Matt and Jamie's World

Three lines

2012-01-24T13:07:00.000-08:00

Okay, so I will confess this post is waaaay overdue and has been in "draft form" for well over a month now. What can I say but, "we'z been busy." Anywho, if you can indulge me and let's pretend it's the end of December so the rest of this post will make sense. So, without further ado, here "it" is:

About three weeks ago Matt and I found out we were having a little girl. It sure is nice to have a mother-in-law who is a Sonographer for an OBGYN. Immediately upon finding out I was a mix of emotions and kind of just stared at the monitor trying to take the news in. You see, ever since we got pregnant this time I have told friends and family and anyone who would stand still long enough to hear that, "I know I am having a boy." I think I may have even used the phrase, "mother's intuition" a time or two. Matt would remind me that we have no evidence of this and to stop confusing people. I wouldn't hear of it, I was having a boy.
Why was I going around saying we are having a boy? Well, one reason I would tell people this is because I get to be a mother to one of the cutest little boys on the planet and everything in my life now says, "boy," the other reason was to protect my heart.
Ever since losing Dabney my heart has ached to have a little girl. In fact, it took me until the end of my pregnancy with Mac to even think "I am having a boy" without grieving. Of course, after Mac came into our lives (and arms), we have rejoiced in this gift and and continue to give thanks for his good health and sweet spirit. God's gracious healing has allowed us to truly relish each stage of our boy's life and we are grateful beyond measure for what we have been given, but there is still a sadness that lingers. So often I am reminded of the loss of our first born and how Mac will never know his older sister on this earth. I have longed for him to have a sister and selfishly for us to have a daughter. All that being said, we rejoice (I confess, with some trepidation) in the news that we are expecting a little baby girl this Spring and are praying for good health and safe delivery. We implore you to pray with us and covet these prayers.
Thank you for your patience; I have been meaning to post this for a while, but it took me a long time to get everything written out. Now for a name...any suggestions?

The little girls' scan at ~14 weeks.
If you look closely, the arrow is pointing to
the "three lines" that shows her "girly parts."

Confirmation at 20 weeks. Good grief, this one ain't shy.

Little girl wave.

The Christmas Rush

2011-12-30T14:11:00.000-08:00

Oh how things have changed for us and just in the past year!
Instead of days consumed with learning to care for a newborn at a somewhat slow and relaxed pace, we spent this Christmas season rushing around juggling naptimes, feeding schedules, family, church, un-wrapping presents or rather begging Mac to unwrap at least one present, and chasing our little man around making sure he doesn't eat all the shiny paper/ribbon/bows.
It was festive and fast and we loved every minute of it, so let's get to it!

Opening his stocking (is that how you would say it?) and looking completely confused.
Little did he know this was the first of many, many gifts.

Grandmother love.

Cousin Hayden with her homemade Hello Kitty hat and homemade appliquéd shirt.
This is how we do it, y'all.

"Oh you shiny ribbon, why do you taste so good?"
No really, shiny ribbon why, his mother wants to know.

Oh shiny Christmas tree.
We are thankful twinkling lights did not appeal to Mac's palate this year.

Mac taking a second to look into the opened present before
resuming banging his sippy cup on the present marked "fragile."

Cousin Isaac giving Mac "present-opening lessons."

Mac playing with the nativity set.

Did you know that the shepherds came to see baby Jesus riding on their red tractors?

True story.

Oh those dimples!

Happy New Year!

Morning Routine and Squirrels

2011-12-15T06:25:00.000-08:00

While our cat runs from window to window throwing threatening glances at the squirrels, Mac is hot on his furry little heels. Mac loves it when the cat perches on his carpeted "throne" swishing that fluffy, soft tail back and forth tickling Mac's face. Then of course he sees the camera and it's all over. In all of his babbling you can almost here Mac say, "Gimme, momma!" Listen.
P.S. This video was shot with my new Flip Video. Love it!

The first rule of Fight Club

2011-12-08T17:53:00.000-08:00

So, before you call DFCS on me know that this creative workings of PhotoShop. Mac came home Wednesday having come into contact with the wrong end of a cardboard box and Matt got inspired. This was the result.

Even with a "beat up face" he is still so cute!

More of Mac's birthday party

2011-12-08T13:30:00.000-08:00

I think Scrubs said it best:

Turk: What comes before Part-B?
J.D.: PART-aaaaaaayyyyyy!

Not sure exactly what is happening here, but I think someone is trying to get a hug.

That's either a booger or cake up Mac's nose.

The Grandmother's getting Mac to smile. Notice how the drool stain has grown. Thank you for showing that so clearly, grey shirt.

"Who's muh little Bulldawg? You are! You are mommy's little Bulldawg!"

Mac showing Poppa how to play with his toys.

The Mustache Bash

2011-12-06T07:42:00.000-08:00

We celebrated Mac's first birthday with friends and family this past weekend. It was a blessing to have those who love Mac surround him with smiles, love and of course wonderful gifts. I think a good time was had by all.

The Birthday Boy posing for a quick second for his birthday week

photo shoot before trying to dive headfirst off the bed.

Our little mostaccioed man. Doesn't he look like he's up to something?

His birthday gift from his parents.

He has a little breakdown whenever it stops while we pull him around in it.

Patience, grasshopper.

The candy/smash cake/cupcake table.

Already perfecting the one-eyebrow-raised trick.

Despite what it looks like, this is not a pink pirate girl struggling to break free from her head wrap.

It's "Pin the Mustache on the Parent" game! Layne was a little off.

Hayden didn't far much better.

Your almost there, Alexa!

Shots from the Photo Booth.

Don't they look mysterious?

The boy was surprised by it all!

Trying to figure out how this new toy works.

Hugs.

Who dat?

Smash cake! Thanks, Trista!

Somebody likey!

Happy Birthday, son!

One more thing...

2011-11-15T15:02:00.000-08:00

Here are a few more pics of our little man at 11months.

Showing off those two teeth!

Oh yea, and Mac's younger sibling is expected in May! I feel like it's a boy...we'll see.

Almost there!

2011-11-14T16:18:00.000-08:00

I cannot believe Mac's first year is almost over. When people say "time flies once you have kids," believe them. Mac has gone from being this tiny helpless (and adorable) baby who was so uncoordinated and could do nothing really, to this little toddler-man who scoots, crawls, babbles, laughs, pulls up on everything and generally is looking for what he can get into and explore next. All in the space of one year! He keeps me laughing and I couldn't be happier with the role of being his mother. Well, I gotta go get this boy before he eats anymore junk off the floor. I seriously need to clean.
Here are his 11 month pictures (I am still shocked his next ones will be 1st year pictures!), as well as a few others for funsies.

The coat is courtesy of a sweet friend from work. Thank you, Tammi, I love it!

Taking his picture has become quite a challenge. This toy kept him still for a nano-second.

That's my name, don't wear it out!

Both Matt and myself were sweating at the end of this photo shoot. What a workout!

Mac in the leaves with "Grammie" at Pop's 60th birthday party this weekend.

Cousin Hayden also enjoyed some leaf-jumping.

Stay tuned for more fun pictures!

Pumpkins, Apples and Friends

2011-10-19T18:04:00.000-07:00

Summer has flown by leading us right into a gorgeous fall. Last week we were able to escape to the mountains of North Georgia with some lovely friends. I am so thankful for this little blog, because I love sharing pictures like these. Hope you enjoy!

Daddy and son.

Mac (and our) first pumpkin patch. These pumpkins were huge! It made a great "back drop" for pictures.

Mommy doing the smile and lean back as Mac leans forwards to get down.

He loves crawling around an eating whatever he can get into his little hands.

Oh, and the hat atop our son's noggin'? He kept it on the whole time at the pumpkin patch.

I couldn't believe it! Aren't these pumpkins crazy big?

Inspecting the colorful Indian corn.

The next picture Matt took had the corn inching closer and closer to Mac's mouth.

My lil' pumpkin.

This pumpkin is so yummy, ma!

Silly daddy with his "Lydibug."

Like father, like daughter.

Check out Lydia's sweet little pumpkin shirt. Her momma's handiwork. Crafty lady that one.

To bad you can't see what Brett is sitting on.

The kids discussing the intricacies of growing green pumpkins.

Mac showing Lydia how to eat small leaves trapped around pumpkin steams.

Lydia double fisting in the apple orchid. You would too if you tasted these apple.

These things were DEE-lish!

Mac at the end of touring the apple orchid.

Happy Fall, y'all!

Safe Harbor

2011-09-11T12:49:00.000-07:00

“The roar of the sea may be joyous to a rejoicing spirit, but to the son of sorrow the wide, wide ocean is even more forlorn than the wide, wide world. This is not our rest and the restless billows tell us so.” –C.H. Spurgeon

It has now been two years since the death of our baby girl. This time of year brings an upheaval of familiar emotions and thoughts. My mind goes back to that dreadful day like it was yesterday. The anticipation of welcoming a new life into this world is so very precious, and one that often brings many happy conversations of what is to come. What will her name be? What do you think she will be like? Will she enjoy music and reading like us? Death stole this sweet little gift from us and the sting was almost more than I could bear, but time marched on and left us to walk in the Valley of Death. Friends got pregnant and new lives were born while we sat in our grief, and those preparations of welcoming a baby became a bitter reminder Dabney’s absence. I was determined to come out the other side alive, but it was not without a limp of wrestling with pain and sadness. It is the grief and pain that helps me remember Dabney and honor her memory.
Now, two years later we are blessed with a little boy, and I cannot thank the Lord enough for Mac's safe arrival into our world. The Lord has given us hope through a small child, and we are able to go forward with a rejoicing spirit resting in the truth that our joy comes "from a land where there is no more sea...a place where the Lord hath spoken."

Rub-a-dub-dub

2011-09-06T05:40:00.000-07:00

I may be running out of ideas for Mac's monthly "photoshoot," but this one seems appropriate given the recent deluge of rain we are getting lately. Nine months and I want to pause time. This thought hit me when I noticed he had two little teeth poking through a couple of weeks ago. This thought was also reinforced recently while visiting a friend and her 4 week old baby girl. I was surprised at how long ago it has been since Mac was 4 weeks, his tiny, warm body nestled in the crook of my arm sleeping contently. As you can see below he is older than 4 weeks now.
We are amazed at how much he can do! He sits up on his own, tumbling over when he is wants to see or grab something behind him.

His fine motor skills have improved greatly! He picks small objects things up between his thumb and index finger, and everything goes in his mouth. Everything.

He still has a killer smile that melts my heart and is babbling more and more. Some of his favorite babblings are "nananana" and "ahhhhh!" I am working to get him to say "mama" every day; of course, his dad is working with him to say "daddy." We'll see which comes first.

Mac is grabs his sippy cup to drink and now crawls. Well, the crawling is more like doing the worm, but it gets him to where he wants to go within 5 feet or so. He also loves being around kids. Oh boy, does he love being around kids! He barely blinks as he watches small children with such intensity that he can't help but suddenly laugh or growl or squeal loudly as if to say, "this is so much fun!"

Oh, and that hair...it's still red!

What compels me to go

2011-09-04T07:22:00.000-07:00

Every summer while every other family heads south to the beach, Matt and I drive north to the Carolina mountains. I have been blessed to marry a man who loves the mountains as much as I do, and since having Mac, we have wondered what our family vacations may look like. Naturally we want Mac to experience the magic of exploring the outdoors whether it be under a canopy of trees or on a beach, and we believe showing him God's handy-work can never start too soon. And while he may not understand all he is experiencing at the tender age of 8 months, I want to believe this is a start.

This trip to the Great Smokey Mountains was more a reconnaissance mission to see what worked for traveling/hiking with Mac, it turned out to be one I will always remember. The boy is beginning to understand to smile when the camera comes out.

Waterfalls...our favorite.

Mac's first "hike" on the AT.

Busy, buzzing, bees.

Picnics and giggles.

Ominous.

Mama bears with her cubs.

Elk? Yes, Elk.

Resting at a stream on a walk in the woods.

More resting for Mac.

Blueberry picking...5 pounds worth!

Teaching Mac the art of picking the ripe ones.

The many faces of Mac

2011-08-18T11:25:00.000-07:00

I am hiding in our "office" trying to type quietly while watching my squirming 8 & 1/2 month old son wake from his morning nap on the monitor. He seems content to kick and babble...for now. We have been busy around here with...well, this and that, but it doesn't make for a good "blogger." In fact, I wouldn't even call myself a "blogger" just an opportunist with a wonderful husband/photog and a fabulous little boy. Here are some of the things he has been doing lately.

Mac's personality is really coming through now. He smiles with his whole body, especially his eyes. For me, it's mesmerizing.

He now pushes up high onto his hands. It makes me laugh when I walk in his room after naps to see these two little smiling eyes peeking just above the crib rail.

He has also picked up the habit of cocking his head to the side sometimes when he smiles at you. As if to ask "Don't you want to come over and pick up this cute baby boy?" Yes son, I do.

He loves to raise himself up on all fours rocking back and forth with excitement. As if he knows something big is about to happen.

He loves people and in particular he loves kids. They bring a smile to his face and make him squeal.

He also loves the Georgia Bulldogs...of course. Show us your game-face, boy.

Goooooooooooooooooooooooooooo Dawgs! Sic 'em! Woof! Woof! Woof!

Things I am loving right now

2011-07-09T17:10:00.000-07:00

10. My Slick Slate nail polish by Sally Hansen.
I ~~am obsessed with~~ love shoes. However, my budget doesn't allow for buying every cute shoe I lay my eyes on (oh, cruel world). What I used to do (in the days of two full-time incomes) is get stuck on a particular color and buy shoes only in that shade. Last year it was purple: purple flats, purple kicks. But no more...
Since it is summer and I am wearing more open-toed shoes (alternating flip-flops) I found a new, less expensive way to add color: nail polish. Here is the latest color I can't get enough of. I know, it's purple.

9. Our video monitor.
I love, love, love watching our little man eat, jump, smile, laugh, sleep...pretty much do anything. I find myself "checking on him" constantly during naps and throughout the night with this handy dandy little gadget. I am so thankful we have it.

