big news for the Fickeys

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washed by the water

Questions that have been in my mind over the last several years............

What is the right age for a child? When does a child become accountable for his or her own salvation? When does a child truly understand the price Christ paid for us on that cross? Sure they may love the idea of Jesus, but do they really grasp the meaning of Him living in their heart and being Lord over their lives?

I was baptized (ie sprinkled) as a baby. But later, when in college, I grew to understand what the scriptual meaning of baptism was and chose to be baptized (ie dunked!) again. I was 19 years old. I understood the meaning of my decision. I knew I was being obedient to this loving and merciful God who had saved me many years before from the pit.

Mitch was baptized when he was 10 in his church. Now, knowing Mitch and the fact that at 33 he sometimes acts like a 60 year old (in a good, wisdom-filled way ;) ), I can only assume that at 10 he understood as much as I did at 19.

So, when at the ages of 7 and 6, Brody and Addie started showing interest in baptism, I have to be honest and say my first thought was "They are way too young. They don't get it. They need to wait until they understand or else it won't mean anything to them."

I was excited that they were interested, but was doubtful that they really knew what it meant.

We took them to a kids "faith class" at church where the teachers do a phenomenal job of explaining baptism and why we do it. (By the way, I should probably mention that both of the kids say that the moment they asked Jesus to live in their hearts was last summer with Nana, at "Nana Camp" . So, this has been an ongoing conversation for a while now.)

Anyway, during that class God spoke to me..... "Why are you so hesitant? Yes, they are young. But, when I call you, I call you. Their hearts are tender to me and ready to be obedient. Don't stop them because you think they might not be ready. It is not your decision, it's theirs".

So, there it was. Not my decision. Not my salvation. And if I ever had any doubts of whether or not they understood, those would all be wiped away in a matter of seconds while talking to them and asking them about why they are doing it. They know it doesn't save them. They know only Jesus' taking up residence in your heart can do that. They know that it is like a wedding ring. Shows everyone you are married, but doesn't make you less married if you take it off.

So, how could I say "No. You are not old enough" to these sweet kids who hear the prompting of the Lord and are ready to be obedient? I can't. And I didn't want to.

So......Brody and Addie were baptized today. In the Guadalupe river along with about 40 other people from our incredible church family. Grandparents and friends were there to help us celebrate and the kids were so excited. It was a wonderful way to end the summer and begin a fresh new year (school starts tomorrow). And more than anything, it's a wonderful way to begin their life with Jesus. I pray for their lives to be filled with obedience to the Lord like they showed today. I love their little hearts and their faith.

Enjoy some pictures of today. It was truly special....

Show me your muscles...

Handy

Brody has always been a hard worker. I can vividly remember him at the age of 11 months sitting in his car seat with a empty bottle of water and lid (pretty sure an 11 month old should not have something small like a lid while strapped into a carseat out of arms reach of an adult...but, I digress....). He tried over and over and over and over and over until he figured out how to get it screwed on, then off, then on, then off. I remember thinking, "wow...this kid doesn't give up".

And his basic personality hasn't changed. When he is determined to do something. He tries it over and over and over until he gets it. He's a logical thinker and quietly contemplates how it can be done before he even starts to work on it. And, unlike his wonderfully adorable and talented in many other ways sister, he likes to work. He likes to help and feel productive. He likes to organize and make sure things are exactly the way they should be.

Brody also likes (ie loves) his dad. He, like his father, isn't one to express his emotions into words, but believe me....he idolizes Mitch. He watches him. He copies him. Mitch's favorite foods are Brody's favorite foods. Mitch's dislikes are Brody's dislikes. (I've warned Mitch this is a scary position to be in....).

Brody loves his daddy and wants to be with him as much as possible. So this summer, when he has been able to, Mitch has taken Brody to work with him. They travel from house to house stopping for treats like Gatorade (I don't know why, but Gatorade is a really big deal to Brody). They take measurements and nail stuff up (don't I sound sooo knowledgeable?). They talk to trades people and homeowners. They wear boots and jeans and hats. They walk around and kick up dirt (and possible roll around in it, since they are covered in it when they come home). And Brody l.o.v.e.s. it. The days he doesn't get to go, he is heart broken. "what??? I have to stay with mom?!?!" (it's such torture, I know.).

Mitch bought him his own tool belt for his hammer and tape measure and other tool-ish kind of things (there I go again...sooo knowledgeable).

Isn't he so cute??!!

According to Mitch, Brody's "jobs" include

- walking around and hammering nails completely in (Brody's OCD coming into play there..)

- piling stuff up

- handing Mitch tools

- taking measurements of random things

One of Mitch's workers told him to enjoy it while he could, because when Brody is 16 he won't want to get anywhere near the job site. I think he might be wrong.....

