A Father's Love

It has been such a joy to see and experience David's deep, deep love for Blaise. From the moment he delivered him, laid him me and exuberantly cried out, "It's a boy! It's a BOY!" his love has exponentially multiplied. What a beautiful gift a father's love for his son is! I am so thankful for David and the incredible father that he is.

I realized I never posted this precious picture taken on Father's Day. That led me to finding many other adorable father-son shots taken the past six months. ;)

Celebrating David's FIRST Happy Father's Day!

Love that he's a "daddy" now. It breaks David's and my heart when Blaise cries when we drop him off at work in the morning, and when he calls for his dada/daddy during the day when he's gone. :(

Days before he walked on his own!

Mmm yummy corn on the 4th of July

Fountain Play at the Botanical Garden-we're sad the free Wed night concert season has come to an end :(

B looooves it!

The children's garden is our new favorite place!

Taken in the Spring

B loves to brush his teeth with daddy

Feeding the fish at the gardens

Shaving with daddy

At the beach, sleeping in daddy's arms

incredible Captiva Sunsets!

My friend Mary said in an email the other day, " I love hearing parents talk about their little babies and how much they love them, such a picture of God's heart for us!!! " I loved that she reminded me of that-we love Blaise with such an overwhelming love, but God's love for us is even greater!!

"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us." 1 John 3:16

Unwanted Furniture?

If you live in the St. Louis area and have extra furniture, clothes, toys, or kitchen items etc.. that you don't need, Rise Together Ministries is in need of your stuff! Worku, from Ethiopia, runs this organization that our church works with and he ministers primarily to African refugees. Over 4,000 refugees/ immigrants come to St. Louis yearly with nothing. "Many immigrants lose their sense of identity as well as their possessions when they flee their country in the midst of war, racial oppression or religious persecution. We meet their immediate needs by providing furniture to their empty apartments and teaching them how to be creative, to provide for themselves. We want to restore them to the glory of being God’s image-bearers. Our after-school tutoring, community mentoring and skill development programs help many of the immigrants to recognize their importance in this new community."

If you call Worku, he will come to you and pick up your furniture with his trailer. After our garage sale last week, we had several big furniture pieces left. He came out to Chesterfield and took it all and he told me that there are TEN families on a waiting list for furniture. TEN! So look around, if you have something your not using, give him a call!

Contact: Worku-314-520-3049

yesuswodaje@gmail.com

From their web site:

Our Vision

Redemption

We serve immigrants and refugees coming to America for a chance to start their lives anew. We have an opportunity to show them the person and true meaning of Christ. Our counseling program points to Christ for healing and seeing life as worth living. Reconciliation The work of reconciliation lets us clearly see God’s kingdom in the present. The American church is often unaware of the coupled beauty and pain in the experience of “new Americans.” The immigrant community brings a fresh perspective in worship and Scripture study. Rise Together seeks to advance God’s vision of uniting nations and cultures for the mutual benefit of the world church.

A Gateway City

Saint Louis is a city of broad diversity. The many languages spoken in South St. Louis and the booming ethnic restaurant industry are signs of the blessings newcomers bring. Each year, the city welcomes close to 4000 new immigrant, refugee, and transient residents. St Louis is second in the nation in the ratio of foreign born to native born citizens. In the midst of such extraordinary diversity, many local churches are neither aware of nor prepared to meet this people’s unique range of needs. The joyful calling of the body of Christ is to unite across national borders and personal tension. Rise Together Ministries seeks to enable our appendage of the body of Christ to join with the new members that have come into our midst. Through an array of programs, this group bridges the difficult gaps that refugees face in order to acclimate to American life. Since its founding in 2006 by Worku Geremew, an Ethiopian immigrant, Rise Together Ministries has been working steadily to improve the lives of our new neighbors.

Rise Together Ministries 3646 Fairview, Saint Louis, MO 63116

Mailing Address: PO Box 170211 Saint Louis, MO 63110

Phone: 314-520-3049

Email: risetogetherministries@gmail.com

BBQ Chicken Pizza

We love BBQ chicken pizza! (Macaroni Grill's is the BEST!) I found this recipe from Allrecipes.com and it's quite tasty-love the smoked gouda cheese & cilantro flavor.

