DDD

The boys have been so excited all week for DDD. Daddy, Donuts, and Dinosaurs. Rodney and Carter Wayne came up with that. :) Saturday morning they met their buddies Shawn and Peyton at Krispy Kreme for donuts then went to Lowe's to build dinosaurs. They picked up icees on the way home to round out the perfect morning. They had a blast. And me sleeping in wasn't so bad either.

Haircuts and Jesus

I took the boys to get their haircuts on Friday. We tried out a new place just for kids in Fayetteville. During the drive there Carter Wayne started asking me about Heaven. He wanted to know if we would have our own house or if we would all live in the same house. I told him I wasn't sure, but it wouldn't really matter because we would be with God and Jesus and it would be so wonderful that we wouldn't care what house we were in. He thought about that awhile then asked where the "bad guys" would be. Well... I told him about hell and that it was a place away from God where people went after they died if they decided that they didn't want to follow Jesus. Insert Holy Spirit here. I mean the boy was coming up with questions faster than I could answer. Not just about heaven and hell, but about God, Jesus, the cross, and the Holy Spirit. He wanted to know if God was mad at us when we did wrong and we talked about Jesus' life and how him dying on the cross and raising from the dead covered over the wrong things we did. We talked about what it meant to have Jesus in your heart. We talked about Jesus living on earth and never doing anything bad or wrong - this blew him away! He was amazed that Jesus had lived a sinless life. He wanted to know who in our family had gone to heaven. He asked about how God talks to us, about the Bible, and what the Holy Spirit was and how it worked. At one point I shared the whole plan of salvation - I truly felt the holy spirit speaking through me - and because God knows I need encouragement - every time I said God or Jesus little Sawyer would echo me and say "God" and "Jesus" in this sweet little voice. So sweet. When I was talking about us believing Jesus and that he was the son of God - Carter Wayne said "I believe"- and talking about following Jesus all the days of our lives - Carter Wayne said "I do believe and when I say that mommy it makes my eyes water like this." Bless his heart! This Gospel affects all doesn't it!
At this point we were at the haircut place and Sawyer was out cold. I had Carter Wayne come sit in my lap and I asked him if he wanted me to pray for him or if he wanted to pray. He wanted me to pray and I prayed that he would choose Jesus and he would follow Jesus all the days of his life and that he would look to God's word to lead him. I also prayed that God would show Rodney and I how to teach Carter Wayne about God and his son Jesus. We hugged and I asked him if he had any more questions and he said no but that he would want to talk about it more later too.
I didn't press things there. I don't want him to be scared or coxed into following Jesus - I want him to do it because he understands and wants to. I would have never even dreamed that this kind of conversation could happen until we saw how well Olivia Grace understood her commitment to Christ. It is like God was opening my eyes to how these questions are going to start coming, even at this young age. I am so thankful for the Holy Spirit and his leading Carter Wayne to ask these questions and giving me answers to give in a confident way. What a blessing.
Last week Carter Wayne and I were watching some cartoon where the kids went to China and he asked if daddy had ever gone to China and I said no. He said he couldn't believe that because Daddy always went exploring to far off places. A few minutes later he said, "Do all the kids in China already know about Jesus?" I said no and he said well Daddy needs to go there. I talked about missionaries and how they go different places to tell people about Jesus. He actually said "Who will go to tell the children in China about Jesus?" Oh yes Lord - who will go? I said maybe him, or me or Sawyer or daddy. He liked that. I prayed before he was even born that he would have a heart for the nations and that he would love God all the days of his life. To see these prayers starting to be answered is overwhelming. I am so grateful to see the gospel being played out in my own home. It is more than I could ever have asked for. I never want to forget these beginning conversations that I hope and pray are leading to my son's salvation. In our small group we have been praying that we would all have the opportunity to share our faith this week. I never dreamed I would get the chance in my van on the way to a haircut. SO thankful for these past few days and praying for the ones ahead. Thank you Lord that you are working in the lives of me and this precious gift of a family you have given me.

Olivia Grace's Baptism

Our sweet little friend Olivia Grace accepted Jesus in to her heart over the Holidays and we are so very proud of her. We got to go and see her get baptized and it was such a special time. We went out to eat with her whole family afterwards and had a great time. We love Brent and Leslie and are so excited that they got to lead Olivia Grace to Christ. It is all of our number one prayer for our children. To know that they have Jesus in their heart and they are choosing to follow Him all the days of their life. Congrats Olivia Grace - our new sister in Christ! That night I was giving the boys their baths and Carter Wayne said I get appetized every day i take a bath. At first I had no idea what he was talking about - what does he know about appetizers? Then he dunked his head in the water and said see I am getting appetized like Olivia Grace. Well, I do look forward to the day both my boys follow Jesus and then get "appatized". :)

Annalyse Turns Two

Our sweet little Annalyse Silvey turned two last weekend and had an ice cream party. She has the sweetest little smile. We love her so. She is light as a feather - especially after picking up these two big boys and she gives the best hugs! Happy Birthday, Annalyse. The Greenfields love you so much!

Bowling with our Small Group

Our newly/nearly married class got together to go bowling last weekend. They are such a fun group and one of our couples got engaged over New Year's! We had a great time bowling and no one took it too seriously - I think because we were all pretty bad at it. :) I just love this group of young couples. They make my heart so happy and I love how they all want to have Godly marriages and so eager to learn how. We start back meeting in the next couple of weeks and I am so glad because I have missed them over the break! I also love getting to be a co-leader with my wonderful husband. I am so proud of him and the great spiritual leader he is to me and to these young couples.

Sawyer's First Soccer Practice

Sawyer is learning to play soccer through a program called Happy Feet. They just teach the kids fundamentals and get them excited about the game. Sawyer kept saying "I go to my soccer game!" He was pumped. He did sit and listen to the coach some, and he did walk around on his own some. They are 2 1/2 to 3 year olds so they all paid attention in spurts. It was so cute and Sawyer can't wait for next week. :)

Little Baby Charile

While the boys and NeeNee had a picnic, I went to visit the newest member of the Hooten clan, baby girl Charlie. How cute is she?!? It was so good to visit with one of my bestest friends ever, Ashley, and her sweet little family. Welcome to the world little Charlie. You are a precious!