Kentucky Life

Arizona 2011

2011-12-28T21:40:00.000-06:00

We say good-bye to 2011 in the same place I began--in Phoenix, AZ with my brother and sister-in-law, their amazing hospitality, geriatric wisely terrified of children cat, and the rest of my family (except brother Eric). I will remember how arid the dry climate seemed to our water logged Kentucky skin. I will remember my brother exclaiming, "Ruthanne, Zeke has two pails on his feet and is precariously close to an open fire, it's my house, intervene!" I will remember how my sons' faces lit up at the train park and how much fun we had being children with them. I will remember the anxiety and late night hours I put my family through trying to obtain my missing medication (sorry). I will remember the quality of the lamb, the flavor of the salt on the chocolate chip cookies, and the first bite of cast iron skillet french toast. I will remember my husband reading the Luke 2 account and explaining to our children the meaning of Christmas. I will remember the ambient light of the candles and the voices of such a diverse congregation as we sang "Silent Night" and raised our candles in the downtown church, offering the light of hope that shines so brightly in the darkness. I will remember feeling so small in the midst of the Grand Canyon and lost in the cacophony of accents and dialects as my own child screamed with fatigue and cold. I will remember what it feels like to be loved by one's family and to wish my children had the luxury of grandparents, aunts and uncles, in addition to us, instructing them with care and wisdom on a daily basis. I will remember that we are blessed, in the midst of disease, problems, anxiety, and stress, we have more than we deserve.

Meaning What You Say

2011-06-19T14:08:00.004-05:00

Preachers are often accused of talking a lot, which admittedly, they often do. But then there are those who say a lot, but mean what they say, but say it in a way that isn't mean. It is a rare balance and an artful way of speaking and living. Our dear friend and Pastor Mike Donald shared his heart today that on father's day all father would lead by example in faith and love, expressed most aptly in service. And he did it, he showed up and got under our grubby house because we have a leaky pipe. You can't see him in the picture, but Nate is holding a flashlight trying to be a part of this male bonding experience. We call Mike because he is one of those people that has the tools, acumen, compassion, and willingness to help. Every person needs such a person, or an indispensable amount of money to locate and hire someone like this. With both of our fathers far away, Mike often becomes our de facto mentor in home repair.
I should add the caveat that we are privileged to attend a church where many men and women, whom we call our friends, lead in this example. I would probably disturb the waters of silent respect and understood trust if I went into detail about who,what, and when, but let me say, the friends have been numerous, the needs real, and the answers met. Today was such a day when I left the house with my two children to get to Sunday School so I could teach. Dan was traveling back with another group of teenagers and volunteers from Ichthus and I knew after days apart, we were both tired and spent and ready for a break. But the urgent seems to press in at the same inconvenient time. Today Dan, Mike, and Nate drove off to fix a leaky pipe. Tomorrow it will be something else, but it is amazing to know we have friends who go on the journey of our broken houses and grubby interiors with us, and preach to others, they should do the same. I want to be that kind of friend, as I need that kind of friend.

Joyeux noel

2010-12-25T20:07:00.006-06:00

The snow started falling on our way to the Christmas Eve service. The phone rang and a friend asked us to go let out another's friend's newly acquired dog. It was 20 minutes until the start of the service and with two children, their belonging to keep them entertained, clean, and fed for the night, we drove through the piling snow. The dog was eager to come out of the kennel and I had to leash the unruly hound, as it hasn't been trained. Waiting for a dog to go in the snow, while wearing heeled boots, no gloves, and no hat is a poor way to show up to an event where people aren't expecting you to smell like a wet dog. The things we do last minute for friends. Dan watched the kids while I sat in the service, hoping no one could smell that I just wrestled a large, wet dog back into a confining kennel.
It is in these moments that I try to remember why I am at a service like this, why we work so hard to come and be prepared to be with others. Our nativity scene has lacked a Jesus figurine for quite a while. With too many European looking Jesus', I opted to use Nate's baby Jesus sock puppet he made in Cubbies. I set the sock Jesus in the manger (nevermind that the sock was white, oh well), and Nate ran and rescued his Jesus sock. He scolded me, "Mommy, you got my baby Jesus dirty." What an laughable and sincere moment to explain to Nate that Jesus did come and get dirty for him and for me because he loved us. That is what I try to remember in my wet dog moments amongst the Christmas crowds. Enjoy the pictures of our snow and the footed pajamas my sister sent the boys. It took a lot of cajoling to persuade Nate to put on the pajamas with reindeer peering up at hm from his feet, and Dan openly laughed when he saw Zeke, our miniature life saver. It was exactly the kind of day one hopes for when they think of Christmas: joyous bursts of enthusiasm, plenty of snow and a little sledding, good food, conversation with family and friends, and moments as a family worshipping the newborn king.

