Pretty in Pink

This is exactly who Molly is right now.



You can see more of her in this gallery.

Dangerous things I want to do with my kids

Abraham posted on a book that I had heard of earlier 50 Dangerous Things (You Should Let Your Children Do).  It was a great post and comment chain.  The author even stopped by and commented.  Someone else posted the video below of the author talking about the book.  It's 9 minutes but funny and worth watching.  The premise of the book is that kids are way too over protected.  There are lots of good and dangerous things that kids should be able to do. 

My comment on Abraham's post was about the other night when the kids and I went for a walk over Birch Lake around 7:00 at night.  It was dark, windy and cold.  I told the kids that we were going for a walk.  They weren't pleased, but when we got to the lake they were very excited.  I went out first until I knew it was safe.  They waited on the bank until I called them.  It was so great to be out doing something that seemed dangerous and out of the ordinary.  Just being out when everyone else was tucked warm in their houses was great.

I'm making a list of other things that I want to let the kids do sooner than later.  Add anything else in the comments.  And if you are on Amazon any time soon and are looking to get me something, I'd love this book.

• Build a fire in the backyard
• Have a pocket knife
• Drive the car on my lap
• Put their tongue on a 9v battery
• Drive the car out on the ice
• Go for another walk across the ice

Quotes: I'm a tiger

From January

Reported by Amanda this morning.  When Molly's pulling her shirt over her head she says,

"I'm like a tiger (meaning Lion-her shirt being the mane)."

We're getting a lot of great Molly quotes these days because she is actually able to say all of the crazy things that are going on in her head.  When the boys were her age, they were months away from being able to articulate their thoughts.

Happy One Month Birthday, Lucy

From January

Today we celebrate the first month of Lucy's life.  And oh what a month it's been.  We love her so much and are so thankful to God for the gift of her that He has given.  You can see some pics here (MOM!)

Marching bands rule!

If you like pop music and marching bands, check out this video from the band OK Go.  It's good.  I recommend clicking the link and watching it big on Youtube.  If you're lazy, you can watch it small below.


OK Go - This Too Shall Pass from OK Go on Vimeo.


HT: Jim Spiegel

Quotes: What are you funny about?

Whenever Amanda and I are laughing at something, Molly asks us,

"What are you funny about?"

Quotes: Yes! I got it right.

Caleb is a great little character.  This might sound familiar to some of you syllable tappers and stair counters.

Caleb makes "contests" for himself.  For instance yesterday at lunch, I was getting something out of the refrigerator and he said, "Yes!  I got it right."  He obviously guessed right the thing that I was getting out.  This happens a lot throughout the day.  Sometimes it will be "Agggh.  I got it wrong."  There's a lot going on in the little minds of these kids we love.

More Lucy

As you may remember, the first two weeks or so of Lucy's life were fairly difficult.  She wasn't feeding and was doing a lot of crying.  All of us were fairly stressed.  After a number of consultations, we decided to give her bottles with breast milk.  What a change!  She's like a different person.  As Caleb so observantly stated, "This is a lot easier."  It has been so great to be able to enjoy Lucy more.  I laid on the couch with her and read for a long time last night after the other kids went to bed.  My mom asked for some more pics or video.  Ask and ye shall receive.

Fun-eral or funeral?

I just read a great article from the magazine Modern Reformation, entitled "Funerals From Hell: Where have all the graveyards gone?"  It contrasted the now traditional evangelical "celebration of life" with a more traditional Christ-centered service about His victory over sin, death and the grave.  It's a few pages long, but definitely worth the read.   

I'm hoping that my funeral is not in the near future, but just in case, here are a few thoughts. I hope more is said about the oncoming death of the people in the pews and the repentance that would lead to their eternal life than what I did in my short life.  I hope that the service is an acknowledgment that death was not part of God's good creation and that is a sad and terrible curse.  I hope there is a celebration, but a celebration of the fact that we do not grieve as others who have no hope (1 Thes. 4:13.)  I hope more glory is given to God than to me.

Praise Ye The Lord

Daddy got a new toy at Christmas.  Actually our new BlackBerry is Amanda's, but I am getting a lot of fun use out of it.  You are the benefactors!  You'll be seeing much more video on the blog in the coming months.  The quality is not great, but the actors are.  I hope you enjoy it.

Notice the difference in the four personalities in this video.

