Mother's Day at Shiloh UMC 2012

This was out first Mother's Day at Shiloh UMC.

We actually had enough young people for a improvised Children's Message, even if one of them was over 6 ft tall. I first asked them about special things that their mothers did for them. Most of those answers revolved around illness. Then I asked what they were going to do special for their mothers. These responses were a bit more varied, "I'm going to give her a card I made", "I'll smile at her", and my fav, "I'm going to leave her alone all day".

We had plants for the "Youngest Mother", "Youngest Grandmother", and "Newest Mother". Kate's mother, Kackie Allen, won the "Youngest Grandmother" and Kate won "Newest Mother". Kate's sister, Jane, almost won "Youngest Mother", got beat out by a year.

We then recognized all the ladies attending as "Godly Women" and had a special gift for them. We realized all time ago that everyone serves a mothering role to someone, at some time and so often it doesn't get recognized. They teach, mentor, comfort, and so many other acts of mothering, its a shame to leave anyone out.

I did ask them not to eat the Hershey bars during service.

Kackie, Leah, Eli, Jeremiah Luther, Kate, Jeremiah, Jane, and Thomas

Joanne and me with Eli, Jeremiah Luther, Leah, Kate and Jeremiah.

Joanne holding Jeremiah, Kate holding Leah, Kackie and Eli.

Jeremiah

Arrival of Jeremiah Luther Johnson

12 April 2012, Katie headed to Virginia Baptist Hospital to deliver Jeremiah Luther Johnson. He arrived weighing in at 7 pounds 15 1/2 ounces and was 21 inches from head to toe. He had a head full of hair and his grandfather, me, is trying not to be jealous.

Jeremiah, Joanne, and Katie's mom, Kackie stayed with her during labor.

Jeremiah Luther is our 6th grandchild, not that we're counting.

Jeremiah Luther Johnson

Jeremiah meets Grumpy

Jeremiah with his Marmee

Jeremiah meets his Great-Grandmother

Jeremiah with Great-Aunt Karen

Leah snuggles with her little brother

Bailey taking pictures of Jeremiah with Great-Grammy

Making faces with Aunt Karen

Great-Uncle Aaron carries Jeremiah out of the restaurant

Marmee and Jeremiah

Uncle Aaron and Jeremiah

Baptism at Republican Grove UMC

On October 25th, Cortney Lee Dawson, was brought up front at Republican Grove UMC by her parents, Kevin and Heidi, to be Baptized. Cortney is the first new baby on the Mount Airy Charge in about 14 years. This is a big deal to the entire Charge.

These are the questions asked to the parents:

1. Beloved, do you in presenting Cortney Lee for holy Baptism confess your faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ?
2. Do you therefore accept as your bounden duty and priviledge to live before Cortney Lee a life that becomes the Gospel; to exercise all godly care the she be brought up in the Christian faith, the she be taught the Holy Scriptures, and that she learn to give reverent attendance upon the private and public worship of God?
3. Will you endeavor to keep Cortney Lee under the ministry and guidance of the Church until she by the power of God shall accept for herself the gift of salvation, and be confirmed as a full and responsible member of Christ's holy Church?

To each of the questions Kevin and Heidi's answer must be to the affirmative.

Following the Baptism the entire congregation in asked this question:

Brethren of the household of faith, I commend to your love and care Cortney Lee, whom we this day recognize as a member of the family of God. Will you endeavor so to live that she may grow in knowledge and love of God the Father, through our Davior Jesus Christ?

The congregation responds:

With God's help we will so order our lives after the example of Christ, that Cortney Lee, surrounded by steadfast love, may be established in the faith, and confirmed and strengthened in the way the leads to life eternal.

It is a beautiful and moving service.

The grandparents and big brother, Cody, came up to stand with Cortney.

I get to hold Cortney for the Baptism, but I don't think she knew what to think of it. One thing I am sure of though is that she didn't like the water on her head.

Here's the whole family after the Baptism.

Now, these look like two very proud parents.

This is one of the things I love about doing what I do. I love to see parents committing to raise their child in the faith and to see her touched by Jesus. I love to see the congregation take seriously their responsibility to do the same.

Baby Shower for Heidi and Kevin Dawson

Heidi and Kevin Dawson from Republican Grove were given a baby shower at Doots Abbott's home in April.

Most of our folks from the church came by, it was a floating baby shower.

So, we had folks floating in and out, having some cake and punch on the way.

Heidi and Kevin's baby will be the first born in the Mount Airy Charge in a very long time. I think all three churches are looking forward to the event.

Our Baby Turns, Uh, Well Older. Happy Birthday Courtney

Our baby girl, Courtney, is some odd number of years old today. I am happy to say, once again, that she survived in spite of us.

I remember her talking to the green frogs in the mobile over her crib and to the bright pink caterpillar in the poster on her wall. Many a night I crawled under her crib in the dark to find her pacifier. We had a backpack baby carrier and she would chew on my ponytail when she was in it.

When we lived in base housing while I was in the Air Force, I found Courtney standing in the hall staring up at the light bulb in the ceiling. She asked me if Jesus lived in the light bulb. She had heard them talking about Jesus being the light of the world in church.

If these aren't just a couple of the cutest pictures you've ever seen, then you must be looking at some of our grandchildren's pictures. Then again, they do all look like their grandfather.

I wish we could take some credit for how she turned out, but God gets it all.

This is Courtney, with her youngest, Lila, today. Happy Birthday Little Girl! You'll always be my little girl, sorry that's just how it works.