A grand completion! Here are the stats...

After 144 hours, or 6 full days, and 192 episodes we've finished watching all 8 seasons of "24."  Ok, I know, its just a TV show, but we were a little addicted, and it sounds a lot worse in writing than when we were in the midst of Jack Bauer's heroic escapades.  But really our bigger achievements are as follows: we have reached 80% of our recommended budget, baked over 600 Christmas cookies, surpassed 160,000 miles on our car, and received 26 shots between the four of us in a months time (resulting in crying boys, resulting in many-a-toothbrush from the health department, and multiple ice cream cone outings before 11am). 

All that (okay, minus the "24") constitutes our last preparations for heading overseas.  Right now we are enjoying beautiful sunny 80 degree weather outside of Orlando, where we'll attend a pre-field orientation this week. We will then travel up the east coast to meet with more individuals interested in partnering with us.  As we move closer to departing (hopefully we'll learn the date this week?!?), we are getting more and more excited, and more and more worried that we will forget to complete all we need to before leaving the US.

Thank You...

...to whomever left this generous gift on our porch! We are so blessed by how all we need is being provided through folks like you. Since I mentioned it, I may as well write that we are currently at 78% of the promised financial support we need before heading overseas. Whooohooo

How do you cook a turkey?

A woman asked her mother how to cook a turkey.  Her mother went through the preparation and cooking.  When the mother finished, her daughter asked her why she cut off the top of the turkey during preparation.  The mother thought about it, then said that was how her mother taught her.  So the women then went to her grandmother to ask why she cut off the top of the turkey.  Her grandmother told her that was what her own mother taught her.  Thankfully the woman's great grandmother was still alive.  She then asked her why she cut off the top of the turkey.  "Oh," she said, "my oven was too small for a whole turkey."
As the Christmas season is in full swing, I am strongly considering which of our ways of celebrating are simply traditions, done because that is how we've always done them, or do they truly have meaning.  Some of this maybe due to a 3 year old in the house that constantly asks "why."  But, even more so it may be due to a class called Form and Meaning.  As we hope to teach truth to a completely different culture, we need to consider what is truth and what is simply part of our culture that isn't important to transfer to others. 
As parents now too, John and I are trying to be very intentional with our children as to what we are celebrating this Christmas.  So as we put up decorations and consider activities, I am evaluating if the form (tradition, decoration, activity) really communicates the meaning I desire.  I've decided upon an advent calender, that counts down the days to Christmas.  Each day moves through history, explaining how the birth of the Son was a long awaited promise.  We have a couple nativity sets to decorate with and will bake a birthday cake for the 25th.  I've always looked forward to unloading my stocking Christmas morning, but I haven't found a good way of incorporating that form with the meaning we are teaching our boys.  Let me know if you have any ideas!?!

Happy Birthday Whitman

Erin did it again, decorating an amazing cake featuring Whitman's latest enunciation: "bvoon"s.

 

He loved playing in them as much as eating them.

 

 

A new favorite: Not a lick of frosting left on those crumbs!

 

 And a bedtime science lesson (nope, no helium here) for the newly minted one year old.

Just the beginning!?!

We stayed the night in New Orleans prior to visiting Pensacola.  While there I, Erin, wanted to experience some authentic Cajun food.  So for dinner that night we ate Gumbo, Cat Fish, Shrimp, Alligator, Meat Pies, and Frog Legs.  Yes, frog legs. 

They were pretty good, tasted like grilled chicken to me.  Caedmon actually favored the frog legs, and the shrimp!  It felt like a brief view into our future, trying new foods, in another culture, overseas.  These options were pretty safe though, where as overseas it may be very different. 

These pictures are from October 31st.  I'm use to bundling up on Halloween; this year we were able to actually play in the water. 

Caedmon took this one!

No Phone!

Yesterday we visited the beach where I spent 7 of my first 9 summers, near Pensacola, FL. In all the excitement of visiting the place for the first time in 20 years, I forgot I had our cell phone in my pocket and well... the rest is history. Enjoy some photos and know that email will be the best way to get a hold of us for the next few days (update: we got another phone, so you can reach us at the same #).