Ultrasound Friday - 19 weeks

Today we had the privilege of seeing our baby move inside Heidi's womb. What a neat experience. Seeing its mouth move, hands wiggle, and feet shift was a real experience for both of us. WOW. It's happening. This is really a cool adventure. I'm beginning to fall in love again...

Meet...baby White. Baby White is the one with the really big head...see? (click the photo for a larger view)

Monday's are fun

We went to the beach yesterday. It was really nice. We just sat there, talked a bit, people watched, drank cold drinks and hung out with Chets (the dog we are caring for while its owners are away).

Monday's are our sabbath day. We enjoy Mondays. They are a day where God renews our strength in activities which our outside of our normal routine (i.e. we slow down). It is a day where God pours into us.

All is well here...Heidi is feeling well. She is not throwing up very much these days, so that is good. Heidi has been feeling "baby white" kick...and that's really fun. We are going to wait to find out if it is a boy or girl...our small adventure into the unknown.

We are working hard at planning for a camp we are directors for during the third week of August. Its at a camp called Pioneer Pacific. Our camp is for about 100 students grades 7-10.

I went on a long bike ride with Steve yesterday. It was good. When I cycle, all I want to do is hills. I'm slow on hills, but I LOVE em. Makes me work hard. I like that. Heidi went on a short run and did a hill walk as well. She goes slow, trying not to not elevate her heart to much....but interspersing this with lunges and bicep curls gives for a good workout. Its important to remember that working out IS NOT all about the body...its not about looking a certain way or even feeling a certain way. It is also about being emotionally healthy. When we exercise, we decompress from our day's duties and and create space for new thoughts, desires, and emotions. Thomas Jefferson said, "Exercise and application produce order in our affairs, health of body, cheerfulness of mind, and these make us precious to our friends." We have certainly found this to be true.

Anyway, life is good...and now we are off to take a walk and grab a coffee then come home and clean the kitchen and go to bed early...

Hiking, Rockclimbing & Swimming

Today was a really nice afternoon for the both of us. We decided to sleep in (yay!) and then we jumped in the 4runner for a quick jont over to Lighthouse Park. Now, for some, especially rockclimbers, Lighthouse Park is quite forgettable. The cliffs are only 20 meters, its not difficult climbing (5.10 and under) and its all top rope.




But, we LOVE it anyway. We love it becuase the rock is interesting, the suroundings are specacular, and the water is right at your feet when you belay your partner. It's SUCH a nice place for some casual hiking, climbing, and swimming...and today, that's precisely what we wanted.

Now, we often get questions from people about why we still choose to rock climb even when Heidi is 18 weeks pregnant. The short anwser is: Because we love it. But that is not a sufficent anwser given the nature of the question. The longer anwser is: the doctor said it is OK given the following precautions: the type of climbing that Heidi is doing has a very low risk factor (she is top roping on solid rock from bomber anchors in a place where there is little chance of rock fall or other objective hazard). Furthermore, the level of climbing she is doing is well below her ability (5.10 or lower) and she chooses climbs which are slightly overhanging with bigger holds or climbs which are slabby and mostly on the feet. She wears a harness which takes pressure off her belly and puts it on other parts of her body. Its called a full-body harness.

In a short-while we will do a longer post on what we are learning about rockclimbing and pregnancy. Maybe this will help others who happen to stumble across this blog.

After climbing, we decided to go swimming! The water was COLD but refreshing.


This past Thursday marks Heidi's 18th week of pregnancy...almost half way! WOW. Time has really passed quickly. She feels healthy and strong. However, she is still getting used to throwing up every day. But, it really doesnt faze her. She has just accepted it as a part of her life and figures...might as well do the things I love, and throw up, as opposed to drawing attention to it or whining about it.

We are happy campers...

Family Portrates - 2009

We LOVE our family :)

Not only are we bound together through marriage...we are all friends. For us, family reunions are not torture. They're great! During our last get together...we took photos for Oma Lloyd (that's German for "grandma").

These photos were taken by our friend and photographer, Maxwell Wyatt

Check em out!

The Fam

the O's (the originals)

The first boy's clan

second boy's clan

The third daughter's clan, but as you can see, there is certainly someone who runs this relationship...ok, how about a better picture...

ahh...that's nice

the fourth daughter's turn

Most of all..we really want to say...we love you mom and dad!

Scrambling - Ossa Mountain

Yesterday I had a really nice day with my buddy Steve in the mountains.

We were in the Tantalus Range doing a mountain called Ossa.

It was a long day, 14 hours round trip and 18 hours including travel time. Its a 14,500 foot day -- with over 7,000 feet of elevation gained on the approach (i.e. a long walk uphill). This was WILD terrain. Very complex. Much of our trek was following the line Steve choose for us. He's BRILLIANT at walking in the mountains...now, for some who don't hike/climb much, "walking in the mountains" may seem like a non issue...but actually, "walking in the mountains"...in the region that we were in, is an art. It can be easy to get off track and waste time. This area was host to beautiful alpine meadows, tarns, lakes, glaciers, and a whole variety of really cool views of mountains I still hope to do with Steve (Mount Pelion, Mount Tantalus).

