Today was a blast, though I suspect that Jeremiah might be paying for it tomorrow. My cousin G got married today and we went over to my Uncle's house for the ceremony. It was very nice - outside, casual, and very simple. The bride and groom wore traditional white gown and suit/tux, and the best man had on a suit, but the maid of honor wore shorts and a t-shirt. It was a really nice sort of wedding and the vows were quite nice with a very good line about "my love will keep me from envy" or something like that. I don't think I'm getting it quite right, but something like that. (I guess that was sort of like saying I have a really funny joke that you would laugh about, but I can't remember it.) It was definitely a bit too light on the ceremony for my own preferences, but if I had to err on the side of too casual or too involved/complicated I would have to err on the casual side.
After that, we had a great outdoor meal and everyone sat and talked and played and ate. Poor Jeremiah got soaked, thoroughly. Aunt J. took pity on us (who were squeamish about picking him up or holding him) and took all his clothes in to the dryer. So for an hour or two he wore a big t-shirt and nothing else. It was a riot! He had gotten soaked while JD and I were throwing the football and the other kids were having a water balloon fight. Jeremiah wanted to get in on the action, so he got a couple cups that he would fill up and then run after everyone. But all the other kids were bigger and faster and he could never catch them, so he went after a more stationary target - me! After a few times of dodging his mostly-empty-by-the-time-he-ran-over-to-me cups of water, I chased him back and dunked his hair in the big tub. He loved it and kept chasing me again and again, telling me "I'm coming!" to make sure I would properly react and dunk him again.
My favorite moment (and this is being written out with the single intention of being some embarrassing content for later in his life) was after he was wearing the big t-shirt. He had been playing in a sandbox and started walking over to me holding the front of his t-shirt up, full of sand, and held well above waist level! Oops! So I did a quick sprint over and led him back to the sandbox and let him know the sand had to stay over there. I hoped that would help him leave his shirt at a more modest height!
And we finished off the night with a few games of volleyball before everyone congregated back at the house and the younger kids put on some dance music. At that point we decided to give our last congratulations and take off.
A great day, but Jeremiah didn't get to sleep until 10:00. We'll see how he does tomorrow.
P.S. It's really fun to see Jeremiah here with some of the things I grew up doing and reading. We have a bunch of story books from the Bible that I probably read enough to have memorized as a child and Jeremiah likes them. He's decided that the story of the five loaves and two fish has Jeremiah, Daddy, and Grandma in it! 'Grandma' got a fun thrill out of that!
Sunday, July 30, 2006
Saturday, July 29, 2006
Back in PA!
Since I didn't have enough vacation days saved up to take care of all the vacations I would like to take (but then, who does?) I was only able to spend a couple days up in PA with Jeremiah before I had to come back down to VA to put in a couple days of work. But I'm back up in PA now (got in late last night) and it's fun time again!
Jeremiah, Margaret and I went fishing this morning and caught two trout. I caught a leaf. By the end though, Jeremiah was starting to get a bit bored and wanted to throw rocks in and "scare fish!"
Then it was back to do some mowing. Jeremiah made a VERY interesting sort of pattern in the yard as he was driving around. :^) We chased Grandpa around (much to Jeremiah's ammusement!) and had a thoroughly fun time!
One thing that parents know is that you have to be careful about what gets said around kids because they can pick up on the smallest, oddest things. This time, it's a good thing. Jer and I rough-house, box and wrestle all the time, but I'm also very strict that he doesn't hit anyone else. But when he and Margaret got into a poking match he started escalating it. So along comes the reminder of "No hitting! Only poking." He has latched onto that fiercely - if I ever start to do anything, his statement to me is "No hitting! Poking!"
Now, if only I could figure out exactly why some things stick and others don't!
Jeremiah, Margaret and I went fishing this morning and caught two trout. I caught a leaf. By the end though, Jeremiah was starting to get a bit bored and wanted to throw rocks in and "scare fish!"
Then it was back to do some mowing. Jeremiah made a VERY interesting sort of pattern in the yard as he was driving around. :^) We chased Grandpa around (much to Jeremiah's ammusement!) and had a thoroughly fun time!
