Introducing 'Miss Lady' for Halloween

This was Makenlee's first Halloween, so I wanted to do something special for her. The plan was to dress her up and take her to "trick or treat" at some of our neighbor's houses, but there were some dilemmas. The neighbors were all out of town, the Rangers were playing in the playoffs, and Makenlee was tired and ready to go to bed around 7pm. Halloween was on a Sunday this year and those are always here hardest days for naps. So, we decided to dress her up in her costume and have a photo shoot in the front yard and then "tirkc or treat" on Skype with all her cousins in their costumes and with her Nana and Pappy in Tennessee. She last about 2 hours in her costume and was ready to call it a day after that. She was a lady bug this year for Halloween.

 enjoying all the flowers

Mommy & Daddy's Lady Bug

trying out my new trick of pulling up in my costume

 

A Busy Weekend with Babies, Babies, and More Babies!

Makenlee didn't last long on the Jespersen side of the family with being the youngest grandchild. Annalee came 9 weeks after Makenlee, Reid almost 6 months after Makenlee, and we are still waiting for the otehr one to arrive. 3 down, 1 to go! For those of you who don't know, I am the youngest of 4 girls (Mark is the youngest of 4 boys), and all of us were pregnant and due within 6 months of each other.  But, it is not just my sisters who were all pregnant this time around, but I have 2 cousins that are pregnant as well, one just recently had Rachel Beth and the other baby is due to arrive in January. It has been very busy around the house helping everyone prepare for their new bundles of joy. Rachel Beth (daughter of cousin) was born on Wednesday via C-section. We told Joy it would be nice if she would just follow suit and have Reid at the same time. We could all go and visit Rachel Beth and Joy could happen to go into labor while we were there and have Reid because it would be convenient. Joy and Joanna (Rachel Beth's mommy) were both delivering their babies at the same hospital. Joy and laughed and talked about the movie Father of the Bride part 2. For those of you who remember, they were due at the same time at the same hospital. We thought it would be really neat for that to happen with Joanna and Joy, but did we really believe it would ever happen? Not really, but you know what... it did, almost! Joanna had Rachel Beth on Wednesday via C-section keeping her in the hospital for 72 hours and Joy went into labor at home after her water broke on Friday morning and had Reid around 5pm Friday night. They were 3 doors down from each other in the hospital, making it very convenient for all the family members to pop in and see both! Our families once again made lots of memories and I am sure many more to come with all these babies. Needless to say, I don't think Makenlee is going to run out of playmates. She will probably be throwing the football with Reid and teaching him all her tricks in no time! 

I remember these days like it was yesterday! I sure do miss Makenlee being small because she has grown up so fast, but I have to say I don't miss the consecutive, interrupted nights of sleep. I do enjoy all her milestones and seeing her develop into a little lady. She brings so much joy to my heart and I know these new little ones will do the same as their mommies get to know them too!

Kasey & Reid; Mark & Makenlee

Makenlee & Rachel Beth 
(almost 6 months apart)

Makenlee was a trooper this weekend! She had fun celebrating on Friday anticipating Reid. She usually takes 3 naps a day and only took half of one nap that day. She stayed awake for 7 hours and was a joyful baby (thank you Makenlee)! The next day was Saturday and we went back to the hospital to hang out with everybody, but she was done celebrating. We ate lunch really fast and went home because she had enough! We have re-cooperated at home today and she was able to catch up on all of her sleep after one crazy weekend with babies, babies, and more babies to come!

"Behold, children are a gift of the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one's youth. How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them..."

Psalm 127:3

My First Post

Well, it sure has been a long time since I have been on my blog! I can't believe how fast the time has flown by. We have been so busy with an incredible baby, job changes, home relocation, and much more! I am working on figuring this "blog thing" out. I am the type of person who likes to have it all figured out and play with it so it is just right. I am learning that getting things done and not perfected works better when you have a baby and another million things to do. With that being said, I have been 5 months behind on uploading pictures of Makenlee and our little family, but be patient because it is finally getting done. What a relief that will be! I have been wanting to do this for a long time and now have a little bit of time to get it done. So keep looking back and I should have it updated soon! Thanks to all of you who look at our blog and continually see the same old stuff... NOTHING! That is getting fixed. Check back soon!

This is a recent picture of Makenlee in her Sunday afternoon attire... no shirt and a hairbow. It's too hot to wear clothes when she's at home!

