UPDATE * Finn is crawling (see video below)
UPDATE * My church, Vineyard Westside, has purchased the building we’ve been leasing. At this point, it’s an ugly, blank canvas…I can’t wait to see what God has in store for us with our new home. We’ve constantly reminded ourselves that a church is not a building, and that God can use any space to transform lives. We’ve seen that in action and we believe it wholeheartedly.
Now it’s time to leverage the gift that God has given us and fill this thing up with people every day of the week. Cooking, Yoga, and Martial Arts classes. Weddings, Funerals, and movie nights. I have to say, it’s nice to have a place we can call our own.
UPDATE * I have re-worked the “About Me” page on this blog…anything else I need to include?
UPDATE * Kelly is about to pop.
Kelly and Donny are due with their new baby boy any day now. Donny is in my men’s group and I’m really excited for him…almost more than a dude should be excited for another dude. I think I’m amped about this because I really feel like God is going to show Donny who he is meant to be through fatherhood. Nothing gave me the sense of fatherly love from God quite like becoming a daddy did.
Donny – you’re going to be a great dad. And Kelly? it goes without saying.
UPDATE * It’s kite season. Praise the Lord, O my soul.
UPDATE * My boy is gigantic.
UPDATE * I want an iPad. I know it’s ridiculous. But, I still want one.
My 2 yr old keeps saying “Baybee funny. Baybee crawling! Here come baybee!!!”
He has grown so much!
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Finn just made my day with his army crawl. Congratulations on the church home! You make me want to move to Cincinnati every time I hear how you guys are coming along.
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Is the church — should the church be — all about Cooking, Yoga, and Martial Arts classes???
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Tracie says:
April 7th, 2010 at 9:58 am
@Bob B., it’s about living life together. i know my life is better because of it. and serving together is a great part, too! it’s about looking like Jesus.
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That Finn is fast! You can tell he is looking at his sister though and wants to walk too. I’m positive your church is going to be awesome!
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all amazing updates. and for the record, i was a skeptic, but the ipad is totally rad.
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Nice update Ryan.
I had a special experience with a friend at lunch yesterday. They are pregnant… I mean, she is pregnant. We went to lunch together. While sitting there talking and eating she quickly said, “Not to change the subject, but I just had this weird feeling.” I questioned what she meant. She explained her feeling… a fluttery moving in her womb. She asked me what if felt like to me when I first had movement with my pregnancy. I told her just exactly what she felt. I was there when she experienced her quickening of the baby! We were both very excited. I love moments like that!
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YAY! A place to call your own (church) How proud you and all your hardworking peeps must be!!
p.s. Awesome-but subtle- shoutout to ‘Princess Bride’ in About Me- love that movie!
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That is not just a crawl—looks like it could be an olympic sport…man is he FAST!!
Sunnie
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Whoa – just wait till that kid is on his feet!
Congratulations on the building! Like Bob, I’m a little concerned about the yoga. Only because I have a friend who was a Hindu and was really into yoga before coming to Christ. She’s very passionate about avoiding it. But I also agree with Tracie that it’s about living life together. I know Vineyard Westside will hear from God about what’s best!
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TheDan says:
April 7th, 2010 at 5:28 pm
@Dyan,
I don’t do yoga because I don’t own any tight pants but this is how the class is described:
This Christ-centered Yoga practice is designed to incorporate prayer into the body. Through breath, asana (poses), and meditation (contemplative prayer), students can explore the discipline of yoga-in addition to Christian practices-in a new way.
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Oh my, he’s a big boy now! Thanks for sharing Ryan.
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Love the picture of Ava and Allison flying the kite.
Also, praise for a home for you and yours, finally, I know what a challenge this has been for you all.
Allison,
The bracelet, where did you get your bracelet in the pic above?
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Allison says:
April 7th, 2010 at 2:24 pm
@Lisa The Bumpkin, my mom bought it for me for Easter. I love it!
She bought it from her friends shop: http://www.agricolaredesign.com/shop.php
I’ll have to find out who the maker is….
