Holiday Haul: Day 6

Last time, on the Holiday Haul, we left you in the Mall in Grand Rapids...

We left the mall headed for Orland Park, Illinois. My Big Bro Tim and his family moved into a new house in July, but, we've been a bit busy and haven't been able to come see it. Well the 2.5 hour trip went pretty well. we had plans of having the girls sleep on the way there, it was nap time, but it was a bit challenging. Makenna fell asleep easily. (gotta love those compliant 2nd born kids, it also helps that she's almost 6 mos and takes like 5 naps a day) Alayna on the other hand was not having it. She did not want to take a nap. In fact, what she wanted, was Mommy. (who happened to driving at the time) So we gave her two reasonable options to help calm her down to take a nap, read a book or eat a snack.  In true Alayna form, she took those two options and pondered them both. she then came back with her own suggestion. "how 'bout, YOU read me a book, while I eat a snack"  So I contorted my body and read her TWO books, while she ate a snack. What can I say, the kid knows how to work a deal. But, she did go to sleep after the books and snack.

The rest of teh drive was good, till both girls woke up at the same time, and Makenna was 30 mins over due to eat and Alayna, well, you guessed it, she wanted Mommy, who was still driving.  But, by this tiem we just had 30 minutes to go till we were at Tim's house. I tried my best tricks, can you believe that Alayna didn't want to watch a DVD, and Makenna didn't want her Pacifier? But eventually they were both calmed down. Alayna finally agreed that she would watch Caillou on my phone, and Makenna was good as long as I was holding her hand.

So we got to Tim's house and had a great time hanging out and seeing the house.  They have a great house and have done a lot of work to it. It really looks good. But Alayna had the most fun playing with her cousin Lina!  It so fun to see them get to this age where they can really have fun playing together.  Lina, is the spittin image of her mom Janelle, sorry Tim. Of course they had fun playing dress up and various princess games, but the best part was when Uncle Tim pretended to be Swiper and the girls ran and screamed  together, pretending to be scared. (video to come).

Then, after dinner we left and went to Nana & Papa's house to put the girls down to sleep.  After the girls were asleep Rachel and I were able to go visit some friends. Unfortunately for the Erickson family, But fortunately for us, My best friend Nick's GRandfather had passed away, and he and his wife Jenny had made the long trek from South Carolina for the funeral.  It was so great to see Nick and Jenny, and Nicks Siblings and parents.  I think this is a record, I have seen Nick twice in 6 months. That's the most I 've seen him since we shared a room for 3 years in college.  It was really good to see my friend. And Luckily, we found out, that Nick's brother Chad lives a block down the street from my parents! Crazy!

Wednesday was a nice relaxing day. Rachel got to get out and have some good solitude time shopping. Yes, for some people, shopping provides just the right environment to connect with God well.  Alayna & Nana played all day, making paintbrush cookies and reading books, and all kinds of various activities.  We capped off the day with our usual trip to El Campesino for dinner.  Ya know, we like that place but the service continues to go down hill. But the food is good.  Then, after the girls were asleep, we taught my parents how to play Skip-Bo. This seems to be Rachel's new favorite game.  And soem how we were able to come up with a good sermon illustration from the game. That's how pastors brains work...

Well, today Rach and Nana went out early to get a jump on the 75% off Christmas stuff at Target. Were stocking up on LED lights for next year.  Then we're planning on Monical's Pizza buffet for lunch! WooHoo! Have a great day, I know we will...

HH Day 5 update

We are at stop #1 for the day. Rivertown mall in GR. Hangin with Alayna while she plays on the quarter rides. She never wants to put $$ in them. She is content to use her imagination.

Had my first pre-marital counselling meeting with Cris & Emily. It was more informative than anything else. Also, we were in the middle of the mall.

Next were off to Orland Park to se my big brother's new house.

The Girls in Capes!

Download now or watch on posterous

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Here is a glimpse of what the girls have been doing. This is considered 'low key' activity. I made them capes and they ran all around the house being super-heroes.

Holiday Haul: Day 5

Yesterday was a great day.  We had Lamport Christmas Celebration #2 at the Cottage. But today is a day on the move. We've got a lot of places to go and be.  So, no time for a full post.  I will be posting on the go today, in pieces.  Have fun following along!

Holiday Haul: Day 4

Ok, ok, I got dressed and got out of the house, I even took a shower!!  

We all met up for lunch at El Burrito Loco. 

Ya know in math class when that one kid always says "when am I ever going to use this?"  Well, they should tell you that you will use all that crazy math when you go out to eat with family.  

