Update

Hi Everyone!

I've been keeping up with all my friend's blogs but have just not felt like blogging these past few weeks. Do you ever get like that? I get on....check to see if I have any new comments (always very exciting when there is one!)...and then the moment to write a new entry just...passes....right...by, to my delight at times.

We've been very busy. Two weekends ago we had several friends (21, including children) over for a full Seder meal and to dedicate Elle to the Lord. Mom surprised us by coming up and bringing my nieces, Macy and Abbi. It was a great time! Elle did amazingly well. John Hazlett, Nick and Mike Blake had special parts in the dedication, and our dear friend, Father Sam (Sammy), led the dedication. (Isn't that so cool!! Father Sam!!)

The dedication was so special. Gavin incorporated a prayer that I pray for the girls every morning, and other specific children in our lives, into the liturgy: that their hearts would long for and seek after His heart; their minds would long for and seek after His mind; and their spirits would long for and seek after His Spirit. Elle very sweetly took the salt of wisdom...and wanted more (that's a good sign, right?!:)) from Nick, the kiss of justice and compassion from Mike, and the oil of God's love from John.

This past weekend we had my dear cousin, Jason, his wife, Janet, and their two little ones, Anna and Ben with us for the weekend. We so enjoyed having them with us. Gavin and Jason are kindred spirits and I love Janet. It's a wonderful blessing being friends with my cousins in adulthood! We had a sweet time of hanging out, laughing a lot, enjoying the children playing together, Mojito's, wine, great food. We love slumber parties!!:) It's fun being able to put the kids down and stay up a few more hours hanging out.

We're off to NC this weekend to welcome Jenny home from her 11-month trip abroad!! I can't believe it's already been a year! We're SO excited to have Jenny back home with us! Yay!! We're throwing a big welcome home party for her on Saturday then bringing her back home with us on Sunday. I'll be sure to post some pics of her homecoming.

Lastly, I'm SO excited to tell you that my dear friend, Trish's book is out in store's tomorrow: He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not. I got my copy last week (advance order) and couldn't put it down. It's a great story about her journey and mishaps through love and faith. Whether you're single or married, you'll love this book. She's an amazing woman of faith, blessed with a husband that is equally amazing! Gavin and I love this couple and have been challenged and blessed by them for several years. It's funny, witty, insightful and a pure joy to read. I highly recommend this book for you and any girlfriends you know.

all my love, dear friends. I appreciate your friendship more than you know.

Dr. Soren Alexander

Introducing the newest member of the Long family! Here are some pictures from his fourth week of life, to his first days home, to time with Elle today.

He is a very sweet boy. We're having to work on the training...as with all puppies. The puppy stage is SUPER cute, but not super fun. I just walked around the front yard picking up all the poop (with a bag) and throwing it into the woods. I'm trying to train him to use the potty in the wooded area, not where we like to have picnics...:)

Right now he is an inside and outside dog. We have a little bed for him in the mudroom and a dog house outside...which he has yet to step paw in. He loves being outside but is getting more and more comfortable with being inside.

He loves the girls and they really love him, too. Eliot even cries for him whenever he goes out of her sight. Today he went with us to take Reece to dance, so on the way home he sat in her booster seat, right beside Elle. She kept wining randomly. I finally watched her in the rear view mirror and she would wimper anytime her hand was NOT in his mouth. She was fine as long as her hand was in his mouth, but the moment he turned his head she was not happy.

funny! I have always been a huge animal lover. There is a picture of me, around Elle's age, with my blanket (slept with it every night, walked around with it all day, kind of blanket) draped over our Golden Retriever at the time, Boone.

I'm very thankful for this little man! Though it may have been a little early to add another "toddler" to the mix, we're very thankful to have him.

Funny Conversation

The Pope visited D.C. yesterday. There was a big parade downtown which I believe 46,000 people attended....I just heard that from Nick. Anyway, this a hilarious conversation our friend, Renee, had with her two children as they prepared to go. Ellie is 5, Patrick is 3,and Flannery, our god-daughter, is two months old TODAY - but she didn't have much to say about the excursion, understandably:)

"My kids' perspective on the Pope's visit to DC 4/16/08

Me: Get your coats.
Ellie (5): Where are we going?
Me: We're going to the Pope's parade.
Patrick (3): The Poke?
Me: The Pope.
Patrick: The Pote.
Me: The Pope, with a P.
Ellie: The Pope has to pee!

giggles

Ellie: Mom
Me: Yes.
Ellie: Who is the Pope?
Me: He's the head of the Roman Catholic Church.

Silence

Ellie: He doesn't have a body?
Me: Of course he does honey.
Patrick: I'm going to catch some candy!
Me: It's not that type of parade, Buddy. The Pope doesn't throw candy.
Patrick: Because he doesn't have any arms?
Me: He has arms.
Ellie: Why are we going to see the Poke?
Me: Because the Pope is a very holy man.
Patrick: Oh, I'm a holy man!

