Happy New Year!

Posted by Gabrielle

~the Hellwig family-November 2010~

Happy New Year from the Hellwig Family!

Christmas 2010

Posted by Gabrielle

Here are some pictures from Christmas! For the most part, I'll let the pictures speak about the wonderful family day we enjoyed!

The tree with all the presents underneath waiting to be opened

Daddy's sport watch from Timothy

Mommy's long-admired heart pincushions from yours truly

(picture by Arianne)

I received a book from Christianna that I've been wanting for some time but couldn't justify buying new for myself - Joyfully at Home, by Jasmine Baucham. Although I have quite a reading stack waiting to be finished, I've already started it! :)

Timothy's Walking with God from Elliot

Arianne's snowman oven mitt for her hope chest from Christianna

A couple of Christianna's new books from Daddy and Mommy

Elliot's long-desired Last of the Mohicans from yours truly

Jedidiah's ceramic painted bear ornament from yours truly

Tobias' cowboy hat from Christianna

Benaiah enjoying his new airplane from Daddy and Mommy (and wearing his 'worker man' hat from Timothy)

And, the Hellwig family, grandparents and an aunt and uncle gathered around the table for Christmas dinner!

A Conversation with Benaiah

Posted by Gabrielle

Benaiah and I had an interesting conversation this morning while I was finishing a crocheted baby hat. It's a baby girl hat with pink and white stripes and a matching flower accent. I'll be posting more about it on my blog once I get pictures as I'm working on perfecting the pattern so I can make them to sell.

Benaiah: *peeking curiously at my work* "Is that for Zadok?" (his very-loved stuffed lamb)
Me: "No, it's pink. Besides, I already made one for Zadok." (A bad first try in blue, brown, and white that came out too small)
Benaiah: *pausing for a moment* "Yes, you have it in your tray. Will you get it for me?"
Me: "Yes, I'll get it for you later."
Benaiah: *after a moment of contemplation* "Will you put a flower on it?"

I had to explain to a very distracted three-year-old why we do not put flowers on boy's hats (and on boy lamb's hats :)

A Three-Year-Old's Logic

Posted by Gabrielle

While at our church's "Love the Church" Conference a few weeks ago (which I still need to post about), we learned a new song called "I Love the Church". Since then, we have been singing it at church and around the home.

Here is the first verse and refrain:

I love the church, the flock bought with Christ's blood - 
Sheep gone astray He found and brought to God.
Guarded and fed by shepherds He provides,
We follow Christ, secure and satisfied.


May Christ be praised: "Preeminent! Adored!"
I love the church because I love her Lord!

Last night, a member of our family overheard Benaiah singing:

I love the church because I love the church!

He needs an elementary logic class! :)

Wordless Wednesday: Someone's Brilliant Idea

Posted by Gabrielle

Our Mortal Flesh

posted by Lisa



 I've been reminded recently of this hymn, often sung

at this time of year and neglected the other 11 months.

How often my mortal flesh needs to keep silence,

to be still, and even in the midst of whirlwind,

to listen, ponder the Word, consider my latter end,

and bless the God Who descended from the realms of

endless day to give me endless joy in His presence.

He has given us Himself.  The enormity of this is

staggering.  There are no words left to tell,

but His Word.  If men do not hear His Word,

there is nothing else.



Pray with me, that men may hear the Word, 

and with fear and trembling stand before Him, 

full of His unearthly joy, entering into eternal rest.



            Let all mortal flesh keep silence, 

        and with fear and trembling stand;

        ponder nothing earthly-minded, 

        for with blessing in his hand, 

        Christ our God to earth descendeth, 

        our full homage to demand. 

        King of kings, yet born of Mary, 

        as of old on earth he stood, 

        Lord of lords, in human vesture, 

        in the body and the blood; 

        he will give to all the faithful 

        his own self for heavenly food. 

        Rank on rank the host of heaven 

        spreads its vanguard on the way, 

        as the Light of light descendeth 

        from the realms of endless day, 

        that the powers of hell may vanish 

        as the darkness clears away. 

        At his feet the six-winged seraph, 

        cherubim, with sleepless eye, 

        veil their faces to the presence, 

        as with ceaseless voice they cry: 

        Alleluia, Alleluia, 

                Alleluia, Lord Most High!





May you cry also to Him, "Alleluia, Lord Most High!"

Christmas Tidings

Posted by Gabrielle

I have so many things to be thankful for this Christmas season. May the season indeed be one bearing tidings of comfort and joy for you as we celebrate God's incredible love for us.

~A lighted tree, light in the darkness~

~Presents already piling up under the tree~

~The greatest Gift ever, God's Son~

~Sweet treats for friends and neighbors~

~The 'Smoky Mountain Christmas' cd album~

~Flowers-a birthday present today for Mommy~

~Ripe Pears-a surprise Christmas gift in the mail today from a friend~

~Tiger, who napped in his car seat while we made Mommy's birthday dinner~

~The greatest act of love, the birth of Jesus Christ~

May you have a blessed advent season!

