Sweet words

A few days ago Aaron started saying, "Ma ma." I don't know if he knows what it means or not, but it is so fun to hear his little voice saying my name.

One little logistical issue that we are facing with our blog is that Steve and I both post. Yesterday I had a friend tell me that she read the whole post about "me" visiting a dead guy's grave and until she saw the picture, she thought it was me. Now, I thought that would have been an obvious one to who was writing... guess not. I got a good laugh out of that. So I guess we will need to start distinguishing who "we" are.

Lori

It Vos Worth It

Earlier this year we had a week at the PC on Biblical Theology. It was a fascinating and very helpful study, and one that I’m definitely going to keep pursuing after this year is over. In the course of our studies, we found that one of the most influential figures in Biblical Theology was a Dutch genius named Geerhardus Vos. And in my studies of Vos, I found that not only was he a brilliant professor at Princeton, but also that he summered in an obscure northern Pennsylvania town called Roaring Branch, and that after he died, he was buried there. So last Friday my brother Shawn and I went on an unusual road trip. We left Lancaster around 8:30 am and drove for a little over 3 hours nearly straight north. Shortly before noon we pulled into Roaring Branch and began our hunt. I had very little information about this man and his life—or even where he was buried—other than what I had read in a very interesting piece by James Dennison that you can read here.

I’m sure we looked strange with Shawn’s California plates and me running around with my camera snapping pictures of the town sign and the little Methodist church where Vos worshiped during the summer. Then Shawn looked up on the hillside and spotted what looked like gravestones. We wound our way up the hillside and found our way to the entrance of the cemetery. As we drove around, I spotted a small series of markers set down the hillside, off by themselves, with the distinctive lettering of the last name V-O-S. I jumped out of the truck and ran down to see not only Geerhardus and his wife Catherine, but also two of his sons and their wives. It was pretty cool (in an admittedly nerdy sort of way). I imagined this theological genius spending relaxed summer days in this quiet town, worshiping at a church which he almost certainly found to be theologically incompatible, and writing some of the most remarkable theological treatises of the 20th century. It must have been a considerable change of pace from his heady life at Princeton, taking long walks with his close friend BB Warfield and influencing some of the most remarkable minds of the 20th century, including Cornelius Van Til.

Anyway, that was my trip. I’ve posted some pictures below to give you a taste of what our day was like. I’m hoping to make this the first of many trips to dead theologians’ graves, and if I get to any others I’ll be sure to update it here.


The town sign at the entrance to Roaring Branch, PA


The little Methodist church where Vos worshiped


The view from the cemetery up on the hillside. The Vos graves are down the side of the hill (out of sight) on the left 1/3 of the photo


These are the 3 grave stones: Geerhardus & Catherine are on the right


Here is a picture of me by their marker


Finally, a close-up of their marker.

Cuz's

I was thankful when we were home to have some time to catch up
with my cousin Marlisa. She has always had a special place in
my heart, our dad's are twins and her first baby Stella is just
weeks younger than Aaron. We always love to take their photos
together even though it is getting more difficult as they are
getting more mobile! We affectionately refer to them as Kermit
the Frog and Miss Piggy.

Thanksgiving

We just returned from a trip back to Lancaster for the holiday.
It was great fun to be home again, see friends and family, and
attend our home church. We are so thankful for all the richness
we have in relationships from family and friends.

Aaron and my dad doing some bird-watching


Morgan and Penn (my cuz Caryn's hubby) playing a mean game of
Hi-ho Cherrio-o. Guess who is winning? Do any of you Rudy's
recognize that old game? It was actually grandma's.


My mom and Brisa (cuz Caryn's cutie girl)


Mom gave the girls an early Christmas gift


The beautiful tree in mom and dad's front yard

Climbing fun

At Dick's Sporting Goods here in Gaithersburg, they have a 45 foot climbing wall that you can climb for just a couple of bucks a piece. My girls have been wanting to do this for a long time, especially Morgan. About a year ago, she taped her jump rope to the wall thinking that she could give that a shot. Back home at the Barnstormers Stadium they have a wall, but you have to be 45 lbs. to go. At Morgan's rate, that could be a few years. So, the other night we had a change to take the girls. It was so fun to watch them climb. Even I put the harness on and attempted to prove my youthfulness. Here are some photo's of the girl's climb.
Forgive me for the sideways shots of Claudia. I've spent way too much time
already trying to flip them and it just won't let me.

