6 months

Well, Azariah John is 6 months old. We have this little personality budding in front of us. Its very exciting. We have found he loves oatmeal. He hates bananas. He's ok with squash.

He enjoys being outside. He enjoys being thrown around by dad. He enjoys a conversation and is a great listener. He is a good traveler. Lucky us.

Its exciting to see him grow and develop. He has a very sweet personality that I hope is fostered well in our home. We are very proud of him. Happy 6 months to our sweet son.

The more things change

So, a general update about our family. As is often the case all that changes as you get older are your children. Doris and I continue to do what we have done and witness the change around us. Spring has sprung and we are delighted to expose our son to nature. Our yard is full of flowers, birds, plants and is a really great place to let him see the beauty of nature. For me spring essentially means I take on the full-time job of taking care of our deceptively big lawn. Our hope in the future is to subdivide our property so that we can have a more manageable sized lawn. My job (I sell cell phones for those who dont know) is going well. The last couple of months have been very slow and this has really tested my resolve. I know I need to keep an attitude of faithfulness to the things I am called to do. Things have recently picked up, but I am forever conscious who owns the cattle and the thousand hills....and it isnt me. Still, I am eager for new challenges and am forever looking for a new hill to climb.

I recently got a new phone that has a better camera, so I have been taking more pictures than I have in the past.

As I observe Doris trying to do what she always does (everything), I am continually reminded of what a fine wife I have. She is capable and ambitious and I enjoy the reward of being able to share those traits of my upbringing with her practical, hard working heart. Her primary goal continues to be being a Godly woman, wife, and mother. She succeeds in spades. I dont think my son could ask for a more devoted mother.

Azariah has started to eat "solids" (oat cereal) and he is a fan.

I am really grateful for this phase in his life because I enjoy being able to participate in his eating. Obviously up until now my contribution is fairly minimal, but caring for someone with food is very much a part of who I am and where I come from, so being able to further engage with my son on that has been a blessing.

Azariah continues to bring tremendous joy to both his grandparents and they both very much covet the attention of his chubby face. We are very blessed to see our son bring joy to others and to see the joy of Christ that flows from within him. He is a genuinely

happy individual.

My Hope is in You

In you, Lord my God, I put my trust.

I trust in you; do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me.

Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. Remember, Lord, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old.

Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in his ways. He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way. All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful toward those who keep the demands of his covenant.

Who, then, are those who fear the Lord? He will instruct them in the ways they should choose. They will spend their days in prosperity, and their descendants will inherit the land. The Lord confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them. My eyes are ever on the Lord, for only he will release my feet from the snare.

Turn to me and be gracious to me

Guard my life and rescue me; do not let me be put to shame, for I take refuge in you. May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope, Lord, is in you.