Just wondering...

Should Nathan keep the beard or go back to the goatee?
	Keep the Beard
	Go back to the Goatee
	Grow a Hitler mustache
Free polls from Pollhost.com

Thanks for the vote Maggie!

These Are the Moments

Nathan: Venti mocha with peppermint (a winter treat).
Lydia: Grande white chocolate mocha half-caff with reduced fat milk.
Anna: New Horizons' organic chocolate milk
Owen: Sips from each.

We enjoy coffee time as a family. Going out for a cup is at least a bi-weekly event. Many great thoughts have been probed over a fresh cup of coffee.

Owen's Hair

By popular demand I would like to show Owen's beard-trimmer haircut. It turned out better than I thought. It just took some touch-up around the ears and some Paul Mitchell Sculpting Glue.

Not a bad haircut for a fat theology student, huh?

Note to Self

For future reference, do not use a beard trimmer to cut Owen's hair.

Life On Union Avenue is Proud to Announce...

Paige and Bill are getting married! They are tentatively planning for mid-June of 2007, mark your calendar!

Psalm 128

Blessed is every one who fears the LORD, Who walks in His ways. When you eat the labor of your hands, You shall be happy, and it shall be well with you. Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine In the very heart of your house, Your children like olive plants All around your table. Behold, thus shall the man be blessed Who fears the LORD. The LORD bless you out of Zion, And may you see the good of Jerusalem All the days of your life. Yes, may you see your children's children. Peace be upon Israel!

Officially in New Blogger. What does Beta is dead mean? Any tips on how to work this new thing?

Fake Smiles are Better Than Real Frowns

I do not believe the title of the post, but it is cute nonetheless.

Lego Man in a Post-Lapsarian Age

Anna has had a great day of artistic expression. She painted me five beautiful watercolors that put most modern and post-modern art to shame. Her use of color and stroke was genius! She also decided to begin sculpting. Her first creation was unveiled today as she exclaimed to Lydia, "Look mom, I made a man!" Not bad for a three year-old. I am actually very hopeful for my children's artistic development.
Owen was less than interested. He fell asleep during the exhibit (more punch and cookies for me!). He missed out on one of life's greatest artistic lessons tonight: the true use of art.
Ah, Lego Man- how you encapture the struggles of personhood. The stiffness and the inability to move, even with will-power, wonderfully reflects man's inability for God glorifying in the post-lapsarian age. If only our Arminian and semi-Palagian friends could gaze upon Lego Man in the light of holy Scripture! Thank you, Anna for your anthropological insight.

Pregnancy Talk and Stuff

Now that we have announced the future Eshelchild is on the way many pregnancy-delivery issues arise as discussion in our home. Lydia wants to be open-minded about delivery because she thinks that if you come in with your list of natural things that are required you are destined for a C-section. I want a home-birth, but she is not too excited about it.

One thing that Lydia and I do agree on concerns the manchild. If we have another boy we will not participate in the cultural norm called circumcision. We know that we cannot lord over people's consciences concerning these things, but I have much difficulty with this practice in our culture.

If you can stomach to watch it, this video shows a routine circumcision. It is 5 minutes long, but I do not think that most people could watch more than 2 minutes of it. One thing that would make this practice more stomachable is giving the infant some numbing drug so that he could not feel the pain. Hospitals do not give meds unless the parents ask for them. I need an Ativan just from watching!

Wow!

It will be a HOT summer!

Thought I would give further information on the news that Anna has shared. We notified family, but otherwise our dear blog readers are the only to know (and the 3 friends that knew already).

The EDD is August 24, 2007 (I estimated August 22, but I will stick with the later date). Meaning that I am considered 5 weeks (LMP) and 3 weeks gestation.

We have only known for about a week. We decided to share early and ask for much prayer during this fragile development time. There is comfort in knowing that God opens and closes the womb, and I pray for strength and pure reliance on Him.

So far I have not been sick, which is rather unusual for me, since the last 2 pregnancies have be quite different. I think I will actually "feel" better if I start getting some symptoms. Weird, I know. But, either way, this is a blessing and we rejoice! I guess my love for chocolate is gone. That is my favorite pregnancy symptom! Truly a blessing to not crave chocolate! Still deciding if I should use my previous Ob/Gyn or search out a midwife. (I like my Ob/Gyn but not so much her group.) Any recommendations on a good midwife? Nathan would like a home birth. Not going to happen. Sorry, Nathan.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Phil 4:6,7

What Did She Say?

Grinches and Scrooges

For those of us that are grinches and scrooges, nothing is more pleasing than seeing Santa get hit in the face with a snowball. Okay, okay, I know that Christian charity should keep me from saying such dastardly things- but I could have said ice-ball!

Here is a little snowball fight game that is quite fun. Waste 10 minutes on me!

Snowball Fight

Buddies

Lots of little boys like to have ponies or horses to ride. Owen has never asked for such a beast. He has a very ride-able beast in his buddy Samson. We all know that Samson is not the smartest of animals due to his mother's living situation before she was a Christian. (Yep, Sam's a burn-out!) Sam is nevertheless a very nice dog to Owen.
Owen is quite mischievous and finds that riding Sam is a lot of fun. He also thinks that investigating Sam's teeth, gums, and throat is a worthy cause. Occasionally he will pick up Sam's front paws and desire a dance. Sam does not dance.
We do not allow these behaviors to continue of course, since we are most compassionate towards our little burn-out. If anyone thinks that the humane society or PETA needs to be contacted, it is just not the case.
We love Samson as well as Owen. They are good boys and both receive a lot of love and affection.

Please?

Maggie will you come and take pictures of Anna and Owen? They really want you to!

Stories Anyone?

I am finishing up the semester and do not have a lot of time to devote to blogging. I would like to give you this picture of Shawn Anderson and me at Camp Concordia, which is about an hour north-east of Grand Rapids. We knocked the canoe over and took about an hour or so to make it back to shore. Good times.

Any other Camp Concordia stories to share?

Any Takers?

I have always hated the trip from Michigan back to the glorious state of Pennsylvania. The problem is that annoyance that lay in-between called the State of Ohio. I am proposing an idea:

Let's Try Again!

Creepy Artsy People

I see a lot of creepy art at work. I am not obliged to discuss it due to laws of confidentiality- but you could use your little imaginations.

The creepy artwork that I would like to share is that of my 3 year-old daughter. I suspect that we have an artist in the making. As one with latent tendencies, I see reason to fear.

The piece below is called mad mom. Clearly that is a rip off from our last trip to Meijer Gardens. That is the name of their newest piece. Notice the tongue hanging out!
This one is a foot and a penguin. The foot has 6 toes- clearly a relative from my dad's side of the family. The penguin started as a hand- but it is better as a penguin.
This one is a lady with big lips. I think that it is supposed to be her aunt Shannon personally. Notice that she has bangs and long hair.

It Is Back

That pesky buisness that we call winter has pushed its whitening head back into our lives. On Wednesday it was 63 degrees here in Grand Rapids, and today we are covered in ice and snow up to 12 inches in some places. Here on Union Avenue we have 2-3 inches.



Welcome back winter, please do not make yourself at home...and you can show yourself out as soon as you are finished.