3 Feb
Meagan is moving toward the end of her first season of 7th grade volleyball. Here’s a video to give a peek into some of the action…
And here’s Meagan displaying two ribbons she won last week: 1) First Place on her Science Fair Project [and by the way, she did determine that the bounciness of a golf is consistent with its ability to be hit a long distance…the higher the bounce, the farther the distance], and 2) third [out of 8 teams] in the conference volleyball tourney.
Way to go girl!
28 Jan
Happy birthday to Peanut [Shan’s pet name for her]…Nicki-Nick…Lou-Lou…and, of course, Lexie Lou. Or simply “the Lou” as she likes to refer to herself [she also added a new one earlier this week: Hazelnut????].
Nine years ago [Super Bowl Sunday 2001], Lexie made her grand entrance into our world…and we’ve been laughing ever since. She’s truly one-of-a-kind. And there’s sooooo much to love about Lexie…she’s kind…gentle…a tender soul…smart…artsy…quick-witted…and great with one-liners [one recent example…we were riding up to the library last night and I said “Tomorrow is…” and she completed my thought with an overly dramatic “the day I become a woman!”]. Classic Lou.
Lexie loves to draw, recite movie lines, wrestle, make distorted faces at her best pal Emma via Ichat, and listen to Johnny Cash [really!]. A natural entertainer, Lexie saves her best comedy for those somber moments when Mom is trying to correct her. We’ve lost count of how many times Lexie’s turned a stern lecture into a belly-laugh with her Nemo eyes and bizarre humor.
So Happy Birthday to our baby girl. Lexie Lou, you bring a spark…and a sizzle…and a joy to our family that is beyond fantabulous. You are BEAUTIFUL inside and out and we “love the way God made you!” [that’s one of Lexie’s favorite phrases].
We love you!
Mom and Dad [and Meagan too!]
27 Jan
We received some great news yesterday on the house in Texas: we have a contract! Barring any unforeseen craziness [and we did experience a little of that on this end!], we should close on [or about!] 2/12/10. The prospective buyers have until 2/2 to opt out of the deal so we’ve put the official celebration on hold until a later date. In the meantime, THANKS to so many who have discussed our house situation with Jesus…and keep it up a wee bit longer.
More details straight ahead as we have them!
24 Jan
We had the neat opportunity to experience Disney on Ice today at the United Center in downtown Chicago. Thanks to the kindness/generosity of Rich Richardson, my boss at Richardson Products, Inc., we had amazing seats on the front row and saw Pluto, Lilo and Stitch, Peter Pan and Tinker Bell, Goofy, Mickey and Minnie, Cinderella, Ariel, Belle, Mulan, Jasmine, Snow White, Fairy Godmother, Buzz Lightyear, Woody, Jessie, Hamm and Rex, Donald and Daisy Duck, and so many others [previous list compiled by Lexie]. Here’s a visual recap:
Thanks so much, Rich, for making it a great day for our crew!
17 Jan
On the plane ride from Texas, I dove into Tim Keller’s latest book, Counterfeit Gods: The Empty Promises of Money, Sex, Power, and the Only Hope That Matters. Go here to explore the book in more detail.
Here’s an excerpt from the Introduction that summarizes where’s he’s headed:
“A counterfeit god is anything so central and essential to your life that, should you lose it, your life would feel hardly worth living. An idol has such a controlling position in your heart that you can spend most of your passion and energy, your emotional and financial resources, on it without a second thought. It can be family or children, or career and making money, or achievement and critical acclaim, or saving ‘face’ and social standing. It can be a romantic relationship, peer approval, competence and skill, secure and comfortable circumstances, your beauty or your brains, a great political or social cause, your morality or virtue, or even success in the Christian ministry. When your meaning in life is to fix someone else’s life, we may call it ‘co-dependency’ but it is really idolatry. An idol is whatever you look at and say, in your heart of hearts, ‘If I have that, then I’ll feel my life has meaning, then I’ll know I have value, then I’ll feel significant and secure.’ There are many ways to describe that kind of relationship to something, but perhaps the best one is worship.”
Not too long after reading that, I read this in the American Way magazine.
Lord, help me recognize [and run from!] the idols in my life with the same clarity/intensity I employ when pinpointing the idols in others.
15 Jan
I had the high honor of participating in the funeral service of Brenda Breisch this past Wednesday afternoon [read the online obituary here]. Without question, Brenda was a charming, creative, throw-out-the-mold lady who left an imprint on those who knew her up-close and afar. She was incredibly talented [singer/decorator/student/nurse/etc.], naturally witty and funny, and passionately committed to her family and friends. Above all, she possessed a deep and abiding faith in/love for Jesus Christ and grew to accept her 8+ year bout with cancer as God’s gracious means of drawing her into His eternal presence.
I wanted to pass along the text Brenda and I discussed one day in the hospital that became the core passage of the funeral message. It’s a song written by David that reminds us to pursue God as our only/ultimate source of refuge, joy, security, and pleasure. It also affirms that He is in absolute control of everything ["you hold my lot"] and will lovingly use the painful struggles of life for His glory and our good.
Psalm 16 – The Lord will Not Abandon My Soul
1Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge. 2I say to the LORD, “You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.”
3As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight.
4The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply; their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out or take their names on my lips.
5The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot. 6 The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.
7I bless the LORD who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me. 8 I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.
9Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure. 10For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption.
11You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
We thank the Lord for displaying His goodness through the music, creativity, humor, love, and passion of Brenda Breisch. We receive her and the memories she leaves with us as treasures from above. And we trace her life back to the ultimate Giver of all good gifts, who is working all things together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose [Romans 8:28].
And Glenn…you’ve taught us much about how to patiently serve our spouse and trust our God. May His comfort and peace be undeniably present in your life and those of your extended family and friends. “No eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him” [I Corinthians 2:9].
Peace my brother,
Ryan
10 Jan
I think this might have been the inspiration for the “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” song…
Enough said…
7 Jan
A couple of ditties to keep things festive…
This is Lexie proudly displaying her Bonus Spelling Award. Look closely and you’ll see how this could be Leno-worthy…
And this is the outcome when you combine excessive hair with a daily need for a snug toboggan…
2 Jan
Poppy used his handyman gifts this week to hang a set of double doors/one single door, construct a wall between the Alexander’s bedroom and sitting room, and tweak Meagan’s Science Fair project. He is an excellent, thorough, and creative carpenter who donated his talents [and tools and building materials!] to secure the Alexander wing of the house.
Thanks, Poppy, for your above-board, professional work! [And he even somewhat cleans up after himself.]
Muddin’ the wall [The name Larry Head and his drywall skills were mentioned more than once during this stage.]
French doors installed between the front entry and the bedroom
Door from sitting room into kitchen
Teamwork makes the ‘bounciness-of-a-golf-ball’ dream work
Meagan displays her hammering skills…no word yet if Poppy lost his other thumb during this swing.
Finishing touches
1 Jan
Nana, Meagan, and Lexie teamed up to gather, mix, and serve some tasty snow ice cream on New Year’s Eve. Here’s a visual recap…
Lexie went online searching for the recipe above.
Nana and Meagan gathered the core ingredient in the front yard. [posterior view courtesy of an amateur photographer!]
Fresh powder
Mixing
More mixing with recipe finder
Still mixing to get the perfect taste
Yummy!
Yummier!
Another handy use of the white stuff put in play. Great times!
