Halloween

We enjoy any day you can go out dressed up in your finest and beg people for candy! Haha! I know and respect that many families choose not to celebrate Halloween, but we enjoy making it a good time! This year we elected to just walk around Mimi and Papa's neighborhood. The weather was gorgeous, so we thought it would be the most fun to just be outside. 

Usually, we trick or treat with Kev, Caroline, and Owen, but they got the chance to go to Indiana this year, so it was just us, the Cecil's, and Aunt Britt. Here's the rundown on costumes before you even try to figure them out. Emma was Raspberry Torte and Jenna was Lemon Berry from Strawberry Shortcake. The boys were Batman and Superman. (Yes, I am that lazy and dressed them in PJs! An idea I stole from sweet, Ashley. So, yes, for a recap, they ARE in pj's; it wasn't my idea; and my dear mother in law purchased them for me. Yeah, and I am proud of it!)

Batman, Lemon Berry, Monster Dude, Raspberry Torte, and Superman

The Cecil Fam

Oh and to add to my laziness, these capes were purchased 

by my other sister, Brittany, for the boys birthday.

Ray morphed into a skelton

An attempt at a photo shot of the heroes together

Mimi and Superman

I like this pic of Papa with the boys. Papa is really quite proud of his grandsons!

Another attempt

The only person willing to pose. Thank you, Emma!

Yes, yet another attempt.

Need I say more?

The boys really enjoyed the evening ... not so much.

Little Ray does love his cousins! This is him greeting Ems when they got to Barn's house.

Our cute little monster!

It was so cute watching them trek up to each door. The girls really enjoyed helping Little Ray and he really enjoyed marching up to the steps. Momma had to help a few times to make sure he didn't decide to move in with a few families. I know Brittany was with us in this tour of Halloween but somehow she didn't sneak in any pictures. I'll have to be a bit more intentional next time to capture her in some pics!

Ems' Baptism

So our Ems took the plunge! We celebrated a special day this past July as Emma decided to accept Jesus into her heart. After a few years of questions and telling her not just yet, we decided Emma was really ready to ask Jesus into her heart. Here's how it all came about.

We were at the church's swim night just before the 4th of July and Pastor Joe led a baptism service right at the pool. Emma was mesmerized and very determined to be baptized that night with the others. We told her, however, that she needed to accept Jesus into her heart in order to be baptized. She kept on and on and on, and we said that we when we got home, we would talk to it in more detail. Emma continued all the way home in the car and as we got home. So, once we got everyone situated, we sat down with her and discussed what it meant to "accept Jesus in your heart". We talked through the ins and out and even read a cute little book my mom had bought us several years ago. 

After much discussion, some reading, and some praying, our Ems' name had been written in the book of life! It really was a cool moment to lead our first born to Christ. I pray now that we can lead her to the next steps in her spiritual life. I pray that now we can be examples to her of how Christian parents raise their children; Christian adults relate to their friends and family; and Christian adults relate to the world around them. I pray with all of my heart that she is able to begin growing deep roots in Christ now that she never severs. I pray that she struggles and wrestles and changes in Christ but that she never leaves him and always falls back on him as her foundation. I pray that she begins to understand how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love for her really is. I pray that Ephesians 3:14-21 becomes a verse she not only knows but feels. 

So, the next step was Baptism. In October, FWC began a Celebration Sunday service. On the fifth Sunday of the longer months, we are having baptisms, baby dedications, and healings. So, Emma quickly caught wind that a baptism service was approaching, and we dutifully signed her up. She was extremely excited about the event!!! If you know Emma, that is actually an understatement. She has plenty of things planned to say, but as the moment approached she became a bit shy.

Here are the kids lined up ready to be baptized.

Ems passing on her moment of talk time. Surprisingly! ;o)

The plunge!

I love the smile on Pastor John's face. 

He truly has a heart for the kids at our church and has truly loved on our family! 

He shows on his face! 

Us with the newly baptized, Emma!

An attempt at a family picture! 5 for 6 is pretty good, right?!?!

Emma with her Baptism certificate.

And, these are some of the strange, yet wonderful people or family members who helped us cheer Emma.

 The scene before the baptism. Mimi recording and taking pics with her IPad. 

Luke on his phone. Mom smiling at Emma. Ray being Ray.

My lovely mom! Not often do we catch her with a fun, real smile. She HATES cameras!

Looks like Holly got you, mom! :o)

And, yes, Holly got ahold of my camera for awhile! 

Now the real work begins! Training our newly saved baby girl in the way she should go! We can't wait to see how God uses this strong spirit to love on his people! 

Pumpkin Patch Part 2

So the second part of the patch was us exploring the animals and playground.

Jenna checking out the ... goat?!?!?

Noah and Nana checking out the animals.

Aunt Brittany making sure the girls have it under control.

Noah's turn to pet the animals.

Micah with his turn

I put these four scoundrels in jail!

Haha ... I love Aunt Brittany's face here!

Another successful trip to the pumpkin patch!