back where I b-log

Hey, y'all, the pre-Christmas computer crash of 2010 is a distant memory, which is to say the new computer arrived today. There will be no vain attempt to make up the lost time, only a few high-demand pics of Annie in some Christmas outfits as we get back in the rhythm. Without further ado...

After-Christmas with the fam: a Top 10

After Christmas, we spent a couple of days with Momma and Daddy in Gonzales before flying to Cleveland for five days with the Bakers. We'll have pictures later, when the comp is up and going. For now, in no particular order, here are some things we'll remember (or want to):

10. Come and take it, we don't want it.
Cruising G-town with Mom and Dad at the Gonzales History Museum, where they have the cannon that started the war that led to Texas Independence. They have some really impressive guns at the museum, but the cannon isn't one of them. Oh well. It was the principle of the thing.
9. Coffee date in Chagrin Falls (see previous post)
8. A wii bit of golf. Not exactly St Andrew's, but Dad and I earned our stripes after tanking at virtual beer pong. And then sharing Evening Prayer.
7. Farkling with family. You can look Farkle up if you want to, but it just spoils the fun.
6. Saturday evening worship at St. Martin's, Chagrin Falls.
The service was a true consolation, the music inspired, and the Word found our ears (and hearts). Really good to meet Fr. Humphrey, one of Dad's seminary classmates.
5. Sledding the hill backwards with Beks and her bro. It wasn't on purpose. And she didn't say "farkle."
4. The A-bear's budding vocab: "gogo" (dog), "ber" (bird), "baba" (abuelo/abuela), "kakuh" (cracker), "pees" (please), "bUH" (bear), "peipuh" (paper)
3. Annie's rag-quilt; Momma's first *picture pending*
2. Laughing in the New Year with the Saylors, prayer, and Moby Dick.
1. Fried feta - as good as it sounds, only better!



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Anniversary Date

Bek and I stole away for a few hours yesterday to celebrate our 5 year anniversary. We grabbed hot drinks at the Chagrin Falls' Starbucks and stared at floating pieces of broken ice in the waterfall below us; talked about important things and silly things - shared struggles and hopes - and enjoyed one another's company. We walked over to the local bookstore and rifled through children's books, a favorite pastime from before we got married. We stumbled on the Belly Button Book, which we bought for Annie. Then we walked to the grocery store, back through main street and headed home. Like so much of our shared life together, ordinary, wonderfully blessed, and remarkable time together. I thank God for the love and life we share, and for the grace by which we walk these ordinary roads with Him.


Chagrin Falls, OH


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another morning at the market

It was a Saturday morning exactly like so many others. And yet, as we loaded up the car to cross the bridge into town and shop the farmer's market, something felt strangely different.


Our friend Buddy was friendly as ever, but not quite like himself.


Bek says she's going to mount her prize escarole on the living room wall, just above the fireplace. ("That's all one head of escarole!!" says Bek.)


And Annie has visions of Swiss chard quesadillas for a South Texas Christmas.


Back at the house, we wondered over the kindness of the morning and the people with whom we shared it.


What was behind these strange things that left us feeling as if we shared a happy expectation throughout a mostly ordinary morning?


Time will tell.

And we shall see.



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Thanksgiving in G-town

Some family photo highlights from this past week at my folks', including The Many Furry Faces of the Large and Growly Bear and Annie's First Haircut.











The many furry faces of the Large and Growly Bear:








Grammy rescues Annie from the she-mullet.
Before:












After:





To Luling for an afternoon walk.





Last laughs before bed.








And then some old-fashioned family game time awkwardness (it was really, really fun).


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week in review: fun and some firsts

It's been a fun week of firsts for Annie and the Melton family: Annie played her first game of catch (!) and got her first taste of pizza (homemade), respectively; Bek and I had our first pumpkin lattes and peppermint mochas (peppermint's better); Rebekah had her first (and probably last) 29th birthday; Bek and I watched a movie together (not a first, exactly, but it's been a while); and just now we took our first walk with Annie's Ergo-Baby-parent-saddle. Along the way, Bek got sick (she's getting better), we huddled together for some Saturday football (Go Irish!), and we've done a lot of unexpected caring for each other. It's not always the way we draw it up, but I wouldn't trade it (except for the Bek puking part - that's just not fun). The challenge and gift of learning to love enough to be present is always that - challenge and gift. What a gift. We are grateful.


The epitome of random: this is the not-quite-to-scale wall around Jericho I had constructed for my turn in the children's classroom last Sunday. Good times.


Chillaxin'...


Peas in a pod.






Bundled up: staying warm is a challenge foreign to us, and we're all too glad for the practice.


This was before the walk. She was noticeably less terrified when we got back.


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for rebek on her birthday

I sing a loud song,

Glad, give thanks for baptized births

Your life, Christ’s love, one

I laugh a loud laugh,

God’s joy brings ours together

His own made complete

I pray a soft prayer

Gratitude: exploding love

Uncalled for graces

I sing a new song,

Song for the pilgrim path as

We find home in Christ.