Ella's Baptism

"Then Peter said to them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." Acts 2:38

The moment I found out I was pregnant with Ella I have prayed for her salvation. To Trey and I the single most important thing we want for our children is to love the Lord with all of their heart. I believe it is of the utmost importance to instill this in them. Every night we read Bible stories and once she and Layla got older we started reading "Little Visits with God" which has a little sotry that correlates with a Bible verse and asks questions at the end. It is a great way to engage them. Ultimately it is our responsibility to introduce her to God, to make her familiar with Him, but it is up to God to open her heart and reveal Himself to her. 

This Summer Ella started asking a lot more in depth questions and after several months of talking some more about it, she asked Jesus into her heart and was saved. What an amazing day for her and for us as her parents!! We met with our church's children's minister and they talked it over and she agreed Ella was ready for baptist. Ella is a little shy though and wanted to take her time and be more comfortable with it, and we didn't want to rush her. One day she told me she wanted to get baptized close to her birthday, so we set the date for January 10. 

She and I got all ready and dressed in her robe. It was such a special time for us because it was just us to in the room, we could hear the praise music and we sang and then she and I said a prayer. I went first and then she said one. Oh my heart was full of JOY and my eyes were full of tears! 

This was my view from the baptistry. I could have gone around to the other side, but she asked that I stay with her. I had two people photographing from the sanctuary, so I knew I was covered.  

I am so thankful the Lord has already come in to her heart at such an early age. The peace of knowing that my child will spend eternity with Jesus is incredible. 

Baby Calhoun #4

Yes, I announced this on Facebook a while back, so everyone already knows, but I needed to post it here for my memory.

I have always wanted four kids. Well, I always wanted three. I was one of three so that is just what I knew. It worked for my family, so I figured it would work for My family. Then I had Ella and realized how much I love being a Mom, then came Layla, then Lydia and my feelings for wanting four only increased. Ella and Layla are 28 months apart. Layla and Lydia are 39 months apart. I didn't really know how close/far I wanted to space the last one. Everyone had really picked up the questioning on when baby #4 was coming, but Lydia is still such a baby that it honestly wasn't really on my radar. I would just say, not yet.

Jump back to December. Trey and I were applying for new insurance and one of the questions was are you pregnant. Well, of course I wasn't. Then I started thinking. Then I started worrying a little. No...I couldn't be. We weren't trying. I knew then, at that moment, that I was. I just had a feeling. The next day when I was out I stopped by Target to pick up a pregnancy test. I also thought about grabbing that big bottle of wine, but I knew it would only go to waste. I got home at around 4:00 and immediately took the test. You are supposed to wait until first thing in the morning, but I couldn't wait. Before I was even done with the test it was positive. I had a little chuckle to myself and called Trey. "Hey, we are going to have to go with someone else for insurance." Trey knew what that meant and was so excited.

My due date in August 16. Lydia turns 2 on August 15. Wow! This is not good planning, well no planning really, but it will be fun. I find out in a week and a half and I am all kids of excited. I LOVE having girls. I also think it would be fun to have a whole new experience. Trey is an amazing girl Dad, but it would be fun to watch him with a little boy. Ahh! Come on March 21st!

Ella's 7th Birthday Party

I can not believe that Ella is SEVEN years old. She turned 7 on January 6th, and we usually wait a week or two to have her birthday party because it is so close to Christmas. This year we had it on January 15th. We have done Chuck E Cheese, Urban Air, Bounce houses, and I wanted to do something different. She is such a little artist, I suggested a painting party and she loved it. I let her invite 6 little friends, I didn't want to have to keep an eye on 15 6-7 year old with pain in my house!

I let her look on the internet to see what she wanted to do and we ended up with a butterfly. I drew a butterfly on all of the canvases. It made it easier for the girls that way.

I put Pandora on the tv so while they were painting they were all singing and occassionally got up for a dance break! Taylor Swift, Bruno Mars, and Katy Perry...a typical 7 year olds playlist! 

These girls are all into Minster High and Shopkins right now. Several of them have January birthdays and each time the theme is always consistent. Makes present buying easy! 

I LOVE that Layla got right up in there. She thinks if Ella is doing it she can too. That girl is a mess!!

I am so thankful that Ella has a great little group of friends. Most of them live in our neighborhood and I know their parents. which always helps. Happy 7th Birthday to my first baby! You are a delight and a blessing in every way!!