8. Podcasts.
If you like "free" and "entertaining" you will like This American Life (TAL). I faithfully upload it every Monday to the ole iPod. What is TAL, exactly you ask? Well, in the words of show's host, Ira, "Each week [they] choose a theme and bring you 4 stories on that theme." The themes range from serious to to just plain fun. One week you can hear a show dedicated to the war in Afghanistan and the next week TAL is covering stories about The Georgia Rambler (Charles Salter, a journalist for the Atlanta Journal in the 1970s). This past week's show was one of my favorites about prison inmates performing Shakespeare's Hamlet. Download it today - it's free!

7.Our new fridge.
This week our hand-me-down refrigerator finally kicked the bucket. I knew this day was coming and inwardly groaned when, on Wednesday morning I pulled out the ice trays to find little pools of water instead of ice. Matt busted his butt to unload the fridge, pass the perishing food onto friends, get a temporary replacement from a friend looking to send their old fridge to a good home, and price new refrigerators. All in one day. Did I marry an amazing man or what?
So now, we have this baby, and although I cringe at the money we had to put into replacing our little fridge that, well, couldn't, I am enjoying our new shiny model.

6. My jogging stroller.
It's light weight and Mac loves being strolled in it. Best Craigslist purchase.

5. Our Apple TV.
This was not something that was on my radar, but was a must have of Matt's and I must admit I am loving it. We can access play-instant Netflix movies and listen to our iTunes library through our television. The possibilities seem endless.

4. Our French Press.
I will let Modern Family's Manny sum this one up:
Jay: Want some coffee?
Manny: Say yes. It's french press. I was doubtful too, but I honestly can't see myself going back to drip.
Couldn't have said it better myself.

3. My two favorite children's authors.
Margaret Wise Brown - A favorite of ~~mom's~~ Mac's book collection. "In The Runaway Bunny...bunny mother acts as does God in Psalm 139."

Sandra Boynton - I mean you have to be a creative genius to come up with lines like
"With a NEIGH and a MOO and a COCKADOOLEDOO another little promenade two by two!"
(is it pathetic that I could write that from memory?)

2. My summer reality.
Each summer there is a reality contest show I follow faithfully each week from June until August and much to Matt's horror, talk about non-stop. Last summer it was So You Think You Can Dance, but that was then. This summer, that show is Food Network Star. This show is full of things I can't get enough of: food, Food Network folk, and DRAMA. I am not sure who I want to win, but I know who I don't want to win - Penny. That woman is a hot mess. Seriously. I would never watch her Food Network show, but every show needs it's drama queen. Whatever. I'm over it.

1. Our litte guy.

We cannot get enough!

More 7 month pics to come!

Timber the falling tree

2011-07-03T13:10:00.000-07:00

Part I:
Recently some trees right outside our front door fell. The situation is this: we have some pretty tall and heavy (this is important later) hardwood trees around our house. They are nice to have in the hot summers because it keeps our house shaded. However, with any tree there is an element of danger, as in, oh-my-goodness-this-tree-may-fall-on-my-house danger, especially during a storm.

Storms pop up at a moment's notice throughout the spring and summer times in Georgia. These can have thunder, lightening, rain downpours, hail, and wind in any fun chaotic combination. During a storm about 2 weeks ago Matt was standing on our front porch when he witnessed three hickory trees give it all up and crash to the ground away from our house, thank goodness.

Oh yea, we had a sidewalk that lead to our front porch. It cracked to pieces like it was nothing.

The trees fell across our front lawn narrowly missing our Cherry Blossom tree (some limbs were sacrificed) and resting in our neighbor's driveway. Thankfully our neighbor was not at home at the time.

Part II:
We called on the help of our families and three brave souls answered: my brother Alan, my dad, and Matt's dad. Unfortunately, I did not get pictures of the first "work day." But picture boys dripping with sweat thanks to the unforgiving humidity, welding roaring chainsaws and making huge stacks of firewood and limbs in our front yard. It was hard work.

Part III:
Now, with the trees out of the way we had to figure out how to get the stumps removed, sidewalk up and level the ground. Two new recruits joined the valiant effort: Matt's brother Jeremy and "The Excavator." The Excavator is such a boy's toy. Even Mac was speechless and completely content watching it work. This lovely 1.5 tons of construction equipment man-handled the sidewalk and, after some coaxing pulled the stumps out of the ground to be hauled away. It was impressive to watch.

The two hickory trees from the one root system was a challenge.

~~Men~~ Boys at work.

The large dirt hole left after removing the stumps and sidewalk.

One of the scraggly stumps. It makes me think of a Boabab tree.

What does it make you think of?

Filling in the hole and leveling the ground.

Before and After

Beating the Heat

2011-06-28T06:11:00.000-07:00

Summer is here with temperatures blazing. Here are some things we have been doing to stay cool...

Watching the fishes swim inside the Georgia Aquarium.

oooooo...sharks.

Kickin' it at the pool in a huge blue hat.

The "Sunglasses Brigade"

I am aware that sweaters should be avoided in 90+ heat, but we had to get pictures of Mac in this sweater knitted by a friend from church. So, here he is at 6 months, sweater and all.

Time is flying by!

Kicks and Giggles

2011-05-04T06:13:00.000-07:00

We celebrated Mac turning 5 months over the weekend. He now giggles, which is really a grunt/growl sound, and kicks like it's his job!

Oh yea, and he still loves to drool!

Parenthood

2011-04-12T12:40:00.000-07:00

It may have a lot to do with my current interests, but it seems to me that everywhere I look nowadays family and parenting advice is at the center of our society's dialog. From sitcoms and dramatic shows such as Modern Family and Parenthood to book upon book, Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother and Sheparding a Child's Heart, it's hard to swing a stick without hitting a medium that's telling me how to raise a child in today's society. And after watching said shows and reading book after book on parenting I have never been more overwhelmed and paralyzed about raising a child.

I think of my self as a planner, but I will research and plan until I am blue in the face only to flub the execution, the follow-through, the opening night, if you will. I know this about myself and I am working to correct this fault but it would seem a little too late or maybe not.

Thankfully, as parents we are still in the snuggling and cuddling phase when everything is soft baby coo's, sweet smiles and naptimes. But, in the back of my mind I sit crouched like a "Tiger mother" ready to pounce on disobedient behavior in order that I may "prepare [him] for the future" through "letting [him] see what [he] is capable of, and arming [him] with skills, work habits and inner confidence that no one can take away", while simultaneously helping him "unmask sin and help him understand how it reflects a heart that has strayed" and is in need of the cross of Christ.

But, for now, while we are in this first lovely phase of parenthood, we will continue to snuggle, cuddle and generally enjoy our son while also praying, reading and preparing for the day when the "No's" begin. God has given us this precious gift and we are grateful He hasn't dropped it in our laps only to walk away with a wink and a smile. He has ordained every day of Mac's life and has hemed him in behind and before. Thankfully, this ordained hem of protection even includes Mac's assignment to easily confused parents. God promises protection despite my imperfections. I cannot forget that I too am a child of God, one who was not hidden from Him while being made in the secret place, woven together in the depths of the earth. He will guide us parenting flubs and all, and it is in Him we trust as He gently teaches us each and every day what it looks like to follow through when raising a child in today's culture.

I gotta run, someone is up from his nap.

3 months - AH-dorable!

2011-03-14T11:49:00.000-07:00

We took 3 month pictures of Mac at the beginning of March. I could kiss this face all day long! He is such a happy baby - for the most part ;)

Craftiness

2011-03-03T06:55:00.000-08:00

Lately, I have taken to crafting. I don't know if it's having a baby or not being inside of a hospital working for 8-9 hours a day with a 2 hour, round-trip commute through Atlanta traffic,but I feel inspired. It also doesn't hurt to have friends who love to sew and make things too!

Here are some of the little lovelies I have created.

This new found craft is constantly evolving which is part of the beauty! Coming up with ideas among friends of what to make is a great challenge. I am also able to see my sewing limitations be stretched.
So, I guess I would recommend that sense creating things inspires a small triumph of accomplishment and makes others happy, get out there and make something!

If it ain't one thing...

2011-02-06T15:46:00.000-08:00

1 month old birthday and Snowpocalypse:
This adage has been running through my head since the new year started. January has proven to be quite challenging for the Ross household and has stretched us physically and spiritually. It has personally made for some record fits of crying complete with hyperventilating. Yes, I am talking about me and not Mac.
Let me start out by saying the beginning of January was blissfully smooth while we celebrated our little man's first month of life.

OH MAH GOODNESS, he takes my breath away. I can sit and stare at him for hours counting his little fingers and toes and watching him make the silliest faces. I am truly grateful.

Momma and son after the snowfall.

Daddy and son before the fall.

The Melt Down:

On January 9th a huge snow storm hit Georgia and after that things began to take a sharp nose dive. That Thursday (1/13) Matt slipped on the sheet of ice that covered our driveway while gingerly walking to the mailbox. He awkwardly landed on his right ankle. After a short time watching this ankle swell and turn various shades of purple we decided to make a trip to nearby urgent care center where, after 2.5 hours of uncomfortable waiting we were informed that he had definitely broken his ankle and needed to see an Orthopedic surgeon the very next day to re-set and cast his ankle.

It was at this doctor's visit where we were informed that Matt not only had broken his fibula but also his tibia in two different places. While we were processing this news we were told that it would need surgery to correct.
My internal panic button flipped to "on" while I worked hard to keep myself together and absorb the rest of the news this surgeon was giving us. All I caught at that moment was "broken bones," "needs surgery," "must wait for the swelling to go down before surgery," and "long recovery process."
The next 1.5 weeks would include my husband confined to the recliner while I slowly unraveled.

I'm sorry did you say, "RSV?":

Mac's impression of Winston Churchill

The following Tuesday, I noticed Mac beginning to develop what I thought was a cold. Red eyes, sneezing and a terrible cough that ended with him wretching. So, on Wednesday (1/19) I spent the morning at the Orthopedic surgeon's office with Matt for a follow-up and pre-op visit and that afternoon at the Pediatrician's office learning that "Mac looked great, he just has a cold." Not once did that little guy cough for the doctor or nurses.
As the day progressed his cough got worse and I decided to return to the doctor's office on Friday with video in hand (thank you, iPhone) showing that I wasn't crazy. By this time there was no need for the video and at first listen, the Pediatrician furrowed her brow and said, "That sounds like RSV." WHAT?! The next couple of days his cough and vomiting grew progressively worse as his parents grew progressively stressed, worried and paranoid. If not for grandmothers sitting up with him on a couple of nights we would have gotten zero sleep.

Worst. Sound. Ever.

The Surgery:
By the 25th, Mac was sounding and looking a lot better just in time for Matt's ankle surgery. After a 2.5 hour surgery and the addition of some heavy duty hardware, we were told he would never be able to break is ankle in the same place again. The days following the surgery have been a fog of pain killers, and slow but steady healing for Matt. Our routine has become a creative mixture of getting Matt to and from work with the help of friends and going to an endless stream of doctor's appointments for me (sinus infection that may need surgery, um, no), Mac (follow-up's for RSV and well baby checks), and Matthew (removing stitches and downsizing the gigantic cast that was placed after surgery).

"The erector set" so named by Matt's friends

Although this month has been one thing after another I am humbled and encouraged by the help we have received from friends and family. Both of my boys are well on their way to recovery.

The gigantic post-op cast

Miracles

2010-12-29T18:27:00.000-08:00

On November 30th, almost 1 month before the due date, we were introduced to our little miracle: McClendon "Mac" Samuel Dean Ross.
Mommy, Daddy and baby are all doing fine and loving life together as a family. I am forever grateful for all the prayers, kind gifts, encouraging cards and loving words from family and friends throughout this pregnancy. I marvel at what God's grace has afforded us.

Dear refuge of my weary soul

2010-10-25T14:09:00.000-07:00

When God said that he would consume Israel in his wrath, Moses prayed and God “repented”. When the people of Ninevah turned from their evil, God “repented” of the judgment he foretold through Jonah (much to Jonah’s dismay). Does prayer still work the same way today? Can we change the mind of God through prayer? More importantly, did these people in the Old Testament really cause God to “repent”?

John Piper said that the reason people are so frequently displeased with the results of their prayer life is because they misuse prayer. Piper believes that we are using a wartime walkie-talkie as a domestic intercom. We tend to be much more concerned about our own comfort and luxury than the spiritual war taking place outside of our comfort zone. I fear my dissatisfaction from prayer comes from my own misuse of the tool. Do I treat prayer like a domestic intercom to line my life with luxuries or do I humbly pray with holy motives desiring God’s name to be hallowed and His Kingdom come? I’m sorry if this is confusing. I’m chasing a lot of rabbits and I frequently get lost myself.

Over the past weeks, my prayers have been gripped by paralyzing sense of urgency and desperation. Sometimes these quiet moments communing with God are reduced to silence and tears as fear and doubt creep into my heart. Oh how, I want assurance that our son will be born healthy and alive! I am gently reminded that while praying for healthy children and healing for sick relatives is not a selfish luxury, I cannot change the mind of God. God’s mind needs no changing. In fact, the goal of prayer is that my mind might be changed. I may not understand the mind of the Lord or instruct him, but through the transforming power of the Holy Spirit, I might be given the “mind of Christ” (1 Cor 2:16). Matt reminds me also that when “prayers are not answered in the way we hope, it is good to remember ‘the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and weakness of God is stronger than men’” (I Cor. 1:25). I cannot discern His wisdom, nor can I always understand the ways in which His greater purpose is attained, but I rest in the truth that “God works for the good of those who love Him.” What is left is faith. And like the Psalmist, when my “heart is grieved and my spirit embittered” God’s right hand holds me fast. He is the “strength of my heart and my portion forever.” This is what I cling to when all else fails and my hope seems crushed beyond recognition.

I know I cannot predict the struggles this life will bring but with His hand to guide me, I can safely walk into the unknown. So I will continue to pray even when words fail me.

Lately, my prayers have been focused on this little one…

McClendon "Mac" Samuel Dean Ross

“The act of prayer teaches us our unworthiness. . . . While it is an application to divine wealth, it is a confession of human emptiness. Prayer is in itself apart from the answer which it brings, a great benefit to the Christian. Prayer girds human weakness with divine strength, turns human folly into heavenly wisdom, and gives to troubled mortals the peace of God.”

