God is Awesome

How great Thou art.

An Upgrade.

You'll all remember Speed Limit 1.0, yes?

A Lunch Break

I love to get out of the office. I'm not so much cut out for office work. I'm more cut out for exploration and adventure. At least that's what I'd like to think. That's how I feel. These are a few pictures of the creek along which I spent my lunch hour, and the majestic sky that greeted me on my return hike.
Now remember that I work in a Credit Union in the middle of a city, so I take great pride in exploring out places like this within a short hike.

Gerret's Garden

We have a small gazebo off the back porch that we never thought much about. Not until recently when we decided to relocate it to be our chicken coop. We still haven't moved it, but the first time Lindsay really examined it she discovered a sandbox under the floor. That didn't mean much to us as we already have a sandbox out under the trees, but one warm day as he was skipping nap time Gerret grew himself a sandbox garden. You'll notice each lump he planted sprouted a beautiful cut white flower.
Excellent little Pook.

A Beautiful Glorious Minute at the Sprinkler Park

This was last Saturday. Initially we'd intended to come down to Ithaca after I finished work and go have some fun at the Sciencenter, but plans changed. It was fantastic to realize that we are now equidistant between Ithaca and Geneva, which means that a trip into town could be to either at the same cost. Before we were much closer to Ithaca and it was 3-4 times further to Geneva, but no longer. So we opted to go spend the warm day at the sprinkler park on the beach in Geneva.
It wasn't entirely what we'd expected. Gerret fell asleep on the way and didn't wake up until we were leaving. Nolan still struggled a bit with his fever and, as a result, felt cold because his body was so hot. He went in and out of the sprinklers maybe about four times (poor kid) and probably didn't spend more than a combined total of five minutes in them. Oh well. It was fun anyways.
Lindsay went out into the lake at the end, and she had the whole thing to herself. A beautiful idea really.

Sent from my iPad

Praying

God answers prayers. He doesn't just hear them.
A few weeks ago we began a different approach to family prayer. Rather than simply designate someone in the family to say a prayer, as we kneel down at night we take time discussing the things we ought to thank the Lord for, and perhaps some few things that we might need the Lord's assistance in. We don't coach the boys. Whatever they think of we remember. Sometimes they're grateful for lollipops. Sometimes for friends. Sometimes for Grandma's house. Sometimes they need help to feel better. Sometimes friends need blessings. Sometimes little boys need help not being nervous about preschool.
Once we've talked, one person voices the prayer and we help remind one another of things we've discussed if anyone forgets. It has been great, and just in illustration, Nolan asked, Tuesday night, that God help him go to school for his last day, Wednesday, without being overly nervous. He didn't want a stomach ache. Didn't want to make a scene. Didn't want to be difficult for his mom. We still don't know why he became that way, but maybe he knows and maybe he knew he needed some extra help to overcome his anxiety. He was so sincere in his request and, to our amazement and pleasure, he went to school without a single issue Wednesday morning.
God answers prayers. I know he does. He loves children.

Sent from my iPad

This Means War

For Father's Day my sons got me a pack of 8 water guns. It was only on accident that I ended up with them before Father's day. To Nolan's credit he tried to keep it a secret, and was doing a great job of it too. Gerret let the cat out of the bag. Spilled the beans. Cut the cheese.
Lindsay and the boys got home after I did Tuesday night and Gerret was asleep. Nolan made sure to call out, as I came out of the house to greet them "don't look in the middle of the seats dada!" I obliged and it slowly leaked out that a Father's day gift was back there. We proceeded about a normal evening with the exception that Gerret only awoke for a whiny half-hour. He was exhausted.
We all retired to our beds not thinking or saying much more about Father's day.
The following morning I was up early as usual. I took the dog out. Put the chickens out. Studied the scriptures. Prayed. It was upon my reentry to the house that a happier, more awake Gerret popped out.
"Surprise dada!"
"Hi bud. How are you?"
"Good."
"Did you sleep good?"
"Yes."(he randomly enunciates very well)
"Are you more rested now?"
"Yes."
Pause.
"We got you water guns!"
So the secret was out. I apologized to Nolan who had been doing so well about the secret and I had a little water gun fight with the boys before work.
Then last night, after dinner, the boys declared that they would rather we have a family water gun fight in place of a bed story. So the four of us stepped outside and went at it. I think the guns were refilled three times. Lindsay even used warm water once. That felt nice. Things slowly escalated between Lindsay and I, as they are wont to do, and she started using cups. Then I used the hose. Then we moved to a large plastic trick or treat pumpkin. Then we were all soaked.
This picture is us after our great bed story replacement.
Viva la water guns.