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Kill the Suckling Pig!

It’s been a long time, friends. My schedule pretty much swallowed my spring…but summer is here and I’m done speaking for a bit and I’m so excited to be with my kids and do some serious nothing! One plan that Katie and I have had for awhile is for a celebratory dinner when CLC is over. And not just any dinner will be worthy of such a victory…nope, our plan is to have a dinner of rotiserrie suckling pig at Merenda. We’ve taken a lot of criticism for this decision – mostly from my son-in-law – because it would seem that “suckling” mostly means “young” and Corey has very passionately expressed his resistance (I quote: “WE DON’T EAT BABIES!”) Whatever, it’s the closest thing to killing the fatted calf (also a baby, by the way, and even the Bible endorses it!) While we’ve been really excited about this idea for many looooong months…our plan has been foiled by another event on the same night (Merenda only cooks baby pigs on Fridays). So, we’re double booked for celebration and it won’t happen THIS Friday, but mark my words…it will happen. Our faith commands it.

June 8, 2007 - 11:44 am

Brent and Virginia Earwicker - Wow. Why didn’t we dream up this succulent bliss about a year ago? I feel cheated somehow…

June 9, 2007 - 5:27 pm

Katie Scott - Yes indeed!!! Suckling pig here we come!


Ah…family…the best gift of all! I decided to post Whit’s birthday picture and when I did, I ran into this one of Josiah which seemed worthy of inclusion as well. Happy Birthday, Whitney – you’re a treasure to us!

22

February 2, 2007

Steve and I are at the beach, celebrating our 22nd anniversary which seems completely ridiculous. Not that we’re celebrating – but that it’s been 22 years since we took the big walk down the long aisle and said two enormous words: I DO. It’s funny how much I thought I knew about love and life and commitment and family back then.

Turns out, um…not so much.

I was woefully unprepared and way too young for everything that we would face. And yet, face it we did. And I think we’ve managed to conquer most of the stuff that wanted to conquer us and I know that we have a deeper respect and appreciation for one another then we did when our love was young and untested. Steve has put up with a lot from me. I’m not very organized. I hate house work. I’m self-focused a lot. And probably the biggest thing is that I’ve struggled with fear for most of my life. He has walked with me every step of the sometimes-arduous road toward freedom and I just can’t begin to say how much his strength and love has meant to me. In fact, I’ve probably leaned more on him than I should, which is my weakness. And he has always stayed faithful and steady, which is his strength. In that way – and so many others – he’s just a lot like Jesus.

It’s interesting when I hear young women talk about the kind of man they want to marry. What I found in Steve is just so much more than I even knew to ask for at 18. What I found in marriage is so much deeper and more real and intimate and vulnerable than I ever imagined. And what I’ve learned about the overwhelming love of Jesus by being loved by the man of His choosing has made me who I am.

Wow, Steve, thanks. I can’t begin to say how much you’ve meant to me. The best is yet to come…

April 3, 2007 - 8:42 pm

Brandy - yay for 22.. sweet.. oh yeah.. you guys are awesoome.. :):)

April 7, 2007 - 7:00 am

jamiejoy - Lorelei and Trina say ‘that’s so sweet’ miss you lady!

April 9, 2007 - 4:54 pm

jamiejoy - I always think it is funny to look at a blog and see that somehow I have commented when I didn’t even know the blog existed! Anyhow, welcome to blogging Bo. I missed seeing you at Winter Camp. Hopefully we can intentionally run into each other some day soon when we get a chance to come back to Bend. =)

April 16, 2007 - 9:20 pm

Helen - Hi Bo,

This is Helen (Cheryl’s pal)…welcome to the wonderfully revealing world of blogging…I have enjoyed reading your posts and getting to “know” you in a way. I know your life is crazy busy but I look forward to reading more of your heart laid out so lovely…please make the time…we will be all the more blessed by you and the Lord.

Blessings of peace and joy,

Helen

P.S. If you ever want to check out my blog…it called A Work of Heart and the link is http://helenw13.wordpress.com. Don’t you just love all the lingo?!

The one that almost got away..

Do you ever feel like the area in your brain that receives and processes information has gotten really swampy? That’s me right now. Since the Word of God is awesome and powerful, new treasure is still getting thrown in, but because my mind is so overloaded it just kind of sinks to the bottom like a shoe in a swamp and I can only hope that when I need it, I’ll be able to retrieve it.

For example, on Monday I was reading in Luke and one sentence poked it’s head out of the chapter and demanded attention. I literally had goose bumps when I read it the second and third time, it was so FILLED with life-changing possibilities. Just then, my office door opened and a crisis walked inside. After that, my day was filled with stuff way noisier than Luke.

So now it’s Friday and here’s what I’ve discovered: the word of God is high-impact, but low-maintenance. It’s not the crying kid in the grocery store. It’s not the horrific alarm clock cricket noises. It’s not the honking horns or ringing bells or fire drills of every day life. It’s really more charming and romantic and alluring. It’s strength-of-steel and life-altering power packaged in an unassuming little wrapper that is not equipped with a big screen or a sound track or commercial breaks to run upstairs and get a snack. Much like the walls of a damp and dark mine, it doesn’t have a lot to grab your attention except this one thing: the heart-pumping, pulse-racing possibility that there could be a diamond inside. For those who are willing to strap on the silly-looking head lamp thing and forge ahead, there are secrets and treasure to be found.

I’m going to start with my treasure from Monday – the one that almost got away. Luke 22:29. Check it out – it’s not flashy and may even look a little average at first glance. But read it again. And then again. And then out loud. And then ask yourself: do I really believe this? Because if I believe it, this verse will mess up life as I know it. It’s a million bucks in the bank and I don’t want to toss that kind of cash in the swamp.

Oh also – welcome to my blog!

January 26, 2007 - 11:57 pm

Victoria Ashley - Hey mom, I like your verse. It didn’t change my life, but it showed once again the amazing work of the Holy Spirit. That one rather simple verse can speak so fully to one person…it’s like a secret code. The kind every little kid wants so that mom wont know what they’re saying to their best friend. It’s intimate and smooth and wonderful.
I had my own ordinary turned extraordinary verse the other day. Check out Luke 2:19, it’s just another gift.

January 27, 2007 - 12:08 am

ci - Wow…I am so proud of you! Way to be high-stepping to the rhythm of your heart! Thanks for giving us a peak into the treasure that God gives you.I look forward to many more.