NCFIC Love the Church Conference

Posted by Gabrielle

On Thursday morning, the Hellwig family will be leaving on a pleasant, four-hour drive to Asheville for the NCFIC Love the Church Conference during the rest of the week. We are looking forward to this incredible learning opportunity and the chance to meet so many new people. I will be back to blogging next week with lots of pictures and stories from the trip.

Blessings till then,
Gabrielle

We Have Snow!

Posted by Gabrielle

Or at least we had snow! On Saturday evening, the snow began to fall gently, and in a couple hours, we had about a half-inch or so of snowfall. I hear this is very unusual for North Carolina in December. Of course, I had to take some pictures of the younger children outside!

This is when the snow first began to fall, taken in the backyard next door.

The boys actually built a cute little snowman, but he didn't manage to stick around for long. :)

Benaiah enjoying the snow.

As of today, Monday morning, it's pretty much all melted except for some of the areas that don't get much sun.

Tobias, Benaiah, and Baby Tiger

Posted by Gabrielle

Lately, we've begun babysitting a neighbor's baby. He's the cutest little four-month-old and his name is Tiger. His parents are Chinese and named him Tiger because he was born in the year of the tiger. :) Benaiah, who prays many evenings for a baby sister, is thoroughly charmed with baby Tiger, and he and Tobias often ask to hold him. As a mark of being "Hellwig-ated", Tiger even has a number of nicknames! Here are a few pictures!

 Tobias and Tiger

 Benaiah and Tiger. Little Prince is a little worried.

 Ah, that's better!

 Tobias, Benaiah, and Tiger

 

 Something's funny!

Tiger never fails to garner an adoring audience as he plays.

 

 Little Papoose napping.

A couple belated birthdays

Posted by Gabrielle

...very belated birthdays! In October, we celebrated Arianne's 16th birthday with Pepe, Meme, and Oma, and Christianna's 14th birthday with Pepe and Meme. Happy Birthday, dear sisters!

16 candles!!!

Probably Arianne's favorite present from Oma - chocolates!!! :)

14 candles!!!

Cleaning the candle wax off the tart

I Love my Little Brothers who Keep us Laughing!

Posted by Gabrielle

It appears Benaiah is listening as Daddy reads C.S. Lewis' Space Trilogy to us in the evenings because as we were discussing the other day who we should have over for Thanksgiving, he pipes up, "Let's have the Sorns for Thanksgiving!" We think he meant the Horns, a family at our church, but we all enjoy a good laugh whenever it is mentioned.

On Etsy, the online shop community which I sell on, the guidelines for classifying vintage is that the item must be 20 years old or older. Elliot, with this in mind, remarked to me yesterday, "In two more years, you'll be vintage!" :) Hmm...yes, time definitely has flown, but I didn't realize it had gone that fast!

Benaiah's Christmas Wish-List

Posted by Gabrielle

Last night, at the dinner table, Benaiah solemnly declared what he would like for Christmas and why. :)

Benaiah: "Maybe for Christmas we will all get calculators from Mommy and Daddy."

Mommy: "And what would you do with a calculator?"

Benaiah: "I will put some paper in it and write on it and write a letter to Lise." (His new friend he made on the Washington Tour and met again at the wedding.)

I think we'd be better off getting him a pad of drawing paper and a new box of crayons, don't you think? :)

Pictures from the Wedding

Posted by Gabrielle

A couple weeks ago, we were privileged to witness the wedding of Taylor and Blair, a young couple at our church. It will be exciting to see how God works through them for His kingdom. Here are a few pictures!

 Taylor and Blair, the sweet newlyweds, at the reception

Mommy and Benaiah before the ceremony

Benaiah and his beloved Lise. He first met her on the Washington Tour and talked for days before the wedding about meeting her again. Here they are looking at a book together.

Showering the new couple with rice as they leave!

Family Portraits

Posted by Gabrielle

Last Friday, we met at the Brown's Barn with one of my sweet friends, Anna-Rebekah O. for our annual family portraits. We gave her an opportunity to practice her amazing photography skills and all had a wonderful time together. Below is a sneak peak of the group and individual portraits we too. I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.

A Picnic Lunch

Posted by Gabrielle

Today was a beautiful, sunny day and, since Daddy was away during lunch, we decided to have a picnic, something we have not done for several years. In fact, Benaiah has never enjoyed a picnic.

It could not have been called hot at all, but two protested the sun beating down upon their heads. They donned parasols and cheerfully resumed their eating.

Benaiah enjoying his muffin

Elliot, finally deciding that an umbrella did not work, donned a shopping bag...

That is until it grew too stifling for him and he wore it as a backpack and was tickled with a weed.

Arianne, however, enjoyed her parasol with no complaints.

Frick and Frack

Timothy spent time awing Elliot by his ability to lean back in the chair resting on its back two legs (this is him departing when I pointed the camera at him). It was only because he had legs long enough to remain firm on the ground while the chair's were in the air.

However, when Elliot tried it, he time and time again, good-naturedly found short legs to his disadvantage. :)