Birthdays, Good-byes and Papers

2010-08-18T20:48:00.004-05:00

A birthday marks so much and we are filled with joy to celebrate our son. A week filled with so many different emotions: saying good-bye to close friends, my family and their wonderful kinship and reprieve from the lonely task of parenting and guiding children. Being in Toronto makes the transition even more overt. I am relieved to be done and wish I could celebrate with those crazy boys. Home soon.

Dad to the Rescue

2010-02-24T21:18:00.003-06:00

Despite Dan being in Brazil, sickness, fatigue, and a lot of laundry, we had a great week. Thanks to my dad coming out from Washington, Cindy Bailey's Sunday with Nate, and Grace's food, we are doing well. We managed to have no heat for a few days but thanks to Chris (aren't the Baileys amazing!) we should be back in business tomorrow no worse for wear. Wednesday Nate began to throw up, followed by Zeke who echoed the death-like cough, and then I got it on Friday and wound up flat on my back too sick to stand up. Dad did so much work, feeding Zeke, helping to wrangle in Nate, and keep up with all the cleaning and dishes three sick people can make. Cindy's call on Sunday truly rescued our family and gave Nate such a treat - he's been asking all week when Cindy's coming back. But the one-two punch was the doctor's visit this week that confirmed Nate not only had an ear infection, but now he has strep! That resulted in another trip today with Zeke in tow making sure he didn't as well (sometimes mothers will pay for peace of mind). I can hardly believe dad will be leaving soon, I have so depended upon his company, conversation and parenting advice and prayers. As we continue the revival meetings at church I am reminded that God knew exactly where I was at and reminded me how much I need Him. What a wonderful week when we must fully rely on the grace of God.

Snow

2010-01-31T15:22:00.004-06:00

Several good things have occurred. Nate got to go to his first Chuck E. Cheese party thanks to Natalie's 3rd birthday. We now have a new leveraging tool - do ______ and we can earn a token toward going back. We did a Toddler and Trikes activity at our church - so much fun. For West Kentucky, we got some serious snow. And we took our youth to see the movie To Save A Life, a great film for a youth group to see together. Zeke is sleeping through the night and my new stay in bed technique with Nate is really working. It has taken some creative and challenging turns, but success means I finally get some devotional time, housework and grading accomplished.

Moving into February

2010-01-28T09:42:00.004-06:00

My friend Dianne reminded me it has been a while since I have posted any new pics. Facebook has become the picture sharing medium of choice, but I tend to not write personal messages on facebook like I do the blog. It's just not as handy for writing, but much easier for picture sharing. Being the philosopher and dissertation completion hopeful that I am, I like having a space to write and share who we are, not just the images that are obvious. To Dianne and others, thanks for keeping up with me and allowing a strange medium like a blog to keep us connected. It's time to grade but I am tired from a late night with youth workers and an early morning with kids and am seeking counsel in discerning my own spirit with the spirits around me. It's a difficult task to know oneself, to know one's limits, one's possibility and the limit of knowledge itself. To ramble in the direction of our family, Zeke is now almost 4 months and Nate will be three in August. They are growing so fast but challenging me with the juggling act of caring for both well. Nap time has become the new threshold of challenge that Nate has drawn and I have come to the battle of the toddler years ready to win, feeling like I lose, but keeping faith in the process of secure and loving boundaries with clear consequences. I can see why mothers need other mothers or mothering parents to support and guide during these early years. If you're wondering, the photo of Nate is of him wearing my socks - he thought it was funny.

