Adventures & Explorations

Fun in Vegas

2007-05-05T10:49:00.000-07:00

So we went to Las Vegas, and had a wonderful time visiting friends and family. As you can see from the photos, we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves at Red Rock as well! More to follow :)

Love

2007-02-20T09:03:00.000-08:00

Sometimes love comes in so many forms. On Valentine's Day, when Steve was on duty, I was overwhelmed by the fact that God loves us and that HE is our completion; I am God's sweetheart! He loves and adores me, in the depth of who I am, and I can dance in that grace and the knowledge that I am so deeply loved.

Some flowers I have received from the Lord recently:

In spite of a tremendous loss of our dear Grandfather Bill Lucking on Feb 5, we have cherished the depth of family ties so much more, even across the miles. It is so precious to draw closer to those you love through such a difficult time, and what a gift to be able to share tears even with people you no longer take for granted!

Caleb is playing alongside me right now, so cute, so quiet and yet so boisterous! He is full of chatter, and to my heart's delight, has begun communicating more and more through words and signing. Whahoo for who the Lord made this little boy to be! What an adventure...

I am amazed that in the middle of winter, there can be a moment of sunshine; what a lift of the heart a few rays of light can bring!

It is my friend Jaclyn's bday today, and it just reminds me that life is such a gift- just even having you all on the other side of the screen, sharing in life via blog;), is a blessing that I do not take for granted- I cherish you all in my life!

My uncle is fighting cancer right now in California; through the difficult journey of grief with that struggle comes a reminder that God is present at all times, even when we walk through the valleys. In these times His arms are so strong that it blows you away to see how faithfully He cares about our heart's concerns.

Steve and Caleb and I have started delighting in hide-and-seek, much to Caleb's delight.

Caleb makes a fort out of anything. Getting out of it can be a trick though!;)

How dear all the blessings are in light of our passing lives; Ecclesiastes reminds us that our days are so fleeting; I praise God for the gift of being able to share these days, even just these moments. I don't know what is going on in your alls' lives, but I pray for them even now. Feel free to send along prayer requests and updates, for we pray fervently with dearest heart for you, and miss you all dearly.

Last thing, the verses from Psalm 37 stood out to me last night: "Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord and He will do this."

I do trust in the Lord, though my heart hurts; I trust His heart completely. I know that my pain is His, that my heart's delights cause Him to laugh out loud! Like a perfect Father that He is, He cares, delights, encourages and strengthens through even the days that are most cloudy. Praise Jesus that He came to live life WITH us...never will we go through all this alone when we are walking with him. (Ps 23)

Fun with family

2007-02-13T17:17:00.000-08:00

Fun with family on the coasts.
sjc

More love from our trip across- we love you so!

2006-12-17T05:01:00.000-08:00

Bells on bobtails ring, making spirits bright...

2006-12-17T04:43:00.000-08:00

On our trip across the country, we saw lots of people that we love so very much! We wish we could've seen you all- we miss you TONS and wish we could show up at your door singing Christmas carols and "laughing all the way"!

Hello?

2006-12-14T08:02:00.000-08:00

We're back, after a hiatus taking us across the country. Now broadcasting to you all from Virginia Beach, we are entering the precious Christmas season with a full-fledged 11 month old...

Steve is still with the Alaska, which is now in the shipyards. Tough more bc of the grueling day-to-day grind rather than separation from deployment; I am sure so many of you all know the challenge of day-to-day intimately;)

I am totally enjoying working from home as a district manager with Arbonne International, a Swiss skincare company. No, I don't sell lipsticks; I am helping others build successful businesses on the side of their current jobs (whether corporate, medical, entrepreneur, or stay-at-home mom). I love it- what a life-giving company, and with such an awesome balance on activity and keeping my life my own. I love every day with Caleb and I also love meeting new people and helping them be as healthy and whole as God created them to be.

