The year of 2016 started with some grand commitments
of endurance. I committed to a 60-mile
mountain bike ride in the Ouachita Mountains of Arkansas. Abigail committed to read at least 24 books
during the year, finish out her last 4 ½ months of pregnancy, and endure the
pain of childbirth and the sleep-deprived nights of feeding an infant yet one
more time (for what we hope to be the last time). I also started my first ESOL (teaching
English to Speakers of Other Languages) course in January. I had considered starting the program and we
had prayed about it for the last couple of years, and last December we felt it
was time to start. We don’t yet know how,
but we believe God will use this to open up opportunities to serve in the
future.
By the beginning of spring, Abigail was deep into
homeschooling research. She discovered
Charlotte Mason and was well on her way to completing her 24 books. We crossed a few more to-do’s off of the
house work list during spring break. This
is a list that seems to only grow with time.
We did not, however, have any major house maintenance emergencies this
year, for which we are very thankful. After
many hours of riding, numerous Honey Stinger gels, and gallons of Gatorade, it
was time for the Ouachita Challenge in April.
After riding my bike through the beautiful Ouachita Mountains for 7
hours, I missed the last cut off point by one minute. Thankfully, a sensible rebel of a man at the
aid station told me I could finish the course if I took my number off. So, I did.
I finished the 60 mile course in 9 hours, with my friends Aaron and Todd
there to cheer me on at the finish.
After having experienced the joys and benefits of
natural childbirth, this time Abigail checked into the hospital, had that wild
look in her eyes and said, “Get me some drugs!”
It was a good choice. I even took
a nap. Much to Abigail’s relief, Conrad
Jay was born on a day that happened to be a multiple of the 5th
month (5/10/16). Everything went so
well, it was at the very beginning of summer break, and his brothers were so
excited to have him join our family. It
was such an enjoyable start to our summer, and we were able to take it pretty
easy (well, as easy as you can with a newborn and three other kids under 5) for
those first few weeks.
Things really picked up in June. I started a month-long internship at our
church, an ESOL summer class, and prepared to preach a sermon, while Abigail
got a a taste of what it would be like to have all 4 ruffians on her own. July was a bit more relaxed. We got to take a couple of trips to Grand
Lake, where Abigail’s grandparents have a cabin and a boat. We realized that Amos is definitely a water rat,
which is part of why he learned to swim this summer. If we let him, he would never get out of the
water. We figure all the exposure to
Grand Lake bacteria will either give him a steely immune system or turn him
into a mutant; he would be okay with either of those outcomes. He also learned how to read during late
spring/early summer. He also snaps,
whistles, ties his shoes, and is a heck of a mountain biker. He is always learning.
At the end of July, I was able to go on my second
Colorado climb with the men of Christ’s Church.
When I got back, we went on a Branson vacation with my family, then to
St. Louis for a church training, then returned home and it was time for school
to begin. All of Abigail’s
homeschooling research paid off. She was
really able to begin the year with clear vision and enthusiasm. They have all really enjoyed their school
year full of great stories, learning poems and Scripture, and a wide-eyed
discovery of God’s world. They had their
first field trip to a local farm and loved it.
Silas and Ivan were a bit more cautious, but Amos even chased and caught
a chicken.
We’ve been able to enjoy a bit more time outside this
fall, with some nights around the fire pit, lots of playing outside, and a
hiking/greasy burger/malt trip to Arkansas with my parents. Silas turned 4 at the end of October. He loves to be silly and make people laugh,
almost as much as he loves sweets and ice cream. Ivan turned 2 in November. We think he is our first extrovert. He speaks in full sentences, enjoys talking
to strangers, and won’t hesitate confronting much larger and older
children. Amos asks, “Why is Ivan so
brave?” Conrad turned 6 months
recently. God knew that we needed some
extra grace, as our last one has been a very easy baby so far. He is so chill and very smiley. Sometimes when we’re spending time with
people, they will say, “Wow! I forgot he
was even here. He’s such a good
baby.” We’ll take that.
Home and
family seem to be a theme that God is teaching us about right now. Abigail and I are both so grateful that we
came from great families. And we are so
grateful for our family. But it seems
that God is expanding the walls of our hearts and our home. In some ways, it’s hard for me to not feel
out of place anywhere I am, and it’s hard for Abigail to let others into the
very neat and efficient life and home that she has built. But God is teaching us about our certain
place in his house and among his family and his people. It is a house and family where we fully
belong; it is a house and family where your own preferences and comforts are
given up for the sake of inviting others in; a family where we share not only
the gospel but our lives as well. God’s
grace, the gospel of Jesus, our church, our small group, and our friends are
teaching us to live this way. We have
much more growth that needs to take place, but know that He will finish the
good work He began in us; and that the reality of His kingdom and His family
will continue to expand in our hearts, in our family, in our community, and in
the world. Let it be.
Jason,
Abigail, Amos, Silas, Ivan & Conrad
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