Sunday, January 22, 2006
A Time To PRAY
I want to find a time to pray for Heather and Mike's baby. The little guy or gal is facing a heart surgery right after birth. We want to find a time in the day to coordinate prayer. I was thinking that each of us could make a pact to pray every dinner for our little babe.
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
New Community Member
Naji and Anne had their third little boy today - guess that means I need to go buy another Walter book. The little community is certainly growing! We'll try to do our part beginning in 5 months (Brooke would prefer I say 17 here).
Monday, January 16, 2006
Untitled from BC
Well, here it is. I am officially a blogging member of the community, with full administrative rights. I'd like to dedicate this posting to John, for his encouragement and care throughout the years and for his supportive comments blogged on 30 December.
Sunday, January 08, 2006
Toronto Star Article
An experiment in `new monasticism'
SHARING | Two young families pool their resources to live in the style of early Christians, writes Leslie Scrivener
Jan. 8, 2006. 01:00 AM
In the little Parkdale house they share, two young families sit down to dinner — a scene that would be completely ordinary were it not for the reasons they live together.
There's a comfortable feeling as the parents and children link hands and begin their meal with a prayer. Books on the side table reveal a bit about their interests: Life Together, Dietrich Bonhoeffer's book on living in a community, and The Political Theology of Paul. That's St. Paul.
Though it doesn't look like it, these two married couples — with their babies, donated furniture and Holly the dog — are living what they call the "new monasticism."
It's a movement that started about a decade ago in the United States and has been slowly spreading there and now in Canada.
The two families, which are in their third month of communal living, share their beliefs in the same way they share the cooking, cleaning, child-care — and all the money they earn.
When Ben ElzingaCheng was offered a job as a research technician at Mount Sinai Hospital, after his arrival in Toronto in November from British Columbia, he and wife Angela sat down with the other couple to discuss whether he should take the job.
Angela, a community organizer had just given birth to their first child, Jacob. The other couple — Jodie Boyer Hatlem, who's working on her PhD at the University of Toronto, and street pastor Doug Johnson Hatlem have two children: Johanna, 2, and Simeon, 11 months.
How would Ben's working full-time affect their little community? In the end, they decided he should take the position.
Doug and Jodie, who are Americans, are pacifists deeply opposed to the war in Iraq.
Ben and Angela are Canadians who feel the same way.
These four monastics are all Christians who grew up in middle-class, evangelical families.
They reject the consumerism of North American culture and they are dedicated to living simply, offering hospitality to those in need, sharing what they earn and practising peace-making.
In a way, each of them has gone beyond the traditional Christianity in which they were raised.
"I go back to my faith community — my church — and tell them we're pacifists and it's almost like it's heretical," says Jodie.
Doug grew up in a fundamentalist Baptist congregation, but his life was changed when one of his university professors, a Mennonite, introduced him to the concept of pacifism.
"I couldn't shake the idea that you can't take the gospel seriously if you don't take seriously the pacifist spirit of early Christianity," he says.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
They share their beliefs as they share the cooking, cleaning, child-care — and all the money they earn
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"With all the Bible-thumping I'd been raised on, I fought hard against it, but ultimately I changed."
Says Ben: "When I was growing up, my family's church focused on personal salvation. The most important thing was evangelism and reaching non-believers. And if you worked hard, God would reward you.
"But I wanted my faith to be a bit more real. I always felt a disconnect between what my faith commanded and how I was living my life, about actually putting faith into action.
"If I had a career and a house and family and went to church on Sunday, it wouldn't feel real."
Angela's family was committed to Christian education and she later worked organizing communities — one was to help families in Grand Rapids, Mich., have more influence in their children's education.
"I've been pushed beyond how I grew up," she says. "Here I can offer hospitality in ways I wouldn't do myself. I grew up middle-class, my education is high but I want to live differently."
They model their lives on the first Christian communities. Those early Christians, as described in The Acts of the Apostles, rejected private ownership and shared their possessions communally. Those who owned property sold it and gave the money to the apostles to be distributed to those in need.