We have found an awesome church and such dear friends; though we miss all of you so much, God has really blown us away with His faithfulness in our move to Virginia. We are now 4 1/2 hrs from Grandma and Grandpa, and the weather today, Dec 14, is late 50s and beautifully sunny. 20 mns from the beach and 5 from a Chick-fil-A; what more could you ask for?;)

Our lil man Cae is now a big fun little boy Caleb. He isn't walking yet, but he totally enjoys exploring areas we NEVER thought he could get to! He is pulling up everywhere and chatting in his little baby banter, but he recognizes names and is learning more about the world around him.

We're back on the net, settled into our home, and kind of more into a routine, so...hello again dear friends. So sorry we were far from you all for a while. ALL of our love forever in Him, steve jules & caleb<><

Home on the Road...of Life?

2006-07-10T22:27:00.000-07:00

So, we've moved out of our home on Doyen Street. It's odd, already seeming
so far removed from that life. The walls still echo with laughter from baby
giggles and parental doting as Caleb moved, grabbed, kicked, and chuckled
his way into our hearts with God's big ole' smile on his face. As I scrubbed
the walls and each baseboard on my knees in preparation for the white-gloved
checkout;), I saw that we had lived life to the FULL in that house. There
was no corner left un-lived in. There was no memory we had not fully
captured in our hearts of joy- what a glorious gift our year here has been.

Looking ahead to Virginia fills my brain with so many questions. There is a
peace out there; a peace of finally getting resettled into our new home; a
peace of knowing that God wants us out there and there is a purpose and
mission for us there; a peace of an Answer from Him, though it was not what
our request had been. For the longest time we had not wanted to go to
Virginia, but in talking it over with God, we both came wholeheartedly to
"not my will but Yours be done." There is a peace in praying that prayer
that does transcend understanding. Part of me still questions, though I
think that is where Faith with a capital F for "Filling my heart and mind
with a peace of not having to understand (bc it's in His Hands)" comes in.
Will I Let Myself not toil and think backwards after we have clearly
received His answer? Only inasmuch as I seek His face, for sure.

So we (Caleb and I) are here, with Steve having deployed last Saturday,
traveling between one home and another. I have great peace in many ways, yet
there is something funny about not having a home. I feel a small urge to
grasp for something to hold onto, compelled to find a reason or a "purpose"
for this next seven weeks. There is a reason we are here, with little to do
and many of our closest friends either moving away or out of town. There is
a reason for my lowkey social calendar this summer. But What? I need to keep
seeking God, but perhaps I also need to keep asking my own heart tough
questions. I have been given two full months to live life fully in whatever
arena I choose- but what is that? What should I do? I wish at times
that I was more motivated to just take the bull by the horns and go with
something, yet I so carefully want to follow God's steps. He has given me
free reign to free choice in the matter; I just want to make sure that I
also "cease striving and Know that He is God." I wish there was a clearer
picture of what I am to do with my time; oh how I would love an itemized
"To-Do" list from the Lord, leading me from knees-on-the-ground to strong- in- His- steps direction. But He's not dictatorial, He's relational. He just wants to see my face, seeking His reassuring eyes, heart and word. Thank you God that you are always there when I call (Jeremiah 29:12-13).

So like I said, I have great peace, but a bit of ambiguity about what all I
am supposed to work on this summer. I brought my GRE study book, the Pathway
to Purpose coaching book, letters galore and wedding presents to send that are long
overdue; I brought toys to play with Caleb with and camping equipment to
facilitate more adventures with Cae and friends; I brought bible studies and
of course, His Word. But did I bring my stillness? "...lead me beside still
waters, You restore my Soul." (psalm 23)

It is so sad to lose a house. Not because it really matters; not
because it's eternal. But because there's life there; there's memories,
there's "home." God continually reminds me with the military that HE is my
home, my refuge, my hiding place. HE is my husband, the One whose arms I
nestle into as I crawl into bed reading late at night after singing Caleb to
sleep. HE is the Alpha and the Omega, the One who knew my home before we had
ever seen it, and the One who knows each and every home and building whose
walls will protect us- whether literally or figuratively. HE is my strong
arms and the brilliant orchestrator of all the details of the "to-dos." And
HE is the One in whom I will find Peace.

