Family "Quiet" Time

I was trying to record our family devotions one night without drawing too much attention and ruining the moment (hence the footage of our legs). However, the sweet moments of "devotion" quickly deteriorated...

Highlights

I continue to put off adding a new post to my blog because I feel that life has offered nothing out of the ordinary. I feed, clean, play, clean, and clean some more. However, I am always quick to snap pictures throughout my seemingly monotonous days. As I look back over the last two months of pictures, I must admit they are anything but monotonous. God has blessed me with a precious husband, 3 sweet sons, an awesome church, godly friends, an amazing family (my parents, my 4 bros, their wives and kids - 24 of us just on my side! - then I have another set of parents, siblings, niece and nephews on the Perdue side)...I could go on.

Here are a few of my favorite pictures over the last two months. These are my sweet reminders that each day is a gift and filled with God's new mercies and grace.

Isaac still wears this baby-sized winter hat -

even in the middle of summer. Crazy kid.

And you've gotta love Jacob's bright orange sun hat. Thank you G'ma.

They love their books. We've welcomed some refugees from Burma into our chuch body.
Here is one of them lovin' on Samuel.

Yes, that is a cup of "joe" (a small cup)

A new bike trailer. Yay! The boys love it. This boy's got moves!
How can you not love this face!
Love to All
And thank you, God, for the everday gifts that you bestow!

Baby Powder fun

Here's how the conversation went as Jacob and I were sitting on the couch looking at pictures on the computer:

Me: Wow! That is a weird smell. I wonder what it could be?

Jacob: Maybe it's the baby powder that Isaac is dumping on the floor.

Me: What!!

Isaac (looking up innocently): Tasty!

A letter to a friend...

Dear Luke,

You now know as you are known. You gaze in awe at the very face of Jesus. As Pastor Tom said, you are now the happiest of all men. I would not wish you away from the presence of your Creator.

But I wish I had told you of the evidence of God's grace in your life. This past year, I had the privilege of sitting back and watching you grow in your knowledge of God and love for Him. I saw it in your excitement to serve the church, your faithfulness to participate in the body, and your passion for the lost. My heart was encouraged as you soaked up instruction. I was praying that God would lead you to channel your enthusiasm and passion for His glory and for His kingdom. I now pray that none of us who knew you will ever be the same. May eternity be closer, this world be further, and Christ be dearer. May we be forever changed.

I miss you. My heart sunk when you did not walk through the door at our study this last Friday. Thank you for the joy you brought to our lives.

By His grace we can say that your life was not wasted.
Kristi

I have been wanting and dreading to write this post. The past few weeks have been rather surreal. It has been full of new and everyday events, but one event has defined these last 3 weeks for me and so many others.


Steve and I received "the call" on August 16th telling us that Luke Johnston had had a horrible diving accident. There was severe spinal and neck injuries and swelling on his brain. The prognosis was grim. We prayed. We were shocked and devastated .

Luke graduated from high school a year ago and approached the youth leadership of our church about starting a college/singles group. Steve and I were approached, and we agreed to host a study at our house every 3 weeks or so. We started going through "Don't Waste Your Life" as a group. We'd also have pizza and games. Luke was the driving force, the glue, that often brought these "kids" together. He was friendly, crazy, open, competitive, sarcastic and inspiring. We saw him growing in grace and loving God's glory more and more.

So many thoughts rushed through our minds when we were told of Luke's accident. We were on an emotional roller-coaster the next few days (along with everyone in Luke's family and the rest of our church body). We had hope, heartache, laughter and anguish in waves. We were up and then plummeted down. We began saying our goodbyes to Luke as he lay in a coma. He was declared brain dead on Wednesday (the 20th) and removed from life support the next day.

He will be so missed and never forgotten.

Alex, Dan, Justin, and Luke

(dubbed by Luke as "The Founding Fathers" of our college/singles study)

Blessings...

This weekend our friends, Jason and Karen, dropped by for a few hours. Not only are we blessed to have such friends as these, but God has seen fit to relocate our respective families so that we are never far from each other (save two years since we have been married). These friends have been in our lives since before we were dating. We sang in their wedding. We ministered together. We have stayed up late playing games with them PK (pre-kids). We entered the joy of parenthood with them...and will soon have 5 children between our family and theirs. We have watched each other struggle and grow in our love and dependence on God.
God has always blessed us with sweet friendships wherever He has led us, but it has been an added blessing to keep us close to the Wredbergs...we love you guys!

Darts at our place
Expecting...
Jason and Karen and Meredith

Jason (with our Jacob) and Karen (with Meredith)

Jacob and Meredith

Jason and Karen with Isaac

*******************

One more gift from Him! My dad is attending a conference this week in Winston Salem and came over to Wake Forest yesterday to spend the day with us. We had such a nice time...another unexpected blessing from our good Father.

I have GOT to get back into this...

O.K., so it has been 10 months since I posted anything on my blog...can I still call it "my blog" after 10 months of inactivity?
A lot has happened since my last post. And as I like to do, I will fill you in with pictures. I will try to fill in a few of the details from this past year, and I will at least endeavor to stay more up to date.

We found out we were pregnant with baby #3 at the end of August '07... and soon found out it was another boy!

I tackled my last semester of graduate school and, by God's grace, completed my M.A. in December '07.

We moved out of campus housing 4 days after I graduated into a sweet little rental house. It has been such a treat having a fireplace, yard, deck and a bit more room.

Baby Samuel was born April 26th, 2008.

On July 1st we accepted appointment to go overseas with PI. Here we are after a week of Orientation in Orlando.

Weekend in Wisconsin

We were able to take a quick trip back to Wisconsin at the end of August. One may not define "quick" as a 20-hour drive one way, but it was worth it nonetheless. Our kiddos did great considering. And we were able to reconnect with friends and get some quality "hang time" with family. Here is a "photo journal" of our whirlwind week.

We stopped in Kentucky halfway to Wisconsin and stayed with our friends, the Gurneys.
Jacob and Noah are best buds and have been since they were born. They are 3 weeks apart.
Noah and his family moved from NC just this summer
so these two were thrilled to see each other.

Finally at Grandma and Grandpa's house! The boys LOVED playing on Grandpa's deck.

Steve and I attended college in Wisconsin (Maranatha Baptist Bible College, for those who didn't know...). This weekend was also the "regathering"/reunion of the alumni from our school.
Steve and his brother jumped in the fray with the other alumni who had played on the Maranatha football team.
They were able to keep the current college team from scoring!! Go Saders!

The field was just a "bit" muddy and Steve was covered with it...hence I am balancing both boys.

My buddy, Sarah. This girl is awesome.
How good God is to bless us with such friendships! (We were missing you, Jeannie.)

COUSINS!!

Dinner at the "P-Shack"

A little touch football on a perfect night in a perfect setting.

And the night must end with homemade ice cream...sooo good!

Fun Announcement

Check out how my friend informed others of their happy news! Fun idea. Congratulations Ed and Leah.