Letting Go (aka, the point of parenting)

Sarah had her very first night of AWANA on Friday. It was parents night, so I got to stay for the first half of her class and Dave and Josiah met us when it was time to pick her up. This was a big day for Sarah, but it might have been an even bigger day for Dave and me.

This was the first time we left her at church. Now don't get me wrong, Sarah goes to nursery and Sunday School. She stays with babysitters every so often. And she loves it when other people put her to bed. But AWANA was different. This was the first time we left her under the instruction of someone else. She was expected to learn and be part of the group. She was on her own.

I have a confession: I was nervous, at least in part, for the wrong reasons. I wanted people to like the pastor's kid. I wanted them to think I have done a good job training her at home. I want them to like having her in their class. While she is a reflection on us, I can't put that pressure on her. I have to let her be.

I also have to let her go. Another confession, as we went into the classroom and Sarah sat down on a carpet square I sat next to my friend Jessica who is the mom of a second year cubbie (what they call the preschool children). And then I started to cry (and laugh, because I knew I was being a little ridiculous). I told her it was just a little overwhelming to be here and Sarah was growing up and I wasn't sure she was ready and I wasn't sure if I was ready but I knew I had to be ready because it was time. My sweet friend reassured me that I wasn't (too) crazy and that a few tears were normal.

I am learning to remember the big picture. We aren't training Sarah to be obedient and kind so that we can enjoy her forever. We are training her in the hopes that she will enjoy the Lord forever. And we make purposeful decisions about when and why to let her go. This year that means AWANA, a program that embraces the infallibility of Scripture and helps little ones hide the Word in their hearts. That is a good thing.

Sarah was excited about AWANA all summer and then a little nervous about it last week leading up to the big night. On Friday she was unsure, but never turned back. She kept squinting her eyes and pursuing her lips like she was being really thoughtful anytime someone spoke to her. Sweet thing was nervous and so brave. Precious :) By the end of the night she definitely felt in the club and like she was part of something special. She asked to wear her vest Saturday morning and wanted to sing the songs from the night before (which we didn't know!).

It is going to be a good and growing year for us all. I pray we are all more like the Lord at the end!

(Favorite quote from the night: As we were pulling into church Sarah said, "Thank you for bringing Josiah to AWANA." Precious!)

Beach Night with Family

At this first beach night of the summer there was a chowder contest, baptisms, friends, and lots children playing everywhere. It was great fun!

She nearly buried herself before we took her down to the water

Jacki and Baby Eli

Baptism!

Sarah absolutely loves the water these days. We can't get her out.

Josiah sleeping on the beach

Emily's Big Surprise

My heart was racing as I drove down some undisclosed road somewhere on Cape Cod. Would she figure it out? Would we really pull this off? My blindfolded wife sat next to me, somehow content to cooperate in this charade I was exercising.

Two and a half hours earlier, we were saying goodbye to our little girl and our neighbor Lee. It was date night. Emily knew it was a surprise, and was willing to even be blindfolded on the way. A few rounds through the airport rotary later, and we were arriving at what she thought was our only destination. I then explained to her that we were not having dinner at one restaurant, but several. The first course was an appetizer course at the one place that truly demonstrates my sacrificial love for her: Taco Bell.

One Nachos Bel Grande later, and we were making more loops around the airport rotary. It's easy to get a blindfolded person lost in a rotary, I found. But our second stop was 50 feet outside of it, so all the riding around was really more of a show. We pulled into Wendy's. Once she took the blindfold off, the pattern became a little more clear. We were going to have a majority of the things she had been craving during her pregnancy (except for fried shrimp and tartar sauce, which she'd satisfied a week or two ago.)

The first two courses were things Emily missed from the days when we lived in Fast Food Nation (or, the rest of America,) but the dessert course was something she was introduced to here on the Cape. The blindfold went back on, and the Volvo went back in the rotary. When it came out, it headed for Sam Diego's, a Tex-Mex restaurant where we ordered a delicious fried ice cream to-go. We didn't bother with the blindfold as we drove across the street to the Starbucks in the Barnes & Noble to eat it.

As the evening wound down, I let her know there was one last stop. One last trip around the rotary, and the longer drove began.

I don't remember Emily ever being so relaxed when I was behind the wheel. She tilted her seat back and talked away about everything. Everything except the crazy drivers and perilous intersections. I, on the other hand, had a heart-rate high enough for the both of us. It reminded me of the moments before we got engaged, when I thought, "I just might be able to pull this off." I had a shot- it really looked possible.

We pulled into the Lakefield Farms Clubhouse and I parked right in the entryway. But this time she had to keep the blindfold on. The whole purpose of the blindfold, you see, was that she wouldn't see all the cars in the parking lot. And it would feel weird if I'd just asked her to put a blindfold on for this one thing, so I had to make her do it all throughout the night. It had to feel like just another weird, quirky thing I was doing.

