Sorry

For my friends whom I mentioned to check this site regarding a conversation at church yesterday in Sunday School, I chose not to post so as to avoid offense. I did however speak to each one of you one on one and felt that was a better way to handle my thoughts.

Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places

This is quickly becoming one of my favorite books of all time. The subtitle at the bottom reads: A conversation in spiritual theology. And that is precisely what it is. It is not a book about theology. It is a book about how our spirits engage and interact with what we believe. The Chapter (2) on creation alone is worth every expensive penny that this book is. Check out this quote that talks about Jesus as he plays in creation...

You would think that believing that Jesus is God walking among us would be the most difficult thing [to believe about Christianity]. It is not. It turns our that the hardest thing to believe is that God's work - this dazzling creation, this astonishing creation, this cascade of blessings- is all being worked out in and under the conditions of our humanity: at picnics and around dinner tables, in conversations and while walking along road, in puzzled questions and homely stories with blind beggars and supporting lepers, at weddings and funerals. Everything that Jesus does takes place within the limits and conditions of our humanity. No fireworks. No special effects. Yes, there are miracles and plenty of them. But because for the most part they are so much a part of the fabric of everyday life, very few notice. The miraculousness of miracle is obscured by the familiarity of setting, the ordinariness of the people involved... [page 34]

...Everything Jesus does he does with his hands deep in the soil and flesh of creation. [P. 92]

What I love about this book is what Peterson doesn't do in this book. He isn't trying to convince us of a position. He's not trying to teach us some new perspective. It is not void of theology, but the main thrust of the book is not about learning it is about engaging. He is simply using the creation story and giving us a way in which we can begin to live within the context of the story. It is simply a MUST READ book.

31,000 ft to find...

Okay, so Saturday was my sisters wedding. Of course I traveled to California by airplane to be there (oh, what a story) and was so blessed to be a part of it. On the plane out of Orange County, I was reflecting on the past 23 hours, on a conversation I had with parents on the way to the airport, and on some things I have been reading lately in scripture and in other books. I was doing all this with my eyes closed and my ears full of Moby (which by the way if you don't listen to Moby, you may be missing one of the most underappreciated artists of our time). While I was doing all that I noticed with my sense of touch... heat... on my arms and it felt nice.
For those of you who don't know, I live in Michigan. For the past 90 days or so we have had cloud coverage and snow flurries. Within those 90 days I've been to China and California both. In 90 days the first glimpse of the sun that I have had was at 31,000 ft. For those of you who live in Michigan, let me assure you, the sun is still there and the sun is still warm.

We're still here

Wow, It's been 16 days since I've posted. Luczi is doing so good. We've heard from other couples in our group and most of the girls are doing great, but there are some who are not adjusting very well at all. Luczi is finding lots of attention in her two sisters and is loving that. She's eating a lot lately. Wendi is giving here two jars of baby food three times a day plus her 8oz. bottles. We can tell she is growing already. She's very curious about the world around her and we can't wait till spring when we can take her out to see the "real world".
All and all things are very good. I will be away for the weekend at my sisters wedding so Wendi will have lots of fun with the girls.
Posted is my on of my favorite pictures with Luczi thus far. Like a reptile Luczi sometimes checks the world around her with her tounge. She has done it less lately, but every once and while it reappears. And of course dad sometimes gets in the action too.

Home a few days now

Thanks for logging back on!!! Luczi is home 4 full days now and is doing pretty good. Luczi left China with a double ear infection the results of which were long hours of crying, frustration, vomiting, and to top things off a mild case of eczema. The bonus for us was that for the two long rides (China to LA and LA to Chicago) we had an extra seat between us. After some small doses medicine, Luczi slept for some long periods of the trip. All and all the fussiness and the illness helped keep her awake and have made the time transition quite easy. She has still had some rough days here at home and keeps herself on guard while sleeping. She hasn’t quite settled into the reality that this is forever. She has attached herself to Wendi and they have bonded well. I am a little jealous, but she and I do okay late at night where she finds comfort in my arms when she is overly tired and can’t find rest. I hold her tight (as I did my other two girls) and she falls asleep. The wonderful people in our church (we love you all) have helped by providing meals which takes some stress off Wendi as I am at work all day.

For the most part we are doing just fine and even with some health issues, Luczi is blossoming into a wonderful member of our little family. Chloe and Lilly are having some adjustment issues and every time Wendi leaves Chloe thinks Wendi is going away again for a long time. She has fits and screams for Mom, but she has always been a child full of anxiety. It will take time for her to “heal” from our 9 day abandonment of her too. We really felt that we would have seen this kind of thing from Lilly, but Lilly has been (other than battling for attention) doing great.

So there is the update, sorry it took a few days to post. Posted is picture of Luczi this morning playing in her exerciser and reflects one of the more long term periods of playing and happiness since our return home. And that of course makes us very happy.

Thanks again for tuning in and we’ll post more sometime this week.