I had a visit with my midwives yesterday. It was my first real appointment, the last one was really just a "meet & greet". They are very fun ladies, very exhuberant. I really like that they completely support the idea of "your birth, your way". I really love homebirth.
So anyway, I have felt the baby moving for about 8 weeks, but yesterday was the first time I got to hear the heartbeat. It sounded great, loud and strong. But the midwives thought they heard 2 different heartbeats. And I am only 24 (almost) weeks and I measured 28. "Hmmm," they said. "Twins?" Now that would be fun :) So, they pulled the trusty sonogram machine out of the closet to take a peak. Nope, just one baby. Well, that 3 minutes of the possibility of twins was exciting, but we are thrilled that God has sustained this pregnancy and there is a baby coming to greet us soon. Seems to be a big one, so they say. I knew I felt fat :)
We couldn't tell what the gender of said baby is, but we are sure it is a baby. He/she/it was lying with the head down, spine curved over the top of my belly and legs on the right side. The ankles were crossed and the hands were on the knees. It is so amazing to think of the life inside me, of a little person just hanging out and growing. It is such a miracle, such a gift that God allows us this intimate participation in creating life.
This is where I will share lots of pictures of the kids for family and friends far away, as well as tidbits of our life. I'm also likely to share what I learn and what I think about a wide variety of topics, always coming from 2 steps to the right!
5.04.2007
4.25.2007
Please Pray
For the church in Turkey. For Christians around the world who are suffering tremendous persecution. May we always remember our brothers and sisters who suffer for Christ's sake. May we ever pray for their strength and endurance, and for the light of Christ to shine in the darkness.
I read this on the Dominion Family blog.
Dear friends,
This past week has been filled with much sorrow. Many of you have heard by now of our devastating loss here in an event that took place in Malatya, a Turkish province 300 miles northeast of Antioch, the city where believers were first called Christians (Acts 11:26).
On Wednesday morning, April 18, 2007, 46 year-old German missionary and father of three,Tilman Geske, prepared to go to his office, kissing his wife goodbye, taking a moment to hug his son and give him the priceless memory, “Goodbye, son. I love you.”
Tilman rented an office space from Zirve Publishing where he was preparing notes for the new Turkish Study Bible. Zirve was also the location of the Malatya Evangelist Church office. A ministry of the church, Zirve prints and distributes Christian literature to Malatya and nearby cities in Eastern Turkey.
In another area of town, 35 year old Pastor Necati Aydin, father of two, said goodbye to his wife, leaving for the office as well. They had a morning Bible Study and prayer meeting that some other believers in town would also be attending. Ugur Yuksel, likewise, made his way to the Bible study.
None of these three men knew that what awaited them at the Bible study was the ultimate testing and application of their faith, which would conclude with their entrance into glory to receive their crown of righteousness from Christ and honor from all the saints awaiting them in the Lord’s presence.
On the other side of town, ten young men all under 20 years-old put into place final arrangements for their ultimate act of faith, living out their love for Allah and hatred of infidels who they felt undermined Islam.
On Resurrection Sunday, five of these men had been to a by-invitation-only evangelistic service that Pastor Necati and his men had arranged at a hotel conference room in the city. The men were known to the believers as “seekers.” No one knows what happened in the hearts of those men as they listened to the gospel. Were they touched by the Holy Spirit? Were they convicted of sin? Did they hear the gospel in their heart of hearts? Today we only have the beginning of their story.
These young men, one of whom is the son of a mayor in the Province of Malatya, are part of a tarikat, or a group of “faithful believers” in Islam. Tarikat membership is highly respected here; it’s like a fraternity membership. In fact, it is said that no one can get into public office without membership in a tarikat. These young men all lived in the same dorm, all preparing for university entrance exams.
The young men got guns, bread-knives, ropes and towels ready for their final act of service to Allah. They knew there would be a lot of blood. They arrived in time for the Bible Study, around 10 o’clock.
They arrived and, apparently, the Bible Study began. Reportedly, after Necati read a chapter from the Bible the assault began. The boys tied Ugur, Necati, and Tilman’s hands and feet to chairs and, as they videoed their work on their cellphones, they tortured our brothers for almost three hours.*
[*Details of the torture: ] ( I am sorry I just can’t post the details. Just know that they are gruesome.)
Neighbors in workplaces near the print-house said later they had heard yelling, but assumed the owners were having a domestic argument so they did not respond.
Meanwhile, another believer Gokhan and his wife had a leisurely morning. He slept in till 10, ate a long breakfast and finally around 12:30 he and his wife arrived at the office. The door was locked from the inside, and his key would not work. He phoned and, though it had connection on his end, he did not hear the phone ringing inside. He called cell phones of his brothers and finally Ugur answered his phone. “We are not at the office. Go to the hotel meeting. We are there. We will come there,” he said cryptically. As Ugur spoke Gokhan heard in the telephone’s> background weeping and a strange snarling sound.
