I am waiting for your father and contemplating Christmas. I have been thinking about our nativity characters, and looking for the "Mary" that would represent me. It has been almost a year and still I fight against this assignment! I am not Mary the holy mother. Please help me to see what you have seen in this "character" of Mary. I guess this also serves as a reminder to be looking for your figures. Help! I love you all!!!!!! MOM

Favorite Family Holiday Traditions

Hello all! We are counting the weeks until we are together. We have also made some beginning headway in creating our homemade gifts! More importantly, we are excited to just be HOME, holding our nephews and playing games while endlessly munching on goodies.

On to my current favorite Christmas traditions:
1) Playing games.
2) Making treats to enjoy together (I love Christmas morning brunch and sitting around with .
3) Our day in Ft. Wayne, making returns and finding great deals!
4) Playing rock band!
5) Watching the Christmas Story and listening to Christmas music.

Here are my favorite childhood memories:
1) Sledding.
2) Cutting down and then decorating the tree.
3) Almond Bark from the Herendeen's.
4) Christmas Break-I wish I still had extended time off from responsibilies!
5) Snow!

I have many other fun memories, and mostly, I just love coming home and being with all of you! I'm hoping for a delightful snowy Christmas that makes us lounge around in our PJ's and cuddle with my snuggly nephews. Just a little over a month and we'll be boarding on plane into the cold Midwest. We will be ready to be present and engaged with all of you!

Love love love,
Kristi & Ryan

Christmas and Quatemala

Hey all! This is your long lost brother who hasn't posted in quite a while. I've talked to most of you since returning (Matt we'll catch up soon), but Quatemala was amazing! Kristine and I grew in many personal ways on the trip and very much enjoyed our time there. We became attached to that place and to those kids and wish we could work there more. Anyways, upon returning home we are already getting geared for Christmas. In fact, we began working on Christmas gifts this past week. To answer mom's question, my favorite traditions are as follows: anything with all of us. Recently, traditions have been fun and important but frankly I just enjoy being with the family as a whole. In terms of traditions, I have always enjoyed gift time, brunch, appetizers, Persyn time, Ft. Wayne day, fireplace and movie, etc. But recently it has been outdoor fun (sledding and walks in woods) and games such as Balderdash and Things. The most important thing for me is that we show up focused and dedicated to giving our time and thoughts to each other so quality time is true and fulfilling. When that happens we have fun with whatever we do. I love you all and can't wait to see you soon!

Welcome home Andrew and Kristine! I am anxious to hear all about your trip and we are also glad that you are back home safely. We are looking so forward to Christmas! If any of you would like to share the things that make it special to you, I would love to hear them. I also have to admit that I have not sent Matthew the info he requested, so for those of us who are slackers, get on the ball!!!!! I will also send a copy of the nativity story characters for us to begin thinking again about them. I for one can hardly wait to be all together. I enjoy playing games and talking about what is happening in our lives. Of course most of all I love the laughter. I am missing you all so much today! I love you!
Mom

Happy Anniversary!

Kristi and Ryan, happy anniversary! It's amazing that it has been more than a year (okay, only 1 day more) since we were all out there watching you get married! Congratulations. I can't wait to see you again.

By the way, we were just sitting here looking at old pictures of Gideon, and I told him that he was a little scrawny boy and he said, "Like Ryan?"

Just the fun with boys. Love with you all!

Enjoying Your Posts

I'm sitting at parent-teacher conferences today so I thought in my down time I'd update everyone about our family. It's been a rough week because I've been away from my family so much. Monday night the tennis team had to work concession stands at the volleyball game. Wednesday night I had to travel to Ft. Wayne for a tennis coaches association meeting to elect All-District players (1 of my players made it, he's the first ever). Thursday our parent-teacher conferences were scheduled until 9:00 PM.

So I haven't seen much of the boys other than looking at Bryan's facebook photo of Judah. By the way, if you haven't gotten the link from mom, here's a link to the rest of Judah's photos.

Judah's Photos - Click Here!

This weekend we are headed to "Family Camp" in Converse, IN. I think it comes at a really good time for our family. During tennis season, especially a successful tennis season, I think it was easier for me to get my priorities mixed up and not value my family as much as I should. The same probably goes for our church family. I'm hoping this weekend gives me a chance to show my family how much I love to be with them.

I was really challenged by Kristi's post about their upcoming anniversary to think about all of these things. Then I read an article called "Deep Friends." It was about a married couple who were striving to be just that, deep friends. I thought it is such a great goal, and exactly the way that I would describe all of our marriages when they are going well. We are all deep friends with our spouses, and that is neat. Courtney is my best friend and I'm looking forward to catching up over the weekend. So thanks for getting my thoughts flowing sister.

Love you all, already looking forward to Christmas.

Love,
Matt.

Sorry for the lack of blogging....

Hi everyone! We have been busy bee's both at home and work and are just trying to take some time to "unplug" when we have any free time.

In the past month, we have:
-Been in North Carolina for both a mini vacation and for Megan and Mitch's wedding
-Taken a small retreat to Steamboat Springs with two of our favorite married couples
-Planned our anniversary trip to Crested Butte (will be going Oct 22-24)
-Hosted numerous friends who have been in town
-Reunited with my best friend from high school (Jill Gainey) who has just recently moved to Boulder
-Purchased the ingredients to start brewing our own beer
-Went to see Band of Horses (a favorite band) at the Fillmore (our favorite venue)

We are fast approaching our one year anniversary on Sunday! It has flown by and now we know how the rest of you feel as year after year passes in all your marriages. Here are the top 10 lessons that I've learned this past year:

1) Don't make everything a battle. I'm still working at letting things roll off my back if it's not a huge deal. Also, make sure the time is right to bring up a tough topic.

2) Take time to appreciate each other! It is easy to notice when our spouse does something wrong, but it is very important to praise each other for any little thing that they do right!

3) Make sure the house is a "safe" place. I always want Ryan to look foward to coming home to our home and to me! Fill it with love and happy memories and cherish it as a place of comfort.

4) Learn to see the full potential of your spouse and push them towards it. This is something we are currently doing--Ryan has been very unhappy with his job at Baxa and we both know it is time for him to move on. I am trying to support him to follow what we both know he has the passion for....the outdoor industry! (Please send some prayers our way as we are looking at many possibilities, including needing to relocate out of Denver if the right job comes along.)

5) Make good habits a MUST. Some of ours: pray together, eat dinner at the table instead of in front of the TV, go to bed at the same time, take walks after work, hold hands, laugh a lot, plan adventures as a couple and with friends, send emails/text messages full of "i love you's" throughout the work day, and cherish the nights at home relaxing.

6) Learn to make your spouse's priorities your priorites.

7) Set long term goals to work together towards.

8) Don't put each other down in front of others--always talk highly of your spouse to friends and family!

9) Learn their schedule: Ryan needs to sleep until 10am on weekends, get to concerts and movies early, and likes to take a half hour to watch the news and have a snack after work. If I respect these wishes of his, he is in a MUCH better mood.

10) Always respect each other's opinion, even if you don't agree with it!

Those are my thoughts! It is amazing to see how we've grown and learned so much in just this first year of marriage!

I love you all!

Kristi

We Read, Just Haven't Posted Cause We're Boring

I can certainly explain my family's lack of posting. We never really feel like we have anything important to say. And then I don't know what details of our normal every day routines to post. It's the same reason why I have trouble calling and talking to people on the phone. It feels like nothing new really ever happens, so I don't know what to update people on.

That's not to say that I don't want to post and start hearing from people again. So here in Goshen, fall is striking with 80 degree temperatures this weekend. And while I'd really like to be out enjoying the weather, I've been slammed with work this weekend because it is the end of the quarter at school. And we finished painting the house yesterday. And I wrote a sermon on Luke 13.

But today I let Judah sleep on my lap for 2 hours, and when Gideon gets up we are going apple-picking. I think that Gideon will really enjoy getting to pick and then eat his food. Actually, Gideon just got up from his nap right now. So time for a diaper change, putting shoes on, and going to the orchard! Talk to you all soon!

I think that I am the only one who reads or looks at this sight. This is a test of the emergency broadcasting system! If you can read this post, respond and let me know. I do love you all though!

MOM

Christmas

Wow! We have been a busy little family these last few weeks. Now for the most part our family will slow down to a less than fast pace. Although it is only October, I do want to talk about Christmas. I know that plans are not all together set, I do want to make a few comments. First I should remind you to begin to think about your christmas characters, and to begin to look for replacements to place in the empty manger here at home. Second I want to suggest that for this year you may want to suspend gift giving among you kids. We should look to doing a trip in the summer of 2011. Each of you should come with a calendar and be ready to commit a week to the family. We can set up the details of that week during our holiday. I cannot tell you at this point exactly what your dad and I will contribute, but it will be something. If you have any doubts or concerns you should call me and let me know. Otherwise this will be the plan.

Don't forget your father's birthday is the 7th of this month. Pray for your dad and I's upcoming trip. It is something we are needing very much. I would love to see a little more communication on this blog, maybe we could catch up on each other. Andrew and Kristine are going on a mission's trip at the end of the month and Ryan and Kristi will be celebrating year number one of marriage. Yeah you made it! We could use some new Gideon and Judah pictures and you need to update your cartoon family at right.

I love you all and that is all for now.
Mom

My heart is heavy today. So as I come to you my children, I would ask you to join with me in lifting Grandma and Grandpa and Tony up to God. My prayer is that God would infuse them with His power in a way that is so obviously Him that we can only praise Him. Also that Tony would hear His call, and surrender! May Tony's chains of bondage be broken as he feels his brokenness. We are family and one who loves the Lord. Our prayers make a difference! Don't forget to pray for Ellen as well. We will all have a rough road ahead. May it be the one that God has put us on. From Psalm 40: I waited patiently for the Lord to help me,
and he turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the pit of despair,
out of the mud and the mire.
He set my feet on solid ground
and steadied me as I walked along.
He has given me a new song to sing,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see what He has done and be amazed.
They will put their trust in the Lord.

The whole psalm is great. I encourage you to read it. On a side note, today is Grandpa and Grandma's 54th wedding anniversary. May their love of God and family see them through today!

Crazy August

So, yea, Kristi said that we aren't doing well catching up on the phone. I know exactly why... August is a crazy month if you're coaching tennis, and right now 3 of us are! Add in that Kristine and I just started the school year. I love tennis season, and the start of school, but it does cause the kind of busyness that I'm glad is contained to this one month.

