Thursday, February 19, 2009
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
Thursday, January 29, 2009
A Blur of Photography
So... apparently we haven't been that stellar at posting (or even taking) photos over the last couple months. So sorry. Below is a very quick snapshot of the last month or so. You'll see the kiddos enjoying a couple of their Christmas gifts (and us enjoying our new Wii). You'll see all four of our beautiful nieces and some of the fun we had with them over the holidays, you'll see some great faces on our crazy (but wonderful) kids Avery & Brady and even a few guests - including our dear friends Kelli and Ian Rife who came over on MLK Day to spend the day with us. It was so awesome to see them!
The holidays were fun, but we're learning as parents, that they are fun in a whole new way. These pictures don't do the last month justice. Because although we've been stuck inside due to the frigid temps, we've all managed to have a blast, and Avery and Brady just keep getting older. We, of course, stay the same age. Hope you enjoy the pics, as well as a couple new videos at the end.
-Adam
The holidays were fun, but we're learning as parents, that they are fun in a whole new way. These pictures don't do the last month justice. Because although we've been stuck inside due to the frigid temps, we've all managed to have a blast, and Avery and Brady just keep getting older. We, of course, stay the same age. Hope you enjoy the pics, as well as a couple new videos at the end.
-Adam
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Taking Dress Up To A Whole Other Level
Bless her heart- we snapped this photo of Avery checking herself out in "Mommy's Big Girl Boots" right before bath time. Priceless.
Thursday, January 08, 2009
Looking Forward
As we always try to do, Adam and I have each taken some time over the last several weeks to "reevaluate our lives"- as a couple and as individuals. In typical New Year's tradition, we both came up with several things we wanted to see come to fruition in our lives as we continue to strive towards becoming better spouses, parents, friends, and most importantly, followers of Christ. As expected, some of the things that we came up with had to do with the mundane, "everydayness" of our lives. And others, really will push us to explore our passions and deeper callings. All that to say, shortly after coming up with updated visions for our lives, I stumbled across this from the pastor at the church I grew up in. I found it educational and inspiring. Hope you do as well.
100 Years Ago- by Glenn McDonald
One hundred years ago, in 1908, the world was a very different place. It’s rather hard to grasp, in fact, how much the United States and the world have changed over the course of a single century.
One hundred years ago, the average life expectancy in America was 47. Only 14% of American homes had a bathtub, and just 10% had a telephone.
In 1908 Henry Ford began production of his Model T. William C. Durant established the company that would become known as General Motors. There were fewer than 10,000 cars in the United States and less than 200 miles of paved roads. The maximum speed limit in most cities was 10 mph.
Alabama, Mississippi, Iowa, and Tennessee were all more heavily populated than California. About 30 people – ranchers and their families – lived in a desert hamlet known as Las Vegas, Nevada.
One hundred years ago, sugar cost four cents a pound. Eggs were fourteen cents a dozen. Most women washed their hair only once a month, using borax or egg yolks for shampoo. Some 18% of American households included at least one full-time servant or domestic.
More than 95% of births in the United States took place at home. About 90% of US physicians had no college education. Only 6% of Americans were high school graduates.
One hundred years ago, marijuana, heroin, and morphine were all available over the counter at corner drugstores. Coca-Cola contained cocaine instead of caffeine. One pharmacist gushed, “Heroin clears the complexion, gives buoyancy to the mind, regulates the stomach and is, in fact, a perfect guardian of health.”
As 1908 came to a close, Republicans were celebrating president-elect William Howard Taft’s victory over Democrat William Jennings Bryan. Europeans were confident that a century of peace and prosperity lay ahead. Germany was considered the global center of Christian scholarship. A number of scientists and politicians predicted that the emerging field of eugenics would soon allow humanity to purge itself of undesirable breeding populations.
On hundred years ago, the Boy Scout movement was founded. Mother’s Day was celebrated for the first time. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid were gunned down in Bolivia. And the Chicago Cubs won the World Series – something that only seems like 1,000 years ago.
Looking back over a long stretch of history can be an interesting exercise. It can even be provocative. But one would hardly consider it transforming. History is, well…history. If it’s a change of life that we’re seeking, there’s only one direction to point: We must look ahead.
Specifically, what will be true in your life one year from today?
At the doorway to a fresh set of 12 months, people generally wonder how many pounds they will lose, what vacation spots they might visit, and how their investments will fare. But certain other questions are of considerably greater value.
Within the next year, what significant books will you read? What habit will you confront and leave behind, by God’s grace? What broken relationship will you seek to restore?
What changes will come about in your prayer life? What experiences will stretch you beyond your current comfort zone? What will you sacrifice to help the poor?
What teacher from your past will you go out of your way to thank? Who will be emotionally richer because of your friendship and encouragement? What more will you know of God’s love, grace, and faithfulness by choosing to be brave instead of safe?
As Alfred, Lord Tennyson once wrote, “Today is yesterday’s tomorrow and tomorrow’s yesterday.” The intersection between our recollections of life a hundred years ago and our hopes for 2009 is today. We can remember the past and we can yearn for the future, but today is the only day that in which we can actually live. It also happens to be the only place where we can trust God.
