Kenan Boshamer Smith Auton

We are proud to introduce the newest member of the Auton family, Kenan Boshamer Smith Auton. We just call him Kenan. He is quite the cuddler and the best part is his puppy breath!

School Starts!

School started this week! Jake is my big second grader and Nati Grace started Kindergarten. I am so proud of both of them. We made it through the week just fine. The conversation this morning was an interesting one.

This morning's happenings: Nati Grace declared, "Bub, I do not need you walking me to my classroom anymore. I am a big girl and I know where I am going!" Jake looked back and said, "Sure." Then, without the slightest hesitation, he turned to me and with a wink said, "Don't worry, Mom. I'll hide around the corner and make sure she gets there."

Nati's Knots Blog

I have a new blog set up. It's not up and running completely yet, but I hope it will be by the end of next week. Don't worry... this is still my personal blog. My new blog will be solely for the purpose of Nati's Knots. Take a look and enjoy.. when it's done!

http://www.natisknots.blogspot.com/

The Lord's Supper... Jake Style!

Thought you would enjoy Jake's thoughts that he had on communion this morning. First, he has bad allergies. Secondly, he is a new believer. Third, he's the PK. He thought he would join the three together!

This morning while getting ready for school I was giving Jake his daily dose of Claritin. He quickly asked, "Mom, this isn't the Benadryl stuff I had to take yesterday, is it?"

Benadryl does to Jake like it does to most of us... puts him in lala land and he sleeps for a couple of hours. But, since he was having serious allergy issues yesterday, I knew the Benadryl would be a quick help.

"No, it isn't Bendadryl. Why?" I asked and nothing could prepare me for his answer. "Well, I was just thinking that the next time we have the Lord's Supper at church, we could give everybody Benadryl. It looks like blood and everyone will feel real good after they drink it! Then, Daddy wouldn't have to preach because they would all be asleep."

So, beware of the Communion Cup!

Go A's!!!

Baseball Season is well underway. Here's a look back at Opening Day. GO A's!!!

Five years ago today...

...we welcomed the princess into the family! Life has never been the same!

Hair Net Ready!

The field trip was rather normal to begin with. Lots of first graders, busy teachers, talkative parents, and the smell of diesel school buses were surrounding us! Stevie B's Pizza was in full field trip mode!

On deck for the day was a tour of the local Pizza Parlor kitchen, yummy lunch, and then a glance behind the scenes at the Publix Grocery Store next door. The kitchen was interesting and the pizza was even better tasting. Jake definitely got his $3.99 worth from the buffet. Man, that kid can EAT!

We were then off to Publix. What a wonderful lesson for the kids. They learned in the Pharmacy Dept. that it really is important to be able to count by fives. The Produce Dept. was a reminder that fruit and vegetables really are good for you. The warehouse in the back of the store amazed them, particulary the ice cream freezers! The Bakery was a reminder that Science is used in everyday life and the cookies were good too! The Meat Dept. provided a lesson in dividing a chicken into pieces and also a reminder that I don't look so hot in a hair net!

Before the next field trip I will try to remember to practice the art of the hair net updo! I'll be ready!

"...preach the word; be ready in season and out of season..." 2 Timothy 4:2a

Making pizza!

Buds!

Jake can eat his weight in pizza!
Mrs. Ramsey taking a well deserved lunch break!

Our new "do."

Cafe de Auton

Menu:

Homemade Waffles with Maple Syrup

Cheesey Eggs

Thick-sliced Bacon

Big ole glass of milk

Hugs

Kisses

Cute kids

A bunch of fun!

"O taste and see that the Lord is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!" ~Psalm 34:8

Going to Space

S is for SPACE! Nati Grace was ready to visit the moon on Thursday. When I picked her up from preschool I asked how the visit was. She responded, "Mommy, did you know we didn't really go to the moon? It was nothing but pretend... and the rocket was just a silly elevator! One day I am going to the moon for serious!"


She still made for a super cute astronaut and for her going to the moon... I don't doubt her at all!

"To Him who made the great lights, for His lovingkindness is everlasting: The sun to rule by day, for His lovingkindness is everlasting, the moon and stars to rule by night, for His lovingkindness is everlasting." ~Pslam 136:7-9

The Zookeeper

On Monday, the first grade at Jake's school celebrated Dr. Seuss's birthday! They each dressed up as a Dr. Seuss character, had a parade, and then listened to lots of different stories by Dr. Seuss. I was honored to be a reader for the classes. What fun!

Jake was the zookeeper from the book If I Ran the Zoo. We created his costume the best we could with a messed up tie, a special hat, and a pillow to supply the big belly! I decided I would kinda dress up too. However, I figured I didn't need the bad hair day from the hat and my belly did not need to be accentuated. So... I just joined in on the fun tie.

"A joyful heart is good medicine..." ~Proverbs 17:22a

Snaggle-Toothed

Jake has finally lost a tooth! He visited the dentist yesterday for a cleaning with a semi-loose tooth. He left with another semi-loose tooth and one tooth gone! It's amazing what a little numbing gel and an extra-hard brushing by the hygenist can do for a tooth!


The Tooth Fairy came and brought $1 for the tooth and an extra $1 because it was so CLEAN (another benefit of an extra-hard brushing by the hygenist)! Along with the cash to pay for the tooth, she left "fairy dust" all over his bed, pillow, and face!!!! It's a little hard to see in the pictures, but one shows the evidence!

"You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.' " ~Matthew 5:38

"Snaggled"

Checking out the Loot!

"Fairy Dust"

Where will we put all the cars?

It is amazing to think that it is going to be over 70 degrees this weekend! Last weekend we had SNOW! As the snowflakes began to drift to the ground, I could see in the eyes of my children dreams of snowball fights, snowmen, and hot chocolate. Figuring that it might not happen again for quite a while, I decided their snow dreams needed to come true.

After a fierce snowball fight between Jake and Jamie (Nati Grace wasn't so fond of a snowball fight afterall) we decided to build the cutest little snowman you can ever imagine. We found acorn shells for his eyes, placed a carrot on for his nose, and I rumaged around until I found some black buttons for his belly. While Jake was finding his stick arms, Nati Grace thought he needed a broom. She thought a flower not yet destroyed by the ice would be the perfect "snow broom." He really was a cutie!

With our fill of snow fun, we headed inside for nothing less than the perfect ending of a snow... hot chocolate! Jake and Nati Grace were chatting it up while pulling on their warm and cozy pj's and I just had to ask what they were in such heavy discussion about. Nati Grace looked at me and asked, "Where will we put all the cars?"

I didn't get it! When I asked for some clarity on the car parking issue, Jake shared that they were concerned that "all the people" would want to come see their snowman and since our driveway was not very big they just were worried we wouldn't have enough space to park all the cars.

Oh, my. They were confident that the snowman was so wonderful that once people found out they would be cramming our street to just take a peek at the Snowly Acclaimed Snowman! Well, the people never came. Jake explained it was because we didn't tell anyone it was here.

I got it! Childlike faith believes that when people know how wonderful something is... they will seek it. Childlike faith believes that if we simply tell people... they will come. Childlike faith believes that when people realize how wonderful something is... we will have to ask the question: where will put all the cars?

When was the last time you were so excited about what Christ was doing in your life that you invited "all the people" to come and see?

" How then shall they call upon Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shal they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, 'How beautiful are the feet of those who bring glad tidings of good things! However, they did not all heed the glad tidings; for Isaiah says, 'Lord, who has believed our report?' So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ." ~Romans 10:14-17

Best Friends

After a fierce game of UNOAttack (my children are addicted to all UNO games), I walked back in the den to find the two competitors snuggled up together. I took a moment to thank God for the friends that Jake and Nati Grace are to each other. They are truly concerned for the other's well-being and happiness (unless they are playing UNO) and when asked, claim each other as their best friend!

My prayer is that their friendship remains, grows stronger in the Lord, and will be a witness to the world of the love of Christ!

"A friend loves at all times..." ~Proverbs 17:17

A Few Things I've Learned

Nati Grace has regrettably been a sick little one over the last few weeks. Although we still have a few tests left to be done, we believe she is back to normal and we are trusting that the doctors will let us know of any concerns that we should have. For now, we are praising God that life in the Auton house has returned to life as usual.

I am convinced more and more that God chooses to refine me when I am least expecting it and through circumstances that are not necessarily spiritual in nature. Most of my spiritual growth has come not from formal Bible Study (although God has prepared me through Bible Study) but from everyday life experiences where the realization comes clear that ultimately God cares about the little things and the major times of struggle in my life. Truly, unless I give ALL of it to him, nothing will become of me and I cannot give Him the glory He deserves.

After 2 weeks of Nati Grace struggling to stay healthy, her pediatrician advised me to stay at home with her for at least a week to allow her immune system time to heal and become ready to face the world again.

Refinement Lesson #1: I am replaceable, God is not. Yes, all the ministry areas that I lead or help in at the church can be done by someone else. The world can go on. I was forced to stay at home for a whole week and the world continued just fine without me. Things may not have been done the way I would have done them, but they were done. I am NOT the ultimate in "my" areas of ministry... Jesus is! What did I learn? If something in the ministries that I participate in does not bring glory to Jesus Christ, it need not be done! I need to be more sensitive to the ideas of others and allow others to join in the leadership of ministries and allow the implementation of their ideas to bring glory to God! This should be my first priority in word and deed... to bring glory to Jesus Christ alone!

Refinement Lesson #2: The way that I can most glorify Christ is by loving and caring for my family. Now, I have known this for a very long time. The issue is that sometimes we need correction from God that it does not need to be just a priority by statement but also a priority through action. What did I learn? I am SO blessed by God with an amazing family. I truly love them more than any other human, any possession, and/or any personal goals or aspirations. I need to humble my own personal dreams and live the dream that God has called to be my second priority: to love my family by serving and to humble myself to meet their needs above my own.

Refinement Lesson #3: Personal Pride is useless! How did God remind me of this one? Two words for you: Stool Samples! Not only was I reminded that a mother will do anything for her children, but I was also reminded that I am not above anyone or any duty that is placed before me. What did I learn? Pride is useless. God is all. No task is too menial for me to complete.

Refinement Lesson #4: God cares for my needs and the needs of my family. God was not shocked by how my heart would feel. He was very aware that for me staying at home for 7 days straight was going to be a challenge. He was very aware that my love for my children would cause me to do whatever it takes, with His help, to take care of them. What did I learn? God is sufficient for the big problems in life, for the menial tasks, and even for the lonely times. God is SUFFICIENT!
"And He has said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.' Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong." ~2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Times... They are A-Changin'!

Hmmm... what can happen in 3 months? Surely, not much has changed in the 3 measly months that I have taken a hiatus from blogging. Hmph! It seems that everyday brings great changes. So... let me play the catch up game really quickly! Let's see... our sweet Jake accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his Savior and we rejoice in his relationship with God, Jake turned 7 (my heart aches!), Nati Grace performed as a little pig in her Preschool Christmas Program, our church began a new contemporary service, we celebrated the birth of Christ with my parents and my dad's cousin, we brought in the New Year in North Carolina with Jamie's parents, my last living grandparent passed away, my duties as the Georgia Baptist Ministers' Wives President continued during the Winter Retreat, we were reunited with a precious friend, Jamie is pre-applying to begin his Doctorate of Ministry Degree, and Nati Grace has been sick for a little over 2 weeks (more on that at a later time).


Oh yes, things change quickly! Life continues when we are not looking. And yet, one thing remains constant. Even as a swarm of changes, good and bad, continued to happen, God granted me constant peace and encouragement that HE never changes. HE is ever loving, just, kind, gracious, full of mercy, and forgiving. HE is always perfect, all-knowing, and always present!


Jake Celebrating His Birthday at His Over Night Party!

Can you find our little piglet?

Christmas Eve!

The Whole Clan trying out Jake's new video game!


New Year's with the all the Autons!

Happy Thanksgiving

I am so very thankful for the blessings that that have been given to me and our family! From the Autons to you...

Happy Thanksgiving!

"Let us come before him with thanksgivng and extol him with music and song." ~Psalm 95:2

Take the Challenge!

In a few days, we will be stuffing ourselves with turkey, dressing, and pecan pie. Every year I tell myself..."Next year I am going to make a list of the things that I am thankful for." Every year I wonder why I didn't make a list of things to thank God for blessing me with. Perhaps it is because I am afraid that I will leave something out. Or maybe, I don't create a list because I am embarassed of the things that I am thankful for (dark chocolate would definitely be on the list). Most likely, I resist making a list of things that I am thankful for because it would take away many of my reasons to do one of the most natural human things... complain!

Do you ever find yourself complaining about the economy, gas prices, the OTHER political party, grocery prices... the list can go on and on until it gets personal. Oh, yes, we seem to complain about our spouses, the kids, being too busy, being bored, and my favorite choice of complaint, being tired! The list goes on and on. And yet, I am more blessed than I ever deserve. It is only by the undeserving mercy of Christ that I have the things that I do and that I have the opportunity to enjoy the simplest things in life, including dark chocolate.

God's Word tells us this:

"But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, and having been greed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness." ~Romans 6:17-18

"Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms. For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods." ~Psalm 95:2-3

"It is good to give thanks to the Lord, and to sing praises to Thy name, O most High..."
~Psalm 92:1

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let you requests be made known to God." ~Philippians 4:6

"I shall wash my hands in innocence, and I will go about Thine altar, O Lord, that I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving, and declare all Thy wonders." ~Psalm 26:6-7

It is clear that we should be giving thanks and not complaining. So here is the challenge to myself and to you: between now and Thanksgiving, make a list of at least 100 things that you are thankful for. Simple, yes. I imagine that if we all attempt it, we will find that we will quickly surpass 100 and be well on our way to several hundreds of things that we can be thankful for. Don't get to worried about whether something is "important" enough to be included. Number 1 on my list is salvation, next will be my husband, children, and family. I will name each one. But, I am sure, the simple pleasure of dark chocolate will also be on my list, as well as, birds singing, sunrises, and cell phones. Do you see where this may lead? We may have so many things to be thankful for that we forget how to complain... or at least make it not the first reaction in our life! My hope is that I will be so busy giving thanks to God, that I will notice fewer things for my complaining.

So, get your lists started! I would love to see what is on your list. You may add your list to the comments section on the blog, email them to me, or post them on facebook. Look out for my list...I have already started it! I hope the bug of giving thanks spreads!

Take the challenge! Give thanks!



Mylist begins:
1. Salvation from my sin

2. Jamie- my sweet husband... oh, how I love this man! I am so thankful that God designed us for each other before time began!

3. Jake and Nati Grace and the understanding of how much my mother loves me!

4. Mother and Daddy

5. Jamie's Mom and Dad

6. Marty- the greatest brother

7. Deena- for putting up with the greatest brother

8. Chad and Emily

9. Nephew and Nieces- Lee, Ashlyn, Lindsey, Olivia, Payden

10.Friends- God has been gracious enough to me to grant me close girlfriends, usually when I wasn't even looking for them. No matter my stage in life, whether it be childhood, highschool, college, seminary days, or simply in life, God has made sure that I go very little time without a close friend that I can laugh, smile, tease, and cry with. I don't have to name names... you know who you are.

11. knowing and spending time with all 4 of my grandparents- I recognize that not everyone has the opportunity to have cherished memories of even 1 grandparent much less all 4!

12. Chuck and Ann Stewart

13. King Spring Baptist Church

14. God's Word

15. Friends- lots of them... I am undeserving and yet you choose to laugh with me and I am thankful that I get to laugh with you! So many memories....

16. apples

17. fuzzy house slippers

18. Jake's jokes

19. laughing

20. boat rides

21. Marietta Baptist Camp

22. Nurse Susan

23. manicures

24. pedicures

25. dark chocolate---hmmm... I think I need a piece. I think dark chocolate is proof that I have far beyond my needs... I just thankful that God chooses to give me some of my desires as well! :)

26. singing birds

27. AWANA

28. Worship Band at KSBC

29. Bible Study-- that I have a Bible, the tools to learn from it, and that God gives me the desire despite my human nature.

30. roses

31. cameras

32. memories

33. photographs

34. mashed potatoes

35. milkshakes

36. macaroni and cheese

37. clean water to drink and bathe

38. antibiotics

39. Nati Grace's pictures of people

40. Jake's imagination

41. books

42. education

43. Georgia Baptist Ministers' Wives

44. handwritten letters in the mail!!!!

45. Christmas cards

46. puppies

47. bunnies

48. email

49. Autumn leaves

50. cars

------- I am halfway there and I have just begun of things that I can be thankful for. Some may sound silly to you, but I am willing to thank God for the little things. I know that He is interested in the details of my life... I need to be willing to thank Him for the details! How is your list looking?

51. being able to watch Jamie watch sports- he loves it sooo much!

