Feast Your Eyes Upon This

Soak up for yourself some of this Justice-y goodness, compliments of my friend Stacy.

What We're Doing

Well, things are moving right along here. Josh just started his fourth semester of seminary... we are already half-way done and on the downward slope! It's crazy!! Sometimes I feel like we've been here for forever but most of the time it feels like Josh just started not that long ago.

The rest of us are keeping busy as well. Howie spends most of his days reading books, playing with trains, saying hilarious things that make us laugh, smothering Justice with hugs and kisses (sometimes literally), etc. Here are some funny things he's said lately.

Me: Howie, do you want to pray for lunch?
Howie: Dear God, thank you for God. Amen.

Me: Howie, do you want to pray for lunch?
Howie: No, Betsy pray.

Howie (following a period of time in which Justice was quite unhappy): He just won't calm down.

It's so funny to see him growing and changing. The other day just the two of us were at the grocery store, and he calmly informed me that we needed peanut butter, practically his favorite thing on the planet... and he was right! Today he told me that we needed to go get some lotion at Target!?!?! At least once a day I ask him, "Howie, where did you learn that???" With the fun definitely comes parenting challenges, but that forces us to seek the Lord's wisdom, so that's a good thing.

Justice is also busy growing and changing. He's almost 5 months already!! Hard to believe!! I've tried to feed him cereal a couple of times, and it's been a resounding flop. Definitely not ready, though it's funny to see him chew on the spoon and let all the cereal fall out of his mouth. He is very ticklish and loves to be played with. He's starting to interact with Howie more and not just get a concerned look on his face when the crazy little guy gets in his space. He loves all things Mama and is a joy.

I am also busy, between taking care of the kids, laundry, cooking, cleaning, shopping, attempting to exercise once every six months, Bible study, dishes, etc. I'm learning how to knit thanks to my aunt Martha, which is really fun!!! I've always wanted to knit. I'm also reading a book called Choosing Gratitude by Nancy Leigh DeMoss, and it has been so good. I've realized in the past few weeks how quick I am to complain and feel sorry for myself when Josh has to study a lot or when Howie has a bad day or when the kitchen looks like it threw up dishes or when Justice has a bad night and I don't sleep very much, etc. I'm learning that I don't need to put on a happy face all the time and act like things are great, but the overall theme of my life should be gratitude to God for all he has done in my life, which overflows into joyful living. Instead of complaining and griping and giving way to bitterness and resentment (Josh didn't notice that I cleaned the toilet AGAIN!!!), I can choose to live with a grateful spirit, thanking God for his many blessings in my life and even the circumstances I'm not crazy about because they bring me closer to him. It's definitely a book I recommend!!

Here's some pics to let you know what we're up to.

Justice, lounging on the couch with his lambie, taking it all in.

How bout that HAIR??

Howie playing outside on a slightly more tolerable cold day. It's just so nice to see the sun I think we were all fooled into thinking it was nicer outside. He came in with some seriously cold hands, but at least he got some nice fresh air. He also got a kick out of stomping on some ice that was on the deck.

Is this guy cute or what??

This is very typical of Howie these days... no, I didn't require him to stand in the corner for being naughty... this is what he did when I said I wanted to take his picture.

Justice with a mini horse on his tummy, given to him by Howie in case he wanted to play

How Howie passes many mornings

Walking in Mama's slippers

Proud Owners of This Blog

Yawn... a little on the lame side...

Now THAT'S BETTER!!!!

Fanfare, Please... The Camera Lives

Friends, the day that I went out to buy a camera my old one decided that it wanted to work again. Must have felt the imminent threat to its job security and decided to shape up lest it be shipped out. These pics are all from this fall and winter... a bit old but good nonetheless.





Josh and I had a blast at the seminary Christmas Banquet in December. We spent the evening with our wonderful neighbors Mike and Trish. And of course many sweaty seminarians on the dance floor.

