One of the many laughs first thing in the morning from Caden. We hope you enjoy it half as much as we did!!!
Sunday, 12 August 2007
Bed Head
One of the many laughs first thing in the morning from Caden. We hope you enjoy it half as much as we did!!!
Testing Out the Sea Legs
Yesterday Caden had his first experience on a boat out in the ocean. Christa went out with Grammy, Papa, Ryan, Great Granpa, and Great Aunt Ruth. They had a wonderful time and he loved every minute of it. After a short boat ride they anchord on a small strip of beach where everyone went for a swim and Caden was able to try out his new life jacket.
Pictured to the right is Caden taking a break from swimming where he entertained everyone with his adventures on the beach.
Thursday, 9 August 2007
Being Naked is Terrifying
The other day I was leaving work and heading to Strabuck’s. As I was walking down the service hallway I took my nametag off (as I do every time I leave work because I personally can’t stand nametags). When I took it off it hit me that the reality is that we all wear nametags. Each and every one of us wears a nametag whether we realize it or not. Just the other day when I was at a birthday party a lady asked me if I surfed. Um, do I surf? Why the heck would she ask me that question I thought? I mean why didn’t she say, “do you basket weave?” Why did she ask if I surfed? Well, she said that the board shorts that I was wearing and the “dry-fit” shirt I had on was what surfers wear and that is why she asked.
The more I thought about these two incidents I began to wonder what nametags we all wear whether we realize it or not. I constantly hear people talking about themselves and what they think they are but know in reality that they are far from it. Why is it that we as humans put on these fronts? Why is it that, like me, we can’t stand wearing certain nametags? When I am at work I have no choice but to wear one, but the minute I leave work I can’t wait to take it off. Sadly though for a lot of us there is no leaving work and even worse we can’t take our nametags off because it is who we are. But why, oh why do we hate who we are? I mean let’s be real, if you are reading this I am sure at some point in your life you weren't (or aren't) happy with who you are? Do you like the way you look? Do you wish you were more like someone else? I know its true, we all wish we were something or someone else; if we could only be this or that, or if we could only do this better. Why is that we long to be something other than who we are? Is this the way life is suppose to be? What if we could make our own nametags for ourselves? What if we could decide who and how others defined us?
I personally have been struggling with this issue my whole life (as well as many others, they just won’t admit it). I honestly don’t think this is something that has an easy answer. I honestly wish I had the answer. I do think that a lot of times we put to much weight on what others think of us. I mean read Ephesians 1 and there should be no reason why we should think lowly of ourselves. Society pushes on us what and how we should be but the reality is that God made us all special (ok He made me extra special). We shouldn’t try to be like others but strive to be the one that God created us to be. This is hard to do when we are trying to be a “surfer.” We waist so much time trying to be something were not and the whole time all it is doing is leading us down a road that will end up empty. We have to come to the realization that God created each one of us the way He did for a reason.
I personally believe that we don’t do this because being naked is terrifying (ok not literally naked). We are too afraid that if others find out whom we really are than they may not like us. One of the funny things about Jesus is He always showed people their nakedness. It was through this nakedness that people became free!!! Did you hear that, FREE. Jesus of all people knows that the enemy’s biggest goal is for us to never figure out who we truly are because once we do that than we will find freedom from this life. We will find true Life. God created us for each other. God created us perfect but along the way we have messed up. We all live with struggles and a nature that longs for self fulfillment. It is only when we allow ourselves to get real will we begin to discover who we really are and why God created us. If there is one thing I know, there is true Life and Freedom in confession and sharing life with others who long to search for this nakedness.
The more I thought about these two incidents I began to wonder what nametags we all wear whether we realize it or not. I constantly hear people talking about themselves and what they think they are but know in reality that they are far from it. Why is it that we as humans put on these fronts? Why is it that, like me, we can’t stand wearing certain nametags? When I am at work I have no choice but to wear one, but the minute I leave work I can’t wait to take it off. Sadly though for a lot of us there is no leaving work and even worse we can’t take our nametags off because it is who we are. But why, oh why do we hate who we are? I mean let’s be real, if you are reading this I am sure at some point in your life you weren't (or aren't) happy with who you are? Do you like the way you look? Do you wish you were more like someone else? I know its true, we all wish we were something or someone else; if we could only be this or that, or if we could only do this better. Why is that we long to be something other than who we are? Is this the way life is suppose to be? What if we could make our own nametags for ourselves? What if we could decide who and how others defined us?
I personally have been struggling with this issue my whole life (as well as many others, they just won’t admit it). I honestly don’t think this is something that has an easy answer. I honestly wish I had the answer. I do think that a lot of times we put to much weight on what others think of us. I mean read Ephesians 1 and there should be no reason why we should think lowly of ourselves. Society pushes on us what and how we should be but the reality is that God made us all special (ok He made me extra special). We shouldn’t try to be like others but strive to be the one that God created us to be. This is hard to do when we are trying to be a “surfer.” We waist so much time trying to be something were not and the whole time all it is doing is leading us down a road that will end up empty. We have to come to the realization that God created each one of us the way He did for a reason.
