Welcome to the World

Congratulations to my brother and sister-in-law (Ken & Sara) and their boys (Samuel, Malachi and Jesse) on the birth of Caleb Joseph Lowe. Caleb was born on Wednesday, December 28 at 4:00 p.m. He weighed 7 lbs. 12 oz., 19 inches long and has red hair. We can't wait to meet you Caleb!

2005 - The year of the Hurricanes

As 2005 draws to a close it’s an opportunity to reflect on the past year, as well as look forward with optimism to what the New Year will bring. Let’s take a look at 2005.2005 will be remembered for it's record breaking Hurricane Season. This past year's hurricane season brought a record number of storms. Actually there were 26 named storms and 7 major hurricanes. Some of the ones I remember:

1. Hurricane Dennis - Category 3. Struck near Pensacola.
2. Hurricane Katrina - Category 5. Struck Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and Florida. Deadliest US hurricane since the 1928 storm. People here in Clewiston talk about the storm of 1928.
3. Hurricane Rita - Category 5. Was the second category 5 hurricane in the gulf in less than a month.
4. Hurricane Wilma - Category 3. Strongest hurricane recorded in the Atlantic basin. Hit Clewiston on October 24.

2005 will also be remembered for other events as well:

1. The Terri Schiavo right-to-die case spurred demonstrations by both sides. The bitter right-to-die case caused many of us to think about the issue at hand. Her feeding tube was removed on Friday, March 18.
2. Pope John II dies on April 2 at the age of 84. He led the Roman Catholic Church for 27 years.
3. Baseball players and owners agree to tougher penalties for steroid use and testing for amphetamines next season.
4. U.S. Citizens dig deep in their pockets to help in the Tsunami relief efforts.
5. Fifty two people are killed in terrorists bombings in London’s transit system.
6. Johnny Carson dies at age 79.
7. U.S. troops still in Iraq.

As I look back at the events of 2005, I know I am blessed to have seen another year go by. My family and I have been blessed with good health, our safety, financial stability, and with family and friends that we cherish. I know that none of this would be possible if not for God and his abundant mercy and grace.

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. - Romans 8:28

Our Christmas

The kids & I celebrated Christmas at home this year. The rest of family went to either Tallahassee or Jacksonville. This was our first Christmas that we have celebrated Christmas just the three of us. It was nice, but we certainly missed having the rest of our family around.

Angela was the first one up on Christmas morning and would not let anyone sleep in. She bounded into my room asking could we get up to open the presents that were under the tree. I tried to convince her that it too early, but she wasn't going to have any part of it. So off to wake David she went. I crawled out of bed and into the kitchen to have a cup of coffee. We opened our gifts and made phone calls to family out of town to wish them a Merry Christmas.

Later that morning we went to the Ramer house to exchange gifts with their family. The kids had a wonderful time celebrating Christmas together and telling each other what they got from Santa. Beau, Jeri Lynne, and Brock were going to their grandmother's for Christmas lunch with their mom at noon so we headed back home to put the finishing touches on our Christmas dinner. The rest of the day was spent napping, watching television and enjoying our new gifts.

Wow, now it's time to take the tree down and put away the decorations.

Merry Christmas

Wow, Christmas is over and it's time to start taking down the tree and putting away all the decorations. Wait, Christmas isn't over. . .

You see Christmas isn't about the gifts or the decorations. Christmas is much deeper than any of those things. It is the celebration of a birthday, the birthday of Jesus. The story of Joseph and the virgin Mary and the baby Jesus and the Shepherds and the Magi and Herod is one familiar to us all. But it even goes deeper than that. The amazing thing is this: It's more than a story of a baby. It is the story of how the eternal God became a baby! An event that is unique in history, so significant in fact that we shape our calendar by it - - B.C. and A.D. All of history up to the point of Jesus' birth was in anticipation of the event. From the time man fell into sin and ruined paradise, the promise has awaited fulfillment. The promise was first made to Adam and Eve, it was later given to Abraham, and to David. Jesus was the fulfillment of Israel's long hopes. Some may ask "Why would the eternal God become a man?" The answer: To be the deliverer, our deliverer from sin. God's justice requires that sin be punished. The punishment required is death. Left to ourselves we must die (physically and spiritually and eternally). There is no way we are able to save our selves from sin. Hence, the need of a Savior (one willing to dies in our place). Yet he had to be sinless and undeserving of death. Only God is sinless and he cannot die! That is, unless he became one of us. And that is the rest of the story. In Bethlehem some 2,000 years ago God became man to die on the cross for men in punishment for their sins. He became our Savior (Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. - Romans 5:18) . He promised to save and that first Christmas was the carrying out of that promise.

