Labor Day

Labor Day was a day of labor for us!

Jonathan stayed home all day and finished changing out both the front and back storm doors that were falling apart. He and the boys painted the front door and the door trim.

 

I read recently that most American sons grow up only knowing a dad (if they have a dad at all) who goes away all day, comes home exhausted, and sits in front of the TV [or computer] all evening.

They seldom get to see a masculine role model doing anything besides flop around.

So I am always so thankful for times when our boys get to work alongside their dad and watch him be a man--watch how he measures and reads directions and takes old broken things down and puts new things up and paints and repairs.

Even Timmy is set to work learning to tape off a window so the door can be repainted.  

A holiday with Dad actually staying home!

And doors that have been ready to fall apart for years finally getting repaired!

Whoopee!

Meanwhile, since it is just after a wonderful little rain, the little boys are busy scouting around the property, gathering eggs and looking into window wells to find (can you see it peeking out of Danny's hand?)

salamanders, toads, and--

w o r m s!

Howwwww exciting!

Sunday morning the boys found a little snake at church. Don't ask me where they found it.

It was a harmless little garter snake.

And they knew Sis. Miller does NOT like snakes.

So they were sure to show it to her--from a distance!

Then tomboy Hannah had to see what it was like to hold a snake, too.

Ooooooooh.

 

While the men and boys were working on doors on Labor Day, Mom and the girls worked at getting school books and schedules prepared for starting school the next day.

In the evening, Pastor Mosley's family came for a cookout and to scout out the lake nearby where our church is holding a baptism this coming Sunday.

It is a thrill to have our three oldest children planning to be baptized, along with hopefully others. Last Sunday morning our pastor, instead of a sermon, passed out handouts of a study on the Scriptural meaning and examples of baptism from the Bible. It was excellent. Neither Jonathan nor I could remember ever hearing a message about baptism before in our lives. It was a very important part of New Testament repentance and beliefs, and is sadly a much neglected topic in our churches. As our pastor pointed out--just because churches we do not agree with may overemphasize an issue does not mean that we should react by not doing it.

 If it is taught in the Bible, as baptism plainly and clearly is, we have every obligation to obey.

This is God's plan, said our pastor.

Jesus submitted to baptism, setting an example for us.

In the evening, the pastor  had a little time of instructions and sharing of testimonies for baptismal candidates in the church basement before service.