True Christians

As I sat in church yesterday I started looking around at all the people who by their own doing have given so much and blessed our family, especially at this time of the birth of our new little boy and girl.

The older gospel singer sister who showed up at our door and proceeded to vacuum before holding the babies and generally just being a joy to visit with.  The young couple who serves in the nursery and gave us their beautiful but used crib--even drilling holes so that we could raise the mattress higher to make it easier to reach newborn babies.  The primary pianist and ward chorister whose generosity and friendship has meant so much to us.  The sister who lives just up the hill across the street who stopped at a yard sale when she saw two matching rocking chairs for newborns, bought them, and gave them to us as a surprise gift.  The family--particularly the dad who personifies "service"--who have become such good friends--whose service has blessed not only our family in meaningful and lasting ways but the lives of so many others.  Those who have brought us dinner in recent days, or given so many other helpful items (ie: diapers and baby clothes).  So many thoughtful acts of love.

I was overcome.  And I had an epiphany as I sat there among ward "family".  If Christ said that the first and greatest commandment was to love God and the second was to love our neighbor, then I really was surrounded by true disciples of Jesus Christ.  I also better understood grace, because I feel so undeserving of all that love, and yet it is so generously and freely offered.  "I stand all amazed" in more ways than one at such love.  These angels are Saints to me.

Something Old, Something New

Just trying out a new blog header:



Old Header--hard to part with:


Borrowed Camera:

On A Personal Note...

Guess it's time for a new blog header! Our family has now grown by one--a boy. Jericho Bryven (after his grandpa's Bryant and Steven) was born Monday, November 2nd--8lbs 1oz, 22 inches long. Both he and his mom are doing well.

O How Lovely Was The Spring Break

After finishing a major paper one week and taking a major exam the next week, I was thrilled to have a spring break/vacation last week. The break from grad school also coincided with a week long spring break from my day job teaching school. Not one day was wasted on this trip with my wonderful (and very fun family) across parts of the South we'd never seen before.

Parts of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Northwest Florida with its amazingly beautiful beaches, with white, fluffy sand and clear turquoise-blue water; very pleasant swimming, sand castle building, and perfect weather. I couldn't have asked for more. Except maybe a Caribbean cruise :) Lot's of fun, in chronological order:

Baton Rouge, Louisiana:

View of Downtown Baton Rouge and the Mississippi River from the top of the State Capitol building:


Across the street from Tiger stadium, visiting the live tiger mascot:



A brief temple "drive-by":



New Orleans, Louisiana (Thanks Priceline for the great deal on the 4-star Marriott right on the edge of the French Quarter complete with a great view of the crescent city and the Mississippi river from our 39th floor hotel room):

Best girls ever:



Beignets from "Cafe Du Monde":



Jackson Square (with the St. Louis Cathedral in the background):



Bourbon Street in the French Quarter:



Effects of Hurricane Katrina:





"Musicians Village" being rebuilt (on stilts four feet above the Katrina water line):



Battle site for the War of 1812 Battle of New Orleans American victory, led by Andrew Jackson:



Pensacola, Florida beach (if this was not paradise, it was very, very close):



Camping in Northwest, Florida:





Seaside, Florida (the site of a mater-planned "New Urbanism" type community I've studied about in my graduate work and also where the Truman show was filmed):








"Lovely" seems to sum it up just right.

Merry Christmas from San Antonio!

Merry Christmas from San Antonio! It's not too often that it gets this cold down here in South Texas. We didn't last long, but it was fun to bundle up for Family Night and head downtown to see the lights. Here we are in front of the Christmas tree at Main Plaza, home to the San Fernando Cathedral.
It's as beautiful as it is historical. It marks the very center of town. Inside the front left doors are the remains of Davy Crockett and other heroes of the Battle of the Alamo. We were among the very few people visiting the usually packed Alamo that night. It was a calm, silent night, and we were mindful of the reminder the Christmas lights provide of the Light of the World. We are so grateful for our Savior, Jesus Christ. Our hearts rejoice as we contemplate his humble birth, his incomparable life, and his marvelous Atonement. It is He that gives meaning, not just to Christmas, but to our entire lives. Merry Christmas, indeed.


"One silent night in Bethlehem, God filled the earth with hope so real, joy so pure, and love so true--our hearts still rejoice today."

A Child's Prayer

This morning Adelaide (who will be three at the end of November) woke up early and came downstairs all by herself to have breakfast with me. Just the two us, sitting right by each other at the table eating Raisin Bran. She wanted to be the one to "bless the food". This was her sweet little prayer:

"Heavenly Father, thank you for this food. And please bless Dad cause he has to go to work. And please bless that Jesus can come and stay with us. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen."

Adelaide--You are the sweetest little girl and I love you so much! And thanks for our little "Daddy-Addy" breakfast date this morning, and for blowing me kisses at the door...


PS: My girls bring too much joy to describe. Here we are holding hands at the zoo:


Adelaide and Kamorah at home: