In January we had a great trip to Disney World.
It was all of our family and it couldn't have gone better. The kids were great, weather was perfect, saw tons of character and had an all around great time.
Its hard to capture a 5 day trip in a 5 minute video, but this will help us remember in years to come. I wish i had more photos from all the other family members, but as you will see this is primarily our kids.
"Dreams come true." - Walt Disney
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Self Sacrifice Part 1
Katie has been sick.
Real sick.
It's not related to the pregnancy, but her pregnancy has had a big impact on her sickness. She has the flu and and a respiratory infection, neither of which are fun, and together has been rough.
Well because of her pregnancy she can't take any strong meds, particularly for the flu part of her sickness. So she is told to take REGULAR strength tylenol and wait it out.
So this has made me think.
There is very powerful medication that would make her feel better in a very short amount of time, but she can't.
I told her yesterday, every time you begin to think about flu meds or your stupid sugar pills (what she is calling tylenol) think about the child growing inside of you. Does it make her feel better? No. Does it resize her sickness, a little. Does this point to a deeper problem we all have? Yes.
(Now let me say, when your wife is pregnant and VERY sick, that is not the time to devotionalize!!)
We all want quick fixes. We all want what works for US. We seek our own safety and desires first and not those around us. I think of myself first and how it affects others second. As I watch Katie having to deny herself meds for the sake of a child, its pointed out in ME how much I don't willfully deny myself for the sake of others. Self sacrifice is difficult. It normally must be forced on us to make us see how selfish we are.
I'm praying the Spirit within would grow and continue to show me the things I need to deny so that it can thrive.
Real sick.
It's not related to the pregnancy, but her pregnancy has had a big impact on her sickness. She has the flu and and a respiratory infection, neither of which are fun, and together has been rough.
Well because of her pregnancy she can't take any strong meds, particularly for the flu part of her sickness. So she is told to take REGULAR strength tylenol and wait it out.
So this has made me think.
There is very powerful medication that would make her feel better in a very short amount of time, but she can't.
I told her yesterday, every time you begin to think about flu meds or your stupid sugar pills (what she is calling tylenol) think about the child growing inside of you. Does it make her feel better? No. Does it resize her sickness, a little. Does this point to a deeper problem we all have? Yes.
(Now let me say, when your wife is pregnant and VERY sick, that is not the time to devotionalize!!)
We all want quick fixes. We all want what works for US. We seek our own safety and desires first and not those around us. I think of myself first and how it affects others second. As I watch Katie having to deny herself meds for the sake of a child, its pointed out in ME how much I don't willfully deny myself for the sake of others. Self sacrifice is difficult. It normally must be forced on us to make us see how selfish we are.
I'm praying the Spirit within would grow and continue to show me the things I need to deny so that it can thrive.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
We're Going Zone
Well it's official. We are switching from man to man, to zone.
We are expecting our third child!!
Katie is due the first week of October.
In an effort to record the pregnancy and the beginning of our third child, i'll be starting back up BabyNeely.
Please forgive me if i'm rough around the edges, I only posted once last year.
Bring it on.
I've always* said, "Who wants to settle for holding two things in your hands when you can juggle three."
*(by always i mean, just now)
We are expecting our third child!!
Katie is due the first week of October.
In an effort to record the pregnancy and the beginning of our third child, i'll be starting back up BabyNeely.
Please forgive me if i'm rough around the edges, I only posted once last year.
Bring it on.
I've always* said, "Who wants to settle for holding two things in your hands when you can juggle three."
*(by always i mean, just now)
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Another Post
There may not be anyone to see this...
I've been removed from your readers.
You took me off of your favorites list
I'm no longer in your quick tabs at the top of the page.
But if you are out there reading this, this was too good to pass up.
There is a REAL Baby Neely now.
Obviously Davis and Annie are real baby Neelys, but on Friday June 1st, Neely Jane Hearp entered the world.
Congrats to Demetria and Chris.
Baby Neely almost feels complete now.
Almost...
I've been removed from your readers.
