The "Staycation" - A review

So, as our vacation time got closer and closer the realization finally sank in that we were weren't vacating, but rather staying for our vacation. I was bummed, I thought the whole reason for a vacation was to vacate; to rest and relax. Other people we know got to go to Disneyland (you know who you are) ... AGAIN (for like the bazillionth time). I really wanted to go somewhere, I didn't care where, just wanted to get away. With everything happening this year (family reunion, Chris and Kathryn's wedding, kids b-day party) it just wasn't (financially) possible. So what did we do, we stayed close to home.
We had swim lessons, went to Chuck E. Cheese for the first time with the kids, and spent the night at Mooma and Poopa's. We did some work around the house and just spent time together as a family. Reflecting back, it was a good time and I'm glad we spent it the way we did, it was very restful.
If you are in the same boat (vacation time scheduled and no place to go) try the "staycation", I would recommend it.

The Best Grammie Ever!

Margaret Wenberg

January 12, 1909 - June 7, 2009

Margaret Marie Wenberg, age 100, passed away peacefully on Sunday, June 7, 2009 at Provena Mercy Center Hospital in Aurora. She was born January 12, 1909 in Aurora the daughter of Alexander and Madilyn (nee Diehl) Rush. She was united in marriage to Carl Wenberg on May 20, 1937 in Batavia, IL. Margaret grew up on Wilder St. in Aurora; she attended Penn Ave. School and West High. Margaret helped open the Grants Store in Aurora. Following her marriage Margaret and her husband Carl moved to Batavia and together they remodeled an old house which became the family home. Remodeling the home and raising her family all went well until her Carl was diagnosed with polio in 1943. Margaret’s deep faith in the Lord and her sweet spirit kept her going through all of the struggles. In 1976, following the death of Carl, Margaret moved to the Constitution Sr. Apartments in Aurora where she resided for almost 32 years. She moved in 2007 to Asbury Gardens. She most recently has resided at Countryside Care Centre in Aurora. Margaret loves birds and is affectionately known by her family as Birdie Gram. She attributes her long life to God’s grace and eating lots of onions. She is survived by her two children, James (Marilyn) Wenberg of Batavia and Gay (Rich) Bronakowski of Geneva; four grandchildren John (Molly) Emerson, Cathryn (Christopher) Kasic, Kristina Wenberg, and Cheryl (Patrick) Aldridge; seven great-grandchildren; Katy, Anna, and Ella Emerson, Nicholas and Aaron Kasic and Thomas and Katelyn Aldridge; a sister-in-law Ruby Wenberg; several nieces and nephews and many friends. In addition to her parents, Margaret is preceded in death by beloved husband, Carl; and her siblings May, Hannah, Tom, Esther, Carl, and Irvin. Funeral services will be 10:30 A.M. Thursday, June 11, 2009 at Evangelical Covenant Church, 1314 Main Street in Batavia. Visitation will be held from 9:00 A.M. until the time of service. Interment will follow in River Hills Memorial Park. Memorials in Margaret’s name may be directed to Batavia Evangelical Covenant Church.

Redeemer's Voice Blog

I just put up a post on the Redeemer Fellowship blog entitled Growing Kids in Grace (there's a link on the left), check it out. Share your thoughts.

(For our regular readers - this is probably where I will be posting things like this from now on.)

PA

Summer Time Fun!

Sprinker Time!

What the Kids do in their spare time

I know what you are thinking (at least I think I know what you should be thinking). What is that really old looking bear doing with those nice black shoes?

First, the bear is named MacArthur and was originally owned by Cheryl's dad. He gave it to Cheryl and Cheryl passed it on to the twins.

Second, the shoes are a nice pair of black dress shoes that Tom has grown out of. Since Cheryl can't seem to get rid of anything, the kids found them and decided that MacArthur needed them.

(And yes, if you look in the top left corner of the pic, you see Tom's feet - black socks and red sandals - and Kate has on her white "princess" shoes. Good look guys.)

Quote: Big Truths for Young Hearts by Burce Ware

"One of the very first things we must learn about God is very humbling, and it is this: unless God had decided to show us who he is, unless he had chosen to make known his own life and ways, we simply could know nothing - yes, nothing! - about him. We are dependent completely on God's kindness and goodness to make himself known to us, and for this we ought to be grateful everyday of our lives. After all there is no more important and more wonderful to know than God. So how thankful we much be that God did not keep to himself, as it were. Rather, He showed us in rich and wonderful ways just who he is." (pg. 18)

As I get farther into this book, I will share more. Looks really good and easily adaptable to family devotions, small group study, or even personal study. More to come ... (if you don't see it soon, hound me about it!)

Book Review: Helping Children to Understand the Gospel by Michael, Nelson, and Burk

The Children Desiring God conference was great. Learned a lot, still processing it all. I probably didn't mention that I bought some books ... a lot of books. I was planning on spending around $40 and ended spending just above $90. Funny part is, the first book I read, I got for free. Helping Children to Understand to Gospel was in my bag as I registered (I think everyone got it). All I can say is, "Wow, what a great resource!"
The spiral bound book put out by Children Desiring God has 3 sections. The first section starts with the parable of the sower and how it relates to parents and children's ministry workers. The second section is about the Gospel and how God needs to be central, not man. It's not about us accepting Him, or praying a prayer. The Gospel starts with God, He is the vehicle that moves it, and He is the goal (pg. 30 - 31). The final section is the a devotional of the 10 essential truths of the Gospel.
If you have kids or work with them, get this book. It will help you present the Gospel to them in a way they can understand. It will help you understand how children develop spiritually.
I'm sure you can get it from the website. Check it out.