Another book Review

“Celtic Christians had a name for the Holy Spirit–An Geadh-Glas, or ‘the Wild Goose.’ The name hints at mystery. Much like a wild goose, the Spirit of God cannot be tracked or tamed. An element of danger, an air of unpredictability surround Him. And while the name may sound a little sacrilegious, I cannot think of a better description of what it’s like to follow the Spirit through life. I think the Celtic Christians were on to something….Most of us will have no idea where we are going most of the time. And I know that is unsettling. But circumstantial uncertainty also goes by another name: Adventure.” --from the introduction


Author Bio:
Mark Batterson is the lead pastor of Washington , DC ’s National Community Church , widely recognized as one of America ’s most innovative churches. NCC meets in movie theaters at metro stops throughout the city, as well as in a church-owned coffee house near Union Station. More than seventy percent of NCC’ers are single twentysomethings who live or work on Capitol Hill. Mark is the author of the best-selling In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day and a widely read blogger (http://www.markbatterson.com/). He lives on Capitol Hill with his wife, Lora, and their three children.

Girl times 2....

We found out. Baby #2 will be another girl. So I will be a dad of 2 girls. Crazy. We are very excited. Cant wait. It will be a strange thing to watch Miss Ella as a big sister. I wonder how the adjustment will be. Just wanted to let everyone know. Oh...and we have a name picked out. Morgan Ashlee Kraemer.
~Learning as I Go~
One-T

Modern Day Jonah......

I have been fighting this for a long time and just recently decided that fighting with God was pointless.....He is really working in my life right now and I am just not sure what direction I need go in. I know he is calling me in to some sort of ministry either youth, family, young adults or childre, not sure. We are still praying and not even sure what to look for or how to go about looking. I just know that I finally said yes to God, which feels great, just need to listen to see what He has in store. I feel like Jonah...I am not longer running, I am in the fish, and I am ready to get out......

~Learning as I go~
One-T

SCARY MOVIES...

Anyone who knows me knows that I love to watch scary movies, even though I always regret it afterwords because I am such a chicken. Well this post isnt actually about scary movies but something close. So Miss Ella is growing up faster then I like or want, I tell her to stop but she just wont listen. She is learning new words everyday, and getting more and more independent. Cute to watch but also sad to think about. One day we were sitting there and not only do I love scary movies, my favorite to watch are any kids movies, mainly cartoons. We we have the cartoon The Jungle Book. Miss Ella was watching it and when the tiger comes on she starts to wine...I didnt think much of it because I just assumed she wanted her juice or crackers or something. Well the tiger gets off the screen and she is fine. Well Mr. Tiger comes back on the screen and she runs into the kitchen screaming...not loud screaming but you could tell something was wrong. I turned and looked to see what was wrong, and here is this cute little year and a half old peaking around the cabnets pointing to the tv and saying in the most pathetic voice ever "no...no...no.." then we realized...she was scared of the tiger. It was cute as could be but also sad to see. The tiger didnt do anythign bad at this point, she just knew that he was evil. Of course we took it out at that point but it got me thinking...this young she can tell that the character was bad, and scary. I hope as she gets older she will be able to figure out what is evil and what is good, figure she has a good start...she ended up watching the mupets...loves that piggy.
A few days later I put in the OLD OLD movie Labrynth....ya know the one with puppets and David Bowie...actually a really stupid movie, but entertaining just the same. Well Miss Ella walks into the living room and sees the Giblin puppets and puts her hands on her eyes and screams and runs out.....so yes she is more and more like her daddy...when I was little the first time i watched that movie i had to sleep with my older brother that night...and well for the week after. We will stick with the safe cartoons......

~Learning As I Go~
One-T

She wants to be like me

Wow three posts in one day. Maybe I should start working...ha

Anyway, Miss Ella wants to be like her daddy...she even wears my work hat around.....really people how cute is this kid....and she is going to be a big sister.....YIKES...

~Learning as I Go~

One-T

The heart break begins.....

As kids grow up they learn very fast at what they can and can not get away with. Even at the sweet young age of Miss Ella. But this one time...she was not being naughty like I thought. There have been a few times when we tell her not to do something and she will look you in the eye and get a sly little smile and do it as you are watching her, then smile really big and giggle...and of course daddy laughs and then it is all messed up.
So this week we were playing in the living room and having a great time. She took a book cover off one of her books and through it on the ground. I told her no (because she rips them) and said give it to daddy. She looks at me like what are you talking about? So i say it again a little firmer and she is still looking at me. And I think she is just being naughty because at times she is a stuborn (not sure where she gets that). So i say it again even more firm, and big tears swell up in her eyes....she is not crying yet, just has tears coming down her face and i can tell that she has no clue as to what i was saying to her. She wanted to do what i was saying but she didnt know what it was. So what happened was i was talking very firmly and she had no idea why. Here we were having a blast playing and then daddy becomes a big jerk face. And how I realized it was Crystal who is super mom came in and was saying "Babe...she has no clue what you are talking about...and you hurt her feelings" BROKE MY HEART when i saw her face. So I then picked her up and tried to explain to her....but of course she had no clue what i was saying and just put her head on my shoulder and sniffed......
KILLED ME.......
and this is just the beggining.
~Learning as I Go~
One-T

Why do they grow up.......?

So when people tell you to enjoy your kids they grow up fast, it is completely true. Mind you Miss Ella just turned one in Jan. But she was this little tiny little baby. She decided this week that she was going to start talking more. It is so amazing to watch them grow and start to figure things out. The other day Crystal and her were coloring in her Charlie Brown coloring book, (yeah she is just like her daddy) and she noticed Charlie Brown on one of the pages opened her mouth all excited like and ran to her room and brought out her Charlie Brown stuffed doll. She was all excited because she put it together. And then this weekend we were sitting and she starting saying George. Not sure at first if she was actually saying anything because she babbles NON STOP...but finally she went and got her Curious George book. So she is starting to say more and put things together. Blows my mind to think that she is the same little kid that was just born a year ago. God knows what he is doing when he makes babies. And now here we are trying to get ready for #2. Sometimes I have to ask God what the heck we are going to do, and he just reminds me..."Dude, I am in charge, just sit back and enjoy....." Which I think i am going to do......

~Learning As I Go~
One-T