It was GOOOOOOOOD. We summited and finished strong...except for our feet, which were not feelin' so good.

Check out some pics:




Lovin' life...

Pregnancy Update - Week 17!

Well...we celebrated week 17 of our pregnancy adventure by going climbing!

we ENJOY climbing...but more than climbing....we DELIGHT in being together.

Today we went to Lighthouse Park in West Vancouver.

We enjoyed the feeling of movement in the vertical world and delighted in simply being together.

Rockclimbing - Squamish

Had a really nice time with Dan today.

We did an old classic named Rock On.

My 4th time on this route, probably Dan's 30th. Dan did the second ascent I think. He's got it wired.

I was really tired today...im still on Beijing time. Body feels weird. Anyway, it was REALLY fun none the less!!

Taken out of Dan's sun roof

the top of the crux pitch. Ive done this three times before, led it a couple times...this time = I sat in my harness. I was kinda disapointed...but Heidi reminded me to take it easy on myself because I'm still jet lagged

Good ol' Dan-the-Man

On another note...we are doing well. Heidi is getting sick again...throwing up regularly...I think her body is still on Bejing time...and its not happy. We may try to go climbing tomorrow...depending on how she feels.

Tonight we are going to see Les Miserables.


This is one of our favorite musicals...and the Broadway show is playing in Vancouver.

Check out our China Slide Show!

Check out our China 2009 Trip Report slide show (beware: it's around 7 minutes long). We (a group of 25 people from Vancouver...19 highschoolers and 6 leaders) spent time in Beijing, Shanghai, and 2 weeks in a village near the Daxing District 1.5 hours outside of Beijing.

You will see pictures of:

• Visit to Tienanmen Square
• Visit to the Forbidden City
• Meals which consisted of 8-10 courses
• The Maglev train which travels at 430km an hour
  
• We worked at an orphanage for visually impaired children
• We worked at a foster home for children with medical needs (like heart surgeries)
• We worked with local village people
• Visit to the Great Wall of China
• Picking watermelons and peaches on a farm in a rural village
  
• Pictures of the last (and only) open market in Beijing
• Visit to the Summer Palace
• Shots of a Chinese Factory we worked in for 2 weeks
• The beautiful architecture, art, and colors of China which tell the stories of China's deep history
• Our visit to China's 3Self Church. This was a service in mandarin and was translated into English for those that needed it (namely, us)
  

Of course, there are many more photos...but these are the ones which may help you get a 7 minute feel of our 2.5 week trip. The music stops after 4 minutes (sorry about that, don't know what happened on the upload).

Enjoy!

We will share some stories in the week to come.

Right now we are seriously tired. But, its weird. I've been up for 24 hours (mostly) and now do not feel tired. This can't be good. We will try our best to sleep in tomorrow and take it easy.

We Just got back from China!

Sorry for the delay in posting...

We just got back from 2.5 weeks in China!

It was an awesome trip. We will post pictures soon...but for now...check out the travel blog that we kept:

http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/hcst09/1/1246199528/tpod.html

We are doing well. We are jet lagged tired. Healthy and spiritually nourished. It was an amazing experience.

Looking forward to sharing some stories.

Joe and Heidi

Important News!!

Lighhouse Park

We went to Lighthouse Park today. It was BEAUTIFUL. Sunny, warm, a nice breeze. Sooo good.

Heidi at the cliffs edge. Wind in the hair, sun about to break through the clouds, and dry rock...that's a great combo


We didn't do a lot of climbing. We each did about 8-10 laps on this easy climb. The best part of this climb is where it's located. Right on the water's edge. Overhanging incut edges and jugs. Perfect for a day like today.


Heidi...cruisin it, like usual.

Picture perfect at the top. Crazy color in the water, eh?

At the top we ate fresh fruit

Awesome day!

Sabbath Rest

Today is Monday.

Mondays are what we call our "Sabbath". Sabbath is a word the the Bible uses to describe a day in which a person ceases from their normal work routine. We cease from work, not because there is not enough to do. We cease from work because God knows that when we work 7 days straight we burn out and that work becomes our idol. This is especially the case with me. I LOVE work. I love to get stuff done, accomplish things, and work hard. The problem is, if I don't rest, production becomes my focus. I become a machine. This is not how God made me to be.

God created humans to work 6 days and then rest. In part of what it means to be human. It was God himself who ceased from work to rest on the 7th day. We are made in his image. We are made to be like him.

So today, we rest. Coffee, reading, talking, dreaming, sleeping, climbing, and hanging out with friends....are all on the agenda today. Sounds busy, right? Nope...not for us. This is our sabbath rest.

Rockclimbing - Kelowna Crag

We went rockclimbing today.

Lonely boy crag is about 20 minutes from where we are. Its a nice way to spend a couple hours. Those hours go so fast.

on the way

on route. It's a good route. Pumpy. Not hard. Just Pumpy. It's called "Lonely Boy" (10.d)

Heidi on route.

Time to be done. My fingers are a bit thrashed....my sissy hands are failing me

After lowering, we're pressed for time. We need to get home to Oma and Opa..they are expecting us for dinner. Its time to go.