We had a crazy fun date night with awesome friends Bryan and Lisa. Ending at FroYo is always a good idea... where else can you combine everything decadent in one cup??? frozen yogurt, cheesecake pieces, cookie dough, oreos, butterfingers, heath bars... need I go on???

Howie giving in to total mesmerization in the airport on the way to Nana and Bible Bill's for Thanksgiving. We are now those parents who buy our child a movie on iTunes in hopes for a quiet wait at the gate. It worked for a few minutes.

Howie shows off his Halloween loot. Don't be deceived- by the next day he had actually forgotten about it and I ate it. HA!

Howie and one of his BFFs Mya. She is the funniest girl, seriously.

Attempted self-portrait... Laura, Rachael, me, and Caroline's one eye!!

Look at these little cuties in their Halloween outfits!! Too cute!!

Howie and Mya, ready to hit the streets for candy

Justice... basically too cute for words.

Just Silly Cute

Look at these pics and tell me he's not the cutest ever.

Living It Up in the Lou

These pics were all taken on my phone, which is why they're a bit fuzzy. Our camera issues persist.

Here it is... the inaugural bath of the brothers. Howie had a blast, but as you can see, Justice had a bit more to worry about.

Already 4 months today! It's gone so fast!! Justice is still sporting his awesome mohawk, which he has had all along and we hope continues well into childhood.

This is Justice's bedtime apparel... he looks a bit like a Michelin baby every night with all those clothes on to ward off the cold.

The other morning we awoke to find that Howie had climbed into the crib with Justice and turned the mobile on for Justice's entertainment. He's never been much of a climber, but I guess that's all changing!! We've since had to lower the crib mattress so Howie can't get back in, and now Justice has to use a telescope to look at his mobile.


Howie is going through a very funny time... I often hear him singing songs kind of under his breath and whispering to himself. Today in the car he was singing, and it took me a while to catch what the song was... finally I heard, "... but I'm in the Lord's arsmy." He had heard that song from Grandma some time ago and that was the first time I'd ever heard him sing it. HA! Remember that old Sunday School song?

Arrogant and Foolish: The Colts Blow Their Shot at History

(A special op-ed by Josh Desch, who never blogs anymore, so it must be a big deal).

I remember watching the New England Patriots in 2007 with disgust. As the Colts archrival, I already loathed them with all my being. Nonetheless, that loathing went to new level in 2007. First came Spygate, and the realization that the Dark Side had been cheating all along. Then came the way they played that year. They kept playing at 100% every quarter. They ran up the score. The Patriots became the first team in the modern 16 game schedule to have a perfect regular season, and if it wasn't for what is perhaps the greatest catch in football history, the Patriots would have won the Superbowl and become the first 19-0 team in the history of the NFL.

I'm here to admit that there was something I do admire about that 2007 Patriots team. I have always viewed Bill Belichick as an Evil Genius, but a football genius nonetheless. Bill realized back in 2007 what everybody – except Colts GM Bill Polian and Coach Jim Caldwell – and realize today: that in sports, ESPECIALLY in the NFL, momentum is everything. The Patriots understood that, and so they kept winning. They even played the most entertaining week 17 NFL game that has ever been played, against the eventual Superbowl Champion Giants. If you remember, that game was supposed to be on NFL network, but because of the Patriots historic run, it was put on national TV. Whether you loved or hated (like me and Betsy . . . did I mention Betsy?) the Patriots, you realized something monumental was happening. Earlier in the season when the Pats almost lost to the Ravens, I almost had an aneurysm when Rex Ryan called a timeout from the sidelines a milisecond before the Ravens stopped the Patriots on fourth down, which would have won the game.

My point is, aside from running up the score is a few games, the Pats played the game like it is meant to be played. They never lost their momentum, and with all the pressure in the world on their shoulders – and none on those of the lowly Giants – they almost pulled it off.