I personally believe that we don’t do this because being naked is terrifying (ok not literally naked). We are too afraid that if others find out whom we really are than they may not like us. One of the funny things about Jesus is He always showed people their nakedness. It was through this nakedness that people became free!!! Did you hear that, FREE. Jesus of all people knows that the enemy’s biggest goal is for us to never figure out who we truly are because once we do that than we will find freedom from this life. We will find true Life. God created us for each other. God created us perfect but along the way we have messed up. We all live with struggles and a nature that longs for self fulfillment. It is only when we allow ourselves to get real will we begin to discover who we really are and why God created us. If there is one thing I know, there is true Life and Freedom in confession and sharing life with others who long to search for this nakedness.
Thursday, 2 August 2007
The Stud!!!
Today Christa and Grammy took Caden to get his first haircut. Here is a picture of him with his new look. He is so adorable!!!
Swimming Pools Hold More Than Water
This past weekend Christa, Caden, and I went to a birthday party for one of our friend’s daughter who was turning one. They had the party at their community pool where we ate some great burgers and went swimming. Most of the kids at the party were between 9 months and about 3 years old. The people who were hosting the party had several little “kiddy pools” off to the side so the little ones could go swimming (ok, I went in them too but who wants to grow up). Anyways, Caden got bored with the “kiddy pool” and wanted to move on to the “big daddy” pool (this would be the normal adult pool for those who aren’t of Generation X,Y, or Z).
I got into the pool with Caden and held him close. He loves pools and shows no fear (I’m so proud). After taking him around the pool several times I took him over to the steps where he was able to stand up on the first two. I let go and allowed him to walk back and forth on the second step while keeping a watchful eye and my hand just under the water to catch him if he stepped off. As I was watching him it was as if I was seeing how God watches over us. I want what is best for Caden but at the same time I know I can’t “baby” him. I must allow him to explore and find out things on his own. I love him so much that I am willing to watch him slip and fall so he can learn his own lessons. I want Caden to have the freedom to live his life and make his own decisions. I in no way want to show Caden everything or raise a robot because failure is one of the greatest teachers. We can be taught things thousands of times, but it isn’t until we fall do we realize the truth about things.
I think that God is like this. He is sitting there in the water keeping a watchful eye on us, allowing us to move around in life and explore. He allows us to make our own decisions, whether good or bad. He allows us to make these decisions because He wants to give us that freedom. God doesn’t want robots. I also think that God’s hand is in ultimate control and that nothing happens that He isn’t in control of. Just like with Caden, there is nothing he could have done while I was watching him that I didn’t have total control over. Unlike me, I could have taken my eye off of Caden and something could have happened outside of my control, but I don’t believe that is the case with God. It maybe in this freedom that God gives us that we confuse His love for allowing “bad things to happen to good people.” What if Caden had fallen and hit his head? Did that mean that I didn’t love him because he suffered a consequence for making a decision to explore? No. A lot of times in life I think it is this freedom that we want to use to “accuse” God for allowing “bad things” to happen.
The other night Caden was crying and Christa went into his room. She picked him up and rubbed his back. Within seconds he quite crying and went back to sleep. I truly believe that God’s relationship to me is the same as Caden’s and mine; I just don’t think that I have the humility to see it. Caden truly needs me to survive, so he is grateful beyond measure for what I do for him even though he doesn’t know it, he just trusts me. I think that maybe this is what Jesus meant when He said we must have faith like a child.
I got into the pool with Caden and held him close. He loves pools and shows no fear (I’m so proud). After taking him around the pool several times I took him over to the steps where he was able to stand up on the first two. I let go and allowed him to walk back and forth on the second step while keeping a watchful eye and my hand just under the water to catch him if he stepped off. As I was watching him it was as if I was seeing how God watches over us. I want what is best for Caden but at the same time I know I can’t “baby” him. I must allow him to explore and find out things on his own. I love him so much that I am willing to watch him slip and fall so he can learn his own lessons. I want Caden to have the freedom to live his life and make his own decisions. I in no way want to show Caden everything or raise a robot because failure is one of the greatest teachers. We can be taught things thousands of times, but it isn’t until we fall do we realize the truth about things.
I think that God is like this. He is sitting there in the water keeping a watchful eye on us, allowing us to move around in life and explore. He allows us to make our own decisions, whether good or bad. He allows us to make these decisions because He wants to give us that freedom. God doesn’t want robots. I also think that God’s hand is in ultimate control and that nothing happens that He isn’t in control of. Just like with Caden, there is nothing he could have done while I was watching him that I didn’t have total control over. Unlike me, I could have taken my eye off of Caden and something could have happened outside of my control, but I don’t believe that is the case with God. It maybe in this freedom that God gives us that we confuse His love for allowing “bad things to happen to good people.” What if Caden had fallen and hit his head? Did that mean that I didn’t love him because he suffered a consequence for making a decision to explore? No. A lot of times in life I think it is this freedom that we want to use to “accuse” God for allowing “bad things” to happen.
The other night Caden was crying and Christa went into his room. She picked him up and rubbed his back. Within seconds he quite crying and went back to sleep. I truly believe that God’s relationship to me is the same as Caden’s and mine; I just don’t think that I have the humility to see it. Caden truly needs me to survive, so he is grateful beyond measure for what I do for him even though he doesn’t know it, he just trusts me. I think that maybe this is what Jesus meant when He said we must have faith like a child.
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