Hymn of the Week--A Mighty Fortress Is Our God

When we were reading our recent read aloud Reformation Heroes, we were reading about Martin Luther.  It said that he was a hymn writer and that we still sing some of his hymns today.  It mentioned Away in a Manger and A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.  I asked the boys if they knew these.  They said they knew Away in the Manger, but not the other one.  Well, that did it.  I added this to our HOTW list right away.  It is a great one.  We talked last night about how this song is all about the "fight of faith" that we battle every day.  God gave us the only way to win and that is in utter reliance on the fact that Christ must win the battle.  The first verse doesn't quite get the whole story in, it mostly just introduces the battle.  The victory comes in the subsequent verses. 

Hymn of the Week
A Mighty Fortress Is Our God
Words and music by Marin Luther

A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;
Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing:
For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great, and, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal. 

Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing;
Were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God’s own choosing:
Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord Sabaoth, His Name, from age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.

And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us:
The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure,
One little word shall fell him.

That word above all earthly powers, no thanks to them, abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours through Him Who with us sideth:
Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also;
The body they may kill: God’s truth abideth still,
His kingdom is forever.

A Mighty Fortress Is Our God -...

Read Alouds--Reformation Heroes

We have been mixing our nightly read aloud times up lately.  I have been alternating between our normal read aloud and a book my mom got the kids and me for Christmas.  Reformation Heroes is a book about the many varied personalities that came before and brought about the Reformation.    It is well written and very interesting.  Many of these stories are new to me as well.  Do you know who John Huss was?  I didn't either.  The boys have really liked this.  It is so much fun to hear the boys say, "Can we read about Martin Luther again tonight?"  If you have elementary aged kids, I highly recommend this book.  Most of the biographies are short enough to read in a sitting.  The more important ones (Luther for instance) need to be split into a few sessions.  It even has some reflection questions in the back for each personality.  Thanks, Mom, for another great book.

Read Alouds--Red Sails to Capri

Sometimes when I read a book I think to myself, I know this is a good book, but I just really don't like it that much.  That was my reaction to Red Sails to Capri  by Ann Weil.  It was an interesting story and well written, but I didn't care for the style.  She uses a lot of dialog.  Reading it aloud was somewhat difficult and I'm not sure the boys were always able to follow it.

It is a story of a young boy, Michelle, and the adventure that comes to him when three strange visitors come to his island of Capri.  The visitors all come seeking something different and each find exactly what they are seeking in an adventure that they take with Michelle, his father and two of his friends.  As I did a search for the image for the book, I came across a number of people who said that this was a family favorite.  It was okay, but it wouldn't make the list of Gammons Family favorites.

What a difference a few days makes!

Lucy is doing much better.  I took this video last night as she and I were enjoying some time together.

Lu Ru: First Two Weeks

It's been almost two weeks since our little Lucy Ruth was born.  Here's a look into what she's been up to.

How are the kids adjusting?

From Lucy Ruth

"How are the kids adjusting?"  That's the question that I've gotten a lot at work today.  I love the picture above.  It shows just how excited all of the kids are about their new sister.  All of the boys love holding Lucy and as I've mentioned before, Molly "wants to hold she."  When the boys aren't holding her, they pretty much go along with their normal routine.  It has been the biggest shock for Molly.  While she is very excited about "Sis", I'm not sure she's very excited about sharing Amanda's attention.  Gigi is here now though, which helps with all of that.  I've added some more photos for those of you who are interested.

Lucy Ruth

Hymn of the Week--He Owns The Cattle On a Thousand Hills

As my friend was writing about a struggle that he is walking through and his desire to trust God with all of his needs, this song came to mind.  It is an old one from the very beginning of the "chorus movement".  I love it's simple message straight from the scriptures.

Psalm 50:9-15
9 I will not accept a bull from your house
or goats from your folds.
10 For every beast of the forest is mine,
the cattle on a thousand hills.
11 I know all the birds of the hills,
and all that moves in the field is mine.

12 “If I were hungry, I would not tell you,
for the world and its fullness are mine.
13 Do I eat the flesh of bulls
or drink the blood of goats?
14 Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving,
and perform your vows to the Most High,
15 and call upon me in the day of trouble;
I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.”

Hymn of the Week
He Owns The Cattle On A Thousand Hills
Words and music by John W. Peterson
 

He owns the cattle on a thousand hills,
The wealth in every mine;
He owns the rivers and the rocks and rills,
The sun and stars that shine.
Wonderful riches, more than tongue can tell -
He is my Father so they're mine as well;
He owns the cattle on a thousand hills -
I know that He will care for me.  

 

Christmas recap

While it was a somewhat distracted Christmas with the arrival of our new sweetheart, it was certainly an enjoyable one.  Here are some photos of some of the highlights.