Happy Birthday, Jesus!

I don't know about you but due to our extended family being so large we can easily forget someone's birthday. Thankfully they still love us. And isn't that true about Jesus Christ?
Too many people have forgotten that Christmas is a time for us to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. A time to remember and be thankful for the greatest gift of all...Jesus coming to earth so He could take our place on the cross and die for our sins.
So, this Christmas, enjoy your time with family and friends but don't forget to say, "Happy Birthday, Jesus!" And remember, Jesus does love you.

She stole the show!

This past Sunday night our church presented their annual Christmas program. The children's choir sang a few songs then the adult choir performed a beautiful Christmas "suite" with a live, full orchestra. Very moving.
To get things kicked off the "Play-n-Praise" choir (3 and 4 yr. olds) sang "Go Tell It on the Mountain". Needless to say, our little Sofia stole the show. Mommy and daddy had asked her to sing loud and clear for the glory of God and by golly she did. Her voice could be heard well above the voices of her shy peers. You would have thought there was a microphone in front of her but there wasn't. It became "cute" and "funny" when Sofia sang at her own pace and a couple of times sang the wrong words...but again, she kept singing loud and clear! The packed house of around 500 people LOVED it! Many high fives were given to her on the way down from the stage. What a memory!!!
If you ever visit be sure to ask about seeing the video.

Three months old today!

Unbelievably our little baby girl is three months old. Selah is spending more time awake during the day now, loves to coo and talk with people, enjoys laughing with daddy each evening, and seems to put up with her big sister's antics quite well. Selah is a happy and healthy baby and for that we are very thankful.

Enjoying the snow!

The snow stopped falling around 10 a.m. then the sun came out...perfect time to play in the snow. Sofia LOVED making a snow angel and throwing snowballs. Selah, well, she thought taking a nap was the better thing to do (and so did mommy).

December...snow!

The geese must have known what was coming. Yesterday morning I took this picture of the gazillion geese gathering in our lake. As you can see, parts of the lake are frozen so the geese just walk on the ice. When the snow began yesterday afternoon around 3 p.m. the geese all took off...south? This morning at 8:00 a.m. it is still snowing.

December...Christmas!

Today it is December 1, it is snowing outside, and we have a Christmas tree in our living room. Yeah!!! Christmas is just around the corner. Decorating the tree allowed us to share some insight about Christmas to Sofia such as the meaning of the star, the meaning of giving gifts, and remembering it is truly all about Jesus.
For a little girl who loved having a birthday, it is neat to see her think only of Christmas as Jesus' birthday...we pray this thinking will continue for a lifetime.

Thanksgiving 2007

This year we had quite a bit to be thankful for...Kevin's new job as children's pastor, a beautiful place for us to live, and the birth of Selah. We are also so thankful for the many friends and family in our lives who encourage us, challenge us, and love us.

I love my husband!

This morning I wasn't in the greatest of moods. I hadn't had much sleep considering last night Selah decided she was hungry at 3 a.m. and stayed up until 4 a.m.
So when my husband asked me to listen to a song on the ipod while I was trying to hastily eat breakfast before Selah woke up, I wasn't too excited about it.
My husband simply looked at me and said, "Please listen. It's a song for us."
Oh how I love my husband. The song was "No one" by Alicia Keyes. A great song and a simple but needed love message to me from my husband.
I love you, babe!

Froggy to Baby

Unfortunately most newborn babies really do look like little froggies. Their limbs are flailing everywhere, their legs bent like froglegs, and they are all splotchy. Who said babies are cute? Well, I do! Our little girl is passing the froggy stage and becoming a cute little baby (always to mommy and daddy). Here is Selah at 8 weeks old.

The Birthday Girl!

Here is Sofia over the years! (how cheesy is this)
One year old
Two years old
and
Three years old.

Happy Birthday, Sofia!

Today we pray for Sofia as she celebrates her 3rd birthday.

Lord, we pray Sofia
*continues to grow in good health and grow developmentally;
*will continue to adjust to sharing mommy and daddy with her baby sister Selah;
*will continue to find pleasure in books, and someday will find significant pleasure in the Word of God;
*continues to be curious, and that her curiousity will someday be satisfied by knowing Jesus;
*whom God put on this earth for His enjoyment, will bring glory to God by enjoying Him;

In your precious name of Jesus, Amen!

