Getting out

Sometimes it's important to just get out...and do something fun.

This morning, we decided to wake up early, head to the mountains, and snowshoe to a summit called Dog Mountain in Vancouver's North Shore Mountains. We've been there a bagazamillion times, in every kind of weather, but it never gets old. It's essentially a 3 hour round trip on easy terrain to a nice summit. LOVE THAT. A walk through a snowy forrest..is always FUN!

Here are some pics of our morning:

as always, our day has to start with Timmys

made it to the Mount Seymour Parking lot in our new pathfinder (our 4runner was killed by the government (story to come))

got ready...


took it slow...being careful to watch out for beautiful things...


arrived at a summit which was worth staying a while for...



had lunch...tim's...love that place

summit photo!

still loving each other!

and 1.5 hours back from the summit, we arrived at the truck...in time to head out to work...

lovin these days...

Pregnancy Update - Week 36

Things are going really well!

I really enjoy being pregnant (I thought I'd never say that), and I think I may actually miss these days of feeling connected to this baby growing inside of me.

I went to the climbing gym last night with Joe. It was really fun. I am really starting to feel my weight on the wall (more than last week or the weeks before)...so I did about half a dozen laps and then spent the rest of the time walking stairs, socializing with friends, and doing sets of overhanging wall pushups.

Here's a pic to remember these days:

Thanks to everyone who is supporting, praying, and encouraging me (us) through this process. We can't tell you how thankful we are for love.

You inspire us to become good parents!

Baby stuff

Our baby...when he/she comes into this world...will now be able to come home in a new infant carrier, stroller...and when Heidi is feeling healthy again for running...an infant sling which fits into our jogger.

Yay :)

Score: +1 for being good parents

Our baby...when he/she comes into this world...will not be able to ride in our 4runner because the government deemed it unsafe (more on this later)

Bummer :(

Score: -1 for being parents who drive in unsafe 4runners

So...we bought another one (more on this later)

Yay :)

Score: +1 for being parents who save a little each month so when bad things happen...good things can happen.

Wanna go back

It's RAINING...again...like the last 7 days...and it's NOT GOING TO STOP ANYTIME SOON!

I want to go back here:

San Simeon, California

That's Heidi and I, standing in one of our favorite spots on the entire earth...its about a 7 minute walk from one of our favorite condos on the entire earth.

It's a place where we got engaged...had a honeymoon...and return to, whenever we can.

...oh how i miss seeing a sunset....or the sun, for that matter.

Decisions....

We are very decisive people. We make decisions, and run with them.

I like that about us. I like it that we choose to live our lives, or, maybe better put, the lives God gave us....decisively.

We value decisions made in the best possible manner...

Decisions based on wise thinking, wise friends, the Holy Spirit, wisdom from scripture, wise examples from others...

Sometimes the decisions we make are naive...but at least we make our own decisions....

There is huge freedom in "choice"...we have the choice for how to live the lives God gave us.

And now....in this approaching new season....we choose again: how to love each other, how to love a child, how to parent, how to have adventures (both personal and familial), how to be good friends to others...

...and in these things...and others....we will have to make decisions...

i like that

went to...

the beach the other day

took a picture of what I saw

messed with the pic a bit...

cause it felt more like...


last week's Vancouver forecast: rain
this week's Vancouver forecast: rain
next week's Vancouver forcast: rain

....ahhh but somewhere, in the distance (notice the pic) its snowing....

preaching...(updated)

you know....

one of my greatest privileges in my life is the regular act of preaching...

I realized it, 10 years ago, when I preached my first sermon...I realized it, the second I opened my mouth in front of the congregation of First Presbyterian Church, Fresno, California. It was scary and somehow "right", all in the same moment.

it was...in this church...in front of this congregation


Now, I preach every week for High school Students, but don't get recorded for the fam back home to hear....

so...for anyone that's interested in what's goin' on in/through my heart and mind these days...here ya go: my latest sermon

if you missed Heidi's last sermon: go here

34 weeks pregnant

Yay!

Man...this pregnancy thing is cool....

It's cool to think...."wow, this is happening"...."and in 6 weeks....this baby could be born"

FREEK OUT TIME....

nah...its cool, we're takin it in stride....

Here are some pics to celebrate our day....

took a walk to the beach....on a nice cool crisp fall morning

Heidi....poppin at 34 weeks


cool, eh?

This is about as mad as heidi gets...this look says.."can you please stop taking pictures of me"

I posted this one because I knew it would make her scream....muahaha

all in all...a great morning

we are so blessed....

We're Dating...

Heidi and I started Dating...over 6 years ago....and we haven't stopped.

In the days where we lived apart, before we were married, after work on Friday, I would travel 4 hours, south, to Long Beach in time for a walk and dessert....

food + intentional conversation = date

That lasted for 2 years.

Then...we moved to Canada. I was in school full-time, and Heidi, in the beginning, was having trouble finding a job. But still, every Friday night, we shared a mocha at Starbucks...and called it a date.

food + intentional conversation = date

That lasted for 2 months.

Heidi found a job...and we started having more expensive date nights: 4 slices of crappy pizza and 2 pops for $6.

food + intentional conversation = date

That lasted for 1 year

Heidi and I both started working a new job...at a church. Our date nights were changed forever...we dated on Saturdays....and it was a full-on dinner...$25.

That lasted for 3 years

So, a couple nights ago...we dated. Again. Like always.


food + intentional conversation = date

and we're hoping...this lasts, forever.

33 weeks pregnant!

Yay!

To celebrate, we went to the climbing gym this morning....

Why? Cause' its fun! Cause it's good exercise! Cause it's a great way to hang out!

We went with our friend Dan, who we call, "Dan the man"....and had a really good time pulling on plastic and gettin worked (well, me and Dan got worked...Heidi takes it pretty chill(ish)...does a dozen routes and climbs sets of stairs)

Here are some pics:

Heidi...climber girl and mom to be

still crankin overhanging 5.10c with 25 extra pounds

Recently, Heidi and I were participants in a hoe-down at our church. We got our hoe-down on and had a fun time....Heidi liked the exercise...and I liked wearing suspenders. yee-haw

In other news....we may be going down to Mt. Baker with our friend "Dan the man" for a little fall season ice climbing on the seracs....which should be fun. Heidi will come for the hike in and take pictures and I will climb my heart out.

Here's a pic from last season's ice adventure with Dan



Alrighty then...time to go....peace out yo....
leading some meetings this afternoon
planning a bible study
speaking at Alpha tonight...
then if time.....goin to the climbing gym for a quick burn.