Park Time

This last Saturday we went to a park in Santa Barbara...the kids had a blast, as they got to play and spend time with my family that was in town this last weekend.

Jeremiah is growing fast, faster than we want sometimes. He is becoming his own little man and we have officially classified him as the strong-willed child. Maybe on one of these post Holly can write up a few stories, they never cease to amaze me. However, he is an awesome kid, always up for an adventure!

Baptisms in Isla Vista

This last Sunday we baptized 3 young men in the Pacific Ocean right after the Sunday gathering...it was such a joyful celebration of the work of Jesus in taking our old life on the cross and giving us new life in His resurrection!

"We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life." (Rom 6:4)

Testimonies of New Life in Jesus

I love watching this video as it reminds me of what Jesus is doing in Isla Vista, not to mention I love hearing & seeing Jesus change lives in a radical ways as He did with my life in 2001.

This video was done by the campus ministry Real Life, also known as Campus Crusade for Christ. Both our home and the Del Playa ministry house was used in this video.

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=539845240664&ref=mf

"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)

365 Faces 365 Days

This super sweet gal named Courtney visited the church Sunday for a class assignment at UCSB and she documented her experience on a website she created this year:

http://365faces365days.com/c/2010/face-39-jason-the-joyful-gift-of-giving/

Interview on live TV about IV, IVC, family, & life

In mid-December I was asked to do a live interview on TV for a show called Fishers of Men.

In was an honor and privilege to be able to share about some of the things that God is doing in Isla Vista and His church.

http://blip.tv/file/3055119

A Special Visit from Friends

Last August, we went to Family Camp and God brought into our lives a very special blessing in the cabin next door to ours...a family with four little girls almost the same ages as our kids, with more similarities to us than we have even realized so far!  When we said goodbye to them after a sweet two days of wonderful bonding, we invited them to come visit us in Santa Barbara, and they said in a very genuine way that they would really try to do so.  This last weekend, that became a reality!

Cory & Becky Jo, and their four daughters Cora Lee (5 1/2), Adri Ann (4 1/2), Katie Jo (3), & Anna Mae (11 mo.) arrived on Friday afternoon and we took them on a tour of Isla Vista, showed them the DP  Houses, and then went on an adventure on the beach.  It was so beautiful out and we had so much fun.

After a fun dinner together, we got all 7 of the kids ready for bed, and Jason read the older ones the Bible, and they all had a fun slumber party in the kids' room together while we got to have such an encouraging time fellowshipping with Cory and Becky Jo.

The next day was Samuel's birthday, and after a blueberry pancake breakfast & opening a few presents, we set off for a hike at Ellwood, and even got to enjoy seeing some of the Monarch butterflies.  Samuel LOVED having the girls here and has become very good friends with them, especially Cora Lee.  He said several times over the two days how she was his best friend!

Later that afternoon we enjoyed Samuel's raw blueberry "cheesecake" (thanks Lindsay!) and everyone loved it.  We then ate dinner together again, got the kids ready for bed and had to say bye as they headed back home to the Palm Springs area.  

We were so thankful for the blessing of that time together.  All of the kids loved it so much and we are just so thankful that God has given us friends that are in such a similar place in life as us, are so like-minded and love the Lord so much.