What is a dedication weekend?

A sweet sorority sister of mine asked me what a dedication weekend was! And I realized - a lot of you may not know - so I would quickly explain it. :)


Some denominations - like the Catholic church - baptize babies. It is very similar to that - except - I have grown up believing - as do many churches - that being baptized is a personal decision for a person. Not one that a parent can make for a child. I believe that choosing to be baptized comes AFTER a person is mature enough to fully understand what it means to be a Christian and accept Jesus Christ into their life as their personal Savior and leader of their life. We just simply believe that to become a Christian - a person MUST fully believe that Jesus is God's son - and that He died for EVERYONE'S sins - and that on the 3rd day after his crucifixion, he rose from the dead. John 3:16 says "For God so loved the world - that he gave His only begotten son - that whoever believes in Him - shall not perish but have everlasting life.

So - that being said - after a person is old enough to fully understand this concept and asks Jesus to come into their heart - THEN they are to be baptized. Baptism - I believe - is a symbol of a person's decision to follow Christ. Being baptized in the name of the Father (God), the Son (Jesus) and the Holy Spirit (the risen Jesus) is being fully immersed in water and lifted out... it is symbolism of going into the water and coming out having all of your sins washed away - believing that Jesus died for all your sins.  (Jesus himself was baptized during his ministry - before he was killed.)

So - in lieu of having a baptism ceremony for a baby - the parents come before their home church - to publicly affirm and celebrate their desire to raise their child in Christ and LEAD him to make the decision to follow Chris on his own one day - and to be baptized when he is old enough to understand it.  It is a big deal because the close family and friends of the family come, too, to witness this affirmation and to take their part in helping to raise this child in Christ as well. It is basically just making a commitment before the Lord that we submit our child to God's will and to raise that child according to God's word and God's ways.

Hope that answers your questions! LIOB.

Cowboy Boot Up! Dedication Weekend! And poopy mail???

Parker decided it was time to cowboy (boot) up!

Laughing at how many chins come out and play when he's super duper happy!  We have  names for all 8!

The next ______ (couldn't think of a hot cowboy.... any suggestions?!)

This was Parker's dedication weekend!  Yay!  All the fam was in town to celebrate this very important time in our lives and my sis Ashley, her hubs and their 2 presh sons stayed with us - finally!  They always stay at my sister's house but we finally got them here!  We had so much fun playing with Jac (3 in May) and Miller (6 mo. old).

Saturday afternoon, Chris' sister, Amy hosted both our families at her home!  Here are all the kiddos... Griffin (Chris' brothers boy - 11 months), Campbell (Chris' sister's girl - 2 years), Parker - 10 months, Miller  (Hillary's sister's boy - 6 months), Jac (Hillary's sister's other boy - 2.5 years) and Kayley (Hillary's other sister's girl - 1.5 years).

And... Parker and Miller matched.  Even though Park is 4 months older than Mill, Mill is wearing the 24 month shirt and Parker is wearing the 12 month shirt... guess who weighs more!

And now we know why.....

Jac got dressed up in Campbell's chef attire!

Our family - at our church before the dedication ceremony.

I had like 30 of my cloesest fam and friends at my house on Sunday and I only got ONE picture with anyone!  Shocker I know!

Sunday afternoon - after we all took long naps! - Ashley and her family (minus Miller) went to Snow Mountain!  So we kept Miller for the evening... we took advantage of the 65 degree afternoon and went for a walk in the double stroller!

AND....... this is what I found in our mailbox when I got home from work Monday afternoon..... no one is owning up to it yet.... any suggestions of what this may mean?  A disgruntled neighbor?  Somone mistakenly thought our mailbox looked like a diaper genie?  Or maybe they could SMELL the odor that comes from Parker's closet when we get lazy and don't empty it every few days so they thought it just belonged on our property somewhere.... it's possible!  Or maybe one of us slept walk last night and got a dirty diaper and put it in the mail box!

First half of February Catch Up

Early in February - the Hulls came to visit for an ENTIRE weekend - which is amzing in itself because Jim Hull does not leave his yard for more than 24 hours - ever!  Somehow - we were able to get him up here for an entire two days and it was AMAZING!  We love when our parents come to visit and stay with us in our lovely home - so to have them for 2 whole days was extra special!  Saturday afternoon we met up with the rest of the Hull family (they were all in town for the chicken plucker's convention - seriously) at Fudrucker's and got all the kiddos together for a few pix!

Here is Griffin eating CHEESE!

Campbell loved playing with Parker's toys on his booster seat!

Papa and Mimi with Pakrer, Campbell and Griffin

I LOVE dressing up Parker like a LITTLE MAN!  He is so handsome and I just can't keep my camera out of my hands when he is all dressed up!  Jack wanted to come pose with him in this picture :)

He knows he's hot!

The next weekend, my family came into town for a second cousin something removed  something something wedding reception at my other cousin something removed's house!  We are all related - somehow - just can't explain it... I need my Aunt Torrie for that - althought she's not even really my aunt - she's like a second cousin something removed.... never mind.

