evolution of the smile

A few weeks ago Kendra and I packed up the littlins to go to Gr to see some of our friends Brad and Bradi. A great time was had by all as they have two girls about the same age as ours. I even was able to try a pizza made with olive oil instead of marinara that was INSANELY good!!! (i had about six pieces and cookies and ice cream and was so stuffed it was sickening) Anyway, enough about my gluttony issues. when we arrived, my girls were rearing to go crazy and Reagan had just gotten up from a nap. Once they warmed up to each other they of course ended up having a ball playing with toys in the basement. By the end of the night I finally tried to get a picture of them together and at this point Ava is burning out and Reagan is still on all systems go. My first picture attempt garnered this half hearted smile from Ava so I asked her to smile again and basically you can see from the pictures that each time I asked her it only got worse until it was a downright snarl!! Meanwhile Reagan continued to smile like an angel in every frame!!! Hopefully Bradi got at least one picture where Ava resembles a three year old having fun!

Thanks Brad and Bradi for the great night and next time lets not wait so long:)

what am I doing!!!!!!!!!

Ok, I posted friday about the Ava-isms that are constantly being born in my house, and now I feel like a terrible dad who is losing this "war of words"

two more that I have to mention---a few weeks ago on friday (when I play Mr. mom all day because Kendra works) we were watching my sisters dog Gus. He is a cute little boston terrier and the girls love him. Any ways I was yelling at Addy because she kept opening the fridge and pulling stuff out. Of course Ava scolds me and tells me how she is just trying to get her juice and doesn't know better. Then Gus starts running around crazy and I yell at him too (remind you it is very early on a friday:)
Anyways ava looks at me and says "dad, you can't keep doing this to children and animals!"--welcome to my world.

Then yesterday was the real kicker that made me realize once and for all that i can basically never have a slip of the tongue- i was pouring the water for the kids bath while kendra went to a baby shower. Ava climbs in and says......Dad, this water is fricken hot!. Now I don't go around saying that word all the time, and obviously it isn't something I want my 3 year old saying. So after explaining to her the reasons that it is not a nice word, I am now posting this on line to hold myself accountable.

Ps. 141:3--"Oh Lord, set a guard around my mouth, keep watch at the door of my lips."
ps. 19:14--"may the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you"--words to live by:)

ps. since Kendra and I have to now spell things (not swear words:) to disguise our intent, now whenever Addy cries, Ava will say " I think she wants a "b-d-c-a" and just rattle of random letters! --Help me Jesus!

breakfast with grandma!

This morning the girls were at Grandma Barb's making breakfast and hanging out. My mom is moving back to GR soon so we take advantage of these moments when we can. Thanks mom for the great food and for allowing Ava to help you be a "cooker":)

I thought i would add some classic Ava lines that she has uttered in the last week that I didn't want to ever forget. Those of you with toddlers know they can say the craziest things especially when you don't realize how closely they are listening to you and your spouse talk!

1. Addy pooped. My response...just a minute, i'll get a diaper....Ava--dad, its diarrhea serious!
2. I need to take a bath. My response...."why" ava---because my bottom stinks. (nice i know, but it was so matter of fact it was funny)
3. we see a deer crossing the road from our living room couch and I say "Look, there is a deer in the road" Ava looks and then about 2 minutes later says...Dad, Look. I just saw an ostrich in the road making magic! (too many dora the explorer episodes?)
4. Upon explaining to her that I was done playing dolls for a while, she responded with.....Dad, don't be a stick in the mud!
5. last but not least, and Kendra is going to be mad that i included this, but oh well. Kendra was holding Ava on the couch right before bed and told her...Ava, you are so beautiful, to which Ava with a serious face in the sweetest voice responded...Mom, you are so HOT!!!!! I guess when my wife tries on a new outfit and asks me how it looks, I might have to change answers:) (ps. for my mom who is also probably blushing, i'm usually kidding when i say that. Its not like a chase Kendra around the house calling her hot: very often anyway.)

a mile in their shoes

I've heard the saying"you can't really understand someone until you've walked a mile in their shoes" Yesterday was Martin Luther King day and i have to admit that if I hadn't tried to go to the bank, I wouldn't have even probably acknowledged the holiday. I have no idea what it is like to be mocked and ridiculed for the color of my skin, but i think sometimes we as christians (especially white christians) drop the ball on this holiday. All of us should celebrate the life of Martin Luther King and realize that God never intended for their to be black or white churches and as a pastor I don't want to only reach people just like me. I am going to do a better job celebrating diversity.
Here is a quote from this great preacher....."we've got some difficult days ahead but that doesn't matter to me now. I've been to the mountain top and I don't mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place, but I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. He has allowed me to climb the mountain and I've looked over and seen the promised land. I may not get there with you, but i want you to know that we, as a people, will get to the promised land. Tonight, I'm not worried about anything. I'm not fearing any man because mine eyes have seen the coming of the glory of the Lord."