According to Stanley Hauerwas, a theology professor at Duke University in Durham, N.C., new monasticism is exactly what Christianity needs now.
"We are watching the death of Christianity, particularly Protestantism," Hauerwas says. "It's become so deeply accommodating to the world, people are thinking: `Why you would bother with it?'"
How accommodating?
"The war. Christians don't have a problem with the war .... The other accommodation of the church is money. Christians think we need a lot of it. They want to be upper middle-class and believe in Jesus, too.
"They worry about how gays are destroying the family and don't get the fact that what's destroying the family is money — not gays."
A block from Duke University, in a poor black neighbourhood, is another new monastic community.
Ten people, blacks and whites, share meals and open their doors to neighbours in need. Recently released prisoners and people who have lost their apartments because they couldn't pay the rent have been invited to stay.
The Durham monastics have been inspired in part by the Catholic Worker Movement, which also has a community in Toronto that includes James Loney, one of the four Christian peacemakers who were taken hostage in Baghdad on Nov. 26.
Catholic Worker groups stress hospitality, voluntary poverty, prayer and community living.
Back in Parkdale, where life together is only a few months old, the two couples are still sorting out exactly how they will practise their new monasticism as they get to know their neighbourhood, find work and welcome a new baby into their midst.
"But we have prayed about this a lot," says Ben ElzingaCheng. "This is the right thing to do."
SHARING | Two young families pool their resources to live in the style of early Christians, writes Leslie Scrivener
Jan. 8, 2006. 01:00 AM
In the little Parkdale house they share, two young families sit down to dinner — a scene that would be completely ordinary were it not for the reasons they live together.
There's a comfortable feeling as the parents and children link hands and begin their meal with a prayer. Books on the side table reveal a bit about their interests: Life Together, Dietrich Bonhoeffer's book on living in a community, and The Political Theology of Paul. That's St. Paul.
Though it doesn't look like it, these two married couples — with their babies, donated furniture and Holly the dog — are living what they call the "new monasticism."
It's a movement that started about a decade ago in the United States and has been slowly spreading there and now in Canada.
The two families, which are in their third month of communal living, share their beliefs in the same way they share the cooking, cleaning, child-care — and all the money they earn.
When Ben ElzingaCheng was offered a job as a research technician at Mount Sinai Hospital, after his arrival in Toronto in November from British Columbia, he and wife Angela sat down with the other couple to discuss whether he should take the job.
Angela, a community organizer had just given birth to their first child, Jacob. The other couple — Jodie Boyer Hatlem, who's working on her PhD at the University of Toronto, and street pastor Doug Johnson Hatlem have two children: Johanna, 2, and Simeon, 11 months.
How would Ben's working full-time affect their little community? In the end, they decided he should take the position.
Doug and Jodie, who are Americans, are pacifists deeply opposed to the war in Iraq.
Ben and Angela are Canadians who feel the same way.
These four monastics are all Christians who grew up in middle-class, evangelical families.
They reject the consumerism of North American culture and they are dedicated to living simply, offering hospitality to those in need, sharing what they earn and practising peace-making.
In a way, each of them has gone beyond the traditional Christianity in which they were raised.
"I go back to my faith community — my church — and tell them we're pacifists and it's almost like it's heretical," says Jodie.
Doug grew up in a fundamentalist Baptist congregation, but his life was changed when one of his university professors, a Mennonite, introduced him to the concept of pacifism.
"I couldn't shake the idea that you can't take the gospel seriously if you don't take seriously the pacifist spirit of early Christianity," he says.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
They share their beliefs as they share the cooking, cleaning, child-care — and all the money they earn
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"With all the Bible-thumping I'd been raised on, I fought hard against it, but ultimately I changed."
Says Ben: "When I was growing up, my family's church focused on personal salvation. The most important thing was evangelism and reaching non-believers. And if you worked hard, God would reward you.
