Yea for Adoption!

As of about 1:40pm on November 25, Jonathan is officially adopted and officially a Franklin! Woohoo! We've taught Jonathan to say "yea!" every time we say the word adoption so that he can share in our excitement, even if he doesn't understand it all yet.

Our hearing was scheduled for 1:30 and lasted a grand total of about 10 minutes. Just some swearing to tell the whole truth and answering some really basic questions. The best part was when Janelle was on the stand and Jonathan insisted on sitting with Mommy. We were trying to hold him back when the judge said, "Let him come up here. This is his day anyway!" So, Jonathan waltzed up to the stand with Janelle and played with the microphone while Janelle answered her questions!

Last night, we had a party with a bunch of friends and family here in Odessa to celebrate. We probably saw around 40 people, and had a great time. And like a stressed, unthinking parent, I didn't even think about taking any pictures until afterward. I guess we'll have to remember the night according to all the gifts Jonathan got, including a really cool Tonka Dumptruck. We now measure how tired he is according to how quickly (or slowly) he pushes the truck around the house.

Here are a couple pictures from yesterday:

Us with the judge - Judge Bobo (Yes, that's his real name). And I'm leaning on the back of his chair, not chilling on his shoulder.


Outside the courthouse, after it was all done


After his adoption party at my parents' house



Thanks to all our friends and family for all your prayers and support. You have been a blessing and help through the whole process.

Fun Pictures

Just a few fun pictures for those of you who are interested:

Jonathan, on one of those days when he happens to LOVE spaghetti:



We like to wash dishes together (neither of us barefoot)
Since we haven't finished unpacking yet (actually, I can hardly say that we've begun), we've got a nice fort of boxes in the kitchen that Jonathan loves. He loves to hide out, play with his cars, and pop in and out of sight. He also uses this as his private quarters...you know, when he needs to have somewhere private...

Happy Birthday Martin Luther! 525 and still young at heart!

Happy Birthday to Martin Luther, one of my heroes. Reading his works have done so much to shape my life and thought. Below is short post from desiringgod.org that I like:

It was a backwater German town called Eisleben on November 10, 1483—today marks 525 years.

There Martin Luther had his inauspicious beginning. He was born a poor boy, son of a coal miner. And by a strange providence, Luther died in the same town 62 years later on February 18, 1546, even though he spent barely any of his life there.

In the intervening 6 decades, the world changed—and Luther, under God, was the chief catalyst.

The pope excommunicated Luther in January of 1521, making him a marked man. For the last 25 years of his life, he lived with the awareness that each day could be his last. He often expressed surprise that he was still alive.

To the right is a 1526 painting by Lucas Cranach, which may be the most authentic portrait we have of Luther. And, so that you can join us in celebrating Luther’s 525th, below is a timeline of his life, highlighting some of the most significant events of his 62 years.

Thank God for Luther—simultaneously righteous and sinful.

Timeline of Luther’s Life

1483, November 10 - Born to Hans and Margaretta Luther in Eisleben
1484, Summer - Luther family moves to Mansfeld
1501, May - Enters university at Erfurt (age 17)
1502, September 29 - Receives Bachelor of Arts (age 18)
1505, January 7 - Receives Master of Arts (age 21)
1505, July 2 - Vows to become a monk
1505, July 17 - Enters the monastery in Erfurt
1507, May 2 - Celebrates his first mass as a priest (age 23)
1510, November - Journeys to Rome and is disturbed by its corruption (age 26)
1511, April - Transferred to Wittenberg to teach at the university
1512, October 19 - Receives his Doctor of Theology (age 28)
1517, October 31 - Posts his 95 theses (age 33)
1518, April 26 - Defends his theology at Heidelberg
1519, July - Debates prominent theologian John Eck at Leipzig
1520 - Publishes Address to German Nobility, Babylonian Captivity, and Freedom of the Christian; breach with Rome now irreparable
1521, January - Excommunicated by the pope (age 37)
1521, April 18 - Gives “Here I stand” response to the emperor at the Diet of Worms
1521, May - Kidnapped and hidden at Wartburg to preserve his life; begins translating the New Testament into German
1522, March - Returns to Wittenberg to lead the Reformation
1522, September - Publishes his German New Testament
1524, November 30 - Writes that he has no intention to marry
1525, June 13 - Marries escaped nun Katherine von Bora (age 41)
1525, December - Responds to Erasmus’ Freedom of the Will with The Bondage of the Will (which J. I. Packer calls “the greatest piece to come from Luther’s pen”)
1527, Summer - Composes “A Mighty Fortress” during a season of sickness and deep depression
1529, October - Meets Zwingli at Marburg and is unable to come to agreement on the Lord’s Supper
1534 - Publishes the complete German Bible (age 50)
1546, February 18 - Dies while traveling in Eisleben (age 62)

Making American History...in clip art

I found this really cool picture online today. As an American historian, and an American, I think this is really cool. Otherwise, I offer no further related political comments on this blog.
Who can spot Franklin Pierce?! How about Chester Arthur? Or everyone's favorite, Millard Fillmore?!

Exams

If you've wondered what in the world I've been doing the last six months (other than taking care of a son, buying a house, etc.), then wonder no more: I've been studying for the biggest exams of my life, which begin tomorrow.

Five exams total, four of them written, one oral. Each written will be 4-5 hours long, and the oral will be about 2 hours. My first one is tomorrow, and my last one will be on Friday, November 21. Obviously, I would appreciate your prayers.

Schruteian Hermeneutics

This hilarious bit comes care of another blog at www.merechristians.com, written by a friend of a friend:

Schruteian Hermeneutics

Whenever I’m about to interpret the Bible, I think, “Would a heretic interpret it like that?” And if they would, I do NOT interpret it that way.

Thought you pastors and Josh Butchers out there might enjoy this!

How could God do this to Us?

Great short post from John Piper, reminding us of some questions we OUGHT to be asking:

How Could God Do This to Us?

November 1, 2008 | By: John Piper
Category: Commentary

Thursday in Minneapolis it was so gorgeous walking home I thought: I should write a post on how astonishing it is that no earthquake swallowed up this city today.

Instead God sent warmth and crystal skies and cool breezes and golden leaves and hanging sea gulls over Elliot Park.

Amazing. Absolutely amazing!

We deserved the 52-story IDS tower to fall, and bridges to collapse, and poisonous gas to kill thousands. But instead God gave us over-the-top foretastes of heaven.

This is why everyone is crying out, Where was God on Thursday! Where were you God! How could you do this? Why did you let this happen?

Everybody is saying that, aren’t they?