Please, I invite you to pray with me as I seek to grasp...or to fall into
step with All that He has in store for me this summer. In the meantime, I'm going to go play with Caleb.;) jc<><

P.S. Sidenote: Steve's on the sub and he was asked to lead the bible studies there- pray for his influence as layleader, recreation committee chair and officer over the machinery division. He'll be in San Diego for two weeks with the sub and hopes to visit LA and Vegas if leave permits. Pray for his heart and his strength. He'd love to see you if he can- our love to you all, j

Father's Day 2006

2006-06-18T22:39:00.000-07:00

We went up to Hurricane Ridge today after church. The sermon today was awesome, talking about how much influence fathers have in the lives and hearts and perspectives of their children in relationship to God. God loves us so unconditionally, it's hard to know how our kids could ever clearly see His face thru us- but hence the clay pot glory to Him, when it's so obvious that the One who walks, carries, leads and loves us through this life is Him Alone. I love God so much! He is crazy awesome, and as we played with Caleb after our day full of adventures (and "sledding" with papi!:), I just held Cae in the sweetest bear hug (steve did too!) and thanked God for our sweet little boy. He is the greatest gift to us- thank you Jesus for the precious osito you have given us. What a powerful light he is to us- may we be good stewards of His love. Proverbs 14:26 "Those who fear the Lord are secure; He will be a place of refuge for their children."
luv u all,jc

Back from Canada!

2006-06-10T19:42:00.000-07:00

So, here are some fun shots of our first time taking Caleb swimming. We *all* had so much fun! Cae did so well, and was totally cool with the water (thank goodness for heated pools ;) and relaxed baby!). This was not, however, his first time touching big water. He stood in the surf at Kalaloch, on the west coast of Washington's Olympic Peninsula, and at a campground on the Pacheedaht First Nations Reserve on Vancouver Island, British Columbia.

Easter in California

2006-05-03T00:00:00.000-07:00

It was such a blessing and a treat to be able to spend Easter with part of my family in California, where I grew up. Grandma Trudy and Uncle Steve still live there, so Mom and Chris (in from Sweden!) and Cae & I came out to have a quasi-family reunion type thing- it was just so special, and my time with each one of them was a true gift. Caleb was adorable and so much fun for all; Praise God for restoring my Grandma's health through the course of the trip. Steve was sad to miss it, but was so excited I got to see family and visit home. love you all, j

D&R

2006-04-07T19:07:00.000-07:00

What fun it was to have Rach & Dave here to celebrate Caleb and share time together- there he is in his little carseat on the ferry deck over in front of Seattle. We all went to Pike's Place and toured the Seattle shops- what a beautiful day we got! I luuuuv Seattle in the sunshine;)

Dave & Rach

2006-04-07T11:01:00.000-07:00

Uncle David and Aunt Rachel came to visit and we had the greatest time! Dave found spots on Caleb that made him smile and giggle- especially when rubbing his tummy and chin. Rach captured his attention with her love and her fun- Caleb had a great time with both- and it was such a gift to spend time with them! We went to Seattle and Gig Harbor, and spent some time with a friend of theirs; overall a totally relaxing and fun weekend. The best I think was just eating dinner and talking in front of the fire well into the evenings. Such a delight to have family come while Steve's gone- it was wonderful to have the home full of people you love;)j

little friends

2006-04-03T22:51:00.000-07:00

Here are some friends of ours over the past few weeks- I have entered the world of playgroups, and it was so funny to feel a little weird driving to it for the first time with my little man Caleb. He's so big already- 11 weeks this wednesday! I felt like I was jumping in to official motherhood with both feet- I couldn't wade in; I had to jump with everything I had, for this whole playgroup culture will save my sanity as my kids grow both in number and in size. Yeay for precious friends for Cae- Katie, Ashlyn, Kylie, Brianna, Julian, Diego, and more- yes, quite a bit more little girl friends than boys- but we're all workin' on that;) ALL of them are precious though. Such little miracles- to watch 'em grow amazes me.

