Evan's Baby Dedication

Yesterday Justin and I dedicated Evan at church along with 3 other families and their babies.  We really appreciated having my parents and my aunt Linda there with us, but we also wanted to share the information from the dedication with all of our family who weren't able to be there in person.

Here are a few pictures from the dedication:

Pastor telling us how children are like arrows

Pastor praying a blessing on Evan

Pastor telling us the meanings of Evan's names

 Pastor Gerald began by comparing the children to arrows (and he gave us each an arrow at the end of the dedication). Some of his points were that our children, like arrows, go places that we can not go, they reach further than we well, and they go in the direction that we point them.  He then asked us all to make the following comittments:

• Do you profess that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God and that you purpose to glorify Him in your life? 
• Do you solemnly recommit yourselves to your mate and to nurture your relationship? 
• Do you solemnly promise before God and these witnesses that with God's help and guidance you will undertake to bring your little one to come to know Jesus Christ as Savior and serve him as Lord, making use of all the helps God has given you in the family and in the church? 

 Then he took each of the children and talked about them, the meaning of their names, and gave each of them a blessing.  For Evan, he also commented on his spiffy attire!

We received a certificate of dedication along with a card that has the meanings of Evan's name, along with the arrow.

Evan
Literal meaning: God is gracious
Suggested character quality or Godly characteristic: God's gift
Suggested Lifetime Verse: Isaiah 43:10  "You are my witnesses, says the Lord, and My servant whom I have chosen in order that you may know and believe Me, and understand that I am He.  Before me no God was formed, nor shall there be after Me."

Mark
Literal meaning: Warlike One
Suggested character quality or Godly characteristic: Mighty Warrior
Suggested Lifetime Verse: Psalm 29:1 "Give to the Lord. O you sons of the mighty, give to the Lord glory and strength."

Afterward we had lunch and a surprise birthday party at my parent's house for my aunt Linda.  More of my extended family was able to make to celebrate in the afternoon.  Evan though it wasn't his birthday, Evan still managed to make himself the center of much attention :)

Evan with Aunt Eileen

Evan, Aunt Eileen, and Evan's Great Great Grandmother :)

Spring?

Today we FINALLY had decent weather (it actually hit 71 degrees according to my phone).  Considering that when I drove home from work on Monday night it was snowing heavily, I would call this a win.  Hopefully we are finally done with winter!  I shouldn't have to put on snowpants in April...

Since the weather was beautiful it seemed like a good day to get out of the house and spend some time at the park.

Here are a couple of pictures I got with my phone (thus the less than amazing quality) and some video of Madelyn on a big girl swing and Evan trying out the baby swing.

Tonight, after Evan was in bed and Madelyn and I were hanging out in her room talking I asked her what her favorite part of the day was (fully expecting that she would say being outside or going to the park) but she said "When we cleaned up my playroom together mom - that was teamwork."  That is a good reminder for me not to underestimate the value of simply doing things together.

Madelyn and Evan's Wedding Debut

Last weekend Madelyn and Evan were in a wedding.  Madelyn was the flower girl and Evan was the ring bearer.  Madelyn pulled Evan down the aisle in a wagon (sucessfully!).  Here are a couple of pictures and a video of the day :)