Silence

Me: It'll be fun. The Pope rides in a funny car called the popemobile.
Patrick: The poopmobile!

more giggles

Me: The popemobile has an open seat in the back so we can see the Pope when he passes by.
Patrick: Mom?
Me: Yes
Patrick: The Pote has to ride in a car seat?
Me: Sort of. It's surrounded by a special glass that protects him.
Ellie: That's why he doesn't throw candy, Patrick. Because it would hit the glass!

You can't make this stuff up.
Renee"

Isn't that just awesome!! Here is the link for Sammy's blog, where he has a picture of the popemobile passing by.

More Soccer!

Reece had her first practice last week. I'm just now getting up pictures because it's been a crazy week. Gavin and Nick were gone all week, in LA, and we added a new family member: Dr. Soren Alexander! That's right! It's a boy!!! ....a boy puppy, that is:)

Reece did great at her practice. She loved going after the ball. They are not playing games, but learning how to play the game instead. It's great fun! We take our blanket and some snacks and hang out in the beautiful outdoors for an hour or so. Raegan and Reece both have practice on Monday's, so we'll be out for a few hours today - which will be great fun.

I'll post pics of Soren Alex soon. (Soren is from Soren Keirkegard - Gavin and I always wanted a golden by this name. Alexander is from Reece because he was her birthday present....Gavin added the Dr. part, of course!!:))

Soccer!

Raegan and Reece are playing soccer this spring. Neither of them have ever played before. We toss the ball around in the backyard, but Gavin nor I even know the rules, really - other than get the ball in the other guy's goal, don't touch the ball with your hands, stay in between the white lines....that's pretty much the extent of our soccer knowledge. (unlike our best friend's in NC - Scott's pretty much a superstar, and their beautiful children soon will be, as well!!:))

So, our first game was Saturday, also the first time Raegan would be on the field! (the first practice was rained out on Monday). I wasn't sure how she would handle it. We talked about it a lot in the days leading up to Saturday, and talked more on our way to the field. "This is just a time to have fun and kick the ball around. It doesn't matter who wins, or that you don't really know the rules, yet. Just get out there and have lots of fun!!" ...I hoped it would work.

You can see in the pictures she was a little shy at first (fingers in her mouth), but then shook it off, got out there and did a GREAT job! It was so much fun, all being there together, cheering her on. Yay! Raegan!

Reece starts today. She has practice on Monday's and Wednesday's - no games, just fun learning of the game of soccer. I'm so happy to be doing this and sharing it all together as a family. Our next few months of Saturday's are going to be occupied at soccer games (only one hour long), and I can't think of a better way to spend part of our weekend!

The Anti-Christ?!!

1 John 2:18
18 Dear children, the last hour is here. You have heard that the Antichrist is coming, and already many such antichrists have appeared. From this we know that the last hour has come. 19 These people left our churches, but they never really belonged with us; otherwise they would have stayed with us. When they left, it proved that they did not belong with us.

20 But you are not like that, for the Holy One has given you his Spirit, and all of you know the truth. 21 So I am writing to you not because you don’t know the truth but because you know the difference between truth and lies. 22 And who is a liar? Anyone who says that Jesus is not the Christ. Anyone who denies the Father and the Son is an antichrist. 23 Anyone who denies the Son doesn’t have the Father, either. But anyone who confesses the Son has the Father also.

--------------------------------------
So the latest trash that is being circulated over the internet suggests that Obama could be the anti-Christ. .....okay, people! Because the identity of the anti-Christ is still a mystery to us, it is an easy target to stir up fear among evangelicals. Fear mongering is the opposite of what the Gospel does. Don't get me wrong. It's not that I think we shouldn't be asking these questions? I think there is always room, and it is healthy and necessary, to question! Sadly, many are not even stopping to question when they get these pieces of trash in their inbox. We MUST be educated. We must check facts; check sources; check policies. Don't take anything at face value!

I'll be brief....because I can be.

"Whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also". NIV says "Who is the liar", referring to the anti-Christ, "It is the man who denies that Jesus is the Christ."
Barack Obama has spoken openly and often about the moment he gave his life over to Jesus, asking him to be his Lord and Savior. He has "confessed the Son" and therefore, "has the Father also" - making it impossible for him to be the anti-Christ.

Here is a link to one of the many times he has professed Jesus as his Savior and Lord. (a primary source)

Also, again, the link for the Ekklesia article, an evangelical Christian think-tank out of Cambridge, England, which also speaks to the validity of his Christian faith. (a secondary source)

Lastly, here is a link to CNN Election center which highlights each candidates proposals on various issues. It also gives you excerpts of speeches from the candidates speaking about each issue.

Here's to being educated voters!!!!
much love,
em

Obama: Muslim or Christian?

Throughout this campaign much has been done to try to slander Barack Obama, including accusing him of really being a Muslim instead of a Christian, as he has said in many occasions. Though the Rev. Wright controversy kind of put his "choice of faith" to rest (proving he was actively involved in a Christian church for 20+ years), I was still really encouraged by the following article. I know this "Muslim vs. Christian" issue will most likely come up again in the general election - especially from shady news organizations like Fox news.

Ekklesia is a Christian think-tank out Cambridge, England (interesting that they are writing about Obama in England). This is an excerpt of a recent article they published. You can go here to check out the full article.


