Christmas with everyone home

It was great having everyone home for Christmas. We took the opportunity to have some more family pictures taken since Cole wasn't born when we took the last ones. I only posted a couple, so let me know if you would like to see any more.

Here are the stockings--all lined up and ready to be opened. The stockings have been a fun part of our family tradition ever since Norm and Liz gave us the first one for Karen many years ago.

Hi guys, I just wanted to let you know that since last friday until today I have received three job offers. I will keep you posted on which one I will accept. Thanks everybody for your prayes.

Love ya.

Winter is Here! :(

I just wanted everyone to know that I am sad that winter is here. It is cold and the only good thing about it is Christmas. I am looking forward to Christmas. I still haven't posted my pictures of my paint job. I guess I can never get the apartment clean enough to be able to show it off to the hold world.

What has Keith been up to at work?

For the last two years, I've been giving the great majority of my time to a major project here at Tyndale called the NLT Study Bible. This is a pretty massive undertaking, conceived in 1999, begun in 2001, and ultimately culminating with publication in September 2008.

This product made it's first "official" appearance on Amazon.com recently, as the sampler (basically Genesis 1-11 from the Bible as well as some explanatory material about the product as a whole) was posted for pre-sale. This thing has caught the attention of a couple of bloggers as well.

To be honest, I'd encourage you not to buy this sampler; you'll probably be able to download much of its content for free, or you could look at it in a bookstore. I'll actually have a sampler or two that you folks can look at if you are going to be at Mom and Dad's for Thanksgiving.

I may be biased, of course, but I think this is a really good Bible. If you're thinking about getting a solid Study Bible with notes about the text, interpretation, and theology, this is a great option and it really is worth waiting a few months to get it. It was all written by top scholars, over forty authors in all. And it will include the most up-to-date text of the NLT, with updates to the translation from our scholar team.

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Pumpkin Fest at Keehner Park

It was a delightful weekend with Mark and Connie visiting Grandmother and staying at our house. Rachel brought her fiance, Jeff, to meet the family. Poor guy! We had good times talking, eating, shopping, worshiping, playing with kids, reading, doing word games, and enjoying each other's company.

On Saturday, Connie, Rachel, Jeff, and I took Kennedy to the Pumpkin Fest at Keehner Park while Scott and Karen had Cole at Portrait Innovations getting his sixth month pictures taken. His pictures are great--he is a real cutie. The top picture is Kennedy in her favorite inflatable, done bouncing and ready to climb up and then go down the slide.She also enjoyed the straw maze and going down the park slide, with Rachel and Jeff giving assistance as needed.

On Sunday, after church, Connie, Rachel, Jeff, and I went the rounds of the Half-Price Bookstores, and Graeters as well. The others watched football. We had ice cream from The Cone at the Pumpkin Fest, so they also had to try Graeters. On Monday, everyone went to the Creation Museum (except for me). See Rachel's blog for pictures.

Apple Picking

Last weekend, Claudia and I went apple picking at our favorite orchard in Hobart, IN. Since it is pretty much exactly halfway between us and Notre Dame, our friends Jon and Karen Peach came out as well (Jon is getting his MBA at ND) with their kids Abby and Caleb. Our friend Emily also came with us (her husband Mike stayed home to read--that's the kind of guy he is).

We don't have as many pictures as Sarah does from her trip, but we did have a good time. And Claudia is going to use some of the apples we collected to bake a pie for our small group this Friday night.

Emily Allen, Claudia, and I in the back; Karen, Abby, Caleb, and Jon Peach in the front

Keith watching Abby and Caleb compete for apples

whatever!

no matter what i do my quarterback sucks. i put romo on the bench and mcnabb on the roster, and romo scores a million and donavin scores a turd. i put romo on the roster and mcnabb on the bench and mcnabb score a million and romo scores a turd and a half. its like they call eachother and the dialogue is as follows: "hey whats up? Luis put me on the roster and you on the bench, so make sure that you play awesome and meanwhile im going to throw interseptions and think about ice cream instead of football". i hope they both get a flat tire on their way home.

Keith and Holly Ray

Steve and I went to Faith Bible Fellowship in Lebanon today where he was leading the congregational singing. We were surprised to see Keith and Holly Ray, Mitchell, Wesley, and Summer. Keith was there to speak briefly about Student Venture during the missionary moment. Keith thought it was ironic that we were there because he had already planned to mention Claudia as part of his description of the mission of Student Venture and how it played out in her life at Lakota as she was discipled by Holly, then discipled others herself, who in turn discipled others. The legacy that you were a part of continues on. It was also good to see Neil Fairweather and his family.

Welcome Tia Glenda

I also wanted to say "Welcome" to Tia Glenda. I'm so glad you are going to contribute to our family blog. Now Contribute! Also, were are the rest of you. Don't let the family blog die.

I Deleted Myself

I just wanted to say welcome back to me. I accidentally deleted myself and my dad off the family blog. But I'm back. Everthing is going well, I am excited because I might actually finish painting this weekend. I also decided that my life goal at the moment is to finish my thesis. I can't believe it's almost December and I am still not done with it. I'm so sick of it, I just want to finish.

Future Hall of Famers cont...

I just wanted to say that speaking of Hall of Famers...I do believe I belong in the Fantasy Football Hall of Fame for my miraculous win and points championship this week!!

Future Hall of Famers

Here's our two Hall of Famers (according to Scott). Today is Cole's first day to be able to wear his Bengals outfit, and Kennedy is happy to be wearing her Daddy's number on an Ohio State Jersey.

Fun with Grandpa

Kennedy and Cole both spent the night with Grandpa and Grandma last night. Who do you think had the most fun?

You All Know Who's Best

I just want to say that when it comes down to it, you all know who's the best fantasy football team out there. The Chicago Demolishers, Go hot pink and yellow! I know that it's hard for all of you to face the inevitable fact that you will loose to me, but I'll make sure it's quick and painless. See you Sunday on the field.

By the way, I'm almost done painting. It has taken way too long and I think the novelty has now worn off. I actually had to have Keith help me. We'll be posting pictures soon.

Car Totaled

I'm not sure if we told everyone yet, but Allstate did decide to total our car from the flood damage. We're still waiting on the check to arrive, but it has been a relatively painless process since we weren't really using the car anymore anyway. They actually are going to be giving us more money than I thought, and we were spared the hassle of cleaning the car up, listing it in the paper, showing it to people, etc.

To My Big Brother Keith "Likes Boys" Williams

Im gonna humiliate you like God is gonna humiliate Kathy Griffin! and im gonna give all the props to my boy Jesus. bring it geek!

Fantasy League

Just wanted to post a little trash talk to Keith, since I bruised his Bruisers this week in the league and all.

Thanks!

Just wanted to say thanks for all the good birthday wishes. I will post the pictures of the new paint job in the apartment as soon as I'm done.

Case and Cole

Karen's old friend, Melissa Hogan, was in town for her brother Nathan's wedding. She has three boys, Ty (4), Brock (almost 2), and Case, almost 6 months. We took them all to Chick Fil A for food and fun in the playground area. We couldn't get the older kids to sit still long enough to get good pictures of them together, but Cole and Case enjoyed laughing, smiling, drooling, and touching.

Happy Birthday, Claudia

Have a great day tomorrow--enjoy every minute. We're anxious to hear more details about your new job and the search for the perfect paint.

Love, Steve and Cheri