We're back

The North Sea was absolutely wonderful. Not so much for the great beach or big waves; more just because we were finally able to get away and be more or less alone. We haven't had a vacation together for five years. It was much needed time.

Jamie is such an easy baby. He doesn't cry much and he smiles all the time. It's funny...we're able to go out to a half-way romantic dinner together, take Jamie with us and he sleeps the whole time at the table, on two chairs next to us. (Evidence right)

We went to an American Harbor in a city called Cuxhaven. There we visited a museum dedicated to all the people who began immigrating to America and Canada starting around 1867. Cuxhaven was one of the major ports from which transcontinental liners would set sail. They would start in Hamburg go to Cuxhaven and then on to London before touching down in Ellis Island, or as with some better-known vessels, in the middle of the Atlantic.

There's so much going on. God is really blessing the youth group. The young people are learning a lot about prayer on their own. The Holy Spirit is really moving through them. I'm thankful.

Good to be home looking at my wife across the room in our own living room.

Bodensee

So we were at Lake Constance. It was a great time with Andy and Moni
Föhl. Hope to have some pics to post in about a week or so. It was
kind of unfortunate. I was so excited about taking a bunch of
pictures so I could post them on the blog and when we got there I
realized I had forgotten the camera. ;-) Andy took some pics though,
so as soon as we're back from the North Sea I'll post pics of both
excursions.

Really noticing how Jamie is growing. He talks all the time and at
night he sleeps a lot more. Other than that he's also starting to get
pretty decent at drooling...

Hope to check mail and post some stuff from the North Sea but you
never know. It's more my priority to get away from computers while
we're there. Not like I post here very regularly.

Kristine and I just had a good visit with a young woman who I believe
God is going to use mightily and already does. It's a shame to see
though, how much the opinion of other people can shape and change a
life so much and often so wrongly. Often the hidden treasure that God
has placed within never gets discovered, because of our inability to
see what God sees in us.

Jaden Paul Schüle and the North Sea

Well, it is my pleasure to be able to pass on to you some pictures of the second child of some really good friends of ours. Siggi and Elina Schüle just had their little baby boy, Jaden Paul Schüle. He's a cutie. Of course there will always be the one who is cuter...sorry Siggi but you know where my heart is. ;-)

We're packing up our things this morning and getting ready to go to Bodensee (Lake Constance) for the weekend with some friends. We're excited. We haven't done anything that even looks like vacation for 5 years. Looking forward to relaxing.

On Sunday we're coming home and then we're leaving Monday Morning bright and early again to drive to the other pole of Germany to the North Sea. Both Lake Constance and the North Sea are huge. Of course the North Sea is considerably larger. If you want more pics ask Google. Looking forward to getting out with Jamie. Hope the weather starts to improve. It's been raining almost this whole month. I don't really mind until I start thinking of the long months till next Spring.

Through Thick and Thin

Recently we were coming home from taking our Grandma to see our Grandpa in the hospital. (He's been having strokes). On the way in our apartment we ran into our neighbor outside in front of our garage. She looked at Jamie and was just really excited to see him. I made a comment that he is the best. Then I corrected myself and said, my wife is the best. Jamie is second best. She just said really dryly..."That'll change".

Now you have to understand. She is currently either in the middle of a divorce or she's already divorced. Nevertheless, it drove a stake deep in our hearts. We are experiencing a great time with each other right now. We are getting to know each other all over again and really enjoying it. The time with Jamie hasn't been as terrible as everyone said it was going to be. We're really happy together.

I held Jamie last night and prayed to God that He would take my life as a sacrifice to Him, that I would lead my family in His truth for as long as I should live. That means that for me and my family there can be no separation. I'm not worried about saying these words. I know that the future holds a lot of surprises. But my house and me are going to serve the Lord.

God's Spirit must be our identity, otherwise the beauty of marriage cannot truly be unlocked or grasped.

Once a month

Well, so much for regular blogging. I think it's actually a great idea. To be able to post messages to the www, keeping people who are interested in you, up-to-date on what's going on in your life. To bad I don't ever use it like that. I've always had this inner necessity to write alot or nothing at all. I really need to work on that.

Here a recap over the last four weeks or so. My mom was here in Germany visitting us. Good times. Jamie really enjoyed being held by her...so much so that we had to reaquaint him with reality after she was gone. Not to say that we don't love the guy like crazy. We just weren't able to put him down afterward.

And now he's just smilling all the time. I've never seen such a small baby be so happy. ... Truth is...I've been rubbing his libs with rum twice a day. Works wonders for the temper. And everybody was wondering why Jamie is such an easy-going baby. Daddies do know best. ;-)