Neck Beards and House Shoes

Ok, let me just say that this is weird. I have just signed in to our blog and am typing. Who knows, maybe I'll scrapbook tomorrow! I'll make this quick.
I have two things to be thankful for today.
#1) Many of our High School Youth (boys) have taken part in "No-Shave November". Most of them have awkward looking blonde stubble and there are others that have weird neck beards. I am so glad that tomorrow is December. They will shave tonight and all will be returned to the way it should be.
#2) I am thankful that I am sitting on the couch watching the Redskins on a Sunday afternoon. Thankful that they are losing?...not so much. It is simply the fact that I am at home. It is very rare that I am at home on a Sunday afternoon. I usually have stuff at church ALL day on sundays. It is a cold and rainy day today in Richmond. We came home after church, had grilled cheeses and tomato soup for lunch, and now I am working the hoodie and house shoes. Ah, the simple things. I love ministry, but this is just nice.
-Ed
Just in case you cared....I have been clean shaven all month.

Broomball

Last night was Broomball! For the Mt. Oak readers, you know what that is! It brought back so many memories of high school! For those that don't know what it is, it is the best game ever. We rented out a skating rink after they closed, from 11 to 1. It is basically hockey except you wear tennis shoes, and you have "brooms" or broom-like paddles and hit a ball into the goal. Our students planned it, so they set it up with a middle school court and high school court. It was craziness. They set it up tournament style, so each team played like 4 or 5 games and the games were only 4 minutes long with 1 minute transition time. So when time was up, four teams ran off the court and four ran on, which was comical since they were on ice!
Our students had so much fun! Most of them had never played before so it was a new experience. The point of the event was to bring friends from school to a non-threatening chruch experience. Here are some pics:

Gag me with a Spoon!

So after another round of shots, a weigh in, and the rest of the 6 month check-up for Caleb...oh yeah, and a surprise flu shot for Micah, we have come full circle and now get to start baby food! With the few times that we have tried to offer him rice cereal, he has refused to eat it! He shivers every time!
So today I got the steamer out and the blender and decided we would start with carrots. I began peeling them and then chopping them. Micah helped me put them in the steamer. We loaded it up with water and turned it on. Later we transferred them to the blender for a puree, only to find out my blender has seen better days. We finally got them mashed and put it in ice cube trays to be frozen.Then came lunch time. I was so anticipating this moment! I sat Micah down to eat, and nursed Caleb. Then I sat him in his new booster seat, strapped him with his bib, and prepared his gourmet lunch of rice cereal and carrots...yum! After heating it up, I went in for the first taste. What was I expecting? Who knows! But I will tell you what I got...
The spoon went in, and surprisingly very little came out! Achievement #1. He ate both the carrots and cereal...Achievement #2. He looked at me with those cute gooey little eyes, and gave me the biggest little shiver. Then he didn't stop! Drama, i know. I mean, Caleb, it is just carrots. But the boy HATED it! For such a chunky kid, you would think he would be like BRING IT ON! to the food. Not so much! Do you think he will be 14 years old and still want breastmilk? (i know, too much)

My Special Day

Last week I had my birthday and I realized that now being an adult, your birthday just isn't what it used to be. There's no party or streamers or games or party hats...maybe if your lucky you get a cake and some presents. No longer do you get to enjoy the day, just you, no work, no responsibilities, no kids, etc.
However, at this stage you get other joys as a part of your birthday! And I would argue even better things! My actual birthday was just a usual day...feeding children, cleaning kitchen, cooking dinner, phone calls, bills, a walk, reading, small group. But to see the joy of my two year old playing with my balloons all day, made me appreciate balloons so much more.

Friday, my husband planned a special day just for us! We took the kids to his parents' house for the day and trekked up 95 to Old Towne Alexandria. A downtown area on the Potomac River with little shops and restaurants for blocks. It all has the old feel of what things were like "back in the day". It is all historic, with brick sidewalks and such. We ate lunch and did some shopping. Then we decided to hop on the Metro into town (DC) and go to one of the Smithsonians. We went to the Natural History museum which was interesting, but quite a bit annoying with their very pushy agenda of evolution! Then we hopped back on the Metro to Alexandria. Rode the trolley down King Street, to eat some seafood for dinner! Yum! I had a crab cake that was so delicious! So even though birthdays are different with adult life, it is a treasure that I savor once every year!

A Must Have...

On Halloween night, we had a night of worship at our church called 10:31. In reference to the date and to 1 Corinthians 10:31...get it??? My husband is so creative! Anyway, we had our friends Josh and Tasha Via and their band come up and lead worship. It was a great night! But we got their new cd and it is awesome. They are so very talented. Some of those songs are just amazing! Click here and you can listen to some clips. So need ideas for Christmas gifts or just want to support them...get this cd. It is a must have!

Slapping some tiles...

Only a few of you may get this, but we had a great night last night with some friends in our small group. After a "breakfast" dinner (i know, awesome) with both families, we sent the kids upstairs to play for a while and then eventually to bed. We sat for 3 hours playing Mexican Train dominioes. We played that back in seminary the whole last summer we were there with the Gurneys and Bevers. It was really fun, but I think we only got through 3 rounds. We ended up talking and laughing more than playing. We kept asking, "Whose turn is it?"

On another note...
Favorite quote from Micah today...
We are driving in the car and Caleb was happy, giggling and talking.
Micah says, "Caleb, what's so funny to you?"
It just made me laugh!

What Do We Do Now...

I'm not really one to get into politics because when all is said and done, no matter who you vote for and what you believe, they are all going to fail you at some point. But I find myself reflecting on this past election. First let me just say I am soooo glad it is over. The phone calls were ridiculous! But I fear going into the "Christian" public today because I don't want to hear the somber comments of what do we do now. I'm sorry if I offend you, but our lives do not depend on who is in office. Quite frankly, I couldn't get excited about either choice I had to vote on. I know that all the changes that our new president confidently says he will put into action will have some effect on us as citizens of America. But praise God, that I put my faith in someone and something so much greater. No matter what changes occur, good or bad, I serve a God who is above it all.
I'm afraid much of our country voted for Obama because they wanted anything but Bush. They wanted someone to save them from the awful way of the Republicans! Republican or Democrat or anything else (Green Party, what's that? Poor Nader...when can he take the hint), never ever ever will you make my life just peachy keen. Never will you save me from the fact that there will always be wrong in this world!
My friends (ha! you like that!), thank God for the faith he has so graciously given us to believe in something so much greater! My prayers are the same as before...that God would be soverign over all situations and that He would be gracious enough to carry me through any circumstance. We DON'T need change. My hopes and dreams and faith is placed at the feet of the only one who DOES NOT change! Praise God!