"But I wanted my faith to be a bit more real. I always felt a disconnect between what my faith commanded and how I was living my life, about actually putting faith into action.
"If I had a career and a house and family and went to church on Sunday, it wouldn't feel real."
Angela's family was committed to Christian education and she later worked organizing communities — one was to help families in Grand Rapids, Mich., have more influence in their children's education.
"I've been pushed beyond how I grew up," she says. "Here I can offer hospitality in ways I wouldn't do myself. I grew up middle-class, my education is high but I want to live differently."
They model their lives on the first Christian communities. Those early Christians, as described in The Acts of the Apostles, rejected private ownership and shared their possessions communally. Those who owned property sold it and gave the money to the apostles to be distributed to those in need.
According to Stanley Hauerwas, a theology professor at Duke University in Durham, N.C., new monasticism is exactly what Christianity needs now.
"We are watching the death of Christianity, particularly Protestantism," Hauerwas says. "It's become so deeply accommodating to the world, people are thinking: `Why you would bother with it?'"
How accommodating?
"The war. Christians don't have a problem with the war .... The other accommodation of the church is money. Christians think we need a lot of it. They want to be upper middle-class and believe in Jesus, too.
"They worry about how gays are destroying the family and don't get the fact that what's destroying the family is money — not gays."
A block from Duke University, in a poor black neighbourhood, is another new monastic community.
Ten people, blacks and whites, share meals and open their doors to neighbours in need. Recently released prisoners and people who have lost their apartments because they couldn't pay the rent have been invited to stay.
The Durham monastics have been inspired in part by the Catholic Worker Movement, which also has a community in Toronto that includes James Loney, one of the four Christian peacemakers who were taken hostage in Baghdad on Nov. 26.
Catholic Worker groups stress hospitality, voluntary poverty, prayer and community living.
Back in Parkdale, where life together is only a few months old, the two couples are still sorting out exactly how they will practise their new monasticism as they get to know their neighbourhood, find work and welcome a new baby into their midst.
"But we have prayed about this a lot," says Ben ElzingaCheng. "This is the right thing to do."
Wednesday, January 04, 2006
waiting for Elijah
Jessica spent New Year's here and a good time was had by all.
We really need to consider our next steps as a community. We have room for one more person. We wonder if we should fill it or whether we should save it for Elijah.
We are in a rushrushwaitwait sort of pattern right at the moment.
So, I have been trying to remind myself to do the good that is set out before me. However, I don't want that to devolve into some pitiful Calvinist ethic (sorry to all my Calvin friends) whereby we fulfill our calling by being a petty bureaucrat for the state (I think a street sweep might actually be a holy occupation.) I guess what I am left wondering is if I should be out there chasing down Jesus or if I ask hard enough he might just come knocking on my door. Behold, I stand....and I was everywhere naked, and hungry, sick and worn.... How have I got to this point where I can't see him. Ok. So, this is the sort of introspection I promised myself I wouldn't bother the blog with. However, I'm going to end with prayer and I hope you can pray with me.
Lord, help me to stop being such a shortsighted, caught up in my own worried world, fool. Please help me to stop being so suspicious of all the people you bring into my life: catergorizing them, judging them, dispensing with them... Allow me to come into the bold faith of one of your true disciples and please fill me with your love that (truly) moves the world and each of us to eternal life with you. Amen.
Any New Year's resolutions you would care to share?
Friday, December 30, 2005
Wednesday, December 28, 2005
The Car is dead. Merry Christmas!
So are little purple-ish civic is finished. We were heading up to Buckley on the 23rd and she broke down. Luckily we got to a gas station and weren't stranded. We ended up having to rent a car, load our present in it, and leave the car problem for the New Years (there may be a chapter II.) However, it looks like Ben, Angela, Jacob, Johanna, Simeon, Doug, and Jodie are now the proud owners of a big, blue van. We have a communitymobile (for better or for worse) so we better find some place to drive.
