Ella

Here are cute photos of Ella reading to her monkey and holding hands with Jack.

Silly Jack

Why Postmodernism Fails

From an address by Ravi Zacharias:

I remember lecturing at Ohio State University, one of the largest universities in this country. I was minutes away from beginning my lecture, and my host was driving me past a new building called the Wexner Center for the Performing Arts.

He said, “This is America’s first postmodern building.”

I was startled for a moment and I said, “What is a postmodern building?”

He said, “Well, the architect said that he designed this building with no design in mind. When the architect was asked, ‘Why?’ he said, ‘If life itself is capricious, why should our buildings have any design and any meaning?’ So he has pillars that have no purpose. He has stairways that go nowhere. He has a senseless building built and somebody has paid for it.”

I said, “So his argument was that if life has no purpose and design, why should the building have any design?”

He said, “That is correct.”

I said, “Did he do the same with the foundation?”

All of a sudden there was silence.

You see, you and I can fool with the infrastructure as much as we would like, but we dare not fool with the foundation because it will call our bluff in a hurry.

(HT: JT)

We Will Miss You Anna!

For the past three months, I've been providing part-time day care for Anna, the daughter of a friend of ours. Ella has really enjoyed waking up to find out Anna was there, and she has loved having someone else to play with. Some of their favorite activities included reading books, jumping on Ella's bed, eating snacks together, and playing in the play kitchen. Ella also enjoyed leading Anna by the hand and showing her things all around the house. It was cute. Jack liked having Anna around, too. We will all miss you, Anna.

Time-Lapse Rescue of Flight 1549

From CNet,

"More than enough has been said about what happened to that flight and about the heroism of its pilot, Chesley Sullenberger. But perhaps not enough attention has been paid to the fact that that poor airplane, its engines blown to smithereens by Canada geese and its dignity bruised by a belly-flop landing in the river, had to lie, submerged, in the Hudson for days."

The video, shot by David Martin is, as Todd Lappin wrote on Laughing Squid, "haunting." It's also amazing and beautiful.

Posted on Kontain.com - [Flight 1549] from David Martin on Vimeo.

As Lappin put it, "Can someone please get that jet a cup of hot cocoa?!"

The Big Squeeze

Apple Live Event

It's a big day for Apple.

Follow the action here (happening now (12:10pm).

5 Things: Unexpected Camo

We had planned on a short road trip yesterday, but another "storm of the century" quickly diverted us back to Bass Pro Shops. Here are 5 things we didn't expect to see camouflaged.

1. Furniture
2. Neck pillow

3. Booties

4. A crock pot

5. Unmentionables

Allison's Dedication

Jackson: A Compilation

Jackson: a compilation from TMS on Vimeo

Something to Consider

Referring to Bible reading and prayer, John Piper offers this advice:

“I earnestly recommend that it be in the early morning, unless there are some extenuating circumstances. Entering the day without a serious meeting with God, over his Word and in prayer, is like entering the battle without tending to your weapons. The human heart does not replenish itself with sleep. The body does, but not the heart. We replenish our hearts not with sleep, but with the Word of God and prayer.”

Jackson's 9 Month Stats

Weight: 20 lbs. 9 oz. (52%)
Height: 27 in. (20%)
Head: 17 in. (15%)

Jackson @ 9 Months

If you look closely in this last picture, you can see his 1st tooth poking through on the bottom center (click to enlarge).

More 9-month info:

• Jackson continues to be a happy and laid-back baby.
• He is very silly, too. He likes to make funny faces, eat paper, laugh, bang his head on things, and say "uh-oh" after he drops something.
• He rolls and army crawls.
  
• He loves jumping.
• He prefers standing while playing.
• He sleeps 12 hours at night and takes two 2-hour naps.
• He takes a bottle twice a day and eats three meals a day (fruits, veggies, meats, and oatmeal).
• He says momma, dada, baba, nighnigh, and Ella.
• He really likes clapping.
• He loves to give hugs and kisses.
  

5 Things: Haiti

1. Initial photos and 48 hours later (The Big Picture)
2. Denny Burk and John Mark Reynolds provide some thoughtful responses regarding Pat Robertson's careless remarks.
3. Gabe has four points ... #3 really made me think.
4. Give $10 in 10 seconds ... right now, if you want.
5. Eleven trusted charities collecting aid for Haiti

Birthday Wishes for Aunt Sarah

Giving Love

Ella just loves Chris and Mary!

New Pajamas

Reading Books

Saturday I watched Ella on the video monitor pull one book at a time off her book shelf and take it into her bed to read. She expressively read every page of every book in her room, taking her two full hours. She decided to do this instead of taking her afternoon nap. This is how I found her when I went in to get her. I put her to bed that night at 6:30 and she slept until 9:45 the next morning!

Matching

Gabe Gets LASIK

Wolfe Clinic is offering 25% off their standard LASIK fees to the men and women of the Iowa National Guard who are deploying this year. Gabe (ourarmylife.com) took advantage of this discount and had LASIK performed last week. Here's his latest update. If you know a deploying soldier who might have some questions about this or would like me to perform their post-op care, they can contact me at drtoddschulz(at)gmail(dot)com.

5 Things: What If ...

1. What if you were expecting a baby boy?
2. What if, as a dad, you had dreams of playing catch and shooting hoops with your son?
3. What if all went well for nine months?
4. What if, on the day he was born, instead of holding a "perfect baby boy," you learned that he would never walk?
5. And that he didn't have any eyes?

Meet Patrick Henry Hughes. And his courageous father.

Jackson Being Silly

Matching

2/3 Kids : 1 Bed

Anna and Jackson wanted to help put Ella to bed for her nap this time. Last time, Ella wanted to get Jackson up from his nap.

Smiley Jack

Together Again

Ella, Jack, and Anna are happy to be together again after the long Christmas break.

eating snack

5 Things: Steak Au Poivre Pairings

Here are 5 meetings needed to make this incredibly satisfying (and easy) dish:

1. Mouth, meet Junior Mints ... they make every recipe better.

2. Brain, meet Alton Brown (links to recipe).

3. Peppercorns, meet hammer ...

... then beef.
4. Brandy/bourbon, meet pan ...

... then flame.

5. Mouth, meet delight.

then an orange wedge.