Sunday, November 30, 2008

The current state of the SBC

Timelines and an organized list of events can be helpful to see how things evolve (or devolve), so I thought I would provide a play-by-play run down of the events that have transpired (and will continue to transpire) since the John 3:16 conference, and more particularly the revival of the charge of hyper-Calvinism by Dr. David Allen, dean of the school of theology at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Here’s the rundown thus far (I will be updating this regularly in the future).

1. [11.07.08] David Allen gives his message against limited atonement at the John 3:16 Conference wherein he charges James White (among others) as a hyper-Calvinist.

2. [11.07.08] James White offers and immediate response while in the UK evangelizing Muslims.

3. [11.07.08] Phil Johnson, author of the “Primer on Hyper-Calvinism“, comes to the defense of James White and refutes the charges made by David Allen.

4. [11.08.08] Tony Byrne (YnottonY) storms the blogosphere as Dr. Allen’s apologist. Eventually it was revealed that Byrne drafted the chart distributed at the conference and was influential in both the 34-page response by Allen to the Building Bridges Conference as well as the presentation on limited atonement. The extent to which Allen’s presentation and thinking has been influenced remains uncertain.

5. [11.09.08] Timmy Brister provides a compilation post of live-blogging entries along with some noteworthy items from the John 3:16 conference.

6. [11.17.08] Gene Cook interviews Tony Byrne about his chart and understanding of hyper-Calvinism on the Narrow Mind.

7. [11.24.08] David Allen responds with his reasoning behind the charge of hyper-Calvinism and James White (very similar to what Byrne had already been arguing).

8. [11.24.08] James White responds to Allen’s “false accusation” on the AOMIN blog.

9. [11.24.08] Tom Ascol addresses the widening of the divide in the SBC as a result of (1) Lemke’s article, (2) Allen’s PDF review, and (3) the John 3:16 Conference.

10. [11.26.08] Phil Johnson addresses (again) the issue of hyper-Calvinism, refuting point-by-point the argumentation by David Allen.

11. [11.26.08] James White responds ot Phil Johnson’s refutation of Allen.

12. [11.26.08] James White addresses Allen’s historical sources for his presentation.

13. [11.26.08] The “open letter” by David Miller was published along with Jerry Vines’ response.

14. [11.28.08] R. Scott Clark, a non Southern Baptist and professor of Historical Theology at Westminster Seminary, chimes in on the shared rationalism of both hyper-Calvinism and Arminianism.

15. [11.28.08] Justin Taylor provides information to answer the question, “What Is Hyper-Calvinism?”

16. [11.28.08] James White plays the testimony of Thomas Dickerson who was “saved out of Calvinism” (to the applause of the crowd) and responds both to Dickerson’s mysticism and the panel’s reaction (YouTube video).

17. [11.28.08] Malcolm Yarnell, after having left nearly a dozen comments on Ascol’s post, takes his partying agenda elsewhere.

18. [11.29.08] James White addresses Allen’s treatment of the “double payment argument” and John Owen (YouTube video)



(HTT: Timmy Brister)

Friday, November 28, 2008

Obedience

Our boys go to bed at 7pm. Haddon and Jamison go right to bed, lights out. Nolan and Gideon get to read in their beds until 8pm.

I'd be lying if I told you that all they do is read. They usually play church, sing some hymns, maybe even read out of their Bible. Once that is done, they begin practicing the best way to tackle someone when playing football. They call it: Playing Defense.

Have I mentioned that my boys are quite the sports fans?

Haddon and Jamison go down without a fight (most nights), while Nolan and Gideon really struggled in obeying us once the lights were out and it was time for peace and quiet.

A lot of times, it took 3 or 4 spanking sessions to bring the boys into obedience...which we like to call 'the circle'. You see, inside the circle, you are protected by God. There is peace, comfort, and you are safe. If you disobey, you have fallen outside the circle. There is trouble, fire, death and hell. The way to be brought back into the circle is to be have spankings and a talk to get to the heart issue that made you disobey in the first place.

It has now been 3 nights in a row of obedience and quiet. When we ask them why they think they have been going to bed so good and quiet, these are the answers we get:

Gideon: "Mommy, we are obeying because we prayed to God to not sin."

Nolan: "We are obeying because we want to obey to make you happy and please God."

I can really see them wanting and trying to obey us. It's not just their behavior either...you can see their heart wanting to glorify God and there is nothing sweeter for a parent to experience.