You took me off of your favorites list
I'm no longer in your quick tabs at the top of the page.
But if you are out there reading this, this was too good to pass up.
There is a REAL Baby Neely now.
Obviously Davis and Annie are real baby Neelys, but on Friday June 1st, Neely Jane Hearp entered the world.
Congrats to Demetria and Chris.
Baby Neely almost feels complete now.
Almost...
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Another Santa
I'm not trying to overload you with Santa stuff, and I know many may disagree or not care, but I thought this was another great article by Mark Driscol, a pastor in Seattle. He says we can either reject, receive or redeem Santa.
So, as the parents of five children, Grace and I have taken the third position to redeem Santa. We tell our kids that he was a real person who did live a long time ago. We also explain how people dress up as Santa and pretend to be him for fun, kind of like how young children like to dress up as pirates, princesses, superheroes, and a host of other people, real and imaginary. We explain how, in addition to the actual story of Santa, a lot of other stories have been added (e.g., flying reindeer, living in the North Pole, delivering presents to every child in one night) so that Santa is a combination of true and make-believe stories.
We do not, however, demonize Santa. Dressing up, having fun, and using the imagination God gave can be an act of holy worship and is something that, frankly, a lot of adults need to learn from children.
What we are concerned about, though, is lying to our children. We teach them that they can always trust us because we will tell them the truth and not lie to them. Conversely, we ask that they be honest with us and never lie. Since we also teach our children that Jesus is a real person who did perform real miracles, our fear is that if we teach them fanciful, make-believe stories as truth, it could erode confidence in our truthfulness where it really matters. So, we distinguish between lies, secrets, surprises, and pretend for our kids. We ask them not to tell lies or keep secrets, but do teach them that some surprises (like gift-giving) and pretending (like dressing up) can be fun and should be encouraged. We tell them the truth and encourage them to have fun watching Christmas shows on television and even sitting on Santa's lap for a holiday photo if they so desire. For parents of younger children wanting them to learn the real story of Santa Claus the Veggie Tales movie Saint Nicholas is a good choice.
(I, JC, added the italics)
Merry Christmas.
So, as the parents of five children, Grace and I have taken the third position to redeem Santa. We tell our kids that he was a real person who did live a long time ago. We also explain how people dress up as Santa and pretend to be him for fun, kind of like how young children like to dress up as pirates, princesses, superheroes, and a host of other people, real and imaginary. We explain how, in addition to the actual story of Santa, a lot of other stories have been added (e.g., flying reindeer, living in the North Pole, delivering presents to every child in one night) so that Santa is a combination of true and make-believe stories.
We do not, however, demonize Santa. Dressing up, having fun, and using the imagination God gave can be an act of holy worship and is something that, frankly, a lot of adults need to learn from children.
What we are concerned about, though, is lying to our children. We teach them that they can always trust us because we will tell them the truth and not lie to them. Conversely, we ask that they be honest with us and never lie. Since we also teach our children that Jesus is a real person who did perform real miracles, our fear is that if we teach them fanciful, make-believe stories as truth, it could erode confidence in our truthfulness where it really matters. So, we distinguish between lies, secrets, surprises, and pretend for our kids. We ask them not to tell lies or keep secrets, but do teach them that some surprises (like gift-giving) and pretending (like dressing up) can be fun and should be encouraged. We tell them the truth and encourage them to have fun watching Christmas shows on television and even sitting on Santa's lap for a holiday photo if they so desire. For parents of younger children wanting them to learn the real story of Santa Claus the Veggie Tales movie Saint Nicholas is a good choice.
(I, JC, added the italics)
Merry Christmas.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Santa?
This is from a blog (Deyoung, Restless and Reformed) I read by a guy named Kevin Deyoung. He has a much more extensive blog on the history of Santa, i simply included the ending of his article. Katie and I have landed pretty similar to him, not "teaching" Santa Claus, simply enjoying the holiday and letting the kids pick up what they will. Giving gifts. Enjoying family. Worshipping Christ.