One thing that parents know is that you have to be careful about what gets said around kids because they can pick up on the smallest, oddest things. This time, it's a good thing. Jer and I rough-house, box and wrestle all the time, but I'm also very strict that he doesn't hit anyone else. But when he and Margaret got into a poking match he started escalating it. So along comes the reminder of "No hitting! Only poking." He has latched onto that fiercely - if I ever start to do anything, his statement to me is "No hitting! Poking!"
Now, if only I could figure out exactly why some things stick and others don't!
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
A bit of a drought
It's been a while, I know. I have had time to do blogging, but I've been so busy the rest of the time that whenever I do get some free time, I'm not particularly eager to spend it typing on the computer. Work has been nuts recently and even though I'm a couple weeks ahead of schedule I still feel like I'm behind because of all the extra jobs I'm handling. So whenever those free afternoons come along where I leave work early, I'd rather spend them with C or reading instead of typing out blog postings.
But I'm taking it easy now. I drove Jeremiah up to PA Sunday evening for a week's vacation! He immediately started playing with Margaret and running around all over the place. And then yesterday we picked blueberries and blackberries and threw sticks for the dogs to chase and played with Margaret, David, Grandpa and Grandma.
What did I do? I dug a grave. One of our dogs had to be put down. :-( She was very old and had been dodging the bullet for almost a year now. She's VERY arthritic and weak, but every time we made plans to have her put down something would come up and we'd have to cancel the appointment. Well, we finally went through with it, and we now have another grave in the McConnell Pet Graveyard.
But Jeremiah didn't know anything about it and happily went on exclaiming about the fireworks we told him were coming up, and eating ice cream, and convincing us to carry him everywhere. I swear the boy would put on 20 lbs living with us because he'd never have to walk a step if he didn't want to. With two grandparents, his dad, an aunt and an uncle all around him, all he has to do is say he's willing to be picked up and there's a mad scramble for us - who gets there first!
And today he's been playing on the piano and with the guitar, along with Grandpa and David. (I keep having to backspace and replace "Dad" with "Grandpa" as I type along here!)
It's so relaxing in PA!
But I'm taking it easy now. I drove Jeremiah up to PA Sunday evening for a week's vacation! He immediately started playing with Margaret and running around all over the place. And then yesterday we picked blueberries and blackberries and threw sticks for the dogs to chase and played with Margaret, David, Grandpa and Grandma.
What did I do? I dug a grave. One of our dogs had to be put down. :-( She was very old and had been dodging the bullet for almost a year now. She's VERY arthritic and weak, but every time we made plans to have her put down something would come up and we'd have to cancel the appointment. Well, we finally went through with it, and we now have another grave in the McConnell Pet Graveyard.
But Jeremiah didn't know anything about it and happily went on exclaiming about the fireworks we told him were coming up, and eating ice cream, and convincing us to carry him everywhere. I swear the boy would put on 20 lbs living with us because he'd never have to walk a step if he didn't want to. With two grandparents, his dad, an aunt and an uncle all around him, all he has to do is say he's willing to be picked up and there's a mad scramble for us - who gets there first!
And today he's been playing on the piano and with the guitar, along with Grandpa and David. (I keep having to backspace and replace "Dad" with "Grandpa" as I type along here!)
It's so relaxing in PA!
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
New webcomic
Well, I'm adding in a new webcomic into my list of site I semi-daily enjoy:
VEXXARR
Each post is usually pretty good about standing on its own, but you REALLY ought to read the whole thing. It's awesome!
And for the rest of my list:
Miracle of Science
Dilbert
Unshelved
Casey and Andy (coming to a close, I'm afraid)
PVP (Player vs Player)
VEXXARR
Each post is usually pretty good about standing on its own, but you REALLY ought to read the whole thing. It's awesome!
And for the rest of my list:
Miracle of Science
Dilbert
Unshelved
Casey and Andy (coming to a close, I'm afraid)
PVP (Player vs Player)
Monday, July 17, 2006
Extra-crispy
Yup, that's me! Actually, it's not too bad. Jeremiah and I went swimming Saturday and then went to our church's baptism service on Sunday at the Shenandoah River. End of day on Saturday - not bad. It was cloudy but hot, so I just ended up a bit flushed. Sunday though - I forgot to bring my sunscreen, so Jer and I were down in the river for a couple hours and I ended up a nice pink. Not bright red, but definitely pink.
