Overnight: Friends

This past weekend we enjoyed less than 24 hours ( and less than what we wanted :) ) with our good friends the Rugloskis. On their way home from a hunting trip, they stopped for a night and morning, prolonging the visit as long as we could. We had some great fellowship : talking, hymn-singing, games, eating Courtney's flaky spiced apple pie, and throwing the frisbee. Thank you for a great Friday night and Saturday morning!

Playing Apples to Apples

Prayer of Confession: Sunday, September 26, 2010

A Prayer of Confession

Almighty God, our heavenly Father,

we have gone our own way,

not loving you as we ought,

nor loving our neighbours as ourselves.

We have sinned against you

in thought, word and deed

and in what we have failed to do.

We deserve your condemnation.

Father, forgive us.

Help us to love you and our neighbours,

and to live for your honour and glory;

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

We hope your celebration of the Lord's Day brings you to your knees, lifts you up, and sends you out to glorify the Father.

Today we'll celebrate with Hope and also visit the nursing home.

Father's Day

photo credit::carolrobinking.com

"I slept and dreamt that life was pleasure. I woke and saw that life was service. I served and discovered that service was pleasure." ~ Tagore

The above quote sums one of most noble characteristics of my dad: his selflessness. Of all the people I have met, Daddy is one of two people who I have known to be utterly defined by their care for others, and the other person just happens to be his wife. Their pleasure is so connected to the joy and well-being of others that it's hard to know (and often they don't even know) what they enjoy doing aside from meeting the needs of other people. What an inspiring picture of love in two such beautiful and humble people.

As a close to this Father's Day, here's a short list of just a few of the other things I love about my daddy...

I love that he is steady and predictable.

I love that he loves the truth and loves people just as much.

I love that he cares about what really matters and supports any method or means that fits into that framework of essentials.

I love that he makes me love being a lady and has ever since I was a little girl with ringlets, patent leather shoes, and a daddy who told me I was beautiful.

I love that he cares about what his family does but doesn't micromanage.

I love that he can always turn melancholy moods into laughter.

I love that he takes time to think and patiently wait, and that he is not impulsive.

I love that the only and best manual he could ever write for fatherhood and manhood is his life. He could never write a methodology, because he never had one except his love and obedience to the Lord and His Word.

I love that he is not simply knowledgeable, but he is also wise.

I love that he can set ever-present problems and worries aside and focus on the task at hand.

I love that the best way for him to disciple is to just be himself. He is a natural shepherd and leader, so his character just rubs off on people if they're around him long enough.

I love that he doesn't take himself too seriously.

I love that this list could go on endlessly.

I love you, Daddy!

Something to sing about

A couple days ago I ran across a radio broadcast entitled "How to Mess Up Your Daughter's Courtship" in which Kevin Swanson interviews Doug Wilson. Now I've heard pretty much everything the Christian community has to say about courtship and then some (or so it would seem). But it was refreshing to hear these two pastors clarify several common misperceptions regarding courtship and the nature of the father/daughter relationship.

There are people that automatically assume that a dad who seeks to shepherd his daughters is a patrio-centric, self-righteous, sheltering, overbearing, foolish male chauvinist.

There are other people that automatically assume that because they have chosen to reject some of the follies of the typical dating setting they are therefore wise, and they expect their children to respect and trust them.

But ultimately, the whole point of courtship is about pursuing biblical, Trinitarian relationships within the body of Christ: relationships based on love, humility, and the unique nature of our roles in relation to one another (father to daughter, husband to wife, father to son, mother to daughter, etc.). And without love, everything collapses. (I Corinthians 13:1,13)

Listening to Swanson and Wilson talking about a daddy's relationship with his little girl, I couldn't stop smiling and thinking of the daddy I love so much--the one who has invested in my "emotional back account" and made me rich. Look for a couple of Father's Day posts over the weekend, because I have something to sing about.

"O they say when you marry in June..."

"...you're a bride, all your life."

Saturday June 5, 2010 we attended the wedding of Kelsey Haroldson and Rick Holets in Rio Rancho, NM. Kelsey and I have talked and dreamed and imagined this day for so long--since we were little girls playing dress-up with white nightgowns, aprons for veils, and our mommies' heels. And now the day has come and gone. Congratulations, Rick and Kelsey! May the Lord fill your years with good things (Ps. 103:4), and may you always rejoice in the husband/wife of your youth!

"...and the fellow who marries in June,

Gets a sweetheart for a wife."

awaiting the bride

daddy's little girl

is getting married

her maids::sisters and friends

their vows + a few tears

with this ring...

you may now kiss the bride::their first kiss

worth the wait

Mr. and Mrs. Rick Holets

all smiles

sweet laughter

playful love

having fun

a sweet kiss

the Skeen ladies with the lovely bride

friends forever

cousins

smiles::love

besties

family

The LORD bless you, and keep you;

The LORD make His face shine on you,

And be gracious to you;

The LORD lift up His countenance on you,

And give you peace.

A little more than we might think

~Sarah

I thought it was in "park".....

Well, we were trying to figure out our next project... :)

I'm sorry we've been so bad about posting. But I have lots of pictures and I'll try to get some posts up this weekend. Love to you all.

"To whom then will you compare me, that I should be like him? says the Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high and see: Who created these? He who brings out their host by number, calling them all by name, by the greatness of His might, and because He is strong in power not one is missing." Isaiah 40:25-26

A Night to be Remembered

On Monday, March 8th. We celebrated my (Meghan's) 16th birthday. We invited all the ladies from the church and almost everyone was able to come. We ended up with 18 ladies altogether. We had a wonderful time, laughing, talking, eating cheesecake, making memories. Here's some pictures of the evening. Enjoy!


Yummy fruit!

Heidi gave me a beautiful shadow box she created

I love all the laughter

A beautiful candle set

Pretty smiles :)

Some more smiles

I received some beautiful antique linens

Aren't they pretty?

Passing things around for a better look

We can't waste the bows!!

A fun homemade apron!

Inspecting the handy work

Ahh, we had lots of laughs :)

Sarah and Sara <3

I got some fun, crazy socks from a 2 yr. old boy :)

How many tries does it take to get 18 ladies to look, smile and open their eyes?

L-R Back Row: Lindsay, Mrs. Firestone, Amber, Kelsea, Meghan, Sarah, Mom,

Courtney, Jennie, Sara, Heidi, Mrs. Khoshnevis, Christine, Haley

L-R Front Row: Mrs. Warnken, Sujen, Ms. Anne, Kelly