Guests

This weekend we had the joy of having Steve's brother and his wife
Kayla here. We spent the evening walking around at the Rio. The
Rio is a really fun place to go, lots of fun shops and good restaurants
and a pretty outdoor walk.


Steve and Uncle Shawn with the girls are we were walking around



Aaron admiring his lovely auntie



I know some of you have been wanting to see a picture of Kayla and her cute
growing belly...

Generosity

We have had the privilege this week of being taught by Jerry Bridges. Though I'm planning to do a post later on what I'm learning about Grace & Sanctification, I thought that first I would share one of the highlights of the week so far. Wednesday afternoon, CJ Mahaney interrupted class just before lunchtime. He came in and honored Jerry for the invaluable contributions he has made to Sovereign Grace, particularly in his understanding of the gospel and how it is applied. Then CJ announced that we were all to go upstairs, Jerry included, and that we were to each get a book out of the church bookstore (and Jerry was to get as many as he wanted). I got John Frame's "The Doctrine of God," mostly because it has been on my list for awhile, but also partially b/c it was big and expensive--and if you're getting a free book, make it a good one! CJ also led Jerry through the bookstore, recommending and feeding books to him to ensure that he was well-rewarded for his trip. Yet another example of the many kindnesses of God to us, not only in hearing clear and compelling teaching on the reality of the gospel of grace, but also in getting free books. Unbelievable.

More Fun...

Today was day 3 of our activities. We had a big
feast to end our time together. What cute little
Pilgrims we have!!

All the kiddos


Claudia and Hannah Flood


Morgan "feasting"


Aaron happy to be a Pilgrim


Hard-working moms: myself, Gina Flood and Tiffany Delage

Thanksgiving Fun

Our house here in Gaithersburg is a townhouse on a street with
tons of other houses, 2 of which are also Pastor's College families.
It is fun for us to have others so close by. One of the other moms,
whom I affectionately call a homeschooling "diva", had a great
idea to do a Thanksgiving unit together as families. In all there
were 11 children. So the past 2 days we have spent the morning
together doing all kinds of activities to teach the children (and
those of us adults who remember nothing from history class!!)
about the Pilgrim's journey to America. Thanks to some great
resources, time invested, and some creative juices, this thing
has actually come off pretty well! The girls and I are really enjoying
ourselves. We've been having a history segment, a related
craft, and then a game that pilgrim children would have played.
Tomorrow will be our last day together with the big
event of our feast. I will write more then. Here are a couple of
photos of the past 2 days together.


Here the kids were playing a game with marbles


Aaron hanging out with his girlfriend, Faith


All the kiddos, except the 2 babies, having snack


One little boy left his cowboy hat here and Claudia though
Aaron needed to try it on

Happy guy

One thing that we all love about Aaron is that he is always
so happy. Thought these 2 pictures captured that well!

Pay Day

This evening I was in the girl's bedroom doing some organizing and cleaning up. Morgan came in and was digging through her purse. She came to up me and gave me 2 pennies and said, "Mom, I want to pay you for all the hard work you do." What a little cutie. I wish at that moment I could have been inside her little mind seeing what she was thinking.
I have become more and more thankful for my little girls. They are growing up so quickly and becoming little people that relate to me like friends. For example, the 3 of us were at Old Navy the other week and I was trying on a sweater debating whether to get cream or navy. I was going to get the navy and Claudia was trying to tell me that the cream looked better. After going round and round with her (remember, she just turned 7) she says to me, "Mom, it's not that I'm saying that the navy one looks bad on you, it's just that I think the cream looks much better." So I bought the cream one.
I love those girlies.

Dressin' up

We were so thankful to have some company these past few
days. Our good friends Pete and Grace Privitera and their
4 girls came for a visit. Pete is the senior pastor at our home
church back in Lancaster. Last evening all the kiddos got
dressed up and went to a harvest party held here at
Covenant Life Church. The girls had a blast, playing games
and getting all kinds of candy. It was great to spend some time
with the Priviteras, we are so thankful for their friendship.

Aaron as a little duck


My girls and Hannah, Hope, Faith & Felicity Privitera



Claudia with her friend Emma



Morgan with her Denver Broncos balloon hat


Me and Aaron with Rebekah and Ronan Kurth