Claire's Personality Begins

Well, I've wondered how Claire's personality is going to differ from Isaac lately.  A lot of that is just b/c Isaac has developed quite the love for attention.  He's loud and something of a clown.  Today, we got our first glimpse at how she may respond to such an older brother. 

Isaac fell asleep on the living room floor after lunch.  Claire manaed to scoot off of her play mat to grab his blanket.  Isaac doesn't sleep without a blue blanket (it really doesn't matter which one, as long as its blue).  You can see the beginnings of a smile as she begins trying to pull it out from under Isaac.  Emily claims that when Isaac would pull it back, Claire would giggle and restart. Nothing like learning how to irritate her big brother from a very early age.

Marriage Retreats and Window Washing



Glass blower in Willingen, Germany.


A few hours ago, we got back from a Strong Bonds Retreat in Willingen, Germany.  For those who aren't in the military, Strong Bonds Retreats are relationship skills retreats for singles, families, or couples in the army.  I end up leading 2-3 most years.  This past weekend was a marriage retreat.  We took 13 couples and almost 40 of their kids to Willigen on Friday.  The resort was great.  The food was amazing.  I'm still uncomfortably full.  I'm not sure how the classes were.  I'm probably not the best to evaluate those.  I'll read everyone else's evaluations tomorrow.

During a few hours off, Em and I walked down to watch a local artisan that makes glass.  I agreed to go in order to be a good husband, assuming this time would be better spent doing anything else.  It was actually really interesting to watch the skill with which this guy worked.  I'd like to go back during ski season to spend a few days on the slopes.

As for family news from the last week or so, Isaac helped me wash windows last week.  Emily says she's done nothing interesting this week.  Isaac's potty training is still moving very slowly.  The next month should be busy, so things may get more interesting (assuming I have time to actually blog).

An overrated classic movie

Last Friday, at lunch Emily and some friends of ours discovered that I have never seen "The Sound of Music."  Conveniently, our friends had the movie.  Friday and Saturday night, we watched The Sound of Music and a Quentin Tarrentino movie.  I can honestly say, I doubt I will ever watch The Sound of Music again.  It's not the worst movie I've ever seen, but I spent most of the movie hoping I was watching the last scene.  It's not really that the movie was bad.  I just never got interested.  I appreciate the soundtrack, just didn't really care that much about the characters.  I laughed throughout the Tarrentino movie (not typing the name b/c it involves profanity).  Emily laughed through most of it, but got angry when the movie ended the way most Tarrentino movies end.

Otherwise, I had another new experience this weekend.  I drove to a monestary near Brussels to provide a worship service for the end of a Protestant Women of the Chapel Retreat.  I realized that in almost 13 years of working in churches, this is the first women's group I'd ever preached to.  Somewhat of an intimidating experience for whatever reason.  The monestary grounds were amazing.  I'd love to use the monestary for a personal or group retreat.  The grounds were beautiful.  I never saw any of the monks.  I think most of their areas are in wings other than the ones used for retreats.

Crossage, No FB, and another milestone

OK, since my last post, I spent a few days with soldiers in Germany.  Insomnia has returned (even less fun than I remembered it).  I found a new favorite game, and Claire has successfully rolled over.  The last two are the only things on that list that are really that interesting. 

The first picture is from one of the streets of Chievres, Belgium.  You can see me in the orange jacket in the middle of the picture.  The game is called "crossage."  Basically, you have a large, wooden mallet (rabot) and a large, oblong, wooden ball (chollette).  The streets are closed to traffic, you whack the ball toward kegs in the street and yell "chollette!!!" with each stroke.  This is a useless cry because there are always 2-5 other groups playing the same stretch of the street.  As often as not, they're hitting in your direction and vice versa.  There is no taking turns, you just walk out, hit your chollette and hope you don't get hit in the forehead by someone else's chollette.  I could never discern any consistent set of rules.  Everyone kind of made up their own method of competing.  I don't have a lot of picture b/c my camera cost way more than I'm willing to lose when it gets smacked by a large wooden mallet.  I'll post a few pictures in the photo albums next week when I get more.

The second picture is Claire's first time to roll completely over.  She cried briefly.  Emily got me out of the backyard to see.  Claire had fallen asleep during the intervening 30 seconds, so we let her sleep like this.

The only other exciting thing I've had is getting to speak two consecutive Sundays in chapel.  Em pointed out that I referenced the sermon I'd preached the previous week.  It's nice to be able to consistently share from scripture.  This weekend, I'll go to Brussels to speak at a worship service with the Protestant Women of the Chapel.  I've definitely missed getting to speak this consistently.

I did try an experiment this week.  I deactivated my Facebook account.  Emily noticed the next day.  My mother noticed 3-4 days later.  Other than that, I think I made it under the radar.