Moments to treasure...

Yesterday was long day for the four of us at home. We did laundry (which right now includes lots of carting things here and there.)
The children were getting restless, and needing entertainment all day. The kind of day that takes brain power, and lots of not getting my "list" accomplished.

So I was finally at a point were I could sneak a few moments to get dishes done. I glanced around to assess what the children were entertaining themselves with to find John IV asking Peace if she wanted him to read a book to her. His next question was to ask if she wanted to sit on his lap. So she plops on his lap, and he wraps his arms around her to read the book to her. Which means she is practically being strangled by this book. There they sat for 10 min reading together. This is a moment I hope to treasure in my memory for the rest of my days. I am so blessed to be given the gift of years with these special little people.

Babies and Psalms

During family worship over the last couple of weeks we have been reading through the Psalms. Here is an interesting contrast that struck me this morning as we read Psalm 58 (after having read Psalm 22 a couple of weeks ago).

"But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother's breasts. I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother's belly." ~ Psalm 22:9,10

Now contrast that, with this:

"The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies." ~ Psalm 58:3

After pondering this for a little while my mind wandered to the second commandment.

"I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments." Ex. 20:5,6

Today I am thankful for the promises of God to both the believing household and for the hope that is extended to the "thousands" who have been, or have yet to be, called out of darkness into light.

--John

The Morning Center...

Our family is so honored to be able to support this ministry to pregnant women seeking help, counsel, and a beautiful place to give birth. This project is unlike any thing we have seen or heard of to date. A place were women are cared for loved, and supported, as place that calls child birth beautiful, and blessed. A place that values life, that of the mother, and child. A place with continued care, and comfortable surroundings. A ministry seeking to show the love of Christ to women, that have need.

If you haven't heard of this ministry before watch the video. like the facebook page, follow the blog, follow the twitter updates and most importantly pray. We need you prayers, and support! Will you be part of this beautiful outreach?

An Armanian Fishing Expedition

After having several weeks worth of busy days and evenings Whitney, Baby John, and myself decided that it was time for some family fun and we headed off to the lake (which is only a half mile behind our house). We were careful to select the most advanced fishing gear that we had availabe to us.

























As you can see, we had two baby-John-size rods and reels so Whitney took one and I took the other and we made the best of it. After John and I got our tackle in order...

























...we set out to catch some fish. And who turned out to be angler champ of the evening?
























This of course was quite disturbing to me because, being the all-knowing the outdoors husband and father that I am, I was supposed to be the angler champ of the evening right?! I wasn't even needed to get the hook out of the fish's mouth...my wife actually unhooked her own fish!

























Needless to say I felt pretty incapable. But then later that night as Whitney and I were recounting the whole event, I realized that the reason I wasn't the angling champ, was because our tactics were Armenian. When I told Whit this she looked at me with a puzzled look. I explained to her that the way I liked to fish was taking one of these...






















and doing this...


















Now you tell me? Which way is the more theologically acceptable? I say bowfishing is far more Calvinistic than clumsily begging a fish to lower his intelligence level by biting your piece of plastic that skips across the water like a.....like a....what are those things supposed to be imitating again? In bowfishing you choose the fish. In rod and reel fishing the fish has to choose you. Do any of you want to take a stab at how many fish this Calvinist caught doing it the Armanian way? Yep....you got it. None. Thats what I get for doing something against my convictions I guess.

Argh... I should have known that this post would have to end this way... now all of you are going to be concerned about Whitney. :)

Its OK - once I explained the paralell between fishing and theology, she chose of her own freewill to become a Calvinist fisherwoman....yes that does raise it's own set of problems. That'll be for another post.

Have a great weekend everybody!

Helping Momma Part 2 (also some random pics)

Random Pics