He phoned the police, and the nearest officer arrived in about five minutes. He pounded on the door, “Police, open up!” Initially the officer thought it was a domestic disturbance. At that point they heard another snarl and a gurgling moan. The police understood that sound as human suffering, prepared the clip in his gun, and tried over and over again to burst through the door. One of the frightened assailants unlocked the door for the policeman, who entered to find a grisly scene.
Tilman and Necati had been slaughtered, practically decapitated with their necks slit from ear to ear. Ugur’s throat was likewise slit and he was barely alive.
Three assailants in front of the policeman dropped their weapons.
Meanwhile Gokhan heard a sound of yelling in the street. Someone had fallen from their third story office. Running down, he found a man on the ground, whom he later recognized, named Emre Gunaydin. He had massive head trauma and, strangely, was snarling. He had tried to climb down the drainpipe to escape, and losing his balance had plummeted to the ground. It seems that he was the main leader of the attackers. Another assailant was found hiding on a lower balcony.
To untangle the web we need to back up six years. In April 2001, the National Security Council of Turkey (Milli Guvenlik Kurulu) began to consider evangelical Christians as a threat to national security, on equal footing as Al Quaida and PKK terrorism. Statements made in the press by political leaders, columnists and commentators have fueled a hatred against missionaries who they claim bribe young people to change their religion.
After that decision in 2001, attacks and threats on churches, pastors and Christians began. Bombings, physical attacks, verbal and written abuse are only some of the ways Christians are being targeted. Most significant is the use of media propaganda.
From December 2005, after having a long meeting regarding the Christian threat, the wife of Former Prime Minister Ecevit, historian Ilber Ortayli, Professor Hasan Unsal, Politician Ahmet Tan and writer/propogandist Aytunc Altindal, each in their own profession began a campaign to bring the public’s attention to the looming threat of Christians who sought to “buy their children’s souls.” Hidden cameras in churches have taken church service footage and used it sensationally to promote fear and antagonism> toward Christianity.
In an official televised response from Ankara, the Interior Minister of Turkey smirked as he spoke of the attacks on our brothers. Amid public outrage and protests against the event and in favor of freedom of religion and freedom of thought, media and official comments ring with the same message, “We hope you have learned your lesson. We do not want Christians here.”
It appears that this was an organized attack initiated by an unknown adult tarikat leader. As in the Hrant Dink murder in January 2007 and a Catholic priest, Andrea Santoro, in February 2006, minors are being used to commit religious murders because public sympathy for youth is strong and they face lower penalties than an adult convicted of the same crime. Even the parents of these children are in favor of the acts. The mother of the 16 year-old boy who killed the Catholic priest Andrea Santoro looked at the cameras as her son was going to prison and said, “He will serve time for Allah.”
The young men involved in the killing are currently in custody. Today news reported that they would be tried as terrorists, so their age would not affect the strict penalty. Assailant Emre Gunaydin is still in intensive care. The investigation centers around him and his contacts, and they say it will fall apart if he does not recover.
The Church in Turkey responded in a way that honored God as hundreds of believers and dozens of pastors flew in as fast as they could to stand by the small church of Malatya and encourage the believers, take care of legal issues, and represent Christians to the media.
When Susanne Tilman expressed her wish to bury her husband in Malatya, the Governor tried to stop it, and when he realized he could not stop it, a rumor was spread that “it is a sin to dig a grave for a Christian.” In the end, in an undertaking that should be remembered in Christian history forever, the men from the church in Adana (near Tarsus), grabbed shovels and dug a grave for their slain brother in an un-tended hundred year old Armenian graveyard.
Ugur was buried by his family in an Alevi Muslim ceremony in his hometown of Elazig, his believing fiance watching from the shadows as his family and friends refused to accept in death the faith Ugur had so long professed and died for.
Necati’s funeral took place in his hometown of Izmir, the city where he came to faith. The darkness does not understand the light. Though the churches expressed their forgiveness for the event, Christians were not to be trusted. Before they would load the coffin onto the plane from Malatya, it went through two separate x-ray exams to make sure it was not loaded with explosives. This is not a usual procedure for Muslim coffins.
Necati’s funeral was a beautiful event. Like a glimpse of heaven, thousands of Turkish Christians and missionaries came to show their love for Christ and their honor for this man chosen to die for Christ. Necati’s wife Shemsa told the world, “His death was full of meaning, because he died for Christ and he lived for Christ. Necati was a gift from God. I feel honored that he was in my life; I feel crowned with honor. I want to be worthy of that honor.”
Boldly the believers took their stand at Necati’s funeral, facing the risks of being seen publicly and likewise becoming targets. As expected, the anti-terror police attended and videotaped everyone attending the funeral for their future use. The service took place outside at Buca Baptist church, and Necati was buried in a small Christian graveyard in the outskirts of Izmir.
Two assistant Governors of Izmir were there solemnly watching the event from the front row. Dozens of news agencies were there documenting the events with live news and photographs. Who knows the impact the funeral had on those watching? This is the beginning of their story as well. Pray for them.
