Out of the water

Reading her testimony

 Our Emma Kait was baptized today.  It was a beautiful ceremony at a small ravine in Lincoln, surrounded by friends, family and our church community.  Here are some pictures of the day and Emma's testimony written all by herself.  We are so proud of our girl.  She is a gift from God and a blessing to us. 

Listening to the Apostles Creed

In good hands

Into the water with Dad and Pastor Nate

Stating her belief in Jesus

The old is gone

The new has come

Joy

Love

Support

My Testimony

By Emma Stanphill

I think Jesus  is a wonderful  and generous lord. He helps me when I feel nervous or scared.

I pray to him when I get scared. When I pray it reminds me he’s always there. When I pray to him it comforts me. If I am nervous or about to do something I remember he’s with me. That encourages me. He makes me feel special and different because He knows everybody and everything but He will never forget me. Even when I do something bad or if I sin he will always will love me. I show him that I am a follower of Jesus by praying, going to church, and getting baptized. After  I get baptized I will try to remember to not sin. But nobody can be perfect. I will feel  like a follower of Jesus even more when I get baptized. I believe that  Jesus is our lord and nobody else can be. Even though people praise bad things, I will never leave Gods footsteps. I also believe everyone should go to church. It changes your life. I am very excited to be baptized and thankful for all the people who are encouraging me to be baptized.

Emma

10-17-10

I am not what I want to be

 

 

 

 

I am not what I want to be.
I am not what I ought to be.
I am not what one day I will be,
But I am not what I was.
And by the grace of God I am what I am.

...John Newton 

 

and Rebecca Stanphill  September 17, 2010

Life is Busy!

Whew!  Time flies when you are raising three kids, opening a new school, trying to survive owning your own construction company in this slow economy, hunting down eggs that stubborn chickens lay in obscure places like under tomatoe plants in the garden, all while continuing to do laundry, do laundry, do laundry. 

Here are my three kids spiffed up for their first day of school.  We have started a tradition of having them make their own posters that has the grade level they are starting.  Their enthusiasm over this request is diverse.  I'll let you guess who loves to do it the most and the least.  :)

Cute 4th grade girls

Cool 6th grade boys

Funny little boys

Checking in on the List

 Just checking off the list of things I want to do before I turn 36. (I have 6 months and counting) I better get going on some of them, and I'm pleasantly surprised that I actually accomplished many of them.  :)

1. Read (and finish) a book
2. Sew something
3. Go to Disneyland (o.k. so that trip with Joseph is already planned)
4. Have a monthly date night with my husband
5. Go on a trail ride
6. Go to the beach
7. Print out digital pictures to fill my frames
8. Sit by the fire with cup of coffee and no guilt
9. Lose 10 lbs.-in progress (lost 8.7 lbs. to date)
10. Pedicure-With Emma for her 10th birthday!
11. Make a painting with Emma
12. Go on a hike with the family
13. Fly somewhere (on a plane)
14. Hang a hammock/swing
15. Create "space" in my home for change
16. Change bank accounts-don't need to since I've finally sorted out some details
17. Start a digital scrapbook for each of the kids
18. Purge the container
19. Coach/teach something Now my job!  (kindergarten through 6th grade everyday)
20. Create a family creed and post it
21. Family devotions/bible time
22. Go to the woods
23. Girls weekend away with my cousin Kait
24. Order handmade necklace
25. Research life insurance changes
26. Volunteer with the kids
27. Candlelight dinner
28. See a live show/musical
29. Get a phone with texting
30. Change my hair Does growing it out count?
31. Plant flowers
32. Build up emergency account
33. Have daily quiet time
34. Try yoga-HOT Bikram yoga done in a room that is 100 degrees!
35. Journal
36. Review this list weekly and check off

Time does fly by

Well, shoot!  It's been about 6 months since my last post.....bad blogger, bad blogger and so just for kicks (and those in my family NOT on facebook) here is a snapshot of each of the last 6 months in our life.

January-Santa Rosa creek clean-up earning our free Disneyland tickets 

There's no place like home for the holidays......

We have been quite busy these days, so I have not posted in some time.  We have finished soccer season for all the kids, decorated for Christmas, had a snow storm hit and even had a snow day from school.  The kids were so excited, the animals were so confused, and our little home stayed toasty warm with our woodstove.  We continue to count God's blessings and we celebrate this season of His birth. 

Celebrating 11 years

To celebrate Joseph turning 11 years old, he and I took a mom/son trip to LA and went to Disneyland and California Adventure together.  We had so much fun dodging around people and running to all our favorite rides.  We loved California Screamin' rollercoaster and went on that ride 4 times.  We also took in an afternoon at the beach with the So CA cousins and had a great time staying at their house.  We loved the time together, the bonding, the corn dogs and celebrating who this little man is becoming.  I love you Joseph.  Happy Birthday!