Oh, and by the way.......Brody and Addie both decided they want to be baptized. They will be baptized in the river next Sunday. So proud of them....another post on that later.....

Where have you been, young lady???????

So, it has officially been ONE month since my last blog post.

What in the world?

What happened?

How has a month passed by already?

Well, to catch you up here are some of our adventures during the month of July.

They include, but are not limited to....

- Mitch and I took a trip away while the kids stayed with Nonnie and Big Daddy (Mitch's parents) to celebrate our TEN year anniversary. Yep! That's right....TEN years. I love that man. So glad he's mine.

- Lots of trips to the pool. Sam is fearless. Fear. Less. He loves to swim and doesn't think he needs my help at all. I don't have any pictures of them at the pool cause I totally don't trust him for even the quickest second to grab my camera. Brody and Addie are great swimmers too. They LOVE the pool and beg to go everyday.

- Mitch has had a couple of triathlons and the kids and I have gone to cheer him on. He's done great! Such a competitive spirit in that man. I don't really understand it, but it's what drives him and makes him who he is.

- A few trips to Sea World. So glad we live in a place that has such fun things to do close by

- Sam chipped his front tooth during a wrestling match with his brother. This has become the Fickey boys' new favorite past time. Maybe I should invest in some mouth guards.......

- Me and some of my precious friends, Kelly and Misty, had a bake/lemonade sale to raise money for a water purification system in Zambia. We were encouraged by our church to do something that makes an impact. To "right a wrong". Babies and children drinking dirty water with swollen bellies is wrong. We raised a little over $200, which means that 200 people will have clean water for a year through a program called "Water for the World". The event itself was interesting....melted icing, sweaty faces, collapsing tables, but...I think the kids learned a good lesson, and some sweet kids across the ocean will have some clean water.

-We got a dog. A chihuahua. We named him Peanut. He is super cute and would be THE perfect dog if it wasn't for the pooping in the house thing. But, at least the poop is small. You know...cause he's a chihuahua. We're working on it though.

- We have made some serious progress on the addition. Although our yard still looks like a construction zone (and I have to remind myself every day not to let it bother me...it's part of the process.......a VERY long process...), the house is coming along. Mitch set a goal of October for it to be completed. We will see....

- We've taken the kids to feed the homeless in downtown San Antonio with our church. It's a humbling experience. I so badly want my kids to see the church, as it should be, in action. I want them to know the world is bigger than their safe little comfortable corner of it. Mitch and I would really love to take them on a foreign mission trip sometime soon. I can't wait to see how God uses that to shape their little lives. And mine.

- Addie lost her two top teeth. She now has a gigantic gap in the front of her mouth. No teeth on top. No teeth on bottom. She does a lot of side chewing.

- We just got back from a trip to the beach that was complete with shell digging, crabbing, boogie boarding, kite-flying, mosquito swatting, shrimp eating, family loving good times. I love the beach in the summer.

We only have three weeks left of summer and I think my kids may have regressed at least 3 years in their schooling, no thanks to their mama and her lazy summer ways. So, my goal for the next three weeks is to catch them up.

It is also my goal to enjoy this time with them. We have our moments in the summer when I am praying for the first day of school to come faster. But, we also have moments like tonight where we got to eat dinner together last minute at Taco Cabana, had a little wrestle match, considered the idea of giving Brody a mohawk, had a good talk with the kids about the omnipotent power of God, and didn't have to do any of it on a schedule.

No early bed times.

No homework (or any school work at all for that matter...tsk! tsk!).

Lazy days are slipping away. I want to enjoy them while I can. I start work in August as well. I'm teaching at a preschool here in Boerne two days a week. So, my summer is coming to an end too :(

Thanks for being faithful to this fair-weathered blog. Love you all.

Just call him Sammie Davis JR

Oh my handsome little boy.

Would look much cuter without the orange pacifier though.

Pics from the vault

My sewing/crafting has been on pause lately. I'm not sure why, but I've just kind of totally lacked motivation for it.

BUT...I did make these things in the last month and wanted to share...........

A friend of mine asked me to make her kids some shirts.

She has three boys under the age of 5 and just had......

wait for it......

TWINS!

yikes.

So "big brother" got one

(by the way...he is the same age as Sam.

I can't imagine Sam being a big brother to anyone right now)

the twins (one boy , one girl) got a shirt.

These shirts were way cuter in person. Didn't photograph well :(

And another brother got one (his name is Gibson)

Me and the kids made these for their teachers as end of the year gifts.

We printed them out on card stock, cut and hot-glued the crayons on, and put them in shadowbox frames.

And I fully expect them to be in their teachers' classrooms ON their desks for the next 20 years!!

(not really....)

I'm missing my crafty bug. Hopefully he will make a re-appearance and bite me again soon.

daddy

for the best daddy in the whole wide world......