Tuesday, August 30, 2011

“By The Boat”

Because we have done two lake vacations this summer, Little J’s favorite phrase is “by the boat”.  She knows that she can swim when we go to the water.  Our vacation with the G family did not disappoint, beautiful weather, quality family time and lots of opportunities to “dip”!

We have pictures galore, so this will be part 1 of 2!

Gerst vaca and Chad wedding 063

Gerst vaca and Chad wedding 081 Gerst vaca and Chad wedding 069

Gerst vaca and Chad wedding 531

 Gerst vaca and Chad wedding 116

 Gerst vaca and Chad wedding 553

Gerst vaca and Chad wedding 151

Gerst vaca and Chad wedding 141 

Gerst vaca and Chad wedding 153

Gerst vaca and Chad wedding 440 Gerst vaca and Chad wedding 129

 Gerst vaca and Chad wedding 571

Monday, August 29, 2011

Deep Sigh...

Just back from vacation with Jon's family in MI (pics to come) and my brother's wedding (pics to come). So, we are readjusting to life as normal, again.  Oh boy.  It takes us awhile.




So this is why if I get ONE thing checked off my list, I deserve a nap. :)

Sunday, August 21, 2011

It's The Little Moments

It's life's little moments, you know, the kind you miss, but when captured, they take your breath away.

(thanks for the pictures Nathan and Natalie!)

Friday, August 19, 2011

The Wrong Side of History

Where were the German Christians during the Holocaust? Some may not have known of the horrific genocide, others may have learned a bit and then shut their hearts to learning more because it was too painful, too risky to become educated to the point of action. Yet, there was also a minority who moved and opened up their homes at great personal risk for the sake of the Jewish people.

Where was the church in the South during the time of slavery? Studying history, there were Christians who did step up and take action against this sinful atrocity and devaluation of human life, but many of the defenders of slavery and all its evil practices were upstanding members in the prominent southern churches.

We look back and we can clearly see the injustice and sin. It is easy to point fingers at the past and the Christians who, in general, did very little to fight.

I don’t want to be there, on the wrong side of history. What will they say as they look back on the church of America? Where are we standing silent when we should be standing in the gap?

Will they look back and see a church, filled with the Spirit, bringing good news to the poor, binding up the wounds of the brokenhearted, proclaiming liberty to the captives (Isaiah 61-1-2)? Or will we be looked at in retrospect as the rich, overindulged church, which praised Jesus with our lips, but looked on with dead hearts, unwilling to take a risk for the marginalized and oppressed?

Oh Jesus, move us, may we not be on the wrong side of history.

slavery

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Hog Roast & Walk

Come one, come all!

Hog Roast, ET

Our family won’t be able to make it because we will be involved in wedding fun (yep, my little brother is gettin’ hitched!).

However, this event is going to be INCREDIBLE, food, activities and all proceeds go to benefit the Lifesong Ethiopia school! For Indiana folk, Van Wert isn’t that far across the border and all donations are matched up to $11,800.

 

And dun, dun, dun, duuunnnnn…I think my comment problem is fixed once and for all (thanks Jennifer!), so if you tried and have given up, try again.  I am expecting big things in the comment department.  We are gearing up for a giveaway, so you better practice. ;)

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

These Are A Few Of Their Favorite Things…

We had a picnic in the park last night and although there were no raindrops on roses or whiskery kittens in sight, a sunny 76 degrees, plus these giggly babes was just about perfect.

Swings:

Park 067 Park 069

Park 074

Sticks

Park 126

Mama

Park 174

Wide open spaces to “march”.

Park 189

Squirrels to chase

Park 239

Daddy

Park 262

Slides

Park 225

And a few of Mama’s favorite things? Peek-a-boo and giggles.

Park 144 Park 149

Park 156 Park 159

Perfect.

Monday, August 15, 2011

Bowling for Bugs

The Littles love their bowling set. We gave them the rules, "roll the ball towards the pins and knock down the bugs." but they quickly found a way more effective way to knock down the pins without sister grabbing the ball.



Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Those Could Be My Children

My heart has been heavy as news continues of the drought in the horn of Africa (affecting parts of Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia).

I found an article in Time talking about this crisis and refugee camps.  There are 70,000 people camped outside of this refugee camp and though things are barely at a survival rate in the refugee camp, the people there are the “lucky ones”. Today, my friend, Tricia, posted this article and video from CNN on the largest refugee camp:

http://www.cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/08/09/largest.refugee.camp/index.html

Did you watch it? 

Mothers are literally walking for days, some walking for weeks across the desert with their children.  It mentions a mother who would walk with one child, set him down, go back for her other child and repeat this process, day after day across the desert. 

I watched it in tears as I realized, those kids, they could be mine.  That mother, watching her baby waste away, that could be me.

(Photo taken by United Nations)

But it’s not me. 

Look, here I am, with my babies.

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So, do I just breathe a deep sigh of relief, thank God for His provision for my family, whisper a prayer for rain and move on with my day?  To be honest, sometimes, yes, that is what I do.  Not this time, God has not been letting me off the hook.    Let us unite in fervent prayer and match our prayers with our giving.

Two reputable organizations taking donations for relief:

www.samaritanspurse.org

www.worldvision.org