Trick or Treat

Yesterday Sofia enjoyed her first time going trick-or-treating. We had never dressed her up before. It was fun. Mommy actually "made" her costume. Had to be creative considering that she insisted she be a mouse. Thank goodness we had those ears from Disneyland and duct tape for the tail!

After ringing the doorbell at the first house, saying "Trick or Treat" and getting TWO pieces of candy, Sofia looked at me and said, "Let's do that again, mommy!". So we did. Just a couple more houses then it was off to the party at church. Lots of fun!

The first pic is Sofia in her mouse "costume". The second pic is her "mouse face". And the third pic is Sofia on her way trick or treating in our housing development.

First Haircut!

Okay, you may have thought it was Selah getting her first haircut but alas, it was Sofia. Ten days shy of her 3rd birthday we took her to get her first haircut. Her hair finally came in this year. Now, it wasn't that long or straggly but it did have a lot of wispy hairs that were all different lengths and were getting in her eyes.
The pictures are before, during and after.
Let's see if it's another three years before her next haircut.

Wildfire!!

This past Thursday Kevin and I celebrated our fourth anniversary of marriage. Whoo hoo!!! It probably wasn't the most romantic celebration but I must say it was one of truly celebrating what our marriage has become...the building of a family that seeks to testify to God's glory.
Our anniversary dinner was at Wildfire (thus the title). We enjoyed a most amazing and sumptuous steak (thank goodness for gift certificates) and of course, we took the girls. It was, let's say, a family celebration.

Washing Dishes

The question is, will Sofia enjoy washing dishes as much as she does now when she is 10 yrs. old? Hmmm....probably not.:)

One month!!

Today Selah is four weeks old...technically she will be one month old on the 10th.

Keri's Memorable Month

September 2007 was quite the month for me. Here are the highlights:

The most important date of this month was no doubt the 10th. As you know that was the date God brought Selah into the world. Being a mommy is a role, a title, and a responsibility that truly sobers me. Being a mommy can be overwhelming at times but it teaches me to be dependent upon the Lord. It also reminds me that I too am still a child…learning, growing, and desiring to be “grown up” spiritually.

On Saturday, the 15th, I received word that my college professor, advisor, mentor, friend and sister in Christ had gone to be with the Lord. I was filled with so much emotion. Melodie was a young 54 yr. old mother whose body had been ravaged with cancer. But her heart, mind and soul were ravaged with her love for God. She was a witness to His glory to the very end. Thank you Melodie.

A celebration for my twentieth high school reunion took place on the 21st in Sacramento, CA. Obviously, I wasn’t able to attend but it did not keep me from walking down memory lane. The popular band was U2; George Michael and Whitney Houston were atop the charts, and a great movie, Dirty Dancing, was one of the most popular. Twenty years ago I was a very self-centered seventeen-year-old girl who desired to be elevated to fame. Thank you Lord that you have been doing a work in me.

Then came the 28th --- my thirty-eighth birthday! This isn’t necessarily a milestone birthday like the sixteenth or fortieth but it was one in which I was able to celebrate the fact that I am learning, growing, and becoming more “grown up” spiritually.

Like newborn babies...

These pictures of Selah were taken shortly after her first bath at home. Selah is doing well. If she is not sleeping then she is on the changing table, and if she is not there then she is gulping milk like there is no tomorrow.

Speaking of milk (It's late, and I can't think of another segue), I am going through 1 Peter in my Greek class. We covered 1 Peter 2:2 recently, which says in the NIV, "Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation." Selah, who is just two weeks old, seems to long for milk like no other. At times, I think she would accept it intraveneously if she could just say, "Intraveneous it to me, please". But getting back to Peter's point, newborn babies long for milk, and we should long for pure spiritual milk, which is the word of God. It might be helpful to point out here that Peter is not writing to only brand new believers, he is writing to mature believers as well. So, Peter's exhortation applies to all believers to long for the word of God.