In an act that hit front pages in the largest newspapers in Turkey, Susanne Tilman in a television interview expressed her forgiveness. She did not want revenge, she told reporters. “Oh God, forgive them for they know not what they do,” she said, wholeheartedly agreeing with the words of Christ on Calvary (Luke 23:34).
In a country where blood-for-blood revenge is as normal as breathing, many, many reports have come to the attention of the church of how this comment of Susanne Tilman has changed lives. One columnist wrote of her comment, “She said in one sentence what 1000 missionaries in 1000 years could never do.”
The missionaries in Malatya will most likely move out, as their families and children have become publicly identified as targets to the hostile city. The remaining 10 believers are in hiding. What will happen to this church, this light in the darkness? Most likely it will go underground. Pray for wisdom, that Turkish brothers from other cities will go to lead the leaderless church. Should we not be concerned for that great city of Malatya, a city that does not know what it is doing? (Jonah 4:11)
When our Pastor Fikret Bocek went with a brother to give a statement to the Security Directorate on Monday they were ushered into the Anti-Terror Department. On the wall was a huge chart covering the whole wall listing all the terrorist cells in Izmir, categorized. In one prominent column were listed all the evangelical churches in Izmir. The darkness does not understand the light. “These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also” (Acts 17:6).
Please pray for the Church in Turkey. “Don’t pray against persecution; pray for perseverance,” urges Pastor Fikret Bocek.
The Church is better having lost our brothers; the fruit in our lives, the renewed faith, the burning desire to spread the gospel to quench more darkness in Malatya — all these are not to be regretted. Pray that we stand strong against external opposition and especially pray that we stand strong against internal struggles with sin, our true debilitating weakness.
This we know. Christ Jesus was there when our brothers were giving their lives for Him. He was there, like He was when Stephen was being stoned in the sight of Saul of Tarsus.
Someday the video of the deaths of our brothers may reveal more to us about the strength that we know Christ gave them to endure their last cross, about the peace the Spirit of God endowed them with to suffer for their beloved Savior. But we know He did not leave their side. We know their minds were full of Scripture strengthening them to endure, as darkness tried to subdue the unsubduable Light of the Gospel. We know, in whatever way they were able, with a look or a word, they encouraged one another to stand strong. We know they knew they would soon be with Christ.
We don’t know the details. We don’t know the kind of justice that will or will not be served on this earth. But we pray– and urge you to pray– that someday at least one of those five boys will come to faith because of the testimony in death of Tilman Geske, who gave his life as a missionary to his beloved Turks, and the testimonies in death of Necati Aydin and Ugur Yuksel, the first martyrs for Christ out of the Turkish Church.
Reported by Darlene N. Bocek (24 April 2007)
Please please please pass this on to as many praying Christians as you can, in as many countries as you can. Please always keep the heading as “From the Protestant Church of Smyrna” with this contact information: izmirprotestan@gmail.com
You can also read articles here and here
I read this on the Dominion Family blog.
Dear friends,
This past week has been filled with much sorrow. Many of you have heard by now of our devastating loss here in an event that took place in Malatya, a Turkish province 300 miles northeast of Antioch, the city where believers were first called Christians (Acts 11:26).
On Wednesday morning, April 18, 2007, 46 year-old German missionary and father of three,Tilman Geske, prepared to go to his office, kissing his wife goodbye, taking a moment to hug his son and give him the priceless memory, “Goodbye, son. I love you.”
Tilman rented an office space from Zirve Publishing where he was preparing notes for the new Turkish Study Bible. Zirve was also the location of the Malatya Evangelist Church office. A ministry of the church, Zirve prints and distributes Christian literature to Malatya and nearby cities in Eastern Turkey.
In another area of town, 35 year old Pastor Necati Aydin, father of two, said goodbye to his wife, leaving for the office as well. They had a morning Bible Study and prayer meeting that some other believers in town would also be attending. Ugur Yuksel, likewise, made his way to the Bible study.
None of these three men knew that what awaited them at the Bible study was the ultimate testing and application of their faith, which would conclude with their entrance into glory to receive their crown of righteousness from Christ and honor from all the saints awaiting them in the Lord’s presence.
On the other side of town, ten young men all under 20 years-old put into place final arrangements for their ultimate act of faith, living out their love for Allah and hatred of infidels who they felt undermined Islam.
On Resurrection Sunday, five of these men had been to a by-invitation-only evangelistic service that Pastor Necati and his men had arranged at a hotel conference room in the city. The men were known to the believers as “seekers.” No one knows what happened in the hearts of those men as they listened to the gospel. Were they touched by the Holy Spirit? Were they convicted of sin? Did they hear the gospel in their heart of hearts? Today we only have the beginning of their story.
These young men, one of whom is the son of a mayor in the Province of Malatya, are part of a tarikat, or a group of “faithful believers” in Islam. Tarikat membership is highly respected here; it’s like a fraternity membership. In fact, it is said that no one can get into public office without membership in a tarikat. These young men all lived in the same dorm, all preparing for university entrance exams.
The young men got guns, bread-knives, ropes and towels ready for their final act of service to Allah. They knew there would be a lot of blood. They arrived in time for the Bible Study, around 10 o’clock.