As far as prayer requests go, my tennis team should be REALLY good this year, and that's causing me a bit more stress than if we were going to be bad. The higher expectations are making me stressed rather than causing me to enjoy the season. So I would pray that I can enjoy the season and help the guys play to their potential.

Also, I need prayer for my priorities. It takes a lot of focus during a season in which my team is succeeded to put God first, family second, tennis and other things behind that. I have obligations during the season, but I don't want to be so focused on tennis that I bring it home every night to the detriment of my relationship with Courtney and the boys.

Speaking of the boys, they are really super cute in case you didn't know that yet. This past weekend we spent Sunday at the Nussbaum's house on the lake, and Gideon loved it. We tried to get him to go tubing, but he was too scared. He wouldn't even ride in the boat. But now at home we likes to pretend that he is tubing. Last night, we pulled off the cover of his toy chest, turned it over, got on his knees on top of it and said that he was tubing. Then he made me get on it to and tube with him. But as soon as I got up on it, he pushed me off. He said he was tubing like Uncle Andrew!

And Judah is still a beautiful baby. When he was born he was a little fussier than Gideon had been, but now he is all smiles. He is also sleeping through the night already, maybe getting up once to feed, but that is nice. And he's still got the chunky cheeks that are impossible not to kiss. Last night at the tennis match he was cooing and laughing when Courtney and I were talking to him. It's fun to watch him grow.

Courtney is doing well, but really dreading going back to work. That would be her prayer request. I think that having a summer with the boys has motivated her to try to find a career path that would somehow let her stay home even more with the boys. She's thinking about maybe going back to school for something, but the amount of money that would cost and the time away from the boys to do that is a bit scary to her (and me). So we could use prayer for those situations.

Okay, time to get ready for school this morning! I love you all!

Matt.

Just a thought, but when we have a new post maybe we should put a note on facebook? I think we have gotten out of the habit of checking this sight. Since Kristi listed her prayer requests I will too. My #1 request is that God would use me in His power to be the look and the face of Christ. Kind of a makeover of the Jesus kind!

Not apathetic...

Just a little busy to spend time at work on the blog! :) And of course, after work I stay as far away from the computer as I can.

I have been a little stressed out as of late--August is crazy, but Sept. should hopefully be slightly better with a week in North Carolina (part of which will be vacation). We'll see how that turns out as we are there to be in a wedding and I'm sure it will be crazy with all that needs to get done.

I miss all of you terribly and it seems that besides mom and dad, we aren't doing well at catching up via phone! I know that it is hard with all of our busy schedules and the time change as well. I am trying to get Christmas worked out, but it is difficult with me being new here and working with everyone else's time frame. We will be home either the week before, the week after, or the week of...just not sure which yet. My boss is on vacation until Monday and then I will try to grab her to see what it's looking like for the best option.

What else....here are prayer requests:
1) Ryan's job--he is at a stand still at work and would like to move forward in some capacity
2) My work with Wilhelmina--I finish the last of my four photo shoots on the 29th and then will start being contracted for work. Pray it brings creative relief for me and some extra money as we are desperate for anything and always pinching pennies.
3) The level of stress I have felt recently. I am ready to not have a to-do list, to not be worried about finances, and to not have to "schedule" alone time with Ryan. I am increasingly overwhelmed and am trying to pray and get support, but it is hard, especially the past month.
4) Blossoming friendships here....we have a lot of great friends, but I would like to see these friendships deepen, especially my friendships with the women.

I think that's about it for now. Love you all very much and know that you are constantly on my mind.

XOXOXO,
KLM

Is we? How about if we.

No replies! How can we stay close is we are apathetic. Please let me know that you are out there.

Musings of a mom

Oh, how I am missing the days of getting you kids ready for school! Finding the times and days to take each of you shopping and knowing that each of your personalities would show themselves. There was always the possibility that I would have to eat at Cheddar's or Don Pablo's three days in a row. But I was willing to sacrifice for the "greater good" of having my children prepared for school! Now fast forward many years and some of my children (Matthew, Andrew, and Kristine) are still preparing for school, but not with my help and not as students, but as teacher/coaches. What an awesome chance to influence our world through those young lives.

All of this musing to say that I am missing you all! Kristi is on an airplane as I blog headed to South Carolina for Megan's bachlorette party and Ryan is at home missing her I am sure. Matthew has his first teaching day today and of course Courtney is continuing to "teach her children well" at home. Andrew and Kristine are winding down private lessons this week as the gear up for team play and teaching! That brings us to your dad and I. Your dad continues to struggle with the changes that are happening in health care and how he will allow them to effect him. He did purchase a new computer system that is being installed. The "go live" date is the first part of October. The bigger issue now is whether or not he should pursue employment by the hospital and what that might look like. We are trying to hear from God and would also ask that you would be in prayer for us. I would love to hear from all of you as we share what is happening in our lives.

I am busy helping grandma with painting at her house. We have many decisions that need to be made there as well. Some of these decisions will probably be discussed this next week as Phil will be here.

Can I just say that I hate going 6 months without all of us being together! I love you all and would challenge you all to BLOG, BLOG, BLOG!