-C.H. Spurgeon

It's been a long time coming

2010-10-18T07:31:00.000-07:00

I grew up with a microwave. And, I will admit I still have one and it is used regularly. It’s quick, efficient and safe – at least that’s what I’m told (I still stand back a good 5 feet while it’s in use, but I am not scared, just cautious).

Throughout my childhood I learned to be quick with a microwave. Warming up left-overs? Nuke it. Warming up cold coffee? Just give it about 30 seconds. Softening a stick o’ butter? Set it around 45 seconds and cast frequent glances its way making sure the butter is not completely melted. Bottom line: microwaves are fast, and can be dangerously entertaining with unseen pieces of metal in a dish or coffee mug.

This brings me to the next part of my story. On one of my recent trips to the Farmer's Market, while I was filling my CSA box with all sorts of goodies from River View Farms,– tomatoes, squash, grits, arugula, etc., I came upon a box full of ears of corn. This is not your run of the mill sweet corn. No, these kernels were hard as rocks. At first I thought, “Oh, they are giving us ‘Indian corn’ to decorate for fall.” Then I thought, “I should ask what this is.” After my asking, and receiving a there-are-such-things-as-stupid-questions-look I was told it’s called “Popcorn.” The farmer then informed me that they planted acres of this “Popcorn.”

“You can grow Popcorn?” was my first thought. My second was, “How in the world do you microwave this? Is it safe to microwave popcorn still on the cob?”

After returning with my new treasures I showed Matt this strange find: Popcorn. He looked at it and said something like, “Yea, we used to pop corn over the fire during the winter time when I was growing up.” After a moment of stunned silence, he added for good measure, “I even think my brother and I popped some with a hair dryer just to see if we could.”

What? I had spent weeks and burnt through bags of Orville’s finest corn to land on the perfect amount of time it take for my microwave to produce fluffy, delicious, not-burnt popcorn - two minutes and 15 seconds, thank you very much. I was like a kid realizing, meat doesn’t just magically appear in grocery stores for my consumption.
And, just like that I was determined to
A) Find out if what Matt said was true?
B) Learn how I can make popcorn that came straight from the field and not in a neatly folded bag?

After some quick research from folks in my church, at work, from family, on the internet, I learned that not only was Matt right (eh, it happens) but that cooking popcorn on the stovetop is the main way many folks enjoy popcorn.
Try to keep up…

Popcorn
Ingredients:
Popcorn (removed from the cob)
Oil (whatever you have on hand)

In a large pot, heat the oil over medium-high heat until hot. Add the kernels. Cover with lid and listen for the kernels to pop. Quickly remove from heat. Add salt and butter to your liking. Enjoy!

Unfortunately I cannot post any "popped" pictures which is part of the reason for this post's delay. You could say we are in between computers (i.e. some idiot broke into our church and stole Matt's computer). For now, we are saving our pics on our camera, and take it from me there are some great photographs from our recent adventures. Grrr...theivery is annoying.

Last days of summer

2010-09-19T16:53:00.000-07:00

This summer has been event filled starting with a wonderful trip to Seattle, Washington to see the West, visit friends, hike and eat, and ending with the birth of a new nephew, Tyler, and a wonderful weekend 'o fun with family over Labor Day.

In August, my sister gave birth to a new baby boy and named him Tyler Cole Baldwin. As you can see he is very snuggly.

Tyler resting in his aunt's arms.

sleepy boy

The last days of summer...

Lantana

Walking a country road

Floatin' in the swimmin' hole. Isaac loved the goggles atop his head, if you please.

Sunshine in my eyes makes me squint.

Talking with Lacy.

Blowing bubbles on the front porch is the best...

Especially when your cousin is such a good teacher.

One year ago today...

2010-09-07T14:07:00.000-07:00

We were mourning the loss of our Dabney. I still don't understand all that happened that day nor why God chose this journey for us, but I am grateful every day that God is shaping my faith through this trial, that it was not suffering in vain, and that:
"Neither life nor death shall ever from the Lord his children sever; unto them his grace he showeth, and their sorrows all he knoweth...Though he giveth or he taketh, God his children ne'er forsaketh; his the loving purpose solely to preserve and make them holy." (Children of the Heavenly Father)

I recently shared with a dear friend how I have been profoundly shaken to my core (once again) with the truth of sanctification. This process that can be as painful as a "white hot fire" and yet we are commanded to hold to hope, and to respond in loving obedience worshiping our God (Phil. 2:12-13). As difficult as this is, He promises to not let us be snatched from His hand (John 10:29). I cannot help but be reminded that like a child in the womb, I am dependent on God for everything. It is He who "giveth [and] taketh" life. It is also He who strengthens us and gives us hope, that fragile, intangible thing that strengthens us to go another day, another day and on and on.
My prayer now is that I do not forget these truths He seared upon my heart through this pain, and as I reach the half-way point in my second pregnancy that my fear will be replaced with the Spirit's calm and quiet courage knowing that my God is with me always.

" And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us, we will not fear for God hath willed his truth to triumph through us. The prince of darkness grim, we tremble not for him, his rage we can endure, for lo! his doom is sure; one little word shall fell him."

-Martin Luther

True Grit

2010-06-14T17:34:00.000-07:00

While staying on Whidbey Island outside of Seattle, I came across a magazine called Grit: Rural America Know How. The headlines that caught my eye were entitled "Free Range Eggs: Good for Chickens and Good for You," and "Compost Made Easy." Since Matt and I enjoy "helping to create" our garden's spring soil via composting and we both grew up around chickens, I thought naturally we will start a little chicken coup in our backyard.

As I flipped through the magazine I came across this section called, "Unearth..." In this section people submit a type of classified add with requests that are normally for ideas for gardening, pen pals, etc. For example one read:
"I was wondering if anyone has any ideas for uses of leftover baler twine form my hay bales. maybe some kind of craft? I use what I can, where I can, but usually end up burning it, which is a waste. Thanks for any help"
Signature of the person with address

I then came across this entry and couldn't pick myself up from the floor I was laughing so hard. It was entitled: Middle of Nowhere.
"We've always dreamed of living like the Ingalls family on "Little House on the Prairie." Not long ago, we sold everything and left city life in new Jersey behind, moving to West Virginia with only the clothes on our backs. The home we bought is nonelectric, and there's no water yet. Does anyone have any information on how to: dig and build a well, install plumbing via hand pump, build a homemade generator, build a homemade windmill, or waterwheel. or other information on homesteading? We have six acres in the middle of the woods.
Jeff and Michelle
Last House on the Left (must be included)
3721 Bailes Rd
Nettie, WV 26681

Feel free to help these folks out if you have knowledge of any of these unusual tasks.

Mother's Day

2010-05-15T06:59:00.000-07:00

I am happy to see Spring come to Georgia however, I still have days that are met with trepidation and anxiety. Mother's Day was one of those days. While I am glad to celebrate both our mothers (they are more than worth celebrating!), I miss not being a mother to Dabney. She would be 8 months old this past Mother's Day. How I miss my baby, so.
Below are some pics Matt took of the day.

The next Payne Stewart, minus the knickerbockers.

Mom Grace and Isaac opening a Mother's Day gift.

Layne and I, both unsure.

The explorer.

The princess shooting spreading bubbles of cheer.

Looking For Shelter

2010-04-24T07:16:00.000-07:00

So, about 3 weeks ago now*, Matt and I traveled to Greenville, SC, the home of Matt's second job. He usually travels there once a month and I tag along as much as possible hoping to get in some hiking in the Carolinas. On this particular trip we decided that instead of heading over to our usual place, Bonclarken in Flat Rock, NC, we would drive out to Jones Gap State Park in the Mountain Bridge Wilderness, bust out the ole tent and camp.

I have a friend who measures every fun thing in life against her love for watching movies. This is a “general rule” for her and is quite funny when she comments on events as, “almost,” or “as fun as” watching movies. When I think about it I must admit my measuring stick o’ fun in life is hiking through mountains. Matt and I absolutely love hiking and would go every day if given the chance. While I might not always remember the names of State parks or trails, I almost always remember how I feel when I hike: free and happy. I sometimes feel like I can walk on forever and never look back.

Matt and I left Greenville on a Thursday afternoon and about the time we arrived to the trail that held our reserved camping spot it had begun to drizzle. Now, the original plan was to hike in to Jones Gap Falls (5.3 mile round trip) while taking a gander at our campsite along the way. We love waterfalls. So with a strong will and undeterred spirit we set out for the falls . . . in the rain. About 2 miles in the skies opened and in the words of Patty Griffin, it was "strange how hard it rain[ed]." It was as though the clouds were holding off for just the right moment..."Wait for it, wait for it...now!" Did this stop us? Of course not. We put our heads down, clinched our jackets and leaned into the storm. We ascended the “slippy” (thank you for the new adjective Bear Grylls) mountain until finally: Jones Gap Falls. It was a gorgeous waterfall, totally worthy of the wet climb, but I couldn't help but think, "now we have to go back down; in the rain." After about 30 seconds of admiring the waterfall we turned on our heels and slipped and slid our way back down the mountain.

Back in the parking lot we both agreed this would not be the place to camp overnight. Immediately, we ran to the truck stripped down to our underwear in the parking lot (don’t worry no one was there but us) and jumped in the cab. As we caught our breath I couldn’t help but think, “Whew, glad that’s over! I don’t think I could’ve taken much more hiking in the rain!”

Matt looked at me soaking wet and announced, “Well that was just a bonus!” How differently guys and girls think!

But before we headed off to North Carolina we got a few picks.

The next day was so beautiful and bright we all but forgot about the rain as we set out on another hike now in Caesar's Head State Park. We decided once again to hike to another waterfall (we really enjoy hiking to waterfalls) and this time we did a 8.5 mile loop.

Although our little 8.5 mile stumble through the woods can't possibly compare to a through-hike of the Appalachian Trail, our misadventures on the trail still remind me of Bill Bryson's book, A Walk in the Woods. I first read this book about a year ago and now I think about it almost every time I hike. The book chronicles Bryson's ambitious and naïve goal of hiking the entire Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine with his childhood friend. It usually takes 6-9 months to complete the AT and many folks drop out before Maine. The reason I mention this book (besides the fact that it is a laugh-out-loud hilarity in written word that everyone should read at least once) is his description of hiking the southern regions of the Appalachian Mountains. Bryson compares the Shenandoah to the Southern Appalachians mountains by saying in the Shanandoah there were times when he would climb 500 feet in four miles. In the Southern regions he might "climb 500 feet in, well, about 500 feet." According to Bryson one foot forward might also mean one foot up. This rang true for potions of our hike. We hiked down Dismal Trail to Natureland Trust Trail. After hiking both, I am convinced they should trade names. "Natureland Trust" sounds far too Dora the Explorer this trail needs a name that carries a Lord of the Rings type dismality. We ascended 1200 feet in 1 mile, I kid you not. It was the slowest I have ever hiked. There were even ladders on some parts of the trail! Whew! All in all, we finished sore but satisfied.

The next two days were low key and spent mostly reading and hanging out together.
*sorry this took so long to post!

Pitcher Plant on Dismal Trail

Crossing a river on Dismal trail via cables.

Reaching the falls on Natureland Trust Trail...finally!

More Easter Pictures

2010-04-07T15:52:00.000-07:00

...if you haven't already seen them on Facebook. Matt was busy with the camera capturing Easter in photos. Check them out!

Our church's sanctuary, Midway PCA, on Easter
morning decorated with Easter lilies.

He is risen, indeed!

Momma and my niece, Grace. They look like they are hatching a plan, or maybe Grace is asking for something from someone she knows will not tell her, "no."

McClendon clan.

Hiding Easter eggs from Grace and Isaac.

Christi helping with my fail proof system of hiding eggs.

Until one of the eggs breaks open and the loot goes flying.

Empty, darn!

Grace.

Christi, Grace and mom checking eggs.

My dad and me.

Hayden testing the pancake batter. She didn't like it.
Looks like Trista felt her distaste.

Matt's mom and Layne.

Tuesday Night Dinners

2010-04-06T14:29:00.000-07:00

Iron Chef tonight at the Dewhurst. Matt decided to photograph the secret ingredient.

Aperio

2010-04-06T04:09:00.000-07:00

This month of April is said to derive it's name from the Latin verb aperio, which signifies to open, because all the buds and blossoms are now opening and we have arrived at the gates of the flowery. -C.H. Spurgeon

Check out some of the pictures taken while playing outside in the warm Spring weather. More Easter pictures to come.

Finding an egg beneath the snowing Cherry Blossom tree.

Tulip in our yard.

Buzzzy bee.

Under our Japanese Magnolia tree. Doesn't Matt make me look good?

This is a necklace I was given after our Dabney died.

March Madness

2010-03-28T11:54:00.000-07:00

The month of March has been non-stop for Matt and me. We had the privilege of welcoming our close friends' new baby girl Lydia Rose Edwards into the world, seeing two amazing bands live in concert (Spoon and Wilco, although I would advise against traveling to Birmingham, Al from Atlanta and back again just to catch a show), and photographing my cousin's wedding. Check out some of the photos after the jump.

The dress. I think we made the bride nervous with this shot.

The Three Musketeers?

Uncle Craig (my dad's younger brother), Blake (cousin), and Clay (cousin and groom)

Sister, Christi and me.

Brother, Alan with his youngest, Isaac.

Momma.

The girls. Christi is expecting their first child in August.

Clay and Mary.

The newlyweds.

Lopping Branches

2010-03-27T11:56:00.000-07:00

To a Christian Gentlewoman [April 23, 1628],

My love in Christ remembered to you. I was indeed sorrowful when I left you, espeically since you were in such heaviness after your daughter's death; yet I am sure you know that the weightiest end of the cross of Christ was laid upon you, lied on your strong Saviour. For Isaiah said that in all your afflictions He is afflicted (Is. 63:9). O blessed Saviour, who suffers with you! Your soul may be glad, even to walk in the fiery furnace, with the Son of Man, who is also the Son of God. Take courage. When you tire, he will bear both you and your burden (Ps 55:22). In a little while you shall see the salvation of God.

