The first of many..

The first of many.. doesn't that define most of our lives? Each day seems to be filled with the 'first of many's. With three small children, I am realizing that I should have started blogging years ago, but alas time escaped me as it does most of us. This year I have decided that I will blog. I don't know at which point I become a actual blogger.. is there an initiation? criteria? specifications? I don't know rules or vocabulary or what is proper. I guess this will be a learning experience!

Back to the first of many.. Lately, our lives have been filled with many firsts. Micaiah has started reading her first book. Okay, so it is mostly memorized or pictures..but she gets the words right and points to them:) Being a teacher, that makes me proud. She is always eager to do school work. Sweet Charis (I put that descriptor there to remind myself) has start saying many things that just amaze us. She has always been eloquent. Speaking clearly has been a blessing for her since she was 1, and a curse for Micaiah who struggles with certain sounds. But it isnt always HOW Charis speaks that is so amazing.. it is WHAT she says that blows most of us away..just under a year ago while sitting in Chick-fil-A she saw the cow and says, 'COOOOOWWWW!!! EAT IT!" okay.. what 1 year old knows that you eat cows? seriously?? Just yesterday as I helped her clean up her blocks it was "Oh Mommy! Good Job! You cleaning the blocks!! You like that, huh? You a GOOD helper, Mommy!" Yes, she is two.. TWO!!! And lets not forget my sweet little man who nicely said "cook" as I walked into the kitchen two days ago.. at 14 months old that word should NOT be in his vocabulary! He is now running instead of walking and is one of the happiest babies I have seen..well, as long as I am in sight. He is becoming more of a Daddy's boy and it is super sweet to see him light up and yell at the sight of Daddy.

Another first this year is the church.. Yes, it is our first church.. no, it isnt our first year and it is definitely not going to have its first struggles. Yet, this is the first year that we have been fully staffed and ready to reach out and DO ministry. We are so excited to see what God is going to do in and through Maplewood. With Gary's love for the Word and getting it into peoples lives and the talent that we have coming in along with the servant hearts that fill our staff, I know God has good things in store for us.