Trinity

Tim Keller podcast: Imitating the Incarnation, Feb. 1, 2013

Augustan said that if the Trinity did not exist, God would be an imperfect God. Because if there were no Trinity, Father-Son-Holy Spirit, God would have never loved until creating angels and human beings. Therefore God would have created these beings to fill a need for love. But instead, the Trinity was already complete in love and created human beings not to take but to give love.

Amazing.

Father

My father is pretty adorable. He took a trip to China and brought back some gifts. 

See the creepy little doll? It squirts water at you. Surprise surprise. Trickster!

He also brought back a stamp that writes my name. I was born in the year of the horse. I guess my spirit animal would be a wild stallion. Once I run, no one can keep up. 

He also has a special relationship with animals. He can even hold my car like that and she doesn't squirm! She can be finicky so that's a feat.

What a gift to have a father like mine. But an even better gift is our Heavenly Father. Sometimes I feel bad that friends fathers are not as gracious and caring to them as mine. Or that friends have lost their fathers. But we all have a Heavenly Father who loves us as precious sons and daughters. Who also gives weird gifts!!! They might not exactly be odd Chinese toys, but he does give good gifts! Matthew 7:11

That's nature

Another family day, lot of funny moments. Too much fun when you know people really well and can predict all their quirks.

I am especially enjoying spending time with Reid, my sisters new husband. He will listen to me gab without any indication that I should stop talking! Cool theological discussion while hiking with him & my dad. New family is a gift! 

Best moment of the day though by far has for to be watching my mom react with horror to the tv show my dad chose to watch? A pack of lions chase down an elephant. Her reaction is just too good. "How can they do that? He's bigger! Stomp them! Kick them with your hind legs!" So much empathy for such a weird recipient. The rest of us are like,"that's nature."

Sandcastle building

I did many cool things today. but One thing I didn't do, is I didn't build a sandcastle.

Southern Adventures

Hung out with my brother and his Ole Miss friends today. So goood to just get to know my brother. We had this running count of the number of times the boys dropped the f bomb. 16. And we kept secretly laughing. Was nice to hear their southern cadences, phrases, even jokes. Reminds me of who I was and where I grew up.

I watched as my bro & the boys jumped off these rocks into freezing water. Were I not vehemently opposed to being cold upon leaving Chicago, I would have jumped too. But it looked sweet.

Then we went in search of ice caves, and found an iceless cave. The best part was maneuvering into a nook and climbing the side of the wall. Williams buddy Jake kept trying to climb it but there really were no cracks to hang on to, but being small I managed to sort of get myself stuck in the nook and crawl up. And it was awesome, I have always loved rock climbing walls and zip lines, and the best part was my mom would have been terrified had she known I was climbing! And my brother kept telling me not to, aw protecting me, but what they don't realize is I am fearless. to a fault. If I set out to do something, I do it. I probably fail, but I go for what I want. and I wanted to climb that cave wall. and I did it. To jakes amazement I will add! He managed to crawl into the nook backwards...how I don't know? But at the top my brother reached out his hand and pulled me up. His grip was so strong and although I think I could have made it, I felt very cared for in that moment. We even made a pact not to tell my mom, but Jake told my mom while we were away from the dinner table...whoops. my mom said she is going to teach me the difference between independence & recklessness. But I was fine! Wasn't being stupid. Maybe a little. But it was fun! Now I want to climb a real mountain.

Anyway Im so proud of the man my brother has become. All into RUF, setting an example in his friend group, level headed, good listener! I am thankful for him.

Brother

My little brother is so cool. I'm glad to become better friends with him. He's funny.

Today my fam went white water rafting, and the guide was saying that there was a 15 year old in our van who was a vegetarian. Now my bro does not support my almost vegetarianism so he decided to make me feel awkward and say, "that's the guy for you!" And I'm like, "not interested in younger folks..." And then he goes, "well it could be a girl," and I'm like "ohhhh perfect for you then!!!" Hahaha. Then we both agree that it would be illegal for either of us to date a 15 year old. Then I say,"let's do something illegal." And he says, "yeah let's smoke marijuana." And then goes, "wait that's legal here" hahaha so much sass and it's awesome.

So I pretty much fail at anything that requires hand-eye coordination. And Reid & Will were playing pool so I decide alright I'll play...but pretty quickly it becomes obvious that I am a lost cause...except that William stopped playing to win and just taught me how to aim & shoot! He made me practice just shooting it. And I got better! I did find it boring, but what I realized while playing frisbee golf is that anything I am bad at I will find boring. Haha so maybe if I practice it will become fun?

the fam went white water rafting and our raft guides were such goofballs. I love the Colorado vibe. Laid-back, outdoorsy, into companionship. Our guide told us that once upon a time, the Yetis mated with human beings and created a race called the Yeebles who speak Yebalese. "They are very shy, don't stare." And he said one of the guides was a Yebalese. So many kooky things came out of his mouth, impressed he could come up with so many jokes!  Also Callie fell in! I think she was simultaneously terrified and laughing.  

Good times with family are something to be tremendously thankful for.

A family day

The best kind of day.

Frisbee golf with Callie, Reid, William, and Dad. I am terrible at throwing a frisbee. And was so bored. But I played to spend time with them. And ya know what, I improved a little and had much laughter! Our frisbees kept flying off and rolling down the mountainside. We had to chase them.

Here was the score:

Everyone else: 45-55

Me: 81

Well it's not my thing, but I am a stellar hula hooper. Went for 10 minutes!

Cal & Reid cooked dinner and we all are on this gigantic Fellowship of the Ring style table. Awkwardly far apart.

Now playing a rousing game of Apples to Apples! All the laughter is goodness.

Also there are so many dogs here. This teddy bear Yorkie at church was the cutest.

We rode a gondola up the mountain and I realized that the views were not as captivating because I didn't have to work to earn them. We don't value what we don't work for. Anything worthwhile is worth the hard work! So a relationship with God is like this? Worth the effort.