In Response

Post, post, post! So here I go. I've been thinking a lot about all of you lately. Of course, you all know that we just got back from vacation in Florida. Being away with my family made me think of the things that we would do to relax as a family. Also, I just spent a good week with Andrew (and seeing Kristine a little bit), coaching tennis together was a ton of fun and I know that Andrew has a talent in communicating with kids of high school age. On top of that, I've been writing poems about all of you for a Christmas collection that I hope to have done this year.

So I thought for fun that I'd give you a taste of some of your poems. These are just for the siblings, and siblings in law right now. Just one line... to wet your appetite...

{The / are line breaks in the poem}

Kristi - "...Welcome, you smile / traverse the muddy peak beside them. No one should / face the summit nor the valleys alone."

Ryan - "And really, your wife didn’t pop into the Gold Pan / to shoot pool with you; she wouldn’t have given her number / but for your Flaming Lip’s tee..."

Andrew - "So stand unmoving, like the elder trees down by Wildcat Creek. Sit at your kitchen table, watch the morning that the grass receives, weigh reality."

Kristine - "Changes in scenery, / torn roots to deep rose sunrise, mold / the inner worth."

So, I hope you like these little bits. I love you all so much. Hope to talk to you soon!

Matt.

People, people! is anyone out there? How are you all! Blog, blog, blog! Please I need to hear from you!

Wow!!!! We have a new little one to add to our family! Judah Adin we are so happy you are with us! We are looking forward to seeing everyone at home in the next few days. Pray for good weather and good fellowship. I love everyone so very much and will do all I can to make our time together memorable! Love you all!! Mom

Just so you know...

We miss you guys already! It was such a special time to be together for no reason at all except to hang out! I'm glad we made this happen and can't wait for June to come around when we will be home again.

Thanks, Dad, for your witty comments regarding the tournament! It sure was fun watching that last game, even if the outcome wasn't what I wanted!

And lastly, just so you know, I started using a face self-tanner this week so I wouldn't look so "pale"! :)

Love you all very much!

Kristi & Ryan

Hi family dad here. What a good weekend mom and I had with all of you in Chicago. We loved being all together and thank all of you for taking time out of your schedules to be there. We appreciate your commitment to family and so thank you again! Ok, here are the final results of our NCAA basketball poll. Congrats to Kristine the overall first time winner! She will pick the place to celebrate and eat in June when we are all together. For everyone else, there is always next year!

Kristine 71(can anyone say "how lucky can one person get?")

Courtney 63(close but no cigar-can't smoke anyway when pregnant)

Dad 57(always near the top-most consistent each year)

Drew 57(last year's winner-can't repeat-beat like a drum by his wife)

Ryan 57(might have won had he picked his team MSU-loser-never go against your team)

Robin 50(always in the middle of the pack)

Kristi 50(looks and picks like her mom-when will you grow up and be your own person)

Matt 41(barely beats his son-one of the favorites who had a total collapse)

Gideon 36(picked Lehigh to win and still almost beat his dad)

So there it is complete with my witty comments. I love you all, see you all soon. Can't wait for next year!

Dad

Can you believe it? Today we will finally be together as a family! I cannot begin to tell you how much we look forward to seeing all of you. Not only those we don't see very often, but those we do. Just seeing you all interact with one another warms me to my core. Blessings to each of you until I see you. I will count down the hours and minutes until you each get a big mama hug!

Life in the Murphy household

Hi all! Sorry Ryan and I have been out of the loop on some of these blogs. We no longer have a computer at home since I returned my Young Life laptop, and we're considering our options of when and what to purchase from here. I haven't had much time on a computer at work (until today!), so I feel a little disconnected from what you all have been writing.

I'll give you a quick rundown of the new job and my thoughts so far--I love it. I love the environment, learning about the treatment, getting to slowly know patients and all the wonderful staff here. I also love the short drive and savings in gas money! My mind has definitely started stirring within me to the possibility of pursuing a career in social work more seriously. I'll give you all a full update when we are together soon.

We spent a lovely and very relaxing weekend at home! We've been feeling very much on the go recently, with my new job and a ton of social activities, so we decided that we would just spend time together this weekend and not make any set plans. We had a wonderful date night on Friday with dinner at a new restaurant (yum!), and a kickin' concert at one of our favorite venues. Check out Vampire Weekend, all you music lovers. They were amazing.

Saturday we slept in, took a nice walk down to get a bagel and coffee and enjoy a morning outside checking out houses that are for rent for our friends, Erik & Lauren, who will be out here in a few weeks to make some final decisions on what area of town to live in. We then ran some errands, got hooked on the basketball games going down, and finished the night going to check out our friend's house that he recently remodeled.

Sunday was a full morning of church and then a trail run. We have now decided that we are going to become experts in trail running through this next season! It was a beautiful run and a good start to spring for us. We then were able to hit up a new lunch spot downtown, with some of the best homemade chips I've ever had.

We spent last night down in Colorado Springs with Susan and Michael and their little baby girl, Bea. She is precious and I loved holding her for most of the night! We cooked dinner for them to give them some time to just relax and we all enjoyed the evening immensely. I think it's good for them to know that people are supportive and want to help in any way possible as they get adjusted to being new parents. It made me eager for BABY JUDAH to come along so I can hold another sweet baby in my arms!

We have loved all the games and the upsets that occured this weekend, even if I am in now almost last place (next to the Gid-man). We're very excited that we'll be able to watch some of the final games together in Chicago! Let's all pray for wonderful weather so we can enjoy the outdoors.

