Fall Break

 

Our Northwest Arkansas crew gave us great joy by spending a couple days of their Fall Break with us.

It was so nice to have a full van again, too.  

After Katherine rehearsed with the youth orchestra on Saturday morning, 

we drove over to Pinnacle Mountain and enjoyed climbing to the peak.

Sunday after church, we invited extended family to join us for lunch.

I love the sweetness of a multigenerational houseful of special people

augmented by delicious food and nurturing conversations.

The college crew soon headed back, but they left us with full hearts.

Birthday Weekend

We spent Aaron's birthday morning trying a new coffee shop in Little Rock while Katherine rehearsed with the youth orchestra, then we hopped in the van and drove up to see the crew at JBU.

Our kids graciously gave us a few minutes of their precious time to play a quick game before they were called for the play that night.

We enjoyed a Mexican feast with the ones that could join us and got take out for the ones who couldn't.

Then we enjoyed the very well done production of "Tartouffe" and clapped and cheered for all of the hard work (especially Benjamin's hand in all of the hidden parts) to have the first live performance since COVID began.

As we left town, we made a quick stop by Pure Joy to grab some birthday ice cream for the road.

 

Because there are no limits to the goodness of God, no detail that escapes God's notice or affirmation, there are no limits to the times and places wherein praise and worship to God are fitting.  Paul's admonition to "rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances (I Thes. 5:16-18) makes perfect sense to Sabbath people tuned to God's gracious presence in the world.  When we punctuate key, though mundane, events in the day with praise, we consecrate our life and our living to God.

~Norman Wirzba, "Living the Sabbath: Discovering the Rhythms of Rest and Delight"

Katherine's Birthday

We began Katherine's 14th birthday celebrations the night before by going to the county fair.

What a treat to experience the cultural phenomenon of animals and rides and funnel cake.

Even though Katherine's siblings couldn't come back to celebrate her birthday,

she did have a houseful of grandparents who joined us.

Katherine is currently measuring her growth against the height of her family members.

And she made her own birthday cake...

a chocolate, almond flour, chia seed cake with layers of peanut butter in between.

Birthdays for our last born look so different from year to year, depending on where we live,

but no matter where we live, we are grateful for the precious gift of our children.