David's Family

Meet David's family! I wish you could all have the blessing of meeting them in person as I did and experience their warm hospitality and delightful company. What a great family!

We'll start with David's mom and dad. David's mom (Maryanne) is blessed with talent. She paints incredible pictures, cooks delicious meals, and thinks of every possible way to make a person feel right at home! She even sent me home with a beautiful framed painting that she did of Mt. Errigal. I couldn't believe that she gave me such a treasure!

David's dad (Caldwell) is man of God who loves preaching the Gospel message of Jesus Christ to the lost and does so very well and with passion. (Click here to hear him!) It was a highlight for me, hearing him preach. He also works with horses--doing some early stage training and breaking before selling them. Here is a picture of him hunting down a fox that was after the chickens...!

Next, meet Paul (David's brother) and Karen. They live a few minutes away from David's parents and were great fun to hang out with. They invited us over for the most amazing pizza one night (I'd never heard of bananas on pizza before that! It was great stuff!).

Paul and Karen have two children. Their oldest is Rhiannon and she was my little buddy while I was there. She LOVED my violin and we played all sorts of songs together on it. What an angel...so cute!

Their youngest is Reuben. He will be two this summer and is learning to say all sorts of words. He even learned to say my name by the time I left!

Sarah, is David's only sister and she was a blast to be with. She left halfway through my visit to go to Israel on a tour but the time I was able to spend with her was a lot of fun.

Here are a few more shots of the kiddos...because I just couldn't resist!

David and his little shadow

Karen and a sleepy boy.

Rhiannon loved bowling when we went one evening. She had the highest score for a long time (aided by various kid's bowling tools of course--Now that I think about it, I should have used them too!)

Little Reuben

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And that is David's wonderful family--the favorite part of my trip!

Back to the Emerald Isle

It seems almost like a dream that I was actually able to fly across the Atlantic once again to visit beautiful Ireland. What an incredible experience and wonderful time I had! This time I was privileged to stay with David's parents, Caldwell and Maryanne, and have the blessing of being in their home for two weeks. Here is a picture of it...

While I was there I was able to see David in action in his many jobs related to music. One that he had while I was there was directing a small choir for the Good Friday service. They sounded beautiful.

David and I also played a few songs together throughout the weekend. At one service, David, his brother Paul, and I all played together before their dad brought the message. It was so great and a privilege to be included like that. I really enjoyed playing with them and also hearing David's father preach. A wonderful man of God!

We had time to do so many fun things. One of them was taking a ride on David's amazing bike through the rolling hills of Irish countryside! I am convinced that there is absolutely no better way to see the beauty of the land than on the back of a bike. It was incredible!

We also visited the Giant's Causeway, which is a wonder of creation that just blows your mind.

My favorite part of the trip was spending time with David's family. (I will introduce them to you in my next post.) They were so nice and made me feel so at home. Here David is playing with his nephew Reuben...such an adorable child!

I had a completely wonderful time...it was a trip that I will never forget!

This was the view out my window as I flew back home.

I was sad to leave but so grateful and happy to see how God's hand was at work in our lives. As David says so often, "God is good!"

Thomas

Hello! My name is Thomas and I would like to invite you along on an adventure in boyhood that I like to call....

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"The Art of Throwing Snow on People and Still Coming off as Cute!"

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First you find a good chunk of snow. This one looks about right!

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Then you look around for a victim. (notice the innocent, unassuming look on my face? This is key!)

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Next you launch your chunk at your victim before they have a chance to know what is happening to them.

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Follow it up with a smile like this and nobody stays mad at you very long!

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You need to take occasional breaks to discuss technique and all of this leaves me pretty much...

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...zoned out!

All in a day's work! It's tough being a boy, but somebody has to do it!

Winter Fun at BV!

I have so many fond memories of skiing at Buena Vista Ski Area that go back to when I was 5 or 6. Such great times! And today I was able to go back again to enjoy this beautiful spot on earth...this time for the annual dog sled races and some other fun events that were being held there.

