Five Blessed Years

Five Blessed Years

Five years ago today Lydia and I were married at the Chapel of Reformed Bible College. We sang Psalms, read Scripture, and were married according to the Reformation form written by Peter Detanus. Reformed Christians have been using this form for nearly 500 years. It was a blessed event in which the glories of Jesus Christ were proclaimed. We thank Him for 5 years and pray that the Lord would grant us many more.
In the past five years the Lord has blessed us in many ways. The greatest of which being Anna Grace and Owen Justice. We look forward to our new baby as well. The Lord is gracious and kind unto those that love His name.

Here is the prayer that was prayed as we were married before God:

Almighty God, Thou who dost manifest Thy goodness and wisdom in all Thy ordinances, and from the beginning hast said that it is not good that man be alone and therefore hast created him a helpmeet to be with him, and ordained that they who were two should be one, and who dost also punish all impurity; we pray Thee, since Thou hast called and united these two persons in the holy state of marriage that Thou wilt give them Thy Holy Spirit, so that they in true love and firm faith may live holily according to Thy divine will and resist all evil. Wilt Thou also bless them as Thou hast blessed the believing fathers, Thy friends and faithful servants, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; in order that they, as coheirs of the covenant which Thou hast established with these fathers, may bring up their children which Thou wilt be pleased to give them, in the fear of the Lord, to the honor of Thy holy name, to the edification of the Thy Church and to the extension of the holy gospel. Hear us, Father of all mercy, for the sake of Jesus Christ, Thy beloved Son, our Lord, in whose name we conclude our prayer.

The creator of Ramen Noodles died this week at nearly 100 years of age. These noodles hold a special place in the heart of us:

Lydia was dating the boyish-infantile-immature guy across the hall from me at Schultze-Eldersveld at Calvin College. She was hungry one afternoon and he told her to come across the hall to my room because I would have food (prejudging me based on girth). I did not have any, but my roomie had Ramen Noodles which I offered to her.

The long and short of it was that she immediately dumped this guy upon hearing me speak and feeling the warmth of my personality and we were shortly married thereafter. Or so I remember it. Ms. Marion Lanning threw dry Ramen at our wedding.

Long live the cheapest, most disgusting food ever invented, despite the death of its creator. (As long as there are colleges in this world, there will be Ramen!)

Car Seats Are for Babies

Consumer Reports claims that many of the infant car seats that they reviewed 'failed miserably' when tested at speeds of 35 miles per hour.

I am not opposed to car seats, per se, but I hate being told that I have to wear a seat belt and that my children have to be in car seats.

Should these be laws, or should this be up to the discretion of the parents? Why should 'Big Brother' tell us how to buckle our children? Remember the days when babies rode on mama's lap in the front seat? I am sure that it is just as safe.

Highschool Art Class

This is a picture that I came across from an old highschool friend's MySpace account. Wow! What memories soar back into my head. (Some of which must be repented of.) I am the fat guy in the middle with the Venus of Willendorf apron on. I remember this picture quite well. It was right after a haircut when my hair went from beyond shoulder length to right under the ears. Notice the side burns.

These were the creme de la creme of the Corry art scene at the time. At least two of the girls in the photo went on to become artists by trade. One in fine arts and the other in commercial art.
Of the guys in the front row- the one that is laying across the others, that is Jason Hepler- he was one of my best friends in highschool, but we have lost touch over the years. I know that he is secondary school teacher. The guy leaning into me is Jason Miller. He sells cars in Erie, PA now and has recently settled down according to reports. His parents were one of the first 'real' Christians that I ever met. I am the next guy, and you all what I am doing- still in school- working on that Master's of Divinity- oh so far from where I thought that I would be.

I was under the impression that I would continue to mess around with hallucinogenics, listen to classic rock all of my life, go on for a PhD in art history, all while living alone in a studio apartment while popping antidepressants. Wow. The life that the Lord Jesus Christ can make out of someone. In the words of Jerry Garcia- what a long strange trip its been.

The last guy in the row is Steve Vancise. Steve was (is?) a brilliant thinker. He went off to college and then found his way back to Corry, PA to own and run the local Dairy Queen. (If he reads this I hope that he sends me coupons- or one of those funny visors that he makes the girls there wear.)

Does anyone have any other old highschool pictures that they can send me? Or does anyone know what has happened to the rest of these people?

The Original BRAT

Here is Lydia in the BRAT MOBILE. Probably in 1979 or 1980. Check out that floor!


Here is Heidi....Lydia's older sister (by 14 months!!). She also once used the BRAT MOBILE. Nice socks Heidi!!

This is evidence that the BRAT MOBILE is part of a goodly heritage.