This past Saturday, we joined John’s parents for their 70th Wedding Anniversary party. They invited many of their friends from Eden Home for refreshments, fellowship, music, and a special time of renewing their vows. It was a beautifully blessed day. God has been so faithful to keep them together throughout all these years. What a testimony they are to us!

Carl and Martha Lavin’s 70th Wedding Anniversary
February 24, 2007
(A Poem by their son John Lavin)

The twenty-fourth of February, we celebrate today,
A special couple where there are, many good things to say,
A long life shared together, for these past seventy years,
Being faithful to each other, through many joys and tears.

Carl and Martha became one, in nineteen thirty-seven,
A marriage built on God, they will one day be in heaven,
Their love for each other, grows stronger through good days and bad,
And touching many lives, they make others joyful and glad.

A simple life built on Christ, love, virtue, values and trust,
Not going to bed angry, they make forgiveness a must,
You can feel the warmth of their home, where music fills the air,
And see confidence in the Lord, meeting their every care.

Dancing in years past, exercising, playing forty-two,
Watching Lawrence Welk, counting their blessings, a life so true,
Dad used to hard work, and exhibiting a servant’s heart,
Considering Mom’s best interests, each day from the start.

Raising two children, and now four grandchildren to carry on,
A godly heritage and example, that won’t soon be gone,
Where husband and wife can say with words so true,
Let me call you “Sweetheart,” I’m in love with you.

busy baking the five cakes!

Jaimee’s great at decorating!

2 of the 5, ready to go

wedding and anniversary photos from the past

renewing of the vows (their pastor said it was for another 70 years!)

Lynette

Jennifer and Jaimee with Janet (John’s second cousin)

the excellent servers

party’s over!

still very much in love

This Sunday, our pastor said he wanted to introduce the congregation to his Heavenly Father. He concluded his message with a powerful reading while the orchestra accompanied him. It was an inspiring reminder of what a great, powerful, and loving God we have.

Name Above All Names

The Father has promised He will never leave us nor forsake us. In Christ, the Father revealed His faithfulness to us from the beginning of time.

In GENESIS Jesus is the Ram at Abraham’s altar.
In EXODUS He’s the Passover Lamb.
In LEVITICUS He’s the High Priest.
In NUMBERS He’s the Cloud by day and pillar of fire by night.
In DEUTERONOMY He’s the City of our refuge.
In JOSHUA He’s the Scarlet Thread out Rahab’s window.
In JUDGES He is our Judge.
In RUTH He is our Kinsman Redeemer.
In 1st and 2nd SAMUEL He’s our Trusted Prophet.
And in KINGS and CHRONICLES He’s our Reigning King.
In EZRA He is our Faithful Scribe.
In NEHEMIAH He’s the Rebuilder of everything that is broken.
And in ESTHER He is the Mordecai sitting faithful at the gate.
In JOB He’s our Redeemer that ever liveth.
In PSALMS He is my Shepherd and I shall not want.
In PROVERBS and ECCLESIASTES He’s our Wisdom.
And in the SONG OF SOLOMON He’s the Beautiful Bridegroom.
In ISAIAH He’s the Suffering Servant.
In JEREMIAH and LAMENTATIONS it is Jesus that is the Weeping Prophet.
In EZEKIEL He’s the Wonderful Four-Faced Man.
And in DANIEL He is the Fourth Man in the midst of a fiery furnace.
In HOSEA He is my Love that is forever faithful.
In JOEL He baptizes us with the Holy Spirit.
In AMOS He’s our Burden Bearer.
In OBADIAH our Savior.
And in JONAH He is the Great Foreign Missionary that takes the Word of God into all of the world.
You go on and you see in MICAH He is the Messenger with beautiful feet In NAHUM He is the Avenger.
In HABAKKUK He is the Watchman that is ever praying for revival.
In ZEPHANIAH He is the Lord mighty to save.
In HAGGAI He is the Restorer of our lost heritage.
In ZECHARIAH He is our Fountain.
And in MALACHI He is the Son of Righteousness with healing in His wings.
In MATTHEW Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God.
In MARK He is the Miracle Worker.
In LUKE He’s the Son of Man.
And in JOHN He is the Door by which everyone of us must enter.
In ACTS He is the Shining Light that appears to Saul on the road to Damascus.
In ROMANS He is our Justifier.
In 1st CORINTHIANS our Resurrection.
In 2nd CORINTHIANS our Sin Bearer.
In GALATIANS He redeems us from the law.
In EPHESIANS He is our Unsearchable Riches.
In PHILIPPIANS He supplies our every need.
And in COLOSSIANS He’s the Fullness of the Godhead Bodily.
In 1st and 2nd THESSALONIANS He is our Soon Coming King.
In 1st and 2nd TIMOTHY He is the Mediator between God and man.
In TITUS He is our Blessed Hope.
In PHILEMON He is a Friend that sticks closer than a brother.
And in HEBREWS He’s the Blood of the everlasting covenant.
In JAMES it is the Lord that heals the sick.
In 1st and 2nd PETER He is the Chief Shepherd.
In 1st, 2nd, and 3rd JOHN it is Jesus who has the tenderness of love.
In JUDE He is the Lord coming with 10,000 saints.
And in REVELATION, lift up your eyes, Church, for your redemption draweth nigh, He is King of kings and Lord of lords!

This past Sunday, we enjoyed having the 20’s group over from Castle Hills First Baptist Church. Mom did a superb job helping us plan a lunch to feed 24! The fellowship over hot chili and rice was good and we all had fun playing outdoor games. Grateful to the Lord for friends and family in Christ.

Ultimate Frisbee in the field

catch it!

get ready…

who will catch it?

Croquet

watching from the sidelines

Yeah! She finally makes it through the hoop!

team

up and away

discussion around the table

HOW DEEP THE FATHER’S LOVE FOR US, how vast beyond all measure,
That He should give His only Son to make a wretch His treasure.
How great the pain of searing loss—The Father turns His face away,
As wounds which mar the Chosen One bring many sons to glory.

Behold the Man upon a cross, my sin upon His shoulders;
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice call out among the scoffers.
It was my sin that held Him there until it was accomplished;
His dying breath has brought me life—I know that it is finished.

I will not boast in anything, no gifts, no power, no wisdom;
But I will boast in Jesus Christ, His death and resurrection.
Why should I gain from His reward? I cannot give an answer;
But this I know with all my heart—His wounds have paid my ransom.
~Stuart Townend

We praise God for His wondrous love for us and for His many blessings.

This month will mark the 70th wedding anniversary of John’s parents, Carl and Martha Lavin. What a Christ-centered marriage they have shared! They were honored with a special interview from the San Antonio Express-News and are on the front page of today’s paper!

Click here to view the Express-News article

Click here to view the slideshow of them