Amazing Grace - The History & Theology of Calvinism

What we're studying... 

http://amazinggracedvd.com/

www.monergismbooks.com

"The old truth that Calvin preached, that Augustine preached, that Paul preached, is the truth that I must preach to-day, or else be false to my conscience and my God. I cannot shape the truth; I know of no such thing as paring off the rough edges of a doctrine. John Knox's gospel is my gospel. That which thundered through Scotland must thunder through England again."—C. H. Spurgeon

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Friends...

A visit with our friends...
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We arrived in Maine on Friday night and the Denny kids and Sarah stopped by after their ski trip to say hello!

Shay tried one of the cake pops we brought along, it looks like she enjoyed it! :) 

One intense game of fooseball!

Playing a game of 100

Seth is in trouble..."Who wrote on my tablecloth with that pen?!?!"

Oops :)

You girls are so cute! ♥

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Saturday morning came and we all felt like sitting around and enjoying each others company so we played dress up!

Hannah the leopard

(Face art credit to Amanda Barton :)

Mmmm...fresh made smoothies!

"I learned more about Christianity from my mother than from all the theologians in England."

 ~John Wesley

Amanda from the 80's
(before her hair was done)

Stephanie from the Victorian era...

 

 Ruthie and

and Tabitha
Mom did a great job on all of our hair!

Saturday night we had the Denny's over for dinner and we watched our (the Mello's) very first football game together!

Reading the Proverb of the day and  playing 'who am I?' after dinner before the game.
Unfortunately we didn't take any pictures of actually watching the football game. That game was our first and most uneventful one! The Patriots totally owned that game! I felt bad for Tebow :(
It was fun to watch it with the Barton's and Denny's though!

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Check back soon to see the next post of our adventures in Maine! (Life is always an adventure at the Mello house and at the Barton house so when both of our families are together, we have one great big adventure! :)

Friends...

We were blessed with the pleasure of having the Barton's and Kaisers over for breakfast one morning!

Our Auntie Ruth gave us this puzzle for Christmas so we've had it on the table and we took pictures of everyone who worked on it.

The Kaiser ladies all put in a few pieces of their own. This puzzle was a work of many dear friends!

Sister Sets! 

The Kasier set, then the Barton set and to the right is the Mello set! :)

The breakfast table after we'd all been stuffed to the full with yummy muffins and quiche!

Sethyboy made a special card just for Ruthie when she was in NC. :) 

 Back in July when we were in Maine he would just pop up with the question, "Where's Ruthie?" "Mommy, I think we left Ruthie behind!" He was very worried that we had forgotten her. So he made her a card and drew a picture of himself and Ruthie, he took great pains with those little people, he wanted it "to look like Ruthie!" :)

Amanda brought her fiddle and I was so glad to finally play with her!
And Samuel played Tabitha's mandolin 

 
The two fiddlists!
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From the Mello's house for breakfast to the Kasiers for dinner! 

So Stephanie wanted to wear this hat but she wasn't quite sure of the right way to put it on so Amanda tried to help her!
This way is called 'the muffin top'

lol French

I think we were having a little too much fun!
Uncle Sam...er..Aunt Stephanie wants YOU! lol 

We call this the "Bishop"
After many fruitless and humorous attempts Stephanie decided to put the hat away.

The ladies and Tim in the background, we're just missing Tyler! 

Prayer before the meal 

Amanda was trying to do the "farmer with the overalls" look but it turned out as the "this sweater is too big for me look!" lol 

Dinner time!

Yummy tacos with salad, homemade salsa, relish etc. Mmmm!

The two Mamma's

After dinner we all piled into each other's cars to go to the Fournier's house for the Tue night meeting!

Thanks so much to the Kaisers for having us over, we really enjoyed having you all over for brunch!!!
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New Years Day

We loved starting the year off with church, I would love to do that every year! 
After church we went home for lunch and then later that day we went out by the ocean.
The ocean is so peaceful, beautiful and relaxing, I don't know how I could ever live without it nearby! :) 

 Now what New Years Day in the past have you been able to go outside without a coat and not absolutely freeze? lol

We've been loving this warm winter weather this year! 

My little Hannah 

Chariti is such a cutie!
She kind of looks like Felicity in this picture!

Felicity, my little right hand. :)
I don't' know what I would do without her.

Mamma

It's so nice to go to the ocean with my family and just be together, even if it's cold it's still nice to be surrounded by beauty with no one around except the precious family that God has given me. 

 Think about it, surrounded by the handiwork of our God which shows His Sovereign power so magnificently whilst in the company of those whom God has Sovereignly given you, for a time, to be your closest companions. Those who have known your deepest sufferings and rejoiced with you in your greatest rejoicings and who know you better than you know yourself. There's something beautiful about being in the company of your family especially while feasting upon such a sight of grandeur as the ocean!  It's not the things themselves but the beauty behind them which pours forth from the Lord my God. Solie Deo Gloria! To God be the glory for His truly amazing grace, love and faithfulness!

♥

Amongst the rocks I spy a...Stephanie!

Stephanie's silhouette :) 

They did the polar plunge!!! 

(At least if dipping your toe in counts lol)

 When it began to get dark we headed over to the Kaiser's house!
The Barton's taught us how to play 100 which they learned from the Denny's! 

Poor Amanda wasn't feeling well. :( 

That's one intense but fun game!


hahaha, I will win! :)


Chariti, with her pj's on just in case she falls asleep, meanwhile...


Stephanie just lost the pen!
The game heightens in intensity and laughter breaks out!
That was so much fun!

Emily spectates from above :)

The little kids playing


♥ We love you gals! :) ♥


After dinner somehow the computers were brought out and....


some people began hacking! lol
Mom, she's innocent! I think we all can see who the guilty culprit is here! LOL!


Mom and Mrs. Kaiser are so much fun together!



Ashley and Tim, so sweetly sitting together, watching everything and taking amusement in the spectating. :)
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After we had some fun with each other we all went in the living room and sang together. That is one of our favorite highlights of visiting the Kaisers! We never leave without singing and praying, it's always such a wonderful way to end the evening!
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Happy New Years!
Hope you enjoyed seeing how we spent our New Years! I really liked having our church family be more included in our celebrations. Thank you so much for inviting us over Kaisers! We so appreciate your hospitality! Love you guys!