I don't mind the traditions of Christmas, in fact I enjoy them and look forward to them every year. But my thoughts are centralized around these things. Christmas is the greatest love story ever told. It is a story of the greatest love ever given. And it is the story of the greatest Gift - - the Lord Jesus Christ, my Savior. It's my hope that if you have not received the Greatest Gift that you will open your heart to receive that gift. Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve Service & Chili Dinner

It has become a tradition to attend the Christmas Eve Service at our church when we stay in Clewiston for Christmas. So last night we went to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior with our church family. Our men’s quartet sang “Silent Night” beautifully. Tilena Gutshall sang a song I had never heard, but it was so fitting for a Christmas Eve - “Heaven’s Child”. Pastor Tim had a wonderful message from Isaiah 9:2-7. After his sermon we continued celebrating Jesus' birth by partaking of the Lord's Supper. Following the service we visited with friends and took some photos. After that we went to the Bethea's for a time of fellowship and Chili Dinner.



Angela & Hillary

Delaney & Mrs. Thall

Brock, Jeri Lynne, Angela, Beau & Great Granddaddy Bethea

Camp E-Tu-Makee Christmas

The kids and I were invited to attend Camp E-Tu-Makee's annual Christmas dinner with the Ramer family. Camp E-Tu-Makee is a year-round program that serves 10- to 17-year-old boys who benefit from hands-on experiential education combined with behavioral treatment in a rural, outdoor residential setting. Staff members help the campers build effective relationships, take responsibility for their choices and understand the consequences of their behavior. The goal is to help the youth succeed, both academically and in life. It is one of five Eckerd Wilderness Education System camps in Florida. In the Muskokee Native American language, E-Tu-Makee means “Side by Side.”

After dinner Santa paid a visit to all the boys at E-Tu-Makee, the staff, and the guests. Santa handed out presents to all the children in attendance. E-Tu-Makee held a car wash earlier this year to raise money to purchase gifts for a family they adopted this Christmas. It was a wonderful experience to witness these youth that are struggling with their own lives give of themselves to help a family at Christmas. It was a representation of what the true meaning of Christmas is all about.

Church Hayride

Last night was our annual church hayride. We sang Christmas carols to our senior adults that aren't able to get out of their houses very often. We normally go to the nursing home, but due to Hurricane Wilma the patients have been transferred to other facilities, so this year we went to the hospital. It is a good feeling to see the expression of joy fill the faces of those we sing to them. The caroling isn't the only joy of the hayride, it's the fellowship with one another as we go from house to house. Seeing all the kids on a flatbed trailer laughing and singing and giving of themselves to those who can't for various
ailments get out as they once did. There is always humor bundled up on the hayride year after year. Just a few examples:

1. Leaving the Pastor behind at someone's home. Not this year, but his very first FBC Christmas Hayride.
2. Comments like, "Are we sitting on hay?"
3. Losing shoes because the driver got to close to the hedge at the hospital.

After the caroling we returned to the church for hot chocolate,cookies and fellowship. We had a wonderful time and anxiously await the next Christmas Hayride.

Lessons Learned on Our Shopping Adventure

1. When looking on the internet for prices on some items prior to going to purchase that item expect the price to be higher in the store. Even though they do not tell you that online.
2. Read your owner's manual for your vehicle prior to going out of town, so that you know how to remove a jack from your vehicle.
3. Practice changing a tire before it becomes necessary.
4. There are still gentlemen in this world that will help ladies change a tire. It may take three or more walking by and totally ignoring you first. But be patient God will send someone to help.
5. There are men out there that read instructions first!
6. Carry band-aids in your purse. You may need them after attempting to remove a jack from a Dodge Caravan.
7. Cell phone service is non-existent in Wellington Green Mall.
8. And last but not least, God watches over his children. I could have been on a dark State Rd. 80 when the tire went flat.

David's Youth Christmas Party

On Saturday night, David and 3 other youth from our church went to the Buker's for their annual Youth Christmas Party. I was unable to attend since I was Christmas shopping. Jonathan (our youth pastor), his wife - Lori and daughter Hannah attended as well. David said they had a great time. The menu was Buffalo Burgers, Elk Pastrami and sides. Dessert consisted of cookies and chocolates. They had a bonfire, shot off fireworks, played a Christmas trivia game and Beyond Balderdash ( a classic bluffing game where players make up the answers!). David's highlight of the night was listening to new history facts (John Ford invented the assembly line on August 6, 1926) and using "big" words (desalination) or making up words that weren't really words( "Extrocious") . And when things got too boring Nick and Hannah (the youth group babies) provided the entertainment.

Fireworks

Wow, a fire!

Nick your bib doesn't match your outfit man.