"...Obama is also clear about the practical difference that his faith makes. “I believe in the example that Jesus set by feeding the hungry and healing the sick and always prioritizing the least of these over the powerful….Accepting Jesus Christ in my life has been a powerful guide for my conduct and my values and my ideals.”

Whether or not we would agree with all the conclusions Obama reaches as he applies his faith to his life, it seems certain that the man has an authentic relationship with Jesus. Of course, we could be cynical about all this, thinking that his protestations of faith are merely to win over the electorate. However, the Rev Jim Wallis, a leading US evangelical, writes “I have known Barack Obama for more than 10 years, and we have been talking about his Christian faith for a decade.”

Whatever we think of him as a possible future President, we should always stand against lies that are spread about any candidate. So, despite the reports, Obama is not a Muslim. He is a follower of Jesus, and one that makes clear that faith must make a difference to life. Amen to that!"

Organizing Fellowship

Emily --

I want to tell you about one of the most exciting projects of this campaign. It's called the Obama Organizing Fellowship.

When I was a young man, I was inspired by the Civil Rights Movement and the idea of people working at a grassroots level to bring about change.

I got my chance on the South Side of Chicago, as a community organizer, and it was the transformative experience of my career.

It allowed me to put my values to work and to see that real change comes not from the top-down, but from the bottom-up, when ordinary people come together around a common purpose.

The experience changed the course of my life -- and I want to share that kind of opportunity with you.

That's why we're introducing a program that's going to train a new generation of leaders -- not only to help us win this election, but to help strengthen our democracy in communities across the country.

If you apply and are selected, you'll be trained in the basic organizing principles that this campaign and our movement for change are built on. You will be assigned to a community where you'll organize supporters. Assignments will begin in June, and you'll be required to work a minimum of six weeks over the summer.

This program is designed to give you real world organizing experience that will have a concrete impact on this election.

Apply to be an Obama Organizing Fellow and put progressive values to work in the real world:

http://my.barackobama.com/fellows

If you can't take the time away from work or your family that's required for the fellowship program, you can still get involved.

*Reach out to someone you know who may be interested in this program, and let them know we could use their help:
http://my.barackobama.com/fellowsinvite

*House an Organizing Fellow -- If you have a spare room, you can help by offering housing to an Organizing Fellow near their training or near their eventual assignment. We haven't set locations for all of the trainings and assignments, but if you sign up, our staff will be in touch as the campaign grows:
http://my.barackobama.com/fellowshousing

*Support this program by making a donation to this campaign:
https://donate.barackobama.com/fellowsdonate

Being a community organizer wasn't easy, but it was the most valuable education I ever received. It taught me that together, ordinary people can do extraordinary things.

Organizing changed my life, and I hope it changes yours.

Thanks,

Barack Obama
-----------------
We've signed up to offer housing to any fellows that need it. I thought many of you might like the opportunity to help out, also.

This is the kind of leadership I look forward to when Obama becomes President. It's completely different than what we've always known and it is causing real action and real results, from real people....the fruit of these efforts remains to be seen, but I'm looking forward to seeing it!!:)

Easter!

We had a wonderful Easter! I hope you all did. Easter is my favorite holiday, next to Christmas. It's such a powerful time in history and for our faith. This year was especially wonderful. We had all the usual things: decorating Easter eggs, Easter egg hunts, a little bit of chocolate, new Easter dresses, etc. But this year we had an extra special blessing of becoming God-parents to our sweet Flannery Agnus Wood!

I loved going to mass (Episcopal) on the Saturday night before Easter . We started outside in the dark, representing the darkness of the tomb and of the womb. Once the Paschal candle was lit, everyone passed the light to each other before entering the sanctuary. The entire first half of the mass is in darkness only lit by the candles you're holding in your hands. During this time, among other things, we are led to renew our baptism (which is so cool, by the way!) This is also the time when new baptisms take place.

We had the great honor of standing next to Renee as Sammy baptized his daughter, Flannery, for his first baptism! (He was ordained as a priest in the Anglican church this past December) He was filled with emotion, as were we all, as he poured the water over her sweet little head. It was such a blessing, and honor, to be apart of this sacred ceremony.

(I'm leaving out a lot of really good stuff - this is just the reader's digest version:))

The second half (which looks like a normal mass) begins with a jolting, loud, and ominous sound from the organ - signifying the resurrection!! The lights come up and celebration begins! (this is where I think the charismatic choir should enter from the back, with tambourines and dancing in the isles, making their way up to the front and lead us all in a big sing along, celebrating and worshiping our risen Lord!!....but that's just me:))

It was so incredibly meaningful! I really enjoyed it! I hope we'll be able to do this every Easter.

By the way, Easter Saturday is the ONLY Saturday that we don't celebrate Sabbath - there is no rest, but sorrow and mourning. On Sunday, however, we celebrate Jesus as the Great Victor who conquered death! We make it a really big celebration!!! It's lots of fun! This is usually when we do our Seder meal, but because Easter is so much earlier this year (a month between Easter and Passover...?) we're going to have our Seder meal on Passover weekend. So we kind of get two Easters this year:)

He is risen! He is risen, indeed! He is risen! Hallelujah!!