Dear Friends

2006-04-03T22:44:00.000-07:00

So Kim came up to visit Meghan (left and right, respectively) and I got the chance to come see them in Seattle before they took off to a fabulous trip in Whistler! Dear friends from college, we couldn't believe how long we'd known each other and where all life had taken us. Cae did great, and loved meeting two precious friends who were also bridesmaids of mine, now over three years ago. God totally gave me a gift in these two ladies, and it was a delight and a blessing to get to see them! Megs is in law school in Seattle and busy as ever, and Kimba is a fabulous Yoga instructor and creative genius in Grass Valley, CA;) They were so fun to see- we'll get Caleb to the slopes of Whistler as soon as we can;)

Seeing Him Off

2006-04-03T22:31:00.000-07:00

Here we are watching Steve leave in the sub- nothing's quite as proud a moment as when you can watch your husband lay down his freedom to defend that of others. We're so excited for him to come home- but it was such a gift to be able to see him off in the sub, for it had been so cloudy the day before we probably wouldn't have been able to see across the way! Go Steve- hoorah Papi!

Papi's gone adventuring...

2006-03-09T22:15:00.000-08:00

Sweet soft red hair! It's kind of like a strawberry blonde but he's a boy so I don't know what a strawberry blonde is on a boy...but it's darn cute;)

God gave us such great time together as a family over these past seven weeks; Caleb is now 11.3 pounds and doin' great. He slept for seven hours straight three days ago- praise the Lord for such a sweet child.

Steve left for deployment on the Alaska and we are ever so excited to go pick him up again...in a few months;) We were so sad, but God is so strong in our weakness...so Mami's holdin' down the homefront and Papi's out at sea, but we're both clinging to God as we so didn't want to say goodbye again.

I have been amazed at how clearly God's affirmed his awesome presence and love over the past week. Like I was telling my brother Dave the other day, it's been hard, but it's been good- that deep sort of good that doesn't require happy circumstances, only reflects a knowledge of appreciating the joy amidst the pain. God is so cool like that.

For instance, the other day I was driving along the road and the sky was gloomy as could be! It was totally enough to get you down, especially in this week of little sleep, high stress, and deep heartache as we neared "see-ya-soon." Suddenly, however, there came a break in the clouds and I caught it- a glimpse of the bluest blue sky and the brilliant sunshine and the whitest puffy clouds, high above the grimy grey of the rest of the sky and the day. And you know what I realized? Like a full breath of fresh air, I remembered the brilliance of the sunshine, the freshness of the blue, the openness of a clear day. It was just a moment, just a spot in the sky otherwise filled with clouds.

But it made me realize that even though I can't always see beyond the clouds of my circumstances or feelings- God is ever present, always there, and always awesomely free. We read before he left out of psalm 46:1-4 "God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in time of need. Therefore WE WILL NOT FEAR, though the earth give way, and the mtns fall into the heart of the sea...God is within her, she will not fall. God will help her at break of day." God is so cool like that- that he is ever-present. Whether I can see it or not, I know the sun is still there, shining bright as day and creating a beautiful glorious blue sky. Even on the cloudy days, I have faith, knowing the sun is still there regardless of what I can't or can see. Likewise, now, in the midst of military separation that hurts like such a deep ache of the heart, I know that God is still here, ever present in my time of need. The One who put the stars in place will take care of my husband, and will comfort my heart as I have need for it amidst my full and busy days. love you all, j

Mommie's favorite pictures;)

2006-03-01T22:01:00.000-08:00

So I've never been one to have a "dream nursery"- I think God has more on earth for us to do sometimes- but God has totally brought together, in bits pieces and handmedowns, the most beautiful little nursery for Cae- I have to get a picture of the changing table Steve built for Caleb from scratch- it is definitely a cozy little mix and match room, just perfect for our cozy little mix and match family;)
This was a picture taken this past Sunday; Steve's leaving soon on deployment and we are cherishing our moments together as a family. He's reading to Caleb and I as we sit our blue couch out of AAMilne's Winnie The Pooh stories- what a gift to share this time.
This is a pic of our SWEET osito- our sweet little bear- what a charmer;)

THIS is Cae's third smile ever- he was ALL smiles this past Sunday, and he is just adorable when his eyes all light up, that big ole' smile opens up (like shel says) and you can tell he GETS it;) This is so extremely precious, and man it just rocks to be able to have Steve be the first to catch his smile before he leaves for three mos. Yeay God.

