Thursday, August 24, 2006

Drew's 1st Day of School


_JEF6427w, originally uploaded by Jeff Frazee.

If you click on this picture, read the picture captions. Drew is doing so well in school. He loves it. It's short, and he's already reminding us to do stuff for his class. It reminds me that we need to be so much more purposeful in what we are teaching him from day to day.
Joseph is now benefitting from my mom's expert teaching experience. If you haven't seen Joe in the last month you would be amazed at how he is blossoming. I know it's a cliché, but that's just how it is. A few months a go his personality was wrinkly, scrunched up, and not nearly as nice as it could have been. He's still got his little devious streak, but he is communicating so well. He is happy, he loves people, and tells them often.
Harley has been sick. She hasn't nursed in two days. Heidi is a little scared. She's not ready to stop nursing. So we're hoping it's just congestion. Our boys both nursed until they were one, and they quit on their own.
I'm excited about the possibility of becoming a youth pastor at my parents church (our church too, but we haven't been there long.) I'm not giving up on my photojournalism dreams, but I am following where the Lord is leading.
We are also trying to get 100 people to give us $20 dollars a month for the next three year. That way would could pay off my student loans quickly and save well over $30,000 dollars. The ultimate goal is to get to Mali, start a media ministry over there, and serve a country of people who know what it means to suffer.
Call us!

Wednesday, August 23, 2006

Monday, August 14, 2006

_JEF5582cw


_JEF5582cw, originally uploaded by Jeff Frazee.

This is Autumn Hodge. She belongs to Eric and Christine Hodge, two of our best friends. This blog entry concerns friends.
Spur-of-the-moment (that means we planned five days in advance in we-have-three-kids-under-five language) Heidi and I decided to go down to Ojai for the weekend. Our friends were totally accommodating, and we were able to see so many people. This was the first time I had been back since we moved.
It was so good for me. I never really missed any of our Ojai friends. I would ask Heidi, "Why don't I miss them like you do? They were my best friends too." I mean... I did miss them, but not the kind of 'miss' that moves from your chest to your throat and back. That’s how I used to feel when we had to leave Granny’s house and my cousins when we were little.
On our last night there four couples got together with our seven kids and one on the way. It was a zoo, a great zoo. These people really love us, and they love our children in the same way we do. We love them and their children.
As we were leaving I realized what good friends God has given us, and I said we should all pray before we left. Then I felt that kind of 'miss' that moves from your chest to your throat and back. I couldn’t, so I asked Eric to pray, and he did a wonderful job of giving God glory for all He has given us, just like I wanted to.
I want to honor these friends. They mean so much to us.