Memorial Day

2009-05-26T09:32:00.003-05:00

Yesterday was Memorial Day and we started off the day by heading to our local cemetery to show Nate the crosses that represent our veterans and pray with him. He has just started to ask to pray, which is cumbersome since he wants to pray every 5 minutes throughout a meal, but that is probably better than the opposite. His dad took him into the 67 degree pool and they cooled off after Dan's yard work that morning. It was a delightful day filled with friends at brunch and friends at the close of the day.

Easter!

2009-04-12T12:26:00.003-05:00

Nate officially discovered Resurrection Sunday. Thanks to Aunt Lora for the great outfit! We're on our way to go over eat, but wanted to send these pics of his first Easter egg hunt out. The picture of Nate in the car seat is him saying "cheese!" Our friend Beth told him to say cheese when we were taking the family photo, but it came as a delayed reaction once he got into the car.

He loves his soccer Easter basket! He has just smeared chocolate on his shirt and tie, but it will all wash. We better get going before we find other candy to eat and wipe and on our clothes.

Updated Photos

2009-03-21T15:31:00.003-06:00

Dad asked for more photos on the blog. Here are some pics of Nate at 17 months before his haircut and now 18 to 19 months old with his new look. I'll let you be the judge.

Winter Ice Storm

2009-02-19T13:06:00.003-06:00

Here are some pics in case some of you were wondering what it was like during that big ice storm. As you can see from the first photo, it was a lot of smiles as well as a few worries. I also posted photos of Nate from December on Facebook. Due to the ice storm, Grace was delayed in getting them to us (which anyone who experienced the storm understands). Nate has already changed so much since those photos were taken! Here are a few of pics to give you an idea of what it looked like.

It's Fall in Kentucky

2008-10-22T12:17:00.002-05:00

As fall approaches so does our annual Trunk-or-Treat at the local park. This year we will be the "Pumpkin Spice Coffee" car. Dan will serve the coffee, I will be the spice, and Nate's the pumpkin. In all actuality we'll be handing out candy to the kids and giving coffee with pumpkin spice creamer to the parents. It should be fun!

Loren and Kelly's Visit

2008-09-11T16:41:00.004-05:00

Nate's First Hair Cut

2008-09-04T21:20:00.002-05:00

Sarah's Wedding

2008-08-28T22:54:00.002-05:00

More Pics with Grandpa

2008-07-12T15:31:00.003-05:00

Holidays

2008-07-12T15:20:00.003-05:00

Here are some photos from our 4th of July celebrations with the Smiths and Grandpa Pierson's visit in Kentucky. Thanks Grandma Pierson for sending the cute outfits - they look great! Aunt Lora supplied his festive 4th of July onesie. With relatives like this, who needs to go shopping?

10 months old

2008-06-27T22:57:00.003-05:00

Nate's a Flip Flopper

2008-06-27T19:32:00.002-05:00

Nate can now move himself around in a circle. While he's mostly a walker (or should be say runner?) his crawling skills never developed, so scooching around on the ground is a big deal for this little guy.

Memorial Day

2008-05-26T21:23:00.003-05:00

We celebrated Memorial Day with friends, lots of food and Nate's first swim. He wasn't sure what to think of the 75 degree water temp, but adjusted quickly. Bath time is always a favorite (as you can tell) so we think pool time will grow on him as well.

9 months old

2008-05-22T12:53:00.003-05:00

Nate is 9 months old and still in the 90th percentile. He measures almost 2 1/2 feet now! It is hard to imagine the little 19 1/4 inch baby we brought home.

Grabby Hands

2008-05-22T12:33:00.002-05:00

Mr. Grabby Hands is really changing and more dexterity means more chances to grab at everything in sight.