I helped her out of the car and up the entrance steps, while everyone inside tried to keep quiet. (You can't just keep 60 gathered ladies quiet.) We walked through the door and I asked if she was ready. She was, so we pulled the blindfold off to the sight of a room full of her friends and the sound of "Surprise!" The pile of gifts was sky-high, and Emily finally realized that the whole plan revolved around this surprise baby shower. Just in time for Sarah, who Lee had taken there, to walk up to greet us. Surprise!

We had done it- she really had no idea. She cried, gave me a hug, and tried her best to take it all in. She confessed to me later that the only thing she could think of that we could possibly be doing was going to see "The Hunger Games" in a theater the opposite direction. A baby shower wasn't even on her radar. 

After a little greeting time, I promptly left for a BBQ at Nick's house. We grilled meat until we dropped, and I eventually went back to pick up Emily and the mass of gifts. It really was a shower, one we could have swam in if we'd wanted to.

She'll tell the rest of the story soon enough, but that's the lead-up. It was a great night, and I still can't believe we pulled it off.

Sermon on Psalm 84

Being the kind leader that he is, Nick had cautioned me to have a sermon up my sleeve for the week his baby was born. eventually, an induction was scheduled for the second quarter of the Super Bowl, so I figured I would preach it the next week. I could just have it close to ready- just in case.

It's a good thing, because the little beauty came to join us at 4:17 Sunday Morning. Remembering a few kind waiters who jumped in for me when Sarah was born, I backed off of singing, just led the band from gutiar, polished that sermon, and delivered it a week early.

When researching the Psalm (Psalm 84) earlier that week, I was amazed at the number of subtle references the Sons of Korah made to their father, the ill-famed leader of a rebellion in the wilderness. What I thought was another poem about the Temple was actually the last chapter in a story of redemption from generational sin. And a beautiful one at that!

Here's the Sunday sermon, if you want to listen to it.



God-willing, I'll be preaching another one tomorrow morning on Psalm 23.

Disclaimer- I said "Deuteronomy" in the sermon, but the story I'm referencing encompasses much of the Old Testament, with the majority of it being in Numbers.

Christmas Morning

This Christmas morning was especially wonderful, with a little girl just old enough to get excited about opening presents and Sunday worship with our church family! We had already opened most of the gifts on Christmas Eve, but left a few for the morning.

Sarah was perhaps the most excited we've ever seen her. Both the opening of the gifts, which were once forbidden to the touch, and the gifts themselves made her very happy. Boy, did this little girl receive some presents! Once she figured out that the paper was just a covering, the most wonderful surprise-face came upon her, which then turned into joyful unwrapping. She would then play with the toy until- the hardest part- we would pull her away from it to open a new present. This would of course start the whole process over again.

Sunday worship was great as well. Christmas is always my favorite when it's on Sunday, and this year was no different. It may be the first time I've gotten to lead the church on Christmas, though. Two desires were on my heart: that our singing would be the most memorable thing about the music and that the morning would feel special. I knew there would be the danger of Sunday worship feeling like a necessary obligation on Christmas Day rather than a highlight, or of the musical accompaniment overshadowing the fact that God's people were singing together. With limited musicians available and those desires pressing, we decided to simply sing traditional carols together with a small piano-led ensemble.

I was so glad to see it go well. We kept the children in the service, and they all behaved so well. One of them even made the service more memorable by shouting "yaaayyyyy!" after the first and last songs. With that little girl spreading cheer, the sweet singing of songs we all know, and many people staying afterward for doughnuts, it really was the merriest.

Afterward we came home to change clothes and run off to the airport. But that's another post! For now, enjoy the pictures of Sarah opening her presents. 

Fridge Phonics from Mommy and Daddy

A stuffed bear from our neighbors, the Matthews

"It rips open!!!!!!!"

All sorts of fun loot from the Artmanns and Great-Grandma.

She really was amazed to find that there was something inside.

The family on Christmas Eve

Recent Pictures

We've got a few nice pictures as of late that haven't made it into any particular posts, so we thought it would be a good idea to share them with you this way.

There's much more to come about our recent trip to Florida and this year's Christmas presents. Stay tuned! 

I went with the OBC leadership to a retreat on Newfound Lake, NH. This is the fog rolling away that Sunday morning. For once, I used the HDR technique to make something look more real, rather than less real.

Sarah eating her first bowl of spaghetti.

On top of Mt. Monadnock, where I took a group of OBC men hiking one weekend this October.

A tree from a different hike on the same trip.

The sunset from the Eversons' boat, on which we took a ride very late this summer.

A true Cape Cod sailor, the same day.

Village Day / Sarah's Birthday

Sarah's birthday was an action packed one- and this year Osterville even recognized it as a village holiday! They never actually admitted that it had anything to do with her birthday, but this year Sarah turned one on the biggest day of the Osterville year: Village Day.

