You may remember that Adam became “Metal-Mouth Hayes” about 14 moths ago.
Today the hardware came off! We now have new before and after pics – In reverse! See how excited he was to get his picture taken?
The Last Day of Metal-Mouth Adam Hayes
Look how pretty those pearly whites are – And look at how happy he is!!!
The Happy Non-Metal Mouth Adam Hayes
Tags: Adam, Braces, Family Pictures
I have had an increasing fascination with and desire to know more about China over the last couple of years. I am beginning to do a little reading, and hope to see what God has done through out the history of China, and what He is doing today.
I received this link to an urgent prayer request from China.
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I’m so excited to have another little Hayes coming – The more the better for me!
Here are the first pictures:
Tags: Family Pictures, Grand-Baby, Jon & Michelle
Tags: 1 John, Doug Hayes, Reformation Covenant Church, Sermon
Lately there has been a great deal of attention paid to the issue of Abortion, Planned Parenthood and Focus On the Family. My awareness of all that has been going on began with hearing that Focus on the Family had secured an advertisement for the Superbowl.
Not to be out done – Planned Parenthood sought to air it’s own opposing Pro-choice ad on the CBS coverage of the Superbowl – but was not approved by CBS. May God grant the prayers of Christ’s Church that this wicked institution would forever be destroyed!
Also, the National Organization for Women expressed their opposition to the Focus on the Family Super Bowl ad declares with a tone of outrage: “Standing alone, it sends the message that all women who give birth are heroes; it sends a message that abortion is always a mistake; and it is insulting to the one in three women in this country who have abortions.”
At the same time that this Super Bowl debate was raging – I receive a link to this video that, although graphic, powerfully calls people to oppose abortion. Everyone Against Abortion – Raise Your Hand
May God grant courage and moral outrage to publicly and consistently oppose abortion and those who are enemies of Christ and His Kingdom.
Tags: Abortion, Add new tag, Focus On The Family, Planned Parenthood, Pro-Life
I got the real pictures today that were only teasingly presented to us earlier in the week by Peter Mahar.
Waiting for Her Train to Come In
Colorful and Dramatic - As usual!
"Speak Lord, for your servant heareth!"
"Hi Dad, I'm Home! Thanks for picking me up!"
"Im Just So Happy!"
Life is Good
I know something you don't!
Pews at the Train Station - Who Knew?
Tags: Grace, Graduation, Pictures, Portland Train Station
This is Amara’s first serious talk with Daddy about friendships!
Tags: Add new tag, Amara, Friendships, Video
Peter Mahar took Grace’s graduation pictures.
Tags: Grace, Graduation
Amy and I have been married 10 years! What a joy she is, and is the greatest blessing in my life!
We always wanted to do something extra special for our 10th anniversary. We finally decided on a Cruise to the Bahamas, and chose to wait until November to avoid any possible hurricanes (Funny thing: There was a small hurricane the week before our cruise). We got a great deal on then newest and largest ever Carnival ship, the Dream.
Carnival Dream
We flew to New York city on November 13th and spent two wonderful days together in Manhattan, then traveled to Cape Canaveral, Florida; then down to two island in the Bahamas and then back on November 23rd.
Amy in Central Park
Doug in Central Park
Together on Gold Rock Beach
My Beautiful Bride
Happy Together!!!
Maybe someday I’ll get around to blogging some of the pictures I took.
Tags: Anniversary, Carnival Dream, Cruise, Vacation
Since Grace was born I looked forward to giving her a “Hope Chest.” It seems like something dads should do. But more than that, it is something that I have wanted to do to tell her how proud I am of her as a person, and young woman and someone that I know will be a wonderful wife, mother and grandmother. She has diligently prepared herself for her future as a homemaker, and I have every expectation that she will be a woman of greatness.
Amy suggested that I write a poem for this gift giving event. What you see below is not so much of a poem as poetic thoughts. I love you grace!
My Treasure
Great as all creation,
Are the treasures of God your Father,
With humanity the crowning glory.
We, His Covenant People, are His special Treasure.
Has He not promised to give us His best?
To open before us His good treasures – This is His pleasure.
Rain from the heavens, blessing on all the works of our hands,
To make us the head of the nations,
Giving us whole salvation and joy,
In love, to judge our sins, and vindicating us before our enemies.
All of these and more are laid up in store for us.
Unsealed are His treasures for those whom He has called sons and daughters.
Let us treasure up the Words of His mouth,
Greater than all other things necessary or desirable.
Let us rejoice at His utterances, His commands and promises,
As those who have found hidden treasures.