Then it was off to Meijer thrifty.  If you are not familiar with Meijer Thrifty, its the perfect Lamport shopping outing. Its kinda like a smaller Big Lots, but just filled with over stock stuff from Meijer.  I am always glad to go to Meijer thrifty, especially when compared to the alternative.  Sometime I need to write a whole entry about our famed trip with 8 adult siblings in a minivan on a 45 minute drive to the "World's Largest Dollar Store".  But, there's always something good there.

Then it was home to get the girls some naps.  The guys stayed home to watch some football, and  the women went back out to grab some after Christmas deals!  Apparently the day after Christmas is like a mini-Black Friday, and going out at 1:30 is a little late to get great deals. 

But, watching football with the girls napping was a success. I think I had about 20 minute (all put together) where both the girls were napping and I could watch the game.  There was one magical moment where both girls were down, I was in the recliner, eating Pumpkin Pie, drinking some coffee, and the Bears had just made a comeback. That was a great 3 minutes. But, the Bears won, and the girls got naps, Rachel even bought more stuff at the store. Pretty good afternoon!

The rest of the evening was the typical family craziness. We all just hung out and while Amy and Zack tried to pack up and head home, I helped the girls make capes and run around as super heros.  "Larry-Boy 'Layna" & "Gwen the Tickle Monster" chased by Daddy/Uncle Dan the Picture Monster (I was trying to get some video) and followed by Addie, who never really got her cape to work.

For dinner we were able to find a new pizza place that makes gluten free pizza, and we even got a free pizza cause they accidentally made one too many. Score!

Then, Aaron, Shelly and the girls went home, we got the girls to bed, and we settled in to a 'relaxing' game of Skip-bo, only to be surprised by Emily and Cris coming a night early. So we were nice enough to include them in on a game while talked about wedding plans. (They got engaged on Christmas Eve).

Today, is off to a lake cottage for Lamport Christmas #2.  The directions are a little  sketchy, I hope we find it ok. Have a great day everyone!

Lunch @ El Burrito Poco

Of course we would have Mexican...

Holiday Haul: Day 3

Well, Yesterday was a complete success! Why? Might you ask. I got to stay in pajamas all day long! Here I sit a day later in the same pajamas. I have not stepped foot outside in over 30 hours. 

Oh its was a great day with family as well.  Tons of fun opening presents with all the little girls, got some video, it was very cute. They are at a good age. They get so excited. I'll try to post soem video of the present opening later.

After opening presents, we had very lazy, relaxing day with family.  We ate lots of food, watched some TV, and just hung around the house. I think we watched all of the movie 'A Christmas Story' in pieces during the commercials of all 25 NBA Games.

The girls were non-stop energy, the entire day.  But hey had a lot of fun. Its really fun to watch them have fun and become friends.

Today will be filled with more relaxing, kids playing and I think some of us are going to try to get a hold of some after Christmas deals. Meijer Thrifty here we come!

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Alayna loves her playdough icecream shop. Thanks Grammy!

Holiday Haul: Day 2

Well, We've made it to Michigan! Merry Christmas everyone!

We had a wonderful morning of opening presents and making breakfast. Then....We spent the rest of the day Packing....

Let me just say, as a family that is not our greatest gift. 

But, We did make it to church, well, we almost made it in time for the 4 o'clock service.  So we hung out and tried again for the 6 o'clock service.  We were all so excited for Alayna to go up on stage and hear Pastor Rick tell the Kiddos the Christmas story.  Well, first she refuse to go up. then just as the story was already started, she decided she wanted to go up. So Rachel took her up, with everyone watching! Then, about 2.5 seconds later she wanted her bracelet that was in the car. So, since we couldn't get it in 1.02 seconds, a melt down began. So, Rachel, in front of everyone, had to take Alayna out of the service.  They were able to come back in for a few minutes, before the girls gave up and left to get ready for the car trip.

We got out of church in good timing, and even found a drive-thru open, for our 'special' McChristmas Meal!  We were a little worried when we started that drive. There was some snow and a few accidents on the road before we even got out of town.  But by the time we hit Angola, all was good. The roads were dry clear and safe the whole way.  We made it to GR in under 3 hours.  

Today we will open presents with the Lamport Clan (Part 1)  Alayna is so excited to be here. The girls slept well.  Alayna Got her Birthday presents from Grammy and has already found 3 toys that we left here in August!! Its been a productive morning, especially after having to rig up a new coffee making process. (Grammy's new coffee maker is broken already) Never fear, Dan-Guyver made it happen!!

We hope to have a great day with family, opening presents, eating a roast, that already smells amazing and maybe even a Ping-Ping tourney!

Have a great Christmas Everyone!!

