Beauty

Ava and I went outside today. It was not sunny weather, but relatively warm and dry. Ava loves to go into our side yard and generally run circles around the house, so we traipsed over there. This is what we found:




Our burning bushes are, well, burning. The leaves that have fallen off the bush have left a carpet of what could be rose petals. I couldn't help but snap a few shots of my little beauty surrounded by such fall splendor. Isn't God majestic, that He should give us so much pleasure and richness even in the colors that surround us?

New Life

I'm feeling the baby tickling my tummy right now, and I heard the heartbeat today. Life is a gift and a miracle.

Audrey

Last Sunday, we stood in church and sang these words:

Sin has lost its power.
Death has lost its sting.
From the grave you've risen victoriously.

I had a harder time singing them than I normally do. We were reminded on Friday just how much death still stings.

Some very dear friends of ours lost their 11-year-old daughter of a generalized strep infection (originally thought to be swine flu) on Friday. We worked under them at Horn Creek. They saw us through our courtship, even driving 12 hours with their four kids to be at our wedding. They have loved us well.

Audrey was probably 3 or 4 when Daniel and I worked at Horn Creek. I remember her running around under our feet, ever talkative and precocious, if a little sassy. The last time we saw her, she had grown into a beautiful young girl, a bit more reserved than when we knew her, but enchanting nonetheless. Same big eyes and infectious smile. I just can't get away from the image I have of her sitting at the piano, fingers dancing over the keys. I just can't bring myself to believe that she is gone.

Audrey with the Meadows staff girls (Katie, Kri-C, Myself, and Courtney)
Western Night 2002

I have been mourning her loss since I heard the news. I am broken-hearted because she was so young and full of life. Even more, I know how painful this must be for her family. I cannot imagine what it would be like to lose a daughter, a sister. I look at my own little girl, and pray, Please God. Protect her.

I know that Audrey is rejoicing with her Savior. But it hurts for us down here. George Eldon Ladd captures our plight and God's gracious solution better than I can:

Everywhere one goes, he finds the gaping grave swallowing up the dying. Tears of loss, of separation, of final departure stain every face. Every table sooner or later has an empty chair, every fireside its vacant place. Death is the great leveller. Wealth or poverty, fame or oblivion, success or failure, race, creed or culture--all our human distinctions mean nothing before the ultimate irresistible sweep of the scythe of death which cuts us all down...Apart from the gospel of the Kingdom, death is the mighty conqueror before whom we are all helpless. We can only beat our fists against the tomb without effect. It does not yield. It does not respond. But the Good News is this: death has been defeated; our conqueror has been conquered. God displayed his Kingdom's power through Christ's victory on the cross. In the face of God's Kingdom, death was helpless. It could not hold Him; death has been defeated; life and immortality have been brought to light. An empty tomb in Jerusalem is proof of it.

Please join me in praying for this family. While death has lost its ultimate sting, it still hurts this side of heaven.

More Fall (because it's my favorite)

We have been soaking in fall the past few days. It had been rainy and pretty cold the majority of the last two weeks, so we had not really gotten out to enjoy its splendor. This weekend, though, was amazing. Mostly sunny, temps in the high 50s to high 60s. We went to Starved Rock State Park on Saturday, Goebbert's pumpkin farm on Sunday evening (and again, yesterday night, to see the animals). Monday night, we "raked" leaves with the leaf blower our real estate agent bought us for a housewarming gift. Tonight we went for a walk at the local forest preserve. Have I mentioned that I love fall?

Our sugar maple.

The birch that sits right outside our bedroom window, casting a golden glow into our room in the morning.

Ava as Daniel was piling leaves up around her with the leaf blower.

Pumpkin shopping. She kept trying to climb on the pumpkins.

Daddy's princess.

Starved Rock

On the recommendation of a coworker, Daniel planned a surprise trip to Starved Rock State Park. We saw the most brilliant fall color I have ever seen. I knew fall was my favorite season, but I didn't know just how much I loved it. As we hiked, Ava pointed and squealed with delight at the brilliant colored leaves. It was a magical day.

Daddy and daughter time.

Our path through the woods.


The fam.

The tree I told Daniel I want to live under. Yes. It was that brilliant.

1 1/2 going on 13...

Ava is one and a half today. Daniel points out that other than books, her interests are as follows:

1. Cell phones
2. Clothes
3. Jewelery
4. Boys.

Here she is texting:


Oh boy.

Sylvia Esther Popp

Daniel and I were blessed this weekend to make our way down to Kansas City to see Daniel's brother, Brian, and his wife, Maggie. On Tuesday, Maggie gave birth to their little girl, Sylvia Esther. Maggie was a champ, and Sylvia is gorgeous. Here are some pictures from the weekend:

Sylvia

Grandpa Richard and Grandma Debbie enjoying Sylvia

The new family

Beautiful MamaProud papa

One of the things I love about being a mom is that it has made me more tender, more sensitive, more willing to cry tears of joy and of sadness. I have been teary eyed all week thinking about this little girl. I loved her before I met her, and I love her more now. Congratulations Brian and Maggie. You are blessed. And so is she.

Home

We are settling in. And it feels really good.

The incredible amount of change and stress and busyness in the last year had left me feeling a little lost and, well, unsettled. We have had a lot of fun, seized life with youthful abandon, thrown caution to the wind. But there was a part of me that was awfully tired of being a vagrant. I wanted to feel like there is a place to come home to. I wanted to be rooted somewhere—to have people that love us, to have a place to worship, to have a place to lay my head. I knew it was only for a season, but it has been a difficult one.

Difficult because we have been in between in so many ways. In between homes. In between friends. In between churches. We had said good-bye to Hawaii, but had nothing rooting us in our new home. I suppose this is typical of moving, especially moving to a place where you don't know anyone. Knowing that hasn't made it easier.

But it's starting to feel like home. We've settled into a house that we love, and are looking forward to sharing it with others. We have wonderful neighbors, almost all of whom have offered to watch Ava at one time or another. When we felt like we would never find a church home, it appears that God has provided one that will challenge us, that we can love and serve, and that above all loves Jesus, loves the gospel, and loves community. Things are not settled, but there is hope. And for that I'm thankful.

Fall

Okay, so it's not really fall yet. But a few of the trees on our street have started to change and drop leaves, and it makes me very anxious for things to turn a little cooler, and for the trees to explode into vibrant hues. For now, here's a cute picture of my favorite little girl--who loves to tromp through the leaves.

The Inside.

Here are the photos I promised of the house. We're pretty much settled. It's starting to feel like home. :)

Living Room.

The kitchen. Which I LOVE. Dishwasher. Gas Range (which I have yet to melt anything with). Double Oven. Pantry. Storage. Full Size Sink. Garbage Disposal. Paradise.

The office.

Ava's "I want them books!" face.

Our bedroom.

Ava's bedroom. (Yes! She has her own! We sleep in peace! Sometimes.)

The Guest Room. All ready for visitors. Ahem.

The back deck.

The backyard again. Because I like it so much.