sweet Sabbaths

The last two Sundays have been sweet Sabbaths for our family!  Let me recap for you....

Last Sunday we were honored to attend a baptism for a little guy in our ministry.  Seriously....honored!

The week before his parents both talked to Steve individually and Nate and Steve got to talk through some things.  Next thing we know our family is invited to his baptism and it was the most God-glorifying baptism I have ever been to.

Setting:  behind a little church up in the mountains in a river.

Intimate.
Sacred.
Special.
Something I will remember forever.

It was his family, his grandparents, our family and a friend.  Everyone got to share something with Nate and his dad gave a little talk about John 6.  Both mom and dad baptized him.  I just had tears rolling down my cheeks as all I could pray was that the Lord would one day grant Noah....the same grace and opportunity that He has Nate!

It was such a neat thing to see a little boy who you have witnessed "grow in wisdom and stature and favor" with the Lord over the last four years.  It was such a privilege to see little Nate be bold and obedient to be baptized....to be buried with Christ, cleansed by the blood of Christ, and raised to new life with Christ!

It followed with a day of celebration and playing in the mountains.  What a sweet Sabbath!


Then today....

For over four years I have served in Children's Ministry every single Sunday.  I am not giving myself a pat on the back...I have loved it!  The only times I have missed were because i was out of town, sick or had a newborn at home.  But today was the first day I didn't serve simply because God has placed me in a season of saying no to some things and we are definitely in transition.  I am still serving in children's ministry, but only two times a month.

So, after first service I brought my kids home and we just played!

Then we had lunch at normal time.

And they napped at a normal time, which means they woke up at a normal time.

It may sound silly, but our Sundays through us all off schedule.  My day felt so much longer, because I had so much more of the Sabbath in quietness.  It was a sweet day for me and i believe my heart and mind needed it.  It was a gift.

But to make my Sabbath even sweeter we were invited to spend the evening with some fellow staffers from our church.

Dessert. Games. Fellowship. Adult Conversation.  Laughter.  And a sweet little baby to hold and admire.

Thank YOU Lord for such sweet moments.  I feel like the Lord is giving me such sweet memories and treasures that I am pondering and holding in my heart!  I do not take them for granted!  I am going to miss these people and this church and this place.  So thankful for precious memories and mental snap shots to take with me!

The Lord is so good to us!