Out of the Womb - Into the World

Just wanted to share with you, the stunning beauty just emerged from her womb...
Elyse Joanne was born last Saturday and makes for an incredibly sweet 8lb.10oz bundle of blessing! Her name means God's promise and her arrival graces this family of ours with five grandchildren though I like to use this moniker while it still fits:
Grandmarmie X7 with two in heaven :)

This is big sister Jules who reportedly is handling the adjustment with style & grace.

I can't help it. I literally laugh out loud every time I look at this picture. Each 'personality' in this candid shot is captured so true!
Five grandbabies.
I am often overwhelmed with gratitude to have so much sweet spice in this life!

Growing Grandbabies

This is baby Danielle. She turned a year old today. I can hardly believe this even as I write it! Our littlest munchkin grandbaby, a year already! Can you see the mischief in her eyes?

She got her cake and she ate it too. All by herself. Sans candles, yes, of course.

But truly, THIS is our littlest munchkin grandbaby. Soon to greet us face to face, D.V.

*sigh*

All this goodness...our cup overflows!

No apology Apologetics

It is one thing to be well-read and edified by the apologia of a great Christian thinker-writer-theologian like C.S. Lewis, it is quite another to learn the skill for oneself.
Those who know me well, know that I am seldom without adequate words to express myself and convey my thoughts. I don't like the term "opinionated" but fear that it does describe me none-the-less. A favourite play on words for me is: You are certainly entitled to my opinion!
You would be surprised however (as I often am myself when push comes to shove) and a spontaneous opportunity befalls me, how hard I have to work to make a defense of my strongly held beliefs in a manner that is articulate, methodical and convincing.
I marvel at the concise and engaging manner of apologists like Lewis, Lee Strobel, Ravi Zacharias and so many others. Part of that is divine gifted-ness I know, but ultimately, every believer is mandated to be prepared to give a verbal defense of their faith.
Me? I'd rather cook you a meal.
But God has a sense of humour.
He has a not so subtle way of prodding one off the laurels.
My newest nephew by marriage describes himself as an atheist/agnostic. And he'll tackle anyone who wants to challenge that position.
The time to hone that skill has come upon us. For the love of God and for the love of my new nephew.