Thankful for Family

Hi! Just thought I'd share some quick pictures and stories of mom and dad's time out in Colorado this past week! Mom came in a few days before dad and we mostly spent our time shopping, talking, sharing wonderful meals, and doing some preliminary planning! Dad flew in on Wednesday and my wonderful man picked him up from the airport and met mom and I in Golden, CO. Here is a picture of the happy reunited couple riding a fish after dinner:

Mom and Dad riding the fish in Golden, CO

The four of us were able to eat a yummy meal at a local Mexican restuarant, and we took a walk afterwards through a kayaking park and creekside trail in Golden. This is a great town..and maybe in a few years, you may see Ryan and I settling down here!

Strolling over a bridge above kayakers

We talked about all of you a lot--missing you and wishing that we were all together! We are trying to plan for a day together on Sunday, June 14th. Ryan & I are flying in for Rachel Sparks wedding on the 20th (I am a bridesmaid), and mom and dad are attending as well. So, we are hoping that you'd all consider coming up to Indy on Sunday the 22nd to spend the day together. We don't fly back to Denver until 8:15pm that night. Please say you'll come see us!

Family photo minus the handsome brothers

My boss ended up giving me a half day off on Thursday and the full day off on Friday. We hiked half of the incline on Thursday and ate a wonderful steak dinner at McKenzie's Chop House. On Friday, we took a long hike in Woodland Park after we ate a hearty breakfast at the Hungry Bear. We then headed up to Denver for a night of fun with Ryan--eating pizza and checking out an "upscale" bowling alley. Unfortunatly, the bowling alley was full for the night so we weren't able to get in. Saturday was full of exploring the mountains and having a liesurely day at an afternoon movie.

Last dinner together at the White Chocolate Grill

Sunday we took mom and dad to church (which was a GREAT) service, and then had one final brunch together before dropping them off at the airport. The rest of the day, I spent sleeping and relaxing at Ryan's before heading back for work today. (I still get sad every time I have to leave him!) We had such a great time together talking about anything and everything and just spending time exploring the city and reminscing. There's so much to look forward to this year and I can't wait to share it with all of you!


Talk to all of you soon!


Love,
Sisti

Who do we pray to?

Funny anecdote from a Saturday afternoon.

Gideon and I were walking to the park, he was riding on my shoulders, and it was starting to sprinkle. He kept saying "Play, play, play," because he could see the park down the road. I told him if it kept raining, we would have to go home. So, we've been learning to pray, and I asked him if we should pray for the rain to go away. He said yes.

I said, "Can you say, 'No rain please, Jesus.'" He said yes. Then I went word by word and he repeated, "no," "wain," "peez," "Jea," and "amen." He said the amen without being prompted, which made it extra cute. I gave him a high five, and pretty soon the rain had stopped.

After I gave him the high five, I asked him, "Gideon, do you know who we pray to? Who do we pray to?"

Matter-of-factly, he replied, "Papa."

Contentment

Hello, it's Kristine*~

Spring Break ended over a week ago. We had an absolutely wonderful time, by the way. The first week, I stayed at home, doing house wife things during the day and coaching by night. I had a job interview last week for the P.E. position at the new Westfield Elementary School, so keep praying for that situation. I have since then started subbing again this week at Kokomo. That is the general overview of the daily life stuff.

However, over the past couple weeks, I noticed that some sort of discontent was creeping into my life. I am wanting to know what my future holds, wanting to know if Andrew and I would both have jobs next fall, wondering if we would stay in the same apartment, having to have all these things in order, the way I want them. It's definitely part of the control thing I have, which I have been trying to work on. Over the past 3 days however, I have renewed the committment to be content and know that God knows the plan he has for me and that is enough. I need to continue to seek what it is that he would have me do (not just in the future) but each day. I had this cemented further in my mind when I was in the car yesterday listening to the Moody station and a woman started talking about Paul's letters on how he was content in plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I have never had to face hunger and I feel my basic needs have been met. My goal right now is to be at peace with what is around me, work hard at what work I am given that day, and love those around me the way Christ loves.

