“The finest men in all the world are not to be found in the warm, genial climates, where the earth has only to be tickled with a hoe, and it laughs with plenty; but the strongest and the most enterprising spirits have been found at the back of the north wind, where there are frosts and ice, and long, dreary winters, and men have a hard struggle for a livelihood. They become really men under that stern training. Now, if there were no thorns and thistles, no struggles and no trials, should we have any brave Christians? Should we have any great and noble souls at all? When did the Church yield her best men for her Lord’s service? It was in the persecuting times, when they had to swim through seas of blood to hold fast the truth of Christ. These are silken days, and we have wretched specimens of Christians everywhere; but if the times of persecution were to come once more, with the rough winds blowing, and the whole sea of the world tossed in tempest, we should then find brave sailors who would put the ship’s head to the wind, and ride safely over the stormy billows in the name of the Eternal God.” Spurgeon, C. H.
From the Thorns and Thistles Sermon, Vol 39.
Photos From Our Christmas Vacation
Here’s a collection of photos from our 2011 Christmas vacation in Alabama. Jenn and the kids were there nearly an entire month. I joined for close to 2 weeks. It was a trip with it’s ups and downs, but the photos capture some of the best times. The photos are collected from Jenn’s iPhone, my iPhone, a Canon S95 used by both Jenn and I, and my Canon 1D Mark II. It’s set to music that we currently enjoy.
Password: LombardiSpot
To One of Her Favorite Songs
I found this video by The Band Perry on the Palladium’s HD Video Hour and showed it to the family. It was the first time we ever heard or saw this band and everyone immediately liked it, especially Claire. She learned to sing the song and frequently requested us to play the video. She also got the CD for Christmas this year. We listened to it in the long car rides while we were visiting Alabama.
This video is of her dancing and singing to the song. Pardon her outfit, looks like it’s at the end of life. Enjoy.
A Slide in South Pittsburg
How do they effect a four year old girl?
This evening we were discussing with Matthew his progression through the grades and then onto college. Claire inserted comment at the end saying, "I don't want to go to Kindergarten
Jenn replied, "Yeah, I'm going to teach you how to read."
Claire said, "I don't want to get a shot."
Matthew had previously had shots prior to Kindergarten and Jenn had mentioned that they are needed before Kindergarten. So, here it is, perhaps a year later, she is realizing that Kindergarten means gettings shots. Boy, she must really dislike getting shots!
Claire added, "I'll just be stupid."
Of course, Jenn and are are simultaneously laughing and shocked. I said, "Claire, you are smart. We'll teach you how to read and you can be smart."
Claire cried, "I don't want to get a shot."
Claire asked, "Tomorrow I get a shot."
Jenn answered, "No."
Claire concluded, "Shot stupid!"
Our four year old Claire is so intent on avoiding shots that she's willing to throw out her education. Good thing we aren't letting her decide her educational roadmap.
We bought 54lbs of Legos for Mathew's birthday and have been sneaking a bit at a time into his tiny collection of Legos. We started telling him that they were coming from the Lego fairy.
Last night he said, "Dad, I think it was you."
I said, "No, it was the Lego fairy."
He said, "There is no such thing as Lego fairies, maybe there's Lego fairies with Jesus, but not here."
Ha! Well, in a child's world, heaven would have Lego fairies wouldn't it?! 