How about you, do you long for God's word? Boy, in all candor, lately I have longed for things such as a Michigan Wolverine victory, Detroit Tigers/Los Angeles Angels/Chicago Cubs playoff spots, sleep, and Starbucks coffee. I read the Bible daily, but I don't meditate on it throughout the day as I should. Oh, the missed blessings and opportunities, and yes, I confess, sin. Well, if you are like me, Psalm 119:36-37 will help wake us from our slumber; the KJV renders this passage superbly. "Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness. Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity (yes, even football and baseball!); and quicken thou me in thy way." May the Lord grant us steadfastness in seeking and satisfying ourselves in the milk of His word.

Having fun with Daddy!!!

Sisters

Sofia and Selah are getting acquainted. Sofia is learning what it means to have a younger sister, while Selah is patiently enduring the prodding, pulling, and patting of older sister.

We are grateful to the Lord that Keri, Selah, and the rest of the fam are doing well!

Introducing Selah Brooke Sheckler

Kevin, Keri, & Sofia welcome Selah Brooke to the Sheckler family. Selah was born Monday, Sept. 10th, at 4:28 p.m. She weighed 7 pounds and 2 ounces at birth, and she measured 20 inches long. Selah has some nice hair that she must've gotten from her mother's side, and a cleft chin which is characteristic from her dad's side. We are grateful for those of you who have prayed for us.

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change (James 1:17)."

Praise be to God!

Mommy and Sofia

Mommy and big sister Sofia are excited about baby Selah. Selah's due date is just nine days away!

Had enough suspense?

We have been unusually cruel to some of you for waiting so long to post another clue regarding the name of Baby Sheck. Should the Lord be pleased to bring Baby Sheck into this world as a girl (which the ultrasound indicated), she will be named Selah Brooke. Selah is a Hebrew word. Its origins are complex even for Hebrew language experts. However, we have liked a fairly common interpretation and we are going with it.

Many have said that Selah means suspension (of music); a lyrical pause that allows for an instrumental interlude. A time to reflect & meditate on the lyrics of the Psalmist during the song. We also realize that there are varying pronunciations for the name, but we are going to go with SAY-luh. (Incidentally, it only took one clue for Leslie Blair to mention this name. Way to go, Leslie!) The middle name, Brooke, is Keri's grandmother Overstreet's maiden name, which is also her sister Kelli's middle name.

Baby name is...

Hi everyone! We just wanted to let you know that the final results of our blog poll are in. With sixteen voters participating (fourteen more than Keri thought we would have!); 7 of you voted that our baby should be given a Hebrew name, 6 of you voted for a Native American name, 3 of you voted for a Greek name, and nobody voted for Other. Well, guess what, we intend to give our baby a Hebrew name! Just to let you know, we had already made up our minds on a Hebrew name before the blog poll began. Lord-willing, we are going to name our baby girl*....not so fast, we will give you some clues along the way. If you think you know it (family please do not disclose), please leave a comment.

Clue #1: The first name is found in the poetry section of the Old Testament.

This could be interesting!

*Just in case the baby turns out to be a boy we have to leave room for a way out!

Baby Sprinkle

Tuesday evening some women in our church, whom I respect very much, graciously threw me (Keri) a shower (or sprinkle as I've learned it is called when it is for a second child because you don't need as many things). However, this sprinkle was truly a shower of blessing. It was a wonderful time spent sharing Scripture, praying, eating, and of course, opening gifts filled with beautiful baby girl clothing for the upcoming winter.

Shades of Grace

Here is a recent article I (Kevin) wrote for our church's newsletter. I share it because it spells out why we have entitled our family blog "Testifying", and why we want to dedicate not just our blog, but our lives, to this very task.

My family just spent a wonderful mini-vacation in the northern part of the lower peninsula of Michigan. Just off the road, near my in-laws cottage, my wife and I observed leaves on a tree that had already begun to change color. Being that it was the early part of August, we were both drawn to the beauty of this apparent anomaly. As we moseyed down the road my wife and I mused over the fact that in the not too distant future we will join countless others in being autumn “leaf peepers”. That is, we will seek to be enthralled by the magnificent colors that will soon blanket the forests of the Midwest.

