Delightful Dedication

(Confession: my wonderful wife wrote this entry about Maggie Beth's dedication nearly a month ago (Aug. 20) and I have just now (Sept. 17) uploaded the pictures from that Sunday to post with it. I would like to have some good excuse besides "we were busy" but there really isn't one. Thanks for being patient.)

Our little Maggie Beth was dedicated on Sunday. We hated to wait until she was almost 9 months to do it (not to mention having outgrown both mine and Daniel's old Christening outfits), but we wanted Stonebridge to be in their new building. She was precious and we were really blessed by our family and church family that were there.

Daniel spoke a word over her (partly inspired by a post on Annie Downs' blog) from Zephaniah: "The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing." Maggie Beth truly is a delight.

Daniel also felt like the Lord was saying that even though she may be expected to follow her big sister, that she will be a follower of the Lord and that, like Andrew, she will lead by following. The congregation also spoke out words for her that included: joy, faith, confidence in Christ, daughter of Christ. This was the first baby dedication for Stonebridge and we are so blessed to be a part of such a wonderful body of Christ.

What I Learned this Summer

Well, it's August already, and school is fast approaching, so Mary Evelyne is ready for a little show and tell about what she learned this summer:

Mary E and the Minnows

Things got started with a splash in June, when Mary Evelyne began swim lessons at the Cobb Aquatic Center. She was in the "Minnows" class with kids who aren't new to the pool and are ok to put their heads under water, but just need some fun exercises to help them learn the basics of swimming. She was probably the youngest in her class, but by far the most courageous and eager to try whatever the teacher was asking of them. You can't tell it from the video, but after just 6 classes she can now jump in from the side of the pool and swim with her head under water for 5 or 6 feet to the steps. And she doesn't want help, so don't ask her.

Future Gym Dawg in Training

In July it was time for gymnastics class. She had a fun group for this class, too, and really hammed it up with her buddies in between the various stations. You can see a couple of her good friends from that class on the video, one named Sarah Grace (in the pink leotard) and another one named Dorshini (sp?)(the little Indian girl).

I have to brag for a second on Cobb County, because both classes were offered through the County Parks and Rec Department and they were a fun, low-stress, affordable means to introduce her to these new activities. She and her cousin Hannah - who is down from Maryland for the summer - both took gymnastics classses through the County and had a great time (even though Hannah was in a more serious class of 6-7 year olds).

After each class, Mary Evelyne would be rewarded with a trip to the nearby Dunkin' Donuts/Baskin Robins. And every week, when presented with the choice of ice cream or donut, she always chose the sprinkle donut. Maybe that's what gave her the energy for the final performance on the video, shot last night after her final gymnastics lesson.

We hope you enjoy this peek into Mary Evelyne's summer, and keep an eye out for a video update on what Maggie Beth learned this summer, as well as some more "Deep Thoughts from Mary Evelyne." Enjoy: