Caitlin came to see us tonight. Isn't she beautiful? She's 9 years old now and I can barely get my chin on top of her head. We had a Sunday School party in our plans, but she was game to go with us. And she loved it. Of course, she was the only child there among all us grandparents---and got all the attention, I might add.
We had a pumpkin carving contest and Caitlin was the judge. I'm afraid she may have been corrupted---a couple of groups tried bribing her! But she chose the pumpkin that was carved laying on it's side that was "puking." Yep. It had pumpkin seeds and pulp coming out it's mouth. Quite a statement by a bunch of grandparents!!
Then we went inside and sang around the piano. And being the age we are, we sang hymns. You know, we're really the borderline generation. We began learning choruses in high school. In fact, some of the songs we sang tonight were from a musical we sang way back then. (He's Everything To Me) I like to think we're the open-minded generation---we like hymns, choruses, praise & worship music, etc. Or at least, I do.
But tonight, I was kind of sad as I watched 9-year-old Caitlin trying to sing along with us. She knew none of the hymns. And it made me sad to realize these songs are going to be "lost" with our generation. And I'm not a hard-nosed person who thinks that we need a hymn for each worship song we sing. But tonight, I really listened to the words of some of the songs we sang. They were extolling God, calling us to worship Him and to give testimony to the great things He has done in our lives. I know the debate that praise songs are "to" God and most hymns are "about" God---but we need both. Tonight, I saw the hymns in a different light. It was one generation telling the next generation about the God they serve----and why.
Well...after the party, Caitlin talked Pops into going and getting her a pumpkin so she could try her own hand at carving. Why, you may ask, does a 9-year-old have a knife in hand, doing her own carving? Because she's being overseen by a fussy grandfather who guides each stroke of her knife and constantly reminds her not to slit her wrist. Seriously. She's very proud of her first pumpkin. She says it's a tradition in her family that her daddy carves the pumpkins. Gee....I wonder where he gets that???
10 comments:
My goodness she has grown up so much. She's a beautiful little girl.
I love hymns. I sing them around the house all day. I hope that my kids grow up knowing all kinds of music...of course, I am married to a music guy. But I really think that lots of people in our generation like hymns...and kind of miss them.
Also, seriously?? Matt carves pumpkins?? That is a bit scary! :)
Oh, and who did the puking pumpkin...Jodina????
Oh...and I like your pumpkin, Caitlin! It's better than I could do.
No...the group that did the puking pumpkin was led by Lucille Horst, who was the ring-leader on the puking, I think!
Well...you know Matt probably does the carving to save his kids from his former fate. (For those who don't know, Matt slit his wrists when he was about 12 while cutting a tennis ball. It's a one of our favorite family stories---David calling 911, the fire trucks, ambulance and police all arriving----while both parents were no where to be found!!)
Nice pumpkin, Caitlin! I LOVE hymns. That's weird, Amy. I also walk around the house singing them. We just bought a Christian CD for the kids that has some hymns on it. I hope we don't forget to teach them those songs. They really don't write lyrics like that anymore!
AW she's so gorgeous. What a great time and great pictures.
We love hymns too! Actually Curt is the one that really enjoys them. We have a few CD's with all hymns. I am going to look into getting a kid CD with hymns.
Awesome job, Caitlin! I miss the hymns sometimes too. Remeber the "singings" Mom & Dad used to have? Funny, I remember being @ Violas singing more - why is that?
I too was thinking of Matt slicing his wrist as I read about him cutting pumpkins!! LOL Poor Matt. I've always wondered if he is questioned by Drs. about that scar - and if they believe him. LOL
Believe it or not, but the Hymn/praise song thing is a big issue here, too. Many of the older adults are saddened to think that the hymns they grew up with are "dying out" too. Small world!
I also love hymns. They have a nostalgia about them...each one takes me back to church as a little girl. I especially love the "modernized" hymns-same words, but more "praise-ish." I definitely agree, we can't forget these beautiful songs.
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