Another Blue Ball Moment

2008-05-22T00:38:00.002-05:00

Big Blue Ball

2008-05-22T00:20:00.003-05:00

Nate just loves this big exercise ball and sadly, we get more use of it watching him laugh than I do doing push ups. His Aunt Lora sent him the 4th of July onesie - perfect for our newly elevating temperatures.

No Mommy

2008-04-16T14:17:00.003-05:00

Nate just started shaking his head and after every bite of food, he likes to give a hearty shake to let me know his first intentions are negative. In this video he's in the process of eating his afternoon yo-baby yogurt.

2008-04-11T13:41:00.003-05:00

This next week Nate will be 8 months old and his seventh tooth is pushing through. He weighs about 23 lbs now and is a great big bundle of delight. He babbles in a language all his own, lets us know when he likes something, and his curiosity is almost killing our cat, who runs and hides when he sees Nate coming. All the world is a great big investigation or scientific experiment to Nate and he must know how everything works, whats inside every drawer, and becomes quite impudent when one tries to interfere with his research. He is teaching us to become present to our world again.

On the Move

2008-04-11T13:37:00.003-05:00

Aunt Kelly's Visit

2008-03-29T18:56:00.004-06:00

Kelly flew out from Seattle and we were the fortunate benficiaries of one of her stops on baby tour '08. She has several important babies in her life, and we were blessed to have her spend some time with us. It wasn't a long visit, but it was quality time well-spent. As you can tell, Mr. Ripley, who has been newly renamed "Dennis the Menace" was probably the most fortunate to receive her attentions, since few else in our home feel much sympathetic toward the cat. As you can visualize from the first photo, Dennis is not that interested in having fistfuls of his hair being tugged out by baby hands, but Nate loves to grab him. We went to Mama D's while Kelly was with us it was one of the few times Nate has gone out to dinner, and his first time going out for Italian. As you can see, the water bottles were a hit. When it was time to say good-bye, Nate didn't want to let his aunt go, and neither did we.

Jumping Up and Down

2008-03-08T13:11:00.004-06:00

I thought my family would enjoy seeing Nate jumping in his little johnny jump up. I bought it on ebay for $10 (thanks mom for the tip!). He has so much fun in this thing and when he really gets going, he is just hilarious. The youth have decided they needed to make big johnny jump ups for them - Dan said those are called bungy cords. Well, big or little, you have to enjoy watching this little guy. He's only jumping a little, but you get the idea.

The Giggles

2008-03-07T13:47:00.003-06:00

Ashley and Amber watched Nate for us and gave him the giggles. You can hear his belly laugh and how much he enjoys people. He's just finished eating, and is slouched down, but you can still hear all his glee.

Too Much Fun

2008-03-02T22:39:00.003-06:00

So I can't stop taking photos of this kid. He is so much fun. The outfit with the hat was given by our friend Carol. He has so many wonderful Kentucky grandmothers looking out for him!

Eating Lunch

2008-02-29T15:46:00.005-06:00

It was lunch time today and I couldn't resist taking a few pics of our little man eating. You can really see his two teeth now! He is such a delight. I know he has oatmeal all over his mouth, but he is still adorable. Growing like a weed! We have so much for which to give thanks.

Jumping up and down at 6 months

2008-02-22T12:31:00.004-06:00

Our boy is 6 months old and he had his 3rd round of vaccines today and now weighs 21 pounds and measures roughly 28 inches long. He is still in the 95th percentile for weight and 75-90th percentile for height. He is still sleeping like a dream, and although bouts of excema and teething sometimes pain him, he is a remarkably cheerful little boy. His reading list from the library this week include: I Have a Wocket in my Pocket, The Belly Button Book, and Snoozers: 7 Short Bedtime Stories. We are endeavoring to make reading part of his routine. We read a story as part of his wind down routine before his naptime and bedtime. Solids are still going great, but the doctor recommends apple juice to help with his few moments of constipation. He definitely lets us know when he needs to go! The Washington D.C. hoodie came as a late gift from my friend Heather who works on the Hill. It says, "Future President." Who knows? Maybe he will be a peace-maker. The soccer ball is from the Sears family and he already loves holding his little ball. He cant' kick yet, since he can't walk, but that will come soon enough. He is sitting up on his own and babbling like a bubbling buffoon. His operatic noises are quite the turn from our quiet evenings pre-Nate. We can't imagine life without him. Today and tomorrow we are participating in World Vision's 30 hour famine to raise money and awareness about global poverty and hunger. I am thankful and concerned that Nate has so much to choose to eat and pray the same for other children and families around the world.