Thursday, December 22, 2005
A cRAZY pEACE
I already indicated that this is not going to be the most contemplative Christmas. Kids are wonderful but they blast the stuffy notion that worship is all about being quiet, and thoughtful, and quietly introspective. There are moments: candles lit in the dark, little eyes mesmerized, Johanna's little voice singing "Away in a Manger..."
...more often Johanna is dragging Simeon (or our Dog Holly) around the living room trying to wrap him in swaddling clothes and demanding that I put a bedsheet on my head and play Jo'fef to her Mary.
I can't say that I mind. I haven't felt altogether introspective as of late anyhow. Those of you who know me closely might be able to discern that this is not an altogether bad thing. It has been good to be busy, to not get caught up in the host of things that buzz around my head to no end... to banish doubts and just do. So, I am glad for the jubilating, crazy peace around here..
Tuesday, December 20, 2005
catching up
so, jode, you can celebrate that i actually figured this thing out!!!
yes, though i walk through the silicon valley of techies, i remain in cyberspace darkness.
so, i'll write!!!!
i am just finishing an evening at Jeremiah's Promise (where i will be working full time in the new year--living there half of the week!) filled with gifts for three of our young ladies (ages 18-20), my three -workers (the founder and director, the resident manager, and our social worker) and one of our former girls and her baby (who greatly enjoys chewing on tissue paper). i received some lovely gifts, but they just aren't me. i really hate when that happens--you know a big gift certificate to a sushi restaraunt to a girl who doesn't eat sushi! so...the joy will be in blessing others with some of my gifts. i seem to find that i have more fun giving gifts that people really enjoy anyways. =)
you'll find out slightly more about my new job in your christmas letter--sorry john, your's hasn't gone out yet. the cards are going out in shifts! some, like most years, will be after the fact, but hey, i'm all about spreading out the joy for longer periods of time! ;)
and did someone say boggle!!! wow, i haven't had the joy of playing for quite some time. yes, we will indeed do so in times to come.
did any of you see the movie "the chronicles of narnia" yet??? it is AWESOME!!!
hmmm...i'm being very choppy in this vignette. alas. sorry. just to let you know that things haven't changed in my personality too much, let me mention a few tidbits from my quirky file. while in a rush, i spilled coffee on myself the other day. i also wonder if i have early altzheimer's (not to be overly joky b/c my grandmas does have it and it's tough!) b/c i never cease to amaze myself at the number of times i leave things behind. i'm worse than when i was a kid!!! i recently received my favorite ice cream from a friend--bubble gum!!! now why is it that this wonderful flavor is reserved for creameries and NOT the grocery store???
surprise of the year: angie needs to reform her diet. yes, heath, after all of your imploring of me to cut my sugar intake, i'm finally realizing the need to use this addictive substance sparingly. you see, western medicine can no longer help me in certain areas. my allergies remain a constant source of nagging and hopefully comic (and not only tragic) relief. however, there is nothing comedic about the headaches, sore throat, thousands of used kleenex, and sinus pressure. yowza!! so, my allergist, after having had 7 years of allergy shots as a kid and 1 1/2 years as an adult, said that my shots weren't working and he couldn't help me. apparently, i had exhausted his expertise, not to mention umpteen different vareties of allergy drugs on the market. soooo...i'm joining the ranks of the medically disenchanted seeking healing and health via vitamins, minerals, better diet, deep breathing, etc. ahh...yes. just a short time ago i was laughing at the thought of visualization. i tried it in one of my counseling clases and just felt absurd. well, the tables have turned and i'm open to so much more. no, i'm not even thinking about anything remotely related to eastern religion but i am open to prayer healing, fasting, yoga, eating whole garlic cloves (great antioxidant but disgusting tasting!!!!), and the like. this will be quite the journey. the new year shall prove the strength of my committment!