She is starting to teeth this week and it doesn't feel good! I can only imagine having all that pain in my mouth. She is a trooper though. Give her some cold celery (which I know I shouldn't do but I watch her closely) while she helps in the kitchen and it makes everything okay.

i made a slideshow of Makenlee's first two month to a cool song late at night.

best time at Pine Cove I ever had.

My sweet wife Janna or "6-shooter"

Probably the most famous and nastiest skit ever

Old Pictures

Here are some old pictures mark found before he left Pine Cove from skits, theme nights and different people

Faith vs. Works

Some friends and I did some studying on faith vs. works.  Someone we know is struggling with what the Bible literally says about what it takes to become a true follow of Jesus.  He struggles with our salvation being dependent on obedience, baptism and other traditional practices of the church being I will not post the original email with the questions and references. It is a little long, but I encourage everyone to read the last few numbers and at least skim through all of them.  I tried to paste his references and comments in blue, when I answered so it would be understood better.  That being said, here are some of the thoughts I had and hopefully it gives others some things to promote thought.

1. All scripture is God-breathed and inerrant.  We do not need to add to it or take away.  We will all die and fade away, but the Word of the Lord stands forever (1 Peter 1:22-25).  It is hard discussing scripture against scripture as he did, and it can become a slippery slope of our own pride in knowledge become so the goal, not living the truth.

2. Faith vs. Belief- James 2:17 - "Thus too, faith, if it does not have works, is dead." James 2:19 - "Even devils believe".
Are the devils saved? Doing a simple Strong's concordance search to find the original Greek and Hebrew definitions of these words, you find that they are frequently used interchangeably.  The purpose is exactly this issue...cutting through the different between just believing that there is a God and believing that He died for my sins and I need Him. Now, James is not saying here that justification is by works. James is actually saying that if a person has faith in Christ Jesus, as he or she says, then that person will be faithful though works by their (new) nature -- because Christ dwells within them and is thus the vine that produces their good fruit -- do good works.  It is a cause and effect, not an effect and cause. He also quoted James 2:24 -- Man is justified by works, not by faith only.
"You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only." Justification and salvation are not normally translated into the same meaning, when you understand the actual process of salvation...which I elude to in number 5.  Salvation frees you from prison, justification is proving or declaring that freedom you have been given afterwards.

3. Context- literal and precise.  If Jesus came into my office and preached to me the gospel, and came into your office and preached to you the Gospel, the gospel would not change, but the way-of presentation and His methodology probably would.  Matt quoted John 3:16, but read the whole chapter.  Nicodemus asks that very question of salvation and Jesus says "we must be born again...born of water and spirit."  Also, for the stance of Paul, Matt state's No Verse Says We Are Saved By Faith Alone,  yet Paul in Ephesians 2:8 says"

⁸For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹not by works, so that no one can boast."

Literally and truthfully, the saving process is completed by the grace given from God, then our faith in it's ability to do so, to be technical.  Say it slowly and think about what you are saying BY-GRACE, THROUGH-FAITH.  Substitute words and check this out;  For it is by a doctor's surgery you have been saved, through you going to his office.  Just myslef going to his office is not what saved me, because I can sit in his waiting room for hours, or even months after the new health care plan (...I had to slide that in there), but the doctor is the one actually performing the saving action.  Also you can chew on is Romans 3:20-26, I really like it.

20Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.  ²¹But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. ²²This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, ²³for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ²⁴and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. ²⁵God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement,^[a] through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— ²⁶he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

4. Life Application- Our COO here at Pine Cove has a sign beside his desk where only he can read that says, "If you don't live it, then you don't believe it."  I love it.  This is why getting married rocked my heart for Christ, because I related to Jesus in a new way in his sacrifice as a husband and the "groom". Putting a ring on my finger technically made me a husband by Webster's standards, but if I never acted like it after our ceremony, would I truly hold the title as what a husband is?  If I never fulfilled my vows and covenant, am I truly the definition of a husband; can I hold that title? You would be bound by covenant, but you never acted like it, the correct title would be a fool or a “you know what”.  That is why I lean towards not losing salvation, but a “you never had it in the first place belief”...however I need more study on that as well to solidify my stance.  Once you become infected with Christ, you want to read, be baptized, and be obedient; not solely because it is commanded of us and we have to do it.  God's love, that is freely given, is worth more than we can afford; even with our own efforts of faith.  We cannot purchase it 