The Holiday Haul: Day 1

Today begins our Holiday Haul.  We will spend the day getting packed up and having our 'Fort Wayne Baker' Christmas Celebration.  We have a lot fo clothes and presents to pack up, as well as gathering all the 'convenience devices' for travelling with kids. We need 4 different video/media devices to entertain Alayna, and probably 2-3 contraptions for Makenna, i.e. bouncer, swing, baby ATV.

But in between all that we plan to read the Christmas story, open presents, have a nice breakfast, and maybe even build a gingerbread house.  We will then continue packing before heading to church for the proper Christmas Celebration with our new Church family.  I was there last night and I can tell you I am really looking forward to Alayna going up on stage with all the other kids to discuss the Christmas story with Pastor Rick.  I'll try to get a picture or some video.  We, then get the girls in their PJ's and leave right form Church for Leg #1 of our Holiday Haul.

Seeing Redemption in the Census

Like many people. We go through Christmas time clinging hard to the fact that 'Jesus is the reason for the season'.  We know it and we believe it. But we often read through and liten to various accounts of the Christmas story and fail to truly soak in the richness of this story, the redemption that can be seen even now.

As I read through Luke and 'glance' through the specific details about the census and Joseph being pledged to be married to Mary, I have often wondered about some of the facts.  

1. Joseph seems to be the one who fits the qualifications of 'line of David, and from Bethlehem' NOT Mary.  
2. It seems that at the point of Jesus birth (definitely conception) Joseph and Mary are not Married, yet.

So, doesn't that mean that Jesus wasn't born in the house and line of David? That is what some might conclude.  But if you take a good look you can see the message of redemption even here.

The fact that Joseph had the right credentials points to the fact that God's salvation was promised and planned.  God put thought into His plan for salvation and even let us in on part of it. It shows that there is a special-ness to it, that it just wasn't going to happen 'when He got around to it'. (There are a tons more signs that God had pre-planned this an other parts of His redemption story.)

Also, The fact that Jesus was born of Mary, yet she did not have the right credentials, shows us the adoptive nature of our salvation. We, as humans, have no real claim to salvation.  God had every right to exclude us from salvation, just as Joseph had the right to exclude Mary from his family (because she was pregnant). But Joseph 'chose' her.

Then, even more, we can see God's redemption in the pledge to be married.  Salvation is a covenant made with God, one that supersedes rules, guidelines, or technicalities.  Joseph made a promise and he followed through on that promise, even when it was hard.  he even allowed Mary the benefits of his family and name when they weren't technically married yet.   

And to think, if there wasn't a census, all of these details would not have had the stage on which to com forward.  It is because of the census that all of these details became relevant in that day.  Not that those details weren't there or wouldn't have still been true, but through the census they were verified and recorded.

I always breezed past the details of the census, but now I see God's redemption even in those 'small' details...  

Alayna having fun in the bathroom.

The Holiday Haul: Introduction

So, we have this 'Haul' of a trip coming up to visit family over the holidays.  To us it seems like a usual Holiday trip. But as I talk to people and explain our plans, I am realizing that many people don't do as much travelling.  So, at the recommendation of one of my friends and volunteer leaders (he might of been joking), I decided I would blog this trip. So, if your are interested, follow along. I'll post at least once a day. Maybe some pictures, maybe even some video.  I'd love it if you commented with some of your family Holiday events as well. 

Here is our general itinerary...

Friday, after Christmas Eve services we are headed to Grand Rapids for the Lamport family Christmas festivities.

Tuesday/Wednesday we will head to Illinois for the Baker Family Christmas celebration

Saturday its down to St.Louis for my cousin's Wedding reception

Sunday we drive all the way back to Fort Wayne.

Hope you enjoy the 'Haul', I know we will!

The Ugly Side of Me

Have you ever experienced yourself being a jerk and yet at the same time felt helpless to do anything about it? Sometimes, I am just pluggin along through my day and I think I'm doing just fine, having a great day, but then it hit me. Did I really just say that?  Oh wait, they could have thought I meant it this way, oops!  Why did that conversation end so awkwardly? 

I know we are all selfish individuals. Some of us are just better at hiding it than others.  But whenever I get a glimpse of that in me it is really disturbing.  Not because I am not used to myself being a jerk or inconsiderate, but because of how it comes about.  Usually, my incredible wife will point out to me where I have, in the near past been such an idiot. At these points I try to hear her and repent of my lowly ways.  This is not disturbing because I can easily distance myself from past behavior. (as long as it is more then 5 minutes in the past)  

But in those rare occasions where I actually catch myself in the midst of a jerkified incident, its like watching an episode of The Wonder Years. You know, when you can so strongly identify with the lead character and you really want to root for him but the you see him get so awkward that you begin to squirm in your seat as you watch. That is what I am talking about.  I don't like it. I wish I wasn't an idiot sometimes. I will probably be thinking a lot today about how to not do that again...

