Tear Down

Downtown naperville is an interesting blend of housing options. Even during the downturn there has been continual activity of one sort or another. There are the older homes that range from 70 to 100 years old of various sizes and repair. There are homes like ours that are of that age but have been modernized or blended with an addition within the past 5 - 10 years. They have the charm of the older homes but the amenities of a newer home and then there are the "Tear-Downs." The Tear Downs are a house or other building that is purchased with the intention of tearing it down and replacing it with another, more expensive structure. Just down the street this home was knocked down Friday. You can see next to it a house currently under a construction which was knocked down last fall.

The concept of the original tear down comes from John 3:19 Jesus answered and said to them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. So inherently its not a bad concept. It keeps a certain vibrancy in our community and most incorporate a look that is consistent with the overall downtown ambiance. Come visit this summer and we will tour the block and you decide.

JVA - 2nd Place

The Team did great this weekend and took 2nd.
The picture was taken while Mackey was at church

Easter in Louisville

Not so far from downtown we found the Louisville First Ward. An interesting two story chapel squeezed into a city neighborhood. A mixed but relatively young congregation. Rindy made an interesting observation , Saturday night at the team dinner many commented on how lovely the church they attended Easter Mass was - a beautiful cathedral (Saturday night after our last game but before dinner most of the team went); though the only comment on the service was that it was very long. In contrast the chapel we attended was simple, of the staged chapel construction, with chairs not pews but the talks were very good and the service all that it should be on easter. There was music form the Primary and the Ward choir; a young married girl recently arrived from idaho spoke of the power of the atonement - you could tell leaving the west was a challenge for her but the gospel was and did make a difference in her life. The other speaker was a brother who spoke of repentance and the power of the atonement. He too carried the Spirit of Easter with his talk - a message of renewal, change, salvation, grace and exaltation. It's easter indeed.

KJV anniversary

Recently I have read several article celebrating the 400th anniversary of the King James Version of the Bible Reading an article this morning in the Courier Journal reminded me of how grateful I am for the KJV. In Begat, David Crystal sets out to prove that the King James Bible has contributed more to the English language than any other literary source. Indeed many a rich metaphor originates in the KJV.
Examples include:
Let there be light,
A fly in the ointment,
New wine in old bottles,
How are the mighty fallen,
The salt of the earth.
my brother’s keeper,
two by two,
out of the mouth of babes,
heal thyself,
nothing new under the sun

Not just expressions come from the bible but an ethical grounding as well. It is interesting to read the sharing of values in America where early arrivals in America learned their English from the Bible, which was replaced by learning English from the Sears Catalog, then to the TV and now the Internet. An evolution in common values. A reflection on America as we examine what we share.

Nonetheless, the greatest contribution to me of the KJV is its history and testimony of the pre-existent, creator, life ministry and resurrection of Jesus Christ

Proof

Tonight we had dinner at Proof. Upon entering one knew it would be a unique experience. It is attached to a Hotel 21C which is an art museum posing as a Hotel rated one of the World's best by Travel & Leisure. The wide ranging modern art is installed in the restaurant as well. Fun stuff.

The ambiance was a precursor to wonderful service and a delightful meal. Each of the items served were full of flavor and presentably engaging. The surprise treat at the end of the meal, shared after dessert and the bill was a plate of (sorry for the marginal photo.

Cotton Candy

As a side-note Mackey played very well in the volleyball tournament which brought us to Louisville. A couple of thundering blocks and hits. Hopefully Saturday will go as well in the 2011 JVA World Challenge Volleyball Championship

4 20

I will be in Boulder at 4:20
on 4/20
not 420ing

Bizarrely enough there are multiple signs up in Boulder for 420 parties.
A strange culture.

So this was the gathering at the University

Shake it Up

Their campaign has a level of spunk to it without being over the edge. Babies can still sell anything. Maybe Abigail could do this.

New Flake

Abigail is truly a beautiful one of a kind.

And we welcome her to the family

Jane and Daryl’s baby is fresh to the world 

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Simply Saturday

Herrick Lake Forest Preserve is just a few minutes away from the house and very close to the old home stomping grounds. Saturday went over to the park and took a 12 mile bike ride on a beautiful spring day. For scenery it look just like lake Rebecca out at Independence - same terrain, same topography, same trails. It was great. Which photo is which place

The end of the day was a new restaurant in downtown Naperville. The city was hopping with everyone walking the streets with the best weather of spring to date.

Nice restaurant. PF Changie type place - smaller, better ambiance, slightly better food, reasonable price.Kuma's Asian Bistro - we enjoyed the flavor behind everything we tasted.

Then home for the in-home debut of Tangled.(Rapunzel reminded me of Eden) Wish you could have joined us for the day.

(Danada is the first photo)

Family Home Evening

A week ago Monday, mackey was in Wisconsin visiting Blair and Julie and so wee found ourselves home alone. Not quite ready for the two-person FHE approach, not quite yet at least. We invited our dear friends Randy and Judy Peterson over for dinner and FHE. The food, of course , was great. Who can't love home-made rolls on a Monday night, but there was so much more. We ate in the dining room and then gathered in the kitchen. Anyhow the lesson was even better as we discussed covenant making and the justification and sanctification that come through covenants. The discussion part of the lesson was a little longer than normal. It was a grand evening.

Easter

As my dad would say
Easter'tide is the tide for eggs
and the time of eggs is easter tide

or somethinng like that

Rindy did eggs with Mom this afternoon

prodigy

the New York Times  had an interesting article on achieving youth of the day. Of course there was the 8 year-old high school graduate, the 14 year-old doctor, the science and technology whiz kids of engineering parents. The unexpected feature was the girl soccer free-style prodigy. Gifted a foot so to speak.Equally unrelateable in skill set but a bit on the fun side. So i searched out this video.You go Indie Cowie.