It has been an amazing six weeks of growth as a family; by the grace of God it has been a wonderful, life-giving time. Not without challenges, but Caleb is such a sweet baby, and we are so very blessed to have this precious time together. Steve and I are grieving this deployment considerably more than the last one, at least beforehand. But I'd heard the other day that the second deployment is often the harder one because you know what to expect but it hasn't yet become an understood routine thing. Ah well, it IS wonderful to grieve a person while the person is still with you; we both get to tell each other how much we mean to each other, and how very much we will miss each other every single day before he goes. Shouldn't we do that more often with the people we love- express our true heart for them while we've got em around? That whole idea of our lives being such a mist- man deployment reminds you so dearly that this time IS so precious that we get to share together on this earth. Thank you all for being a part of our lives; you mean SO very much to us. love, jc

parenting is a wonderful time investment

2006-02-21T21:13:00.000-08:00

Hey all. Yes, we are alive and doing very well. Caleb is growing and doing well. Jules is doing awesome taking care of him, and we are having so much fun learning about him, about each other as parents together, and about how amazing and beautiful God is.

Bendito sea el nombre del Senor.

steve & jules and caleb <><

Musings of a new father

2006-01-28T01:09:00.000-08:00

A wise friend once told me that the two things in life that taught him the most about God were: 1) getting married and 2) having a child. Already I have been able to attest to the truth in the first one. I am just now getting a glimpse of the second one, and I believe that it will hold true as well.

So, my son is 9 days old. Today Jules and I were looking at an old picture, from about 2 and a half years ago, of the two of us at a beach in Pensacola. We said to each other, where's Caleb? We've known him for 9 days (plus ~9 months), but on the other hand it feels like we have always known him.

We are really excited about all that God has in store for us in the upcoming days, weeks, and months. We are, honestly, scared too. "It's like I'm 98% excited and 2% scared. Or...or maybe it's 2% excited and 98% scared, I dunno, that's what makes it so intense ."

But being a dad is totally wonderful. Jules and I are starting to learn about being efficient with time, in order to provide for Caleb, as well as to have time together, as well as to get things done.

For more (and more and more) pics of Caleb!

2006-01-24T19:19:00.000-08:00

For you extra special fans of Caleb, please feel free to check out our separate blog for family & friends across the miles who just can not get enough (this includes these two tuckered but excited parents ;)

www.babycae.blogspot.com

Love to you all- thank you for your prayers.

sj&c

more Caleb pics

2006-01-21T23:21:00.000-08:00

Phew! I'm finally here :) and I love you all so very much! I can't wait to meet you- feel free to visit anytime. I'm sure it will fit into my busy schedule of eat, sleep, and take care of business ;-)
love,
baby cae <><

It's a boy!

2006-01-21T18:00:00.000-08:00

On Wednesday, January 18th, at 1231pm, we welcomed Caleb Timothy Elijah Col into the world. Specs: 7 lbs 4.3oz, 20.5". Jules delivered the healthy baby at the Naval Hospital here and both Mama and Bambino are doing well.
As a testimony to the faithfulness and perfect timing of the Lord, Caleb was born about a week and a half early, with a 2 vessel cord; the cord was wrapped around his neck, and was tied in a true knot. As the contractions progressed, his heart decelerated, leading to an operative delivery (cesearean section), and a healthy baby and healthy mommie.
Thank you to all who have been praying for us. Please continue.
Bendito sea el nombre del Senor.
sjc

PRAY

2006-01-13T10:47:00.000-08:00

Patiently
Relying
Alone on
Yahweh

Knowing that God knows this baby more intimately than we ever could is so reassuring...Baby's due to be induced either Monday night or Tuesday night. Please be praying it can be Monday night- specs too long to explain, but be praying for timing, peace, and health throughout the whole process for all. Also be praying that lil bambino can hold on and stay healthy til then.
j

Baby Col, coming soon;)

2006-01-07T15:35:00.000-08:00

Quick update- Baby Col is now 37 weeks along (and 6.5 lbs!) and Jules is due to be induced around the 14th or the 15th of January. Going in for appt on the 9th to be checked out; will let you all know what's up on the blogsite when the specs come monday:)

sjc<><

Hebrews 11:1 (New Living Translation) "What is faith? Faith is the CONFIDENT ASSURANCE that what we hope for IS GOING TO HAPPEN. It is the evidence of things yet to be seen."

