July 11, 2017 - What a Glorious Day!

What a glorious day!

About 6 months ago, Mason was in the bathtub and he randomly asks me to baptize him. Truthfully, it caught me off guard. We talk about Christ in our house, we read Bible stories and we pray, but honestly we don't make it to church nearly as often as we should.  I bought myself some time by saying "Buddy, that's great! That is something your Daddy would like to be part of. Let's talk about it with him some more."  We then had a whopping 2 minute conversation about what being baptized meant.  To my surprise, Mason knew exactly what it meant. That moment, I prayed that the desire to seek Jesus wouldn't be a fleeting comment, but be the start of a true relationship between him and God.  I remember feeling scared excited that a bit of what we say to him is actually sinking in. I thought about all the seemingly brief, but crazy deep, conversations Richard and his Nannie (Val Snyder) had with Mason and that those small, but mighty, seeds that were planted were actually growing roots.

Fast forward to our annual family trip to St. Pete's Beach. The entire side of the Moss/Snyder family takes over these quaint little condos right on the beach.  From a distance, we see Nannie (Val Snyder, Richard's mom) coming towards the ocean. She was alone, which was a small miracle in itself, because there are 10 kids here who think she hung the moon and any time you see Val, she's typically has a gaggle of grandkids following her, like a mother goose with her ducklings.  She was at the pool and had decided she just needed some beach time... Mase sees her and says "I want to be baptized." I could tell Richard had a lump in his throats upon hearing this... he had a private moment with Mason and asked Mason if he knew what that meant.  Mason said "it's when you want Jesus in your heart."

So, here comes Nannie walking down the beach and wading in the water - totally unsuspecting of the HUGE request and responsibility that would be requested of her.  Richard said "Mason, do you want Nannie to baptize you?" Val laughed nervously and Mason said yes.  Even though Val was seemingly unprepared, she took Mason and baptized him.

I say 'seemingly unprepared' because Val is not a preacher; this isn't something she's done before.  Of course I know, and any person who has ever met Val knows, that Val is one of the most faithful, spiritually strong women there is.  She has a true, genuine relationship with the Lord and doesn't get caught up in the legalism of religion - she is caught up in the RELATIONSHIP with Jesus, so while she may have felt like she was 'winging it' I cannot think of anyone more qualified.

St. Pete's Beach 2017

I grew up Methodist.  Baptism by 'dunking' wasn't something that was emphasized in my church.  Off and on throughout my early adult years, I'd dabble in Christianity.  I was a believer, but my walk would sometimes veer off course and I'd get distracted with life.  When I was in my mid-30's and we lived at Lake of the Ozarks, I was invited to join a women's book study with some amazing women.  It was a commitment.  Every Sunday night, we would faithfully leave our families and spend a couple of hours encouraging each other as mothers, wives, and Christians.

I had contemplated baptism as an adult but typically talked myself out of it... I mean, kids get baptized - adults should already be baptized, especially those who claim to be Christians, right?!  Besides, I had a relationship with Jesus, so what does it matter if I'm baptized.  I put up spiritual resistance because I didn't feel it was necessary.  Then, I got distracted - this time with cancer.

After 2 years of dealing with cancer, I had regained my physical health and started to direct my attention to my spiritual health.  I started reading.  I started thanking and thinking.  I prayed for guidance.  I talked to friends who were strong in their faith.  My husband, jokingly and lovingly, told me I was going to Hell since I wasn't baptized.  And when I would feel that quite nudge to get baptized, I would quickly brush that thought aside.  The thought of getting paraded in front of a church I occasionally attended, in front of strangers I did not know, and taking this oath from some preacher I hadn't had a conversation with prior felt contrived and inauthentic.  Not my style.

But baptism continued to enter my thoughts and I realized it wasn't about what I wanted, it was about being obedient, something I struggle with and continually fight spiritually.  So, I took advantage of Val being there to baptize Mason and asked her to baptize me, too.  I remember rising out of the water and feeling a bit of relief, as my own baptism is something that has weighed on my heart for the past 10 years.

Richard and Val

What an amazing afternoon that hot, sunny day (July 11, 2017) at the beach.  I got to witness my son be baptized by his grandmother.  Richard got to watch his mom baptize his son and his wife.  Val got the honor of baptizing her grandson and daughter-n-law.  It was this moment that lots of seemingly random events led up to, although I know they weren't random at all: a perfectly intimate, organic moment our little family will cherish forever.