Your lease on your daughter has run out; and you can no more quarrel against your great Superior for taking what he owns, than a poor tenant can complain when the landowner takes back his own land when the lease is expired. Do you think she is lost, when she is only sleeping in the bosom of the Almighty? If she were with a dear friend your concern for her would be small, even though you would never see her again. Oh now, is she not with a dear friend and gone higher, upon a certain hope that you shall see her again the resurrection? Your daughter was a part of yourself; and therefore, being as it were cut in half, you will be grieved. But you have to rejoice; though a part of you is on earth, a great part of you is glorified in heaven.

Follow her, but do not envy her; for indeed it is self-love that makes us mourn for she that die in the Lord. Why? Because we cannot mourn for them since they are happy; therefore, we mourn for our own private account. Becareful then, that in showing your affection in mourning for your daughter that you are not, out of self affection, mourning for yourself.

Consider what the Lord is doing. Your daughter has been plucked out of the fire, and she rests from her labours. Your Lord is testing you by casting you in the fire. Go through all fires to your rest. And now remember, that the eye of God is upon the burning bush, and it is not consumed; and He is gladly content that such a weak woman as you should send Satan away frustrated. Honour God now, and shame the strong roaring lion, when you seem weakest.

Should you faint in the day of adversity? Recall the days of old! The Lord still lives; trust in Him. Faith is exceedingly charitable and believes no evil of God. The Lord has placed in the balance your submission to His will and your affection for your daughter. Which of the two will you choose? Be wise; and as I trust you love Christ better, pass by your daughter, and kiss the Son. Men lop branches off the trees so they may grow up high and tall. The Lord has lopped your branch off be taking from you many children, so that you would grow upwards, setting your heart above, where Christ is at the right hand of the Father.

Prepare yourself; you are nearer your daughter this day than you were yesterday. Run your race with patience; let God have what belongs to him. Do not ask Him for the daughter who has been taken from you, the daughter of faith; but ask Him for patience; and in patience possess your soul. Lift up your head; your redemption draws near.

Your affectionate and loving

friend in the Lord Jesus,

Samuel Rutherford

Sew - a needle pulling thread

2010-03-01T02:57:00.000-08:00

Over the past 3-4 months I have tried my hand at creating things mostly by crocheting, sewing, cooking or writing. Lately I am crocheting hats, blankets, trims, etc. I find crocheting to be both fun and frustrating. For every finished product there are at least one to two I will get half-way through before discovering an annoying flaw. The project is then stopped, ripped out, and cycle repeated. Despite this aggravating process there are projects that survive all the way to the end. I find working with my hands to be cathartic and having something to show for my work time brings a sigh of relief.
Below are pictures of a trim for a baby blanket I crocheted.
The thread is so thin and the gauge of needle so tiny that it took me a couple of weeks to complete the trim. (ahem - maybe it was longer, but who's counting?)

Trim before being attached to the blanket.

Pinning the trim to the blanket. Sew, sew, sewing.
*sigh*

What looks like ruin

2009-12-15T06:14:00.000-08:00

"No doubt affliction now seems to you a far more intense and real thing then it ever did before; the griefs of human life are far more awful and terrific to you now than they ever before seemed. But the power of grace is the master of them..." -Letter from a friend to Dr Robert Dabney

There are days when all I can do is cry. Today is one of them. After an exhausting morning I returned to my home only after a few hours at work. Some days the pain seems to seep into my bones and I cannot think of anything else but Dabney and her absence from our home.

Lately, my thoughts are fixed on the will of God. In his book From Grief to Glory, James Bruce writes, "there is an increase in the knowledge of God that comes when we ourselves 'will' what God ordains concerning us; when willingly we adapt ourselves to what he has determined for us, not only without complaint and murmuring, but with the historic courage of faith. Often, however, one must travel over rough and painful terrain before coming to this knowledge of God."

It is easy for me to rest in God's sovereign will when I am happy and my "cup [is] full to overflowing," but lately I have found myself wrestling with idea of God's will being painful.

"How could a God who is Love be so cruel as to cast [me] down from the heights of [my] great happiness into the depths of bereavement and grief?" It is such a hard lesson to learn "when for the first time in [my] life the cross with its full weight is laid upon [my] shoulders" and I am left without happiness, without strength, stunned and crushed. I struggle with this new image of God.

However, slowly God is chipping away my warped belief that He does not direct my life according to my desires, and His power is not to serve my self interest. Instead He is showing me the real God, the God who exists outside of myself the God whose "appointment covers all the suns and stars, all hours and centuries, and causes all creatures to revolve themselves around Him...His counsel and plan are as high as heaven and consequently exceed our comprehension. [My desire should not rest in the] verification of His counsel but should seek to enter into a life of it."

Speaking (or typing) these truths is all well and good, but living them is another. I pray this knowledge brings my heart to a better understanding that although this process is painful, God is not moving away from me but drawing me near to Him.

"Then Job answered the Lord and said, 'I know that you can do everything, and that no purpose of yours can be withheld from you...I have heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you.' -Job 42:1,5

Death, Hope and Healing

2009-11-30T06:23:00.000-08:00

“I love her very much, but dear God, if it be Thy will to take her, I submit to Thee…if my flesh is so strong, what can my spirit do? God has given no bishop so great a gift in a thousand years as he has given me in her. I am angry with myself that I cannot rejoice in heart and be thankful as I ought…the flesh is sorrowful and will not be content, the parting grieves me beyond measure. I have sent a saint to heaven.” -Martin Luther on the death of his daughter Magdalene

It has been 12 weeks since our precious Dabney was born to heaven, and my heart is still broken. Everyday I scramble to pick up these pieces and put them back into place only to discover there are too many to count. And, no matter how much progress I think I am making it only takes one event, one situation…a baby’s cry, an infant baptism, a friend’s touch, a movie, a kind word, and my heart breaks all over again. I cannot predict it nor do I see it coming.

I read, I pray, I weep but the pain still feels fresh and raw. The seemingly ever present pain makes me cherish each moment of happiness all the more.

“We spend so much time planning, calculating, setting out expectations, and storing up for the future. These are all important aspects of being human. But outside these day to day exercises, the most basic human experiences are totally out of our control. When we are born. When we take our final breath…This exercise of waiting, and of experiencing a lifetime of little fulfillments, does my heart good.” –Sandra McCracken

Happiness – Frustration – Sadness – Humility. This is the cycle my emotions are in lately. Even though I can identify which one I am experiencing, each one seems to surprise me. The good thing about this cycle is that it ultimately brings me to my knees before God in frevent prayer and petition. The future frightens me. Not knowing whether God will bless us with healthy children, is terrifying. And, although “we spend so much time planning, calculating, setting our expectations. [T]he most basic human experiences are totally out of our control.” I can only trust God is in control and that He delights in my happiness and mourns in my sorrow. I pray God increase my feeble faith and ease my anxious heart.

“Therefore, we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” -2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Unless it kicks, man.

2009-05-06T12:48:00.001-07:00

Matt and I went to get a 3D/4D ultrasound of Dabney today. After preparing (2 gallons of water daily for the past 2 weeks...sheesh), I felt ready. Emphasis on "felt." Those of you who know me at all will probably nod when I say, "I am a bit...scattered at times." We showed up for our 1pm appointment promptly at 1:30pm. This was after I called to confirm the time twice in the past two days. I'm getting more scattered as the days go by. Despite my lack of timeliness (I understand that has something to do with the 4th "D"), all went well and the sonographer was able to do a complete ultrasound for us.

I don't know if it was the rockin' concert we attended last night (The Decemberists at the Tabernacle - hands down, amazing!) or the OJ I drank before the appointment, but Dabney was a very interactive baby. The sonographer could even feel her kick and punch. She was doing moves and stretches the entire time but always made sure to face the camera. She was such a good little girl that she made the "front board" in the office. There were only about a dozen babies on the front board and our sonographer has been doing multiple ultrasounds a day for the past 20 years...the selection process is very difficult I assure you.

I just cannot wait to meet her! Enjoy the pics...I know there are a lot...she gave us 98!

Get a load of those cheeks! I just wanna touch 'em!

She's very scruntched in there.

I'm beginning to sound like those vain parents who say things like, "Ours is the most beautiful baby ever," or "You can't understand love until you have children." Hyperbole is of course intended here, but I hope you get the picture.

Open mouth...one of her few tricks given her spatial and socio-linguistic limitations.

OK, here's the only "scarey" part for me...she's huge-ish. Around the 75 percentile of weight-for-age. Gotta admit this makes a momma nervous.
Good night, little one. I can't wait to hold you.

New photos

2009-05-03T18:18:00.000-07:00

Here are some of Matt's newest photographs he's worked on...let us know what you think.
Of course, family is always fun to photograph. Here's his brother, Jeremy's, oldest daughter Hayden on the back deck of their house.
This weekend we went to have fondue dinner at Kevin Rhoads's (history teacher at Dominion High School) home with some graduating seniors. Three of the seniors were up for posing...very silly.

Patoriotic Zach Meyer...
Matt decided to vectoroize...

¡SI, SE PUEDE!
Yes, we can!

Comfort food and paper flowers

2009-04-30T07:54:00.000-07:00

I am listening to women laugh as they construct flowers using skewers, tubes of capstick, and colored tissue paper.

I just ate the most fabulous cupcake i have ever tasted. (thank you, Dr. Piazza!)
I am wearing a red-and-black ribbon made by a lovely co-worker.

Terry Wade...

"...impacted every life she came in contact with, often not knowing it. She lived her life selflessly, with nothing but generosity overflowing from her heart. She will be missed dearly by all who knew and loved her. As an RN, she took care of sick babies and their families in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at CHOA @ Egleston for over 22 years. Her impact as a nurse will be felt for generations through her co-workers and the babies she helped save. She will live on spiritually through all who were touched by her, and physically through the lives she saved with her last selfless act on earth, donating her organs so that others might live. She loved tailgating at Georgia Bulldogs games, taking care of her dogs, Max and Bandit, and eating spaghetti anywhere, anytime. She could never spend enough time at the beach and loved being with her family. She was truly one of a kind..."

I do not understand death, but I am grateful to be surrounded by compassionate men and women.

She's got legs...

2009-04-27T15:35:00.000-07:00

...she doesn't know how to use them.

Below are pictures of our little baby girl, Dabney Louise Ross. When these images were captured she was 20 weeks old, weighed around 10 ounces and was around 6-7 inches long. Thankfully she is growing appropriately and proportionately. I was surprised how nervous I was! I was so tired after the ultrasound.

Today she is 24 weeks old. I cannot complain about the process. I only struggled through ~3 weeks of nausea in the beginning and since then the only obvious changes/differences are my growing belly and the occasional back aches, headaches, and leg cramps.

Here comes big momma!

Week #4 Week #7

Week #24

Fun in C-town, ya'll!

2009-03-24T14:58:00.000-07:00

About 2 weeks ago, we traveled to C-town to visit Matt’s brother’s family. With two little ones they are offer advice on parenthood and baby stuff they are no longer using. Thanks, guys. It’s always fun to see nieces and nephew grow up! Matt and I were entertained by the craziness that is small children. Here is Hayden (2 years old) giving her rendition of “Jesus Love Me” complete with choreography.
I think this is just as Hayden was about to flex her golden pipes in serenading us with song.
Kisses for Layne.
Busy momma. Check out the new bangs!
Little people. More little people.

Hiking in the Blue Ridge Wilderness

2009-03-24T14:52:00.000-07:00

About a month ago my family took a trip to the Blue Ridge Mountains in N. Georgia to relax, hang-out and hike. Here are some pictures capturing some of the hiking we were able to fit in that wet weekend. Long Creek Falls on the Benton MacKaye trail.
We were a little wet.

This is the brave hiker who made it a mile…uphill…in the rain.
All smiles before the descent...
Isaac's first "hike" on the AT. Maybe it'll be drier next time.

Grace’s idea of real fun in the mountains. "Wii" had a grand ole time.

Isaac’s idea of fun: how fast can I get these socks off.

Pregg-o my egg-o

2009-02-22T12:32:00.000-08:00

The future Ross addition.

Matt got a new flash for his camera...

2009-02-22T12:10:00.000-08:00

...and used it to photograph some former students at their concert. Then of course, it was PhotoShop time. I think the results are pretty good. Zack, Alex, and Clinton (L to R)

For my friend, Helen.

2009-01-27T15:32:00.000-08:00

Get your Ox on.

2009-01-27T15:06:00.000-08:00

Happy Chinese New Year. We would like to introduce you to our Chinese "exchange" student, Lin Lou. She is from Beijing and is studying at Matt's former school, Dominion Christian High School. She is staying with us for the current semester and is a Junior. After learning that Monday was Chinese New Year, Matt and I decided to make Chinese Dumplings/Dimsum/Jiaozi to celebrate the new year of the Ox.

Here is Lin dressed for her first Homecoming dance.

The ingredients. This ain't no small task.

Mixing and kneading the dough on my KitchenAid 5000. No muss, no fuss. Thanks mom!

Rolling the dough.

Making the dumpling covers.

The uncooked Jiaozi. You get the jist. They were DEE-Lious!

Merry Christmas Ya'll!

2008-12-27T08:41:00.001-08:00

Here are some of the fun pictures from our Christmas this year. We mainly stayed in the Atlanta area. Big man Isaac. I think the camera caught him by surprise.

Paige, Grace and Sydni with their new gadgets.

Isaac on Christmas morning.

Isaac eating Christmas breakfast.

The Saturday before Christmas we did some celebrating at my sister's house.
Here are Christi and I chilling out before the festivities get started.

Posing with Grace and her "newborn twins."

Yesterday we headed over to Jeremy and Trista's for some more Christmas fun.
Hayden liked the chips and cheese dip.

Here is Layne posing with her Christmas gift I crocheted. The hats were a little small...

...Hayden looks a bit like a Mennonite child.
There was also a scarf that thankfully, was not too small.
Also, check out the fun new toys Matt discovered in Photoshop.
I hope you enjoyed this Christmas season as much as we did. See you in the new year!