100 Years Ago- by Glenn McDonald
One hundred years ago, in 1908, the world was a very different place. It’s rather hard to grasp, in fact, how much the United States and the world have changed over the course of a single century.
One hundred years ago, the average life expectancy in America was 47. Only 14% of American homes had a bathtub, and just 10% had a telephone.
In 1908 Henry Ford began production of his Model T. William C. Durant established the company that would become known as General Motors. There were fewer than 10,000 cars in the United States and less than 200 miles of paved roads. The maximum speed limit in most cities was 10 mph.
Alabama, Mississippi, Iowa, and Tennessee were all more heavily populated than California. About 30 people – ranchers and their families – lived in a desert hamlet known as Las Vegas, Nevada.
One hundred years ago, sugar cost four cents a pound. Eggs were fourteen cents a dozen. Most women washed their hair only once a month, using borax or egg yolks for shampoo. Some 18% of American households included at least one full-time servant or domestic.
More than 95% of births in the United States took place at home. About 90% of US physicians had no college education. Only 6% of Americans were high school graduates.
One hundred years ago, marijuana, heroin, and morphine were all available over the counter at corner drugstores. Coca-Cola contained cocaine instead of caffeine. One pharmacist gushed, “Heroin clears the complexion, gives buoyancy to the mind, regulates the stomach and is, in fact, a perfect guardian of health.”
As 1908 came to a close, Republicans were celebrating president-elect William Howard Taft’s victory over Democrat William Jennings Bryan. Europeans were confident that a century of peace and prosperity lay ahead. Germany was considered the global center of Christian scholarship. A number of scientists and politicians predicted that the emerging field of eugenics would soon allow humanity to purge itself of undesirable breeding populations.
On hundred years ago, the Boy Scout movement was founded. Mother’s Day was celebrated for the first time. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid were gunned down in Bolivia. And the Chicago Cubs won the World Series – something that only seems like 1,000 years ago.
Looking back over a long stretch of history can be an interesting exercise. It can even be provocative. But one would hardly consider it transforming. History is, well…history. If it’s a change of life that we’re seeking, there’s only one direction to point: We must look ahead.
Specifically, what will be true in your life one year from today?
At the doorway to a fresh set of 12 months, people generally wonder how many pounds they will lose, what vacation spots they might visit, and how their investments will fare. But certain other questions are of considerably greater value.
Within the next year, what significant books will you read? What habit will you confront and leave behind, by God’s grace? What broken relationship will you seek to restore?
What changes will come about in your prayer life? What experiences will stretch you beyond your current comfort zone? What will you sacrifice to help the poor?
What teacher from your past will you go out of your way to thank? Who will be emotionally richer because of your friendship and encouragement? What more will you know of God’s love, grace, and faithfulness by choosing to be brave instead of safe?
As Alfred, Lord Tennyson once wrote, “Today is yesterday’s tomorrow and tomorrow’s yesterday.” The intersection between our recollections of life a hundred years ago and our hopes for 2009 is today. We can remember the past and we can yearn for the future, but today is the only day that in which we can actually live. It also happens to be the only place where we can trust God.
Monday, January 05, 2009
Reality Smacked Me Square In The Face This Morning
Wow, did this morning sure sting for me. It was about 7:30 this morning when Adam marched (ok tiptoed very quietly and sweetly) into our bedroom and woke me up with the giggling of my 10 month old son. I have to admit, I was slightly annoyed. I love my son, but I had gotten very use to getting the chance every other day for the last 2 weeks to sleep in until I awoke uninterrupted. An absolute joy that I had forgotten about since children arrived. After snuggling with Brady for a couple of minutes, REALITY SET IN. I hadn't noticed that while Brady and I smiled and cooed at one another, Adam had jumped into the shower to get ready for work. Ugghhh. I had tried to block this morning out of my mind during our entire 2 week family "staycation". After over 2 weeks of time off, I had gotten really use to lazy afternoons playing in the basement, my husband greeting me with a warm cup of hot chocolate in the morning, late night Wii battles, and most importantly, CO-PARENTING. I really do think that we've made a horrible miscalculation in thinking it only takes one stay at home parent to do the job. At least in my case, I could use reinforcements 24-7.
Anyway, as Adam put on his suit and tie, Brady and I headed downstairs to greet my daughter, whom Adam told me was watching an episode of Clifford the Big Red Dog on tv. After walking up behind her and kissing her on the cheek, reality smacked me again after she greeted me back with "Go away, I want Daddy."
Oh,to have a few more days of vacation and a co-laborer working alongside me at this job called "Stay At Home Parent."
Blessings,
Katie
Anyway, as Adam put on his suit and tie, Brady and I headed downstairs to greet my daughter, whom Adam told me was watching an episode of Clifford the Big Red Dog on tv. After walking up behind her and kissing her on the cheek, reality smacked me again after she greeted me back with "Go away, I want Daddy."
Oh,to have a few more days of vacation and a co-laborer working alongside me at this job called "Stay At Home Parent."
Blessings,
Katie
Tuesday, December 09, 2008
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