Merry Christmas From the Mossi

One of my favorite things ever is setting up Christmas.  The quiet house.  The tree lights.  The joy of thinking about the excitement in the morning.  Contemplating what the day is all about.  It makes me feel sappy every year! 

Christmas Eve was spent at Brad and Gala's house.  The kids were so excited to open presents!  

Looks like Darth was a good boy this year! 

Mason, age 6
Christmas 2016 

There were a lot of Nerf guns under the tree.
Warning to all guests: Watch out for sniper fire.  He's legit and has great aim.

Merry Christmas from the Moss family! 

Halloween 2016

Halloween is so fun when you are 6 years old.  The mountain of candy, the costumes, the stories of ghosts and witches...  Makes me think back to Halloween when I was a kid.

My brother, sister and I used to all play with our candy and make trades.  Mine would be neatly organized by category (chocolate, sour, gum, stuff I didn't like) and my stash would last me until Christmas.  Josh's would be all in a heaping, jumbled pile in a drawer in his room. Jill's would be something in the middle, and usually gone after two weeks ~ because she was so generous and share her candy with me while I was hoarding mine for a later date.  Mom would charge us a Reese's tax, claiming she needed to test those to make sure no one did anything bad to our candy.  Well played, Mom.  

And then there was the year that mom waited until the last minute to get pumpkins to carve.  By the time she went out, there were no more pumpkins left, so she came home with these pre-carved foam pumpkins thinking it would be okay.  Or the year it was bitter cold and raining and she said if we would just forego trick or treating, she would take us to the store and buy any kind of candy for us we wanted.  All great memories.  

Sidenote: Now that I'm a mom, I completely get putting off pumpkin carving until the last minute and hoping the kiddo doesn't actually ask to carve a pumpkin.  It's messy.  And its taking a sharp knife and trying to carve into a round, slippery, hard pumpkin.  Sounds like a recipe for a trip to the ER if you ask me.  And, if it were raining, I would totally take Mase to trick or treat the aisles at Walmart and just get a few bags of candy and call it good.  

Mason wants to be Deadpool this year.  I've not seen the R rated movie, and neither has he.  But he insists... Lucky for me no full masks at his school Halloween party, so he's going as a skeleton to school.  Cute little bag 'o bones, don't you think?

Florida 2016

A New Chapter

Late in the summer, Richard was presented with the opportunity to move to the Joplin Lowes.  The thought of moving back to Joplin wasn't really in our plans, but we all know that our plans aren't always His plan.  So, after some thoughtful consideration, we decided to make the move.  While we were so sad to leave the amazing family friends at Lake of the Ozarks, we are so thrilled to be closer to family.  

Our friends/new neighbors the Huskys brought down champagne to celebrate our new house.  It isn't ours quite yet, so we broke into the backyard.  We are so excited to be in the Summit Ridge neighborhood. 

Excited to start this new chapter ~ The Moss family back in Joplin... Where our unique little love story started.  

Looking forward to building new memories in Joplin and spending a lot more time with the extended family.

Time: Slow Down!

Mason - 6 years old

This kid!  Just turned 6 years old.  Loves playing outside with his dad, fishing with his dad, and pretty much doing anything else with his dad.  Dislikes books and coloring (surprisingly, school he loves school).  Is beyond smart and has a heart of gold.

Summer 2016

We packed a ton of fun into our 2016 summer!

Julie completed her 4th (and possibly last) half marathon
Joplin Memorial Run 2016

Mase graduated preschool from the Academy of Osage Hills.  That school was such a blessing!  

3rd annual Moss-a-palooza at St. Pete's Beach in Florida

We love the beach!

St. Pete's Beach 2016

My favorite picture from our beach vacation!  

Said goodbye to some great friends!  We will be moving in the Fall back to Joplin, MO.  It's bittersweet.  We know God has a plan for us, but goodness, it's going to be hard to leave these ladies! 

Colorado vacation with the Boyles!  Hiking, whitewater rafting and lots of laughs.

Baseball game with Papa Moose

Darth continues to grow.  He now is 70lbs. and thinks he's a lap dog. 

Offer excepted on our new house in Joplin!  Our friends, and soon to be neighbors, brought over champagne to celebrate! 

Spent several evenings boating with friends.