Yes, we're still alive

Wow. I haven't visited this page in quite some time. If you're wondering what we've been up to, well...

Personally, I have been VERY busy finishing up the last semester of my MBA, and writing blog posts fell to the very bottom of the priority list. I turned in my last paper on Tuesday, and I'm slowly starting to feel free again, as though quite possibly I may be able to get my life back again. (Though I don't think I'll believe its truly OVER until grades are in and graduation actually happens in 2 weeks.)

I haven't figured out 100% what life is going to look like now that schooling will be off my plate for the first time in over 3 years. I think I'm going to concentrate a little more on the eternal (ok, hopefully a LOT more). There are so many temporal things that could fill the void, most of which won't matter a bit to me when I'm laying on my death bed. And so I've been a bit pensive lately, trying to figure it all out. I know God has a plan, and that He'll show it to me in His due time.

On other fronts, the family is doing well. Rebekah continues to model Proverbs 31 and the phrase "help meet" on a daily basis. She is such a blessing to me. School is progressing well for the kids. Jakob just finished a very good season as the star of his flag football team (maybe I'll post a video of that) and is officially a "tweener," Ilona is starting to become a young lady, and Jesslyn is still our little girl. Charlie is a well-integrated member of the family, and a turned out to be a good move for us. (You never know about these things when you jump into them.)

We've been enjoying our church immensely; Sundays are my favorite day of the week BY FAR. I've been attending a men's study on Friday mornings (a big deal to this "non-morning person") and beginning to form some friendships with other like-minded men, something that has been lacking in my life for a LONG time. We are very well fed every Sunday morning, most times beyond what we rightly deserve.

So life in general has been good, and I suppose I'll get back into posting here from time to time, depending on those "death bed" priorities and all, of course...

Little Flock Fellowship Men's Retreat

I just got back from the 19th Annual Little Flock Fellowship Men's Retreat. This is quickly becoming the one weekend I look forward to the most every year...

As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.
Proverbs 27:17

Psalm 139

Gianna Jessen, abortion survivor, speaks at Queen's Hall, Parliament House, Victoria, Australia - on the eve of the debate to decriminalize abortion in Victoria. I'll let the videos speak for themselves.

Part One:


Part Two:

For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.

My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.

Psalm 139: 13-16

Swine Flu

Doctors and research scientists have finally figured out the origins of the Swine Flu... Also, doctors have figured out how to tell if you have contracted Swine Flu. If you think you may have the Swine Flu, and you see this in your mirror, it is recommended that you do not go to work that day....

Charlie!

Here's a brief update on Charlie. He's a good dog. (Actually, a VERY good dog.) He's fully potty trained, quiet, mostly obedient, doesn't jump on people or furniture, rarely barks, doesn't chew on things, and loves to be a member of our "pack." And all of this for a one year old puppy! We couldn't have asked for a better addition to our family!
He's not too fond of swimming, but we did throw him in off the boat a few times...The life jacket didn't work out too well. Only tried that once...

Bathtime! (I like this one...)
Napping partners.

First Day of School

Well, I suppose summer is officially over now, since today is the first day of school...

Jakob and Mr. Solars (6th grade):Ilona and Mrs. Leveck (5th grade):
Jesslyn and Mrs. Johnson (2nd grade):

Dahlia Hill

While in Midland, we made a quick stop at Dahlia Hill. Dahlia Hill is exactly what it sounds like. A hill where hundreds of varieties of dahlias are planted. The whole thing is maintained by volunteers and is free to visit. If you're ever in Midland, MI and you enjoy flowers, give it a visit!Here are a few of my favorites... (Yes, the first one IS as big as Jesslyn's head!)

Isaiah 40

Comfort, comfort my people,
says your God.

Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
and proclaim to her
that her hard service has been completed,
that her sin has been paid for,
that she has received from the LORD's hand
double for all her sins.

A voice of one calling:
"In the desert prepare
the way for the LORD;
make straight in the wilderness
a highway for our God.

Every valley shall be raised up,
every mountain and hill made low;
the rough ground shall become level,
the rugged places a plain.

And the glory of the LORD will be revealed,
and all mankind together will see it.
For the mouth of the LORD has spoken."

A voice says, "Cry out."
And I said, "What shall I cry?"
"All men are like grass,
and all their glory is like the flowers of the field.

The grass withers and the flowers fall,
because the breath of the LORD blows on them.
Surely the people are grass.

The grass withers and the flowers fall,
but the word of our God stands forever."

You who bring good tidings to Zion,
go up on a high mountain.
You who bring good tidings to Jerusalem,
lift up your voice with a shout,
lift it up, do not be afraid;
say to the towns of Judah,
"Here is your God!"

See, the Sovereign LORD comes with power,
and his arm rules for him.
See, his reward is with him,
and his recompense accompanies him

He tends his flock like a shepherd:
He gathers the lambs in his arms
and carries them close to his heart;
he gently leads those that have young.

Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand,
or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens?
Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket,
or weighed the mountains on the scales
and the hills in a balance?

Who has understood the mind of the LORD,
or instructed him as his counselor?

Whom did the LORD consult to enlighten him,
and who taught him the right way?
Who was it that taught him knowledge
or showed him the path of understanding?

Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket;
they are regarded as dust on the scales;
he weighs the islands as though they were fine dust.

Lebanon is not sufficient for altar fires,
nor its animals enough for burnt offerings.

Before him all the nations are as nothing;
they are regarded by him as worthless
and less than nothing.

To whom, then, will you compare God?
What image will you compare him to?

As for an idol, a craftsman casts it,
and a goldsmith overlays it with gold
and fashions silver chains for it.

A man too poor to present such an offering
selects wood that will not rot.
He looks for a skilled craftsman
to set up an idol that will not topple.

Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
Has it not been told you from the beginning?
Have you not understood since the earth was founded?

He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth,
and its people are like grasshoppers.
He stretches out the heavens like a canopy,
and spreads them out like a tent to live in.

He brings princes to naught
and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing.

No sooner are they planted,
no sooner are they sown,
no sooner do they take root in the ground,
than he blows on them and they wither,
and a whirlwind sweeps them away like chaff.

"To whom will you compare me?
Or who is my equal?" says the Holy One.

Lift your eyes and look to the heavens:
Who created all these?
He who brings out the starry host one by one,
and calls them each by name.
Because of his great power and mighty strength,
not one of them is missing.

Why do you say, O Jacob,
and complain, O Israel,
"My way is hidden from the LORD;
my cause is disregarded by my God"?

Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.

He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.

Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;

But those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.