Blowin' in the wind laundry soap (the easy version)*

2008-12-07T13:19:00.000-08:00

In an attempt to be more Eco-savy and save money I have made some changes in my cleaning regimen. One of these changes includes making my own laundry detergent. I have had some friends ask for my recipe so here it is:

Ingredients and Equipment:
3.1 ounces of Castille bar soap
1 cup of 20 Mule Team Borax
1/2 cup of Arm and Hammer Washing Soda
Cheese grader
Medium sized pot
5 gallon bucket to store the detergent (yes, this makes a lot!)
Measuring cup with spout (to measure and transfer the detergent)
A smaller container to store and easily access the detergent when your ready to do laundry

How to make it:
Shave the soap into small strips with the cheese grader.
In a cooking pot add 5 cups of water and the shredded castille soap.
Bring the water just shy of a boil to melt the soap strips.
In the 5 gallon bucket pour 3 gallons of warm water
Add the melted castille/water mixture to the bucket
Add Arm and Hammer washing soda
Add Borax
Stir.
Add essential oil (~20 drops - I use Lavendar) for scent.
Stir

FYI:

Before using your detergent stir or shake the container
Use 1 cup on average load of laundry; 1&1/2 - 1&3/4 cup may be needed for heavy duty cleaning.

*Homemade laundry detergent is a treat...in contrast to the highly synthetic laundry soap available at the supermarket, this version contains only pure basic ingreadients - nothing more. The Borax is thought to quicken the sudsing action, retard the formation of mildew, and soften water...The baking soda...freshens clothes by ridding them of perspiration and odors...Homemade soap loses stain contests, but is does a beautiful job cleanding more average loads of laundry. I keep a bottle of spray and wash type laundry treatments handy for blood, grass, and tomato sauce, but this old-fashioned laundry soap formula leaves towels and clothing clean and fresh after normal wear and tear. (Susan Miller Cavitch, The Soapmaker's Companion)

Congratulations to the Spilkers...

2008-12-07T05:28:00.000-08:00

...on their brand new puppy, Lincoln! Wahoo!

Josh, look how happy Ashley is.

What cuteness!

Continental Drift

2008-11-09T05:03:00.000-08:00

Friday was "date night." Living on a budget Matt and I don't get these very often. In fact, I cannot remember when our last "date night" was to tell you the truth. Nevertheless, I decided we were due a date night and made plans to eat at Apres Diem and then watch a movie at the Midtown Art Cinema- Matt's choice.

The food at Apres Diem was amazing and the atmosphere felt like we stepped across the pond to dine in a quaint European cafe. From the Salmon Ciabatta sandwich to the Salad Nicoise we both savored food and conversation as we listened to the rain fall around us outside the covered patio.
The movie Matt picked (no surprise) was Burn After Reading, the most recent Cohen Brother Film. Like most Cohen Brother films the words I would use to describe Burn After Reading are unusual, quirky, humerous and dark. It was also fast; only a hour and a-half.

In the middle of the meal my phone rang and I recognized the number was work. With a pit in my stomach and much reluctance I answered it only to be pleasantly surprised as a co-worker invited us to dine with her and her husband at a the 5 Seasons Brewery the next day (Saturday) for a late lunch- their treat!

In my profession I have the privilege of being surrounded by people who are not only conscientious of what they eat but also of how foods are prepared and where the food hails from. This being said 5 Seasons Brewery specializes in making dishes using foods from local farms (i.e. Burgers using grass fed beef from Riverview Farms, etc.) as well as brewing their own beer. When I get a chance to eat foods where most of the elements come from within a 500 mile radius of the final dish I enjoy the experience all the more. To make the evening more delicous was the list of beers on tap. What a delight to find a beer called a Flanders Golden Ale that contains "notes of banana, clove, bubblegum, coriander and passion fruit in the nose and palate with a spicy finishing warmth," and to actually taste these unusual flavors with each sip...this made our dining experiences this weekend memorable and delicious.

Bouncey castles, college football and a dead pig

2008-11-05T07:38:00.001-08:00

This weekend my family hosted their 2nd Annual Georgia vs Florida Cookout. It was wonderful weather and a great time was had by all, until (excluding the end of the Ga/Fl game). Here are some pics from the event.

Check out how big Isaac is getting! I SO enjoy hanging out with this little man.

Even the adults enjoyed the bouncey castle...

...and horseshoes.

Dead pig.

Boys tearing apart the dead pig.

Grace is a little freaked out by the dead pig.

Exercising

2008-07-06T17:00:00.000-07:00

Flippin' Out...

2008-07-05T10:38:00.000-07:00

This is one of Macy's favorite things to do.

Broken Toothed

2008-06-13T15:17:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I was munching on a Fruit-Roll-Up for lunch. After I took my second bite, I heard a weird crunchy sound, and felt a strange sensation in my teeth. I hoped it was just a seed lodged in between my teeth, and tried to go about my normal buisness of eating lunch. With my first bit of my sandwich, I quickly began to understand that not all of my teeth were firmly in place.

Of course no one on my dental insurance plan is in Canada. I urgently began calling as many people as I could. A couple of people recommended me to a good dentist. I called my insurance and they told me that they would cover an emergency exam and x-ray, but nothing else.

I got my emergency x-ray done. You can see the crack pretty clearly. But there's nothing I can do about it. Everyone is telling me to wait until I get home. Pray I make it throuh these next 10 days without loosing the rest of my tooth.

2008-06-07T12:27:00.000-07:00

On the way to Hobema, Jamie and I stopped at a Tim Horton’s. There we met Marcus and Reggie. Marcus is a church planter to the Plains Cree Indians. Reggie is a Plains Cree. Over donuts and coffee, Marcus told us a little about the history of the First Nations people in Canada, and some of the difficulties of working at the Jesus Church in Hobema.

After breakfast, we drove onto the reservation to see the church. Immediately we understood that Marcus’s work was different in kind than any other type of ministry I’ve experienced. As we walked up the stairs to the church, Marcus spotted an un-smoked cigarette at the foot of the steps. Seeing this, Marcus and Reggie both became unusually concerned. Marcus picked up the cigarette broke it in half, said an exorcising prayer over the cigarette, and walked into the woods to throw the cigarette away. Jamie and I didn’t know exactly how to respond. Even though this behavior seemed excessive, at first I thought, Marcus was just the type of person who was morally repulsed by cigarette smoking. After a little further conversation, we learned that tobacco, even in its modern forms, is still strongly associated with animistic curses among the Plains Cree. Because the cigarette was un-smoked and because of its conspicuous placement, both Marcus and Reggie assumed that this cigarette was ceremonially placed by a traditional elder of the Plains Cree.

This is commonplace for Marcus. A large portion of his ministry seems to be consumed with helping people in his church cope with a demon-haunted world. It definitely struck Jamie and me as unusual. We’ve never encountered the type of Spiritism that seemed common to him.

Marcus spoke of exorcisms and pagan spirituality the way I talk about Sunday afternoon lunch. It shocked us. Everywhere we went we saw evidences of witchcraft. We passed smoke houses and Sun Dance campgrounds. Every time we crossed a stream Marcus would say a brief exorcising prayer and then continue his conversation about the various plant species that grow around Hobema. This was done with type of familiarity that made it seem as if an exorcism was just a comma in his life-routine.

While we traveled through the reservation, Jamie and I mostly talked to Reggie. He is a 26 year old Plains Cree with a very deep melodic voice. He was very knowledgeable of the history of the Plains Cree, and he taught us how the Plains Cree came to reluctantly settle in Hobema.

This reluctance of a nomadic people to settle on reservation land is understandable, but it also caused many problems for the reservation. In efforts to assimilate, generations of children were removed from their parents and raised in an environment with very little supervision. No one in Hobema owns property, but everyone is given a home by the reservation council of the elders. Gang activity and an obvious disrespect for property were evident in every residential area we entered. Hobema has the highest per-capita crime rate of any city in Canada. The homes were in the worst condition of any homes I’ve ever seen. Few of the houses looked older than 5-10 years old, but every one of the houses had broken in doors, boarded-up windows, graffiti on the siding, ripped off siding, and burn damage. It’s difficult to describe the condition of the homes, and even more difficult to understand the motives behind this type of destruction.

After returning to Edmonton suburbia, Jamie and I experienced difficulty processing the day. Reggie was an incredibly gracious and kind conversationalist. I couldn’t understand how someone who greets his friends with the warm, “My heart sores like the eagle to see you” could have possibly been raised in the type of environment we witnessed in Hobema. Jamie and I tried to process the circumstances and environment we observed, but the end result was only a sleepless night. I lack the ability to understand this type of lifestyle.

Beautiful country

2008-06-07T09:50:00.000-07:00

These two weeks have been nothing short of none stop! Matt and I had some days this week to travel outside of Edmonton and visit Banff and Jasper National Parks. Talk about breath taking! We were blown away by it all. Here are some pics that of course don't hold a candle to looking at the real thing but are pretty darn good!

Canadian Commute

Climbing the Athabasca glacier at the Colombian Icefields

Mistaya Canyon

The lakes here are gorgeous and very clear.

More mountains...

More lakes...

Elk Island and other adventures in Alberta

2008-06-02T07:52:00.000-07:00

I apologize for my lack of posting. Our schedule has not allowed us much down time to update our blog.
Forntunately, Matt and I have managed to see most of the city of Edmonton via bikes, cars, and simply walking. Last Wednesday we biked from the home we were staying (Pastor Gibson and his wife) to the University of Alberta; a round trip of about 15-20 miles. Thursday we took in a concert with a couple from the church in downtown Edmonton at the Starlite Cafe. And Friday...well, Friday started out innocent enough.
Friday morning we woke up thinking "what to do...what to do...?" We knew we were having dinner with some folks from the church and then changing host homes after dinner. So, after we packed our bags Matt suggested we fix some sandwiches and take them out to eat at a park called Elk Island. We later learned that not many (if any) Edmontonians visit this park and it is really a huge buffalo reserve.
So we head out of the city for a 45 mintue drive to Elk Island. When we arrived the weather was overcast, windy and chilly. We ate our lunch among deserted picnic tables and Matt suggests we take a hike. He glanced at the map and choose a hike that he said was, "about 5 miles long" along a lake. I thought, great we need a good hike.
We set out in a dense forrest full of tall trees and creepy noises. [I now know what our in-door cat feels like if we ever let him outside to walk around our deck with those ears standing up and eyes wide.] The noises and even some sights were foreign to us. Not to mention we kept stepping over different animal droppings and tracks some we could identify and other we didn't want to. There was also this one very unsettling noise that literally sounded like something was charging you. At one point I contemplated running like mad. [Matt chiming in here. She didn't "contemplate" running like mad . . . she ran like mad.] I just kept thinking "I don't wanna die in Canada. Especially in a park that has only 3 visitors per year! It'll be forever until they find our bodies." (yea, I am a sucker for the melodramatic)
ANYWAY, we finally came into a clearing and saw our first buffalo. Now, for most of you reading this you've probably made a visit to Yellowstone or some national park where there are buffalo. And, what you probably saw was a herd of buffalo grazing lazily in the fields or even in close proximity to humans. Unless you did something stupid to provoke them, the buffalo probably left you alone and continued whatever they were doing without a care in the world. Well, this was not the case in Alberta. These large beasts are not used to seeing pale skin bi-peds. Whenever we came upon them (two sleeping in the middle of our trail no less!) they would dart left and right looking for the quickest exit. Talk about nerve racking. These skittish, mammoth creatures had not one docile bone in their bodies! I just kept thinking, "Please choose the path that leads away from us!"
About halfway through the hike we came upon a huge clearing where we could look across the lake. This is when I began to think, "this is just 5 miles?" Little did I know that Matt had just realized we had taken the 10 mile hike and were only about half the way through. In order to get back in time we had better pick it up. So, here we were, two stupid Americans briskly walking a trail with ginormous slumbering beasts who freaked out at the sight of us. When we finally finished the hike (3.5 hours round trip) there was no time to recover. We jumped into the car and high tailed it back to Edmonton to have dinner exhausted and smelling of Elk Island and buffalo dung. Good impression, right?
Tomorrow we leave for a little stint over to Banff and Jasper. Maybe the animals there will be more laid back?

The city of Edmonton

In the burbs of Strathcona

Hiking in Elk Island

There were no Elk to be seen, just buffalo.

This is when I realized that our "5 mile hike" was more like 10 miles.

Round and Round

2008-05-26T16:36:00.000-07:00

Today we were given the church-planters tour of Edmonton. This is a little different than the typical vacationers tour. Very few tour attractions made the list. Every subburb made the list. We got on the perimeter highway and did a full circle of the city. Stopping at every little subburban home spread and drove around. Not exactly thrilling, but it did give us a good feel for where the people live and for the lack of churches in the area. After a couple of hours we stopped at a Tim Horton's for coffee and doughnuts. This was our only tour attraction of the morning. I really didn't know Tim Horton's was a tourist attraction. After eating there, I'm still not entirely sure it counts as a tourist attraction. Nevertheless, we were told that we "needed" to eat there. We did. It's alright.

After noon, we did a few more typical things. The largest mall in North America is in Edmonton. It's a little embarassing to say, but we went. It was impressive, but I have no real desire to go again. It's basically a regular mall that takes up four city blocks, has several roller coasters, a wave pool, a sea-world-style sea lion show, and an imax theatre.Later we finally drove into the city. The city was very nice. Unfortunately we didn't get to spend a lot of time there. The city has an incredible amount of green space. The North Sascatchewan River runs through the city. Each side of the river is curbed by park area. There is a paved bike trail that runs the length of the city. Jamie and I are hoping to get a chance to ride on the trail a little tomorrow.

Day # 3

2008-05-26T08:35:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to drop a quick line and say that "We're here!"

Traveling to Canada was pretty uneventful, thankfully...until we landed. Our plane arrived in Edmonton after a connection in Minneapolis/St. Paul. As Matt and I stood in customs/immigration line we were overhead paged to the baggage claim desk. After our passports were stamped we learned from the baggage claim folks that two bags did not make it. One was Matt's (whatev), but most importantly the other was mine. Out of all my times traveling both domestically and abroad I have never had this happen. It's no fun. But the Canadain folks were great to call twice daily to let me know that they still had no idea where my bag was and for some reason couldn't tell me if it even made it Minneapolis/St. Paul airport. Lovely. To make a long story short it finally arrived yesterday; only two days after me. It was like Christmas!

