Trip to FTC...good.

Kirsten has been keeping up with pictures on her blog. Check out pictures there...if you are interested.

Here's to Saint Patty

Do you know anything about Patrick?  Yeah, me neither.  Read a brief history of the man HERE!

“I am a servant of Christ to a foreign nation for the unspeakable glory of life everlasting which is in Jesus Christ our Lord.” – Patrick

I'm thankful for...

...my family.

Maybe this will help you decide...

...and happy halloween (or harvest day for some).

I'm back alive...

Yes Mom, I am back and I am safe. Bryan and I were in the back-country of Glacier National Park for 4 days. After our first day of hiking we were resting at the head of Red Eagle Lake when a small grizzly bear walked out on a sandbar. The bear then entertained us with 45 minutes of swimming in the lake and playing with a stick.
After we were certain that the bear was gone we went out to the sandbar to check out the tracks.

Our second day was a long day (nearly 11 miles and climbing over a pass). Our last opportunity for water was the runoff from a glacier (Sorry Mr. Gore).

This is the final push to the top of Triple Divide Pass. The mountain off to the right is the central watershed of the continent.

The difficult climb was worth the view - both sides of the pass were spectacular. (Bryan is the mountain-sized guy on the right.

The next day was certainly restful as we had no option but to sit in our tent for 9 hours and wait out the pouring rain. After the clouds broke we tried to dry out our belongings.

The next day was even worse so we decided to cut our itinerary short and hike out of the back-country. We met a ranger on the way out and she advised us to head out quickly as a storm producing strong winds, low temperatures and snow was on its way. We made our way to a gravel road and...don't read this part Mom...and stuck out our thumbs for two rides - one from two Native Americans and one from an Irish guy and his girlfriend. They were nice people to get us back to our car at Two Medicine Lake - about 30 miles away from the trail. It was a memorable trip and probably the most beautiful scenery I have ever seen. God's creation screams of His majesty!

Vnela

Our friends purchased sparklers for the 4th of July. They were going to spell their names with the sparklers and take pictures of the outcome. I asked them to spell my name and send me the picture. This is the outcome. For the purposes of our friendship, I will say - great job!

Vacation is Always Fun

As I noted in my previous post, we saw quite a bit on our recent vacation. We are now back in Nearly, Canada. I sat down this evening to look through our pictures from the trip. Our pictures reveal just how much fun we had down south. This picture accomplishes two things. 1.) It shows just how great a time our boys had at Grandma and Grandpa's house. Grandma and Grandpa have the best toys - like this "helmet" that Asher is wearing. 2.) This picture is a tribute to the queen of angled photos.

St. Louis Itinerary

We have been in St. Louis since Saturday evening. We have done quite a bit in the last few days. The boys have had a good time and Ezra has asked after every event - "can we do that again?" Below I will list our up-to-date itinerary.

Sunday: to church at The Journey with Rob and Holly.
Monday: to the St. Louis Zoo and to the Magic House.
Tuesday: talked to a friend at Kaldis Coffee Shop and then to the Kirkwood pool.
Wednesday: to the Botanical Gardens and Whittles Train Store.

Tomorrow we leave for southeast Missouri to visit with my parents. I will keep you up to date and I know you are all so thankful to be kept up to date with our travels.

Going South

It is Saturday and we are flying out of the International Airport toward St. Louis.
It is Saturday and it is Bryan's birthday.

It is Saturday and Kirsten has posted again.

Soon to be vacating

Our family is beginning to get in packing mode for our upcoming vacation to the south. We will be flying out on Saturday for a 10 day trip to St. Louis and beyond. As I think about our vacation many things come to mind about what I want to do and things I want my family to do with me.

Yesterday I stumbled across a series of posts on C.J. Mahaney's blog. The title of the series is "Leadership + Family Vacations." In these posts he discusses the role of the father/husband while on family vacation. He writes about seven lessons he has learned in his history of family vacations. The father must be the one setting the example in the following seven things.

1. A Servant Heart
2. A Tone-Setting Attitude
3. An Awareness of Indwelling Sin
4. Studying Your Family
5. Skillful Surprises
6. Intentionally Together
7. Gratefulness to God

He concludes by saying-

Fathers, I hope some of the lessons I have learned over the years and the mistakes I’ve made and sins I’ve committed on vacation somehow serve you and make a difference in your vacation experience. Before you this summer is a sweet opportunity from God to deepen relationships between family members and create memories that your children will never forget, memories that will outlive you.

You can rest when you get home.