Drew--thanks for all the things you wrote in your last blog--I loved the update on what you and Kristine have decided to do for now.

Mom--thanks for writing beautiful words on God's will and speaking to us about what's on your mind these days. We all appreciate you sharing your wisdom!

Just wanted you all to know we've been thinking of you guys and counting the days until we board our plane for Chicago!!!

Love,
Ryan and Kristi

It's Been A While

Hey family, Andrew here.

First to mom: Incredible blogs. Very meaningful. I appreciate what you do for our family by pushing us, encouraging us, listening to us, and praying for us. So thoughtful...thank you!

To Matt: love the bracket on mid-majority (although we had talked about it on the phone too). I wish we could have watched some of the tournament together because I know we would have been rooting for the same teams. I get so tired of most people just rooting for their picks instead of rooting for who they actually want to win. I hope the final four is Northern Iowa, Butler, Cornell, and St. Mary's. Our Big Ten teams too.

To Gideon: Thanks for having me represent a team in your Final Four. I love you and can't wait to hold you and play with you in Chicago. I even bought you something for Easter already. Go Mountain Hawks!

To Dad: I went golfing this week and shot an 83. Sorry you can't play because of your shoulder but I had a blast. I wish I would have played with you but we'll play soon enough.

To Kristi: I loved getting texts from you this weekend. I didn't even know you would be watching all of the basketball as closely as you have. I love the upsets just like you. Kristine and I have been missing you and can't wait to hang in Chicago.

Courtney: I really miss you. I've seen Matt and Gideon twice in the past month but unfortunately you haven't been able to make it. Kristine and I have been talking about going out with you and Matt sometime soon and maybe staying up at your place too. I would love to hear about how things are going with your jobs and also hear updates on planning for a baby room at your house.

Ryan: Thank you for being a great new brother. I loved the poop text you sent me a month of so ago. It was hilarious. Thank you also for calling my wife on a regular basis. You have been consistent in doing that and she really appreciates it. I know you probably have a portable GPS and I thought it would be fun to do some geocaching (spelling?) in Chicago sometime if we have a chance.

Kristine: I love you dearly and can't wait for our Spring Break adventures in Chicago and Miami. I am extra pumped for our one day cruise to the Bahamas. I am happy that we are actively communicating and praying for our future. Love you!

To all: As of right now, Kristine and I are planning on staying in Kokomo for the time being. I am not taking the Fort Wayne tennis position. I am looking to stay and possible advance within the tennis center here. I am also planning on starting a Master's degree this fall. Kristine and I will continue to look around and be ready to leave when God wants us to. Continue to pray for us! Love you all and only a week and a half until Chicago baby!

Andrew

Kristine:

On a Sunday

First of all, I'm thankful for mom's posts on God's will. It is a difficult topic, and I agree with mom on the final post. God certainly requires action, but we can't take total control. Instead, we must stay in relationship with God.

Which has been really difficult for me over the past couple of days. Early this week, Gideon was really sick with a cough and cold, and he started a habit of waking up every 15 minutes starting at about 2:00 or 3:00 in the morning. So, I'd been trying to help him get back to sleep, get medicine, etc. But I found once I was up the first time it just seemed difficult to get back to sleep. Courtney has been that way too. One night, we finally turned on the light at 3:30 and read for an hour.

But Gideon is over it now and back to his talkative and fun self! Now, Courtney is sick. So the second half of the week I've been getting little sick because she has been coughing and uncomfortable in bed. The last couple of nights, I've actually come out to the couch so that Courtney could be more comfortable, and so that I didn't have to hear her coughing. So I'm a little tired. And when I get tired, it is tough to get up for my morning times with God.

But, having a little boy around always adds some joy to the day. Last night, we hung a picture in his room that we drew in the basement. It has pictures of his Final Four picks, and a cheerleader. This morning, as I walked into his room, he was talking happily.

"Daddy, I see my picture. There's Daddy, and Gideon, and Andrew and Kristine. And the cheerleader is Mommy. Right there!" He had decided that I was the Lehigh player, he was the Missouri player, Andrew was the Sam Houston State player, and Kristine was Kansas State. Mommy was the cheerleader that Grammy had drawn in the corner... and yes, those are his Final Four picks!

It was a fun way to start what is usually a good day. And it has been so far, except I'll have no chance for a nap, what with Ohio St., Michigan St., Wisconsin, and Cornell coming on next! Hope you guys all have a good day, and continue to enjoy the tournament.

Oh, by the way, if you want to see my real bracket. Check out the second picture at this site: http://www.midmajority.com/2010/03/the-first-annual-as-you-go-bra.php