The baptism was really nice. We met at the church and then went over to the river for church service. We sang and had the sermon and then J & B got baptised. And after that we all ate a GREAT picnic and talked and played and sat around in the shade. It couldn't have been better weather (except maybe a few more clouds to help me avoid a burn). Very warm - upper eighties - with a nice breeze from the river cooling us all down. Great shade under the trees and the food was great. Very nice!
Rebecca has found a new nanny position up in Germantown and was moving over the weekend. It looks like the fastest way back and forth will be over Whites Ferry, so Jer and I went over there to drop him back off. I think Jeremiah is REALLY going to enjoy going back and forth over the ferry. We had to wait about a half hour before Rebecca got there, and Jeremiah got really excited talking about the cars going back and forth on the boat.
Other than that everythings been going pretty slowly. I'm waiting to hear back from a couple people about housing possibilities. Wedding plans are going forward smoothly too. We've got a couple friends who are putting together their weddings in 3 months or less and it sounds like quite a whirlwind. It's nice to have the lack of time-pressure but the waiting is still a bear. On the flip side, engagement is not without it's nice moments. :^)
The baptism was really nice. We met at the church and then went over to the river for church service. We sang and had the sermon and then J & B got baptised. And after that we all ate a GREAT picnic and talked and played and sat around in the shade. It couldn't have been better weather (except maybe a few more clouds to help me avoid a burn). Very warm - upper eighties - with a nice breeze from the river cooling us all down. Great shade under the trees and the food was great. Very nice!
Rebecca has found a new nanny position up in Germantown and was moving over the weekend. It looks like the fastest way back and forth will be over Whites Ferry, so Jer and I went over there to drop him back off. I think Jeremiah is REALLY going to enjoy going back and forth over the ferry. We had to wait about a half hour before Rebecca got there, and Jeremiah got really excited talking about the cars going back and forth on the boat.
Other than that everythings been going pretty slowly. I'm waiting to hear back from a couple people about housing possibilities. Wedding plans are going forward smoothly too. We've got a couple friends who are putting together their weddings in 3 months or less and it sounds like quite a whirlwind. It's nice to have the lack of time-pressure but the waiting is still a bear. On the flip side, engagement is not without it's nice moments. :^)
Semi-random praise hodge-podge
God is so faithful,
Forever he is faithful.
He never fails nor forsakes his children.
He is with me when I drag out of bed in the morning,
And He is beside me as I stay up late.
God is so good.
Forever he is faithful.
He never fails nor forsakes his children.
He is with me when I drag out of bed in the morning,
And He is beside me as I stay up late.
God is so good.
Saturday, July 08, 2006
Really cool people
C&I spent a wonderful evening over at G&SS's house last night. I'm not sure they've ever been described this way, but if not there's a first time for everything.
They are so freaking cool!
Oh sure, there are lots of other panegyrical compositions, but I'm sure they've been used on G&S. "Freaking cool" is hopefully a new one. G is a professor over at PHC and is very academically oriented. For vacation reading he took along Dante's Inferno!
We got into a discussion of church history and symbolism and movements and all sorts of great things. He's an Episcopalian, and for those who are primarily familiar with the Episcopal church through news stories of homosexual bishops, rest assured the entire church is not cut from the same social/Biblical standard. I don't feel particularly drawn to God through symbols and traditions, though especially after talking with G a few times, I can see how being a part of a historical church with deep traditions can definitely draw a person to a deep appreciation of God and His movements. Obviously, deep traditions aren't the core of the Christian faith, but I think that a lot of the more modern denominations could use a bit more grounding and direction.
Note to self - pull out soapbox sometime about pentecostal and Baptist splintering and weirdness.
Another really cool person - Dad!
Margaret wants to add onto the barn so that she will have more room to store hay and sawdust. So Ryan and Katie were going to bring over a tractor with an auger, but it was getting all complicated trying to figure out how to transport this around. So dad finally said that he'd just dig them himself. Mom wasn't so nuts about that since dad has lots of other work to do, so she kept on trying to figure out how to get the tractor.
A half hour later dad walks back in and says "All Done!" Seven postholes, 3 feet deep, 30 minutes!
Yeah! Go dad!! Who needs a tractor when you've got my dad around!
They are so freaking cool!
Oh sure, there are lots of other panegyrical compositions, but I'm sure they've been used on G&S. "Freaking cool" is hopefully a new one. G is a professor over at PHC and is very academically oriented. For vacation reading he took along Dante's Inferno!