I don’t mean to jump the gun and talk about fall colors so soon. But, just as change occurs to leaves in the fall to bring about the stunning colors that all of us enjoy, and should lead us to praise God. So, too, supernatural change occurs in the lives of people, when by God’s grace alone, people place their faith in Jesus Christ alone for salvation. This, too, is done to the praise of God. In Ephesians 2, Paul discusses this wonderful saving work that occurs by God’s grace. Paul writes, “…even when we were dead in our trespasses, (God) made us alive together with Christ – by grace you have been saved … (v.5), and later he adds, “…so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus (v. 7).” What a thought! God puts us on display, not for our glory, but for His glory, which is due to the “immeasurable riches of his grace toward us in Christ.”

The work of grace in a person’s life is infinitely more beautiful and glorious than the temporary change that colorful leaves bring to trees in autumn. This is why when we gather together as a church although we may mention the beauty of God’s creation we don’t spend a lot of time focusing on it, the creation. Instead, we focus on the Creator, God, and testify to the gospel of His grace, for it is the gospel of God’s grace that changes lives for eternity. The idea of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace comes from Paul as recorded by Luke in Acts 20:24: “But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.”

The word testify in Acts 20:24 has been on my mind a lot lately. What does it mean to testify to the gospel of God’s grace? Well, I believe Paul’s life exhibited what it means. He constantly wrote and preached about the gospel, which is the gracious gift of God. There is not one letter written by Paul that does not mention the word grace, and of course, he went beyond the standard greeting of “grace and peace to you” to elaborate on what grace means in many of those letters. Why was Paul so transfixed on the idea of grace? That is an easy one. It is because Paul experienced the wonderful benefits of God’s grace. Paul was headed to hell, albeit as a very religious Pharisee, with great intentions. Yet, Paul would be the first to tell us that if it was not for God’s grace, He would be in the company of those who will gnash their teeth for eternity as justice for sinning against Almighty God. Paul was fully aware of what he deserved, and he recognized that it was solely God’s grace, and not any of Paul’s good works that saved him.

Another word that begins with t has also been on my mind a lot, and it also relates to grace. It is the word training. In Titus 2:11-12, the apostle Paul writes, “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age…” What is it that makes us more and more like Christ? It is the incessant work of grace in our lives that trains us to be more like Him. I hope these words of Paul will bring encouragement to your heart as they have to mine.

Family Day

We value very much our precious time as a family. We are so thankful Kevin has Fridays and Saturdays off before busy Sundays. Family time this Saturday was spent going over to Lake Bluff (about 5 miles away) and playing on the beach of Lake Michigan.

I am posting some pics of Sofia and Kevin. This past February when Kevin went on staff at the church, it was a big adjustment for Sofia after 18 months of having a stay-at-home daddy. Needless to say there is a special relationship between daddy and daughter. Here are some pics of them from Saturday.

Hurricane Dean

A brother named Thabiti Anyabwile is located in a place that is likely to be hit by Hurricane Dean. Read his take on what He believes God is up to in times of calamity. Pure Church: What Do You Think About God When Calamity Strikes?

Winged Creatures and the "Good"ness of God

I (Kevin) got within twenty yards of a Red-tailed Hawk today. The Red-tails are fairly common in our area, but to see one of these enormous, beautiful birds is still an amazing sight. The hawk flew down into a field and as I approached it flew away into an adjacent tree. I think the bird was miffed that I had disturbed its chance for a nice meal.

I really enjoy taking time to watch birds. It is a habit that I picked up from my dad. I remember on occasion my dad would come home and share with my mom about a special bird sighting. "I saw a Baltimore Oriole today," he would say. My brother Paul also enjoys birds. In fact, he has sent me several CDs filled with bird songs. Like my brother, I am learning to distinguish birds by the songs that they sing.

Why do I have a fascination with birds? It is true that my dad and brother have encouraged my bent toward birding, but I think ultimately it is because all of us were made to appreciate the handiwork of the Creator. "So God created...every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good (Genesis 1:21)."

If you are like me, and need a break from a culture that is so impressed with itself, take some time to smell the flowers, and to see the birds. Then your soul will be refreshed and primed to worship the Creator of all that is good.

One more month to go!

This is Keri at 36 weeks pregnant. God's grace has been very evident throughout this pregnancy.

Here is a picture of what summer means for Sofia.

Blog Beginning

We are finally creating a blog. Our hope is that this blog will help keep us connected with family and friends around the world.