They arrived and, apparently, the Bible Study began. Reportedly, after Necati read a chapter from the Bible the assault began. The boys tied Ugur, Necati, and Tilman’s hands and feet to chairs and, as they videoed their work on their cellphones, they tortured our brothers for almost three hours.*
[*Details of the torture: ] ( I am sorry I just can’t post the details. Just know that they are gruesome.)
Neighbors in workplaces near the print-house said later they had heard yelling, but assumed the owners were having a domestic argument so they did not respond.
Meanwhile, another believer Gokhan and his wife had a leisurely morning. He slept in till 10, ate a long breakfast and finally around 12:30 he and his wife arrived at the office. The door was locked from the inside, and his key would not work. He phoned and, though it had connection on his end, he did not hear the phone ringing inside. He called cell phones of his brothers and finally Ugur answered his phone. “We are not at the office. Go to the hotel meeting. We are there. We will come there,” he said cryptically. As Ugur spoke Gokhan heard in the telephone’s> background weeping and a strange snarling sound.
He phoned the police, and the nearest officer arrived in about five minutes. He pounded on the door, “Police, open up!” Initially the officer thought it was a domestic disturbance. At that point they heard another snarl and a gurgling moan. The police understood that sound as human suffering, prepared the clip in his gun, and tried over and over again to burst through the door. One of the frightened assailants unlocked the door for the policeman, who entered to find a grisly scene.
Tilman and Necati had been slaughtered, practically decapitated with their necks slit from ear to ear. Ugur’s throat was likewise slit and he was barely alive.
Three assailants in front of the policeman dropped their weapons.
Meanwhile Gokhan heard a sound of yelling in the street. Someone had fallen from their third story office. Running down, he found a man on the ground, whom he later recognized, named Emre Gunaydin. He had massive head trauma and, strangely, was snarling. He had tried to climb down the drainpipe to escape, and losing his balance had plummeted to the ground. It seems that he was the main leader of the attackers. Another assailant was found hiding on a lower balcony.
To untangle the web we need to back up six years. In April 2001, the National Security Council of Turkey (Milli Guvenlik Kurulu) began to consider evangelical Christians as a threat to national security, on equal footing as Al Quaida and PKK terrorism. Statements made in the press by political leaders, columnists and commentators have fueled a hatred against missionaries who they claim bribe young people to change their religion.
After that decision in 2001, attacks and threats on churches, pastors and Christians began. Bombings, physical attacks, verbal and written abuse are only some of the ways Christians are being targeted. Most significant is the use of media propaganda.
From December 2005, after having a long meeting regarding the Christian threat, the wife of Former Prime Minister Ecevit, historian Ilber Ortayli, Professor Hasan Unsal, Politician Ahmet Tan and writer/propogandist Aytunc Altindal, each in their own profession began a campaign to bring the public’s attention to the looming threat of Christians who sought to “buy their children’s souls.” Hidden cameras in churches have taken church service footage and used it sensationally to promote fear and antagonism> toward Christianity.
In an official televised response from Ankara, the Interior Minister of Turkey smirked as he spoke of the attacks on our brothers. Amid public outrage and protests against the event and in favor of freedom of religion and freedom of thought, media and official comments ring with the same message, “We hope you have learned your lesson. We do not want Christians here.”
It appears that this was an organized attack initiated by an unknown adult tarikat leader. As in the Hrant Dink murder in January 2007 and a Catholic priest, Andrea Santoro, in February 2006, minors are being used to commit religious murders because public sympathy for youth is strong and they face lower penalties than an adult convicted of the same crime. Even the parents of these children are in favor of the acts. The mother of the 16 year-old boy who killed the Catholic priest Andrea Santoro looked at the cameras as her son was going to prison and said, “He will serve time for Allah.”
The young men involved in the killing are currently in custody. Today news reported that they would be tried as terrorists, so their age would not affect the strict penalty. Assailant Emre Gunaydin is still in intensive care. The investigation centers around him and his contacts, and they say it will fall apart if he does not recover.
The Church in Turkey responded in a way that honored God as hundreds of believers and dozens of pastors flew in as fast as they could to stand by the small church of Malatya and encourage the believers, take care of legal issues, and represent Christians to the media.
When Susanne Tilman expressed her wish to bury her husband in Malatya, the Governor tried to stop it, and when he realized he could not stop it, a rumor was spread that “it is a sin to dig a grave for a Christian.” In the end, in an undertaking that should be remembered in Christian history forever, the men from the church in Adana (near Tarsus), grabbed shovels and dug a grave for their slain brother in an un-tended hundred year old Armenian graveyard.
Ugur was buried by his family in an Alevi Muslim ceremony in his hometown of Elazig, his believing fiance watching from the shadows as his family and friends refused to accept in death the faith Ugur had so long professed and died for.
Necati’s funeral took place in his hometown of Izmir, the city where he came to faith. The darkness does not understand the light. Though the churches expressed their forgiveness for the event, Christians were not to be trusted. Before they would load the coffin onto the plane from Malatya, it went through two separate x-ray exams to make sure it was not loaded with explosives. This is not a usual procedure for Muslim coffins.