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Happy Thanksgiving!

We had a nice day, filled with family and friends...and let's not forget about the food!!

The turkey was brined and cooked to perfection....as was everything else!

The kids spoke of nothing but turkey for the past two days, but weren't too thrilled with it on their plate. They each ate their share of pie, though. There were lots of choices: apple, cherry or pumpkin. I'm thinking they might want more for dinner!

Paysie wished she could partake of the turkey and fixings, but will patiently wait until next year!

Here she is wearing the jumper I made her before she was born:


All my guys and my girl:

Stay at Home Dad?

Monday, November 24, 2008

A sign of the times....

The Mother Letter

Over at Rocks in My Dryer there is the sweetest request that has been made from a husband, wanting to give his wife something very special.

Read this post:

It Would Make Me Very Happy If You'd Read This Post. Thank You.

Then go to The Mother Letter Project.

Here is a small write up:
As you may already know, I am creating Christmas for my wife this year and this
is the site devoted to her present. Simply stated, I am collecting a series of
“open letters” from mothers, to mothers. I am asking you to share your
stories—no matter how raw or difficult. Share you concerns or worries—no matter
how foolish they may seem. Share your wisdom—no matter how you came by it. Share
your mother story. The only request? Start the letter “Dear Mother” and sign it.
I will compile all of the letters in a Christmas book for both my wife AND YOU.
If you share a letter before Christmas you will receive an electronic copy of
the Mother Letters. Submit your letter by leaving a comment here, or
email you letter to motherletter@gmail.com.

Email or comment on the thread and join many other women who are sending letters for this project!

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Holiday Recipes!

Last year, I posted my Thanksgiving Recipes...and since then, have gotten many requests on them.

Here are the links to last years posts:

Brining and Cooking a Turkey

Bread Stuffing and Gravy

Party Potatoes

Swiss Cheese Green Bean Casserole

Sweet Potato Casserole

Some Favorite Holiday Desserts

Enjoy!!!

Let me know about your favorite recipes too!

Friday, November 21, 2008

"There's a dead COW in the backyard!"

That is what the kids came running into my room this morning to tell me.

Apparently there is a dead cow in the backyard.

Here is how the conversation went:

Nolan: "Mommy, I've got some bad news for you."
Me: "What?"
Nolan: "There is a dead cow in the backyard or something. It's covered with snow."
Me: "Really? A dead cow?"
Nolan: "Yeah, it's just laying there in the backyard...you gotta come and see! And I'm not kidding!"

and then Gideon ran in...

Gideon: "Mommy, did Nolan tell you about the dead cow?"
Me: "Yeah!"
Gideon: "Where did you get a dead cow?"
Me: "I'm thinking it's not a dead cow, silly."

and Haddon ran in....

Haddon: "Mommy! Mommy! The cow is maybe dead or sleeping!"


It's always nice to start your morning with a good laugh!

Here is the 'dead cow':


Oh, and did I mention that we have SNOW!?! This is going to be an interesting winter...I can feel it already!

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Homeade Holidays

Again, at Sew Mama Sew, there are posts upon posts of gift ideas that you can make for those on your list!

I look forward to visiting her blog daily to see what ideas she will be posting!

Check it out...

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

3 months

Can you believe it?

Paysie is doing extremely well. I believe that when she nurses, she gets pure buttercream. She definitely is getting big!

She now wears size 6-12 month clothing. I'm hoping that she will be able to wear this size for the rest of the winter, but really, who are we kidding?

She is very laidback and loves to watch her brothers run all around her. She loves to talk to them and smiles so easily.

She is in size 3 diapers...and really, it wasn't too long ago that Jamison was in size 3's. I'm guessing she is pushing the 15-16 pound mark.

Paysie is a great little sleeper and is sleeping about 10-11 hours a night straight! She doesn't even wake up crying...she wakes up talking and cooing in her crib.

She is a sweet girl who can definitely light up a room!