Kristine

Visiting

Well, I am getting ready for a big trip to the great state of Colorado. The only thing that has me stumped is that Kristi keeps telling me of the wonderfulness of her state, but spring has finally arrived here in the midwest (supposed to be 70 today), and it is snowing in Denver! How is one supposed to know what to pack? I thought you all might enjoy the pictures that I have included. The second one is now my desktop photo. Please be praying for me as I travel. That I would have good flights and that your father would do fine without me. Also that the time spent with Kristi and Ryan would be great and make up a little for all of the time that we are apart. Kristine please let us know how your interview goes today. I am wishing that we were all going to Colorado, but since we are not, I will try to blog with updates through out the week. Remember I am just a phone call away! I love you all!

Mom

Thoughts about Dad and Being a Daddy...

I've had several things happen over the past couple of days that have me thinking a lot right now about fatherhood. Between getting to be a stay at home dad for the past week during Spring Break, to some readings I've been doing online, to mom and her devotional moments; the topics of being a dad and my own great dad have been on my mind.

Mom called me Friday morning and asked a simple question, if I'd ever realized what a great dad that I had. I said that of course I'd realized it, and I think I've communicated with Dad how much I respect and love him for the dedication and love he showed to us growing up. We talked then about how it had come up in her devotions, how a godly man is a blessing to his family. And I think we've definitely been blessed by Dad.

But then again today, I was reading an article about struggle, about faith that gets caught between the kingdom of God and ugly realities of the way people treat each other here on earth. The author of the article was noting how he cannot identify with people who have had serious questions of their faith, who have struggled and had major difficulties. He says how he's never gone through a "crisis of faith" and attributes that to the steadfast love of his father. It made it so much easier to envision the love of God.

I have to echo that about my dad. His steadfast love certainly has given me a true picture of what God's love must be like. And because of this, I've never really questioned that God is good, and that God loves us. And I don't mean to leave Mom out here. I know that two parents loving us together really made everything complete.

So that has left me thinking about being a dad. I have started to realize that Gideon will learn about God through me (and Courtney). The ways in which I act toward him will start to form the image that he has of his Heavenly Father. That's a scary responsibility, but not one that is overwhelming. And the reason it's not overwhelming is because I've grown up and still have an example of how to do it.

So thanks dad, and mom, for providing all of us with a picture of a loving God, a proper view of how the world should be! Courtney and I look forward to living in your example as we love our son.

Missin' my Family...

Hello all! Just having one of those days when I miss being around all of you. I am really excited to be with Mom & Dad this upcoming week, but will miss my brothers and sisters and little Gid.

I love hearing what's happening with all of you and reading about your lives!

Drew & Kristine--please post pictures of your trip! I'm dying to see everything.

Please pray for me right now as some days at work I'm feeling very overwhelmed. The work is fairly easy to me, but having three bosses and keeping up with all the deadlines, etc. can be tiring. I always wonder how long I'll be in this job...and am beginning to pray for some direction in that. Maybe I'll have another opportunity when I move to Denver...maybe I'll just find refreshment in what I'm doing now. Either way, I'd love prayer about that.

I know that a lot of days I'm tired and more irritable at work just because I'm missing Ryan. It is increasingly hard to leave each other during the week! We both miss each other through our days and live for Fridays when we get to see each other. I know that the end is in sight and we only have to do this a little while longer, but it's still hard!

On a happy note, spring is here and we'll be able to go camping soon! I look forward to long weekend hikes--getting away from the city and cooking over a fire and playing cards in the tent. I love getting that physical exercise and being able to be in the wilderness!

This weekend we are going to see a band, Thievery Corporation (check them out!) Then I am having breakfast with some girlfriends on Saturday morning, and then Mom flies in that night! She'll get some time alone with Ryan & I before we head down to Manitou for the week. Dad comes in on Wednesday (the 22nd), and we'll head back up to Denver to do some things that next weekend before they take off again. I'm more than excited to have them out here--it will be a fun trip, but we will also be able to get a lot accomplished. :)

I'll leave you with a cute picture we took in Rocky Mountain National Park while snowshoeing a few weekends ago! Love you all!