Necati’s funeral was a beautiful event. Like a glimpse of heaven, thousands of Turkish Christians and missionaries came to show their love for Christ and their honor for this man chosen to die for Christ. Necati’s wife Shemsa told the world, “His death was full of meaning, because he died for Christ and he lived for Christ. Necati was a gift from God. I feel honored that he was in my life; I feel crowned with honor. I want to be worthy of that honor.”
Boldly the believers took their stand at Necati’s funeral, facing the risks of being seen publicly and likewise becoming targets. As expected, the anti-terror police attended and videotaped everyone attending the funeral for their future use. The service took place outside at Buca Baptist church, and Necati was buried in a small Christian graveyard in the outskirts of Izmir.
Two assistant Governors of Izmir were there solemnly watching the event from the front row. Dozens of news agencies were there documenting the events with live news and photographs. Who knows the impact the funeral had on those watching? This is the beginning of their story as well. Pray for them.
In an act that hit front pages in the largest newspapers in Turkey, Susanne Tilman in a television interview expressed her forgiveness. She did not want revenge, she told reporters. “Oh God, forgive them for they know not what they do,” she said, wholeheartedly agreeing with the words of Christ on Calvary (Luke 23:34).
In a country where blood-for-blood revenge is as normal as breathing, many, many reports have come to the attention of the church of how this comment of Susanne Tilman has changed lives. One columnist wrote of her comment, “She said in one sentence what 1000 missionaries in 1000 years could never do.”
The missionaries in Malatya will most likely move out, as their families and children have become publicly identified as targets to the hostile city. The remaining 10 believers are in hiding. What will happen to this church, this light in the darkness? Most likely it will go underground. Pray for wisdom, that Turkish brothers from other cities will go to lead the leaderless church. Should we not be concerned for that great city of Malatya, a city that does not know what it is doing? (Jonah 4:11)
When our Pastor Fikret Bocek went with a brother to give a statement to the Security Directorate on Monday they were ushered into the Anti-Terror Department. On the wall was a huge chart covering the whole wall listing all the terrorist cells in Izmir, categorized. In one prominent column were listed all the evangelical churches in Izmir. The darkness does not understand the light. “These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also” (Acts 17:6).
Please pray for the Church in Turkey. “Don’t pray against persecution; pray for perseverance,” urges Pastor Fikret Bocek.
The Church is better having lost our brothers; the fruit in our lives, the renewed faith, the burning desire to spread the gospel to quench more darkness in Malatya — all these are not to be regretted. Pray that we stand strong against external opposition and especially pray that we stand strong against internal struggles with sin, our true debilitating weakness.
This we know. Christ Jesus was there when our brothers were giving their lives for Him. He was there, like He was when Stephen was being stoned in the sight of Saul of Tarsus.
Someday the video of the deaths of our brothers may reveal more to us about the strength that we know Christ gave them to endure their last cross, about the peace the Spirit of God endowed them with to suffer for their beloved Savior. But we know He did not leave their side. We know their minds were full of Scripture strengthening them to endure, as darkness tried to subdue the unsubduable Light of the Gospel. We know, in whatever way they were able, with a look or a word, they encouraged one another to stand strong. We know they knew they would soon be with Christ.
We don’t know the details. We don’t know the kind of justice that will or will not be served on this earth. But we pray– and urge you to pray– that someday at least one of those five boys will come to faith because of the testimony in death of Tilman Geske, who gave his life as a missionary to his beloved Turks, and the testimonies in death of Necati Aydin and Ugur Yuksel, the first martyrs for Christ out of the Turkish Church.
Reported by Darlene N. Bocek (24 April 2007)
Please please please pass this on to as many praying Christians as you can, in as many countries as you can. Please always keep the heading as “From the Protestant Church of Smyrna” with this contact information: izmirprotestan@gmail.com
You can also read articles here and here
4.17.2007
Submission
I have been thinking a lot about submission, and was getting ready to formulate a post when I came across a really good article.
You can read it here.
You can read it here.
4.16.2007
The Wedding
I am very behind in my postings. There have been a lot of things on my mind, but I have had trouble getting the time to put them in a coherent format :) It also seems that many people are saying things that I've been thinking about much more eloquently than I can. And without a digital camera it is difficult to get pictures up.
But on the picture front, my in-laws have come to the rescue in the form of a photo cd from Angie's wedding in Feb. So, I can share a few photos with the little's all dolled up!
Here are the girls, all ready to join the wedding party. They were so excited to get to be in the wedding, and Sierra loved having her hair all curly. She has very fine hair and it doesn't hold a curl long, so this was a rare treat.
Next come the boys. Don't they look handsome in their tuxedos? They felt SO big.
The night before, during the rehersal, we were sitting together listening to the mother of the bride run through the song she was going to sing when Eli leaned over and asked if he was going to sing "Go Tell it on the Mountain"? I said, "No". A beat later he asked if he was going to sing "Little Drummer Boy". Again I answered, "No." And I explained that he wouldn't be singing. He grew a little concerned and after a moment whispered "But I don't play the piano!"
