A foot in the door, not in the mouth

Click HERE to read our July 2006 VisionVienna Prayer Journal "A foot in the door, not in the mouth".

Sugar Rush

As we were entertaining friends around the pool, we heard the kitchen door open, only to find Levi carrying out a gallon of milk and a squeeze bottle of strawberry syrup, while saying, "Wan sum sawberry mik?"


His joy was made complete, however, by scarfing chocolate ice cream straight from the scoop...



...followed by a bath in the pool!

A godly husband, some day...

I remember sitting timidly in Pastor TJ's office for our first marriage counseling session, over 9 years ago--he asked the question, "What are the two most important things about a Christian marriage?" Brad & I spouted off love, communication, trust, and Jesus! before TJ finally answered his own question--"Two Christians".


Today we had the privilege of seeing two of our precious Christian friends get married, Sarah and Jose.




Brad officiated the ceremony and Abby was the flower girl. As I watched her delicately drop the rose petals, I am reminded that even now I must pray for her future spouse and marriage. Won't you join me right now?

the Great-Grandparents (& a Barbed-Wire Bison)

We spent a few days visiting with Stacey's grandparents in Indianola, Iowa. Here's Levi, Great-Grandpa, and the A&W root-bear.
Luke & Abby @ the Amos' farm lake
Stacey stands speechless, admiring the barbed-wire bison
Grandpa Martens with his farm in the background
Four generations... Abby, Stacey, Memoo, and Grandma Martens

Fun on the Farm

While in Iowa, we unfortunately bypassed the World's Largest Truckstop, the International Wrestling Museum, and the World's Largest Skillet. But we did manage to visit Stacey's father on the farm, and her childhood friend, Heather Rieber.




Heather Rieber (my childhood friend from Iowa)
Ethan & Dane Rieber

Great Friends...Good Times

Rob & Marla--the happy couple!

Lots of fun with lots of kids at the Steffens


Kelli, Stacey, Andrea, Jen, and Val (clockwise from top left)

Nursing School buddies (left to right) Marla, Kelli P., Kelli T., and Sarah






Uncle Neil & Memoo

Aunt Juju ate with us at the Cracker Barrell

Near Normal

We visited our friends Ron & Donna Springer in their town of Minier, Illinois (near Normal). They are generously letting us borrow their mini-van during our whole trip. Of course we had to pay a visit to the aptly-named "Dairy Barn".
All gourmet Mid-Western eateries have tater tots on the menu. Cheesies and Mac bites are occasional delicacies... A pretty Normal sign.

666

Out of fear that the anti-Christ would descend upon planet earth on this fateful day, our family fled to the most normal place on the globe--Normal, Illinois. No, really we're here for friend Marla's wedding, and to visit lots of family and friends. The clock has not yet struck midnight, but it appears the world will endure until tomorrow. In the midst of flying across the country with 3 small kids, we weren't so sure!

On another note--today marks 10 years since we met in Vienna...praise be to God!

Kids' Musical

For those of you who went to the "Good Kings Come in Small Packages" musical at our church last night...how many of you are still humming "I don't think so--oh oh!" I know everyone in our house is!

Anyway--I think we might have an entertainer on our hands after this-Abby obviously loved singing and dancing and took it very seriously. Luke had fun too. He got to say all two of his lines, and found spare time to pick objects out of his nose for all to see...