So, here we are adjusted to the time change (only 2 hours so no biggie) and to the amount of daylight Edmonton receives. The sun's up at 4:30 AM and doesn't set until around 11 PM. It's weird. It's taken us a while to be able to sleep until even 7 AM. I catch myself thinking, "Why am I so tired when it looks like 3:30 outside?" Then I look at a clock and see that it 10 PM!

Yesterday was Sunday, so church. Matt preached his first of 5 sermons yesterday and did a fine job if I say so myself. The members of Crestwood Presbyterian are very friendly and we had a wonderful time meeting with them between church and Sunday school in the fellowship hall. Sunday school (it's called something else I cannot remember) happens after the church service at Crestwood, but I can't comment on how it was seeing as I missed it. Instead I ended up talking 50 minutes straight with one of the women of the church. Our husbands found us in the same spot they left us still talking after Sunday school let out. I was shocked we didn't notice everyone leave the fellowship hall. Matt didn't seemed surprised.

Our schedule has started to really fill up with visits and dinner with different church members. And (to our great joy) we have a car while we are here! We are hoping this car takes us out toward Jasper National Park at some point within the next two weeks.

Today we are visiting "the mall." Of course we have mixed feelings about visiting a mall when we are so close to places like Banff and Jasper, but we have been told we should at least see "the largest mall in North America" while we are here.

Bonjour, Canada

2008-05-23T05:41:00.001-07:00

Today Matt and I leave for Edmonton Canada in the province of Alberta. Matt will be staying there through the month of June working at Crestwood Presbyterian, and I will be there for 2 out of the 4 weeks. We're excited about the possibility of seeing new sights and meeting new people.
I know very little about Canada (America's attention stays devoted to our southern neighbors) and from what the experts tell me (i.e. family and friends who have lived their whole lives in the U.S. and never even visted Canada) we are either going to be greeted by Mounties on horseback or French Canadians constently saying "Eh?" after everthing.

The brave Americans?

Below is the letter I sent out a month or so ago. We still need your prayers. I know I have a history of not blogging consistently (i.e. at all) but I hope to be better at it while we are away. That is if we have access to a fast internet.

Thank you to everyone for your prayers and support over the past month and a-half or so. As most of you already know Matt will most likely not be returning to Dominion High School next year and thus we are knee deep in "job hunting."

To all-
We are very grateful for the 4 years Matt has had at Dominion, but as you may (or may not) know teaching at Dominion was intended to be short term.

The long term? Continue to work in the ministry of some kind: Associate or Assistant Pastor of a PCA (Presbyterian Church of America) church or Campus minister or foreign missions. We ask you now to join us praying specifically that:

1. God will guide us to the position that brings him the most glory and us the most pleasure.
2. We will be in a position that allows us to begin a family with minimal stress.
3. We will not allow the accumulation of stuff to slow down our decision. We don't want to be overly concerned about finances in the future, or overly burdened by our present material blessings.
4. Everything will be settled before August of 2008

Random pictures...enjoy.

2008-01-02T14:00:00.000-08:00

It's electric!

Suspision.

Can't...reach, mom...

Oh, nevermind.

"Roarrrr..."

Macimus Rex

Happy Anniversary!

The Rest of the Story

2007-07-24T09:30:00.000-07:00

This is my fourth visit to the Pacific Ocean. On my previous three visits I’ve only mustered enough courage to let the water come up to my ankles. I have this theory that the Pacific doesn’t really appreciate visitors very much. It’s cold waters and rough shores aren’t exactly the pineapple-style welcoming this southerner is used to. Those who do brave her beaches need to build some type of relationship first. I’ve not yet learned to see her violent fits as cute or endearing. Tourists . . . we’re asking for trouble.

So, when Kyle suggested that we go snorkeling after church on Sunday, I was a little hesitant. He assured me that the 68-degree waters would be refreshing. Blindly trusting my local friend whose managed to build the necessary relationship with the Pacific, I agreed to go on this little expedition. Even though the breezy, humidity-free, 80-degree air here seemed plenty refreshing to me.

We got our gear and headed to the sand. I was reassured by the enormous amount of people on the beach. I figured if this many people are here, it can’t be too dangerous. Then I noticed that at least 80 percent of these throngs confined themselves to the sand. Regarding the 20 percent minority, quite a few of them wore wet suits. I allowed my ankles to touch the waves of the Pacific, fought the thrice-repeated habit of flight and pressed on. Ten minutes later I’m nearly waist deep. Kyle decides he’s tired of fighting and decides to just plunge the rest of his body into the next wave. He lives. I decide to try the same thing. I live. Not only that, but it seems that Kyle was right. After only a few minutes the water actually seemed refreshing.

Jamie and I follow Kyle’s example by putting on our masks and examining the ocean floor. Nothing to be seen except sand, water-bent light, and a few tourists. After about a half hour, we decide we must have the wrong location. We go to the shore, take off our gear, and walk a quarter-mile down the beach. Jamie is the first to get her gear back on. She sticks her mask in the ocean and immediately yells, “shark!” Normally when someone yells “shark” you’re supposed to run as fast as you can the other way. But since this is the creature we came to see, my instincts were strangely reversed. I put on my mask as fast as I could and put my head into the ocean. Immediately I saw a Leopard shark. I followed him a little trying to get a picture with my $10 disposable, waterproof camera. As I follow him, I very quickly began to realize that he was not the only shark around. I look and see I’m surround by dozens of leopard sharks. They’re not quite as small as I originally thought. Some of them are nearly six feet long. As big as me. I hoped they weren’t hungry and turned around.

Jamie, Kyle, and I all stood up with our masks up and speculated our next move. We decided if we wanted to keep snorkeling we needed to just swim through them. I guess Kyle had never heard of anyone losing any appendages to a leopard shark. I didn’t really want to know, so I didn’t ask. As we swam thought them, they seemed to change their habits very little. They didn’t mind us getting extremely close. They didn’t flee. Why should they? We’re in their town now. After we swam nearly 20 yards into the cove, most of the leopard sharks were no longer around. Instead we saw all sorts of other life, but you should read Jamie’s blog to hear about that.

After about two hours of touring the ocean floor, we started to get a little cold. Quite cold. The body isn’t really designed to be submersed in 68 degree water for two hours. It began to rebel. Fingers became numb. Kyle spotted a very inviting beach with no one on it. The sun hitting the dark rocks looked gloriously warm. We swam toward it. We began to get out of the water. The sound of the waves rolling off the large rocks on the shores was unlike anything I’d ever heard. A little like soothing percussive instruments. God turning a rainstick and tapping thousands of wood blocks simultaneously. It seemed very inviting.

I stepped on the shore. My ankle turned. Ouch! I took another step. My other ankle. I blamed the flippers. Sat down and tried to take them off. The “gentle” waves began to pound me against rocks. I took them off as quickly as possible and began to step out of the water. Every stepped turned an ankle, pinched a toe between rocks, or punched the bottom of my feet. Slowly and carefully, I get out of the water. I look to my right and see Kyle sitting on the shore 15 feet away from me. Neither of us is about to come to the other. The steps are too painful. I look to my left and see my wife wrestling with her flippers 15 feet away from me. Three successive waves come in. Each of them throws her against the rocks. I try to come to her aide, but I move at a snail’s pace. Not even a snail’s pace. I think I see sea snails passing me in fright. I eventually give up. She’s pulled herself out of the waves by the time I was able to take three steps. I can’t go to her. Each step hurts too much. I can’t go to Kyle. I don’t even want to go back to the warm rock cliff because of the painful steps. Jamie apparently feels the same way. She sit down right were she is. She doesn’t even really get out of the water. Each cold wave that hits the shore soaks her up to her waist. She just sits there shivering.

After a little time passes, we realize that we can move fairly easily, although not very comfortably if we push ourselves with our heals and slide our asses around. Using this method we are all able to move close together and sit against the warmer dark rocks. The miracle of the whole thing is that all of us were able to laugh about it even during the moment. It was amazing how inviting this little beach looked, but how torture laden it turned out to be. After warming ourselves up for about 20 minutes, we reluctantly, but necessarily, decide we must go through the whole process again to get back into the water.

The Beach Party

2007-07-23T09:46:00.000-07:00

I hope you are all able to follow the running account of our daily travels from San Francisco down to San Diego from our PhotoBlog. Matt and I haven’t taken a more exciting and relaxing trip since our honeymoon. I am finding that America is full of beautiful landscapes, sights, sounds, and smells. Big Sur has to be the best forest I have ever experience. Just the ethereal smells alone are enough to give one pause.
The west coast has captured our senses (not to mention our hearts). I’m saying things I never thought I would: “I love the beach!”; “I love this summer weather!” It’s like a dream for this southerner to walk out in mid-July and not be smothered by a hot, wet blanket of humidity (and I hear it only gets better in September and October). I mean, we hiked from sea level to 1800 feet with ocean breezes cooling us and I barely broke a sweat! I was amazed. Now, Matt may tell you differently. He may say something totally erroneous like, “She kept stopping and turning around to ask, ‘how much further?’ every couple of feet.” And to that I say, “We hiked from sea level up to 1800 feet! Of course I was a little curious to know if the hill would end.” Oh, and to my fair-freckled friends a word to the wise: SPF 50 – 75. The sun is tricky.
Yesterday we swam with the sharks. Really. This, a feat even our San Diego-southern-surfing-friend Kyle thought would be impossible due to the crowded beaches and busy surf. We decided that after church we would head to the ever-so-popular “beach.” (It amazes me still that people just pull off to the side of the road, create a parking spot, and head for the surf…it is really an Annette Funicello and Frankie Avalon world here!) We rent snorkeling equipment to take a look at what lives beneath us while we swim in the Pacific. After 30 unsuccessful minutes of staring at brown dirt, Kyle suggests we re-locate to another portion of the beach. We made the hike down the beach and no sooner had I put my mask on and bent down to take a glance in the sea-weed ridden waters than I saw we were surrounded by leopard sharks! Frantic and squealing (dumb, I know) I stumble over Kyle and Matt trying not to think “These are relatives of Jaws and I am about to loose a foot!” I am quickly reassured by Kyle and Matt (Steve Erwin wannabe’s) that these guys “are more afraid of me than I am of them.” Even with that pep talk I pursue this adventure with renewed caution and trepidation. Eventually I am able to relax and enjoy an afternoon of gazing at leopard sharks (who really are very shy creatures), guitar fish, sting rays, and all kinds of other fish I don’t know the name of.
After this long and tiring day, what better way to end it than watch a singer I am quickly growing fond of (I mean buy-the-t-shirt-and-album, fond of): My Brightest Diamond. Matt and I missed her in Atlanta when she opened for Sufjan Stevens, but were able to catch her at Belly Up here in San Diego.
What a day!

Vive La Compagnie

2007-07-09T13:02:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago I learned that Dr. Harold O. J. Brown, was seriously ill. Last night he died. It's hard to summarize exactly what Joe meant to me over the past 6 or 7 years. Certainly a friend and in many ways a mentor, but I think the word that best describes the way I feel about Joe is "hero." The notion of heros seems a little antiquated in our modern time, but I think this might very well be one of the reasons Joe would have appreciated it.

He was the type of man with no edges. Nothing to grab hold of. No easy way to define him. In many ways he seemed medieval. Jousting, 13th Century German poetry, and awkward latin Proverbs, were all unusually familiar to him. But it would be entirely wrong to think of Joe as a misplaced medieval relic. It is much easier for me to think of him as timeless. He was more accutely aware of the political climate and zeitgeist of our times than any other person I've ever met. In fact, mere awareness is far too much of an understatement. He was extremely invovled and emotionally connected to a wide range of modern issues. Those that affected him most were sanctity of life issues. It was hard to have a conversation with Joe that didn't at least touch on abortion or the war in Iraq.

At times Joe seemed unapproachable. His intellectual pedigree was a bit intimidating and his emotions would occasionaly get the better of him, but for those who knew him well it was easy to see that he could have a conversation on almost any level about any subject. As for his verbal lashes, they were always directed toward ideas; almost never at people. One of the many, many proverbial sayings I picked up from Joe was "tolerance toward people is magnanimous, but tolerance toward an idea known to be wrong is cowardice, a lie, and a crime." As far as I can tell he lived this maxim pretty well. He hated immorality. He loved people.

Greatly respected, easy to talk to, and abounding in love. He will be missed by many. He will be missed by me. I'm proud to have knowm him.

Though he has left us, his company will undoubtedly live for many more generations through his friendships. Vive la compagnie! (make sure you pump you fist when you say it)

Here are a few verses from a poem Ann Ross Cousins wrote in rememberance of the death of Samuel Rutherford. Some of the verses were turned into the hymn "The Sands of Time are Sinking." It was a hymn Joe was very familiar with and its words seem very appropriate to me. Although Joe's battles were not exactly the same as Samuel Rutherford's, they both shared a resolute opposition to immorality and a love for Christian fellowship.

The sands of time are sinking,
The dawn of Heaven breaks,
The summer morn I've sighed for,
The fair sweet morn awakes:
Dark, dark hath been the midnight,
But dayspring is at hand,
And glory-glory dwelleth
In Immanuel's land.

The King there in His beauty,
Without a veil, is seen:
It were a well-spent journey,
Though seven deaths lay between:
The lamb, with his fair army,
doth on Mount Zion stand;
And glory-glory dwelleth
In Immanuel's land.

Oh! I am my Beloved's,
And my Beloved's mine!
He brings a poor vile sinner
Into His 'house of wine:'
I stand upon His merit,
I know no other stand,
Not e'en where glory dwelleth
In Immanuel's land!

I have borne scorn and hatred,
I have borne wrong and shame,
Earth's proud ones have reproach'd me,
For Christ's thrice blessed name:
Where God His seal set fairest
The've stampd ther foulest brand;
But judgment shines like noonday
In Immanuel's land.

They've summoned me before them,
But there I may not come, -
My Lord says, 'Come up hither,'
My Lord says, 'welcome home!'
My kingly King, at His white throne,
My presence doth command,
Where glory - glory dwelleth
In Immanuel's Land

This is an email I received from Matt Miller this morning. It sums up some of his accomplishments better than I've done.