We got it all figured out and he stood up on the platform proudly waving to mom :)
During the wedding the boys did great. They carefully lined themselves up on the tape place there for their reference and Eli spun his ring pillow around on his finger so as not to call attention to himself ;) They kept together pretty well walking up the aisle and delivered the rings right on cue.
Here is Ezra with his million dollar smile.
Isn't Angie a beautiful bride?
The ladies
But on the picture front, my in-laws have come to the rescue in the form of a photo cd from Angie's wedding in Feb. So, I can share a few photos with the little's all dolled up!
Here are the girls, all ready to join the wedding party. They were so excited to get to be in the wedding, and Sierra loved having her hair all curly. She has very fine hair and it doesn't hold a curl long, so this was a rare treat.
Next come the boys. Don't they look handsome in their tuxedos? They felt SO big.
The night before, during the rehersal, we were sitting together listening to the mother of the bride run through the song she was going to sing when Eli leaned over and asked if he was going to sing "Go Tell it on the Mountain"? I said, "No". A beat later he asked if he was going to sing "Little Drummer Boy". Again I answered, "No." And I explained that he wouldn't be singing. He grew a little concerned and after a moment whispered "But I don't play the piano!"
We got it all figured out and he stood up on the platform proudly waving to mom :)
During the wedding the boys did great. They carefully lined themselves up on the tape place there for their reference and Eli spun his ring pillow around on his finger so as not to call attention to himself ;) They kept together pretty well walking up the aisle and delivered the rings right on cue.
Here is Ezra with his million dollar smile.
Isn't Angie a beautiful bride?The ladies
The happy couple
3.30.2007
It's Off!
My wedding ring has been stuck on my finger for about 2 years. I have tried at various times to remove it, sometimes quite strenuously, but have always been unsuccsessful. Sometimes it is so tight I can barely spin it around on my finger, and other times it is comfortable.
My fingers always swell when I am pregnant, and I have known for some time that it really must come off. Last night I could hardly sleep because the ring was so tight that the throbbing kept waking me up.
So, this afternoon we went to the EMS to see if they could cut if off. I thought cutting was the only option. But when we arrived, the woman there said "If you can take it, I can get it off." I decided to see if I could take it.
The male technicians were all very interested to learn how she did it. She had apparently removed the ring of a man a week ago and everyone was very impressed, but no one had seen her do it.
The retrieved some tracheostomy tape (umbilical tape is preferred, but it was unavailable), and some KY Jelly. She slid a strip of the tape under my ring, creating a handle to pull the ring with. Then she wrapped my finger VERY tightly with the tape to try to make it smaller than the ring. A liberal squirt of KY and the pulling/twisting commenced.
WOW, It was PAINFUL!
They pulled, twisted, pulled, twisted... A few times I had to have them stop so I could catch my breath and make sure that they weren't fileting my finger. It really, really hurt.
But, it is off!
My finger is still pretty swollen and painful, but I will sleep tonight. And the ring didn't have to be cut.
All in all, worth it.
And now, if anyone needs a ring removed, I know just what to do :)
My fingers always swell when I am pregnant, and I have known for some time that it really must come off. Last night I could hardly sleep because the ring was so tight that the throbbing kept waking me up.
So, this afternoon we went to the EMS to see if they could cut if off. I thought cutting was the only option. But when we arrived, the woman there said "If you can take it, I can get it off." I decided to see if I could take it.
The male technicians were all very interested to learn how she did it. She had apparently removed the ring of a man a week ago and everyone was very impressed, but no one had seen her do it.
The retrieved some tracheostomy tape (umbilical tape is preferred, but it was unavailable), and some KY Jelly. She slid a strip of the tape under my ring, creating a handle to pull the ring with. Then she wrapped my finger VERY tightly with the tape to try to make it smaller than the ring. A liberal squirt of KY and the pulling/twisting commenced.
WOW, It was PAINFUL!
They pulled, twisted, pulled, twisted... A few times I had to have them stop so I could catch my breath and make sure that they weren't fileting my finger. It really, really hurt.
But, it is off!
My finger is still pretty swollen and painful, but I will sleep tonight. And the ring didn't have to be cut.
All in all, worth it.
And now, if anyone needs a ring removed, I know just what to do :)
3.28.2007
Ups and Downs
Mike arrived home this afternoon a little blue. He had been reflecting on the fact that he had just received this big promotion at work and no one in our family had congratulated him, we had not celebrated in any way, in fact, we were all pretty sad about it.
He was right. We got caught up in how we didn't want to move, didn't want months of separation, and all that there is to be done before he leaves. The fact that this is a great opportunity for him and in many ways a great blessing for us, just got ignored.
Well, we all quickly apologized and agreed that it was indeed an occasion that demanded to be celebrated!
So, we got all gussied up and went out for a really good dinner and spoke in a celebratory fashion.
Then we went to Home Depot to price out some of the improvements we are hoping to do.
