Caleb's Day

A few months back...November 15th to be exact...we had Caleb's baptism ceremony. It was a very sweet service. All of our children's baptisms have been special to me; I guess it should be, after all it is a covenant with the Lord in which we enter.

For those of you not familiar with the covenant of infant baptism, click here to read the letter from Pastor Reeder regarding the purpose. During the service we are called to answer three covenantal (not sure that is a word) questions:

I. Do you acknowledge your child's need of the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ, and the renewing grace of the Holy Spirit?

II. Do you claim God's covenant promises in Caleb Suell’s behalf, and do you look in faith to the Lord Jesus Christ for his salvation, as you do for your own?
III. Do you now unreservedly dedicate your child to God, and promise, in humble reliance upon divine grace, that you will endeavor to set before Caleb Suell a godly example, that you will pray with and for Caleb Suell, that you will teach the means of God's appointment to bring up Caleb Suell in the nurture and admonition of the Lord?

Afterward, Neal is asked to name our child and state a blessing. Here is what Neal had to say to Caleb:

Caleb Suell, your mother and I love you very much. Our prayer for you is that you will have a different spirit than the world by following the Lord fully (Numbers 14:24) and that you will echo the words of Habakkuk: "I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation." (Habakkuk 3:18). We also pray that like Jeremiah the word of God becomes to you a joy to consume and the delight of your heart (Jeremiah 15:16).

After the service the whole family ate brunch together in honor of Caleb. Everything about the day was beautiful.

One final note...The reason Anna Grace is wearing her coat during the service is simple. When she was reluctant to put it on that morning, I told her she looked like a princess wearing it. After that we could not get her to take it off. Oops.

Anna Grace's 4th Birthday

Anna Grace had a birthday at the park this year with a few friends. She loved it! She wanted a butterfly cake but was thrilled instead to have chocolate cupcakes with purple (her most recent favorite color) iced butterfly sugar cookies on top.

Even though I am several months late posting her birthday post I have had what I wanted to say this whole time....

Anna Grace you are such a sweetheart. You have a beautiful heart; yes, it is tainted with sin just like the rest of us but you genuinely are concerned for others. I love that you are constantly singing...made up songs, hymns, church songs, moose songs, bear songs...even when you sing a little too loud and that you love to stand on the steps and pretend you are preforming on a stage with and/or for Dean. I am so very thankful that you love Dean and Caleb and enjoy playing with them. When you tell people that Dean is your best friend I think that is so sweet and watching the two of you I know that it is true.

You are also wonderful helper around the house. It makes my heart melt when you tell me that you are like me. (I actually find it very convicting since it reminds me that I must be above reproach at all times because all 3 of you are watching all the time.) Cooking with you in the kitchen is one of my favorite past times. I am certain that one day you will be a wonderful cook. It makes me smile that you want to help me even in the mundane tasks of the day like doing the laundry. I am sure that like all children you will one day think you are too cool to hang out with your mom all the time therefore I cherish the memories being made today. And I pray, I pray that when you are grown you will enjoy spending time with me the same way I enjoy spending time with Juju now.

You are bubbling with personality, very dramatic, energetic, giggly and joyful which is code for 100% girl or as your dad would say, "high drama." I would have it no other way. I absolutely relish in that your criteria for a good dress or skirt is, "Does it twirl?" And that you love pretending to be a princess. And that you think it is completely normal for any stage in life to squeal at the top of your lungs when playing chase with Neal.

God has given you many gifts; I pray that Neal and I will be diligent to help you develop those gifts and that you will always desire to use them for God's glory (Hebrews 13:20-21). I pray that this year you will enjoy being 4 and not want to skip ahead to 5. My desire for you is that you are content with where God has you in each phase of life, faithfully growing into a mature, godly lady (2 Thessalonians 3:3, 5; Philippians 1:9-11). I pray that you will know God's word richly and that you will delight in Him throughout your life (1 Kings 8:61). I pray that you will always enjoy talking to Him the way you do now and that you will not lose the simplicity and honesty by which you currently pray..."Dear God, thanks for gettin my parents. I'm at school; these are my friends. We played outside; now it is time for lunch. Amen." (your lunch blessing when you were "line leader") (Colossians 4:2; 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18)

I love you all the way to Constantinople, Sweetie, and THAT'S far!

10 Hatchetts Unleashed...at the beach

We had an excellent trip to the beach with the family. It was everything a full Hatchett family vacation should be...a little chaos (10 Hatchetts only 1 Roof), a little drama (Jan hurt her back, Gilder broke his phone and lost his wallet all in day one) and lots of discussion about where to eat (no explanation necessary). Here are some pictures...