TODAY'S CUTENESS

Abby at the slide place!
Thanks for Reading
~ Justin

"I love Jesus"

So normally Abby's night goes like this:

1. She watches "The Wonder Pets"
2. Brushes her teeth (with our help)
3. Prayers- usually for very random things: i.e. her letters on her closet...
4. Kissed goodnight from Mommy and a zerbert from Dad!

But last night something new happened (something awesome)... Rebecca took Abby into her room and Abby crawled into her bed and when Rebecca
"asked what do you wanna pray for tonight?"

Abby started praying for her Aunts (Tante), Oma & Opa in Rochester... And when they finished Abby said
"Mom, I love Jesus"!!!!!
We are pretty proud!!!!
Thanks for Reading
~ Justin

New York City (Weekend behind the wheel)

So this past weekend I had the pleasure of taking a team of people to New York City. NYC is my favorite place on earth (The Bahamas is very close second), I love the smells, business, all the people, and I love the sound of that city. However,this weekend was a little different for me than others that I spent in New York City.

You see, I went with 6 other people and 5 out of the 6 had never done any ministry in the city before. So I made up my mind that I would get out of the way and allow them to experience the city and people for themselves. I spent the most of the weekend behind a steering wheel. I prayed and watched as some people who had never spoken to strangers before about Jesus break out and even lead them in the “Sinner’s prayer” (ask Jesus to live through them and control their lives).

I saw smiles, tears, laughter, and times of self assessment (and pranks that I was not involved with). I watched as people tried to take in as much of this wonderful City as possible in two and half days. As I watched, I remembered why I love this city. The story goes like this…

I was a Jr. in college and I went NYC for some ministry for 6 weeks with the rest of my Jr. class. One day, as our time was drawing to an end, I was standing looking out a window next to a very dear friend of mine. We were just staring, no words or sounds, yet I knew that we were thinking the same thing… We couldn’t believe we had to leave this City in a couple of days. Then suddenly a voice from behind us uttered the words that I will never forget.

“This City… The moment you make it your home, it is time to leave” (The voice came from my school president Paul Johansson)

That is why I love NYC… It is untamable, it is a fierce city, this city able to take people’s best shot and it keeps moving like nothing happened. In the words of Frank Sinatra “If I can make there, I can make it anywhere…” New York City is truly a measuring stick.

Thanks for Reading
~ Justin
Ps. I will post more photos soon!

Mommy's little helper!

Dinner was very yummy!
Thanks for Reading

~Justin

An awesome gift

So today I was checking my email and my best friend sent me amazing gift (shown below)





The photo is what I think he used... I am not sure though...


Here is what Jayme Brandt wrote to me and I thought it would be neat to share with you....

"I made it a while ago...But I wanted to wait until time had passed, until you missed him like crazy and maybe could use a little reminder.I drew it from a photo but I am not sure where the photo came from.I always thought of him and your mom as the main reason you have so much confidence and passion in life!"


Thanks for Reading
~ Justin

Watching her grow!!!!

Last night my sister in law asked me "Can Abby get any cuter?"
my response was "No I don't think this house can contain any more cuter!!!"
I admit, when I watch my 3 year old it is a new adventure every time!
And Madilyn is starting to develop a personality (more than just crying whenever something isn't right). She is starting to make noises and smile and even giggle from time to time.

So all of this leads me to think:

What my life is going to look like in 3 years????

I am just glad that God is the one who is in charge!!!

Well, here are some new photos & I hope everyone had a nice valentine's day!

Thanks for reading

~ Justin

New Night time photos

Rebecca and I are going away for a much needed get away to Annapolis. So I hope you all have a wonderful Valentine's Day... and Thanks for reading

~Justin

Fun weekend....

Baltimore has warmed up a lot (was up to 68 on Saturday and Sunday)

So we all went to the park (dogs too)

I am not sure who had more fun Abby or Rebecca!!!

We had a nice youth group session last night

And I got some neat shots of the moon!

Well, Thanks for reading

~Justin

Recap of Rounds 2 & 3????