We got into a discussion of church history and symbolism and movements and all sorts of great things. He's an Episcopalian, and for those who are primarily familiar with the Episcopal church through news stories of homosexual bishops, rest assured the entire church is not cut from the same social/Biblical standard. I don't feel particularly drawn to God through symbols and traditions, though especially after talking with G a few times, I can see how being a part of a historical church with deep traditions can definitely draw a person to a deep appreciation of God and His movements. Obviously, deep traditions aren't the core of the Christian faith, but I think that a lot of the more modern denominations could use a bit more grounding and direction.
Note to self - pull out soapbox sometime about pentecostal and Baptist splintering and weirdness.
Another really cool person - Dad!
Margaret wants to add onto the barn so that she will have more room to store hay and sawdust. So Ryan and Katie were going to bring over a tractor with an auger, but it was getting all complicated trying to figure out how to transport this around. So dad finally said that he'd just dig them himself. Mom wasn't so nuts about that since dad has lots of other work to do, so she kept on trying to figure out how to get the tractor.
A half hour later dad walks back in and says "All Done!" Seven postholes, 3 feet deep, 30 minutes!
Yeah! Go dad!! Who needs a tractor when you've got my dad around!
Thursday, July 06, 2006
Gospel For Asia
For some reason I haven't been keeping up on Gospel for Asia's website for almost a month. (Bad Jesse! Bad!) It's always a blessing, encouragement and challenge to see what is going on with them and the ministry. So here are a couple of the wonderful things you can find with them.
Compassion Speaks, Extremists Silenced
Road to Reality Internship
Opposition to Christianity Escalates
Bible College Classes Start on Time after Threat of Closing
God's Love Finds "Hidden" Widow
Compassion Speaks, Extremists Silenced
Road to Reality Internship
Opposition to Christianity Escalates
Bible College Classes Start on Time after Threat of Closing
God's Love Finds "Hidden" Widow
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
Happy 4th of July everyone!
I celebrated the 4th this year in wonderful, traditional, patriotic fashion - FIREWORKS AND FAIRS!! And surprise of surprises, the little blink-and-you-pass-it town of Hillsboro had the nicest display! I even enjoyed it more than the display I saw at the Washington Monument since I was looking almost straight up at the display.
Jeremiah enjoyed them too, but he thought they were too loud and so I ended up covering his ears the whole time. And they were loud! There was only a tiny fraction of a second pause between when the firework was seen and when the boom arrived. Way fun stuff! They lasted maybe 20 minutes and were very densely displayed - no single explosion with a pause while the next one is set off and then wait for it to explode. Hillsboro is the place that shall strike fear into the hearts of alien invaders everywhere!
CJ&I also got some pictures taken Saturday. In the interest of saving on page load time, I'll only put up a couple.
And then we headed over to the RHVFD for a great meal! J loved eating at a firestation! And then we got to climb around in one of their engines and took a lovely walk over to C's house. And then a great church service on Sunday, and I've set up a youth group and church outing to go see Superman Returns at the IMAX in 3D! Sweet! Then Monday and Tuesday had clogging performances with nice fireworks following at Lovettsville and Purcellville.
What with spending lazy days with C, watching fireworks with friends, going to fairs and clogging performances, and having J, well, the 4th just doesn't get much better than this!
Jeremiah enjoyed them too, but he thought they were too loud and so I ended up covering his ears the whole time. And they were loud! There was only a tiny fraction of a second pause between when the firework was seen and when the boom arrived. Way fun stuff! They lasted maybe 20 minutes and were very densely displayed - no single explosion with a pause while the next one is set off and then wait for it to explode. Hillsboro is the place that shall strike fear into the hearts of alien invaders everywhere!
CJ&I also got some pictures taken Saturday. In the interest of saving on page load time, I'll only put up a couple.
And then we headed over to the RHVFD for a great meal! J loved eating at a firestation! And then we got to climb around in one of their engines and took a lovely walk over to C's house. And then a great church service on Sunday, and I've set up a youth group and church outing to go see Superman Returns at the IMAX in 3D! Sweet! Then Monday and Tuesday had clogging performances with nice fireworks following at Lovettsville and Purcellville.
What with spending lazy days with C, watching fireworks with friends, going to fairs and clogging performances, and having J, well, the 4th just doesn't get much better than this!
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