Here she was in the hospital:

At one month:

At two months old:

At three months old:

A Personal Perspective on the SBC from Voddie Baucham

The SBC and Calvinism: A Personal Perspective
Wednesday, November 12, 2008


Those who know me have probably asked me at one time or another why I am part of the Southern Baptist Convention. To tell you the truth, I’ve been thinking that a lot myself lately. I am especially disturbed by events at the recent John 3:16 conference sponsored by Jerry Vines Ministries, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary, Luther Rice Seminary and Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. The conference represents a growing antagonism in Southern Baptist life toward those who embrace the Doctrines of Grace. Unfortunately, this conference lacked some of the the balance and tact of the Building Bridges Conference. See critiques here, here, and here. The last link is especially revealing since James White was labeled a hyper-Calvinist while he was in London pressing the claims of Christ among Muslims! Hyper-Calvinist? “You keep using that word... I do not think it means what you think it means.” (Inigo Montoya, The Princess Bride)

For a ‘lighter’ take on things look here. I only post this because I have been bombarded with questions as to where I am in this ‘fight’. Of course, it is not much of a fight. The SBC establishment is firmly and openly anti-Calvinist. There is no question about that. There is but one question. How long before the SBC realizes that defeating Calvinism would represent a Phyrric victory at best. Anyone paying attention sees the stark contrast between ministries like T4G, 9Marks, Desiring God, and the SBC Annual meeting. One of these groups is known for being 1) anti-Calvinistic, 2) highly politicized, and 3) void of the youth and vitality needed to sustain it in the future (hence, that ubiquitous question, “Exactly why are you in the SBC?”).

As for me, the SBC is still home. I am still a Baptist by confession and conviction. However, the is not the welcoming place it was for me earlier in this decade. In 2001 I had the privilege of being appointed Chair of the ‘Teller’s Committee’ at the Annual Convention in New Orleans (unfortunately, flooding in Houston prevented me from attending what would have been my first Convention). In late 2002 I got a call out of the blue from LifeWay/Broadman & Holman (the Southern Baptist publishing arm) offering me --an unpublished, unproven author-- a three-book publishing deal, which I accepted. I wrote The Ever Loving Truth (B&H, 2004), and The Ever Loving Truth Bible Study (LifeWay, 2004), before parting ways. During the same period, I received three invitations to preach at the SBC Pastor’s Conference (the event that kicks off the Southern Baptist Convention) in 2002, 2004 and 2005 (a family commitment prevented my participation the first year). This was, as we say here in the South, high cotton! Not many guys in their early thirties who have never pastored a church get a shot at preaching in the Pastor’s Conference. As my dear friend and brother, Derry Hodge said at the time, my “star was on the rise.”

However, things have changed drastically since then. That change is due in large part to three main issues that left me on the outside looking in. First, many of my brethren and I do not agree on the urgency of Christian parents giving their children a Christian Education. Though the Baptist Faith and Message seems to state the matter plainly (See Baptist Faith & Message, 2000, section XII: Education), my view is deemed extremist, un-evangelistic, and unwarranted. My partner in crime Bruce Shortt and I discovered that government education was a sacred cow not to be messed with in the SBC. In 2004, our education resolution created a firestorm, but fell to defeat. In 2005, we rang the bell again and gained a victory. However, while the Associated Press, and thousands of other publications (including Ethics Daily) covered the 2005 story incessantly, there was a virtual blackout over at Baptist Press. A look at the stories they wrote about ‘yours truly’ before vs. after 2005 makes for an interesting search to say the least. Not to mention the fact that we were taking on the homosexual agenda and received international coverage, but the BP blackout concerning my part in the resolution persisted.

My second SBC faux pas was going public with my position on Youth Ministry/Family Discipleship. While I voiced concerns for years, these were not “public” until I began to blog about them, then preach about them on the SBC stage. In February of 2006, I preached the message, The Centrality of the Home in the Evangelism and Discipleship of the Next Generation at the SBTC Evangelism Conference. I began to call Youth Ministry into question, not just for its shallowness, or ineffective track record (as did Christian Smith, George Barna, Mike Yakonelli, Alvin Reid, Allen Jackson, Richard Rossand scores of others); I had the audacity to point out the fact that it wasn’t even biblical in the first place. This, coupled with the release of Family Driven Faith, and planting Grace Family Baptist Church, set off a chain of SBC events that would culminate in the SBTC Youth Ministry Forum, and (some would argue) the recent “Patriarchy” rant at Midwestern Seminary by Cynthia Kunsman.

However, neither of these constituted fatal infractions. I co-sponsored an education in 2004, but preached at the SBC in 2005. I stood against YM for years and while many were uncomfortable, I was still part of the gang. That is, until I came out of the closet. No... I’m not gay. It’s far worse than that. I’m a Calvinist! That’s right, I’m a fire-breathing, TULIP believing, five-point Calvinist. That, my friends, is the unpardonable sin in contemporary Southern Baptist life (unless your name is Al Mohler and you’ve been President of the flagship Southern Baptist Theological Seminary since you were in your early thirties and happen to be the most intelligent, articulate, winsome public face the Convention has).