Kayley was all over the place!

My middle older sister Ashley and Jac

Doug and Kayley... they look nothing alike... right.

The Hopkins Family!

Back at Whit's house - we got all the kiddos together - here are THE BOYS!  Miller - Parker - Jac

All the Hopkins grandkiddos... Miller, Parker, Jac and Kayley

Parker is a little frightened of the huge-ness of Miller and is trying to make his getaway before Miller rolls over and smushes him.  Miller is loving this idea....

Parker is much relieved when his aunt picks up Miller and it's just he and his best friend he spends every day with - Kayley Lane!

Jac an Miller Cetti

ON TO SUPER BOWL SUNDAY!  All the Bridge Pointe kiddos together again!  In order of age - Alaina, Nate, Parker and Emma Grace.

And our nanny - Julie's birthday was last week so Whitney and I surprised her after work with a birthday party!  HAPPY BIRTHAY NANNY JULIE!

AND................ IT SNOWED!  Again!  In Atlanta!  Hardly ever happens more than once in a year... so this year has been extra special!

The little horse on our mail box was all covered up!

Saturday morning - the view out of our bedroom window.  So peaceful.

After breakfast we bundled Parker all up - in about 5 layers - he wasn't too sure. He kept his hands up in the air for the first five minutes - trying to figure out why he could barely move his body due to the many layers I insisted on covering him up with!

No - we would never put our child in a laundry basket - tie it to a rope - and sling it around the icey driveway... NEVER!

He wasn't really a fan....

BELINDA - OUR BROCCOLI FACE SNOWMAN CAME TO VISIT US!

And........ we're back!

Cannot believe how long it's been since I've updated!  Poor little Parker will be going through this blog 30 years from now and will wonder why in the heck his mommy forgot all about him from month 9 to month 10!  Well - here is a quick update.... probably very boring to any non-family members :)  Sorry!

I know you are all wondering how we are doing since Buddie... we are OK!  We really are.  His "doctor visit" was very peaceful -  EXTREMELY difficult - but peaceful.  It was definitely the most peaceful he's ever been.  Chris and I both came home early from work the day we did it - loved on him lots and lots - gave him a double cheeseburger from BK and he DEVOURED it!  Also gave him some peanut butter smothered all over treats - then went on a walk around the neighborhood - just us and him.  Well - he couldn't even make it around the block - poor thing.  It was like God was telling us it was OK... he will be better where he is now.  I have to believe that... So - we took him in - both BAWLING the whole way there (probably only the 3rd time I've ever seen my husband cry by the way) and we got there - went straight into the room and we stayed with him until he fell fully asleep.  We held him for a little bit then left him with the doctor to be put to sleep... we didn't feel any need to see that done... we were the last people he saw in his life and that was what was important.  We miss him so much - love him so much.  RIP Buddie Peanut Hull.

OK - back to updates.....This was actually from some time in December - we came home one day and could not find Jack - anywhere!  Jack VERY rarely gets into trouble... so when he does... he KNOWS it and hides when we get home because he knows he's in trouble... when we finally found him - and Parker's chewed up bottle all over the house - he acted SO pathetic - I had to take a picture!  Hilarious!

In the beginning of January - we met up with all our Bridge Pointe friends at Williamson Bros. in Canton!  The last time we were all together, I think there was only three children in the bunch... well... now a year or so later... there are EIGHT!  I felt REALLY terrible for our waitress :)  But we all had a fab time!

Here is Diane and Chelsea - the only non-mommies remaining in the group!  And Rachael with her son Nate!

1/2 of our table...

Kristin holding Sara's little girl, Alaina.

These girls and I have all bene taking a progression photo ever since we found out we were preggers!  Sarah was sick so her husband Adam had to stand in for her!  Ha!

Just getting some mommy love one night before beddy bye time!

On MLK Day - I took Pman to work with me since our nannies had the day off. Afterwards, I took P to see the T Family for some catch up!  Here is Little A with Parker :)  (Background: I started babysitting A when she was younger than Parker is now!)

Me and Pman hanging out at the T's house!

Park, L and A at the T's house

Middle January - we went to go visit little 2 week old Addie!  Precious sweet girl!  Our sweet friends, the F's, moved to Alabama a few years ago and we hardly see them anymore - but we try our best to see each other a few times a year.  They came to visit us this past summer and we just couldn't wait much longer to go see them! 

Chris playing with L and K.

So cute...

K was so great at helping me take care of Pman.

K and P at Bass Pro Shop

Parker will appreciate this one day :)

Possibly one of the best family photos of us!

This child has no fear... LOVED the scary bear!

Hey Mr. Bear!  Can I have some of your teeth since I'm nearly 10 months and have ZERO?!?!

Playing at the F's!

PRESH!

I'll stop there for now... I think I made it through the beginning of February... will try to get the past few weeks up tomorrow!  Have a great night!