Tidepools!

2005-12-29T11:15:00.000-08:00

So here we are at Salt Creek Recreation Area, west of Port Angeles, WA. Steve's mom and sister, Ruth and Heidi, are here to visit. Yay for family, and yay for tidepools! We were totally blessed with great weather-no rain! Today Seattle, tomorrow the world!

Christmas Eve at the Zoo

2005-12-24T21:42:00.000-08:00

So we went to the Point Defiance Zoo today and we had SO much fun. Here are a few of the many pictures we took. (we also took some video of the polar bear, and the otters-they were so stinkin' cute!) So here's Jules with two Sumatran tigresses, some reindeer, polar bear close-up, a beluga whale with harbor seals, and the polar bear again. The polar bear was totally playing like our puppy would play in the water. I was amazed. It was a blessing to see so much of God's creation today.

Merry Christmas!

Buddy Now

2005-12-23T14:49:00.000-08:00

Dog a la snow

The key to a perfectly round snowman is to start with a good core.

Buddy as a puppy (last summer)

2005-12-23T14:35:00.000-08:00

Be a Carpenter as I am a Carpenter?

2005-12-23T14:06:00.000-08:00

So, with Jules due in January, I've been working on building a changing table. It's not turning out to be the money-saving course of action that I was anticipating, but I am learning a lot, and I'm also having fun. The goal will be fulfilled also, which is having a functional, good-looking, and sturdy changing table.

Jules had bought me "The Complete Book of Woodworking" for my birthday. It has lots about different kinds of wood, joints, and woodworking techniques, as well as some project plans.
link to the book at Barnes and Noble.com

So I'm having much fun. I confess that at times it is frustrating, especially since I'm taking a plan from the book, and making it longer and taller. Also, I've realized (a couple of times after the fact) that I'd overlooked a couple things. So now, it's actually going have three drawers and a cabinet, with a matching piece of auxiliary furniture- a tall skinny set of four drawers.

As you can see from the photo, Buddy our black lab sometimes helps me with the project :)
steve

Here I am

2005-12-15T11:04:00.000-08:00

So the Navy's thinkin about sending us to VA- Portsmouth/VA Beach area. Being great fans of where we are, the other day I begged God to keep us here- for we are with dear community that we love so much, and we had so looked forward to raising our kids together over the next few years.

My mom told me she'd prayed when they'd left CA, home for 12 years, that God had to change her heart for it to FEEL okay, and that God was faithful to provide everything- including the fullness of heart to move on. Wisdom from walking with God thru challenges rocks.

So 3 in the morning the next morning (after begging God to stay) I was woken up and spent about two hours journaling, surrendering my heart about the move to God because, in all actuality, I do only want what God wants for us. We could hold on to what WE want and totally miss out on such amazing blessings that He has for us elsewhere.

Around 5 am, I went back to bed, but couldn't sleep, so I got up again and did the first day of my bible study homework for Beth Moore's The Patriarchs. Do you know what section of Genesis that last week started with? Genesis 46:1-4.

Jacob is moving the whole family to Egypt, a land that'd been forbidden for his father to go to, to be under Joseph's care in the midst of a famine. Verse 2 starts out, "And God spoke to Israel in a vision at night and said, 'Jacob! Jacob!'

'Here I am,' he replied.

'I am God, the God of your father,' he said. 'Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there. I will go down to Egypt with you, and I will surely bring you back again.' "

I couldn't believe God's confirmation of His purpose and mission for us out there- continually throughout the day I was blown away by little reflections of His affirming, "I will go with you & I will bring you back." Whatever that means specifically, it was so wonderful to hear my Lord say, "I know you girl- no matter what, I've got you covered. You are mine."

