New Life! Austin's Journey of Faith {Free Printable}

"I will sprinkle clean water on you and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. 

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you."

At four years old, Austin asked us what the little song playing on the cassette player meant as we sang along to the words, "Bullfrogs and Butterflies have both been born again..." 

He said he wanted to be born again, too~  

At 9 years old, he heard a man in Sunday School tell of Jesus death on the cross~ that Jesus had taken our punishment,

that Jesus died for us, that Jesus came back to life as proof that he was God.  Right there in Sunday school, Austin prayed that Jesus would forgive his sins and committed to trust in God alone.  The next morning while I was drinking my coffee, he came downstairs and climbed into my lap.

"I feel like a completely different person~ 
Jesus has changed me!" he said.

Through the next several years, God pursued Austin through His people in the context Bible studies with his dad, mission trips, summer camp and Young Life.

  And on Easter Sunday, Austin was Baptized.

And Mr. Wonderful captured it on his iphone....

{Note the voice at the end, "That's my boy!" 
coming from big brother Blake!}

As the family shared our Pa Nang Salmon and Pad Tai Chicken at Baan Thai {a Mankin family favortite} the night before, Austin told us that he was looking forward to his baptism.  "Now that I'm almost a senior in high school, 

I see my baptism as a time where I can declare my faith as my own."  
And declare it he did!

I think I'll download this free printable from Good Gravy and put it in Austin's room as a reminder of the courage it takes to make that journey to manhood.

Building a foundation of faith in your child takes the work of ALL the Saints!  We are humbled and grateful for the investment of so many in the life of our boy.  

It is by the authentic, unconditional demonstrations of faith he has witnessed in the body of Christ that he has come this far.  For THAT, we will be ETERNALLY grateful!

Want to be more adept at talking to your kids about faith? 

You might read "Leading Your Child to Christ" for some ideas.

Mr. Wonderful: The Pancake and Waffle Expert!

“A waffle is like a pancake with a 

syrup trap.”

~Mitch Hedberg

Saturday morning waffles with Mr. Wonderful.

Several years ago, Mr. Wonderful and the children gave me a waffle iron for Mother's day.  It is usually ill-advised to give a kitchen appliance to a woman as a gift; most everyone knows it's a dangerous move.  But this waffle iron came with the chef attached.  Yes, Mr. Wonderful, who rarely cooks, decided to give me a waffle iron and make the waffles, too. 

Well, this delighted the children and made me one happy momma.  The tradition took off and now this routine has become a regular weekend treat.  The waffles were such a hit that the following Christmas, Mr. Wonderful asked for a "large griddle" so he could add pancakes to his breakfast repertoire.  If you've known our family for any amount of time, you know that the griddle enables Mr. Wonderful to cook waffles and pancakes for a crowd!

This weekend, all the chicks were in the nest (we have two in college, one at home), so Sunday morning, I slept in while Mr. Wonderful made waffles and fresh coffee.  This sweet, simple tradition delights the children and makes dad a real breakfast hero!

Check out Blake's "Bed Hed" ~~
preferred attire for this yummy morning routine!

Lots of butter and.... 

Real Maple Syrup!

Mr. Wonderful adds blueberries or chocolate chips to his pancakes!
Why don't you encourage the man in your life to become an expert at something in the kitchen?  Could be pancakes and waffles, could be spaghetti suppers, could be a
Saturday morning "donut date with dad" like our neighbor, Mr. Hohfeler,
does with his girls.
 It certainly doesn't have to be complicated~
but it does have to be done with love!