As most of you have probably learned by now, Dr. Brown went to be with the Lord last night, ushered in with the voices of family and friends gathered around his bedside singing "Holy Holy Holy". When I heard the news this morning, my initial response was one of great relief, glad to know that the suffering he has borne in his body (and no less in his soul!) is now past. But I then went into the church's sanctuary and wept for half an hour, saddened by the thought that I shall not see Joe again for the rest of my earthly life, grateful to the Lord for his labors and his influence, and humbled by the sense that those of us who sat under him must now carry on -- and amplify, by God's grace and power -- the work that is no longer Joe's to bear.

Joe's lifework was two-pronged, as far as I was aware of it. First, he faithfully guarded and passed down "the faith once delivered to the saints" (Jude 3) in his teaching, writing, and -- perhaps where he was most persistent and effective -- conversation. Few men in his generation have had such a grasp of the history of the Church and her battles. Joe not only knew the struggles of the times, he knew them in their original languages: the Latin Fathers and Medieval Doctors, the German Lutherans and Pietists, the French Calvinists, and the Protestant and Counter-Reformation Poles. And as a professor he did his students the grand favor of distilling this massive body of knowledge into pithy and memorable phrases: "from the early to medieval eras, the Church changed from the Company of the Saved to the Salvation Co." Most of what I know about church history, I learned from Joe.

Second, his heart was tender to the plight of the unborn. For those of us born after 1973 (as were most of his students in Charlotte), and consequently anesthetized to some degree to the reality of abortion in American life, Joe's weeping moral outrage over this practice was a vivid reminder that abortion is, quite simply, not normal. "Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness' (Isa. 5:20). With his pieces in "Christianity Today" in the mid-70's, Joe became one of the first leading voices to cry out against abortion. Later, he turned his efforts to counseling women to carry their babies to term and give them up for adoption instead of aborting the fetus (and, as Joe would remind us, 'fetus' is simply Latin for 'baby' -- he was always concerned that we not be fooled by language games [Poller: "Are you pro-choice?" Joe's Answer: "Pro-choice for what? The right to bear arms? Yes, absolutely!"]). Last year when he was quite downcast in Boone, wondering if his life's efforts had been in vain, I asked him how many women per year decided to give up their baby for adoption after coming through one of these counseling centers. "Oh, about eighty- to one-hundred thousand a year," he admitted. Now in heaven, I think Joe knows that his life had value to the tune of literally hundreds of thousands of lives!

So he is gone to the Lord, and we his students are still here. Joe was not teaching us for the sake of teaching; rather, he was training us to, in the words of one of his favorite hymns, "Stand up, stand up for Jesus." It's with tears in my eyes that I realize, and say, that the general has been taken from the battlefield, and it's time for us to take his place. May we guard and pass down this faith, and may we stand up and push forward on behalf of those who cannot defend themselves. May we be found faithful.

And Joe would be upset if we worked hard and never paused to sing. "Gaudeamus igitur... vivant professores!"

And by way of valediction to this select group, "vive la compagnie,"

Matt

Southeast to West

2007-06-27T06:53:00.000-07:00

Last week Jamie got a call from Jessica, a friend in Conyers. Jamie and Jessica have been trying to get together for a while, but because of busy schedules, it seems that the plans always fall through. While they were talking Jessica mentioned that West Breedlove was going to be playing a free concert at her church. Jessica wasn't sure if we'd ever heard of West before, but it turns out that West is a friend of both our families. When Jamie told me about the show we both immediately decided it would be a good idea to go.

Since it takes us a little over an hour to get to Conyers and we knew we'd be tired on Friday night, we made arangements to stay with my parents after the concert was over. It turned into a fun weekend with friends and family.

Saturday morning I took a ton of pictures. I've been slowly posting them on my daily photoblog. You can check out what I've posted so far here. I update the photoblog everyday. Right now I only have two posts from this weekend, but I'm sure there will be more to follow.

How the Other Half Lives

2007-06-27T03:51:00.000-07:00

This weekend Jamie and I decided to stop by the Pride Festival in Atlanta. For those of you who are out of the know, Pride is short for Gay Pride. I was hoping it would be a very colorful festival with a lot of photo ops. It turned out to be a massive picknick on the lawn of Piedmont Park without much excitement. Outside of the occasional strangely dressed, poorly dressed, or undressed person, there was very little to comment on. I took very few pictures there. To borrow an expression from Fight Club, I was feeling like a "tourist." My camera would have only confirmed it.

Jamie and I were only there for an hour so I actually have very little to say about how the other half lives. I just thought it would be fun to apply the Jacob Riis title to a more contemporary situation. I was somewhat surprised by the diversity of the crowd and offended by the message of the churches, but beyond that there is very little I can say. I understood that the gay crowd was quite diverse (I've accumulated this street-wise education of course from a few episodes of Six Feet Under and Sex in the City), but for some reason I expected Pride to only appeal to the most flambouyant gays. I think this was part of the reason for my dissapointment. I was treating Pride more like a step back in time to a freakshow. With a little luck, I'd hoped to even get a few Diane Arbus style photos. The normalcy of the whole thing was not only disappointing, but also a little unsettling. It's easier to handle homosexuality when it seems foreign and abnormal. Homosexuality is not the type of issue that can be walled out of our lives. It's become too normal. If we try and act as if it doesn't exist by walling it out, we risk becoming the irrelevent freaks.

Gays have built an impressive community. An hour strole through Piedmont Park last weekend revealed a very diverse community. It was tempting to label this diversity as even cliqueish, and it may have been to a degree. But the truth is there was very little evidence of the community forming cliques other than its diversity. It seems as if the community has created somewhat of a counterfeit church. A community that behaves as if it is one.

This was one of the most troubleling things about the churches that were present there. None of the church booths that we passed seemed to even imply that homosexuality was a sinful decision. They had plenty of magnents that said "gay friendly" or "gay accepting", but none of them had a gospel presentation. It was as if the gospel was changed. No longer has Christ come to save us from our sins. Instead he just decided to ignore our sins. This false gospel may give us bigger church choirs, but it presents a damning message.

A truly gay friendly message would not sacrifice Truth to Tolerance. If we encourage people to live as if truth doesn't exist we will ineveitably do more harm than good. The worst harm will certainly come when this present life has passed, but there will be consequences for ignoring the truth in the present as well.

After visiting Pride, I am much more convinced that there needs to be more evangelical ministry to homosexuals. In this community, the gospel message needs to be treated very delicately. I believe only Evangelicals can truly carry out this delicate balance of truth and love.

Photoshop Phun

2007-05-30T17:15:00.001-07:00

I took this picture this morning at about 7:30. It's a pretty shot, but I was dissapointed. I had decided at about 7:00 to go down to the creek near the house to take a picture of some water as the sun's rays first broke through the trees. unfortunately the sun was not cooperating.

When I got home, I liked the way the water looked, but was not satisfied at all with the colors. So, I opened Photoshop and made a couple of adjustments.

1. Crop

2. Level adjustment with a multiply mask

3. Hue/Saturation adjustment layer +23

4. Color Balance adjustment layer to adust the blue and green tones of the entire picture

5. Color Balance adjustment layer to add blue to the rocks (this requires painting black over the water)

6. Color balance adjustment layer to add more green to the water (this requires painting black over the rocks to hide the color adjustment)

7. Increase the contrast

8. Curves adjustment and then selectively hide some portions for effect

9. Merge all visible layers

10. Copy to a new document with a black canvas

11. Use a chalk brush eraser tool to tear the edges. I did this three times with increasing opacity each time

12. Add filters. I used grain, chrome, and craquele each at about 10-15% opacity.

voi la

I hope you like. If you want to see the finished product in a larger format, go to mattdross.photoblog.com

Good times

2007-05-27T14:47:00.000-07:00

Last night Jeremy (Matt's brother) and his wife, Trista invited us over for good food and conversation. Their latest edition, Hayden, is one of the most photogenic babies I have ever seen. She loves the camera! We took quite a few pictures. You can check them out here. Enjoy and stop by often. Also, take note of the two added links to the left:
Photography
PhotoBlog Hershey's getting old, and he's not happy with it. For his twelveth birthday it sounds like he's going to get his testicles removed. From the looks of things, I think he understands the news.

Wedding Maddness

2007-05-26T06:09:00.000-07:00

It's wedding season in Georgia! Matt and I have been in the throws of two wonderful and beatiful weddings. One being my sister, Christi's wedding to her fiance, Russell. Enjoy the pictures!

Grace as the flower girl.

Finishing touches for Granddaddy.

Corny DJ, fun music, non-stop dancing = fun reception.

The newlyweds getting pummeled with "rice."

Trish and J.R.'s Wedding.

Gals from work.

The happy couple.

Ocean is Theory

2007-05-26T05:49:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago we were invited by two of Matt's students to The Masquerade to watch Ocean is Theory play...one a school night (gasp!). I would describe the band as an emo-rock group without the screaming.

Alex...

and Nick.

Where have all the bees gone?

2007-05-05T06:23:00.000-07:00

To feast from our rhododendron, of course. I can confidently put everyones' minds at ease when I say the bees are vacationing to "foreign lands" away from that stuffy old box, away from that bossy queen, and away from getting hosed with smoke everytime a two-legged creature garbed in white pries the roof off thier house. The drones are streching their wings, as it were, and venturing to territories new and different. So, to all the passionate bee-keepers, listeners of NPR, and readers of such newspapers as the New York Times, etc. Fear not! Your drones are safe and tickled pink to land a find like our gi-normous rhododendron.

To Market To Market

2007-04-29T16:14:00.001-07:00

...to buy some organicly-Georgia-grown carrots and salad...mmmmm...the weekend has been packed and exhausting.

It all started at the MorningSide Market in the Highlands at an unbelievable 8:15 AM! This way we didn't miss the good stuff. Unfortunately, we did miss the strawberries, but got some amazingly d-lish carrots!

After the market we crossed the street to a very busy bakery called Alon's where we waited in a long line to give our pastry order. As you can see I turn into one of those indecisive lunatics when it is finally my turn. I had this sudden flash of being rejected from the counter and kicked out of Alon's altogether. Thankfully that was a Seinfeld episode and not my reality.

At Alon's Matt and I ran into a friend from my work who told us about Inman Park Festival. Matt and I ended up on that side of town when the festivities started...

Inman Park Festival

2007-04-29T11:10:00.000-07:00

Either the change in seasons or the broken AC at work messed up my sinuses. It’s made it difficult for me to sleep at night. Jamie and I were planning to leave at about 7:30 this morning to go to the MorningSide Market , but my sinuses made sure I was up by 5:00 just in case. I laid in bed until about 5:30, then decided it wasn’t worth it. I may as well do something productive if I’m going to be awake. When Jamie woke up at 7:00, she must have thought I was pretty eager about this whole market thing. In truth I would have at least tried to sleep past 5:30 if I’d only had a clue how long the day was going to be.

After we visited the Market, we decided to get some breakfast at Alon’s Bakery. Here we ran into Jamie’s friend Anna Leah. She told us about the Inman Park Festival . Her anybody-whose-anybody-style review, made us at least curious to check it out. But since it was only 8:30 in the morning and the Festival didn’t start until 11:00, we had to kill a few hours. The yards and homes around Virginia Highland were more than sufficient for the task.

We walked around various neighborhoods for about an hour. The homes are stellar and yards similarly radiant. Most of that time Jamie was on the phone, and I was paying about as much attention to where I was going as a puppy chasing a butterfly, so needless to say we got lost. When we decided our legs were thoroughly tired, we learned we had no clue where we were. After about 15 minutes of wondering we eventually found a street name we recognized. This gave us the illusion of soon to be enjoyed rest, but it would be another 45 minutes before we finally made it back to the car. These 45 minutes were spent walking back and forth down the same mile of road. We’d walk half a mile one way, then three quarters back in the other direction. A full mile in the direction we’d initially started, then a mile and a half back in the other direction. This is a good way to kill a lot of time, if that’s you goal.

After we found the car, it was nearly 11:00. I wanted to go to a camera store before we headed over to Inman Park. Recently, I’ve been taking a lot more portrait shots than I normally do (If you’ve seen Jamie, I’m sure you understand why). The zoom lens I currently use has a relatively poor maximum aperture at 50mm, so I wanted to get a faster lens. After doing a little research I figured out that I could get a 50mm fixed lens with a f1.8 maximum aperture fairly cheaply. I looked at the lens, feigned deliberation for a little while since Jamie was with me, then I bought it. Now I was really excited about the festival. Not only would it prove I was somebody who was somebody, but I had a new toy to try out.

The festival was definitely more than I expected. Hundreds of craft booths, dozens of bands, multiple breweries present, a parade and thousands and thousands of people. It was easy to spend the entire day at the ten acre park turned museum. We saw handcrafted didjeridoos and old tin tiles from theatres turned into brilliantly colored living room art; learned the difference between horse hair and raku pottery; and heard an eclectic mix of music.

At about 1:00 we decided to sit down for lunch. Five dollars for an order of french fries and some water. As we ate our fries we listened to the Buddy O’Reilly Band. The Atlanta-based Irish folk group, played an impressive array of instruments, including a set of uilleann pipes, a bouzouki, and bodhran. You can’t have Irish folk music without dancing, so the band had a dancer as well. We stayed and watched for about 30 minutes longer than it takes two people to eat an order of fries. Which is of course to say, about 30 minutes.

We walked for a little while and stumbled on the Dappled Grays. A traditional bluegrass band that would occasionally jazz things up a little by playing songs like George Gershwin’s “Summertime.” Like every other bluegrass band I’ve heard the instrumentalists were amazing. It’s almost like their must be a secret race of human beings called the bluegrass sapiens. I imagine the babies of this race are born with banjos or mandolins attached to their hips and nourished on a steady diet of Bill Monroe and Ralph Stanley. It’s really the only way a thinking person can explain the amount of talent in the genre.

When the Dappled Greys finished it was time for the parade. This was the most amazing spectacular of color and American Liberalism I’ve seen in a long time. The highlights of the parade included the a strangely-attired, middle-aged marching band known as the “Abominables” several political floats that wanted Bush imprisoned for war crimes; a Karate dojo that included a tiny girl in pink bows and pink Velcro shoes who punched and kicked the entire length of the parade; and most importantly the “ambassador of mirth” himself . . . Baton Bob. A large gay baton twirler dressed in a butterfly outfit.