I remember Ava asking me once why mommy was brown and I wasn't. I told her that the color of skin doesn't matter and God made all of us a little different. She said "yea daddy, I color with pink and Addy likes purple, but their both pretty".........exactly

"I tell you the truth, unless you become as little children, you can't enter the kingdom of God"

pastoral advice

As a youth Pastor, i receive many questions that pertain to young peoples lives. one that is more common that I get from students and parents is the question of tattoo's and piercings. Are they sinful, am i destroying my temple, wwjd, etc etc.

one scripture that is often quoted is leviticus 19:28 "you shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor tattoo any marks on you. I am the Lord"
I am not the Lord, but i will say that if you want to go around toting this verse as your ammo against it, you also might want to read the verses prior which say you can't trim your beard or sideburns. You also have to get rid of any polyester shirts because there was to be no blending of fabrics in O.T times.
I personally have never gotten a tattoo, and most likely will not, ( i thought about a pixie fairy on my lower back but Kendra wouldn't let me) however I do not consider them necessarily sinful. I tell people to examine the reason why they want one. God is much more concerned with our hearts than ink on skin, and if your motives are pure and the tattoo isn't of the grim reaper making a sacrifice to a demon god, I don't have a real problem with it. I do always recommend proceeding with caution in this arena, because once it is on, its on.
I've also heard that they are a lot like plastic surgery and it can be hard to stop. Here's a picture of a kid who came to me and just wondered about getting his ear pierced. I warned him not to let it get carried away:) You make the call..........

career choice

I love these pics of Adalyn. I can't decide if I want her to grow up to be a plumber or a nascar driver:) sometimes when I look at my children, I find myself dreaming about what they will decide to do with their lives. I wonder what paths they will choose and even who they will marry (thanks Grandma Linda for the wedding dress that Ava is now obsessed with)
It blows my mind that the God of the universe dreams for me. That I have a Daddy who sings over me, and loves me unconditionally despite all my faults. My prayer is that no matter what my children decide to DO, they will always know that apart from anything they become, their daddy loves them for who they are. My heavenly daddy feels the same way about me:)

zeph. 3:17--"The Lord you God is in your midst, the mighty one will save. He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love. He rejoices over you with singing"

"the unreasonable love of the Father, longing to be with His children"

unreasonable--not governed by reason--irrational or absurd

The After Party

Last night at our Pulse high school youth service, we embarked on a new journey toward the heart of God. After worship and a message about growing our spirits, 18 of our students shut themselves in a room with a cd player and went in passionate pursuit of the heart of Jesus. Its called the "after party" and it is open to anyone who wants to go deeper in prayer and pursuit of God. You could hear them from the hallway, worshipping Jesus and calling on God to move in their generation. As a pastor, I thanked God for this movement, and continue to pray that it will be an opportunity for many to move beyond religion, and truly experience the love of God. God bless all of you students who are committed to launching out into the deep, and determined to "be the change."

Jeremiah 33:3 "call upon me, and I will show you great and mighty things to come that you do not now know"----Show us your heart Lord, so that we may experience the unreasonable love of the Father.

Kendra's birthday and new years eve

Well I wrapped up 07 in Grand Rapids with my beautiful wife who turned 28! Oh to be young again I tell myself everytime she has a b-day:) We drove up to GR about four and spent 2 glorious hours spending our christmas gift cards at the mall. then we headed to the Bistro downtown for an amazing dinner. (thanks to the manager Brad for always making it incredible). We even ran into some friends at the restaurant that we haven't seen in 4ever!! (Hi brad and Bradi, hope your sitter didn't walk out at 9:30:) I'm sure i'll have to be the one to call you Bradi about getting our families together, but i'm not bitter. We wrapped the night up at my good friend marc's house bringing in the new year (kind of, we left at 11ish because the roads were horrible and had a new year kiss in the car).

anyways, i forgot my camera so all i have for the blog is this one pic of Kendra and I at the same place for an anniversary dinner in september. I am grateful to God for all His blessings, and thanks to kendra for being the most amazingly beautiful wife and mother ever. I can't wait for 08! (kind of cheesy i know, but i never claimed to be a rapper)