Walking back to the car, after a nice afternoon adventure.

You know, some people would frown upon me using the word adventure to describe our afternoon. And, in a certain way, I can understand why. I have had many grander feats, taller mountains, unbolted walls, wilderness, far from home. But actually, for me, adventure can be found in big and small things. Adventure is a state of mind.

Today, Heidi and I had adventure.

Relationship - Excersise - Bonding

We're sitting here....watching the sun set. It's been a good day.

As many of you know, Heidi has been feeling sick. Bummer. Not fun. No one likes 24 hour nausea. No one likes having to excuse ones self from life 20 times a day to throw up. She is LONGING for the day, she stops being sick.

But, if you know Heidi, Heidi is a force to be reckoned with. She is tenacious, goal oriented, tough, and somehow still manages to be charming and humble. She is, as some have described, the "velvet hammer."

She is on of my inspirations.

Take today for example:

I went on a ride earlier today. A good ride. I had to stand up for over a mile. It was a 6-9% grade in the road...standing up, for me, was necessary....not necessary for the Olympian who passed me, who was sitting and spinning casually. It was as good workout.

After getting home, I did a bit of stretching...Heidi said, "My turn". "Ok. How and where?" She has some options here in Kelowna: rock climbing, running, cycling, or swimming. Its 30 degrees Celsius here, so swimming was the name of the game. I joined her, doing laps for an hour. I got passed a couple of times. She's strong and fast.

After finishing, we dried off and left the rec center. On the way home Heidi said..."Shall we go climbing tomorrow?...Could be fun!" 24 hour nausia and climbing is not a combo I enjoy...but for Heidi, it's taking life in stride.

Why all this excercise, some may ask? Good question. When we excerise, we are being nice to our bodies and nice to our minds. Its a way we decompress our daily anxieties. Its a way we spend time together. Its a way we keep our bodies healthy and strong. I often remind myself, it was the year we did the full marathon that we never got sick, in a year when all of our friends here in Vancouver were sick, as well as every other person on the bus we road each day.

Excercise is one of the ways we enjoy being alive.

In Kelowna

We are currently in Kelowna.

Good times.

For a couple reasons, making the 4.5 our drive to visit Oma and Opa is an important pilgrimage for us. We wish we could make it more regularly.

When we come to Kelowna, its a chance to visit our grandparents (in their 80's). They are an inspiring couple. Deeply in love with Jesus, they take every chance they can to serve those around them. We are also inspired by their wit, love for their children, and their "go getter" attitude.

We also love coming here because it is a chance for us to truly rest. There is rockclimbing near by (we will do that asap), beaches, and walking trails. We are never bored.

We exercise, eat, talk, pray, read, chill, and decompress.

Although, this trip we will be working (Tuesday and Wednesday) here from Kelowna, it still feels like rest. Most importantly it is a chance to visit with some inspiring people.

Here are a couple pics I took in the car while driving to ward off extreme boredom.

This is Yak Peak. We are driving past it. There is some great 5.8 to 5.10 climbing which follows some crack lines up to the summit. Yak Crack and Reality Check are the names I believe. This is on our to-do list for this summer.


Still in transit. Heidi, operating our Ipod Touch....making the tunes super loud...Audioslave baby...pump it.


4Runner - Taco Bell - Mac - Ipod Touch - Attentive Driver

Good combo for a good road-trip

Tomorrow's Objective

One of my joys at the moment is a long ride. Getting fit, getting strong, feeling my heart want to rip out of my chest. Feeling my muscles BURN...simply wonderful.

We shall see how this one goes. New town...new objective.

It's our Anniversary!

4 Years

Yay! We have been together for 6 and married for 4.

There is so much to say as we reflect on the past 4 years.

Our relationship has seen many adventures. Adventures defined by disappointments, joys, surprises, pain, chemistry, ministry, regrets, commitment, confusion, clarity, passion, friendship, perseverance, faith, hope, and love.

We remember how it began:

A proposal after a hike in San Simeon, California.
This picture was taken right after I proposed.

The sunset we enjoyed as a newly engaged couple.
We were 21 then....we turn 27 soon.

One year later...we were married


It was an awesome event. 500 of our friends and family came out to support us.
There was mega energy in that room.
We are so blessed to have such a wonderful community of support.

Then it was our honeymoon.
One week in beautiful San Simeon.
One week backpacking in Yosemite National Park.



Shortly thereafter we moved to Vancouver, British Columbia.
Our entire marriage has been lived here.

It's here that we deepend our relationship through discovering shared passions: mountains, rock climbing, swimming, cycling, hiking, snowshoeing, skiing, reading, hanging out with friends, ministry, conversation, silence.

So today we celebrated. We went on a bike ride. Casual. Long. Fun.





This afternoon and tonight we serve people we are committed to growing as disciples of Jesus.

If you want to see some of our adventures in the past 4 years, many are represented in the pictures of our Picasa page. Click on the logo to see more!

Thank you friends for being an encouragement to us as we grow as individuals as as a married couple.

Thank you family for your support, patience, perspective, and prayer. You probably can't understand how much this means to us.

We love you!