Thankful in Dallas November 27, 2008

 

We’re in Dallas this Thanksgiving visiting my uncle, aunt, and sweet 10-month old cousin!  My mom, sister and grandparents are here too, and we’ve been having tons of fun together.  I’ll blog more about it all later, but for now just wanted to say Happy Thanksgiving!!  Hope you have had a wonderful day filled with many reminders of the blessings that come from above.  Our good God has given us so much to thank him for!  My heart is full.  The pic above is of Hope and Jackson, two little ones I am DEFINITELY thankful for.

He’s 4! November 21, 2008

Last Saturday, my little boy turned 4 years old!!  Ryan and I are so incredibly thankful for Jackson Moses Dean (‘Jack-Jack,” “JMoses,” “Jackster,” “Punky”) and for the way that God is shaping his life.  He makes us laugh daily, and sometimes we have to shake our heads at his questions, advanced vocabulary, and surprisingly accurate observations about life.  He loves music, superheroes, going to Master’s Kids, and candy.  He can say and identify all the letters of the alphabet (I had to add that b/c I was a Kindergarten teacher. :)  We are praying for his understanding of the Gospel and his sin to deepen, and that he would repent and accept God’s free gift of salvation.  We love our Jackson Boy!

 

Chuck E Cheese for birthday fun with friends

 

 

Some of Jack’s favorite friends (from left: David, Jack, Isaac, and Sam)

 

 

         

 Here are the same boys a week earlier at David’s superhero birthday party, and Jack in his superhero pose

 

 

After Chuck E Cheese, we were so happy to get to meet up with more favorite friends, the Bohrs, who were on their way home to Fresno.  Jack loves Ethan and Ellie!!

 

 

the morning of his birthday with his decorated door!

 

 

This collage needs some explanation…we had planned to have a family party on Saturday at my parents’, but that was the day that fires were threatening numerous parts of Sothern California, which closed the freeways directly in our path.  Sooooo…after much discussion, we decided that although we would cancel the party, we still would try to get to my parents’ house.  We knew it would take a lot longer than normal to go all the way around (if you look closely in the top left pic, you’ll see the line of cars stretching endlessly in front of us as we drove between 1 and 2 mph), but we agreed that it was better than sitting at home being sad.  The other top row pics are of some cool scenery we passed as we went over the hill to Moorpark.  When we got on the 101 (finally), we stopped to get McDonald’s Mc Flurrys, since Jack was being a trooper.  I got really sad when he asked at one point, “Is my party over already?”  The rest of the shots are of the smoky scenes we passed.  After 5 HOURS of driving, we made it!!

 

 

My sweet mom and sister did a lot to make sure Jack still had a fun “mini” party, complete with extra presents and balloons.

 

 

The wonderful family members who were able to be there: Debbee, Aunt Melissa (“Mimi”), Baba and Deda (who almost got evacuated themselves), and of course, the wonderful Papa and Nana!  We had a great evening together.`

 

 

The 4 year old!!

 

 

            fhgfugfgjg hfhvgjg;;;;;;;;;gbtgjbngnnhnbkghjkhghkhkhyhuygutyuthhhh  .j

jackson

(this is because Jack wanted to type…)

God is the Ruler yet November 4, 2008

 

This is my Father’s world,
and to my listening ears
all nature sings, and round me rings
the music of the spheres. 
This is my Father’s world: 
I rest me in the thought
of rocks and trees, of skies and seas;
his hand the wonders wrought.

 

This is my Father’s world,
the birds their carols raise,
the morning light, the lily white,
declare their maker’s praise. 
This is my Father’s world: 
he shines in all that’s fair;
in the rustling grass I hear him pass;
he speaks to me everywhere.

 

This is my Father’s world. 
O let me ne’er forget
that though the wrong seems oft so strong,
God is the ruler yet. 
This is my Father’s world: 
why should my heart be sad? 
The Lord is King; let the heavens ring! 
God reigns; let the earth be glad!