Church Discipline

While reading 1 Corinthians 5 I see a clear explanation of how believers are to handle each other in instances of sin. Well, its not completely clear. But what is clear is that there is some responsibility to the community of believers to offer some serious discipline for each other in cases of, most likely, regular sin patterns.  There is the specific example of sexual immorality that is explained, but Paul also throws in a few other instances of sin. I don't think that the purpose of the list is to create a "newer law", just to give some examples.  

The main point here is that we are as a community to apply discipline to those that are regularly engaged in sin and still calling themselves a believer.  We are to put them out of the fellowship. Tell them they cannot identify themself as a believer if they are going to live that way.  This also brings up the question of eternal salvation, but I dont think that Paul was intending to address that issue either. The Hope here is that the individual will realize what they are missing in the community of believers on their own and come and repent.

 It is clear in other places in scripture that God is the only one who has the power to affect that anyways, not humans.  But we are to exclude these hypocritical believers from our fellowship.  But, that doesn't really happen, not with regular church goers. We definitely exclude pastors and other leaders when they sin, whether continuous or a one-time incident.  But I don't think I have ever heard of a "lay" person in a church being excluded form the fellowship.  

But how would that work anyways. If you tell them they can't come to your church tehy can just go to the church down the road. If you had a coalition of churches and they we excluded from all the churches in the area, they could easily just go a little further away to another church.  Either way if there was a coalition of churches excluding a person from church that would probably be horrible PR fr the church in that area. The News media would probably get wind of it and have a field day.    Its obviously a scriptural mandate to discipline believers, but if we as the church in the US today wish to truly attempt this we have a lot fo work to do.

Makenna's new world

She really enjoys her excersaucer!

North Point's iBand

via youtube.com

My favorite viceo of the season!

The Family Camel

Alayna loves the Camel at the Christmas service!

Leading by Proxy

In 1 Corinthians 3 & 4, Paul is trying to teach his readers about how to follow spiritual leaders. Mainly that they should take what they say, compare it to scripture and only keep what is in agreement.  All the while being sure not to make too much of the person the teachings come from.

For a ministry leader, or a parent for that matter, this offers a sobering warning.  Don't lead people to yourself, lead them to Christ.  I know, when put like that is seems terribly simple.  But, like many in ministry, we lead others within the context of relationships.  The basic premise here is that I try to connect with others, as friends, drawing them to me., in order to give them a glimpse of who Jesus is.

Now, I don't think that there is anything wrong with this approach, Jesus did it, Paul did it and lays out the plan quite clearly; "Follow my example as I follow Christ." (1 Cor. 11:1).  But Paul's warnings in 1 Corinthians 3 are very real.  We want to lead people to Christ, not just to be followers of ourselves.

So, where is the line? Where is relational ministry pure and honest? Where does it become self-seeking?

My Personal Bible

I have heard(or read) a few different people deliver the statement "all scripture is equally inspired, but all scripture is not equally applied." The main idea here is that if it is in the Bible then God had direct oversight in its inclusion, but passages that outline the details of the plunder from one particular battle in one particular war in the Old Testamant, are not as relevant to the lives of most people as say, the passages of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. I think most people could agree with that.

Well, as I have attempted to give equal time in my study of the bible, I have definitely noticed this to be true. But am also wondering if this can be taken one step further. If you drop in to the mix that God has creates us all uniquely as individuals; different likes, dislikes, talents, and abilities, would it be safe to say that soem passages or genre's of scripture are more relevant or easy to engage in than others?

This also, shouldn't be too hard to agree with. I know plenty of people that receive incredible benefit from spending time reading Psalms. The poetic verses and emotional content give words to many hearts in prayer. I myself have a hard time reading Psalms and feeling s though it provides much connection to God, or relevance in my life. I receive the most benefit from reading Romans and most fo Paul's writings. Yes, it is much more intellectual, and I am more intelectual than emotional. But, I would say that I have many times experienced a strong emotional connection to God through these very intellectual readings.

Which leads me to this idea. Should we as believers gain an understanding of what the breadth of the scriptural content, but mainly for the purpose of understanding which parts are more for "us" (individually) and then spend more time in those places?

Now I would probably assume that this is what most people do inadvertently. But, How many of us feel so guilty continuing to go back to the same sets of scripture? Feeling like 'I really should go back and re-read Leviticus.'