speaking of health, please be in prayer for my dad. a few weeks ago, he mentioned to my mom that he experienced something that felt as bad/or worse than a heart attack. of course, being the dutch farmer that he is, he did not wake my mom in the middle of the night when it occurred!!! so, like me recently, he had an endoscopy--sticking a scope down into one's stomach. he then had a biopsy to see if there was any cancer. his father died in his early 50's (same age as my dad) of throat cancer--which my dad has always said would be his fate. dad has not gone back to the dr. yet, so we don't know the status.
alas--nothing new in my love life--but i think a guy asked me on a date--a mention of coffee or dinner from someone at church on the prayer team, of which i'm co-leader. hmmmm....not crazy about the guy, but i'll try not to "kick him to the curb" too soon as i'm often accused of doing among the girls. ;) the closest thing to love in the romantic sense i've experienced lately is more of my roommates getting married. yasi will get married in early feb. so again i am roommate hunting. i have a revolving door of marriable ladies. but, alas God is ever faithful in providing new roommates, a job where i can build family-like relationships (in time), and a few solid guy friends who stand in the gap of showing me the care, love, and consideration of a the opposite gender that has taken me longer than the average female to discover.
i will close with a verse that i've committed to memory and have come to love from isaiah 30.
"repentance and rest are your salvation,
and quietness and trust are your strength."
may the Lord grant us an increasing measure of these.
with love bigger than distance, deeper than daily experiences, and more faithful than my blog entries,
ang
yes, though i walk through the silicon valley of techies, i remain in cyberspace darkness.
so, i'll write!!!!
i am just finishing an evening at Jeremiah's Promise (where i will be working full time in the new year--living there half of the week!) filled with gifts for three of our young ladies (ages 18-20), my three -workers (the founder and director, the resident manager, and our social worker) and one of our former girls and her baby (who greatly enjoys chewing on tissue paper). i received some lovely gifts, but they just aren't me. i really hate when that happens--you know a big gift certificate to a sushi restaraunt to a girl who doesn't eat sushi! so...the joy will be in blessing others with some of my gifts. i seem to find that i have more fun giving gifts that people really enjoy anyways. =)
you'll find out slightly more about my new job in your christmas letter--sorry john, your's hasn't gone out yet. the cards are going out in shifts! some, like most years, will be after the fact, but hey, i'm all about spreading out the joy for longer periods of time! ;)
and did someone say boggle!!! wow, i haven't had the joy of playing for quite some time. yes, we will indeed do so in times to come.
did any of you see the movie "the chronicles of narnia" yet??? it is AWESOME!!!
hmmm...i'm being very choppy in this vignette. alas. sorry. just to let you know that things haven't changed in my personality too much, let me mention a few tidbits from my quirky file. while in a rush, i spilled coffee on myself the other day. i also wonder if i have early altzheimer's (not to be overly joky b/c my grandmas does have it and it's tough!) b/c i never cease to amaze myself at the number of times i leave things behind. i'm worse than when i was a kid!!! i recently received my favorite ice cream from a friend--bubble gum!!! now why is it that this wonderful flavor is reserved for creameries and NOT the grocery store???
surprise of the year: angie needs to reform her diet. yes, heath, after all of your imploring of me to cut my sugar intake, i'm finally realizing the need to use this addictive substance sparingly. you see, western medicine can no longer help me in certain areas. my allergies remain a constant source of nagging and hopefully comic (and not only tragic) relief. however, there is nothing comedic about the headaches, sore throat, thousands of used kleenex, and sinus pressure. yowza!! so, my allergist, after having had 7 years of allergy shots as a kid and 1 1/2 years as an adult, said that my shots weren't working and he couldn't help me. apparently, i had exhausted his expertise, not to mention umpteen different vareties of allergy drugs on the market. soooo...i'm joining the ranks of the medically disenchanted seeking healing and health via vitamins, minerals, better diet, deep breathing, etc. ahh...yes. just a short time ago i was laughing at the thought of visualization. i tried it in one of my counseling clases and just felt absurd. well, the tables have turned and i'm open to so much more. no, i'm not even thinking about anything remotely related to eastern religion but i am open to prayer healing, fasting, yoga, eating whole garlic cloves (great antioxidant but disgusting tasting!!!!), and the like. this will be quite the journey. the new year shall prove the strength of my committment!