I was ‘outed’ in 2006 when I preached at the Desiring God National Conference. Prior to that I had preached at Alistair Begg’s conferences, but Desiring God was the fatal blow. After that the questions began to swirl. After preaching a message in a Pastor’s conference in 2006 a dear friend approached me (he is a well-known Calvinist whose name I won’t mention... TOM ASCOL ...and I was going to be preaching in his church the next day). He was laughing about a debate he overheard between two pastors. The issue? Whether or not I believed regeneration precedes faith! These brothers had begun to put two and two together but they just knew it couldn’t be four. It was as though I had contracted AIDS. These guys were actually mourning! “I had him in my church!” one of them lamented. I could have done a lot of things and been just fine. However, the dreaded “C” word has become a death sentence in “mainstream”

Southern Baptist life. Some may say that’s not it at all. Perhaps I’m simply too controversial, or vitriolic. Really? Then explain Ergun Caner (whom, by the way, I consider a friend even though we differ on this issue). Caner has been on of the most vitriolic voices in recent SBC history. However, his vitriol has been pointed at the enemy, Calvinism. Jerry Vines called the Prophet Mohammad a “Demon-possessed pedophile” and brought scorn on the entire Convention, but he hosts conferences with some of the top names and institutions in the SBC. Jerry Fallwell made a career out of vitriol and controversy and the SBC gave him the Keys to the Kingdom when he joined. No, I don’t think vitriol is my crime. My crime is being a part of a movement the SBC sees as a threat to evangelism, and our already declining baptismal numbers.

Calvinists can be an easy target when it comes to evangelism and baptism. Never mind names like Augustine of Hippo, Martin Luther, John Calvin, Adonirum Judson, William Carey, Charles Spurgeon, Richard Baxter, Matthew Henry, John Bunyan, George Whitefield, Jonathan Edwards, Arthur Pink, Boyce, Andrew Fuller, Luther Rice, J.L. Dagg, Daniel & Abraham Marshall, D. Martin Lloyd-Jones, J.I. Packer, Ian Murray, D.A. Carson, John Piper, James White, Tom Nettles, Tom Schriner, Tom Ascol, Timothy George, Mark Dever, and Al Mohler. The strawman (who doesn’t believe in evangelism because he believes in election) that was beaten about the head and shoulders at the John 3:16 Conference is a much easier target. Can you imagine that conference with the living members of the aforementioned list sitting there defending themselves? I’d pay a pretty penny to see that!

Instead, guys like White get hammered for not believing in evangelism while out doing evangelism! Good thing we’re protecting the Convention from the likes of him. If not we might start having bus tours with slogans like “Everyone Can”. Convention leaders with churches that boast memberships of 10,000 when their actual attendance (resident, participating, regenerate, ‘real’ members) is well under 2,000. Or fire engine baptistries to coax children into the sacred waters (Paige Patterson called this “blasphemy” right before calling Southern Baptists “some of the worst paedo-baptizers there are”). If we don’t rid ourselves of guys like White, we may end up adding a category in our baptismal reports for “Under Age 6,” or have a pastor join the Youth Ministry at the beach and have himself and staff ‘re-baptized’ in an effort to ‘prime-the-pump’ and get the baptismal numbers up for the annual beach retreat (true story!). Or who knows, if the likes of James White are not stopped, we may have non-Trinitarians like T.D. Jakes come and teach at our conferences.

Of course anyone paying attention knows these atrocities are actual occurrences in our beloved Convention and they are the types of things Calvinists (like White) bemoan. Moreover, our Arminian and Amyraldian brethren also despise these things (funny how people berate Calvinists for “following doctrine named for a man” when the various other positions are named for men as well). Unfortunately, they don’t despise these atrocities quite as much as they despise Calvinism. So where does that leave me? Still here. Sill lovin’ the brethren. Still holding to the Doctrines of Grace. Still in the SBC. No longer considering a future of any significance in the Convention. Praying for reconciliation, revival and reformation. Grieving over the status quo. Still holding to the Fives!

