These pictures hadn't been downloaded when I posted about Daniel being ordained as an elder. I had to add them because they show Daniel in his natural environment...surrounded by lots of guys discussing theology for hours on end. Granted, I'm a pretty big talker, but Daniel can outlast me any day. On this particular day, I think we were at church from 9:30 until about 5:00 (not that I'm complaining, because clearly that would not be holy. :) I'm just saying I was EXHAUSTED when we got home. :) ). Here are the elders and deacon from our sister church along with our pastor and Daniel. Don't let the picture fool you. They only stopped talking for the five seconds it took to take the picture.
And talking and talking and talking...
And yes, still talking. (Oh, I make fun, but I'm SO grateful to these men because otherwise Daniel would try to talk theology with me. I'm pretty well-versed, but it's not a HOBBY with me. :) )
Love this picture that Shiloh took of Daniel:
Here's the audio link of Daniel preaching last Sunday in our afternoon service on Joel. He says that years of briefing in the intelligence world are going to be have to be unlearned for preaching. He is used to putting out as much information as possible in the shortest amount of time possible, and he's a fast talker. I told him not to worry about the fast talking bit, but do try to take breaths occasionally. He did a great job, though, and he learned so much just by reading and meditating on Joel for about three weeks before the sermon. Transitioning: My stepfather, David, came for the ordination service, and it was really special to have him there. When he came, he brought gifts for everyone. One of the gifts included a make-your-own moccasin kit for Cora. How handy that she just so happens to have a Sacagawea outfit to match! :) Here is the complete outfit...
The next set of pictures come from Cora's basketball game and the awards ceremony they held after the season concluded. We have had so much fun watching her that we're actually sad the season has ended. She had a great first experience...her coaches were excellent, the team really came together well, and they had a 7-1 record for the year. I wish Upward Bound would do tournaments, but I think they hold to the "everyone's a winner" philosophy. :) Our coach didn't hold to that philosophy, though, and helped the girls to get over their loss with his matter-of-fact attitude about it. I appreciate that.
Shiloh was in control of the camera the whole time, and it was a good thing. She actually got a video of the basket Cora got in the game, but I can't get it to upload yet because the file is so huge. I have to buy the software to cut it, unless someone else has an idea of how to do it??Here is a picture of the team after their last victory. It came down to a shot made by one of our girls in the last ten seconds. What a great ending! I asked the girl if she heard me yelling, and she said, "yes" pretty emphatically.
I wish we could hand-pick this coach for next year, but they don't let you do that. Bummer.
Each team was called up to be recognized at the awards ceremony. Our girls were having a good time. :) Cora's best friend Ava couldn't make it to the ceremony, so we're missing a girl.
The girl on the right CRACKED US UP the whole season. She might not have a particular talent for basketball, but boy, she had fun playing. She would also smile right at the girl she was defending the whole time, thereby using psychological warfare to annoy her enough to cause her to make errors. Very tricky. She actually handled the ball a little at the end of the season and dribbled without double-dribbling. She was just cute.
I wish we could hand-pick this coach for next year, but they don't let you do that. Bummer.
Each team was called up to be recognized at the awards ceremony. Our girls were having a good time. :) Cora's best friend Ava couldn't make it to the ceremony, so we're missing a girl.
The girl on the right CRACKED US UP the whole season. She might not have a particular talent for basketball, but boy, she had fun playing. She would also smile right at the girl she was defending the whole time, thereby using psychological warfare to annoy her enough to cause her to make errors. Very tricky. She actually handled the ball a little at the end of the season and dribbled without double-dribbling. She was just cute.
The last installment of pictures comes from my birthday. I *thought* we had nothing planned because life has been so busy lately, and I'm not very high maintenance when it comes to these things. I just wanted some pretty stationery, so that was my only request. Well, when I arrived home with the kids after LOTS of errands, Daniel was already there and something was in the oven. He said, "Get ready. We're leaving in fifteen minutes to go out to dinner. Shiloh's watching the kids, they're having pizza, and the neighbor is coming over to check on them." That's right...it's a whole new world, folks. We officially have a daughter who is BABYSITTING AGE. Oh, my. I can hardly stand the giddyness. I was a little nervous about Nathaniel, but Shiloh had a phone so I knew she would call if there was trouble. We went out for a SCRUMPTIOUS Indian meal complete with rice pudding (my favorite dessert). When we came home, the house was dark, and the kids jumped out to say "Happy Birthday!" Then they led me to the dining room with my eyes closed. Cora and her crew of four had decorated the dining room while Shiloh baked and decorated a cake. Adah wrapped the presents, and Abigail made some cute signs. It was...wonderful. I felt completely and utterly spoiled. AND they pulled it off without me suspecting anything. (Daniel would say this is no great feat.) I love those little and not-so-little people, and I love my man for putting this together in the midst of a lot of busyness for him. He's amazing.
Yes, it's a cheesy picture, but I actually like it. We're already in our jammies and Abigail decorated the chair with her fleece blanket in honor of the birthday "queen." The fireplace is on, and I'm right where I want to be on my birthday - with my family in our cozy home. Thank you, Lord, for another year together.
Yes, it's a cheesy picture, but I actually like it. We're already in our jammies and Abigail decorated the chair with her fleece blanket in honor of the birthday "queen." The fireplace is on, and I'm right where I want to be on my birthday - with my family in our cozy home. Thank you, Lord, for another year together.
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