When the parade ended we still had a little energy left, so we checked out another three acres of festival booths. By 4:00 we were so hungry we had to get a bite to eat so we stopped by the Figo pasta at Edgewood before heading home.

If my eyes are bloodshot and red come Monday morning, there will be little reason doubting why.

I hope you enjoy the photos.

The Art:

The Crowds:

The Parade:

The Music:

The Violent Bear It Away

2007-04-04T13:58:00.000-07:00

For some unknown reason, when I saw these pictures Matt took of a robin bathing itself in our bird-bath I couldn't help but think of the book, The Violent Bear It Away, by Flannery O'Connor.
Maybe it was the violent way the robin splashed about cleaning itself, but for some reason I was reminded of Francis Tarwater (the story's protagonist) who believed his prophetic destiny was to baptize his cousin, Bishop. While performing this act Francis remembers the words of baptism too late and drowns Bishop. Strange thought process I know, but a great book reminding me (albeit, somewhat morbidly) that God's grace comes in even in the violent and secular.
Some of the pictures are down right comical.

Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, "So shall your offspring be."...This is why "it was credited to him as righteousness." The words "it was credited to him" were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness--for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was delievered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.
Romans 4: 18 - 25

Marathon Madness

2007-03-25T16:12:00.000-07:00

The ING Marathon was this weekend. The weekend's festivies started off with the "Tot Trot" at Atlantic Station then it was off to the Health and Fitness Expo to pick up our racing numbers. Lacy, Matt and I registered to run it. In the end Lacy ran the marathon, I drop to the half marathon due to some knee problems, and Matt had to drop it all together.
Saturday was the Tot Trot where kids were split into two groups, 4 year old and younger, and 5 - 10 year old (or so). Grace was signed up in the 4 year old and younger category where the "tots" ran once around the block. In reality this "race" entailed parents lugging their kids around the block while people cheered for them, which for most of these "tots" was terrifying. All in all it was good times.

As you can see Grace was not ready to run around the block at 9 am.

oooohhh the tears.

Some of the "Tots" reverted to other means of protest.

But, after some consoling from daddy Grace was all better...

...and ready to show off her medal.

Then the festivities began with games for the kids and coffee for the rest of us.

All smiles.

The really funny thing was Grace was ready to book it around the block, and everywhere for that matter once the crowds left.

Marathon Day:

Gettin's all stretched for my 13.1 miles of running bliss.

Welcoming our cheerleaders. Thanks guys!!!!!

And they're off!

And our faithful cheerleaders are left to wait 2 - 4 and 1/2 hours for Lacy and I to dart across in the finish line in triumph.

Mile ____ and feeling fine. My only complaint: no mile markers for the half-ers out there! I think this was mile 9 or so.

I got my sights set for the end...finally. It only took me, like, 2 hours and 7 mintues!

Aaahhhh...I got my medal, my Starbucks, a lounge chair, and the feeling you get when you run 13.1 miles before 10am. Life is gooooooood.

If you have been able to run any races at all, 10K's, Marathons, etc. you know the wackos it attracts that make you not only take notice but smile while pounding the pavement. Here are two of the many.

Mullet Man.

Evil Knievil?

The end of the run.
Once I was done Matt and I went back about 1/2 a mile to cheer people on, take pictures, and wait for Lacy to finish the marathon. I decided to run this last leg with her.

Lacy's biggest cheerleader of all. Notice the sign says "Go Daddy"...I think we're confused, or just generally excited about encouraging people we love.

Congrats Lacy! You got your first (and probably hardest) marathon under your belt in record time. Next time, Philly?

This is Zodiac speaking...

2007-03-22T14:15:00.000-07:00

"My obsession with serial killers began when I was ten years old. My fourth grade teacher told our class that we should we should never hitchhike , because the only people who picked up hitchhikers were perverted serial killers. This advice was complicated by what my fifth-grade teacher told us the following year; she said that we would all have driver's licenses in a few years, and the one rule we should always remember was never to pick up hitchhikers. This was because all hitchhikers were serial killers. According to what I learned in public school, every person on every freeway was trolling for destruction. I used to imagine nomadic, sadistic drifters thumbing rides with bloodthirsty Volkswagen owners, both desperately waiting for the first oppurtunity to kill each other. Hitchhiking seemed like the ultraviolent race against time."

-Chuck Klosterman; Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs

This is what I read before Matt and I saw Zodiac a few weeks ago. It was great!

"The planet has a fever..."

2007-03-22T09:11:00.000-07:00

...and the only cure is more cow-bell." -Al Gore
Okay, so I made up that second part, but don't tell me that you thought it was truth, inconvenient or not.
For the two faithful readers and others who stop by now and again, might I suggest some worthwhile reading. If anything for the entertainment value.

After reading this article on banning plastic grocery bags in San Francisco and then this article on Gore's plea to Congress to impose a "list of policy prescriptions to stop global warming" a "true planetary emergency." I was reminded of an article Matt came across a couple of weeks ago while researching Global Warming for his Ethics class. This article is very insightful and easy to read, but some may consider it a bit long. You won't be discouraged if you do sink your teeth into it.

My research on the subject of global warming is sparse and sporatic, but doesn't creating a "new global climate treaty" based on science that seems...well, sparse and sporatic seem a bit extreme. Given the zeitgeist of California, a plastic bag tax doesn't seem incredibly ridiculous, but maybe the "new global climate treaty" shouldn't be based on California opinion polls and "consensus science."

Just a thought.

Rainy Saturday.

2007-03-10T07:37:00.000-08:00

This morning we woke up to the sound of rain...So what better time to play with the camera, right? The only problem was our subject was very...busy. I never knew how much busy cats tend to be, especially if they know they are being photographed. It was exhausting just trying to crawl around for a good shot...now, we're off to the movies. Rainy Saturdays can be good for a few things.

Celebrate good times...

2007-03-09T13:55:00.000-08:00

Matt and I were able to get over to the Athens area, Statham (pronounced Stay-Dum), GA to be exact. We were there to celebrate the 60th birthday of a very good friend, Dave Christopher. The venue was beautiful and the company, fun. We even made some new friends as we danced the night away to all the cheesy hits from the 1960’s, ‘70’s, 80’s,…well, you get the point.

The Georgia Club in Statham, Ga...between mapquest and two different people we found it at last, and in time to catch it on film before the sun set.
This picture was taken by Kyle...pretty cool shot, huh?
Two Clemson college graduates looking confused...surprised?

It was a part-tay folks! Complete with flashing, colored lights.

This is what Jeanie Christopher called “the DJ’s surprise.” And, surprise us she did with her own vocal accompaniment to many songs including, but not limited to: The Happy Birthday song and even the Electric Slide…yep, she was a surprise all right.

Dave breaking out the old clogs to Rocky Top...I heard he was sore the next day.

Also coinciding with Dave’s big 60th celebration was the Christopher’s 30th wedding anniversary. This is the veil Jeannie wore on their wedding day!

The big birthday surprise of the night was Kyle’s arrival from San Diego, California. It was, as always, great to see Kyle along with the entire Christopher family. (Scott, Lane, and Kyle)

Say "cheesey," Kyle.

A pensive Lane.

Pretty lights.

The night got craaazy.

Japanese Magnolia

2007-03-03T09:20:00.000-08:00

I am so ready for spring that I can hardly stand it! Not to mention how exciting it is to know that Day Light Saving's goes into effect almost a month early (march 11th) this year. The weather here is gorgeous and our Japanese magnolia's blooms have emerged in full force.

"San Francisco's fine."

2007-02-28T16:53:00.000-08:00

Check out the newest member to the blog world. Our friend Clint made a big jump from Atlanta, GA to San Fransico, Cali. for a job and a change of scenery. Come to think of it that's the second friend to be lured by sunny California. Maybe it's the ocean or all the beautiful people...

"San Francisco's fine. You sure gets lots of sun. San Francisco is fine. You sure get lots of sun. But I'm used to four seasons. California's got but one." -Bob Dylan, California

"When is rains, it pours."

2007-02-03T05:08:00.000-08:00

This is what Matt said when we returned yesterday from Matt’s Grandfather’s funeral to find our kitchen flooded by an over zealous toilet spraying water all over the place in our newly painted and tiled bathroom.

Frank Leakey, age 76 of Loganville, GA died January 30, 2007. He is survived by his wife, Fran Leakey; daughters and son-in-law, Nancy Franklin of Bethlehem, Janet and Jeff Ross of Conyers, Valerie Blalock of Grayson; son and daughter-in-law, David and Jan Leakey of Stone Mountain; 6 grandchildren, 3 great grandchildren.Despite being stricken with polio at the age of 24, resulting in 95% paralysis, Frank went on to obtain his CPA certificate and worked in the Atlanta area for 30 years. He served as Comptroller of Emory University Clinic, was instrumental in establishing Doctors Memorial Hospital in Atlanta and served as Comptroller of Stone Mountain Park until his retirement in 1978. He spent his retirement years in Sarasota, FL, where he combined his talent as an artist and his love for the ocean by painting seascapes. He was a strong and determined man of faith and served on the financial committee of Grace Methodist Church in Atlanta and later was treasurer at Belvedere Methodist Church in Decatur. Currently he was a member of Snellville United Methodist Church.

Let me give you some background first. Matt’s Grandfather has been very ill and battling “post polio-syndrome” for some time now and passed away this past Tuesday (January, 30th). For those of you wondering (or not), yes, that was Matt’s 31st birthday.

After we we came home from the funeral on Friday afternoon we found a kiddie pool forming in our kitchen.

The good: The "produit finale"

playing around with the camera's aperture

Matt's Birthday flowers, curtesy of Publix.
Even our Christmas amarylis opened to celebrate.

The Bad: The flood of 2007

Macy, always the helpful kitty.

The Ugly: The paint in the bathroom bubbled after hours of being hosed down by our toilet.

This makes me wanna just cry...

P.S. The tile survived.

One City, Many Voices

2007-01-28T06:26:00.000-08:00

We got the chance of a life-time (in my humblest opinion of course) to see the bestest band in the whole world last night at the Rialto.
Genre: Folk. "Which basically means every kind of different music genre from jazz and blues played in 3 chords."
Concert Series: One City, Many Voices
The music was beautiful. One of the coolest things about the concert was that EFO's opening act was the Morehouse Glee Club. They belted out a plethra of songs from old spirituals to old-fashioned barbershop quartet and even one break-out-the-djembes-bongo-tamborine-African song.
Eddie From Ohio, one of America's best kept secrets.

(L to R) Eddie Hartness, Robbie Shaefer, Julie Murphy Wells, Micheal Clem singing Walk Humbly Son.

Micheal Clem on bass
Julie and Micheal singing something.

MoreHouse Glee Club

The land of home owners...

2007-01-27T05:06:00.000-08:00

...makes you feel like a do-it-yourself, kind-of person especially when it comes to home improvement. We have Home Depot right down the street and the intranet at our fingertips. Why should we hire someone to do something as easy as home repairs or improvement this day and age? How hard can it be?

Our mission. To change our flooring from this nasty, curling-at-the-edges, stained-in-weird-places linoleum to beautiful new tile!

Well, a project that I foolishly estimated should take 8 to 10 hours has now taken 3 to 4 days! Not to mention that after two days of tiling our kitchen and downstairs bathroom our knees were begging us NEVER to do this again. However, the end result is very nice.

New terms/words I learned throughout this "little home improvement project":
Backerboard
Thinset
Wet-saw
Spacers
Grouting
Butane powered nail gun

Reinforcing the floor with backerboard. Yea, didn't know about needing this until we got started.
Jeremy (Matt's gracious and helpful brother) working in our teeny-tiny bathroom.

Trista (Jeremy's wife) and Jan (Matt's mom) even helped supervise.

These are a pair of knees that will be crying tomorrow.

Laying the tile at top the "thin-set."Again something I didn't know about 'til we started working.

Hayden paying a visit to check out the fun. This is her "waking-from-a-nap, what-you-talkin'-'bout-Willis" look.

Tiling into the night.

The very loud wet-saw to cut the tiles...still removing red dirt from the garage.

Day 2: Grouting

It took tons of self control not to cry as I spread black mud onto our new floor.

Yes, even I helped.

F.Y.I. If you leave a toilet out in the garage (parts and all) for more than a week in the middle of winter the plastic parts will rot.

Vernal Equinox?

2007-01-21T06:02:00.000-08:00

Matt decided to play around with the zoom as he took this picture.

The result was kind of psychedelic.

Matt's "boy's weekend" in Boone NC

2007-01-20T08:32:00.000-08:00

Every MLK weekend Matt packs his bags and heads off to Boone, N.C. There he is met by some old friends and professor (Dr. Brown) from his seminary days at RTS, Charlotte. This year he took his camera along, which was complimented as "sexy," and got some fun shots.

From the back deck of the cabin.

Also from the back deck...

Matt Miller, the Horse Whisperer...

...or not.

Discussing something that requires a football...

A pic from one of the hikes.

Sunset...I love photoshop.

A day at the High Museum of Art

2007-01-07T12:18:00.000-08:00

Matt's parents were so kind to give us a season pass to The High Museum of Art ("The High") for Christmas this year. Saturday was our first trip with many more to follow! The Louvre: The King’s collections and drawings is currenlty on exhibit and is excellent...brush up on your French history before you go.

The High at dusk

Athena Greek Goddess of civilization

Giovanni Maria Benzoni, The Veiled Rebekah. 1864

Tilman Riemenschneider, St. Andrew. ca. 1505

The High Museum of Art(translation: cool, but weird)

The ear

Adolph Gottlieb, Duet. 1962

Trying to understand Modern and Comtemporary Art

Thanks mom and dad!

Grace and Luke

2007-01-06T08:20:00.000-08:00

Last night we had dinner with some of the family and broke out the camera to take some shots of Grace laying next to Luke (Christi and Russell's new chocolate lab). As you can see someone caught the giggles when Luke tried to figure out who he was sharing a bed with.

Fun with Adobe Photoshop...red (and glowing green) eye no more.

Pretty cool, huh? Only 2 hours of tinkering to figure this out.