Cookie Baking Night 01/30/17

Tonight was Cookie Baking Night: In attendance this evening: Emily, Allison, Rylar, and Enzo. Tonight we made chocolate covered marshmallows.

I know, kind of makes you wish you were here doesen't it?

Emily had the day off of school today, so she came over early. While, I was at work, she made supper for us, and she organized a craft. The craft hanging on the wall has the Bible verse John 15:12 on it. "This is my commandment that you love one another". She cut out heart shapes in pink, red, and white, and the rest of the kids colored them or wrote the words from the verse on them. 

Allison was able to write out every word, and she loved it. Rylar lasted through three hearts, and Enzo made it through one. But everyone got a ribbon on it, so they can hang it on the wall. 

For our Bible time tonight, we talked about the gospel since last time we talked about the law (10 Commandments). After we learned the bad news about what sin is and how it separates us from God, we learned the good news of who Jesus is and about how he came to earth, lived a sinless life, and died as the punishment for our sins, so that we can be in relationship with God once again (the way He intended it at the beginning of time). 

Clara recited John 3:16-17 for us: 

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life. 

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved."

Another Cookie Baking Night has come and gone, and it was a lively one. As usual, a fun time was had by all. 

Cookie Baking Night 01/16/17

Tonight was Cookie Baking Night. In attendance this evening: Emily, Ethan, Carissa, Allison, Rylar, and Enzo. Tonight was Ethan's Birthday choice and his actual birthday (14 years old today, and measuring in at 6 feet 2 inches tall, he looks like he's 19 or so). Ethan's choice for supper tonight was pizza ("any kind"--he wanted me to choose--we went with cheese and sausage and mushroom). For his cookie, he made the choice to go with a classic "Chocolate Chip Cookies".

For our Bible lesson tonight, I took a cue from the conversation happening around me. There was a lot of discussion about the picture hanging above the mantel in the living room--the picture of the 10 Commandments. The older kids and I have had many discussions about the 10 commandments over the years, but not so much with the little ones. Rylar showed a keen interest in knowing what "the words on the picture meant", so tonight we read the lesson out of Leading Little Ones to God titled "How God Gave Us His Law". We read through each commandment and talked about what they mean. We also read it from the Bible (Exodus 20). It was a fun discussion, as there was a lot of interest in it. At the end of our lesson, Emily said, "That was a nice organic lesson. The discussion grew naturally out of what we were talking about."  Hmm .... the teenagers these days. 

I'm very grateful to have our nieces and nephews in our home for Cookie Baking Nights and that the tradition has continued these many years. I'm also grateful for God's Word and how it reaches the 3 year olds to the 16 year olds and everyone in between. God is brilliant!

Another Cookie Baking Night has come and again. Another birthday choice has been made (Happy Birthday, Ethan!) And .... as usual... a fun time was had by all.