sweet words to sing

I heard the voice of Jesus say, “Come unto Me and rest;
Lay down, thou weary one, lay down Thy head upon My breast.”
I came to Jesus as I was, weary and worn and sad;
I found in Him a resting place, and He has made me glad.

I heard the voice of Jesus say, “Behold, I freely give
The living water; thirsty one, stoop down, and drink, and live.”
I came to Jesus, and I drank of that life giving stream;
My thirst was quenched, my soul revived, and now I live in Him.

I heard the voice of Jesus say, “I am this dark world’s Light;
Look unto Me, thy morn shall rise, and all thy day be bright.”
I looked to Jesus, and I found in Him my Star, my Sun;
And in that light of life I’ll walk, till traveling days are done.

The tune for this song is great... makes me cherish and delight in the words all the more. Here's a link to a decent rendition of the song if you want to hear it.

K Family Fun

We had a great time with family preparing for and celebrating Amy and Andrew's wedding last weekend. Here's a short record of some of our funner moments. (For me, lots of the fun was simply shooting the photos or enjoying the great shots my photo-savy sister-in-law. Thanks Heather! Most of these are yours...)

Our kids think it is just as funny as can be that they could "sleep" on the swing. Here's how they did it...

Staying in rural North Dakota is a real treat for me. I grew up in city-suburb areas where the population density is, well.... much thicker than it is here.

Matt and I took our three kids and our sweet niece on a walk all the way across town- from his grandparents home to the baseball field where Matt's dad played as a kid. The walk took about 20 minutes, at toddlers pace and we meandered as much as we could. All dirt roads. We saw one car on the road the whole time (that is, the whole way there and back again.)

The fields just beyond town are wide, wide open to a happily blue sky with clouds unlike I've ever witnessed elsewhere. The sky seems all the more on display- in the spotlight- here since there are no mountains or hills or buildings and few trees to obscure it's place center-stage.

It was a magical afternoon for us with our kids. So sweet to enjoy the simple, spectacular beauty and sweet, still quietness with them. That is of course, the quietness beyond our little party.

MRS. North Dakota!

Much love and cheer to you Mr. and Mrs. Andrew B. We so enjoyed celebrating with you at your wedding last weekend! What a great day and neat ceremony.... and what a beautiful couple you are! Welcome to the family, Andrew!

Amy, you are just stunning dear, and we love your photos too! Your mom has been so proud to share them and talk about them and stare at them.... We are so happy- with you- that they turned out so well. Phew!! I think it will be worth toasting to your Renegade Photography guy next time we're together!

Here's some of our favorite photos of you two on your beautiful day...

(just click on the link to see them)

http://www.renegadephotography.org/Image=16784

http://www.renegadephotography.org/Image=16765

http://www.renegadephotography.org/Image=16796

http://www.renegadephotography.org/Image=16814

And here's the family...

http://www.renegadephotography.org/Image=16829

and alllllllll the K's...

http://www.renegadephotography.org/Image=16816

Here are a few shots from cool Auntie Heather...

worth pondering

This morning I got in a walk in the crisp cool air of this farm town where Matt's grandparents met and married, raised Matt's dad (and his 5 siblings) and have lived ever since. Nothing could be a more stark contrast to the capital city where we lived in Asia. I found a dirt road that dead ended with a tiny grass cul-de-sac where I could stand and stare out at hundreds of acres (I'm guessing) of crops and be shined on by the sun as it rose over those fields. Beautiful.

And I got to listen to a great talk by John Piper (Passion for the Supremacy of God). Here are two bits I definitely want to reflect on....

First, he shared about George Mueller who charged himself every morning, "I must be happy in God today. Because if I'm not happy in God I will seek my happiness in lesser things that will never satisfy. I'll use people to try to make me happy, though they never will...." (paraphrased.)

Second, in replying to an accusation that Christian Hedonism inappropriately detracts from the virtue of self denial, Piper exhorted us: "Don't pity yourself if your head gets cut off for the cause of Christ. You cannot give up anything for him, that he won't repay a thousand fold."

Christ is worthy- so satisfying, so good, so desireable. I have no cause for complaint, pity, saddness at all in this world. Would that my heart be happy in him today- no matter my circumstance. He is the most worthy Treasure, the One I was created to be filled by and for, and having him, my soul is rescued from certain death and I am filled and at peace. Such cause for joy!

fun in the sun

(I think... I hope this is a laugh.)

Here's Baby Kylie.... who Marian is still asking for a week and half later.

We have been so blessed to enjoy some spectacular visits with some absolutely incredible people that we are privileged to have as friends. We had a great time with Micah and Becky and Kylie, Clara and her sweet kids, Lori and Dan and Sienna and Sydney, at the petting zoo with Tim and JJ and Levi and Jack, and with Spencer, Elizabeth and Isaac and Anna.  I only wish I had two extra hands to be able to keep up with our sweet little ones and snap more and better pictures with each of these great friends!

This week we landed up north to get in some good time with family. Again, there is so much to celebrate- a wedding, #2 Birthday parties for two of our sweet girls, introducing John, and a new sweet little cousin on the way!!