than adults. When we go to bed we tend to lay there and think about our problems. Babies, on the other hand, drift off in peaceful slumber, fully trusting that the arms holding them will keep them safe and warm. The Lord holds us as a similar way. We can rest in the security of His love, having confidence that He will keep His word! "The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them." For that reason, "It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep." (Psalm 34:7 and 127:2)

I'm as content as can be

with the sweet girl you see!

If only he could talk: I've got it made! I'm comfy cozy with one of my favorite girls, and I've got this finger to suck on. It kinda tastes like choloclate!

Sleepin' like a baby! That's a saying for a reason.

Me and Daniel. He is quite a ham! =D

We had a conversation about boys and girls on Wednesday night. He knows he is a boy and Mommy is a girl. When I asked him what I was he said I was a boy. Oh dear! I pointed out that I was wearing a skirt and I have long hair--that means I'm a girl. (I don't think he was convinced.) Then I turned to Mom and mentioned that that gets kinda confusing when little kids see women in pants and men with long hair. Ugh! I guess things were a lot easier in the good old days when men and women didn't have to be taught to look different from each other.

Have I mentioned that I love my ring?

Josiah and Nathan getting ready to kick the ball!

From his face I think we can assume Nathan was having the time of his life. (chuckle) --All these pictures open up bigger, in case you can't see how happy and excited he looks.

Here's the confirmed bachelor holding a baby! Miracle! (chuckle) I really can't wait until Josiah gets bitten by the love bug. He and Lydia are going to be 1,000 times worse than me! Ha! Besides, I don't care that I'm crazy! Like Russell says, "Leave me alone! I'm having the time of my life!" Ha! =D

"My Baby"

This little baby's name is Jonathan. His parents and two little brothers faithfully come to our church. My dad married Glenn & Nathalie, and we have enjoyed seeing their family grow through the years. My sister and I poked fun at Glenn & Nathalie when they were courting. They had to put up with a lot of giggling and teasing, I'm afraid. Now I'm getting my fair share. Too bad Russell isn't here to enjoy it with me. (chuckle) I sure do miss him! =(

I love this baby!

Look at those innocent eyes! What a sweet face!