Praise the Lord for his glorious strength throughout all our lives' journeys. jules<><

Freep

2005-12-11T21:19:00.000-08:00

So Jules' bro Steve is taking a break from Photography school in Ventura and is working for the Detroit Free Press (the Freep) as a multimedia intern, with the potential to get hired on as staff. Here is the link to a photo montage/audio story about the people affected by the shrinking auto industry there. It's 4 minutes, and totally worth checking out. It's really well put together, and draws the viewer in with a very well-told story.
http://www.freep.com/assets/slideshows/publish_AUTO_120905/index.html
Go Steve! We love you!
sjc<><

It's snowing!

2005-12-01T11:38:00.000-08:00

Here are some Washington images from our Olympic Peninsula & right around our home- islands, peninsulas, water all around. The Olympic Mountain range (in the biggest photo backdropping Bremerton) got snow back in October, but Bremerton, where we live, is getting its first snow of the season right now- it's beautiful! The funniest thing is to see our black lab covered in little snowflakes- yeahoo!j

Daddy luv

2005-12-01T08:39:00.000-08:00

I love my dad. He rocks. He works hard, and works with all his heart at the things in his life that matter most. He would always be behind mom while she took pics of us four kids, jumpin around and making crazy noises (which my bros have all inherited;) just to make us laugh. He is strong and he is kind, and I cherish him in my life. j

Thank God for babies

2005-11-30T20:48:00.000-08:00

So this was us at our house this Thanksgiving-what a blessing! One other family came but left before we started taking pictures. Jesse, Shelly, and Katie Atwood are our friends in the middle. Clement, Carrie, and Kylie Sofka are on the left. They are our friends who just had another baby this afternoon! (Brianna Rose-6lb 10oz) It was amazing to see that little bambina (who had a full head of Texas-sized hair). Carrie was due this past Monday, but I think Brianna wanted to hold out for a sunny day, which today was :)

It's pretty awesome, awe-inspiring (and frightening all at the same time) to think that in about six weeks we'll be going to the hospital to deliver our little bambino! Wow-while I'm totally excited, I'm also nervous. With everything in pregnancy, birth, child care, and growth that I'm learning and seeing that while I have a large responsibilty, I have very little control. (and coming to the Lord with open hands when realizing the lack of control that I have) A wise friend once told me that the two things in life that had taught him the most about God were 1) getting married, and 2) having a child. I can already affirm the first one, and I have full confidence that the second will hold true as well.
steve

Community across the miles

2005-11-26T22:41:00.000-08:00

We're blown away by the comunidad on blogspot- it's like house church has never ended, only just begun as we all journey to ends of the earth. Wandering in part, but really just finding more about God's call for our lives. I haven't figured it out, but today I thought as I sang the lyrics to Hillsong's "Shout Your Fame" that read, "Jesus I desire to live, Live a life that shouts Your fame." I was wondering about why God would move me from places I've been more comfortable (duh), and I realized that often in those places the fame shines on me, for that's when one appears to have stuff all together;) Instead, I felt God saying He'd move me as long as my life was one that shouted his fame- whether in a loud arena, or in the quiet of my upcoming months of single motherhood as Steve's out to sea. Cool thoughts though, as I realized a little more how little I need to know about the big picture to have God work in power in and through my life.

jules<><

P.S.

2005-11-26T22:00:00.000-08:00

So we enjoyed many adventures while moving around this Spring. From rock climbing in Vegas, to scuba diving in the Caribbean. Pretty much hitting three corners of the continental U.S. we ended up in the fourth. We now reside on the beautiful Olympic Peninsula in western Washington State. Steve's working on a submarine. Jules is a Jules-of-all-trades. And we're due in January with our first little baby (this is jules at 6 months with sista Shelly)! We're learning about parenting, woodworking, quilting, cooking, marriage, and growing in Christ.

Red Rock

2005-11-26T21:01:00.000-08:00

Us at Red Rock earlier this year (pre-bambino).