Mommy's Best "gift" this year.

Now that Christmas has come and gone and we all slump into the after holiday depression I finally have time to update my blog a bit more. My real Christmas present did not come to me on Christmas Day but rather a few days following. (Although I do love my new Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer!)

For sometime I have been wanting us to all go to church as a family. We did in the past and well when it came down to it either one of us were not comfortable in the church setting or environment for one reason or another. It was usually based on a conflict in principle of the church's teachings.

Saturday, December 27th 2008. I was successful in getting Joel to come to church with me at The Vineyard. As most of you may know Joel and I were both raised among different denominations. I was raised Catholic and he was raised by his grandmother as a Protestant-Baptist. If you know anything about the history of the two denominations it is often not the simplest to merry together into a common understanding. Joel and I both being science and engineer majors believed in reference. SO my boss, Dr. Burkhard told me about The Vineyard.

Bottom line was we were very impressed, we felt welcomed and comfortable. I dont think at any time I felt out of place. The best part was the kids loved it, Joel thought it was better than any other church we have been to together, and I felt comfortable as well. We will see how things turn out as time permits but it is one of my New Years Resolutions to get us going to church every weekend together, as a family.

The sermon that day could not have been more fitting to start the New Year and end 2008 with,

John 14:16-17
16And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— 17the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.