52. that my husband is my pastor-- he is such an amazing preacher and leader

53. seeing my daughter dress up like a princess

54. Jake's Little League Baseball Games

55. walking on the beach

56. babies

God's:
57. righteousness

58. grace

59. mercy

60. lovingkindness

61. compassion

62. truth

63. faithfulness

64. discipline

65. instruction

66. omnipresence

67. omniscience

68. omnipotence

69. I am so very thankful that the character of God does not change. Even as I sit and reflect on His character, it would be of no worth if he was a God that changeable!

70. cozy pajamas

71. campfires

72. dates

73. birthdays

74. pictures that my children draw for me

75. funny movies

76. playing games with friends

77. my house

78. Nati Grace liking dresses... and hairbows!

79. marriage

80. rest and sleep

81. buttermilk pie

82. being an American

83. American soldiers

84. Dogwoods in bloom

85. sweet tea

86. North Greenville University

87. Contemporary Christian Music

88. Southern Baptist Convention

89. water tubing

90. air conditioning/ heat

91. indoor plumbing!!!

92. candles

93. that God allows me to sing for Him

94. reading to my kids

95. hearing Jake and Nati Grace say their prayers every night!

96. time spent with my husband

97. blue jeans

98. tears of joy

99. nose kisses

100. the promise that God has a plan for me and that He has promised me an abundant life!

Now...

Last week we got a special visit from the Stewarts! For those of you who do not know the Stewarts, let me introduce you to them. Chuck and Ann Stewart are two very precious people to the Auton family! They attend Hinesville Baptist Church where Jamie served as Associate Pastor for 2 years.

My children think that the Stewarts are just another set of grandparents and the Stewarts think of Jake and Nati Grace as their own as well! Not only are they precious to Jake and Nati Grace, but they are also very special to Jamie and myself!

Saturday morning, while breakfast was cooking, Ann was getting ready for the day. After showering, a little make-up, and some hair "fixing," Jake took a good look at Ann and declared, "Mrs. Stewart, now you look like you."

I have to admit, I have seen Ann with morning hair and no makeup, and she is still a beautiful lady! But I did begin to think about the implication of what Jake had to say. I know what I look like without makeup... kinda like my life without Christ! UGH!

Before Christ, I and every other believer, has the appearance of the world. We think like the world, do business like the world, treat others as the world would treat them and quite frankly our lives are all about one thing: ourselves! However, according to Romans 12, we see that the apostle Paul is reminding the Romans to renew their mind so that they may know the will of God. Hmmm... renewing my mind. How will that change the things I do, the ways I think, the way that I view the will of God? Perhaps, we need to be reminded that once were are believers we have the righteousness of Christ placed on us and that unlike makeup, it never comes off, never smudges, and never fades! I, you, we need to begin living with a renewed mind!

"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. For though the grace given to me I say to every man among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgement, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith." ~Romans 12:2-3

Singing Loud and Proud!

Loud, proud, and smiling, Jake sang his best during the 1st grade PTA performance at Cheatham Hill Elementary last Thursday! The songs were amazing, the outfits were cute, and the kids were just adorable. While Jake was singing my heart was singing to the Lord in thanksgiving for my little man! My favorite song was warning turkeys that Thanksgiving is coming... enjoy!

"The Lord is my strength and my shield;

My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped;

Therefore my heart exults,

And with my song I shall thank Him."

~Psalm 28:7

Gigi and a Brave

Halloween in the Willowbrook Subdivision is unlike any other I have ever seen. Instead of everyone trick-or-treating on their own, our neighborhood goes all together. After getting together at a neighbor's house a few snacks and treats, all the kids pile into the back of a pickup truck and go house to house to trick-or-treat. The comedy of the whole routine is that the kids spend more time getting in and out of the truck than walking to the houses! The parents tag along behind...mostly, to help the kids get in and out of the truck! It is simply hilarious!

After the trick-or-treating was over, we returned home to eat dinner with the Weavers. Oh, the fun that we had with costumes! Nati Grace just had to be Gigi, God's Little Princess, complete with a giant black wig, wand, and crown! Jake, decided to be a Brave. No, not a Indian Brave, a Baseball Brave! Much to Jamie's dismay... Jake is becoming a Braves fan!

I can only hope and pray that Nati Grace will fully understand what it means to be God's own and that Jake will not only be a Brave but brave for the Lord Jesus Christ!

"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction

of things not seen." ~Hebrews 11:1

Gigi and the Brave

Jamie the Princess and Kati and the Black Wig!!!

Amy the Gangsta and Justin, aka Zoolander