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Allison says:
April 8th, 2010 at 3:06 pm
@Allison, it’s made by ollipop. Found some of their other stuff online
http://www.thepepperkids.com/ollipop_rings.asp
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Allison says:
April 8th, 2010 at 3:10 pm
@Allison, just found it
http://www.shopatnola.co.uk/ollipop-green-gemstone-trio-bracelet-3207-p.asp
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KEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEWT!! Adoooorable!! And yes, he’s GIGANTIC… doesn’t look like a baby at all anymore… is it normal for babies to grow that fast?!?!
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My church is building a church (how weird does that sound?) in a lot adjacent to my building. I can’t wait to attend the first service held there… Too many days spent sitting on folding chairs on the sidewalk because there wasn’t enough space for all of us inside the place they were renting before! (this is to say, I can imagine how excited you are). Oh and I want an iPad. Now.
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Finny Binny and Noah crawl the same hahahaha. They are twins. I am glad another baby crawls like Noah I was starting think Noey was a weirdo
He kinda still is though but we love him anyway!
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I love the idea that yall are doing cooking and yoga and such at the church! That’s an awesome way to get people involved and fellowship!
I had a question. How is P90x coming? My husband and I want to do it. But I am scared, and the Tony guy is a little different…if that is a good word, I don’t know how I would like him? Thoughts?
P.S. Finn is so cute!
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It’s so much fun to watch Finn grow!
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Woah!!! Your little tyke is a speedy little thing! Adorable, thanks so much for sharing.
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Finn is wierd, like his sis. That’s way cool. He’ll be walking next week though, so it’s good you’ve got video.
Congratulations on your new (old) home.
I agree about parenthood. It made me understand more what God’s unconditional, infinite love is like.
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Movie Night? Are we bringing it back? If so I’m psyched.
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Fran says:
April 7th, 2010 at 6:20 pm
@TheDan, They just showed Passion of the Christ. That’s a movie. I vote for Dan to be in charge of movie night this summer.
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TheDan says:
April 7th, 2010 at 10:06 pm
@Fran,
Psssss, that is not movie night, it was rated R. I can’t take kids to that.
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I literally lol’d when you said Finn and he high-tailed it over to you! That was classic!
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oh… that video! made my heart happy to watch it. You are so abundantly and extremely blessed and amen for it
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and by the way, i know.. i want one too.. but i already have an iphone and an imac.. we must be strong! And at least hold out for version 2.0
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Thanks Ryan! I can’t wait to see how God changes us through this child
SO exciting!!!
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Congrats on the church. I have to question the yoga. Call them exercise classes.. call them “Christ centered exercise classes” but do not call them Yoga. Yoga is about as far from Christ centered anything than you can get. Do your research. Please.
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I’m excited about the building! When I read the first paragraph, I got tingles. There’s something God breathed about making a space useful for everyday community activities.
Keep us updated!
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I don’t know if your church is planning on painting but if so, here’s an idea….Our church expanded and added a huge addition so it was a good time to make the church more “friendly”. The painted all the walls in the contemporary (we also have a sanctuary for the traditional services) service area very warm and fun colors..bright green, purple, blue, you get the idea. They also painted the kids areas (we have an Uptown for the little ones and a Downtown for k-5) with different themes for each room (pet show, candy room, theatre room, firehouse, school house, 60′s diner) and the halls to the rooms are painted too (upstairs is a zoo with a crazy amount of animals and stone walls and also a playgound scene and downtown is a “town” with store fronts and real doors and shutters, etc and also a river scene set at dusk). It’s gorgeous, fun and very impressive. Just an idea
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loving the Finnmeister and his obstacle course crawl – happy face too! Congrats on obtaining a nest for your flock – and yes – the iPad thing is ridiculous – sorry man but it is. Think how much good real good can be done with that much money! You are a hoot my friend – a total hoot!
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Adorable baby!
I know the feeling. My youngest cousin’s baby is finally walking right now!
hope all goes well for you and the rest of the family!
and congrats on the church!
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I’m really happy that your church got the building; good luck and enjoy that journey.
BTW, i checked out the new “about me” page and am super impressed that you were able to go back in time and write that page before the internet was invented!
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iPad…me, too, Ryan! Me too!
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I like your updates.
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