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Our favorite spot – the Vancouver waterfront! We have enjoyed many a family stroll here!

Oh the joys of summer are coming! This has been a full and yet exciting last month as we have enjoyed the celebration of both Karis’ first birthday and our anniversary (in addition to many other family member’s birthday this month – 6 all together)! With both families in the area (and both being rather large!), how do you possibly celebrate them all without running a little wild or else going broke? Even after two years of married life I still haven’t quite figured it out.

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Congratulations to Eryn!

You are the winner of our $50 Christa Taylor giveaway! Have fun! Thanks to everyone who contributed their thoughts! Very helpful for the future production over at Christa Taylor!

Here is a recent family photo from my side of the family! This was taken at our family trip to the beach a few weeks back. Thought you all might enjoy seeing us all!

L-R: Aaron, Karis & I, Kelly (18), Papa, Mom, Brandon & Brooke (in front, 10), Christa (20), Sam (16), Dan (14), Larissa, our sister-in-law (holding Micah, almost 3), my brother Stephen (25) (holding Trinity, 11 months). Micah & Trinity are Stephen & Larissa’s children.

Don’t you just love the feel of summer in the air? The warm breeze, clear blue skies, and flowers in bloom! But with the summer comes the appearance of a wide variety of clothes that may look light and keep you cool, but will they be the most appropriate to keep you modest and feminine?

The porn positive culture in which we live is constantly pushing immodesty as attractive; and therefore, we need to be constantly on our guard against succumbing to this temptation by in turn surrounding ourselves with the truth of the gospel.

I have been greatly challenged in the past through a few wonderful resources on this important topic that I wish to share with you.

Modesty Heart Checklist – a fabulous resource to use in evaluating your wardrobe!
The Look: Does God Really Care What I Wear? by Nancy Leigh DeMoss — this little booklet is a wonderful tool to help you study God’s Word on this topic. It’s full of quotes, charts, and discussion questions.

Modesty on Your Wedding Day -I am so passionate about the importance of modesty on your wedding day, and this post is well worth the motivation to do so for the mothers of daughters and single ladies out there! Please read this!
Modesty Series & Discussion Questions by C.J. Mahaney- an excellent series of posts and list of questions for you to evaluate with the Lord, as a mother with daughters or individually.
Modesty: Your Heart’s Battle – My sister, Christa, started a new blog recently. She re-posted a series she did on modesty from a conference she spoke at awhile back. Great stuff!

Aaron & I had a simply splendid day together yesterday for our 2nd anniversary! Karis was left for the day with the family, and we spent the day to ourselves. We watched Prince Caspian in theaters (which we greatly enjoyed), followed by a unsuccessful bike ride (broken tire of some sort, that refused to stay pumped up!) which turned into a pleasant stroll around Vancouver Lake, topped off with a lovely dinner at the Melting Pot (a fondue restaurant). So Aaron spoiled me (thanks to our economic stimulus, a nice little blessing ), but it was one of the funnest days we have spent together, without traveling far!

At the Melting Pot

I am richly blessed to have such a godly husband who loves and cares for me! I am so undeserving!

Enjoying delicious chocolate fondue

May 4, 2008

On the Event of your 1^st Birthday

Dear Karis Ruth,

As we look back on this precious first year of life with you, we desire to dedicate you to the Lord once again. We want to remind you of the meaning of your name and the special gift of grace you have been to us.

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Karis is almost 1 year old (May 4th)! It has caught me by surprise…but what a special year it has been with this little bundle of joy and “grace” as her name means. God’s grace has been sufficient! Karis is doing her army crawl. After seeing her cousin crawl this past week at the beach has really inspired her. She will now occasionally get up on her knees and crawl. Karis is a social butterfly and loves waving at everybody!

She is pulling herself up in bed, on tables, and everywhere else she can. She learned sign language for the words “more” and “thank you”, and we are still working on “please” and “down”, but I have been amazed at how quickly she can learn and understand.

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What a lovely time we had at the beach with our family! Weather was lovely one of the three days, but when we are at the beach we are more focused on relaxing anyway…reading, resting, playing games, and talking. Karis did amazingly well traveling and sleeping, despite the madhouse of children and noise. We were very thankful for this! I left feeling very blessed and thankful for my wonderful family. Here are some of the pics!

P.S. I have decided to post chapter 5 of our book study on Monday to allow for further discussion on chapter 4. Join in!

View from the cabin

Our little family

Family stroll on the beach

Karis & I with our little friend Emily (not related)

Grandma & Micah (my brother Stephen’s son)

Our friends Gabe & Mandy came and visited
with their two children, Emily & Josiah
Pictured L-R: Mandy, Trinity (my brother Stephen’s daughter),
Karis & I, Emily & Micah

Karis, Emily & Trinity

It has already been a lively weekend.

My piano students went in yesterday (Friday) for their annual piano exams…which is a huge effort! And all of them came out passing successfully, which was very encouraging. That is another reason I am ready for a break…very ready to move on to some new repertoire, as much as they are!

My sweet little niece, Alita (2.5 years old) broke her arm last night. We went and visited her today as she rests at home. She was a brave girl, but it was so sad to see her small little arm in a cast…we love you Alita!

Our little family will be taking off tomorrow for a little much needed vacation to the beach (our favorite place alone the Oregon Coast in Lincoln City), along with my side of the family, for Sunday – Tuesday, so I will be taking a blogging break.

Chapter 5 recap and discussion of The True Woman will be posted on Tuesday evening, Lord willing, depending upon our return time.

I have been pondering a lot lately on the purpose of my blog and where I should take it. I am really excited about how the Lord is directing me. I hope to lay it out more specifically over the next few weeks. Above all, I want to purposefully write for His glory and hope in some small way to encourage you in the arts of homemaking and seeking to be true women who cultivate community and compassion for Christ’s sake.

God bless you all and have a wonderful weekend!