Sunday, August 14, 2011
Water Lillies
A few weeks ago we pulled the car to the side of the road to get a closer look at these gorgeous water flowers in front of our local CVS. 
Sunday, August 07, 2011
Meredith Turns Six
July is birthday month around here. Meredith is now six and growing into a lovely little lady. For her birthday we had lunch with dad, which has become quite the tradition, swimming with friends, and a teapot/tea themed family birthday dinner with two friends joining in. I made her cake, using fondant for the first time, and had fun with it. :) her gift from us was a much-needed "big girl" bike.
Clara Turns Four
Our little Clara is now four and not so little any more! For her birthday we had lunch with daddy on the canal downtown, playtime at Monkey Joe's bounce house play place, and a family party with friend Eden joining in.
Thursday, August 04, 2011
18 Months and Loving It
Our dear Sophia is full of life and enjoying every day of being 18 months old, with two big sisters. She has become such a daddy's girl lately. She loves baby dolls, being outside, and pulling apart peanut butter sandwiches and cheese crackers to eat the filling first.
Nine Years
I'm reading a book on marriage that was talking about the roller coaster of initial romance and how after a while, the journey seems more like you're driving through midwest terrain. Well, we've got literal midwest terrain around here and sometimes after nine years and three kids, things seem that way figuratively as well. But there is still no one I'd rather take the journey with than Kevin. I am grateful for the time we have had together.
The kids had soccer practice last night so we have delayed our celebration until the weekend. But we did put the kids to bed early and ate Chinese takeout, sushi rolls, and Ben and Jerry's pistachio ice cream on the back patio. There was a cool breeze and even the bugs stayed away!
I'm grateful for you Kevin! You are the best.
The kids had soccer practice last night so we have delayed our celebration until the weekend. But we did put the kids to bed early and ate Chinese takeout, sushi rolls, and Ben and Jerry's pistachio ice cream on the back patio. There was a cool breeze and even the bugs stayed away!
I'm grateful for you Kevin! You are the best.
Monday, August 01, 2011
Summer is Full
Where has this summer gone?!
Sophia loves her wagon rides!
Clara's piggies suit her personality. If only she would let me fix her hair more often ...
We have been doing lots of summer reading. The kids agonize over what prizes they will pick out at our local library.
Aunt Betsy came to visit! My sister is a pilot and talked her boss into letting them refuel the plane in Indianapolis. It was great to see her again.
Here in the Midwest, we have the most awesome storms. Here are the kids, waiting out a storm so they can go swimming. We love to sit and watch storms come in!
Sophia's favorite part about the Indian's game was the popcorn.
You can't have summer without blueberry pie!
She took it off three seconds later--it was cute while it lasted!
Why would you kiss a frog when you can play with one?
Meredith loves to read to her sisters:
A common scene in our house every morning--the girls fight over who gets to go in Sophia's room first.
Sophia's hair is getting curlier and blonder every day!
Meredith cracks me up with her little daily inspirations. This particular day she decided to make a "noos" (news) stand and sell papers. She had some terrific headlines, including a tornado and some gorillas attacking humans.
Clara helped me make Moon Pies after reading about them in our God's World News magazine. She is my sidekick in the kitchen and I love it!
Sophia loves her wagon rides!
Clara's piggies suit her personality. If only she would let me fix her hair more often ...
We have been doing lots of summer reading. The kids agonize over what prizes they will pick out at our local library.
Aunt Betsy came to visit! My sister is a pilot and talked her boss into letting them refuel the plane in Indianapolis. It was great to see her again.
Here in the Midwest, we have the most awesome storms. Here are the kids, waiting out a storm so they can go swimming. We love to sit and watch storms come in!
Sophia's favorite part about the Indian's game was the popcorn.
You can't have summer without blueberry pie!
She took it off three seconds later--it was cute while it lasted!
Why would you kiss a frog when you can play with one?
Meredith loves to read to her sisters:
A common scene in our house every morning--the girls fight over who gets to go in Sophia's room first.
Sophia's hair is getting curlier and blonder every day!
Meredith cracks me up with her little daily inspirations. This particular day she decided to make a "noos" (news) stand and sell papers. She had some terrific headlines, including a tornado and some gorillas attacking humans.
