Road Trip Photos

In celebration of Aunt Lucile's 100th birthday, a show was put together depicting the young lives of the four sisters (Lucile, Beulah, Mildred and "Gran" Margaret). Maggie (Gran's namesake) played the part of Gran. For the show she wore a dress that Gran last wore in 1915 at her dedication!

After the birthday celebration, we headed to the family cabin in the mountains above The Dalles, Oregon. Mishayla and Maggie especially enjoyed swimming in the lake and picking flowers together.

Then we were off to Pomeroy, WA to visit "the cousins". Maggie and Mishayla had so much fun with everyone... and this is only about half of them.

Last Words, Faithful Friends

Abiding in Christ, Part 1
by Todd

When a man has little time, he will get to the point. His words become succinct, clear, even commanding. A lifetime of wise counsel will not keep a sage from dispensing his best, especially when death is near. For three years now, Jesus has poured the core of His teachings into the eleven men who surround Him. He knows He has only a few hours to summarize years of credo. The Shepherd is about to be struck and the sheep will scatter. The loving Savior sets His own trepidation aside to ensure His friends are prepared.

He looks around the room at the eleven familiar faces. They are very ordinary men who have done the extraordinary by saying “yes” to Him. Peter, the informal leader of the group, has been hot-headed at times, even earning sharp rebukes from the Lord. His brother Andrew is just the opposite – quiet and behind the scenes. James and John were nicknamed “Sons of Thunder” for their aggressive ambition. Philip lacks vision and is bent toward a “cannot do” attitude. Nathaniel continues to struggle with his prejudice views. As a tax collector, Matthew is one of the most hated in Capernaum and is frequently assumed to be taking advantage of others. Thomas is a melancholy and struggles with depression. James, son of Alphaeus, and Judas, son of James are considered nobodies, as scripture says nothing about them. Simon the Zealot is a terrorist of his day, constantly promoting a revolution against the Romans.

There is of course, the one who was not there. The one that Satan had entered; the prodigal who would never come back to the Father’s arms. He left only moments prior and at His leaving, Jesus mourned.

They have been the most persistent of students who have stood up to the rigors of public criticism, loss of social stability and family ridicule. They now sense something is near by the urgency of His words and intenseness of His eyes, but as in times past, they are clouded by confusion and expectation.

Jesus now senses the need to move on from this room of comfort, this room that in 50 days will house some of the first followers of the Way. Scanning their eyes, in hope of finding a spirit of strength and courage, He urges them, “Come now, let us leave”.

The cool night air is both refreshing and startling as the cadre shuffles onto the dusty road. These were the roads that only one week ago heard the people shout

“Hosanna to the Son of David!”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Hosanna in the highest!”

In the distance, Jesus sees the silhouette of the small Mount of Olives, where the perfect payment will begin. He walks with unwavering posture, while the disciples follow along, glancing at one another, trading comments.

He knows His time is drawing near. In spite of the horrible pain to come, the Shepherd thinks only of the sheep. His firm, authoritative voice breaks the chatter…

More Pictures

At the Beach for our Anniversary - Silas was sleeping. :-)
Maggie June

Silas Don

One Bowl of Raisin Bran

by Todd

Wiping the crumbs from last night’s dinner off her high-chair tray prompted me with the thought, “What can I teach her over breakfast”. Whiteboards with colored shapes, counting blocks and cards with large words scribed in red ink have become our breakfast-mates. The morning sun highlights her blonde curls as I fix the bib around her neck and she kicks her feet with delight. My planning is brief and guided by the fact that I will be walking her down the aisle much sooner than I expect.

“Today we have a new verse to memorize!” I say with a little more excitement than I would to somebody twice her height. Her spoon is eagerly dunked into the milk/raisin bran mix and in no time she has a drop of milk suspended from her little chin. She takes another bite.

“In repentance and rest is your salvation; in quietness and trust is your strength. Isaiah thirty, fifteen”. My words are shadowed by my own body movements, ending with a simulated pose of a strong-man showing off his biceps. I repeat this several times, while my own cereal gradually looses the perfect crunch. I explain deep theology with brief, simple statements “God wants us to rely on His strength. We are weak, He is always strong. We need to rest in Him.” I make up for lost time by chugging down a few spoonfuls of cereal, probably looking like a seagull on the beach forcing down one meal so he won’t miss the next.

Now I ask her to say it with me. Her lips attempt to form the words as she watches my mouth. A full-hearted congratulation encourages her to attempt it once more, only this time it is stifled by a few flakes of bran and a raisin in her mouth. Within minutes, she begins to link words into phrases. Her eager feet show the excitement of progress. In a few mornings she will recite it and I will respond like a fanatical bleacher fan whose home team just won the super bowl (short of the face paint and bare chest).

Am I really making a difference? Will these words bear fruit in her life? “Repentance”, “salvation”, “trust”—these are all big words for someone requiring a sippy-cup. God’s Word never returns void, I know that full well. But the greatest determining fact in how far this training goes lies not in how well it is memorized, but in how well it is demonstrated. As she recites this passage on her own, I ask myself “Am I quiet before Him?” “Do I take the time to rest?” “Have I given God the small things?”

As time progresses, I realize that each verse I instill in her heart is an opportunity for me to display how a follower of Jesus lives. This work of teaching holds us both accountable, and sets my own life as exhibit A. She looks to me as a model of Jesus and I look to Him for strength to live it out. I see now that I am both parenting and being parented; training the child and learning to be a child.

I look forward to the day I hear Him commend her “Well done, good and faithful servant”. There is a lot of work between now and then, but we will take it one bowl of raisin bran at a time.

Just a Few More of Our Cute Kids!