Road trip

Liptaks are back from China (pause for cheers). A couple weeks ago, Lynne and Gwen flew to Durham to see us and our new house!

 They bought the Honda back from us that we bought from them when they moved. This will be Caleb and Seth's car for awhile!  So we needed to drive it to Chicago.  We stopped in Ohio on the way and picked up mom!

 Here we are on a hike with Lynne and Gwen in Chicago!

Moo

Yes, thats right. Dress like cow, get a free dinner.

                                          If its free, its for me.

Bike video 2

It was a big day

We finally took Alyssa's training wheels off today.  She learned to ride her bike in about 2 minutes!  She is so excited! Sorry it took us so long to get around to it, Lissy! Also, as she mentions in the video, Caden upgraded to a bigger bike.  He is loving it.

Big stuff

Tonight, while praying at bedtime, Caden asked the Lord that he "be a big piece of the puzzle". I asked him what the puzzle is after we were finished.  He said when Jesus comes back. 

During the past couple of weeks, he's felt like Satan is whispering negative thoughts into his head.  It started with him feeling like he was moving away from Jesus because he is angry with Alyssa a lot.

He's even felt like Satan is wanting him to curse God.  He's cried for us to help him manage his thoughts.  We've sung praise songs, read scripture, and prayed with him. Last week I told him that at Jesus' name, Satan must flee.  He got a lot of satisfaction from that, and I often hear him saying, "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus" under his breath. We've talked about how Satan whispers to everyone - even Jesus when he was in the dessert.  I'm not sure why he's under attack right now.  But we'd appreciate prayer. 

As mom said, God must have big plans for him.  I think so.

A quote by Jonathan Edwards

The enjoyment of God is the only happiness with which our souls can be satisfied. To go to heaven, fully to enjoy God, is infinitely better than the most pleasant accomodations here. Fathers and mothers, husbands, wives, or children, or the company of earthly friends, are but shadows; but God is the substance.
They are but scattered beams. God is the sun. These are but streams, but God is the ocean.  Therefore it becomes us to spend this life only as a journey towards heaven, as it becomes us to make the seeking of our highest end and proper good, the whole work of our lives; to which we should subordinate all other concerns of life. Why should we labor for, or set our hearts on anything else, but that which is our proper end, and true happiness?

Afternoon Tea

 Caden's preferred 'tea' outfit.

 Alyssa was very particular about how we needed to drink our 'tea'. One pinky up.