By the voice of Him who loves us,
We gain the greatest treasure of all,
God our Father!
Of all the treasures given to me by God your Father,
You, my daughter, are among the greatest!
Of course I treasure many things:
Some are contained only in my heart,
Others live in my home, While others are born to my children.
Some treasures could be put in wooden chests,
Hung on my walls, or worn as badges of pride in my reputation.
But you, my daughter,
Are a treasure so rare and wonderful,
I have nothing that compares to you.
You are a singular treasure,
Exceptional and unique in the world.
Who among the beautiful daughters of proud fathers,
Has such a desire to please with guileless trust,
Displaying rowdy joy and depth of empathy and concern?
You love with loyalty, you stand with truth,
You bring light and joy to me and all!
You, my daughter, are a treasure given by God my Father.
It is time, my dear daughter,
To fill your treasure chest,
With good gifts from God your Father.
To bless those in your world,
In anticipation and hope of the good future,
That is laid out before you by God your Father.
The day will come,
When you will become the greatest of all treasures,
To the one who will be the father of your greatest legacies and treasures.
In anticipation, I call upon you to make preparation,
To make yourself an even greater treasure than you are today!
“Wisdom and knowledge will be the stability of your times,
And the strength of salvation; The fear of the LORD is His treasure” Isaiah 33:6
Christmas Tide, 2009
On May 14th I made a post about the coming of the documentary movie about the Doug Wilson and Christopher Hitchens debate about atheism. Here is an interview of Doug Wilson by John Piper that wonderfully summarizes Doug’s goals, desires and thoughts about the movie “Collision.”
I received notice of this interview from American Vision
Tags: apologetics, atheism, Christopher Hitchens, debate, Doug Wilson, John Piper
Grandfather Hayes Baptizing Amara
The Sacrament Of Baptism
It’s a great privilege for me to baptized Amara this morning – My first grandbaby, daughter of my firstborn child, here with my parents. There are four generations of Hayes’ in this room, in addition to the almost innumerable families connected to the Shubins – and it reminds us of the faithfulness of God to His covenant promise to be our God and the God of our descendents. When God gave Abraham the sign of the covenant, circumcision, He said, (Gen. 17:7) “And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you.” In Christ, we are the children of Abraham, and the new new Israel of God. When people asked on the day of Pentecost what they should do in response the Gospel preached to them, the Apostle Peter said to them, Acts 2:38-39 “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”
The baptism of our children is a testimony that God our Father loves us so much that He brings our children into His family with us. They belong, with us who believe, to the membership of the church through the covenant made in Christ and confirmed to us by God in this sacrament which is a sign and seal of our cleansing, our engrafting into Christ and of our welcome into the household of God. Our Lord Jesus said (Mk. 10:14-16) “Let the little children to come to Me and do not forbid them, for of such is the kingdom of Heaven. Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter therein. And He took them up in His arms and put His hands upon them and blessed them.” The Apostle Paul also declared that the children of believers are to be numbered with the holy people of God.
In presenting your child for baptism do you confess your faith in Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord and do you promise, in dependence on the grace of God, to bring up your child in the nurture and admonition of the Lord?
Let us pray.
Most merciful and loving Father we thank You for the Church of Your dear Son, the ministry of Your Word, and the sacraments of grace. We praise You that You have given us so great and gracious promises concerning our children and that in mercy You call them to Yourself, marking them with this sacrament as a singular token and pledge of Thy love. We pray that what we now do on earth may be confirmed in heaven. As in humble faith we present this child to You, we ask You to receive her, to indue her with Your Holy Spirit and to keep her ever as Your own, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
What is the Christian name of this child? Amara Zion Hayes
Amara – Means “Eternally Beautiful” – Zion, or course is the City of God
The Bible tells us that Zion is the beautiful city of God – the place where His people gather to Him in song, praise and worship – the place to which the nations come from all the nations to learn the Truth of God. Hebrews tells us that each Lord’s Day we come Mount Zion and the city of the Living God, the heavenly Jerusalem – May the life and testimony of Amara Zion Hayes be a reflection of the beauty and glory of God in His Church.
Amara Zion Hayes, I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. And may the blessing of God the Father, and God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit descend upon you and rest upon you, now and forevermore. Amen.
This child is now received into Christ’s kingdom, and do you, the people of this congregation, in receiving this child, promise with God’s help to be her sponsors to the end that she may confess Christ as Lord and Saviour and come at last into His eternal Kingdom. If so answer, “Amen.” (Congregation responds ” Amen.”) Jesus said “Whosoever shall receive one such little child in My Name, receives Me.”
Let us pray.
