That would be JJ

 Driving home yesterday, I was touched to hear a sweet little voice break out in "Amazing Grace".  He sings in the style of one our fiddle arrangements, and stretchs the "zing" of "amazing" into at least three syllables. Singing loud enough for the entire van to hear, he made it through the first verse.  But on the second verse he switched to a James original, same tune, different words.

The new song went something like this:

"Amazi-i-ing boots, boots, boots, boots, boots.

Amazi-i-ing boots, boots, boots!"

 

It looks like someone needs to rethink his priorities.

 

Joy

Bible Bee Registration

 The 2013 National Bible Bee opened for contestant registration today!  The contest is open to children who will be 7 to 18 on the national contest day, but younger siblings can use the materials, too.

For the local contest (June 1 - August 24) participants will use 25 memory cards (last year this was approximately 100 verses) and a Sword Study to help them do an in-depth study of one book of the Bible.  You can use these tools even if you aren't competing but we found that the contest provided a lot of motivation and a chance to get to know other Christians who share a desire to learn God's word.  It was a very good experience and we hope you look into it.  You can find out more at the Bible Bee website.

We are very excited to be hosting a local bee again this year.  (One of last year's family get-togethers is picured above.)  Seven contestants have already registered, but, thanks to the generosity of Union University, we can hold 193 more!  There are over 100 hosts across the nation; click here to find one near you.  It's not too late to sign up to host your own bee, but it probably will be soon.  We look forward to seeing who the Lord brings into our bee this year!
-Delie, for all the Mosses

He is Risen!

I hope you are all having a wonderful Resurrection Day with friends and family.  We certainly did!

We started the morning with Resurrection Cookies.  We've made these the past couple of years, and it helps the little ones to really "get" what the resurrection really is.  As a plus, the cookies are delicious!

Afterwards, we worshipped God with our church family.  As our pastor says, every day is Resurrection Day, because we rejoice each day in our salvation.  We have been going through Genesis as a church, and this Sunday, as we read chapter 49, I was amazed by God's redemptive plan throughout history.  From the beginning of creation, the Bible points to Christ as the Savior of His people.  Hallelujah!  

 

 

We (I!!!) drove to Mamie and Big George's house for lunch with the clan.  All fourteen grandchildren were there, as well as aunts, uncles, great grandparents, and friends.  The house was full, and after the enormous lunch, we were too!  Mamie bought a pinata for the little ones to take out their sugar high on.  Everyone from James to George got to hit it before it cracked open.

 

 

Uncle Jamie and Amy made a great team.

 

 

While the children attacked the pinata, some of the adults hid eggs.  The boys liked hunting for eggs, not caring that eggs bounced out of their baskets as they ran.  It just made the game last longer!

 

 

 Thomas went to great lengths to find his eggs.

 

 

 It good to see our Birmingham cousins, Helen (above) and Philip.  We hadn't seen them since late December, so we tried to maximze cousin time while they were here.

 

Wishing you all a joyful Resurrection Day

Joy

 

Resurrection Day

  Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 

(John 12:24 ESV)

" I came that they may have life and have it abundantly...  I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand...  I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live."
 (John 10:10, 28;11:25 ESV)

 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
(1 Peter 1:3 ESV)

Happy 6th Birthday, Thomas!

Dear Thomas,

Happy Birthday!  I can hardly believe that my little brother is six years old.  Now you're not so little, are you?  As you would say, "Wow, that's old!"

 

 

I remember when you were born.  We were in the hospital waiting room with family, doing what people generally do in a waiting room--waiting.  Waiting for Little Blessing from God #6.  Daddy walked past the door in full surgical uniform, and we were so excited.  Our little brother or sister was about to be born!  

After the surgery, we got to go back to the hospital room and meet "the baby".  You were so cute; your little face was red, round, and chubby.  It was love at first sight.  "Boy or girl?" we all asked.  And you know the answer.  It was a boy, Thomas Chapman Moss, our little arrow.  Welcome to the world.

 

 

You grew and you grew.  You liked cookies, books, and a stuffed dog you named Jack.  You carried him everywhere.  I remember that you also loved to play outside.  Like your brothers, you built forts and hideouts.  However, being a very literal little boy, you didn't always catch on: "Why are the Indians going to tie us up?  And why is Samuel an Indian?" 

I loved you--and still love you--from the tips of your dirty, farmboy toes to the top of your ninetieth percentile "Moss head". 

 

 

Now you are six.  You still love your Jack, but like big boy things, too, like spelling and computers.  Sometimes, I catch you helping your older siblings with math (you're the boy who wrote the 19 multiplication tables, just for fun).  I joke that I'll have hurry if I don't want you to pass me.  After I catch you reading my world history textbook, I wonder if it was really a joke.     

 

Thomas, I hope you have a blessed sixth year.  I pray that you will grow to love God more and more.  I am so blessed to have you as my brother.  I love you.

 

Happy Birthday!

Love,

Joy