When the Redeemed by Johnson Oatman Jr.

Verse One:
I am thinking of the rapture in our blessed home on high....
When the redeemed are gathering in.....
How we'll raise the Heavenly anthem in that city in the sky.....
When the redeemed are gathering in.....

The Chorus:
When the redeemed are gathering in.....
Washed like snow...and free from all sin....
How we'll shout....and how we'll sing....
When the redeemed...are gathering in.....

Verse Two:
There will be a great procession over on the streets of gold....
When the redeemed are gathering in.....
O what music...O what singing o'er the city will be rolled......
When the redeemed are gathering in.....

Verse Three:
Saints will sing redemption's story with their voices clear and strong....
When the redeemed are gathering in.....
Then the angels all will listen....for they cannot join that song...
When the redeemed are gathering in.....

Verse Four:
Then the Savior will give orders to prepare the banquet board...
When the redeemed are gathering in.....
And we'll hear His invitation, "Come ye blessed of the Lord"....
When the redeemed are gathering in.....

The Chorus:
When the redeemed are gathering in.....
Washed like snow...and free from all sin....
How we'll shout....and how we'll sing....
When the redeemed...are gathering in.....

Tag
O how we'll shout and how we'll sing....
When the redeemed are gathering in.......

It's an old hymn, but I really love it. Especially the third verse:
Saints will sing redemption's story with their voices clear and strong....
When the redeemed are gathering in.....
Then the angels all will listen....for they cannot join that song...
When the redeemed are gathering in.....

So many times we hear stories about angels and, as humans, we admire and stand in awe of those things we hear...but imagine....there is something we have that angels can only stand back in awe of and listen to...a story of redemption.

This song has been in the back of my mind for a couple weeks now and the testimony it presents is one that I am just in amazement over: a story of redemption.

What's your story? What's mine? We all have one. For some of us the redemption was obtained years ago and sometimes we get so comfortable with that we forget the awesomeness of it. For others, that redemption is still fresh and new. For still others, that redemption has yet to happen. No matter where you stand and what your story the power is still there. Power to refresh, power to sustain, and power to redeem. Which is your need? God is able.

May 2, 2009

MJonathan turned 6 on May 2. It is really strange to realize that my second child is now 6. Wow. *sniff, sniff*

Anyway, the boy wanted to go to the Caldwell Zoo for his bday....so, off we went. (Thanks for coming with us Justin and Miriam!)

I love the alligators. Dunno, why.

Lions (he always looks SO bored, by the way),



and tigers,

and bears...oh, my...that is definately NOT a bear. :o)

Neither are these....but they sure are cute!

The bird walk is cool, a highlight with my kids...although I seriously wonder if Elizabeth will ever have a real live pet. She likes animals...from a distance.

The elephants were awesome!!! One of these is actually the largest land animal in North America. How cool is that? Right in Tyler, Texas you can see the heaviest land animal on the continent.

The trip was lots of fun, perfect weather, and perfect company...but the party was yet to come...

When I asked MJ what animal he really liked and wanted on his cake...he challenged me with a giraffe. I got online and did some research and this giraffe is what I came up with.

So, mommy got to work. Yummmm.....deep, dark chocolate.

Cut to resemble a giraffe's head.

And then the icing.

Hooray! (Not an exact replica, but I was happy with it and so was the birthday boy, which is all that really matters.)

Party time!

(May I take a sec to congratulate Tim and Karen on the birth of their absolutely adorable little girl?)

Congratulations! She's gorgeous and you know I want to keep her...only they won't let me. How selfish is that?

I guess they figure their boys need a gentling influence. ;o)

Back to our regularly scheduled programming:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MJONATHAN!

I love you,

Love,

Mom

(And his "posed" smile tickles me every time!)

Woohoo!

It's Cinco de Mayo!!!

Our May Day Fun

The kiddos and I went to Walmart and bought a pack of red and a pack of pink begonias, and two packs of impatiens also in red and pink. Then, we came home and got to work.

Four pots were filled with dirt and flowers. Some little cards were added so the recipients would know what the flowers were for. (But no names, 'cause this is supposed to be anonymous. Speaking of anonymous...no one tell that my phone got to help us plant, 'k', I really need some pockets.)

Emma delivered our first pot.

I delivered the second.

MJonathan and Em took care of #3.

And, our little friend Blake took care of his delivery.

This was a lot of fun, and it's a neat tradition we will be repeating....so come next May first, be on the lookout for flowers on your doorstep...or mailbox...or porch.

Happy May Day!

It's May first, and that means May Day!

I honestly have no clue what the origin of May Day is, but I am going to go Google it now to find out.

I *do* know that May Day traditions include leaving flowers secretly on peoples gates, and mailboxes, and doorsteps, so we did that this morning. I'll update later with pics.

Off to find out if I am secretly participating in some ancient heathen custom.

Later!