The church likes to make Village Day into a big outreach event, so we spent the morning administrating the volunteers who handed out hot dogs, snow cones, drinks, balloons, and popcorn to the 1,200 people who walked through the church parking lot. We also did crafts and played games with the many children. There was even a dunk tank. And just after 12 noon, we all sang "Happy Birthday" to our little one!

Our Head Deaconess hands out balloons to children as they enter.

A band playing outside a shop across the street.

The Fire Department hoisting a flag over downtown.

Worn out.

We tied a lot of balloons that day.

Things didn't end there: we went home and put the final touches on Sarah's 1st Birthday BBQ. We had a few families over for burgers and hot dogs, fun fellowship, and lots of cake. Look to facebook for even more party pictures!

Sarah and Lexi playing

Emily made cake pops

And a great collection of cupcakes

She wasn't sure what to do with it . . .

...but eventually she got it, and loved it

What we've been up to lately...

Sarah and I had the chance to visit Nauset Beach on the National Seashore just before their season began (which means they started charging for parking). This beach is really different than they beaches we have around here. There is a sand cliff you walk down before getting to the water, which is very cold and much more clear than our local beaches. Being on the eastern arm of the Cape and on a preserve, all you see is beach and water- beautiful!

For six weeks this spring and summer we have had a somewhat random group of friends from church over to watch both Star Wars trilogies. It is an extreme understatement to say these folks know a little about Star Wars- it is fun being a little nerdy! Getting to know these guys and gals more deeply has certainly been a highlight of our weekends.

Sarah and I like to take afternoon walks around the neighborhood circle on sunny days while we wait for Dad to get home. One day we found this guy in our path! Thankfully, a car drove by at the same time and the driver moved him off the road. Sarah found the turtle much less interesting than dogs...

When Dave gets home we often like to go for an family evening walk. Sometimes we go the beach for our walk, and one evening we went down to Centerville River (the beach is just to the left in this photo). Sarah gets to ride in the backpack and loves to feel the sea breeze on her face.

Beach night is a highlight of summer church life at OBC. The last three Sunday evenings of the month the church gathers at the local beach for sack dinners, fellowship, and baptisms. June beach night included a clam chowder contest, which was delicious. People play volleyball and kids play at the water's edge. It is a fun night for all!

The definite highlights of beach night are the baptisms. Once everyone has eaten and settled down, those being baptized share how the Lord has changed their life. It is an incredible testimony to the church family, seeker friends, and random vacationers just hanging out on the beach. Everyone then walks down to the water and one by one, believers are baptized. It is an incredible testimony of the work of the Spirit!

Mid-June we had our opportunity to host the deacons meeting. If was just after Father's Day and Dave was itching to use his new grill, which was perfect for me! The guys gathered around the grill for "grill talk", then enjoyed hamburgers, grilled veggies, watermelon, and chips, with blueberry cream cheese pie for dessert. They were able to have their meeting in the sun room, which was quite pleasant.


Now you know some of what is keeping life exciting this summer!

End of a Season

Ok, end of an era might be a little extreme. This week Sarah and I finished up our regular weekly commitments. They were as follows:

1. Tuesday afternoons we participated in a Musikgarten class taught by a talented musician from the church. She used the opportunity to get to know and build relationships with other moms from her kids' school. It was a great chance for me to get to know people outside the church. Sarah was a little young for the curriculum, but we enjoying singing, repeating, rhyming, and rhythming together.

2. Wednesday mornings were dedicated to the women's Bible study at church. Since September, we have been slowly working our way through John using inductive Bible study techniques. A different woman from the church taught each week, then we met with our small group to discuss what the Spirit enlightened for us in that week's passage. Next year Sarah gets to go to child care!

3. Thursday mornings were devoted to Mom 2 Mom. This is a mom support curriculum developed by Lifeway. We met at the church to watch the teaching video, then divided into smaller groups to talk through the week's lesson. As one of the newest moms in the bunch, I greatly benefited from the wisdom of more experienced moms!

While we will miss our regular weekly activities, we hope to continue to get to know families in the church with our extra time. I am so thankful for the relationships we have developed through these programs!

Sunrises

Twice this week I've gotten up early to photograph the sunrise. It's a great time to, as the sun isn't rising too early yet and it's also not too cold. Here are a few of the things I've seen:

From West Bay Rd, on my Birthday

An HDR from Dowses beach on my Birthday

Another Birthday HDR from Dowses Beach

The Church Building on April 4

From West Bay Rd on April 4

An HDR from Dowses on April 4

Dowses on April 4

Men's Leadership Retreat

Emily and Sarah spent two nights without Dad for the first time, while I headed up to New Hampshire for the weekend.  The leaders of OBC had a great time studying the Scriptures, hiking, kayaking, watching football, eating, and meeting.  Here are a few pictures I was able to take in between activities.

-DC