Elizabeth is 9 years old!

Elizabeth is 9!

For her birthday she wanted to:

1. Go on a hike
2. Hang out with her cousin 
3. Eat spaghetti that she made herself 
4. Eat cake 

She got it all! Thank you for so many of you who pray and support our family. Our kids are thriving and we know that you are part of that! 

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Elizabeth is 8!

It's cliché to say, "it goes fast."  But....it does.  It goes fast. 

We asked her what she wanted to do on her birthday,

she said, "I want to wake up and open presents, eat breakfast, go on a hike, pick up my cousin to play at our house, and sleep in a tent tonight."  

lol.  OK, that works.

Let's do it! 

Here is a picture journey from this morning: 

...and tonight it's tent life.

It goes fast and we are loving every moment of it!

These are good days

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Family climbing trip - Red Rocks - Part 3

Recently I had one of my best days climbing.  The climb wasn't hard or high....but it was EPIC for me.  Some people climb to achieve things...not me.  I climb to enjoy things.  I don't need more achievement in my life....I've got plenty -- great friends, great family, great calling, a great neighborhood, great church....there's so much to be grateful for.  

I've dreamt since 2005 that one day I'd climb with my kids and that I would watch them enjoy climbing.  Of course, I would be OK if they decided they didn't enjoy it...but secretly I hoped that they would.  

Since the kids were born, they've spent every year of their lives around rocks, mountains, and trails.  And they've been on MANY climbing days and climbing trips.  They have also climbed outside since they could walk.  But there was something about this climb on this day that made it feel like they wanted to climb for their own enjoyment and push their own boundaries of what they thought could be possible.

For the first time  it was their climb.  

And it was no joke. 

5.6, 100+ feet.  Vertical sandstone.

...and to top it off....I wouldn't be at the bottom encouraging them up....I would be at the top...bringing them up to me (in non-climber terms, that's, "OMG....I have to climb up this scary climb without seeing and hearing my dad from the bottom and remove the safety protection he used as I climb up?!")

Elizabeth did amazing. 

I was so proud.

She climbed with confidence and ease.  I remember thinking, "I can't believe I'm seeing one of my dreams come true!"

I couldn't have been happier at the summit.  This was the first time we had been on the top of a climb together.

Somehow...this is a picture that will be engraved in my memory forever.

This is the view at the top: High and beautiful! 

Josiah was also able to climb another 5.6 with a small overhang.  I was so impressed by his dedication to persist through difficulty and get the job done.  Amazing!  

For some people, climbing is all about achievement:  harder and bigger climbs.  For a time, that's what was important for me also.  But in my heart, climbing is fundamentally about connecting to people and place -- My climbing partners, Jay & Trevor, instilled this into me and it's never left me. 

I am so proud of my kids -- and connecting to them in this way was one of my most memorable climbing days ever.

These are good days! 

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We'd love your prayers

If you read this blog....and you are a person who prays....we'd love to know you are praying for us.  

Elizabeth came down with a nasty ear ache yesterday that landed us in emergency last night.  We are a tad nervous about the plane ride home to Vancouver -- ear pressure, ear ache, air pressure....you get the idea.

As I type this, Elizabeth is sleeping peacefully and seems OK (when I stand over her bed...like a creepy person....watching her every twitch).  We'd love to know you are praying for her and our travels back to Vancouver on Tuesday evening.  

Thanks friends...and any other internet buddy we've made over the years through our blog :) 

Peace.

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The art of playing

Watching children play is like watching someone figure out how to whistle for the first time

....genuine discovery is always marked by laughter and smiles.

I love watching my kids play

they've discovering an empty space in their heart that can only be filled by noticing their inner superhero, a magical kingdom, or the thrill of a swing.

A poverty of play leads us to take life too seriously....but too much play, and we don't take it seriously enough.

I think my kids need play

....but even more than that....

they need me to play with them.

gotta go!

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Elizabeth's Question

I caught her staring at me the other day.
She was thinking about something.
You can always tell someone is thinking about something when their eyes look through you.

She was looking through me.
Finally, she let her lips catch up to her thoughts.

She broke the silence.
She asked, "Daddy....do you love mommy?"

Did she wonder because I had been unloving?
Did she wonder because I hadn't told Heidi I loved her that day?

....or maybe she knows I love her and wanted to make sure I loved mommy too.

"Yes, Elizabeth. I love mommy....just as much as I love you."

She didn't respond -- this time her lips were far behind her thoughts...and they'd never catch up.
But it didn't matter...because her face said everything:


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Elizabeth's first day of Preschool

If you have a blog
...and you're a parent
...and you don't say something about your kids first day of preschool
....than you suck and blogging.

We don't suck at blogging.

So we're saying something:
I am so happy for her. I am so happy for her. I am so happy for her. I am so happy for her. Please God fill her with your Spirit. Please God fill her with your Spirit.  Amen.

with the support of her big brother....

it begins...

These are good days! 

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Collecting moments...not things.

If you want to see 4 recent pictures of our kids...scroll down.

If you want to know why we picked these 4 pictures to show....read below.

If you want to know what all these pictures mean when seen together....read the last line.

We either run away from our childhood or we run deeper into it...we're praying for the latter.

We didn't ask him to smile and we never have to. 

At her core, she is a helpmate -- both helper and companion.  

Eyes speak too.  We're listening.

Our kids' ordinary moments tell their true story....and one day we'll read it to them so they'll remember.

Follow @joeandheidi **Pics courtesy of our friend, Rachel.  

Giving Gifts

It wasn't about stickers.

It's never about the gift itself.

Are stickers the source of her happiness?

No.

It was never about stickers but about giving something that compliments the source of her happiness.

The source of her happiness is knowing someone thought about her enough to buy her stickers.

The source of her happiness is is knowing she's loved and that someone believes that her joy, matters.

Gifts with that in mind are the kinds of gifts that stick.

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Elizabeth's first haircut

She asked for it

and it sounded like a good idea to us

no tears

only smiles

We kept the curls 

...and we'll probably keep her too

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