My wonderful brother Matt and his sweet family invited me along for a day of winter fun! It was great hanging out with them!

There were horse drawn sleigh rides...

Skijoring...

(in case you have never heard of this amazing sport, it involves cross country skiing while harnessed to a team of 1-3 dogs!)

Crazy brothers playing in the snow!...

And, of course, dog sled racing!...

Lots of fun!

My Valentine!

On Valentine's Day, which was a cold, blustery Minnesota day, I recieved the most wonderful gift! A knock came to the door and there stood a delivery man who handed over a large wrapped package and it was for me from David!! I opened it slowly (mostly because my family was all gathered around and so I had to make it as dramatic as possible.) and then saw a beautiful bouquet of flowers. There is something so happy about fresh flowers in the middle of sub-zero temperatures.

Thank you David for a wonderful Valentine's Day!

Viva Mexico!

Once upon a time, in the middle of a deathly cold winter in northern Minnesota, a family decided that enough was enough...they were leaving this crazy weather once and for all (or at least for a week). So they set off to none other than...

...MEXICO!!

Here is a pictoral account of their adventure....

Karen and I at the airport (sharing my Zen) waiting to fly away to warmer weather where we can trade our coats and scarves for flipflops and swimsuits!

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This is where we stayed...a condo called Arena Blanca in Playa del Carmen. It was absolutely beautiful!

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Here we are getting ready to head out to a restaurant for the evening.

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My absolutely wonderful parents!

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Elianna...a bathing beauty!

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What a handsome little sweetheart! Just look at those mischievious eyes! The kiddos did so well on the trip, airplane rides and all. They are little troopers!

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Mindy, enjoying the beach!

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It was a huge blessing to have Karen along as well. She is such a wonderful friend and I love her dearly!

So that was our adventure in Mexico. We are now back home and the temperature was forecast at -50 below zero this morning with wind chill! Dispite the frigid and unhospitable weather conditions, there is just no place like home and it is good to be back! We are thankful to the Lord for providing such a grat time for our family to be together. The whole trip was a big blessing!

Crazy fun!

There is something about the sound of crunchy snow under your feet and blinding whiteness all around that makes you want to do something crazy! Like sled down a hill in your Sunday clothes!...

Us

For those of you who are asking, here is another picture of David! This is the last picture he took of us before he flew back home. I have more pictures and I will post them as soon as I can--I promise!

Thank you all for praying for us as we walk this amazing adventure that God has placed us in. God is so very good!

David

I would like you to meet the most amazing man ever...David! He and I officially started a courtship on December 30th and are completely amazed at the goodness of God through each and every detail. I feel so blessed!

David came to visit on December 18th and left yesterday to go back home to Ireland (we met during my trip to Ireland earlier this year). It was so great having him here over Christmas and New Years. What a wonderful Christmas gift it was for me. After I dropped him off at the airport yesterday I came home to these gorgeous flowers that he had arranged to be delivered. Wow! He is completely amazing! What can I say!

Someone asked me what I liked best about him which is a hard thing to pin down because, well, he is just so totally great in every way. :) But high on my list of things I admire is his deep love for the Lord and his sincere desire for our relationship to bring honor and glory to Christ. It is a wonderous thing to have such a man interested in me. I am humbled by God's undeserving favor on me.

"Blessed be Your glorious name, Which is exalted above all blessing and praise!" Neh. 9:5b

Homeschoolers for Ron Paul

"My commitment to ensuring home schooling remains a practical alternative for American families is unmatched by any Presidential candidate.

Returning control of education to parents is the centerpiece of my education agenda. As President I will advance tax credits through the Family Education Freedom Act, which reduces taxes to make it easier for parents to home school by allowing them to devote more of their own funds to their children's education....

...Federal monies must never be used to undermine the rights of homeschooling parents. I will use the bully pulpit of the Presidency to encourage a culture of educational freedom throughout the nation."

--Ron Paul