Baptism planned!

On November 11 we will walk up these steps to bring Leon and Aliou to the Sacrament of Holy Baptism. We never intended to wait so long. All of our infants have been baptized within 3 weeks of birth. That's how we prefer to do it. But with the early summer Mass schedule and our Priest undergoing cancer treatments (please pray for his full recovery!) it just kept getting pushed out further. It's been interesting having the time to talk with them about baptism. Leon, especially, talks about it and desires it.

For those of you who are not local, this is the same little church where Michael and I were married 14 years ago and where all of the children have been baptized. It is the same church that participated in a bake sale fundraiser to help bring Leon and Aliou home. With their help the sales and donations totaled over $2200!

Please join us in praying for them on their big day.

Name Change

I've just changed the name of our little blog. It took me a little while to think of something meaningful. This quote from Elizabeth Foss explains what I mean by "The Overflow."

"Serendipity represents what we are actually doing in the heart of my home. It's blogging from the overflow, the afterglow. It is a record of our learning but it is not nor will it ever be anything but the bubbling over of the good that exists in my real life with my real children. I won't rob from them to blog for someone else. I will, however, gratefully share from abundance."

Many, many times I have found my feelings and aspirations in Elizabeth's words before I was able to put them into words myself. She has been an unknowing e-mentor and inspiration. I can't wait to hear her talks from this summer's conference!

Contrast

I was inspired by a lively discussion about Waldorf inspired, Catholic home education on my favorite forum when some one sent me this video. A marvelous contrast. It also served as a good examination of conscience. How many of these things have I found myself saying and do I want to continue saying them?

Also being a serious type, I was delighted to find something that made me laugh until I cried. Anything that makes me laugh like that is worth holding on to for for future use. Here is a book that had the same effect.

A dying breed

I read in a recent National Geographic Magazine that red heads will be just about extinct by the year 2100. Normally it takes a red headed couple to pass on the gene according to the article. That wasn't the case with our resident red head above and his brother. Their hair showed up out of no where. I'm especially fond of this red head. He came with brownish red eyes as well and he can even get a tan! I'll bet THIS type of red head is even more rare.

One of my favorite replies when some one asks about the number of children we have is that we are "trying for a red head." But according National Geographic our chances are slim and the chance of it turning up in grandchildren is even slimmer.

Now hopefully my darling wont make me remove the picture above. He really doesn't own anything pink and had just thrown on his mother's sweater on a cool evening at the cabin. It was the best picture of his hair I could find to go with my newfound knowledge.

The article

The local newspaper interviewed us in August. We finally saw the story published today. Take a peek.

I did it.

I finally started a family blog. I've resisted for over a year and a half because I just don't want to have another reason to be on the computer. But notice I'm calling this the Tippett Family NOTES? That means I'm going to be brief and just share something fun now and then. Maybe a prayer request, maybe let my older children try their hand at blogging here......things like that. Also I wanted a place to collect links to my favorite places and thought I might as well make them available to you as well. So here I am the reluctant blogger.

I love blogs that are full of pictures so I'll be including a lot of those. Above you see Michael and I with Mary Autumn at the lake - spring 2007. Anna Mae, age 10, is turning out to be the family photographer so I'll ask her to contribute something more recent soon.