Getting Around

2008-02-08T16:42:00.000-06:00

Our little man can scoot himself around in his bouncer. So far he can scoot backwards, but hasn't mastered forward motion yet. As long as I keep turning him around, he's pretty happy to be mobile. He wore his first regular (or big boy) pajamas yesterday and I can hardly believe how much I care about such small but meaningful details. Sorry to add something so mundane, but I suppose I'm trying to enjoy each moment that passes so quickly. His moods are easier to interpret and he is becoming more social by the day. He settles down for story time, which precedes any nap or bedtime, and we take our weekly visit to the library together. He mostly holds the books that I pick out, but I know even that will eventually change. He gets excited when he sees his dad, and dad often distracts him when he's eating, making mealtime longer, but more fun. Our new baby food mill has been extremely helpful and I've been able to puree fresh fruits and veggies to give him and so far he likes everything. Let's hope it stays that way!

Five Months Old

2008-01-25T15:42:00.000-06:00

Our baby is 5 months old and his smile is contagious. He can stand, sit most of the time without slumping, and is eating solids, which makes diapering a lot more interesting. He loves to squeal and our kids call it the death cry of the mandrake. I think we have to agree. I'll try to upload a video of the cry, but be warned, we are not responsible for any fainting.

Everyone Together

2008-01-01T21:26:00.001-06:00

More Pics from Christmas

2008-01-01T21:06:00.000-06:00

Christmas with Nate

2008-01-01T20:10:00.000-06:00

Nate is almost 5 months old and we flew him across the United States to visit our family in Washington and then drove him to visit our family in Indiana. Both visits were too short and we loved getting a chance to see our families meet our son. It has been busy in our home with our youth and lots of late nights, but we are glad to be home. Nate did an incredible job with traveling by air and car, sleeping in new places and meeting new people. He is currently teething and now weighs roughly 20 lbs. and measures 27 inches. He is a big boy, but a joy to parent.

Nate Is 3 Months Old

2007-11-16T22:28:00.000-06:00

Our boy is 3 months old and growing. He's officially in 9-12 month old clothing and must be weighing in around 17 lbs! We are starting to wonder where these sumu wrestler genes are coming from. He's healthy, sleeping 12 hours at night, and a joy to be around, especially in the morning when he first wakes up and excitedly flaps his arms when he sees us. We are thankful for his life and pray for him to know and walk with Christ. Dan is finally home after 3 weeks of being away: youth camping trip, National Youth Workers Convention in St. Louis, and college tour with our students. This is his first Friday night home in a while. It is good to be together again.

Nate's First Halloween

2007-10-31T20:22:00.000-06:00

For Nate's first Halloween he was a spider/chicken. Our friend Pam had given us a spider onesie, but fearing that he would be cold, I went out and got him a newborn chick outfit for just $5! He wore the spider onesie underneath the chick outfit. The youth outreach committee sponsors an event every year called "Trunk-or-Treat" where the students decorate their trunks with a theme and dress up and hand out candy to kids in our town. We met at our local park and it was a hit! Nate and I were chicken-cordon-bleu (or chicken cord on blue - I wore blue, carried an extension cord and Nate was a chick). We had to include Dan humor since he couldn't be there. Dan left for St. Louis this morning, but we took a photo of him and Nate last night so he could feel a part of this day too.

Nate is 2 Months Old!