speaking of health, please be in prayer for my dad. a few weeks ago, he mentioned to my mom that he experienced something that felt as bad/or worse than a heart attack. of course, being the dutch farmer that he is, he did not wake my mom in the middle of the night when it occurred!!! so, like me recently, he had an endoscopy--sticking a scope down into one's stomach. he then had a biopsy to see if there was any cancer. his father died in his early 50's (same age as my dad) of throat cancer--which my dad has always said would be his fate. dad has not gone back to the dr. yet, so we don't know the status.
alas--nothing new in my love life--but i think a guy asked me on a date--a mention of coffee or dinner from someone at church on the prayer team, of which i'm co-leader. hmmmm....not crazy about the guy, but i'll try not to "kick him to the curb" too soon as i'm often accused of doing among the girls. ;) the closest thing to love in the romantic sense i've experienced lately is more of my roommates getting married. yasi will get married in early feb. so again i am roommate hunting. i have a revolving door of marriable ladies. but, alas God is ever faithful in providing new roommates, a job where i can build family-like relationships (in time), and a few solid guy friends who stand in the gap of showing me the care, love, and consideration of a the opposite gender that has taken me longer than the average female to discover.
i will close with a verse that i've committed to memory and have come to love from isaiah 30.
"repentance and rest are your salvation,
and quietness and trust are your strength."
may the Lord grant us an increasing measure of these.
with love bigger than distance, deeper than daily experiences, and more faithful than my blog entries,
ang
Monday, December 19, 2005
Winter Solstice
Perhaps it is just the waning of the days... But, I am sad about the paired down New Year's Eve extravaganza, sad that I can't seem to get even an e-conversation going, frustrated with telephones, and jetplanes, wishing that I could see you all more, together, in one room, again, soon, pregnant, or not, flirting with soon to be wives, or knitting, or grading, or worrying, or joking, or making lasagna. Yet, I am lucky in that I CAN see Angela nursing, and worrying, and planning, and making buddah :) kole (sp). Glad that we can be here for this important new start and hoping that we are making a welcome here for the new parents big enough to make our community proud.
Sunday, December 18, 2005
Christmas in Iowa
With Jodie's encouragement - this is my first real attempt at posting on this blog. It's 6:30 AM and I am once again wrestling with the sermon I have to give in just 3 hours. It's cold, windy, and snowy outside - another typical Iowan winter. Yet, there's a beauty about this season that I can't get over. The crunch of the snow under one's feet, the iceicles hanging from the trees, and simply the stillness that's in the air reminds me again and again of one of my favorite verses - "Be still and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10) ..... In the midst of the busyness of this season (and for some of you 'parenthood') I pray that each of you will be able to simply take time to know ... that He is God. .....
In His Everlasting Love,
John
In His Everlasting Love,
John
New Year's Discussion
I am for one missing the big new year's plannnings. We are hoping for a community here that will spring up as big as our dreams at all of those meetings. Yet, I have been wishing to have the New Year's gang stalking us a bit more, making sure we are handling things all right, worried that we haven't forgotten you, ready to step in and give us advice....
I am even missing boggle. If I could be at the Cabin, or Anne and Naj's place with everyone I would even be a good sport about boggle. I would only tease John judiciously. I might even relent an play a game of MONOPOLY with him. Of course, I wouldn't play to win just play so that John wouldn't win (even if that meant joining in a co-op with the rest of the players.) I would enjoy getting another chance at Apples to Apples and I would let you all take turn babysitting our snotty nosed kids.
