Monday, September 30, 2013

Cousins Picture

I couldn't wait 'til I got "caught up" with my blog posts to share this one!

For just about an hour this past Saturday, all the cousins (our nieces & nephews/grandchildren) were able to be all together in one place!  It was the first time any of them had met the latest addition, Abigail, but Karis and Derrick hadn't yet met either.

While we had the opportunity, we decided to take a picture of them all together!

Please excuse this biased aunt's opinion, but here are seven of the cutest little ones around!

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Memories & Thoughts about September 11th, 2001

I don't think I'll ever forget this day 12 years ago.  However, there are others who have even greater reasons to remember it, because their lives have been forever changed by damage it caused them or a loved one, or by the loss of a loved one.

I do stop and think of these folks, and pray for God's comfort and healing for them today.

I think also of the many heroes of that day whether or not they were wearing any kind of uniform.  Despite the fact that I was blessed to not have been personally impacted, I am still so grateful for their sacrifices and their devotion to their country to which they have committed their very lives.

I don't want to just acknowledge this event and move on, though.  I want to learn/be reminded of something by it.   We didn't see it coming.  We didn't know that, in just a short time, some 3,000 souls would pass into eternity.  Were they ready for what they faced next?  Had we prepared them?

"...it is appointed unto man once to die, but after this the judgment"
(Hebrews 9:27)

After death, every soul must meet their Maker, the Judge of all the earth.

"But God, I was the victim of a terrorist attack!" 

That's irrelevant information in this trial.
This isn't about what others did to you - This is about the choices you have made.

Have you broken God's law?
Everybody has.

Somebody has to pay the price of your sin. 
Have you accepted the payment Christ made on your behalf?
Or must you now pay the price yourself?

The price is separation from God forever in a place burning with fire and brimstone, a place called "Hell".  Will it be you?

Christ has already made the payment, you only have to accept it! 

Will you accept it today?  Please, don't wait another day!  These folks we're remembering who died 12 years ago had no idea that September 11, 2001 would be their day of reckoning!  We never know when our turn will come - young or old!

Are you ready?


"Go to now {or Listen up}, ye that say,
To day or to morrow we will go into such a city,
and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:
Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow.
For what is your life?
It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
For that ye ought to say,
If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that."
(James 4:13-15)

I'd like to close with a video.  It's nearly 16 minutes long, but it's worth every minute, and I hope you will take the time!  The man it's about (true story) would have been flying one of those planes on that fateful day 12 years ago...but the Lord intervened and spared his life!  Listen to him tell his story.

Sunday, September 8, 2013

Welcome Baby Waller!!!

I shall now interrupt the drawn-out Knox Wedding Anniversary series to bring you a very important announcement.

I am delighted to announce the arrival of my 3rd niece,

Abigail Renee Waller!

 
(Profile shot)

Born at 5:58 P.M. on Friday, September 6, Abigail weighed in at 7 lbs. 12 oz. and was 21" long.
Valerie and Abigail are both doing well (Adam is too! :-) ). 

When Valerie and Adam informed us on Friday morning that Val was in active labor and they were heading to the hospital, we all guessed what time we thought the baby would arrive.  (We did not tell Valerie & Adam as that could have been very discouraging to them.)  I'll not be giving names or times for the other guesses, so don't even ask, but the closest guesses were, somewhat ironically, our youngest members.  Lisa was the very closest guessing 17 minutes later and Zach was closest without going over guessing 28 minutes earlier.

We got to go see them Friday night and meet and hold our new little niece/granddaughter!

In Nana's experienced arms

Undergoing Papa's inspection

I was (and still am) considerably happier than this picture would lead you to believe. :-D
She was pretty relaxed as I gently rubbed her back.

In contrast to my staring adoration of the little one, Aunt Kimberly made a much more thorough examination of the child, checking her out as she held her.....

...and revealing her nice head of hair!!!

Cute little girly things!  :-)

 Uncle Dave's turn

HollyBeth with Abigail

While HB was holding her, I decided to get a few more pictures as she was starting to make some different faces at us.

 
















When Uncle Zach got her, Abigail decided she was ready to give us a short demonstration of her vocal range and abilities.  I thought to catch just a few seconds of that on video.  :-)





 Vocal demonstrations for Uncle Zach

Aunt Lisa and her newest niece, Abigail

 First Family Photo (taken just about 5 hours after Abigail was born)

So now the members of this household have been crowned aunts/uncles/grandparents 7 times and are all absolutely loving our status as such!  For those trying to keep the tallies straight, the arrival of Abigail brings the numbers up to 3 girls and 4 boys.  :-)

The Wallers have now returned home and Nana is taking good care of them!  :-)

Check out Adam's post about Baby Abigail!