Hands On

The last few road trips we have been on Barrett and I have found some Children’s museums which he LOVES! They are so neat and keep him so busy for hours!

Waterloo, Iowa

Lansing, Michigan

Weekend with Family

This past weekend Ashley and Cameron came out to visit for 5 days. We had a ton of fun and are so THANKFUL they took the time to visit us!

Swim Time

Nap time for a very exhausted little boy

Twin bump at 14 weeks

He is one of a kind!

On Saturday, Cameron and Ashley participated in Fort Wayne’s color run

This is how Barrett and I participated!

Barrett got to run the last block with Ashley

 

All full of color

On Saturday night we did a little Face-timing with the other part of the Van Beek family in Iowa – think they were having fun?

Relaxing

Last bedtime story with Ashley and Cameron before they left!

Something to Ponder

Pastor Jeremiah Steepek (pictured below) transformed himself into a homeless person and went to the 10,000 member church that he was to be introduced as the head pastor at that morning. He walked around his soon to be church for 30 minutes while it was filling with people for service....only 3 people out of the 7-10,000 people said hello to him. He asked people for change to buy food....NO ONE in the church gave him change. He went into the sanctuary to sit down in the front of the church and was asked by the ushers if he would please sit n the back. He greeted people to be greeted back with stares and dirty looks, with people looking down on him and judging him.

As he sat in the back of the church, he listened to the church announcements and such. When all that was done, the elders went up and were excited to introduce the new pastor of the church to the congregation........"We would like to introduce to you Pastor Jeremiah Steepek"....The congregation looked around clapping with joy and anticipation.....The homeless man sitting in the back stood up.....and started walking down the aisle.....the clapping stopped with ALL eyes on him....he walked up the altar and took the microphone from the elders (who were in on this) and paused for a moment....then he recited:

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

After he recited this, he looked towards the congregation and told them all what he had experienced that morning...many began to cry and many heads were bowed in shame.... he then said....Today I see a gathering of people......not a church of Jesus Christ. The world has enough people, but not enough disciples...when will YOU decide to become disciples? He then dismissed service until next week.......Being a Christian is more than something you claim. I'ts something you live by and share with others.

Pool Fun

So this is where we spent the entire weekend!

Check out what Barrett learnt in less than a week

how to jump off the diving board and swim all the way across the pool!

New Pool

The past 4 weeks our backyard has been changing like crazy. It went from a nice grassy lawn into a pool paradise!

Our 1st dip!Pretty sure we will be spending 99% of our time here for the rest of the summer! (Thanks Jeff for this AMAZING addition, Barrett, the twins and I are SO thankful!)