Brandon playing drums on Hayden

Not sure what words to put with this funny video, I just wanted to share it with everyone!

Brandon and Chloe

Here is Brandon and Chloe in the stroller. My poor dog, we went for our usual walk, not a long one and she got sooo tired, I put her in the stroller with Brandon! I was going to just carry her, but it would have been too hard to carry her and push the stroller, so I just reclined it and put her in there. She loved it! So, I guess I will be keeping this stroller for a while longer then I had originally thought.....this way, I can still walk her when she can't walk anymore.

Kylie's Graduation Day

Kylie walking to her chair, before the actual ceremony

Showing her diploma...going to be a Freshman in the Fall

Kylie and Mom!

Kylie and Grandma D D

My baby all grown up! Well, almost! I can hardly believe she is 14, going on 20....Time has flown by and in 4 short years she will graduate high school. Times have changed so much. I remember when I graduated from Jr high I wore the dress my sister wore, it was 3 years old! I didn't have fancy shoes, either! I don't recall getting any money and let's just say Kylie made out pretty good! She has a lot of Thank You's to write this weekend. I am so very proud of my daughter and look forward to her endeavors in high school.

Brandon in the Dog House ~ err Kennel

Brandon was outside in the backyard playing. I looked thru the window to see where he was and called him and no answer, which is not surprising since he is only 22 months old. Then I looked down, and realized he was in the dogs kennel and grabbed the camera and started taking all kinds of pics. He leaned forward and actually shut the door! I was rollin'! He was so funny in there, now I think I should have taken a video! Oh well there is always next time, right!

Amazing Grace

Amazing grace - how sweet the sound - That saved a wretch like me! I once was lost but now am found, Was blind but now I see!

The Lord has promised good to me, His Word my hope secures; He will my shield and portion be As long as life endures.

Through many dangers, toils, and snares I have already come; His grace has brought me safe thus far, His grace will lead me home.

Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail And mortal life shall cease, Amazing grace shall then prevail In heaven's joy and peace.

When we've been there ten thousand years, Bright shining as the sun, We've no less days to sing God's praise Than when we'd first begun.

I love this song and couldn't resist posting the lyrics to it. We sang it at church this past Sunday and I was shocked that I didn't cry! Not sure if I sang this at a funeral years ago or what, but I usually cry when I have to sing it or hear it....It is a beautiful song and the words are so powerful to me, I wanted to share with you.

Kylie gets Confirmed!

Kylie and Brandon before the confirmation ceremony

Sam and Kylie

Brandon fell asleep

Kylie and Pastor Rob

Serena, Hayden and Kylie

The Office of the Keys

When I first heard about the Office of The Keys, I thought it was an office with secretaries that would give you a key to the gates of heaven. When I actually read about it I learned that it was very different.

God gave special authority to His Church on earth. It is a unique authority granting the Church the power to forgive the sins of someone that feels sorry for his sins and prays for God's forgivness (also known as a repentant sinner). A repentant sinner prays only in the name of Jesus - because only Jesus died for our sins and earned our forgiveness.

The Church also has the power to withhold forgiveness from the unrepentant as long as they don't repent. This means that if you sin and don't repent then the Church can keep your sins from being forgiven in Heaven. "Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven" (Matthew 16:19). One way that the Church can keep your sins from being forgiven is by not letting you participate in Communion. But it is important to remember that the Church is only doing this to lead you to repentance and faith. The goal is always restoration of the sinner to our gracious God and His Church.

Most people would ask, "Why is it called the "Office of The Keys"?" It's simply because this authority really is like a key that opens the gate of heaven by forgiving sine - but it can also lock you out of the kingdom by not forgiving sins. As Jesus says in Matthew 16:19: "I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven."

This gift of forgiveness is a blessing to me, because not only am I forgiven, myself, but I also can share this forgiveness with you - and with others who so urgently need the forgiveness that Jesus earned for all sinners.

This is the report that Kylie wrote and had to read in front of the entire congregation when she got Confirmed. It is an awesome report and I am so very proud of her. Way to go Kylie!