2007-10-24T17:46:00.001-05:00

Nate had his 2 month check up with the doctor yesterday and he now weighs in at slightly over 15 pounds and is 25 inches long, which places him in the 95th percentile for height and 79th percentile for weight. He had his ouchie exam: 3 needles and 1 oral vaccine. Dan held him while they stuck him and after a few moments of intense crying, he settled down and left the doctor's office with a smile on his face. We are grateful to live in a place with healthcare and vaccines for small infants. We realize that many parents worry over diseases that can be eradicated. We hope and pray that we will be able to help those parents receive the care their children require and spread the blessing that has been ours. The hat in the last photo is a late shower gift from a friend and even though its Halloween season, I couldn't putting it on his head.

New Mac!!!

2007-10-18T15:40:00.000-05:00

My family completely surprised Dan and me by giving us a joint birthday gift this year - a new macbook! We can hardly believe how wonderful it is, and it came at just the right time as our old computer which we've had for four years (and was used when we got it, but in great shape) has starting give out on us. I am in awe of the computer world according to mac - I can't deny it's pretty awesome.

Sarah and Joe Visit

2007-10-15T22:27:00.000-05:00

Sarah and Joe came to visit us and we were able to celebrate their recent engagement and introduce them to their newest nephew. It was a joy to have them with us and we thoroughly enjoyed the gift of their company and friendship. We ate a huge breakfast and Dan made "melt-in-your-mouth" pancakes, with help from Pam's homemade jam. Dan took his sister and Joe to LBL for a walk with Daisy and enjoyed the unseasonably warm weather we have experienced this October. The trip was too short and we look forward to seeing them both at Christmas and their upcoming wedding in August.

He's getting bigger...

2007-10-02T13:26:00.001-05:00

He's growing and getting stronger but the reflux still seems to be giving him problems. We go to the hospital tomorrow for an upper GI test to see what else can be done, but for now we just try to keep him comfortable and enjoy the moments when he is alert and happy - these pictures are a few of those moments.

I couldn't resist adding this photo of the new t-shirt Brittany sent to Nate. He went to the pool today for the first time - it was 90 degrees in October, but only Dan swam in the 76 degree water - too cold for mom and baby.

Looking more like dad.

Checking out the world.

Still working on neck control.

6 Weeks Old and Growing

2007-09-26T13:48:00.001-05:00

Nate had his 6 week doctor visit and now weighs in at 13 lbs. 2 oz.! He's a hefty guy and not afraid to let the world know how he feels (he loves to grunt). I'm pretty sure his first words have been "ouh" and "elp" (which translates into "help"). He loves to use these words when he is being lifted onto the change table or has to be changed into another set of clothes because he just spit up. We are discovering why we were given so many bibs. He was given a new acid reflux medicine and we think it is starting to help relieve some of his discomfort, but for a projectile vomitter, he certainly has put on the weight!

Nate is One Month!

2007-09-14T15:47:00.000-05:00

Nate's first bath

All clean and ready for bed.

Snoozing with dad...

Staying upright so he can keep his food down!

Nate is 2 Weeks Old

2007-09-01T07:00:00.000-05:00

Well, he's two weeks old, our pediatrician has us reading Baby Wise, and we are slightly less nervous parents. He has gained weight and is now 9 lbs. - he almost doesn't fit his newborn clothes anymore. We are daily washing all 15 of his cloth diapers, but are amazed at how wonderfully they are working out. We are also astonished how the gifts, meals, and visits are still pouring in - so much doting for one so small, but life is always worth celebrating. We continue to be in awe, even at the 3:30 am feedings, that this gift has been entrusted to us.

More pictures of Nate

2007-08-20T13:21:00.001-05:00

Here are some pictures we took of Nate and hopefully you can get a better sense of who he is becoming...

Baby Nate is Here!