5. Things to respond with that he did not mention- You can get into a little bit of study and quite deep study with him, do some research on soteriology- the study of salvation. Several times, in the New Testament even, the word salvation is present progressive...are being saved.  The process of salvation scares most people, and definitely most traditional denominations.  The process started when Jesus died for our sins 2,000 years ago, I realized it when I was 18.  I am covered by faith through His blood, remember Romans 3:20-26, verse 25 specifically, and I will be saved from damnation after I die, at the judgment seat. Questions- Thief on the cross? Not baptized and was in paradise that day.  Why did Jesus ask John to baptize Him?  Did Jesus need salvation, if baptism is what saves you?  Salvation is being redeemed from your sin, so was Jesus sinful, therefore needing baptism, i.e. salvation? No.  You do not need baptism.  Matthew 3:15 

Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. ¹⁴But John tried to deter him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?"

 ¹⁵Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." Then John consented.

At this point both Jesus and John had several followers, even the Sadducees.  It is a pursuit of righteousness and public profession, not a requirement.  It was confirmed by the dove and God’s blessing being bestowed on Jesus.
Another problem is English and the translating from original languages...we were doomed to be confused and possessing poor knowledgeable...but was that predetermined for us??? Just kidding.  Wrong topic of discussion to bring up!  Man I hope that helps.  This was really challenging for me, in more ways than one.  It pricked my heart for the things of God and being prepared for an answer at all times while also being patient for the Lord to speak into me.  The number 5 just hit me today about Jesus' baptism.  

Ace love these!

Our good friends Drew and Jennifer Anderson who are due in July visited little Makenlee

Our family on Easter 2010

bath time with Daddy!!

Makenlee's cute little Easter outfit

Daddy with his kids

Peekaboo!

Makenlee's first fruit pizza...we helped her eat it

Update on the Cole family Spring 2010

Hello Pine Cove friends and family!  I hope that you all are doing well and that you are enjoying the spring weather!  My front porch here close to camp looks like someone painted it yellow from all the pollen in East Texas.  The Cole household has had quite a few changes as of late, and we wanted to let you all know about them.  Here are a few updates:

My wife Janna gave birth to our first baby, Makenlee Joy Cole, on Texas’ Day of Independence…March 2^nd for you non-Texans.  It was very exciting and crazy!  She was born with a fever that caused an infection. She had to stay in the NICU for about 5 more days to receive IV antibiotics.  We finally got to bring her home when she was a week old.  Janna is doing great with her and now that she is six weeks old, she is already almost sleeping through the night.  Makenlee is a very sweet, calm quite baby…a personality just like her Daddy’s- YEAH RIGHT!

Second, we are sadly but excitedly announcing our departure from Pine Cove.  April 30^th will be my last day as the Development Coordinator. I will then begin with Edward Jones as a Financial Advisor within Tyler or North Dallas area.  We will find out our location for sure sometime this summer, so until then we will still only be a few miles away from camp.  I am extremely excited about the opportunity to continue to build solid, long-lasting relationships through my service with people from all walks of life.  It will be a huge change in our life, but a welcomed change and challenge.

Pine Cove, as we all agree is a very special place, but when you work here for 1/3 of you life as I have, it is a little weird thinking about all of the memories and lessons learned.  However, we are extremely grateful for the growth, opportunity, partnership, loyalty and blessings we have received throughout my 8 summers here and 5 1/2 years of resident staff work.  The Lord changed my life through Pine Cove; through the other staff, through service, my own wife and I met and serviced here, but also the campers that attend.  The examples and relationships that we have built with the families of Pine Cove have probably been the biggest blessing of all and you will be missed. 

If you want to stay in contact with us, our contact information is as followed. Janna and I have also started a blog if you would like to keep up with out family.

Mark’s cell: 903-363-4973

Janna’s cell 214-597-1886

Our prayer is that you continue to do as Paul wrote to the church of Ephesus in chapter 4, “…to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” Please continue living out your calling; as a husband-be that husband, as a wife-be that wife, as a family in your community and church-be that family.  Our family, Janna and I, have a mission statement that I will bid farewell with, and our desire is that we live out our calling as individuals and as a family everyday.  It helps to remind us and keep our foundation the same.  We love you and wish to keep in contact with you.

The Cole family joyfully lives to be generous, disciplined, and purposeful while pursuing excellence for the sake of Jesus Christ, our Redeemer.