two weeks off...

...but it wasn't all vacation. I've been derelict in writing on our blog so here's a brief update on the past two weeks. August 16th-21st we were on vacation. We left Monday morning for the RI beaches and came back early Friday morning (more about that later). We stayed at a bed & breakfast in North Kingston for three nights then camped out one evening at a State Park further south. There are fun pictures of Wesley playing on the beach, learning how to jump, and enjoying the tent, but we haven't uploaded those yet. It was nice to get away and Wesley definitely enjoyed himself. There were aspects of it which were fun and relaxing for us, but at certain points it was hard having Wesley there. It worked out well with the bed and breakfast we stayed at, as they had a small farm with chickens, goats, and a friendly dog. The primary challenge was the attention Wesley required and secondary part was the disappointment we experienced over some of the things we would have liked to have done as a couple, but couldn't do as a family.
The reason we returned so early Friday morning is that Wesley got up at 5am when we were camping. The sun hadn't risen, but we needed to take him somewhere where he wouldn't wake up others in the campground. In the twilight I took him over to the playground and as we were playing he looked to the east and started pointing. The sun was rising a brilliant red and as it came over the horizon a front end loader was silhouetted against it. I wasn't sure if he was pointing to the rising sun or the construction equipment, but either way he was happy.
After getting back and working a few days, Hillary and I went to the Pilot Penn Tennis Tournament at Yale. It is one of the tournaments that helps players warm up for the US Open. Hillary has been to many tournaments, but this was my first one and was lots of fun. It was a grey chilly day and up in the stands we needed coffee to stay warm (even with our jackets on). These two trips were a nice end to the summer, but we're not exactly ready for everything that comes with the fall.

God cares about me and my cell phone

When I can't find my cell phone charger I go through the various rooms of our house flipping the lights on and looking at all of the outlets to see where I most recently plugged it in. After I've looked at the outlet behind the couch, under the living room chair, and the few other odd places it might be and still can't find it, I start to pray. Monday night I was on my knees peering under our coffee table looking for the charger and when I couldn't find it I figured that I would ask God for help while I was on my knees. I got up afterwards and as I was headed to look elsewhere I remembered a CD that I wanted to grab from the stereo. As I looked for it, I found my charger sitting on top of the CD player and thanked God. This may seem coincidental but this process of searching, praying, and finding regularly repeats itself with my cell phone charger and other objects that I misplace (Mp3 player, watch, blue-tooth etc). It amazes me that Jesus came to this earth and suffered so that I could be in relationship with God and come to him about these things I keep misplacing. Wow.

Time outside

The past few days it has been cooler and it has been wonderful to be outside. We had family friends in town and visited Elizabeth Park (beautiful gardens) and Hillstead (a house/museum with sprawling grounds). We had a wonderful time together and being out and about inspired me to spend more time outside this week. So today I went by Hillstead after a meeting and was able to read, write, and pray while sitting under the shade of an old tree. In the midst of the summer heat I can forget the enjoyment, creativity, and energized thinking I experience when I work outside. Even listening to NPR this morning as I drove to work there was a report about companies incorporating gardens into the landscapes of their campuses and the beneficial effect on workers. This is something good to think about.

Wesley is continuing to grow up and is looking more and more like a little boy. He is no longer a baby. This is somewhat sad at points, but I like kids more than babies and it is all part of the process. We are having lots of fun together and look forward to my mom coming up this weekend. We continue to have fuller weekends and slower weeks and this is a nice change for the summer.