I haven't written the conclusion to my blog for a couple of days. I will do that today. I am working through several thoughts and trying to reconcile them in living in this daily life. I know that I suffer from a spiritual myopothy, or near-sightedness that makes me want to think of God's will only as it effects me (or you guys) and not in general. I have had a new old song in my head all week and it is just this "Open my eyes and let me see, Glimpses of truth those hast for me, Place in my hand that wonderful key, That shall unclasp and set me free. So, based on these thoughts here is the conclusion of my blog on "God's Will". I should entitle this one "God's will, Our Responsibility".
"This, brings up a whole other matter, and confusing issue: Is it God's work or my work? God's responsibility or mine? I think each of us has a strong tendency to attempt to wrestle control from the Spirit and "do" this life on our own. We tend to switch from living the gospel of grace to trusting in a system of works. It's hard to truly depend on sustenance and guidance from the Spirit rather than merely on our own wisdom and effort. If we never responded to God, if we never acted based on what He has done for us, there wouldn't be much of a relationship there. God is still real and moving, but at some point we have to respond and act because of what God's done. Like yeast and flour are both necessary to bread, both God's action and our response=action are necessary in this relationship with God. Like many things in life, there really isn't a sew-it-all-up solution. And I love that. God is big and mysterious enough that we cannot simply put a label on this process and move on. It requires continual engagement and wrestling and discovering how to live a Spirit-filled life today. Not 10 years from now. Not tomorrow. But right now, in the particular time and place God has put you."
I was reminded last night about how my relationship with God works. Your dad and I were in bed and of course the lights were out. (We couldn't see) I said goodnight and I got no response. Your dad's back was to me and he did not have his hearing aids in. So I turned toward him, touched him and said again, "Goodnight". His response was to turn to me, kiss me, and say "Goodnight". And that is how it is with God. He touches me, opens my eyes and ears, and I still have the chose to respond. Sometimes it is a whisper, sometimes a shout, sometimes it is just a gesture. But that is a relationship. Something we can all relate to. And this is just a thought from mom.........

So I intend to continue my narrative....a continuation of yesterday. Today I am contemplating what it looks like to rely upon the Holy Spirit in living a life in "God's will". Being filled with Him. "The cruz of it, I believe is realizing that being filled with the Spirit is not a one'time act. As we read in Galatians about the Sipirit and the flesh, walking with the Spirit implies an ongoing relationship. Being filled with the Spirit is not limited to the day we first meet Christ. Instead, throughout Scripture we read of a relationship that call us into an active pursuit of the Spirit every day.
Imagine I buy a treadmill to lose some weight. Three months later, I take it back to the store and complain to the clerk that it didn't work- I didn't lose a pound. He asks me,"Did it not work properly?" I respond: "I don't know if it works. I never ran on it. I just know I didn't lose any weight, so I am done with it!"
This may seem like a silly example, but change the details and suddenly it sounds familiar: "I have prayed for the Holy Spirit to free me from my lust, and I am still addicted to pornography." Or, "I have prayed for years to be able to forgive my dad, but I am still racked with anger and bitterness 30 years down the road." "I have prayed for years to be free of my gluttony, but despite prayer, spiritually based support groups and dieting, I am still a compulsive, unhealthy eater."
Fill in whatever sin plagues you and suddenly the treadmill illustration doesn't seem so silly. In fact, it seems like those prayers for freedom from that ongoing sin didn't really "work" in much the same way the treadmill didn't help me lose any weight.
Receiving freedom and healing in answer to prayer is generally not something that is done to you, a situation in which you are just a passive participant. Occasionally God works this way and heals or frees a person outright. He is certainly capable of this. Bit in my experience, God typically asks us to play an active role in the journey toward wholeness.
God doesn't need our help, but invites us to participate. Often this journey to freedom takes time, sometimes a very long time. And it takes perseverance. It takes participation on our part. We have to get on the treadmill and run - merely looking at the workout machine doesn't do a whole lot.
Living by the Spirit implies a habitual, continual and active interaction with the Holy Spirit. While this sounds exhausting, it really isn't because all of this living and action is done in the power of the Spirit. It is not by your own strength."

Now I don't know what areas that you all are struggling in, (well I guess some of us have shared where) but I can get caught up in inactivity in those areas of struggle. In other words, I am willing to put work into my physical body, my intellectual body, or my emotional body, and even spiritual body. I do the things on the outside and gain wisdom, but some areas I think that I have held to myself because it might take too much work. The truth is that as I give up the control and let God into those areas, He picks up the load for me. He carries my guilt and pain until I fail and want to punish myself with the guilt. A part of me feels that because as a human, as Robin, I fail, that I do not deserve to have my burden lifted or carried. I don't deserve it, but thank God!!!!I don't have to. Tomorrow, I will try and finish these thoughts. Today, "Now I have given up everything else - I have found it to be the only way to really know Christ and to experience the might power that brought Him back to life again, and to find out what it means to suffer and to die with Him. So what ever it take, I will be one who live in the fresh newness of life of those who are alive from the dead." Phil 3: 10,11

The Next Installment of God's Will

So today there is much that I could say. Ways that I want to encourage you all! Instead I will begin with a continuation of yesterday. More from Francis Chan:

"God wants us to listen to His Spirit on a daily basis, and even throughout the day, as difficult and stretching moments arise, and in the midst of the mundane. Instead of searching for "God's will for my life," learn to seek hard after "the Spirit's leading in my life today." May we learn to pray for an open and willing heart, to surrender to the Spirit's leading with that friend, child, spouse, circumstance or decision in our lives right now.

To say we are not called to figure out"God's will for my life" does not mean God doesn't have purposes and plans for each of our lives, or that He doesn't care what we do with our lives. He does. In both the Old and New Testaments He tells us this is true. The key is that God never promises to reveal these purposes all at once, in advance.

