Canada Besties

We were so blessed, yet again, by a visit from seminary friends!  Brian, Julie, Ev & El Cochran stopped for a few days on their way to meet family in Branson.  Brian & Julie used to live below us in the Quammune - we had so many fun seminary adventures there!  A 2009 Westminster Cali grad, Brian is now a URC pastor in Regina, SK, Canada.  We had so much fun during their visit and, of course, showed them all that northern Iowa has to offer (yes, we did it in two days!).

 It was super fun watching El & Aidan eating together.  El is just two weeks younger than Aid.  She would grab Aidan's food and throw it off the other side of her highchair.  Aidan thought that was hilarious.

 Native Southern Californians, Brian & Julie braved the lake water.

 My boys.  Aidan received a terrible diaper rash from all the swimming we did the weekend prior so Mommy made sure his bum stayed dry.

 Brian, Aidan, Ev, Brian

 El & Jules

It was so wonderful to talk ministry with Julie.  She is in my boat - a pastor's wife to a solo minister.  It was refreshing and encouraging to swap stories of problems, joys, and frustrations as well as try to encourage one another toward finding our contentment solely in Christ alone - not our positions or locations!  Poor Julie just, by God's grace, survived her first Canadian winter.  Now she's battling the humidity and bugs - new battles for a Los Angeles girl.

 My boy and me - we stayed dry.

This is classic - I'm always trying to dodge those sticky little hands.  I tried to keep Leo contained, my glasses on my face, and my latte in it's cup.  But, truly, this is what I love - Aidan, Leo, lattes, summer and (although not pictured) my hubby and dear friends.

So we praise and thank the LORD for our dear Cochran friends.  We had an incredible time with them and hope they left as encouraged as we were.  Pray for their church, if you think of it - Regina URC.

Thanks, Cochrans, we miss you already!

Sexuality to the Glory of God

Wesley Hill, an acquaintance of Brian's from their TBI (The Bethlehem Institute) days, recently "came out" as a homosexual.  Instead of adopting a "Christian" lifestyle that condones his sexuality, finding a church that OKs homosexuality, and modifying God's Word to fit his feelings, Wes has dedicated his life to being obedient to God.  For Wes (and other homosexuals), that means living a life of celibacy as to not sin against (in disobedience) the Man who died for him.  Wes has truly left everything - his desires for men, his longing for happiness and companionship - in obedience to Christ, looking forward to his rich inheritance in the age to come (John 17:3).  Sacrificing happiness and love are two things you don't often hear of today - even among Christians.  I encourage you to read the talk he recently gave at Wheaton College.  He also has a book coming out in September from Zondervan: Washed and Waiting: Reflections on Christian Faithfulness and Homosexuality.  And please pray for Wes as he lives with this daily struggle and loneliness.

Leaving All, Gaining All 

Latest Aidan Fun

Aidan has a new past-time:

 Despite the look on his face, he actually likes it.  And, no, I don't lock him up.

 

 He likes to pretend he's Leo.

 He actually just likes all of Leo's toys.  Especially his blanket (well, it used to be Aidan's!)

He crawls inside to clean the place out...

 

As you can see, now all the toys have been removed from Leo's crate.  Silly, Aidan!

The "boys" are so cute together.  I will post pictures of them soon.

Three Cali Faves

Oh, my heart is just bursting with joy after a wonderful weekend with seminary friends!  The Locatells arrived Friday and left just this morning (yes, I cried as the truck drove away).  It was an incredible weekend filled with laughter, wonderful conversation, good food, yard games, and fun.  A dose of the Locatells was exactly what we needed for a little rejuvenation.

 On Saturday, we took the boys to the lake.  Baby Locatell is going to be an ocean boy, but I am glad he liked the brown lake water!  Our lake boy couldn't handle all the excitement.

 Daddy had to hold up his dead weight so he didn't get a face-full of water!

 Christian, Baby C, and Hol

 Mamas, strollers and boys...too much fun.

 Sunday after church we went to our local aquatic park.