2007-08-19T15:37:00.000-05:00

This was Dan's expression when he stepped into the waiting room to tell our friends that Nathaniel Dawson is here! He arrived August 15, 2007 at 3:47 pm and weighed 7 lbs. 10 oz. and was 19 1/4 inches long. We all rejoice in a safe and healthy delivery. The nursing staff did an exceptional job in care and coaching and our doctor has been fantastic and we can't say enough about our new pediatrician. So many friends and family have called, brought meals, said prayers, and stopped by with last minute items for us. We can't say thank you enough. Right now we are trying to get the gist of parenting learning to discern hungry from gassy (which is worse than being hungry), and how to care for his new little body which has been through so much in the past few days - birth, circumcision, loads of testing and more. We saw the lactation consultant today and found out he has a high level of jaundice and is now sitting in his new photo therapy bed, which is a fancy way of saying he has a baby tanning bed. We (I should say Dan) have been running around buying all sorts of temperature gauges and trying to figure out ways to get more food into his body. Dan is on his way back to youth group tonight and I am preparing lesson plans for my first day back in the classroom tomorrow and my mom has been so helpful with all the in-between details of laundry, dishes, and basic care. We are all recovering and thankful to God for such excellent health care and the ability to care for our new son. He truly is a "Gift from God," the meaning of Nathaniel in the literal sense. We return to the hospital on Tuesday to test his bilirubin level again and hopefully, it will be lower. Dan has decided to dedicate Psalm 15 to Nate since he was born on the 15th and we hope that the words reflect his true character.

Baby Nate Nursery

2007-07-27T10:38:00.001-05:00

Here are some quick pics of baby Nate's nursery. We're still in the process of sorting and organizing everything, but it is a start. Our church shower was beautiful and our friends did an incredible job of creating a baby jungle theme (jungle ecosystems and geographies are particularly vulnerable places that need our attention). Many of our friends who gave also honored our request to consider making a donation to the orphan project at Samaritan's Purse. We feel that our baby will already have so much - two parents, access to healthcare, clean water, and all the privileges of western living. We hope that he learns to value the good creation that God has given and consider in his own life how the justice and grace of God can be most wisely distributed amongst all the world. We pray that he will truly be an agent of love.

Dan always needs coffee when putting together baby items...

Excited parents!

July 4th in Kentucky

2007-07-05T11:33:00.000-05:00

Although far from home, Dan and I have never lacked a place to celebrate every holiday. Whether at the Donald, Mathis or Smith house, we have always felt included and part of a church family that loves to celebrate. July 4th was spent with the Smith family at their home by the lake which offers a terrific view of the fireworks (just ask Tarryn and Dallyn). Carol made an enormous amount of food with help from Pam and Krista and I must confess, I enjoyed it all. My friend Jody was also back from Europe and we had a chance to catch up and talk about her new job and move to Nashville. It is wonderful to celebrate amongst such lovely people.

Tom and Carol - our fabulous hosts

Our matching necklaces from Florence

Dad's Visit to Kentucky

2007-06-11T23:30:00.000-05:00

My dad came out to visit us in Kentucky for two weeks and we've had a great time introducing him to our life. He has gotten to see the lake, walk Mike Miller park, eat at Patti's, and hear the Washington Street Baptist choir perform at our church. I think his favorite part has been waking up to the sound of birds. He and Dan got through the entire Band of Brothers series as well as Bob Dylan's latest documentary film. It's been good to have a bit of Washington in Kentucky. He spent some time finding old relatives and the former homesteads of his relatives who ironically lived in Trigg County, just 45 minutes away. We stopped in at the Country Boy Store to inquire for directions, and that was a highlight for Dan--you'll have to ask him to tell the story. Here are some pics from the Bluegrass Festival and our adventures around our community.

Celebrating Dad's birthday

Discovering the Pennyrile State Park

The house the Dawson brothers built in 1820

Still at the park...

Dad enjoying the Bluegrass music

We enjoyed the music too, but I really enjoyed the corn dog...