Clara helped me make Moon Pies after reading about them in our God's World News magazine. She is my sidekick in the kitchen and I love it!
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Pilgrim's Progress
Tonight we discuss Pilgrim's Progress during round two of our venture to read through great classics chronologically, starting with the novels genre. We are using Bauer's The Well-Educated Mind.
When I first started reading Pilgrim's Progress I just wasn't sure if I would see it as anything other than applicable allegory. I felt like it was kind of choppy--quickly introducing new characters and having them exit stage before there could be any development. In fact, Pilgrim's Progress reminded me somewhat of another classic I had recently finished: Don Quixote. Here was yet another passionate male, preparing to set off on a journey with unknown and dangerous adventures, and interesting characters to meet along the way. I thought, "Here we go again!" (And having also recently read The Hobbit I just didn't know if I could take any more of this genre!)
Of course Christian in Pilgrim's Progress has slightly different motives than Don Quixote in making his trek. Don Quixote sought after glory and romance. Christian sought after the cross. Quixote had his head full of fanciful fiction. Christian had that ultimate source of truth, the Word of God, as his anchor and guide. Quixote was compelled to become a knight errant by his own delusions. Christian felt the very real and forceful weight of sin on his back which made his journey one of true urgency.
As I journeyed alongside Christian his story became more real and engaging to me. Not only were there both subtle and blunt truths in the allegory at every turn, there were also moments when the beauty of the literature itself engulfed me.
The culmination of the story comes at the end of Christian's life when he prepares to cross the great river (death), over which there is no bridge. Christian becomes despondent as he descends into the flow of that inevitable river. But then Christian recalls the King's promise to be with him. ("When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee.") At that point, Christian takes courage to battle through his fears and comes to Celestial City escorted by shining ones. God will never leave us or forsake us. He is our guide through life and also through death.
I loved Fearful's story. He was weak and flawed and full of fear, but nonetheless a child of the King. We don't have to be perfect to be saved. In fact, that is the whole point--we are unable to be perfect because of our sin. Christ is perfect in our stead.
When it was Fearful's turn to cross the great river, he could not handle the river being so deep. So for him, it was a shallow crossing. God's grace is always sufficient for us. He never gives us more than we can handle, in life or in death.
Pilgrim's Progress is a book about real human struggles along the journey of life and it is a book about victory.
When I first started reading Pilgrim's Progress I just wasn't sure if I would see it as anything other than applicable allegory. I felt like it was kind of choppy--quickly introducing new characters and having them exit stage before there could be any development. In fact, Pilgrim's Progress reminded me somewhat of another classic I had recently finished: Don Quixote. Here was yet another passionate male, preparing to set off on a journey with unknown and dangerous adventures, and interesting characters to meet along the way. I thought, "Here we go again!" (And having also recently read The Hobbit I just didn't know if I could take any more of this genre!)
Of course Christian in Pilgrim's Progress has slightly different motives than Don Quixote in making his trek. Don Quixote sought after glory and romance. Christian sought after the cross. Quixote had his head full of fanciful fiction. Christian had that ultimate source of truth, the Word of God, as his anchor and guide. Quixote was compelled to become a knight errant by his own delusions. Christian felt the very real and forceful weight of sin on his back which made his journey one of true urgency.
As I journeyed alongside Christian his story became more real and engaging to me. Not only were there both subtle and blunt truths in the allegory at every turn, there were also moments when the beauty of the literature itself engulfed me.
The culmination of the story comes at the end of Christian's life when he prepares to cross the great river (death), over which there is no bridge. Christian becomes despondent as he descends into the flow of that inevitable river. But then Christian recalls the King's promise to be with him. ("When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee.") At that point, Christian takes courage to battle through his fears and comes to Celestial City escorted by shining ones. God will never leave us or forsake us. He is our guide through life and also through death.
I loved Fearful's story. He was weak and flawed and full of fear, but nonetheless a child of the King. We don't have to be perfect to be saved. In fact, that is the whole point--we are unable to be perfect because of our sin. Christ is perfect in our stead.
When it was Fearful's turn to cross the great river, he could not handle the river being so deep. So for him, it was a shallow crossing. God's grace is always sufficient for us. He never gives us more than we can handle, in life or in death.
Pilgrim's Progress is a book about real human struggles along the journey of life and it is a book about victory.
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