Saturday, December 17, 2005
and he shall reign forever and ever
We still are asking for prayer for the CPTers. The deadline was extended from last Thursday to last Saturday and now no news (except perhaps an Iraqi man sent to help advocate for them may have gone missing as well.) I am not entirely sure if I titled this entry that out of irony or hope. This is only to say that it is frustrating to hear the proclamation "PEACE ON EARTH" and yet see no peace... (just the perpetual crosses borne as the Peaceful challenge power). At best, Peace on earth, is a prayer. One that in the present state of the church (especially in the states) only seems unsubversive somehow at Chistmastime. Yet, may all that worship America be flung off their thrones and out of their vain imagining and may Christ indeed reign forever and ever.
Friday, December 16, 2005
Wednesday, December 14, 2005
Christmas
Its beginning to feel a lot more like Christmas around here. There is certainly nativity around here with Jacob suckling vigorously. Johanna can often be found "reading" her Christmas book on the couch and I must admit some pride of generativity when she says "there was no room for them in the inn" or "they were sore afraid." Finally, Doug is doing his best to be with those for whom there is not room. Life is slowing down for me, classes are done, and I am looking forward to some rest. Simeon is crying off his little head as I write....not wanting to take a nap.,
So, wailing, suckling, and the phrases of the Christmas story envelop us here.
We are attempting to carve out some Holy spots of contemplation... and yet... who knows if Christmas has ever been a time for contemplating ... getting forced around the country, counted, jostled, trying to make a birth in a stable work and then fleeing in the middle of night to Egypt. Doesn't sound too contemplative. So perhaps, it is ok that we work in our bits of awe, now and again, in the midst of bustling.
So, wailing, suckling, and the phrases of the Christmas story envelop us here.
We are attempting to carve out some Holy spots of contemplation... and yet... who knows if Christmas has ever been a time for contemplating ... getting forced around the country, counted, jostled, trying to make a birth in a stable work and then fleeing in the middle of night to Egypt. Doesn't sound too contemplative. So perhaps, it is ok that we work in our bits of awe, now and again, in the midst of bustling.
Monday, December 05, 2005
Kidnapped CPTers...
The group that has kidnapped the CPTers has announced that they will kill them by Thurday if the US doesn't release prisoners. Please Pray.
And they called their son
Angela and Ben will have to tell you.
Doug and I were just outside the room keeping watch over our little flock at night when WHOA this little guy took over for his Mom and let out a very lusty cry.... It was an amazing experience. No Angel heralding...just Angela's announcement: We have a whole baby.... yet a trenchant reminder that love and life are not exceptional states but a recurring truth.
He is a ruddy, black haired, brown eyed little guy.... with a good set of pipes.
Please keep Ang in your prayers as she recovers.
Doug and I were just outside the room keeping watch over our little flock at night when WHOA this little guy took over for his Mom and let out a very lusty cry.... It was an amazing experience. No Angel heralding...just Angela's announcement: We have a whole baby.... yet a trenchant reminder that love and life are not exceptional states but a recurring truth.
He is a ruddy, black haired, brown eyed little guy.... with a good set of pipes.
Please keep Ang in your prayers as she recovers.
Saturday, December 03, 2005
It's a ....
Tiebreaker!!!
Angela, Johanna and Jodie
Ben, Doug, Simeon
As of 4:20 this morning we have a new addition at 74 Dunn. Future community votes that divide along gender lines will no longer end in stalemate. It's a .....
......
......
.....
... BOY!
Born at home. No medication. Active labor around 7 1/2 hours.
No word yet on name, size, length, etc.
Updates to follow later this morning hopefully.
I most definitely win the gobs of money in the prediction pool.
Angela, Johanna and Jodie
Ben, Doug, Simeon
As of 4:20 this morning we have a new addition at 74 Dunn. Future community votes that divide along gender lines will no longer end in stalemate. It's a .....
......
......
.....
... BOY!
Born at home. No medication. Active labor around 7 1/2 hours.
No word yet on name, size, length, etc.
Updates to follow later this morning hopefully.
I most definitely win the gobs of money in the prediction pool.
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