Getting Ready to Make New Friends

I'm so excited I can hardly wait... in a just a few short weeks I will be in PA @ the Relevant Conference 2011!  My sweet hubbie, Isaac surprised me with a ticket the other day!  This will be my first time traveling across states by myself in YEARS! So in an attempt to get to know some of the other purposefully bloggin' mamas going this year, this post is a little scrapbook look into my life.

(photo is a year old- sorry)

What is the Vision for Leaving a Legacy?

2 Months Already!

Ethan at 2 Months Old!

Dimples & Smiles

Austin's Baptism

Our Son Austin was baptized on Saturday, October 2, 2010!
The 2 ceremonies (ordinances) Christ commanded his church to perform are baptism and the Lord's Supper.
Baptism symbolizes dying and rising with Christ and having sins washed away

(Rom. 6:1-12). "What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? BY no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life...For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin- because anyone who has died has been freed from sin... The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. .. Therefore do not let sin reign your in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires."

Mark 16:16
Jesus said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned."

Matthew 28:19-2-0
"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you."

Many christian parents are very intentional about "making sure their children are baptized." Some at infancy, some at an age of accountability, and others at the time that the child is ready. All of which are personally inspired or prompted by the Lord and or based upon their personal beliefs and interpretation of the scriptures on this topic. My concern for parents today is that they do not take the later half of this scripture to heart as deeply... seeing the significance in what our Lord Jesus is commanding us to do. He said, "GO" but he also said, "teach them to obey everything I have commanded you."

I am so ever thankful to the Lord for the miraculous thing he has done in my son's heart. I am thankful that he desired to "obey" the Lord in being baptized. I am thankful for so many things!
Jesus was tempted by Satan following his baptism and as Christians we all understand how temptation works and how we are constantly fighting our flesh and the sins of this world. Please keep my son Austin in your prayers, that this would be a rich season in his life of growing deeper with the Lord, understanding his word, and gaining His wisdom. I urge to also be praying for Isaac and I to stay the course and focus now on the later part of Matt 28- teaching Austin to obey all that He has commanded.

If you are looking for useful guides in teaching your children about baptism here are a few we have found to be helpful:
The Bible
Wayne Grudem's Systematic Theology
Baptism- "A Bible Study Workbook for Kids" by Richard Todd- This is a small activity book with verses

If you have any other good helps... please leave them in the comment box for others to glean from

Eleven Years & Still Running on Ultra Fast Mode!

Isaac & I are celebrating our 11th year of Marriage today!

I joke with him, that since we meet we have been moving at a mile a minute...

and I feel like it for sure!

11 years later... love...6 beautiful blessings... delightful hard work... dreams accomplished... still dreamin'... health issues & healing... growth... perserverance... learning... repentance... forgiveness... more love... understanding... team effort... working together...

more learning... sin apparent & grace given... living the days on purpose... keeping each other strong... when one is weak- the other is strong... more dreamin'...

setting goals... accomplishing them... changing goals... realizing God's giftings...

Learning selflessness... learning patience...studying each other and learning...

Experiencing Him more in our Marriage...

More Love...

Life- what a blessing- what a journey it has been already- can't wait to see what the next years hold!

I Love You Isaac!

Drew Bug's Birthday!

What A Star!

Here he is... on his Birthday Date with Mom & Dad!

Another August Birthday!

Wow am I behind on blogging!

Where does the time go when you are recovering from childbirth and have six children???

Better Late than Never though...

Here are some great pictures of my sweet blessing Drew.

He just turned four August 24th and always has a smile on his face!

What a year of growth this year was for Drew...

Here are pictures of Drew with Me... (mommy made him a new JOhn Deere Tractor Blanket)... and the rest of the gang all admiring his very first...

big boy remote control HONK-A-TOMPTER (helicopter)!

He was SOOOO excited!

On a more serious note though...

I am so proud of the young lad he is becoming...

He has really learned so much in the area of self control,

patience, and having control over his emotions...

well for a four year I think he is amazing!

We have such a neat testimony about the promises of God being fulfilled in this little man's life and I want to celebrate them and what God has done in his life.

Thank you Lord for answered prayers!

Learning to Quilt w/ Gramma

While we were in "Waiting" for Ethan to be born...
Isaac's Mom came to help out.
While she was here she taught Kelsey how to quilt!
Here she is at 10 quilting, when her own mom has not even done by 31 years of age!

Thanks for coming Sarah, you were a huge help...

I still can't believe you and Kelsey got it done in 3 days!

Ethan @ 8 days old!

My Six Beautiful Blessings!

Thank You Jocelyn for coming out and doing such an amazing job "capturing" our family again. I feel so blessed to have these days photographed so when I am older I can reminise with my memories in color (& black & white)!

If you are interested in having Jocelyn Gillson out to your home for family photos... you can check her & husbands work out at Rowan Gillson Imagery.
They do weddings together, Rowan teaches photography classes at Cascade Christian College. You can also contact Jocelyn at jocelyn.elise@gmail.com

He has a Name!

ETHAN CREED TOLPIN
Proverbs 22:1
"A good name is more desirable than great riches, to be esteemed is far better than silver or gold."

Ethan: Hebrew, Meaning: Firmness, Steadfast in Truth
Romans 8:28
"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose."

Creed: Latin, Meaning: Belief, Power in Faith
Matthew 8:10
"Truly I tell you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith."
(Also motivated by the "Apostles CREED")

We believe the Lord has known us all, His creation before we even came to be. In Psalm 139 the Lord "knows our words" before they are spoken, so of course He knows us by our Names as well.

Psalm 139

¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,

¹⁶ your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.

After much prayer, deliberation and getting know our new little guy... we are privileged the Lord has given us the task to honor Him in our naming Ethan Creed Tolpin.

Please pray with us that he comes to fulfill the core meanings of his name. That he would be firm in his walk with the Lord, Steadfast in Truth, that He would have Power in Faith! All to the Glory of the Kingdom of God. May you rise up son, to declare the Name of the Lord in strength, power & truth relying on the deep faith comes from knowing Christ personally!

Blessed with another Son!

The Lord has blessed us with another healthy son!

Baby Tolpin arrived yesterday @ 12:45 in the afternoon!
9lbs 1oz.
20.5"
with a Hercules chest of 14.5"
long fingernail and a little bit of curly dark hair

Double Digits--"10"

I'm officially feeling my age!
My eldest child, Kelsey just turned 10 this afternoon- 12:31pm!





Here are some highlights from here birthday at home!Last Week we took Kelsey on a date! She picked out a new Bible with her name engraved & off we went to her favorite place... Macaroni Grill!

This morning we surprised her with a spontaneous trip to Krispy Kreme Donuts for breakfast!

After going out with Dad for the afternoon, we had a special dinner & cake with some homemade presents!
Megan made Kelsey a tea cup and saucer at Ceramic Cafe while they were at Art School b/c Kelsey Loves Tea!




Drew & Luke finished off a book series Kelsey has just started called "Kingdom Dawn."





Austin carved a flower out of a piece of wood and painted it for her!

She was so excited to find a cross necklace!

Reading... What a great ending to a great day!