The Five Solas
Sola Scriptura
Sola Fide
Sola Gratia
Solus Christus
Soli Deo Gloria!
The Five Points
Total or Radical Depravity
Unconditional or Sovereign Election
Limited Atonement/Particular Redemption
Irresistible or Effectual Grace
Perseverance of the Saints

VB

Voddie Baucham Ministries

Jeff Noblit on The Baptist Sacrament and Altar Calls

A quote

"All this emergent church stuff, much of the church growth stuff, all the cultural sensitivity throwing out the window biblical sensitivity, it's just a bunch of little boys wanting to play church without the power of God on their life, and I'll stand on that statement. It's a lesser than David trying to fit himself in Saul's armor. To the wind with it. The more you trust in the arm of the flesh, the less you're going to see of the power of God."
-Paul Washer

Thursday, November 13, 2008

A Paysie Video

You supply the caption...

Since I've gotten several requests...

Here is my pumpkin bread and raw apple bread recipe:

Pumpkin Bread

sift together:
3-1/2 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
1-1/2 tsp salt
3 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp allspice
3 cups sugar

Mix together:
4 eggs
1 cup oil
2/3 cups water
2 cups of pumpkin

Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients. Grease 2 loaf pans or 1 bundt pan. 350 degrees for 1 hour and 15 minutes...or until done.

Raw Apple Bread

3 cups flour
1-1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
3/4 cup oil
1-1/2 cups sugar
3 eggs
3-4 cored, chopped apples (I put quartered apples in the food processor, skin and all!)
2-1/2 Tbsp milk
2 tsp vanilla

Combine first 6 ingredients. Add apples, milk, and vanilla. Grease 2 loaf pans or 1 bundt pan. Sprinkle the top with a cinnamon and sugar mixture. Bake 350 degrees for 1 hour or until done.

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

12 weeks and counting...

Here she is...fresh from another bath. Yes, that's a size 3 diaper...my little baby is getting so big!

Every little girl needs a tulip outfit!




Monday, November 10, 2008

We can see God at work...

Yesterday, we went to the first birthday party for a little boy. (Melanie, you did a great job on everything!) On the drive over...all 6 minutes of it...we went over the rules for the kids.

There will be no complaining, fighting, disrespect, etc...the list really could go on and on!

While we were there, the kids did really well. When it was time to eat, they sat and ate. They were served mini pizzas with their initial on the top, made with pepperoni.

In case you don't know, my boys are not the biggest pizza lovers.

John took Nolan aside and told him that he is to be thankful for his food, even though it is not his favorite and that he is to eat it. He reminded him of the song "My Heart is Filled With Thankfulness"...and when Nolan was served his food, he ate it!

Each of my boys ate some of their pizza and the grumbling was very minimal. I'm thinking John should have taken Gideon aside as well...but hindsight is always 20/20!

The kids really enjoyed themselves. They didn't get into any trouble and aside from Gideon crying when it was time to go, things went well. (He was upset because he wanted to see Ethan open up his presents!)

On the way home, Nolan began asking us if he was good. We told him he was very good...that they all were.

Then he proclaimed with gladness..."And I didn't even SIN!!!"

Now, I'm sure that his statement is not completely truthful, but he recognized that with God's help, he can bring glory to God through his obedience. The effort was surely there and he realized how good it felt to please the Lord.

"Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord."
-Colossians 3:20

Friday, November 7, 2008

Elephants and a new pair of booties

As much as we love the pink booties that Gramma in Maine made for Paysie...they are beginning to get too small. That meant it was time for mommy to make a new larger pair!

Monday, November 3, 2008

My Soul Finds Rest

By Aaron Keyes and Stuart Townend

One-Issue Politics, One-Issue Marriage, and the Humane Society

By John Piper

Investigating dog life in Minnesota has solidified my decision to vote against those who endorse the right to abortion. So then what is my response to the charge of being a one-issue voter?

No endorsement of any single issue qualifies a person to hold public office. Being pro-life does not make a person a good governor, mayor, or president. But there are numerous single issues that disqualify a person from public office. For example, any candidate who endorsed bribery as a form of government efficiency would be disqualified, no matter what his party or platform was. Or a person who endorsed corporate fraud (say under $50 million) would be disqualified no matter what else he endorsed. Or a person who said that no black people could hold office—on that single issue alone he would be unfit for office. Or a person who said that rape is only a misdemeanor—that single issue would end his political career. These examples could go on and on. Everybody knows a single issue that for them would disqualify a candidate for office.

