3 Years

Noah, our family just wouldn't be the same without you. Today, you are three years old. You are so full of energy and life... we call you the "goofball" of our family. You have what we like to call the "million dollar smile." Tonight, after I was putting you in your bed for... the fourth time, I glanced at the clock and had a quick thought, that maybe I might be just a wee bit tired of getting up and down and up and down, and putting you back in your bed. Just as I got to the doorway, you said, "You are pretty, Mommy." You love trains, and you love when I read stories to you. You LOVE your brother Caleb, and you copy just about everything he does. You two play weapons together and have caught many a bad guy. It will be interesting when Ezra comes in on that scene. =) You LOVE your red blankie, and so far it seems to be the only way we can keep you in your class at church or group solutions.
We are praying that your smile and your "goofiness" will just add to the way that God will use you in the lives of many, to speak the truth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. We love you Noah Benjamin.
P.S. Sorry, Noah, I only had the more recent pictures of you on this computer, but perhaps soon, I can post some of you when you were little, too.

Dear Baby

Ezra, tomorrow, you will be a year old. Everyone always tells you, "It goes by so fast!!" Even when you start to believe it, you just don't realize that a moment (or many moments) will come where your heart will ache in your chest, wishing you could slow it all down, or freeze time, just for a minute. You are growing up too fast. It seems like yesterday, when we were waiting in anticipation for you to come. And then you surprised us all, by coming here at home. Daddy tied off the cord with dental floss. And we marveled at God's grace and mercy as we held you. I remember when Daddy covered me with a blanket, and ran and got your brothers and your sister, and they all came in to see you for the first time. I remember that small gathering the night you came, of people who love you and had been waiting for your arrival. I was going through, wanting to post a bunch of pictures of you. I chose a few... but there are so many. You have grown so quickly, and every picture I looked at seems like just the other day. And now, I have been looking at pictures for too long and it is bedtime. I love you so much. You are such a joy and a treasure to our family. We have prayed for you, that you will belong to God's elect, that you will love Jesus fiercely, and with all your heart. We have prayed that you will be a Knight, and a warrior... and a servant for the kingdom of God.

We love you, Ezra Lucas Knight Hester.

Reality Ministry Conference

This weekend our church is hosting a ministry conference. People from all over came to attend, and it was totally full. Ben was on night shift, so I knew that neither of us would be able to attend. But, it was so cool, they did a live feed, so I got to "attend" from home. Tonight's session really rocked my world... I will be spinning on that for a while. But, here is a link, in case you want to watch tomorrow (sorry for the late posting!!)

Highlights from tonight:

Topic: Refresh: Keeping Jesus preeminent

Ministry flows from intimacy

The reason that some of us are not growing in holiness is because we think too highly of ourselves apart from grace.

"We slander God by our very eagerness to work for Him without knowing Him."

-Oswald Chambers

"The main difference between a moralist and the true Christian is that the true Christian obeys out of sheer delight."

-Jonathan Edwards

The main text was Romans 8:1-17.

First session tomorrow is Saturday, October 17th, 2009 at 9am!!

www.realityministryconference.com

Noah was having trouble getting into our bathroom so that he could go potty. Ben opened the door for him and Noah said, "Thanks, Dad. You'we my supew hewo."

Ezra has taken three steps, I think four is the most. But for the most part, still seems content crawling around.