AN EARNEST, TENNIS, TUMMINELLO, ANDERS, CARBERRY, RUIZ CHRISTMAS

The food and the hands that prepared it...

The kids at the kids table...

The GG's and their great-grand kids....

The Earnest Family...

The Earnest, Tennis, Tumminello, Anders, Carberry, Ruiz Families...We missed you Nathan & Ashley!!!

The kids getting ready to open their gifts!!!

There is nothing like spending time with family. It is was the most wonderful day!!!

SNEAK PEEK AT OUR FAMILY PICTURES...

You will have to wait a lit bit longer to see the photo we used for our Christmas cards. Yes, I said Chrismas cards and yes, I know I have not done any since.........2007!

GETTING READY FOR CHRISTMAS!!!

I can't believe it is Christmas time again! Here are a few pictures of Braiden, Max & Mason helping me get the Christmas tree and lights ready...

THANKSGIVING 2011 - DISNEYLAND!!!

BEAN BAG WRESTLING

HALPINS CABIN 2011

MASON TURNS 3!

HALLOWEEN 2011

Discipline: The Three R's of Discipline | iMOM

GREAT IDEA!!! I like the three simple steps + LOVE!

Discipline: The Three R's of Discipline iMOM

GREAT DEVOTION FROM PROVERBS 31

September 28, 2011
Sanctifying DisciplineWendy Blight

“No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening — it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.” Hebrews 12:11 (NLT)
Discipline hurts. When on the receiving end of it, we hate it. We whine. We groan. We complain. Our sin nature rises up to defend, rebel and justify.
The author of Hebrews recognized this and says so in our key verse today: “No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening — it’s painful.”
Yes, it is. Don’t you love how God validates our feelings? Discipline hurts!
But when we examine the second half of this verse, God also makes a promise. He promises that afterwards there will be “a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.” God promises to bring forth fruit from discipline. This fruit is the outward effect of His divine discipline. Each time God disciplines us, He moves us closer and closer to holiness.
Oh, how it hurts, though. Recently, I watched and listened as my husband spoke what I believed to be harsh words to my son about his behavior. I did not feel my son’s childish behavior warranted my husband’s reaction. I made my opinion known right then and there…in front of my son. Looking back, I can see that I disrespected my husband. But, of course, I did not see it that way at the time. In my mind, I was protecting my son’s heart, believing I knew the right way, a better way, to say what my husband said.
Later that night, my husband addressed this with me privately. It felt like he was correcting me. I reacted as expected…defending and justifying my words.
God being God had already arranged for me to have coffee the next day with a dear friend who is about ten years ahead of me in parenting. I casually asked how her youngest son was doing. It opened the door to a conversation that led to how a woman needs to respect her husband and trust him with the discipline of a son. She stressed the importance of wives not only respecting their husbands, but also trusting them and praying for them…for wisdom and strength as they father their children, especially sons.
Wow!! She knew nothing of my circumstances when she began sharing her wisdom. Tears fell from my eyes as I heard God speaking to me through her.
God softened my heart. Why? To be honest, it was probably because the words did not come from my husband.
I realized in that moment that I needed to change my heart. I learned through her words that my husband’s admonishment about what I had done was God’s discipline and sanctifying work. With this new perspective, I find myself more willing now to accept discipline and to work with God instead of against Him.
As we closed our time together, my friend prayed the most beautiful prayer that moved my heart to repentance. I could not wait for my husband to get home that night and share what God taught me.
God’s promise does not end there. Hebrews 12:12-13 says:
“Therefore strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. Make level paths for your feet, so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.” (NIV)
Friend, God uses discipline to heal. Our God wants the very best for us. He loves us. He delights in us. He has a plan for us. It is only when we willingly allow God to sanctify our hearts and remove sin…whatever it may be (pride, bitterness, fear, mistrust, shame, guilt, anger)…that God can truly use us and accomplish His plans in and through us.
Heavenly Father, give me a heart of glad surrender, one that willingly receives Your discipline. Father, whatever it takes, make me more like You. Bring forth a harvest of righteousness and peace in my life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Application Steps:Read 1 Peter 5:5-6 and James 4:6. Who does God oppose in these verses? Who does God favor? What is His promise?
Reflections:In what ways has God brought the strong hand of sanctifying discipline into my life?
How has God worked in and through that discipline?
Power Verses:1 Peter 5:5b, “All of you, clothe yourselves with humility…because God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (NIV 1984)
James 4:6b, “…God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (NIV 1984)
Psalm 51:17, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” (NIV 1984)
Isaiah 66:2b, “…This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.” (NIV 1984)
© 2011 by Wendy Blight. All rights reserved.

GRANDPARENTS DAY LUNCH!

Mason just started a new year of preschool. We had back to school night on the 8th of September and met his new teacher, Ms. Yolanda(didn't take any pictures, oops) and was able to enjoy a Grandparents Day lunch with Papa Bill, Gramma Karen and Mamo on the 15th of September. Can you tell someone is just a little bit excited to have his grandparents all to himself?!?!

Gifts he made.

1ST DAY OF 1ST GRADE

GREAT AMERICA

GETTING READY FOR 1ST GRADE

4TH OF JULY 2011

This year we spent a fun day of swimming (reason for Braiden's red eyes), going to the park and fireworks (yes and even setting a towel on fire) with the Anders family. We love making memories that will last a lifetime!

Mason-2 years old and Braiden-6 year old with his traditional summer haircut.

Daddy and his boys.

Mommy and her princes.

Papa, Gramma and their California grandkids.

Red, white and blue!!!

Max is ready with his favorite shoe on!
Silly boys!
Um...are we supposed to lighting fireworks?!?
The boys not sure of all of the noise.

WE ARE FAMILY!!!

My cousin Brett graduated from Highschool on May 27th. We were unable to go because my cousin Nicole was getting married on May 29th and we had the dress rehearsal that same evening two hours away. Thankfully most of the Tennis/Patterson family was able to get together on the 28th to celebrate all of Brett's accomplishments. Here are a few pictures...

Brothers & Sisters

Brothers

First Cousins

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