Nowhere in Scripture do I see a "balanced life with a little bit of God added in" as an ideal for us to emulate. Yet when I look at our churches, this is exactly what I see: a lot of people who have added Jesus to their lives. People who have, in a sense, asked Jesus to join them on their life journey, to follow them wherever they feel they should go, rather than following Him as we are commanded. The God of the universe is not something we can just add to our lives and keep on as we did before. The Spirit who raised Christ from the dead is not someone we can just call on when we want a little extra power in our lives. Jesus Christ did not die in order to follow us. He died and rose again so we could forget everything else and follow Him to the cross, to true Life. "

That's all for today. I need to know if this is helpful to you all! If you want to hear more, I will be waiting for some feedback. Today, I will be here at home, or on the road, grocery, or office following the Spirit's leading!

God's Will

As your dad and I continue to navigate this life, we had a conversation last night about what God has been teaching us and the number of people and family that He has put in our lives that are struggling with these issues. Finding God's will seems to be a recurring theme. As if God has hidden this treasure and we are in this cosmic game of hide and seek. When if I truly look at the situation I recognize that it is my lack of understanding and just living in expectancy that is the problem. For Christmas you all gave me the character of Mary. I think my challenge this year is to live in the expectancy of what God will birth in my life and in those around me. At that point I will praise God for the gift He has given. What follows is an exerpt of an article in Relevant Magazine by Francis Chan. It is from his new book called Forgotten God. The name of the article is "I Just Wish I Knew God's Will..."

How many times have you heard someone wonder about "God's will for my life"? I know I've longed to know it for my life. But now I see it as a misguided way of thinking and talking.

There are very few people in the Scriptures who received their life plan from God in advance (or even their five year plan, for that matter). Consider Abraham, who was told to pack up his family and all his possessions and start walking. He didn't know where he was going. He didn't know if he would ever be back. He didn't know any of the details we consider vital (e.g. his destination, how long the venture would take, what the costs/rewards would be, whether he'd receive a 401 (k) or health insurance). God said to go and he went, and that's pretty much all he knew.

A lot of us need to forget about God's will for my life. God cares more about our response to His Spirit's leading today, in this moment, than about what we intend to do next year. In fact, the decisions we make next year will be profoundly affected by the degree to which we submit to the Spirit right now, in today's decisions.

It is easy to use the phrase "God's will for my life" as an excuse for inaction or even disobedience. It's much less demanding to think about God's will for your future than it is to ask Him what He wants you to do in the next 10 minutes. It's safer to commit to following Him someday instead of this day.

That's all I am giving you today Kids. For more from this article and mom's thoughts, tune in tomorrow! I love you all and will be praying that God will give you the strength to step out in faith in what God wants from you in the next ten minutes. Live in the "expectancy" of each day!

Things to Pray On

Hey everybody, hope you are having a wonderful day! I'm really looking forward to tomorrow, where my beautiful wife and I get away to South Haven, MI. We're staying at a bed and breakfast with a fireplace, planning on kicking up our heals and doing some reading. Plus, they have couples' massage, so we'll each get a half hour from a professional.

But I've had an interesting week at school, filled with great news and frustration...

- Great news, a great JV player from another school (he was last year 16-2) is probably going to transfer to Bethany. I spent 45 minutes or so talking to his parents' and it was really positive. I'm crossing my fingers, and praying that this happens. It would be such a blessing because last season our chances at Sectional were ruined by one player leaving (being suspended). It would be an awesome act of God to see this season's chances renewed by one player coming.

- Bad news, I've been fighting anger at my student's this week. The annoying habits, the inattention, the talking when I'm trying to give instructions... all those middle school things, are just getting to me this week. I'm so tired of the fight. And so I've almost snapped in anger several times, which is really unusual for me.

I could use prayer for both of those things!

Love you all, and can't wait to hear more from you,
Matthew.

All my chains I can't disengage, And I don't believe that I want to.
One hand sings your praise ,The other brings me shame. I have selfishness to blame
And I'm singing for freedom, I know I'm not the only one... Praying to the one
Who can bring me this freedom
I'm ready for change!
Broke down I lay I keep holding my chains
No long bound but here I stay.
I scream Father please I need rescuing
I need You and You alone

Still You patiently await Yet I won't just let go
I see You and You alone
Saying freedom And so I'm singing for freedom
The time has come separation lost the war to love
Take my hand grace has found you where You once began
You're Alive! You're Alive! in the waking of new life
Take my hand in the end there's only love There's only love
There's only singing for freeom I know I'm not only one Praying to the One
Who can bring me this freedom
I'm ready for I'm ready for... Father please I need rescuing I need You and You alone

Stress #1 Solved...Many more to come!

I love that we are writing again, but I also think what Mom said is true....that we are talking more and probably in better communication as life continues on. So many life changes have taken place for both Ryan and I (and all of you!) in the past few months.


First life change...Marriage. I tell you what--being newlyweds is the best thing in the world. I am thankful every single day for my HUSBAND. I am grateful that he works at understanding me, at loving me with grace and patience, and we just continue to grow together as we learn the best ways to love each other. Here is one example of Ryan's amazingnesss taken from an email he sent me earlier today regarding my job decision:


"As your husband, I am here to support your decisions, give you encouragement in those decisions and ultimately leave the decision up to you. I am so proud of you and in this case feel that you have taken the time to really think this one through. It is tough to leave a position and even tougher to leave a Boss that has treated you so well over the years. I don’t envy that at all. What I do envy is your strength and poise through this process and I am truly looking forward to where your new position will lead. You are an amazing woman, a great worker, and an even better wife! I love you dearly and will stand by you for as long as we live."


