WE LOVE GULF SHORES!

Here are a few of my favorite pictures of Eliya and Simeon from Gulf Shores this past week. They had a ton of fun! The R.V. park had a play ground and a kiddie pool! What a great idea!

As soon as I find a few minutes, I will post more pictures.

Sweet Simeon

I just love this little boy. He is getting so big. He is starting to sit up some. I don't trust his balance on the floor, but he sat up on the bed for about 3 minutes the other day! He is eating cereal now too. He generally sleeps really well and is overall just a sweet little boy!

Eliya and Simeon

Eliya feeding Simeon

I also have to share these... Eliya is so eager to help do anything! Throwing away diapers, putting dirty clothes in the hamper, wash dishes, etc. So it was no surprise that she wanted to help feed Simeon. It was cute (and messy!) Don't worry Becki, I didn't let it get too out of control :). Here are are few pictures and a little video.

Here is a really cute picture from a local festival that we went to on Saturday.

Our first little accident

Eliya had her first scary accident! I didn't see it happen but she was standing near the fireplace mantle screaming and after she calmed down I asked her where "hurt" happened and she pointed to the fire place and then her eye. I am just so thankful that it wasn't any worse. Brick could definitely have done more damage so I believe that God was protecting her.

The bottom line of "Christianity"

The Gospel

“There is no greater message to be heard than that which we call the Gospel. But as important as that is, it is often given to massive distortions or over simplifications. People think they’re preaching the Gospel to you when they tell you, ‘you can have a purpose to your life’, or that ‘you can have meaning to your life’, or that ‘you can have a personal relationship with Jesus.’ All of those things are true, and they’re all important, but they don’t get to the heart of the Gospel.

The Gospel is called the ‘good news’ because it addresses the most serious problem that you and I have as human beings, and that problem is simply this: God is holy and He is just, and I’m not. And at the end of my life, I’m going to stand before a just and holy God, and I’ll be judged. And I’ll be judged either on the basis of my own righteousness – or lack of it – or the righteousness of another. The good news of the Gospel is that Jesus lived a life of perfect righteousness, of perfect obedience to God, not for His own well being but for His people. He has done for me what I couldn’t possibly do for myself. But not only has He lived that life of perfect obedience, He offered Himself as a perfect sacrifice to satisfy the justice and the righteousness of God.

The great misconception in our day is this: that God isn’t concerned to protect His own integrity. He’s a kind of wishy-washy deity, who just waves a wand of forgiveness over everybody. No. For God to forgive you is a very costly matter. It cost the sacrifice of His own Son. So valuable was that sacrifice that God pronounced it valuable by raising Him from the dead – so that Christ died for us, He was raised for our justification. So the Gospel is something objective. It is the message of who Jesus is and what He did. And it also has a subjective dimension. How are the benefits of Jesus subjectively appropriated to us? How do I get it? The Bible makes it clear that we are justified not by our works, not by our efforts, not by our deeds, but by faith – and by faith alone. The only way you can receive the benefit of Christ’s life and death is by putting your trust in Him – and in Him alone. You do that, you’re declared just by God, you’re adopted into His family, you’re forgiven of all of your sins, and you have begun your pilgrimage for eternity.”

— R.C. Sproul

1 Colossians 1: 13-17

For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,

in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.

For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities -all things have been created through Him and for Him.

He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.

He is also head of the body, the church ; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.

For it was the Father's good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him,

and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross ; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.

cool picture last night

The setting sun was awesome. By the time I got the camera out and changed the batteries it wasn't quite as neat but... I love how you can see just a tiny sliver of moon.

A Slideshow of photos from Aug and Sept

Here are a few pictures from the past few months. Eliya is so fun and she LOVES the camera.

Life is FINALLY easier

When we first brought Simeon home, I seriously thought WHAT HAVE I DONE!!?! I had a fussy newborn and a 17 month old that didn't understand why her world was being turned upside down. Thank God, after Simeon was about 3 months old things started getting easier. Now, I can't imagine life without BOTH of them. They are intereacting more these days. Simeon stares at Eliya just looking for a reason to laugh at her. She definitely gives one too, she dances and squeals to get a response from him. My heart is literally overflowing and I find much of the joy in my life from these two precious gifts from God.

Video of Simeon and Eliya. He adores her!

Just getting started!

Welcome to The Mason Family Journal

The main purpose of this blog is to gush over my precious babies. Eliya Love is almost 2 years old and her sweet baby brother, Simeon Al is almost 6 months old. They are one of the loves of my life. Scott and our maker and savior, Jesus Christ are the other loves of my life.

I am hoping to use this journal/blog to record some of the things that the babies do and keep family and friends "in the loop" even though they may not live near.