-Kristi

A Message from the Champ

Hey family,
This is the bracket champ talking. Even though I won the picks for the first time ever, this was not the best March Madness by a long shot. Too many blowouts, not enough close games, and not near enough upsets. Ryan, your Spartans forgot to show up last Monday in their own state. Anyways, more importantly Kristine and I are back safe from Myrtle Beach and we had a great time. Despite some up and down weather, we had some time at the beach, some activities on the "strip", and plenty of time partying with our friends at restaurants, a bar, at home, etc. I had a chance to go golfing with the guys, not exactly real golf since they shaved at least one stroke off their score per hole but oh well. Kristine and I got away for a couple days as you all know. It was amazing and the highlight of our trip. The golf course I played was (The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island) was unreal. Right on the ocean, so beautiful, so hard, and so worth it! Kristine was my driver, caddy, scorekeeper, and photographer. She had fun too despite being cold. The wind was ridiculous and truly was the toughest part of the course. I played up and down and shot a 93. In three years when the pros play there for the fourth major that year, I can't wait to see how they do with the crazy wind, tough greens, and all that waste sand out there. Anyways, we stayed at a hotel in Charleston that night and roamed around the city for a day. We had a great time out to eat and along the coast. It is amazing to get a way for some alone time in a beautiful place. The only down of the trip was the long car rides, and some down attitudes by our friends at times. Overall though, the trip was amazing. We are glad to be back though, seeing our precious kitten Reggie, and I loved hanging out with the family yesterday for Easter! Catch you all later!
Andrew

Final NCAA BB Standings

ok family here it is the final standings-and the winner is Andrew!!!! Unbelieveable!! One of the best in BB knowledge never to win a major (family BB tourney). Listed next is the total points and your total misses. It is too bad that Ryan was in the lead and it came down to the final game-then he chose poorly(picking MSU again) and allowed Drew to win. O well you got to dance with the one who got you that far. It's just that the final dance was pretty ugly.
Name Total points Total misses

Drew 90 14(wins by tiebreaker)

Dad 90 16lost in tiebreaker and is mad)
Ryan 87 15(lost in final game)
Kristi 81 19
Matthew 79 20
Kristine 72 19
Courtney 64 25
Mom 58 26
Gideon 44 34

So as you can see Drew would have won even if we would have used the old method of determining the winner. If fact he almost lost to me using the new way-now that would have been sweet! So the next time we are all together Drew gets to pick the place to eat! Congrats my son on your victory but all of us will be out to dethrone you next year. Hope you all have a great week -I love you all.

Gideon and Loose Ball Drills

So, our little guy just doesn't know how to stay out of trouble.  This past weekend, Courtney and I went up to Grand Rapids to visit our friends Janet and Aaron.  Aaron was the children's pastor at River Oaks when Courtney was on staff there, and Courtney formed a pretty tight friendship with Janet, his wife.  Aaron and Janet were originally part of the group that started talking about forming a new church, but Aaron eventually took a job as curriculum writer for Mars Hill.

Anyways, Bryan and Kim, Courtney and I trekked up north to meet them, and when we got there found out that Joel and Jackie were in Grand Rapids for the weekend too!  So we hung out together all day, the guys watching soccer from morning until afternoon while the women cooked wonderful meals and snacks.  Then in mid-afternoon we went outside to play.   Gideon was super excited because Aaron coaches little kid soccer (he actually played soccer at Judson College, which is in Elgin right down the road from Grandpa and Grandma Persyn's old house).  But because of that there were tons of balls in the backyard.  So we were kicking them around and he was chasing them.  Then he noticed there was a basketball court at the neighbors.  Apparently we when weren't looking he decided to do loose ball drills, and dive after a ball head first on the cement.

The funny thing was that he cried for a couple seconds but when I picked him up he pretty much stopped.  Aaron was like, "wow, you're a tough guy."  And Gideon actually said, "I tough."  I took him inside to clean the wound, and he kept saying, "Outside" and pointing out the door or, "Ball."  It was really cute.

