Christmas Eve

Let the festivities begin!  We had parties pretty much nonstop from Christmas Eve afternoon until the night of the 27th!  It started at Grandma Kelli’s exchanging gifts with Julie and the kids.Me and Lorin

Me and Lexie

Me and Max

Grandma and Grandpa love their new picture of Zac!

Max got a cool magic set and was already showing us cool tricks.Kelli wanted a picture of her and Milan.  They asked Max to move, and instead of moving away, he moved in the picture with them.  We all cracked up and he realized what happened.  He’s jumping out in the top pic. 

Next up, Christmas Party at Grandma Darlene’s!  Zac and his cousin Claire.  She is two weeks older than Zac.Zac got his first 3 Wood Golf ClubThen we went to Grandpa Milan’s.Zac loves dancing with DaddyGeddyShaylee LOVED this pig from Julie!  Her reaction was so cute!The Grinch was definitely one of Zac’s favorites.  He gave him lots of hugs and kisses and ended up with lots of green hair in his mouth.

At home at last!  Zac was so overwhelmed by all the parties and people.  He wasn’t his super cheerful self all night, but was still a good boy.  Once we got home he laughed for 2 hours straight.  It was so fun!  Luke read Twas the Night Before Christmas to us and Zac was laughing so hard I couldn’t even hear the story.  He’s so funny!  We got in our Christmas jammies and opened our presents to each other.

Cookies and milk for Santa

Mecham Christmas Party

We always love to stop and visit Grandma Chiyo on  our way to the Mecham Christmas Party.  This time she had these giant bears and got them out for a photo with our big guy.

She also got this fun new marble game that Avrie had a blast playing with.

Little Miss Attitude Avrie by Grandma Chiyo’s Country Christmas Tree.  I love Grandmas’ tree and asked Avrie for a picture by it.  She just wanted to play!  She looks like a little Who from Whoville to me in this.  It cracks me up!

Ash and Av being silly at the party.Uncle Kevin was a great babysitter while we played games.  He even got the little munchkin to sleep.Cute little cousins!

I won this game!

Santa came right after Zac fell asleep.  He’s so sleepy.

Zac’s First Rice Cereal

He wasn’t quite sure about the rice cereal the first time.  He couldn’t figure out how to open his mouth for it and swallow, so it was a mess!  Now he’s a champ and eats like a man!

Simply put… this hits the nail on the head!

KNOWING A Word From Bill Young

“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13).

Two different funeral stories happened two weeks ago — similar stories, but different endings. Both involve the hope of eternity, but one is misplaced while the other is right on the money. One involved someone I’d never met, and the other was a friend.

The first story was related to me through a friend who had recently attended a funeral. At this memorial service, it was reported that as the deceased man lay on his deathbed he had been told by his spiritual leaders, “You’ve done enough good works to go to heaven. You are ready to die.” This was supposed to give hope to family and friends.

The second story happened a few days before a member of our church passed away, my friend Korey Hawke. As I visited with him in the hospital, we spoke of eternity, healing, and being with Jesus. After I prayed for him, we both rejoiced in the fact that he would be in heaven someday, but not because of any good works he had done (he had been sick and practically bedridden for 22 years). We talked about the mercy of Jesus Christ and the blood He shed for our sins. And since Korey had placed his faith in Christ’s sacrificial atonement on the cross, THAT is why he would be with God in heaven for all eternity!
Two different stories. Two different eternities. How can we know which is true? Thankfully, the Bible is very clear about this.

“But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy” (Titus 3:4-5b). “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Heaven is not something we earn. Salvation is a gift of God freely given to those who repent, humble themselves, and receive it. Have you made the right choice? Click here to find out more about how you can know for sure that you are going to heaven. Isn’t it good to know you can KNOW? Your eternity depends on it.

Resting in God’s truth,
Bill