BBQ Chicken Pizza

"This is an easy not-too-sweet, delicious alternative to tomato sauce based pizzas! Sure to satisfy everyone. Use any kind of barbeque sauce and it will still be a winner!"

INGREDIENTS

3 boneless chicken breast halves, cooked and cubed (I use less)

1 cup hickory flavored barbeque sauce

1 tablespoon honey

1 teaspoon molasses

1/3 cup brown sugar (I use less!)

1/2 bunch fresh cilantro, chopped

1 cup smoked Gouda cheese, shredded

1 cup thinly sliced red onion

Pizza dough (whatever you prefer! I use a CL whole wheat recipe that's pretty tasty)

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). In a saucepan over medium high heat, combine chicken, barbeque sauce, honey, molasses, brown sugar and cilantro. Bring to a boil. Spread chicken mixture evenly over pizza crust, and top with cheese and onions. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, at 425, or until cheese is melted.

Celebrating Five Years!

David and I are so thankful to our Lord to be celebrating five years of marriage! (On July 31st) It's been a busy five years-we've lived in five different places! We've traveled across the world and have learned so much about each other and our many similarities and differences, our strengths and weaknesses. We've gotten so comfortable with each other and I'm learning that unfortunately that brings our my sinful nature more. God is showing me how sinful I am and how daily I need to look to Him for love and grace. I desperately need His Spirit to give me patience and a spirit of love and encouragement as I relate to David (and others too!) The good, bad, and ugly-your spouse sees and knows all! I cannot imagine my life with out David; marriage has brought us such great joy. We are so blessed- and now doubly as we now share our lives with our precious son!

On our Anniversary, David took the day off, and we started our morning with a delicious breakfast at the Rooster. Mmm! We hadn't been since my b-day last year-far too long! I had chocolate chip french toast with berries and cream. If you haven't eaten there and you're from STL it's well worth the drive-it's down town on Locust Street.

In the afternoon we headed to the Loop, where we checked in at the swanky new Moonrise Hotel. We all took an afternoon nap, then we passed Blaise off to Grandma and Grandpa while we had the evening to ourselves.

We enjoyed the best deep dish pizza I've ever eaten at Pie (and we've been to Gino's East in Chicago!) Our waitress told me a few tips and I want to try to make one at home...mmm. This is the pizza that Obama had when he was in town last year. He liked it so much he flew the chef to the White House to cater a private party. Business has increased 100% and the restaurant is expanding-one will be opening in Kirkwood! (Off Manchester.)

On the rooftop of our hotel, you can't see all the lights behind us but it was a neat view!

On Saturday, we walked to breakfast and the park. After B's morning nap it rained, so instead of the Zoo we went indoors to the Science Center. It was so crowded! B is not quite old enough to enjoy it yet...but it was a nice dry place to be! He enjoyed running in between all the kids and strollers-and daddy got his workout chasing him!

B spent the evening with Mimi and Boppa while we enjoyed Greek food at Momos (sans the belly dancers:). They gave us a fiery blacklava for our anniversary-so fun! We enjoyed strolling through the Loop afterwards with some Ben and Jerry's ice cream. (Yes, we ate very well!)

B having fun at the hotel!

The gave us a free breakfast for our Anniversary-nice!

Sunday afternoon we went down town and walked around the Rock the River Tour then headed over to the new City Garden.

Blaise loved splashing in the fountains! We've been back several times now since it's so close to David's work-such fun!

We had a memorable weekend, enjoying new places and food-all within a few miles of our house!

Who am I Serving?

Colossians 4:17, 23-24

"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men…it is the Lord Christ you are serving."

I was reminded by these verses this morning that everything I do is to bring honor to our Lord, HE is the one I am serving! Grocery shopping, cooking, washing our never ending pile of dishes, doing laundry, spraying (yes-spraying poop off!) diapers, folding clothes, sweeping- all of these daily chores can be performed as an act of service and worship to my Father! How often I forget this and need to be reminded again and again. He is my audience and glorifying Him should be my focus-and joy!