Dads and husbands - serve your families well on vacation. It doesn't matter where you go or what you do - point your family toward Christ. That will be my goal for our upcoming vacation. Pray for me to lead my family to our Lord and Savior during our vacation.

I would encourage you read the entire article here (it's a .pdf).
Or check out Mahaney's blog here.

Constant repeat in my head

The following song has been on constant repeat in my head for the last week. Last night I went to our Good Friday service and we sang this song. There aren't too many contemporary hymn writers that do this well.

How Deep the Father's Love for Us

How deep the Father's love for us,
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss,
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the chosen One,
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the Man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice,
Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

©1995 Kingsway's Thankyou Music
Words and Music by Stuart Townend

Environmentally Friendly Greeting

It's that time of year again...the time to send out our earth-friendly Christmas card via the World Wide Web. Enjoy!

*note: the video is about 9 minutes long so... although it may be earth-friendly it may not be time-friendly...depending on your relation to the family.

"Ask" and "think" and yellow fever

This morning I read through the letter to the saints in Ephesus. I did quite a bit of underlining and note-taking but two words stood out to me this morning that haven't normally caught my eye. In Ephesians 3 Paul says -

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (3:20-21)

He is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask. I understand this because I don't ask God for much because I expect too little of him. He is able to do far more abundantly than all that we think. I can think of quite a bit. At times my mind runs wild. He is able to do far more abundantly than anything I can think. I was convicted of two things this morning. First, I don't expect much from God so I don't ask. Secondly, and to my shame, I don't think much of God. He is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think - according to the power at work within us - so to HIM be the GLORY! Forever! Amen.

Today I am taking my family to the capital city! It will be a fun outing. I will get a Yellow Fever vaccination. If that doesn't say "Happy Thanksgiving!" I don't know what does.

Snow in the mts. of MT

This morning we awoke to rain that turned into snow. What a great day to be in the mountains.

What will you do?

Last year I linked to Challies post on Halloween. I don't know if he likes it when people link to his blog without much comment but I don't feel the need to comment on this article. He points out some helpful things to think through on the issue of Halloween. Read it here.

Seasonal discernment issues...

It is that time of year...ahhh. The leaves are changing colors and falling. The morning air is crisp. Wool socks and sweaters appear from hibernation. The appeal of hot apple cider has been renewed...and in the distance a witch smashed into a telephone pole, Kleenex ghost hanging from trees and fake spider webs strewn across jack-o-lanterns. Ahhh...it's that time of year. What's this, what's this? I can't believe my eyes. Here comes Halloween!

So, what are your thoughts? Is October 31st a day to avoid like the plague? If you are a believer in Jesus, is this a day to speak against? If you have children, do you pull them from school parties and ban them from walking near "those aisles" at Target or Wal-Mart? Do you celebrate Halloween under the guise of "Harvest Party?" If so, what is your reasoning? I would like to hear your thoughts. How should we discern what is right? What does the bible say about Halloween?

A friend of mine lists several questions to help us in our biblical approach to discernment. You can find those questions here.

*edited 10.23.07 - if you take offense at the use of "Kleenex" please understand that one could also use Puffs, Puffs Plus, Puffs with a Scent of Vicks, Puffs Ultra, Puffs Basic, or Puffs to Go*

Mountain Trip Pictoral Review

(view from our cabin)

(Ezra in front of our cabin acting like a model)


(God's promise over our cabin)

(3-4 inches of snow)

(Ezra enjoyed the snow of the mountains)

(Asher using me as a chair during some inside time)

(Bison at Yellowstone National Park - and us)

(Ezra waiting for Old Faithful)

(Asher, mommy, Old Faithful and a granola bar)

(In all her faithfulness)

(Elk on our way back home from YNP)

Montana

Mon·tan·a (mŏn-tăn'ə) (Abbr. MT or Mont.)
Montana is a state of the northwest United States bordering on Canada. It was admitted as the 41st state in 1889. Most of the area passed to the United States through the Louisiana Purchase of 1803 and was explored by Lewis and Clark in 1805 and 1806. Split for many years among other western territories, the region was organized as the Montana Territory in 1864. Helena is the capital and Billings the largest city.
Population: 945,000.

We are taking a family vacation to Montana. Ezra is excited to see the mountains. Asher is excited about his new brown shoes that look just like his old brown shoes but they are a size larger. Kirsten and I are excited about a family vacation in the mountains.

When I was younger I always remembered which state was Montana by picturing Joe Montana as the nose in the state. Does that help you?

Earth Day

"The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein, for He has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers."

-Psalm 24:1-2

Nothing says Easter like Peeps