Now we come to my beloved Colts. First, let me say that I think that Peyton Manning is the greatest quarterback in NFL history. Let me also say, and it actually hurts me to write this, that if he had Bill Bilichick as his coach I believe he would have already won 4 Superbowls instead of 1. Anyway, Peyton is not only the most gifted athlete to ever play quarterback, he is also the smartest. They guy just doesn't get hurt. He has never missed a start in the NFL. The chances of him getting hurt are very small, as he has played over a decade in this league and Never Missed a Start! Yet the Colts showed their true colors this past Sunday. Even after the gave all of us fans such hope as we watched them comeback against the Jaguars the previous week despite resting some of their starters.

I contend that the Colts decision was both arrogant and foolish. I still wan them to win the Superbowl with all my heart. In fact, if they win the Superbowl, that won't change my opinion at all, because then I (and many others) will simply think: “See, they could have been the only 19-0 team in NFL history!!” And can I get an amen that the 1972 Dolphins are most annoying group of former pro athletes alive today. My mother's Bunco group could have given them a run for their money in 1972. The game has changed a ton since then. Anyway, Colts going 19-0 would have been like Luke Skywalker going undefeated: Everyone would have loved it. The Pats going 19-0 would have been like Darth Vader going undefeated: You hated him, but you had to respect him.

First, its arrogant. It completely disrespects the game of football. It also send the message, “We're too good for history. We're better than that.” Indianapolis Star sports writer Bob Kravitz wrote:

“They tossed perfection away like a Christmas leftover. They treated it with a casual shrug of the shoulders, disdain even, as if they were beyond such a trivial pursuit. Standing on the precipice of NFL history, the Indianapolis Colts' brain trust arrogantly, foolishly, treated Sunday's second half like a preseason game.” CNNSI writer Don Banks wrote, “I hated the way the Colts played it against New York, and there's something inherently wrong about not trying your best to win the game in that situation, with an undefeated season on the line.” Peter King, another CNNSI writer, said, “But whether players voice their feelings or not, guys like Manning and Reggie Wayne want to leave their footprints in the game forever. And you'll never be able to convince me they don't care about 16-0.” Even Jim Caldwell's mother said, “I didn't raise my boy to lay down like like a bed sheet that just got ironed!” Okay, she didn't really say that. But I bet she thought it.

Second, its foolish. It flies in the face of modern sports history, especially the Colts own history. In 2005 and 2007 the Colts did this exact same thing, and lost their first playoff game. The one year the Colts did win the Superbowl, in 2006, they were a Wild Card team and had to win 4 straight playoff games. In other words, they got hot at the right time: like the the 2005 Superbowl Champion Steelers, who were also a Wild Card. Like the 2007 Giants, who were a Wild Card. The 2008 Cardinals were 9-7 and yet made it to the Superbowl. I'm not saying I don't want the Colts to get the buy in the first round, but in today's NFL, you've got to realize the importance of momentum. In my opinion, the gap between the best teams and the really good teams has narrowed to the point that a team can't think that home-field advantage amounts to much anymore.

If I was the Colts coach last week. I would have left Peyton in the entire game. If he gets hurt, then so be it. He might also get hurt walking his dog around the neighborhood. Let me repeat. He has never missed a start. You've got to be willing to take some chances in football, as in life. Then I would go to Buffalo this week and let Peyton throw at least 3 touchdown passes before I pulled him. As one of my favorite writes, Joe Posnanski, said about the Colts loss, “When I saw Peyton Manning stewing on the sideline while the Colts' undefeated season was flushed away, it FELT wrong. Because, I guess, at the end of the day, if you're not trying to be perfect... what are you trying to be?” Well, even though Luke Skywalker is not going to go undefeated, I and every other self respecting Colts fan in the universe is not going to satisfied if the Colts don't win the Superbowl. And if they lose in the playoffs, even in the Superbowl, I think we can legitimately ask, “what if they had played hard the whole season, and kept their momentum? Then what would have happened?”

Two must read articles on this are Bob Kravitz, “By Pulling Manning, Colts Forsake Chance at Perfection” and Joe Posnanski, “Colts Decision to Rest Starters May Cost them More than Perfection.”