Guys you sure aren't good at History or English

Tell Your Children You Love Them Every Day

There are times as a mother that I feel guilty about the why my children perceive my actions or words. I'm sure I am not alone in this. Raising two beautiful children (one already a teenager and the other a tweenager) is not an easy task. It is in fact a joy to and a blessing to have the responsibility of raising two wonderful children. I just pray that my children know I love them and want what is best for them. But I also pray for myself that the words I speak to my children will be spoken in love.

I was reminded again this morning that we are not promised tomorrow. Make sure that each day you have with your child that they know you love them, even in the times you are disciplining them.

The Chronicles of Narnia

I guess I don't remember reading the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe when I was in school. Just before the movie was to be released I decided to read it. The book was great and like most books made into movies I figured the movie would be a let down. So last night the kids and I went to see the movie. Disney has done a great job! Now we just have to wait for the DVD to come out in stores.

In the book, Lewis writes of four children Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy who go to stay with a reclusive old professor in a mysterious country house. While playing a game, Lucy, the youngest, hides in a wardrobe and discovers that it leads to a magical world called Narnia. This land, which is inhabited by talking animals, is ruled by the lion Aslan, a good and powerful king. Narnia, however, had come under the spell of the evil White Witch, who had caused it to be always winter but never Christmas there. Before Lucy can get back to tell the others about Narnia, her rather bad-tempered brother Edmund discovers it for himself. He is taken up by the White Witch, who lures him to her side with Turkish Delight, a soft, jelly-like candy, and promises of gifts and powers. It is only when Aslan sacrifices his own life that Edmund is saved. Aslan, however, comes back to life. He and his followers win a great battle over the forces of evil, and the four children are made kings and queens of Narnia. At the end of the book, after many years have passed, the children return from Narnia the same way they came into it, through the wardrobe, only to discover that no time has passed at all. Although their adventure appears to be over, the professor tells them that they will again find themselves in Narnia someday, when they least expect it.

C.S. Lewis wrote the Chronicles of Narnia with children in mind, but he also wanted to convey a larger message. The Gospel is presented in the Chronicles of Narnia just as it is in the Bible. Aslan represents Jesus Christ who died as a sacrifice for our sins and rose again before ascending into heaven.

This is a wonderful movie to take your children, friends and family to see. It's an opportunity to present the gospel to them after the movie by comparing the movie to the Bible and drawing out the similarities.

The True Meaning of Christmas

I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm sick and tired of seeing "Happy Holidays" in stores and in advertising flyers. Have we forgotten why we celebrate Christmas as Christians? Here's a little reminder. . .

C is for the Christ child who was born nearly 2,000 years ago in a manger in Bethlehem. "And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. - Luke 1:31

H is for the HOPE that Jesus brings to all who believe in Him and trust Him with their salvation. "Through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God." - Romans 5:2

R is for the resurrection of Jesus Christ who was born of a virgin, lived a sinless lief, was both man and God, died on the cross for all of our sins, and then was raised from the dead (resurrected) and is now sitting at the right hand of God in heaven. " For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. " - 2 Cornithians 5:21

I is for Israel who God chose to bring forth the promised savior of the world. "From this man's seed, according to the promise, God raised up for Israel a Savior--Jesus-- " - Acts 13:23

S is for the salvation that Jesus offers to all who are willing to confess their sin, believe in Him, and confess their belief in Jesus with their mouth. "That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." - Romans 10:9

T is for the empty tomb of Easter morning. "He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you." - Matthew 28:6-7

M is for the mercy God has shown the world by sending His only Son to suffer for our sins and bridge the gap between man and God. " Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. " - Hebrews 4:16

A is for our Awesome God who loves us. "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends" - John 15:13

S is for the shining light that Jesus brought to the world! "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life." - John 8:12

New Neighbors

For the past 4 years, we have lived with an empty mobile home lot between us and our neighbor. All that changed yesterday when a new single wide mobile home was pulled onto the empty lot. It is strange looking out our front door and seeing a neighbor so close. We have yet to meet our new neighbors as the home has not been set up and they can't move in until all inspections have been passed.

The kids are a litttle disappointed that they won't have as much yard space, but like me are anxiously awaiting to meet our neighbors.

On the Road Again

We traveled to Tropical Park in Miami again today for another soccer game. Today's win was special since it was the twin's birthday! We celebrated the win and their birthday after the game with cupcakes. We won 6 -1. Angela was the goal keeper for the second half of the game today. She blocked two goals and one got by her.

We have 4 more games to play before State games in January. Lucikly only one of those games require us to travel out of town. I hope some our friends get to come watch some of games that are scheduled in town. Maybe even David will make it out to one of his sister's games. It seems like every time we've had a game out of town we have had something happening at our church and he wants to go to that instead. He opted to stay in town today to see a good friend of ours be ordained as a deacon. Angela and I wanted to be there as well, but knew George understood.

Angela as goalie

"Mom, I need a hug!"

Kelsey takes time to tie her shoe