THEN...while driving home on our bucolic country road...someone THREW A ROCK at the van and SHATTERED one of our side windows. Yep, shattered it.
Mike and Chance are back at the scene waiting for the police to come conduct what I suspect will be a futile search for the perpetrator/s, but at least we will have a police report if we need it for the insurance company.
So, a less-than-ideal cap to our evening of celebration.
He was right. We got caught up in how we didn't want to move, didn't want months of separation, and all that there is to be done before he leaves. The fact that this is a great opportunity for him and in many ways a great blessing for us, just got ignored.
Well, we all quickly apologized and agreed that it was indeed an occasion that demanded to be celebrated!
So, we got all gussied up and went out for a really good dinner and spoke in a celebratory fashion.
Then we went to Home Depot to price out some of the improvements we are hoping to do.
THEN...while driving home on our bucolic country road...someone THREW A ROCK at the van and SHATTERED one of our side windows. Yep, shattered it.
Mike and Chance are back at the scene waiting for the police to come conduct what I suspect will be a futile search for the perpetrator/s, but at least we will have a police report if we need it for the insurance company.
So, a less-than-ideal cap to our evening of celebration.
3.23.2007
Pride
This was posted on the Patriarchs Wives email list today, and I thought I would share it here.
My name is Pride. I am a cheater.
I cheat you of your God-given destiny...because you demand your own way.
I cheat you of contentment...because you "deserve better than this."
I cheat you of knowledge...because you already know it all.
I cheat you of healing...because you're too full of me to forgive.
I cheat you of holiness...because you refuse to admit when you're wrong.
I cheat you of vision...becasue you'd rather look in the mirror than out a window.
I cheat you of genuine friendship...because nobody's going to know the real you.
I cheat you of love...because real romance demands sacrifice.
I cheat you of greatness in heaven...because you refuse to wash another's feet on earth.
I cheat you of God's glory...because I convince you to seek your own.
My name is Pride. I am a cheater.
You like me because you think I'm always looking out for you. Untrue.
God has so much for you, I admit. But don't worry... If you stick with me, you'll never know.
-Broadman & Holman
My name is Pride. I am a cheater.
I cheat you of your God-given destiny...because you demand your own way.
I cheat you of contentment...because you "deserve better than this."
I cheat you of knowledge...because you already know it all.
I cheat you of healing...because you're too full of me to forgive.
I cheat you of holiness...because you refuse to admit when you're wrong.
I cheat you of vision...becasue you'd rather look in the mirror than out a window.
I cheat you of genuine friendship...because nobody's going to know the real you.
I cheat you of love...because real romance demands sacrifice.
I cheat you of greatness in heaven...because you refuse to wash another's feet on earth.
I cheat you of God's glory...because I convince you to seek your own.
My name is Pride. I am a cheater.
You like me because you think I'm always looking out for you. Untrue.
God has so much for you, I admit. But don't worry... If you stick with me, you'll never know.
-Broadman & Holman
3.17.2007
Baby Names
Eli "I'm going to call the baby "Dude".
Hailey "What if it's a girl?"
Eli "No, it's a boy."
Hailey "What if we call it something else?"
Eli "You can, but I'm not!"
Hailey "What if it's a girl?"
Eli "No, it's a boy."
Hailey "What if we call it something else?"
Eli "You can, but I'm not!"
3.13.2007
Some Healthy-ish Recipes
I made a rhubarb compote this morning that was so good, I thought I would share it.
6 stalks rhubarb (about 3c)
2 in piece grated ginger
1/2 c maple syrup
2 TBS water
Put the ginger, syrup and water into a pan and heat on med heat about 5 min. Add sliced rhubarb, cover and simmer 10 minutes. That's it. I stirred it in to some FACE greek yogurt and it was sooo yummy. It would also be good on vanilla or plain yogurt. This made enough four about 4 servings.
Another recipe that I haven't tried but that looks really good is from Whole Foods.
Carrot Salad with Almond Butter Dressing
2 large carrots, peeled
1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
1/4 cup minced fresh cilantro
1/2 cup raisins
1/4 cup creamy almond butter
1 TB fresh lime juice
11/2 TB tamari
1 tsp agave nectar
pinch red pepper flakes
Using a box grater, shred carrots and place in a large bowl. Add bell pepper, cilantro and raisins. In a small bowl whisk together almond butter, lime juice, tamari, agave and pepper flakes. Add dressing to carrot mixture and mix thoroughly. Allow to marinate for 1/2 hour and serve cold or at room temperature.
Can't wait to try it, doesn't it sound good!
Oh yea, I made a bread pudding type dish the other day that the kids and I just loved.
bread
eggs
milk
vanilla
apples
I buttered a 13x9 in dish. I used about 1 1/2 loaves of bread (not very big loaves) and 18 eggs (I was trying to use them up) and about 6c milk, 1 tbs vanilla and 3 apples.
Layer torn bread apples in the dish, begin and end with bread. Blend milk, eggs and vanilla and pour over casserole. Bake in 350 degree oven for about an hour - an hour and a half.
Enjoy!
