Tuesday, June 26, 2007

One little, two little... Indians




Can you even post a blog with the name "Indians" in it? Or is that too un-PC? 

Our little boy running around, trying to pull an indian hat off his head, which he made with his mommy in the little "ankle biter's group" at church, is to say the least the sweetest thing. He runs around with an expression on his face between a smile and a scream of protest. He didn't really like the thing on his head, but he sure does look cute.
I think I learn everyday, more about God's grace and desire to be with us people. I really don't think there's anything Jamie could ever do that would make me not accept him. That I wont always agree with all he does. That's of course a different story. The funny thing is: I know he wont be able to understand this dichotomy, until he has children himself one day. May he be pat
ient and gracious with the other life forms on this planet until then.

Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Jamie playing with the camera

This is not the video of how Jamie got his bruise. The bruise happened a day later.

Cuts and Bruises

Well Jamie got his first real good bonk on the head the other day. The worst part is... I was right there next to him and was actually trying to prevent him from hitting his head. In the end I think I even played a role in him hitting his head even harder.

He fell down in our bathroom and landed on the edge of some tiles. It really looked nasty for a couple days. But like kids are, it only took about three minutes after hitting his head, for him to find something else that captured his attention enough, to make him forget about the pulsing pain above his eye. He's a tough one.

There has been so much going on the week. I would really like to write every day or every other day in the blog, but it just doesn't work out. I hope you all understand.
I was really moved today by the story of Jesus raising Jairus' daughter to life. He took her hand and said, "get up little girl". I was encouraged to remember that Jesus likes doing what no one expects Him to do. He likes revealing the show of those stooped in religion. He likes pulling back the curtain, while we're really deep in our religious prayers and saying: "why don't you just ask?" 

If Jesus wants to move my heart to deeper faith He will. I just need to make sure that I'm not so caught up in what I believe Jesus wants from me, that I'm no longer able to hear the words of the Father, whenever He wants me to do something that bursts my "christian" bubble.

Tuesday, June 12, 2007

A Day in the Life of...




Today I am writting this post in mac's Safari browser. Normally, I've had to use Firefox because Safari was unable to display all the functions of blogger.com. I must say... Thank you Apple! This is the best browser experience to dato.

The other day we hung out in the park as a family. It was loads of fun. Jamie is always looking for adventure, which makes going with him to the park an exciting extravaganza.

Had a terrible headache yesterday. Took 1000 miligrams of some 
good stuff and it didn't help. Finally, I fell asleep only to wake up still having my headache. I know some of you have such experiences often. I don't! It was
by no means fun. I had called my sister earlier to see if she'd be home later to talk with. Later I had a headache and was unable to talk with her.
Hope to yack some at her tonight.

Monday, June 11, 2007

Little Boy Sleeps

It's Monday morning. Jamie is taking a nap and I just finished watching a John Piper sermon.

I wish for our family, for myself, Kristine and our littel boy Jamie that we could live in such a way that many would understand the message of Christ. Forgiving and Forbearing one another daily.

Wednesday, June 06, 2007

Gone the whole day


Had a long day today. Got home a little while ago and sat down next to Kristine. She read some until she finally fell asleep on the couch. I really don't like being gone from the morning till the evening. Sometimes I leave around 9am and get home shortly after 10pm. Sometimes I leave home at 7.30am and get home at 11.30pm. Other times I get home around 4pm. Those are wonderful days for our family. They seem to be few and far between though.

Listen to me... Just got home from a whole week with the family in Austria and I'm already complaining. I guess that's just it though. Like the saying goes, "you don't know what you got till it's gone". The week with Kristine and Jamie (of course there were a lot of people from the church there as well), was like balsam for my soul. Inside I began dancing and feeling the spirit of my Kristine in ways I couldn't imagine. After spending just a week with her, every day all day, her problems, worries, fears and dreams are more real to me and make me look at her differently in our day to day life now.

Vacation is not for the week at heart but rather for those, who have grasped the truth behind a healthy mind and spirit, and the magic that happens in the community of ones family in the time you are away together.

Go on vacation more! All of you!

Tuesday, June 05, 2007

All Things New

God really does make all things new. The only problem is that we are often unable to see how new we are becoming. We get discouraged by the lack of progress we are making on a human level and begin trying to make ourselves look good on the outside. We get more caught up in trying to look Christian than in "being" Christian.

I really hope that we can use the means available to us today (like this blog for example) to encourage each other to not merely act like Christians are supposed to act but much more to encourage toward obedience to the call of Christ, which was a call to go out and be what you could never be on your own. To do the impossible because the God of all Creation is alive in you.

Be encouraged to take the next 5 minutes to focus on where God is leading you. Not where you want to go, but what God is wanting to make your heart into. Maybe that means loving someone who you'd rather hate. Or skipping a TV show to talk with your kids. Whoever you are and whatever your poison, ask God to give you eyes to see His work in the next 5 minutes.



It's often hard to be dad and mom sometimes. There's constantly someone there sucking you dry. Kristine gets to spend more time with Jamie than I do so she could write a book about being sucked dry. At the church retreat though, I got to feel what it's like to have Jamie around 24 hrs a day and it was a wonderful experience. I was really challenged to ask God what His heart was for the next 5 minutes. Made me look at Jamie with new eyes... every 5 minutes. It was hard, but thinking like that really made me enjoy every second of our time together.

I cannot simply say I believe in the love of God and then keep it all to myself. Or even worse, select the people, whom I'm going to give it to.

Be encouraged, and be bold! If you are in Christ, you have been and are being made new.

New Pics

All the pics from the retreat are up online, if you want to take a look at all 108 of them. If not, don't feel pressured. You don't have to look at them. Click on the title for this blog entry "New Pics" to be directed to the gallery page. Or just click on this word "Link".

Sunday, June 03, 2007

Home again, home again


Jamie's birthday was the best. I think he really enjoyed getting some surprises and especially the cake with all the people singing to him. It was a great time. There's nothin' like seeing your little boy smiling at his birthday party.

Of course the time we spent together at the retreat was the best. Not just the birthday party. We went for a boat ride on a big lake and saw some incredible views of the mountains in the area. Absolutely breathtaking.

As good as it was though, it was great to get home today. I'll be posting all the pictures from the trip soon so, if anyone would like you can take a look at them all.

As for now...

It's late and I need to get to bed. Jamie wishes you all sweet dreams and a blessed year.

Friday, June 01, 2007

Vacation with Family and Friends

It's actually called a "Family-Retreat". Sounds pretty official, but I have to say, we are really enjoying ourselves here. We're right in the middle of one of the most beautiful parts of Austria. It's called "Tirol". It stretches through Austria and into northern Italy.

Last night Jamie couldn't sleep, so I got up with him and walked around. Had to do it twice cause the first time didn't take. The second time I had to get up and walk around with him (around 2am), we went to a quite room somewhere on the east side of the building. (Facing the Moonrise). It was a full moon! The sky was pretty clear and the moon shown between the mountains like a beacon of hope. It was an encouragement and a reminder. Dark times do come and joyful times will once again greet us in the morning. But the tears of the night, we still have to cry.

May you be strengthened today, knowing that God sends the moon as well as the sun. And sometimes he takes them both altogether. It's our task, no matter what; to remember that it all serves His greater good. It's just that His "greater Good" is not always recognizable for as such from our side.

Jamie turned a year old yesterday! Oh, how we shouted for joy! God be glorified and praised for the life of our boy, whom He gave! Jamie, may you be granted with ears to hear the voice of your great Father, and eyes to see His beauty, always!

We love you and are proud of you!