Anyways, the guys all watched Michigan State punch Connecticut in the mouth and that was fun.  We were screaming at the TV about the uncalled Connecticut fouls and the amazing Michigan State plays.  I'm officially a Spartan fan for the Final Four.  Big Ten wins the NIT and NCAA?  Sounds good to me.

So, Sunday we chilled at home and that was our weekend.  Now on to Spring Break week!

Love you all,

Matt and Courtney.

Andrew and Kristine, thanks for the updates and yes we will be praying for those jobs! They seem like such a good fit for both of you! Remember to use Eddie at any point to drive your applications to the next level. Also I am relieved that you are safe and well on your way. Kristi and Ryan, I hope that your day is successful and that snow did not dampen your day. We can't wait to hear how your fact finding mission has gone. Gideon, grammi hopes your toe is feeling better! Maybe you should come visit me this week on your spring break? We are looking forward to the Easter play being over. Although we enjoy serving, this last week gets very busy and for your dad especially, it is like two jobs back to back. I think we will be going to grandma Miller's for Easter day. It should be good to see the family and take any time we can with grandpa. Only two weeks until I see my Colorado kids and I am looking very forward to that. How about some sunshine while I am there! Well that is all for now, I am off to have devos and then to Fort Wayne for some shopping with Karolyn! I love you all and looking back at my post I think I am ! happy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! mom

Road Trip

Hey all. This is first place Andrew. Thanks for the update dad. I enjoyed your quick wit and digs on MSU. Here is the dilemma: I can taste my victory but in some ways don't want it. I want MSU to lose so I can win the bracket, but I also am rooting for MSU to win it all because I like them most as a fan. What to do... Anyways, thanks for the blog! As for me and my wife, we are writing this from a hotel just off a highway in North Carolina. We left Kokomo at 6:30 Friday evening thinking we'd go all night and arrive in Myrtle Beach on Saturday morning. But at midnight we found out that there is a softball team staying at Porter's house and won't be gone until the morning. So if we showed up we would have no place to go. So even though all 3 of us were wired, we pulled in to this hotel around 2. We'll get some sleep, and finish up in the morning getting there around noon. So far the trip has been great. Greg, Kristine, and I have all taken turns driving and we've had some fun and laughs. We can't wait for the real vacation to begin upon arrival tomorrow. We'll try and give updates as we go. Some prayer requests for us include sent resumes to Westfield schools as we hope to both land jobs at a new elementary school (her teaching, me as a media specialist and possibly running intramurals or peewee sports). Also, continued travel prayer and weather prayer for our trip. That is all for now! Love you all.
Andrew

Hello family I'm actually blogging. ok I'll give u all a update on the NCAA brackets. Andrew (if u can believe it) is leading or at least tied for the lead with the always in first place papa, both with 79 points. Next comes a surprise with Ryan and his unbelievable MSU team (which he picked with his heart and not his brain-ok just a joke but come on who would thunk it) with 77 points. Kristine comes next with 72 pts and no chance for any more as she has no teams left. So sad!!! Kristi is next with 71pts after picking MSU also (just trying to impress her man-makes me want to vomit). Matt is next with 68 pts and is embarrassed by being behind his little sis. Court is not doing as well as last year with 64 pts but is still ahead of mother who has a anemic 58 pts. Gideon who is trying to be nice to his grammy is in last place with only 44 pts but what can u expect from a 15 month old. If there is a tie for first place the tie will be broken by the one with the fewest total misses and right now that is the Drew mister. So he is in the drivers seat unless MSU can pull another rabbit out of it's butt and the Ryguy could pull the upset. The next round is worth 5 pts per winner and the final game is worth 6pts. I love u all, had a good last weekend seeing Matt, Court, and the Gidman on friday and spending the rest of the weekend with Drew and Kristine. Look forward to seeing Kristi and Ryan in a couple of weeks. send me your prayer requests! Love Dad