Tall Paul


My dear grandpa Paul passed away late last month. 

He had been diagnosed with stage four cancer a week before. He was a lover of Jesus who quietly served those in his life without ever pursuing praise. He had the cutest shuffle walk and always had a silly joke or witty play-on-word on his lips. He loved chocolate, word games, old films (from which I gained my fascination), classical music, his beloved wife Helen, and his family. He and my grandmother spent five years homeschooling my sisters and I. Isn't that incredible? 



I am so thankful to God for His goodness and mercy in my life through this honorable man.

I miss you Grandpa, and can't wait to be surrounded by the glory of God with you some day not too far away.

Below is a video work of love we put together as a tribute. The sound clip starting the video is his sweet voice! 



Put on your Party Hat



A bit of celebrating last Saturday with a scrumptious lemon blueberry cake. 


This little guy helped us party. 

(My pet name for Zade is "Turtle" because he tends to retire, like a turtle to its shell, to read and relax. When I put this turtle in odd places around the house it makes Zade smile). 

{another party animal}

I can hardly imagine a better present: Zade getting to talk with one of his heroes, Dr. William Lane Craig, at the Purdue Symposium! 

The rest of the evening was spent with loved ones. 

An enthralling day. 

Can you believe a year has passed? 

P.S. The idea for crafting the little pom pom party hat and baking a cake in a tin can both come from the every darling: Oh Happy Day. If you are not already following this blog, you should! 

Pinball Date

{Tri Zone, 1979}

We rolled on downtown to Main Street Amusements for an evening of pinball.

 This little gamer's gem has more than thirty pinball machines ranging from those built in the 40's to present day. For the oldest games you can play with a nickel! Though, that didn't take me too far because I am really bad at pinball. But, come to find out, Zade is pretty good! So, go husband! 


{Bally Rocket, 1947}
{Morocco, 1948}
{Spanish Eyes, 1972}

Glimpses {of death}


Glimpses of death: {one} flowers from a funeral, {two} a fresh coat of our new paint color "falling snow" blanketing our loft, {three} ice trespassing upon a budding tree.

 Recently Zade and I attended the funeral of a distant family member. We didn't know him well, but every August since our wedding he and his wife sent us an incredibly precious anniversary card.  

One by one his friends and family members approached the podium and gave tribute, speaking of his integrity... sacrificial love...loyal friendship...humor... 

it was evident that he had spent his life in a passionate burst for Christ. 

His life and death point toward eternity. 

At the end of my days - near or far - I want that to be said of me. 


Death to the Christian is the funeral of all his sorrows and evils, and the resurrection, of all his joys.
                                                                                                                                      - James H Aughey 

Advent Day 1: Oh Christmas Tree

 

Advent is a season of eager expectation and joyous preparation. 
We take joy and hope in the fact that Jesus has come, is Emmanuel (God with us), and is coming again.

Zade and I use an Advent calendar to help prepare our hearts for Christmas. Each December morning leading up to the 25th we open a tin holding an invitation to do something special that day. 

This was our first...


The last three years our "tree" has been a branch sawed from an unsuspecting pine, so cutting down a -genuine- tree was quite a treat!

 When the tree was at long last chosen it was crowned with our Christmas star.


We discovered this chubby friend in the "discount" section, covered in parasitic pods and long passed over. 

It is perfect.


We who are followers of Christ can think upon how God chooses us...

we whom all others would overlook and find wanting...


and crowns us with life.