Taking a coffee break in Paducah

Futball in Kentucky

2007-06-02T23:21:00.000-05:00

Dan loves to play soccer but has always had a hard time finding an outdoor league that is open to old guys his age. Last summer one began and Dan formed a team this year from his indoor league and some younger guys he knows. They tied this game one-one, but I think he enjoys just getting minutes to play the game he loves. Soccer definitely beats running on a treadmill with me...

Nate in 4D

2007-05-31T14:29:00.000-05:00

We had our 30 week ultrasound today and here are our first clear pictures of Nathaniel Dawson. Our doctor just purchased a new 4D ultrasound machine (Dan didn't know we could go into the 4th dimension!) and Nate's pictures were some of her clearest examples. The tech copied off pictures to use as samples to show parents, so I guess that makes Nate a pre-natal model! The pictures are just a peak of what he'll look like, but already you can see Dan's nose and my hands. Let us know what you think...

Wanting to sleep

Little hands

Our tech's favorite picture

Turn It Up

2007-05-21T13:13:00.001-05:00

As I look at my calendar this week has been none-stop with the young adults summer study starting, three graduation ceremonies and a reception, band practice, graduation Sunday with the youth worship team leading, and the finale -- the "Turn It Up" youth rally which ran all through the afternoon and evening yesterday. Dan and I hit the pillow at 3:45 am.

What a week of remembering God's goodness and seeing it poured out in our lives and the lives of teenagers and families yesterday.

So many people in our church volunteered to bring blankets, prepare food, serve youth in our own church as well the youth that came from other churches, play games with them, and worship with them. Dan has run around this week driving to check on senior awards, buying noodles and rec equipment, calling our volunteers, buying books for college students, scanning senior photos, and trying to be present with hurting kids and their families. In the midst of our own seemingly futile efforts, God has richly given answers to prayer. Several students accepted Christ as Lord of their lives. We heard that one of our youth gave $900 yesterday to Brent Gambrell Ministries for children in Haiti (our church also gave the same amount in the morning service for infants in desperate need of nutrition). Brent will take this money and buy a young man, about the same age as the student that gave the money, a motorcycle so he can earn income as a driver and support his family in the most impoverished country in our hemisphere. It is amazing how teenagers moved by the Spirit can make a difference in the lives of others, and my own life as my faith is renewed in the attentiveness of our God.

Gatlinburg Trip

2007-05-14T14:44:00.000-05:00

The pictures were taken on our not-so-free two night stay in Gatlinburg. After listening to a vacuum cleaner spiel this year, we were given a free night stay and chose the Great Smokey Mountains due to its relative close distance to home. The area is a complete carnival until you hike up past the roads, the bikers, and the tourists. It was then that we found what we came looking for - quiet serenity. We left for this trip with $34 and had to spent $30 of those right away to pick up a prescription for me. But when we entered our car the morning of our departure, we found an envelope with $100 in it. When we arrived in Gatlinburg, the agent begged us to listen to a 3 hour sales talk on time shares (our not-so-free stay), but gave us a $100 visa debit card for attending. Amazingly, a couple who arrived with $4, through God's grace, returned home with $40. We packed a cooler for lunches and scrimped on meals, but still managed to get an amazing ice-cream cone (Dan's request) and one extremely pleasant meal out at a restaurant by the park. Even entrance into the park was free. We are glad to be home and rest in the quiet of our own neighborhood, even amidst the noise of our schedules. And, we have money left over to buy milk this week...

Dan by the river

Taking a break on walk

The river

Laurel Falls

Looking very pregnant

6,600 ft. in elevation

First Day

2007-05-14T14:27:00.000-05:00

Admittedly, I am probably one of the last people who should be "blogging." As dissertation writing should be taking up all of my 'free' time, it is insane that I would take up time to create this page. Yet, I did want a way to share our photos and updates. Since most of you are older and not on 'facebook' like our youth, or just live really far from us and don't plan on moving to Kentucky any time soon, I thought this might be a way to keep in touch, especially as we anticipate baby Nathaniel's arrival in August. I promise I won't post things like 'what I ate today' and will try to keep any information actually newsworthy and relevant - we'll shoot for inspiring later.