So Much to Be Thankful For

I meant to blog yesterday. It was Sara's actual birthday. It pays to have your party on a different day than your birthday in the Faddis house! It means 2 days of celebration! We started the day with Chuck E. Cheese's. Several of her friends met us there to help make her birthday special!

The Gang!

The Birthday Girl!

Sara, Hope and one of her best friends, Katie

Then after Daddy got home from work we headed to Shogun for dinner. Mom and Poppa met us there. We usually go there once or twice a year. Only for special occasions. And turning 5 definitely qualifies! The kids love Shogun. Although the fire freaks them out a little. They can't decide if they like it or if they're scared of it!

Thanks Poppa, for taking a picture of all of us!

Then it was home for birthday cake! Aunt Leah came over to have some with us. (Thanks Aunt Leah!)

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. I cannot even begin to count my blessings. My husband. God blessed me with a man who loves me like Christ loves the church. He is an example of God's love for His bride and His love for His children. I love him with all that is in me. My children; Luke, Sara, Hope, and Emma. I never dreamed I would have 4 children!!! But each one of them is such a blessing and inspiration to me. They all have such unique personalities and gifts. Each is a joy to me and I couldn't imagine my life without them.

I thank my Father for the life He has given me. I don't deserve the family He has given me or the grace that he shows me day to day. I just pray that I can pass that along to my children and be and example of His grace and mercy to them and to my husband each day.

Praise God From Whom ALL Blessings Flow!

I have no greater joy than to hear my children walk in truth. 3 John 4. This is my favorite verse. It is my greatest desire that my children come to the Lord at an early age and follow Him throughout their lives. Well, my heart is full and couldn't be happier right now. This is what happened at church tonight...

My Son is following Jesus!

He has prayed to ask Jesus in his heart several times in the past 2 years. The first time was when he was 5. We were at the table eating lunch and said the blessing and then he bowed his head and prayed silently. He wouldn't tell me at first what he was praying, but then he told me he asked Jesus into his heart. I didn't push the issue and there have been 3 other times the past couple years that I know he prayed "the prayer." But Lance and I both agreed that walking the aisle to profess his faith in Jesus wasn't something that we wanted to push him into. We wanted it to be between him and the Lord.

About a month ago, he wanted to go to "big church" (will we ever grow out of calling it that??? :) ) with us and we let him. Our pastor (who is a friend of ours) led the congregation that day in the sinner's prayer and I heard Luke whispering the prayer along with him. During the invitation, I was trying to get him to walk down the aisle, but he wouldn't do it. He kept saying he was scared. I admit that I pushed him too much and should have just shut up. Lance gently stopped me from talking to him anymore about it. (Thank the Lord for a wise, Godly husband!)

The next weekend, the kids were staying at my parents and Luke got up about 11:00 crying because he didn't want to go to church the next morning. He had lied to one of his friends and he didn't want to face him. He was under conviction. It wasn't just an instance of knowing he'd done something wrong; he was broken over it. It was further confirmation of his real conversion experience.

Then tonight, the girls preschool choirs were singing at church. We don't usually go on Sunday nights, because it is family time for us when Lance is home with us. But we were there because of the girls. (and they did GREAT! I was so proud of them!) Luke sat with us during the service and when it came time to close the service, Wes said he was going to give an invitation. He led the sinner's prayer again and I heard Luke whispering it. When Wes said "amen," Luke looked at me and said, "Momma, I'm going down this time. I'm not scared anymore. But I'm going by myself." Then he looked at Lance and said, "Daddy, I'm going down, but by myself."

When will I ever learn that I'm not in control? God has everything under control and doesn't need my help. My son's salvation was between him and God. And God is big enough to talk to Luke without my interpret ting or prodding or interruption.

Luke was so proud. So many people came up to us and him after church and hugged us and told him congratulations and told us how happy they were for us. Luke said to everyone, "I gave my heart to God." We called both sets of grandparents and aunts and uncles. He said the same thing to everyone!

Praise God from Whom ALL blessings flow! My boy's name is written in the Lamb's Book of Life!

Now on a funny note. :) We went to get something to eat after church and Sara heard Luke say that he "gave his heart to God." She got this funny look on her face and said, "No you didn't!" Later, she looked at me and said, "Momma, does Luke really not have a heart?" haha! How literal children are!!!

Nothing Like Celebrating 2 Times!

Sara doesn't turn 5 until the 24th, but because my parents live here now and we don't have to combine her party with Thanksgiving anymore, we celebrated today! She's never had a whole lot of friends at her party because they've been out of town for the holidays. And what a party it was today!

But first, the day started with Momma/Daughter pedicures! I've been promising her a pedicure since this summer, but we were never able to get it done. So today was the day. And we LOVED it!

Girls at their best!

Then Daddy met up with us and we gave the Birthday Girl her big 5th birthday present. Ear Piercing! We handed her a box with a set of pierced earrings. Her mouth dropped open and she looked at me and said, "Are those pierced?" (with her cute little, can't say r's just right accent!) I said yes and that she was going to get her ears pierced and she automatically put her hands to her mouth and said "I'm scared." So after we got to the store and 15 minutes later, this is how she looked...

It took about 30 minutes of total persuasion and piercing time. She wanted them so badly, but was so scared at the same time!

Finally! Pierced ears!

Then it was on to Build a Bear. She's been wanting another one since Hope has two and today was her day. She got a Hello Kitty and when she got to pick the sound to go in it, she didn't let me down. Her's says, "Hey Girlfriend!" haha!

My mini me!

Then it was party time! I've been planning her party for 6 months! I want to do something big for all the kids 5th birthdays. Luke had a party at Pump It Up and got a horse. (kinda hard to top that!) But getting your ears pierced kinda ranks up there! And we had a huge Luau. I bought all the decorations and supplies in June and have been waiting. :) There was a great turnout of all her friends, and everyone had so much fun. When do you get to swim in November?!

Her flipflop cake

Party Time!

My sweet, sweet Sara. So unlike me in so many ways, but so like me in so many others. I can't believe she is turning 5. Where has the time gone? I've gotten emotional some this week anticipating her party. My little girl is growing up. Once this week when I was fixing Luke's lunch it hit me that in a few months I'll be fixing hers for school, too. She'll be in Kindergarten next year and won't be around as much. It's a truly bittersweet feeling. She is becoming a big girl instead of a little girl. It's weird to enjoy her as a friend in so many ways. I love showing her new outfits I get, or new jewelry. I always get a "Oh, Momma. That's beautiful."

I praise the Lord for the blessing that she is.