Almighty and everlasting God, who of Your infinite mercy and goodness has promised that You will not only be our God, but also the God and Father of our children, we humbly ask You for this child, that Your Spirit may be upon her and dwell in her forever. Take her, we entreat You unto Your fatherly care and protection. Guide her and sanctify her, both in body and in soul. Grant her to grow in wisdom as in stature, in favor with God and men. Abundantly enrich her with Your heavenly grace. Bring her safely through the perils of childhood. Deliver her from the temptations of youth and lead her to witness a good confession and to persevere therein to the end. O God, our Father, give unto Your servants in whom You has committed this blessed trust the assurance of Your unfailing providence and care. Guide them with Your counsel as they teach and train their children. Help them to lead their household into an ever increasing knowledge of Christ and in a more steadfast obedience to His will. We commend to Your fatherly care the children and families of this congregation. Help us in our homes to honor You and by love to serve one another, and to Your name be all blessing and glory through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Grandfather, David, Kathy and Amara
Heaven ScentSmell her hair, rub your nose on her check
She is new and fresh
She is asleep and yet full of life
A gift given – and joy received
She is heaven scent
Like a sunny spring morning
With bird song and new blossom fragrance in the air
Hope and expectation everywhere abundant
God promises new life and joy in her cry
She is heaven scent
Too often our eyes are dimmed with concern
Too heavy our cares seem to be
Life sometimes has that musky smell of stale disappointment
And yet – In the peacefulness of her sleep – joy is remembered
She is heaven scent
Heaven is where the King rules
Heaven is where our love ascends
From heaven we look for all our prayers to be answered
From heaven we know that love always comes
She is the scent of heaven – A foretaste of joy’s aroma
Tags: Amara, Grammy Amy, Grandfather, poem
I am pleased to announce that I have my first grandchild in arms today!
She was born today, September 23, 2009 at about 2PM. She weighed in at 7 lb 9 oz, and is a cute 18 inches long.
Both mother and baby are healthy and happy – As a Grandfather and Grammy-Amy!!!
The Story (If you want you can listen to “We’re Marching To Zion” as you read on):
At our last family dinner night (usually every Thursday evening; Grammy-Amy has been giving special gifts to David & Kathy every week in anticipation of the previously unnamed and unborn treasure being carried by her mother) – We had the final celebration before the advent of our first grand-babe.
I normal get up for work about 5 AM each day. Today was no different, except that Grammy-Amy had already been up for an hour. Why? I asked her, rubbing my eyes with sleep clinging to them and with disbelief (if you know Amy you know why I say this). Her answer: “I couldn’t stay in bed any more. I was too excited!” She rode with David and Kathy to the labor and delivery building at Kaiser Permanente for the elective C-Section, arriving at about 6 AM to a bustling and crowded birthing center.
After about 2 hours they were told that because they have had so many more births and emergency C-sections than anticipated, Kathy would have to wait another 2 hours. And then another two hours. Finally, about the time poor starved and parched Kathy had come to the end of her ability to endure her deprivations and waiting (12:30 PM) – The doctor came in with a proposal to negotiate: “Either you can wait your turn (10 more deliveries) and have me do the C-Section – OR – Allow another, very competent, well rested and fresh doctor just coming on shift do your C-Section next.” Which is it? Duh!!! Doctor Now!!!
She was wheeled into surgery at about 1:15 PM (with an enthusiastic doctor-wanna-be David at hand), and our dear grand-babe was born at about 2 PM.
At about 2:30 PM David marched out to the waiting area and proudly announced that she is born. We all cheered and waited anxiously for him to finish, and then I finally asked, with impatient urgency, “What’s her name!” David sheepishly responded, “We don’t really want to say until you see the baby and Kathy can be there.” We all, supportively, assured him that we understood (although we were all feeling bitterly disappointed).
He threw us a bone though, and told us that he could say that she weighed 7 lb 9 oz, and was 28 inches long. We had a good laugh at that – but he was absolutely sure that she is 28″ in length. Bless his heart – New fathers are so fun! He later repented of his error and confessed the truth, and we were faithful and just to forgive his ignorance and put it all behind us!
Baby's First Bath!
Grandfather
The Proud and Heroic Mother - Kathy the Great!
What a marvelous name for a beautiful child. Of course grandfathers are generally ones that consider all of their children to be beautiful – In this case it is most certainly true, as attested by the witness of all who have seen her so far!
Grammy-Amy
Aunt Gracie
Uncle Adam
Daddy and Daughter
Amara Zion Hayes
Daddy is a real man! The First to Change Amara's diaper!
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