 Oh, I already miss them terribly.  Everyone at church thought Holly and I were sisters - I wish we were!  Then we, as relatives, would have to see each other often!  She's a bosom buddy.

 Left: my favorite men.  Right:  Hol's favorite men.

 I loved sitting by the pool discussing infant baptism, philosophy of women's ministry and missions.  Hol has such great insights.

 Sweet family.

 Praying over this truck and family, that they would get to Cali safely!  Christian is studying linguists and will be in LA getting a second Master's degree (he graduated with a M. Div from Westminster Cali in May).  They will then be looking to raise support and head to the missions field.  Hol grew up in Brazil; her parents are missionaries there.  Christian and Holly may work near them translating the bible for tribes that don't yet have access to it in their own language.

Thanks, Locatells, for coming to visit!  We're so glad you did!  Lots of love to you three!

Out of the Blue

 Two of my three main men and I road-tripped to Baldwin, WI yesterday...

to watch my dad Sky-Dive!

 Clare, our second cousin, talked my dad into Sky-Diving with her and her four guy friends.

The gang = college students + Dad

 Aid and Uncle Andy gearing up for the jump.  Aidan can't contain his excitement. ;)

 Picture of Mom & Dad...praying it's not their last (I'm so nervous!)

 Sue is Clare's mom.  She's lots of fun.

 It was a gorgeous day with such bright sun; I couldn't convince him to keep his hat on.

 Mom, Leo, Mark & Sue (Mark is my mom's cousin)

 Dad and his tandem partner (he's a pilot for UPS - that makes me less nervous!).

 Dad's photographer and video-man.

 Being cute - what he does best (besides trying to chew on my arms).  Leo and Aidan were both people magnets all day.  It's amazing the number of people you meet when you have a baby...and a puppy!

 The $1.7 million 750 hp plane that takes up the divers.

 Boarding!  Go Dad!  We love you!

 Grandma Jane & Aidan trying to stay cool.

 Uncle Andy is all spiffy riding co-pilot.

 Bye, Dad!

 And they're off...

to 13,000 feet.  (At 13,500 they'd need oxygen so they don't go that high.)

For nearly 15 minutes, we squint to follow the plane as it ascends.  It sways back & forth in the cirrus clouds and soon we can only catch glimpses when the sun reflects off of it.  And then, when the plane is no more, colors fall out of the blue...(now I know how that expression originated!).

 He's landing with perfect form - feet up!

 First words from Dad, "That was AWESOME!  Whew!"

 Dad loved it.  The spins in the air were a bit too much (he doesn't even like the Tilt-A-Whirl), but other than that, it was perfect.

And here comes Clare!  Yay!

It was a fabulous day.  We all went to supper together and then headed home.  My boys were exceptional travelers and slept the whole way.  Thanks, family, for all the fun!  We're proud of you, Clare & Dad!

Biblical Adornment

Let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit.  I Peter 3:4

I'm the first to admit that I love cute clothes, shopping, and everything expensive.  But the LORD is primarily concerned about the heart, and his call to women in I Peter is to adorn ourselves "with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit."  If you know me, you know that I am not quiet: I love to talk!  I love to stand on my soapbox and share my opinions about education, child rearing, church denominations, theology, pet rearing, Christian living, etc.  And, lately, I've been realizing that my opinions are often so different than those of others.  It makes me upset & frustrated, but Paul's command in I Peter was both convicting and encouraging to me this morning.

Quiet.  It doesn't mean not talking.  It means a spirit that is peaceful because it trusts God in all circumstances; a quiet heart doesn't need to fret or be anxious because it knows that the LORD has all of its cares and concerns in His hand.   Quietness exhibits trust in God alone.  And here's the portion that was convicting for me:  "Quietness means sitting back and allowing others to express their opinions or have their way," (Brownback, p. 60).

I pray that the LORD will work in my heart and life so that I may exhibit a gentle and quiet spirit, not getting all fired up or frustrated when others disagree with me.  Oh, LORD, save me from my selfish self!

Purity Devotional by  Lydia Brownback