Transformed

trans·form

tran(t)sˈfôrm/

verb

past tense: transformed; past participle: transformed

1. make a thorough or dramatic change in the form, appearance, or character of.

   "lasers have transformed cardiac surgery"

   synonyms:

   change, alter, convert, metamorphose, transfigure, transmute, mutate;More

   • undergo a transformation.

     "an automobile that transformed into a boat"

     synonyms:

     change, alter, convert, metamorphose, transfigure, transmute, mutate;

God's plan for us is that we be "transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is Spirit."  2 Corinthians 3:18

This past weekend, Al and I drove out to Denver.  Our baby girl was going to be baptized!! It was a totally unexpected trip but when we got the call that she was ready to do this, we were so excited!!

I enjoy the drive out there.  

The old windmill and the new ones.

I was quite surprised that we couldn't see the mountains until we got about 30 miles away.    

 They are quite hazy and we were told it is from the smoke from the fires in Washington and California.  My brother lives only 30 miles as the crow flies from the fires, but he lives west of it and he doesn't see much smoke at all.  And here it is almost half-way across the country!

We went to Mindy's and had dinner with Mindy and Bryan.

We stayed up late talking about the work Christ has done and is doing.

Mindy accepted Christ following Awana back in September, 1992.  Her friend, Christy had some influence in that.  She came home and asked lots of questions and we prayed with her to ask the Lord to be her Saviour.   

Allen and I chose not to have our children baptized after our children made the decision to accept Christ.  Many families do choose to do that. 

I was baptized when I was 12.  My brother and I were going to be baptized in the ocean, but the riptide was strong that day and they didn't let us into the ocean.  So we did it at the Aburastu Christian Church.

Allen was baptized when he was 16.  Their Sunday School class took a catechism class and then the whole class was baptized.   I don't have a picture of that class, but here is the youth group.  At church they made the youth sing in the choir so their parents could watch them. to make sure they weren't causing trouble!

It wasn't until afterwards that we really, truly understood what it meant to follow Christ and to be committed to Him.  To in essence, draw to a line in the sand and say "I am dedicating my life to Him".  We wanted our kids to come to that decision and make it real for them.

And Mindy made that decision.

The church she attends has baptism twice a year.  This was an outdoor baptism.  And it was a beautiful day for it!

It began with worship.

Everyone needs compassion
A love that's never failing, let mercy fall on me
Everyone needs forgiveness
The kindness of a Savior, the Hope of nations.

Savior, He can move the mountains
My God is mighty to save.
He is mighty to save.
Forever, author of Salvation
He rose and conquered the grave.
Jesus conquered the grave.

So take me as You find me--all my fears and failures.
Fill my life again.
I give my life to follow everything I believe in.
I surrender. (I surrender.)

Yes!  He CAN move a mountain!!

There were about 50 people being baptized that morning.  Mindy was in group 2.

Hoo-ray!!!

Her daddy and I cried through the whole thing!!

Mindy's good friend, Jeremy came to witness it too.

As we were leaving, the worship team was singing this song that our worship pastor introduced to us.  I will always be reminded of this day when we sing it now.

Oh, happy day, happy day

You washed my sin away

Oh, happy day, happy day

I'll never be the same

Forever I am changed

• 
  

We went out afterwards to celebrate!

Swinging

I think most children love to swing.  And some grownups do too!

The kids' swing busted so Papa helped put up a new one.

You can purchase elastic swings on-line but we found this chair at Target.   Papa took off the legs and made it into a swing!  Much much cheaper!

While I was out swinging Claire, the Google street view car came by!  Someday in the future you will be able to see a crazy lady in the street taking a photo of the car!  Ha!

Papa got tuckered out by the work he did.

(he threatened me this week that he will take a picture of me sleeping - probably with my mouth wide open and drooling - and put it online for all to see.  But you see, I think he is just cute!!  And so helpful!)

Worship time family style

A benefit of making your kids take music lessons when they are young is being able to listen to them in your old age.  I LOVE it!!  

Josh is now a worship pastor and Jill teaches piano lessons.

Last Sunday our kids led worship at church.

Side note:  Josh's guitar is a personalized one he got from Dehradun Guitar in India.  Click on that link!  Josh's friend and mentor, Dave Murray, moved to India in 2010, along with his family.  Their idea was to help Indian artisans.  Mel started a textile-based fashion company called JOYN and Dave started this guitar company.

 Peeking into the children's worship time during the Sunday School hour.

I had never heard this song before, but boy, it really resonated with me!
Lately, I have been so overwhelmed by God's extravagent love!

Satan tries to discourage and tell lies, saying you aren't worth anything.
Doesn't matter what he says.   It is who God says I am!

Adam has begun a series on Revelation.  

You can listen here.

 After a good old fashioned potluck - oh, who doesn't love those???? - Josh's family had to head back to Arkansas.  And we had to do our "silly wave good-byes"!!  This is a family thing we do everytime we say good-bye!