6 stalks rhubarb (about 3c)
2 in piece grated ginger
1/2 c maple syrup
2 TBS water
Put the ginger, syrup and water into a pan and heat on med heat about 5 min. Add sliced rhubarb, cover and simmer 10 minutes. That's it. I stirred it in to some FACE greek yogurt and it was sooo yummy. It would also be good on vanilla or plain yogurt. This made enough four about 4 servings.
Another recipe that I haven't tried but that looks really good is from Whole Foods.
Carrot Salad with Almond Butter Dressing
2 large carrots, peeled
1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
1/4 cup minced fresh cilantro
1/2 cup raisins
1/4 cup creamy almond butter
1 TB fresh lime juice
11/2 TB tamari
1 tsp agave nectar
pinch red pepper flakes
Using a box grater, shred carrots and place in a large bowl. Add bell pepper, cilantro and raisins. In a small bowl whisk together almond butter, lime juice, tamari, agave and pepper flakes. Add dressing to carrot mixture and mix thoroughly. Allow to marinate for 1/2 hour and serve cold or at room temperature.
Can't wait to try it, doesn't it sound good!
Oh yea, I made a bread pudding type dish the other day that the kids and I just loved.
bread
eggs
milk
vanilla
apples
I buttered a 13x9 in dish. I used about 1 1/2 loaves of bread (not very big loaves) and 18 eggs (I was trying to use them up) and about 6c milk, 1 tbs vanilla and 3 apples.
Layer torn bread apples in the dish, begin and end with bread. Blend milk, eggs and vanilla and pour over casserole. Bake in 350 degree oven for about an hour - an hour and a half.
Enjoy!
I'm Back!
Wow, I've been gone a long time. It just got away from me I guess, and for a while I just didn't feel like I had anything to say.
For those who don't know me IRL, I'll give you a little recap to bring y'all up to date.
Let's see December and January were mostly taken up with morning (all day) sickness because WE ARE EXPECTING AGAIN! I also had quite a bit of trouble early on and spent a lot of time on bedrest consuming copious amounts of herbs. I am now 16 - 17 weeks and things are going well. It appears to be about time to find a midwife.
In early February we traveled to Ca for the wedding of Mike's neice. I flew out due to aforementioned "trouble" and Mike was taking the van and the kids and the dog meeting me at my parents home in AZ. He got as far as El Paso, where he stopped for the night. While my family slept in their hotel room, someone decided that they had greater need of our possessions than we did. Likely to run "undocumented workers" over the border. We lost MANY things. One of them was our digital camera, which has yet to be replaced. So, there is likely to be far fewer pictures posted on the blog for a while. My sweet puppy, Ellie Mae, was also in the van because the hotel did not allow pets.
And now it looks highly likely that we will have to leave Texas and return to CA. They are offering a pretty good promotion, and the job situation here has become highly unreliable.
The prospect of moving breaks our heart on so many levels I don't even know what to say about it. We are trusting God to direct our paths.
There, you're all caught up. Left out the flu and some other less than fun things, but those are the biggies.
So, what's going on in your neck of the woods?
For those who don't know me IRL, I'll give you a little recap to bring y'all up to date.
Let's see December and January were mostly taken up with morning (all day) sickness because WE ARE EXPECTING AGAIN! I also had quite a bit of trouble early on and spent a lot of time on bedrest consuming copious amounts of herbs. I am now 16 - 17 weeks and things are going well. It appears to be about time to find a midwife.
In early February we traveled to Ca for the wedding of Mike's neice. I flew out due to aforementioned "trouble" and Mike was taking the van and the kids and the dog meeting me at my parents home in AZ. He got as far as El Paso, where he stopped for the night. While my family slept in their hotel room, someone decided that they had greater need of our possessions than we did. Likely to run "undocumented workers" over the border. We lost MANY things. One of them was our digital camera, which has yet to be replaced. So, there is likely to be far fewer pictures posted on the blog for a while. My sweet puppy, Ellie Mae, was also in the van because the hotel did not allow pets.
And now it looks highly likely that we will have to leave Texas and return to CA. They are offering a pretty good promotion, and the job situation here has become highly unreliable.
The prospect of moving breaks our heart on so many levels I don't even know what to say about it. We are trusting God to direct our paths.
There, you're all caught up. Left out the flu and some other less than fun things, but those are the biggies.
So, what's going on in your neck of the woods?
1.08.2007
Clones on the Table
The FDA has just announced that it has approved the sale of meat and milk from cloned animals for human consumption. And, true to form, they have also decided that the public doesn't need to know which products are from animals that have been cloned. There is a 3 month period for consumer comments, I urge you all to make yourselves heard.
I could go on about the moral and potential health issues with this decision. I could stress how we need to be more in touch with our food supply, to buy local and organic when possible. But I'm sick, and I just don't have the energy.
But please call, or at least email.
I could go on about the moral and potential health issues with this decision. I could stress how we need to be more in touch with our food supply, to buy local and organic when possible. But I'm sick, and I just don't have the energy.
But please call, or at least email.
1.02.2007
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