Lindsey’s Smile

Family Time

Been a good day today, spending time with all the girls.

Amy helped me make the pancakes today and we even got mom to try them! I think we might have convinced her to join the pancake crew on Saturday mornings. All day we’ve been lounging around, spending time wrestling and cuddling on the couch. Natalie is better, Amy is as crazy and as affectionate as ever when it comes to Lindsey, Lindsey has been near perfect, resting, eating, and just being cute.

Necessity of Community

Experiences the past two days have reminded me again the necessity of community. Understood that community can be defined with a number of terms, phrases, expectations, etc. However one might define community with a set of words, we all must agree to its necessity.

I was in the city Wednesday with some men from the presbytery and with a new found friend from World Harvest. The conversation floated around ministry and our investment as pastors in the lives of our congregants. We talked about Sonship, gospel-centered living and ministry, curriculum, and other stuff. Then the  conversation got personal and our lunch host challenged us, “Who are the men in your life that know you, that ask you hard questions, that pray for you, that minister to you?” He talked about men with whom he made a covenant to meet and pray for, for ten years. He and other men agreed to meet and minister to one another for ten years, trekking to a retreat in Canada to recharge, refuel and remind each other of the gospel.

As the sharing went on, we were reminded of the moral failures within our community, the ministry burnout, the jaded hearts of men in vocational ministry. I was in that dialog reminded of why I need men in my life to know me and to pray for me. I was reminded why I meet my friend and co-laborer for coffee each Friday, why I go ice climbing with my brothers every winter, and why pint-nights are essential to my health and growth not just as a man, but as a husband, father, coach, friend, and pastor.

In reading Nouwen’s book, Advent and Christmas, I am reminded in today’s reading (Day 6) to be in community. Sadly, I have been out of true community for a while. My life has gotten busy, my world has changed, other men in my world are strained and beaten, … what better time to be part of a mens’ community? It is NOW, that I need men that can hear my desperation, my sin, my heart for the gospel, the joy and love that I have for my wife, and my ever need for Jesus.

We must create community: we must talk about it, we must foster it, cultivate it, seek it, offer it to others, and confront all enemies that challenge it.

We’re Home!

We are home finally, spent the night here last night, felt like we were on a weird vacation. As we brought our stuff into the hospital, Kara was schlepping the laptop, her purse, and a 9 lb baby down the hall. I could not help but feel like others might judge me a little for making a pregnant woman (entering the labor and delivery area) carry ANYTHING at all! She was a sport, and as I said in previous notes, a rock star all week.

So now we enter into the new rhythm of life. We’ve been on hiatus from normalcy for some time, now it is time to find and establish our new normal. What will life be like with 5 of us? How will the girls help? What new chores will they need to help out around the house and with Lindsey. What will Lindsey’s personality be like? We enter into a fun stage in my mind (despite the issues of feeding, crying, lack of sleep, etc.) I am genuinely looking forward to this new adventure.

God has given me the grace already that I need to be a father of three girls. Learning patience, care, affection and discipline has been difficult for me in the past. I feel just now that I am understanding more of what it might require of me to care for all my women well. I am learning again the joy of serving Kara, ministering to her, alleviating her of tasks or worries that allow her to come alive as a mother. I am so thankful for her, for our three precious daughters, and look forward to the coming years.

Lindsey May

Lindsey May arrived at 6:35 pm at 8 lbs 14 oz and 20.5 inches long. Everyone seems well, they are checking blood to make sure both Kara and Lindsey are healthy. What a long day, after 11 hours of being here, 10 in labor, all of a sudden Lindsey dropped and Kara pushed for 10 minutes. We are quietly resting after family and several friends were here to celebrate with us. More to come tomorrow we are sure.

Still Waiting

Kara’s been awesome all day today, we are still waiting for Lindsey to arrive. Things are progressing, but slowly. I am so thankful for Kara, her care and love for the kids, she’s a rockstar.

Little Baby

I am excited for Kara today. She’s been so awesome the past several months carrying this little baby. I am very thankful for her.

What if Starbucks Marketed Like the Church

A funny, yet sad statement about “church marketing”:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7_dZTrjw9I

From my iPod

Blogging from my iPod, is that strange or what? I guess two sentences is not blogging is it?

I Dont’ Know What…

Not sure what I am feeling, but I am still longing for a day that I can process and capture all the stuff that has happened lately. Plus, we just scheduled Kara’s induction for the 19th, so if baby is not here by then, she will be soon after 7:15 that morning!

So, there are obviously things that are happening which are good and such a blessing. I just feel unrest in my soul these days. I don’t feel the rhythms that a personality like mine needs: regular rest, exercise, diet, regular meetings, reading time, study and prep time. I feel behind in just about everything. I am learning my place at the church as well, learning what an associate pastor does, his role and advocacy for those with whom he comes in contact.

I do plan to spend some digital equity on my time of examination and ordination, I beg your patience! :)