It's the same with marriage. No one quality makes a good wife or husband, but some qualities would make a person unacceptable. For example, back when I was thinking about getting married, not liking cats would not have disqualified a woman as my wife, but not liking people would. Drinking coffee would not, but drinking whiskey would. Kissing dogs wouldn't, but kissing the mailman would. And so on. Being a single-issue fiancé does not mean that only one issue matters. It means that some issues may matter enough to break off the relationship.

So it is with politics. You have to decide what those issues are for you. What do you think disqualifies a person from holding public office? I believe that the endorsement of the right to kill unborn children disqualifies a person from any position of public office. It's simply the same as saying that the endorsement of racism, fraud, or bribery would disqualify him—except that child-killing is more serious than those.

When we bought our dog at the Humane Society, I picked up a brochure on the laws of Minnesota concerning animals. Statute 343.2, subdivision 1 says, "No person shall . . . unjustifiably injure, maim, mutilate or kill any animal." Subdivision 7 says, "No person shall willfully instigate or in any way further any act of cruelty to any animal." The penalty: "A person who fails to comply with any provision of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor."

Now this set me to pondering the rights of the unborn. An eight-week-old human fetus has a beating heart, an EKG, brain waves, thumb-sucking, pain sensitivity, finger-grasping, and genetic humanity, but under our present laws is not a human person with rights under the 14th Amendment, which says that "no state shall deprive any person of life . . . without due process of law." Well, I wondered, if the unborn do not qualify as persons, it seems that they could at least qualify as animals, say a dog, or at least a cat. Could we not at least charge abortion clinics with cruelty to animals under Statute 343.2, subdivision 7? Why is it legal to "maim, mutilate and kill" a pain-sensitive unborn human being but not an animal?

These reflections have confirmed my conviction never to vote for a person who endorses such an evil—even if he could balance the budget tomorrow and end all taxation.

* * * This article is from A Godward Life, Book I: Savoring the Supremacy of God in All of Life by John Piper (Sisters, OR: Multnomah Publishers, 1997), pp. 279-280. Used with permission.

A Prayer for the Election

Father in heaven, as we approach this election on Tuesday, I pray

1) that your people will vote,

2) and that they will vote with a sense of thankfulness for a democratic system that at least partially holds in check the folly and evil in all our hearts so that power which corrupts so readily is not given to one group or person too easily;

3) that we would know and live the meaning of

being in the world, but not of it,
doing politics as though not doing them,
being on the earth, yet having our lives hidden with Christ in God,
rendering to Caesar the things that are Caesars, and to God the things that are God’s;
4) that we would discern what truths and values should advance by being made law and which should advance only by the leavening of honest influence;

5) that your people would see what love and justice and far-seeing wisdom demand in regard to the issues of education, business and industry, health care, marriage and family, abortion, welfare, energy, government and taxes, military, terrorism, international relations, and every challenge that we will face in the years to come;

6) and above all, that we will treasure Jesus Christ, and tell everyone of his sovereignty and supremacy over all nations, and that long after America is a footnote to the future world, he will reign with his people from every tribe and tongue and nation.

Keep us faithful to Christ’s all important Word, and may we turn to it every day for light in these dark times.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen

HTT: DG Blog

Sunday, November 2, 2008

You know how Obama is already being announced as winning the election?

The guy that writes the Doonesbury comic strip has.

There are some newspapers that already have the headlines ready and waiting for Wednesday morning.

I saw this and it cracked me up...

Saturday, November 1, 2008

A night of Halloween fun!

We started when it was still light out. We had to get an early start! We were even able to bring John's older three boys out trick or treating...since they had never been before! Every kid needs the experience of going out on Halloween at least once! The kids were all dressed and ready to go. We had an array of costumes...a traffic light, static cling, a couple lions, a policeman, a bumble bee, a pumpkin, and a pink poodle!






Nolan is my shy boy...who quickly lost all shyness! He was eager to run from house to house, filling his bag with loot. The amount of candy should last us well into 2009. Considering we still have Easter candy left over!

Haddon was a cute bumble bee who knew how to work the door, asking for seconds on the candy....and he was too cute to say no to!

Towards the end of trick or treating, I went home with Haddon, Jamison, Paysie, and Joseph...while John continued on with Daniel, Jacob, Nolan and Gideon.

At one of those last houses, they stood there knocking, bags open and ready...yet no one answered. As they turned to go, the door finally opened and it was time to get more treats...wondering what had taken him so long to get to the door, Nolan asked him if he had been going to the bathroom, lol.

That's my Nolan!

It was a fun night...finished off with hot chocolate and marshmallows at home!