Chicago Trip

As I mentioned in my last post, Dad, Rachael, and I made a quick trip to Chicago one weekend in May since Dad was on the commission to install the new pastor of the Westminster RP church there.  The installation service was on a Sunday, but we decided to make a little vacation out of it together and go up a day early to enjoy some of the sites in the city.  The top place on our list:  The Chicago Botanic Gardens.  If you have never visited these gardens, then the next time you are in the Windy City, make a point to do so!

A week or so before our trip I continued to ask the Lord to give us favorable weather since most of my ideas involved being outdoors.  As we drove into the city that Saturday, it was pouring down rain, and I began to wonder if we would have to resort to Plan C or D.  Well, by the time we had eaten lunch and unloaded most of our belongings at our hotel, the skies cleared, and it proved to be a beautiful afternoon! What a special gift from the Lord.

It was so very relaxing to stroll through garden after garden and take in the pure loveliness of the environment all around us.  There was the vegetable garden, the English-walled garden, the rose garden, the water garden, the Japanese garden, etc - not to mention all the lakes and fountains and rolling hills.  And the spring flowers and trees were in full bloom - it was so very beautiful!!!

Given that I have a love for photography, this was certainly the place to be.

It proved to be the perfect place to also get some photos together:

Since Rachael's smart phone decided to continually lock up on her while we were away, she resorted to using my phone (I made the mistake of giving her my password...;) )   I did not realize she had made it her mission to keep Kathy and Mom abreast of our whereabouts and activities 24/7, but it turns out she was in possession of my phone more often than me those two days!  This was a common sight and continually brought a smile to my face: 

To add a little more humor, here is Dad checking the weather on his phone (since there was a chance of thunderstorms that afternoon):

But we could have given him the live report if he had just asked... :)

For dinner Saturday night we decided to dine at a restaurant we had never visited before:  The Cheesecake Factory.  And of course, we couldn't leave without savoring their signature dessert!

On Sunday morning, we worshiped with fellow believers at the Westminster RP Church.  The installation service was that afternoon at 3 pm.  Dad was privileged to give the charge to their new pastor, Rev. Steve Rhoda.

Upon the conclusion of the service, we immediately set out for the three hour drive home.  Being the loving father that he is, Dad obliged to fulfill his youngest daughter's request that we take the route through downtown Chicago rather than around the city.  This offered some spectacular views of the famous skyline (though my phone couldn't quite do it justice).

As the sun slipped behind the clouds that evening and we drove the familiar route back home, I thanked the Lord for answering my prayers and giving us a relaxing time away together.  Special memories and a special place.  I hope we can return soon!

Wisdom's Words

Depend upon it - God often sends us trials so that our graces may be discovered and that we may be convinced of their existence.  Besides, it is not merely discovery; real growth in grace is the result of sanctified trials.

- Charles Spurgeon -

Spring Happenings

A lot has happened in our lives since the last time I sat down to update my blog with the most recent happenings.  It seems that life continues to accelerate at a speed which makes it difficult for one to find time to stop and write.  The spring has been very full, and I am backlogged on uploading my pictures which capture some of the fun moments and special memories we have shared with family and friends.  So here goes an attempt to summarize what has transpired the last several weeks - most likely in more than one post!

Perhaps the most notable event at the beginning of May was Rachael's successful completion of a very intense and challenging semester in her college studies.  We all breathed a huge sigh of relief when she submitted that last paper and completed that last exam!  We are so grateful for God's faithfulness in sustaining her and blessing her efforts.  One more semester to go!  December 19, 2015 is THE day for graduation!!!

The Saturday after her final day in school for the semester, Rachael prepared a little thank you celebration for everyone in the family who helped and prayed her through the last five months.   She had a picnic theme, complete with a checkered tablecloth, potted plants, and "ants" (chocolate covered raisins) crawling on the table.  She also had a basket filled with small gifts for both children and adults.  It was so cute, and the kids loved it!

To go along with the picnic theme, we had sandwiches, chips, fruit, and cookies with ice cream for dessert.  It was all very yummy and a most relaxing evening for everyone.

For a special friend's birthday the end of April, a group of us from church spent an evening together walking the canal and enjoying frozen yogurt.  Thankfully the Lord held off the deluge of rain until everyone had made it back to the cars for the drive to the frozen yogurt shop - and no one got too wet!

In mid-May, Dad, Rachael, and I made a quick trip to Chicago that weekend.  Dad was on the commission to install the new pastor of the Westminster RP church in North Chicago that Sunday, so we decided to go up a day early and take a little vacation.  We enjoyed a beautiful afternoon at the Chicago Botanic Gardens!  More on that in a future post, but here's a sneak preview to some of the pictures I shot with my Nikon.  I thoroughly enjoyed myself!

And last but not least, the kids participated in their spring music recital last Friday.  Essie made it a point to ask me to bring my camera to take pictures since the ones I snapped with my phone the last time in December didn't turn out the best.  I gladly agreed!

Essie, Benjamin, and Sarah all did an outstanding job playing their pieces, and parents, siblings, grandparents, and aunts were all very proud of them!

And while we had almost everyone was dressed up for the occasion, we had to try and snap a quick shot of the happy family.  

So that's it for now!  Little Grace will be turning two this Sunday, so I look forward to posting pictures from her birthday as well as sharing more from our excursion in Chicago.  And in two-and-a-half short weeks, we'll be moving Kathy to Jackson, Mississippi for the summer as she takes an intensive Greek class for seven weeks.  So more to come (as time allows)... :)

Wisdom's Words

Job struggled and questioned, and sometimes even defied, but the flame of faith was never extinguished from his heart.

-Source Unknown-

Wisdom's Words

Happiness can be found neither in ourselves nor in external things, but in God and in ourselves united to him.

- Blaise Pascal -

Wisdom's Words

Joy, contentment's inseparable traveling companion, is the state of gladness that results from knowing that God is always in control.  The joyful heart recognizes and delights in God's sovereignty.

- William Barcley -