(Let's just say I was in tears after reading that!)


Which brings me to the second life change....Job. After four years at Young Life, I have decided to take another position. I am excited, nervous, and definitely feel out of my comfort zone. I have mulled this decision over and over in my head, but after talking to Joe (boss) today, it was an easy one. He told me I needed to take the job, that God's fingerprints are all over this, and that it will be such a better career move than staying with Young Life. I can't get a more direct answer than that. Although it will be sad leaving this place of comfort, I am more excited to use my degree, to enter a new realm where I will daily be reminded to have compassion and to love deeply.


As I was driving down to the office today, I was preparing myself with worship songs, prayer, and just asking God to give me a sense of what is right. This song by Sixpence None the Richer spoke directly to my heart. It is so beautiful the way God knows what we need to hear. Here are the lyrics:

You're a painting with symbols deep,
a symphony soft as it shifts from dark beneath
a poem that flows, caressing my skin
in all of these things You reside and I want You to flow from the pen, bow and brush
with paper and string, and canvas tight
with ink in the air, to dust Your light--from morning to the black of night

This is my call: I belong to You
This is my call: to sing the melodies of You
This is my call, I can do nothing else, I can do nothing else

You're the scent of an unfound bloom
a simple tune I only write variations to soothe the mood
a drink that will knock me down to the floor
a key that will unlock the door where I hear a voice sing familiar themes, then beckons me
as I weave notes in between a tap and a string, a tap and a glass
You pour me till the day has passed....

This is my call: I belong to You
This is my call; to sing the melodies of You
This is my call, I can do nothing else, I can do nothing else

Lyrics can't get more beautiful than that. This was such a reminder that no matter which job I chose, no matter what I decided to do, that my most basic call was to sing the melodies of Christ, to praise this life that He gave to us, and that at the end of the day, I belong to Him and can rest knowing that He will make the most out of anything I give to Him. Such a great moment of revelation and freedom.

Life is so rich right now. Spring has always been the start of new things...last year, an engagement, and this year, a new job and community in Denver. Pray for me in this transistion...that I latch on to new skills and duties and that I will grow in all ways. Another blessing: Erik (the best man in our wedding) and his wife, Lauren, will be moving to Denver this summer! He just landed a teaching job here and we are so excited to have them join our growing community of beloved friends. We are so blessed with new people in our lives...Jason, Kimberly and their baby Driggs; Caleb & Daron, Molly & Mike, Hannah & Jesse...and now Erik & Lauren.

Lastly, pray for Ryan as he interviewed last week with Baxa and is waiting to see what his future there looks like. Pray for direction as there may now be more than one opportunity within the company...and pray for a peace of mind regardless of what happens.

We love you all dearly and are so excited for April 1!
With overflowing love in our hearts,

Kristi (& Ryan)

While Courtney is in New York

Hey guys, it's Matt. Good to have mom's challenge to write again, so I had a few minutes, I thought I'd share what's on my mind.

First of all, I feel like exciting things are happening all over our family right now. I pray that God continues to lead and guide us. I like to think that mom and dad prepared us for an exciting year with our Christmas service and challenging us to think about Bible characters and Bible stories. I know that trying to let myself be led like Joseph was led has been challenging to me.

But I also think we'll have to pray for the stress levels of the family. Knowing that Kristine and Andrew are both looking for changes, especially with jobs, and Kristi and Ryan are looking at job changes too, and Courtney and I are expecting family changes (yeah Judah!) All of these things are good, I think, but I know they cause stress. After talking with Kristi on the phone Tuesday night, I thought about the difficult time it might be just changing jobs, getting out of the routine. It could be really good, but it is still hard. So I'm praying for all of us in our stress, that God will give us clarity and peace.

As for me, I'm without my wife for a couple of days. Gideon thinks that Mommy is in New York to get him a present and didn't understand why she wasn't home for dinner last night. We had a good night, but I know why single parenting is so hard. This is actually the first time I've had to parent Gideon alone for more than a day. So I could use prayer in that. And then I'll be seeing some of you this weekend, which will be great.

While your at reading blogs, you might want to check out my other blog, forgehosannahs.blogspot.com. It's just about how I see God in the everyday things of my life... picking a middle name for Judah, singing with Gideon, the shower... I won't feel offended if you don't though.

I love you all, and I am praying for you even as I type! Thanks for getting us started again Mom!

Matt.

Oh, it has been so long since any of us has written. I would like to think that it is because we are talking more, but is that true? All of us have many issues that need to be prayed for. All of us need prayers on direction and keeping our feet to the path that God has set before us. All of us know that that path is put before us and God promises to lead us. But to be lead we have to give up control. Sometimes I think that we equate contol with using our inteligence. And yet in not asking God for our path we sometimes show our selfishness. I think that all sin stems from a form of selfishnes. I am missing all of you tonight! It tends to make me reflective! Could I ask all of you to pray for Kristi tonight? She needs the Lord to lead her, or at the very least to use her where she is put! Andrew needs us. How will we as a family rise to the challenge of praying. I am sorry that I have been so caught in the day to day that I have not invested in the future of our family by writing. Let's make this a daily habit! I love you all!
Mom