Round 2: "Abby has a standing 8 count"

I was attempting to get Madilyn to fall asleep and some time around 1 am I hear the wonderfully sweet voice of Abby cry out "Mommy!, Mommy!!, Mommy!!!" By the third mommy I was able to put Madi down make into Abby's room (I didn't want Becca to wake up). She had to go potty! So off we went and back into bed. Then I knew what was coming...
Abby started to say "My head hurts... My tummy hurts" So I prayed for her head and said that I could get her some water.. She refused and went back to bed... That was about I can recall from 2 nights ago!




Round 3: "Daddy gets knocked down"

So last night I was extremely tired and I went to bed early (for me that is 11 pm). Becca stayed up to get Madilyn to sleep... Some time around 3:30 am Rebecca came up stairs to wake me up and explained the situation.. Rebecca had been down there to help Abby do the usual. And upon coming back to bed Abby told mommy "there's rumbley in my tummy!!!" So Rebecca thought quickly and said "I will send Daddy down to talk to you!"
So as I am getting out of bed I say "So you have set a trap for me?"
"Daddy makes the rules!" Rebecca replied and back to sleep she went.
So I went down stairs and I hear these words come out of my daughter's mouth!

"I am starving!" and I replied you aren't starving...
normally my reply to that statement is "Kids in Africa are starving, you are hungry"
But Abby interrupted me and said "I am very, very hungry"
So after bartering with my three old... I said you can only have one thing... Milk or graham cracker! (It was right about here that i heard the ref getting to 5, 6, 7...)
I got her some hot milk and everyone back to sleep!!!

I think Abby took round 3!!!
Thanks for reading
~Justin

Round One Goes To?

So last night things went pretty well!
After dinner we sat Abby down on the couch and explained the new rules...
The only three reasons why we are coming into her room:

1. She needs to go potty
2. She needs some water (when she goes potty)
3. She needs to pray because of a bad dream

We had her repeat the new rules back to me
We also went over our normal routine
I said, "Who makes the Rules?"
"You do", replied Abby
"And who follows the rules?"
"Abby Does", Abby said.

So the moment of truth came and PRAISE THE LORD, SHE SLEPT THE WHOLE NIGHT!!! Now I am not going to get too ahead of ourselves but I think the Judges gave round one to me! Now we just have to get this one to sleep better!!!! Although she looks tougher!!!

Thanks for Reading
~Justin

LETS GET READY TO RUMBLE!

In this corner we have the Challenger....

She stand 3 feet tall and weighs 30 pounds...
Her strength = Total Cuteness

And in this corner we have the one that she is Challenging!!!

He stands 5'10'' and weighs way more than 30 pounds...
His strength = He thinks he is in charge and makes the rules!!!!

LETS GET READY TO RUMBLE!!!!!

Sorry for the silliness but the last couple of nights I have begun to realize something;

My daughter Abby is waging war against the idea of sleeping... This is how the night usually goes:
1st: 8-9 p.m. Abby's shows (and hot milk with some sorta snack)

2nd: Brush teeth and go potty

3rd: Chase Abby into bed

4th: We sing (Jesus Loves me), We pray (she is learning how to pray) and read a book

5th: ABBY STARTS WITH ALL THE EXCUSES IN THE WORLD...(Will you rub my back?" I'm thirsty...I'm missing something on my bed...)

6th: Abby will wake up 2-3 times a night in need of something:

"Abby's tummy hurts" = She is hungry!!!

"Abby's elbow, head, throat, back and (today's newest ) toes hurt" = Anything I can use to prolong me sleeping or whatever I can say to get Dad to sleep on the futon with me...

7th: "Abby has to go potty" = Snack that she got in the middle of the night

Until this point I haven't put up much of a fight and I have kind of passed it off as cute. Well, last night I started to fight back. I am thinking that things are going to get a little rough in the coming weeks... I will keep you posted!

Thanks for reading

~Justin

MAN NIGHT and New Photos

Alright so here is the video (pictures) of the bowling... We had fun anyway!!!



Sorry if it seems that i haven't written a lot lately. I have been running our church's website and I had no idea what I was getting myself into... Yikes! Anyway, I have still be taking photos and here are a couple of them... Thanks for staying tuned in...
~Justin