Father/Son Campout 2009

Last weekend, Dad the boys went to the Father/Son Campout (or Father/Son Freeze as they call it ;) hosted by the Miller family at a state park near Oakland, IL. The weather wasn't the best this year as it rained on Friday, but Saturday was nice enough to do the activities. Norm Wakefield and Roy Moore were the speakers, and they really enjoyed hearing them.

archery

Aaron shot the guns.

Austin liked playing in the muddy area of course. ;)

canoeing on the lake

their campsite
the big tent where the meeting were held

~Amber

Song of the Week

Stained Glass Masquerade

Is there anyone that fails?

Is there anyone that falls?

Am I the only one in church today, feeling so small?

Cause when I take a look around

Everybody seems so strong

I know they'll soon discover I don't belong

So I tuck it all away

Like everything's okay

If I make em all believe it

Maybe I'll believe it too

So with a painted grin

I play the part again

So everyone will see me the way that I see them.

Are we happy plastic people

Under shiny plastic steeples

With walls around our weakness

And smiles that hide our pain

But the invitation's open

To every heart that's been broken

Maybe then we close the curtain

On our stained glass masquerade.

Is there anyone who's been there?

Are there any hands raised?

Am I the only one who's traded

In the altar for a stage?

The performance is convincing

And we know every light in my heart

Only when no one is watching can we really fall apart

But would it set me free

If I dared to let you see

The truth behind the person

You imagine me to be

Or would your eyes be opened

Or would you walk away

Would the love of Jesus

Be enough to make you stay?

If the invitations open

To every heart that has been broken

Maybe then we close the curtain

On our stained glass masquerade

Is there anyone that falls?

Is there anyone that fails?

Am I the only one in church today, feeling so small?

Casting Crowns

This song is so convicting! I have definitely been guilty of this many times! Everyone around me seems so spiritually strong, so I tuck away my struggles so you feel like you belong. Deep down inside, you know that you are living a show. Sadly, many churches today are full of people like this living a lie. Why can't we understand that being a Christian doesn't mean we don't have problems or sins we struggle with? Our brother and sisters in Christ are the ones we should feel the most free to share our struggles with without fear of condemnation, but what we often get if show our struggles is condemnation. We are not perfect people! Only Christ was perfect! As Christians, we will fall and fail, but praise God He has forgiven our sins in the past, present, and future! We can only imitate Christ when He lives through us! We can't do what is right; only Christ can accomplish that in us through the work of sanctification. This song is a conviction for me to share my struggles and not hide behind a stained glass masquerade so others will think good of me, and also, to encourage and not condemn other Christians when they share their struggles with me.

~Amber~

Quote of the Day

"Not what my hands have done

Can save my guilty soul

Not what my toiling flesh has borne

Can make my spirit whole

Not what I feel or do can give me peace with God.

Thy grace alone, O God, To me can pardon speak;

Thy power alone, O Son of God, Can this sore bondage break

No other work save thine, No other blood will do,

No strength save that which is divine can bear my safely through. "

Henry R. Van Til

This was a thought-provoking quote that I came across that was a good reminder to me of God's sovereign grace.

~Amber~

Visiting with Family

Mom's Grandpa Blagden (Grandma Roger's Dad) passed away last Thursday, and they asked Aaron, Anthony, and I to play a special for the funeral. We headed down to Bushnell, IL for the visitation on Sunday night. We stayed overnight at a hotel with some of our family and had a nice time visiting with them on Sunday night. The funeral was on Monday morning, and all the family went to Uncle Alvin (Grandma Roger's brother) and Aunt Connie's house for lunch. Mom hadn't seen Uncle Steve and Aunt Annette for about ten years, so she had a nice time visiting with them.

It seems like wherever we go, Anthony always gets asked to play "The Orange Blossom Special." ;)

It is such a cool song!

some of the family

Uncle Steve, Grandma, Aunt Andrea, and Aaron

You'll Aaron is leanig over the side of the couch because he doesn't want to sit that close to Aunt Andrea....

so she gave him a big hug. lol ;)
Aunt Annette, Michelle, Uncle Corey, Dad

Mom, Anthony, Grandpa

I had gotten Austin a set of variouse card games including Old Maid, Go Fish, Crazy Eights, etc. He played with any one who would, and here he is playing with Hope's nephew. Hope is watching them play in this picture. She is the wife of mom's cousin Tim (Uncle Alvin and Aunt Connie's son).

Grandma and Aunt Judy

Aunt Annette and Uncle Steve in deep conversation

Michelle, Mom, Aunt Andrea, and Aunt Annette

Tim (Uncle Alvin's son), Aunt Connie, Grandma, and Aaron (Uncle Alvin's son)

Uncle Corey and Dad trying to figure out where they were at- We had followed Grandpa Roger's to Uncle Alvin and Aunt Connie's house.

Aaron and Grandpa

Aunt Andrea doing a "Tae Kwon Do" move on Anthony

Michelle

Aaron and Grandpa

Aunt Annette

Uncle Steve

Mom

Aunt Andrea's teacher look ;)

Uncle Corey

Dad and Uncle Alvin

Uncle Steve visiting with Aaron and Anthony

Uncle Harold, Aunt Barbara, and Grandma Roger's cousin CarlGrandpa and Uncle Steve with his Mountain Dew ;)

Grandma and Uncle Harold

Uncle Corey, Grandpa, Uncle Steve- the three pastor's talking

Austin got Michelle to play with him

Grandma and Aunt Connie

Cousin Carl, Uncle Alvin, Aunt Annette

Grandpa Blagden's sister (the only child left from his family of 10 siblings)

Aunt Connie was a wonderful and gracious hostess. Thank you for having us in your home!!! It was a great blessing!Grandma, Aunt Andrea, Mom, Aunt Annette

Aunt Andrea tickling Alec

Aunt Andrea, Michelle, Aaron, and Anthony playing a card game called Kemps

Aunt Connie and Uncle Alvin

Aunt Judy and Uncle Denny

brothers and sister

Uncle Alvin, Grandma, and Uncle Denny

Grandma and Grandpa with all thier cildren

Grandpa and Grandpa with all their kids and some of thier grandchildren

We were missing Andrew, Uncle Steve's wife Rebecca and thier seven children, Uncle Corey Aunt Annette's three older girls who are at college, and Uncle Harold's two children. it was so nice to visit with family that we have not seen in a while. Family is truly a blessing from God!

We will greatly miss Grandpa Blagden, but we know he is in heaven. Although we are sad that he is absent physically from us, we are rejoicing that he is in a better place where he would much rather be. God chose him before the foundation of the world and held him in the palm of His hand, and at the end, He brought his dear child home to Him. It is a reminder that we always need to be living our lives for Christ in daily sanctification because we may die at any moment. Grandpa Blagden left a legacy of faithfulness godliness for his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren to follow, and now we need to take up his banner and carry it even further to bring honor and glory to God alone.

~Amber~