How should Christians relate to the traditions of Santa Claus? C.S. Lewis embraced them and so included Father Christmas in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Other Christians, fearing syncretism, stay clear of Santa, reindeer, and a tree full of presents. I’ll leave it to you and your family to form you opinions on observing the Christmas holiday (see Rom. 14:1, 5-6). Personally, we try to walk in the middle of the road on this one: we don’t teach our kids about Santa, but we are happy to enjoy It’s a Wonderful Life, a couple Christmas trees, and a little Bing Crosby. And if the kids, picking up bits and pieces from other places, end of listening for flying reindeer landing on the roof, we’re not going to introduce the laws of physics to crush their anticipation. Most of all, of course, we try to press home that Christmas is about Christ.
But if you have a lot of Santa Claus around, why not use him to your benefit and talk about the real St. Nicholas. We don’t know a lot about him, but we know he lived and was revered. According to legend–one of those stories that probably isn’t true, but should be–when Nicholas was little boy he would get up early in the morning to go to church and pray. One morning, the aging priest had a vision that the first one to enter the church in the morning should be the new bishop of Myra. When Nicholas was the first to enter, the old priest, obeying the vision, made the young boy bishop right on the spot. But before he consecrated Nicholas a bishop, the priest asked him a question. “Who are you, my son?” According to tradition, the child whose legend would one day become Santa Claus replied, “Nicholas the sinner.” Not bad for a little boy.
With what little we know about St. Nicholas, it is safe to say he would not be pleased to know he had eclipsed Christ in the hearts of many as the central figure of Christmas. For the Bishop of Myra no doubt knew the angel’s words to Joseph: “Mary will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
So this Christmas, give gifts if you like. We will in our family. Receive them all with thanksgiving. But do not forget what we need most–salvation from our sins. This is one gift the real St. Nicholas would not have overlooked. In fact, I’m convinced, if given the opportunity, he would have loved to be there with the shepherds and the angels, bowing down around the manger in Bethlehem. And I bet he would have brought a present too.
How should Christians relate to the traditions of Santa Claus? C.S. Lewis embraced them and so included Father Christmas in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Other Christians, fearing syncretism, stay clear of Santa, reindeer, and a tree full of presents. I’ll leave it to you and your family to form you opinions on observing the Christmas holiday (see Rom. 14:1, 5-6). Personally, we try to walk in the middle of the road on this one: we don’t teach our kids about Santa, but we are happy to enjoy It’s a Wonderful Life, a couple Christmas trees, and a little Bing Crosby. And if the kids, picking up bits and pieces from other places, end of listening for flying reindeer landing on the roof, we’re not going to introduce the laws of physics to crush their anticipation. Most of all, of course, we try to press home that Christmas is about Christ.
But if you have a lot of Santa Claus around, why not use him to your benefit and talk about the real St. Nicholas. We don’t know a lot about him, but we know he lived and was revered. According to legend–one of those stories that probably isn’t true, but should be–when Nicholas was little boy he would get up early in the morning to go to church and pray. One morning, the aging priest had a vision that the first one to enter the church in the morning should be the new bishop of Myra. When Nicholas was the first to enter, the old priest, obeying the vision, made the young boy bishop right on the spot. But before he consecrated Nicholas a bishop, the priest asked him a question. “Who are you, my son?” According to tradition, the child whose legend would one day become Santa Claus replied, “Nicholas the sinner.” Not bad for a little boy.
With what little we know about St. Nicholas, it is safe to say he would not be pleased to know he had eclipsed Christ in the hearts of many as the central figure of Christmas. For the Bishop of Myra no doubt knew the angel’s words to Joseph: “Mary will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
So this Christmas, give gifts if you like. We will in our family. Receive them all with thanksgiving. But do not forget what we need most–salvation from our sins. This is one gift the real St. Nicholas would not have overlooked. In fact, I’m convinced, if given the opportunity, he would have loved to be there with the shepherds and the angels, bowing down around the manger in Bethlehem. And I bet he would have brought a present too.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
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