Here we go Stillers, here we go!
















Little Sibling lovin'














Theo's first rice dinner - "I want my milk!"
















There is nothing like this smile a bizillion times a day!

Boulder was delightful. I was overwhelmed by the mountains... they certainly are breath-taking. The time with my dear friends was so nourishing. We had such sweet times of sharing, tears and prayer. It truley was life giving.

Theo came home with a wheeze... I wonder if it was the change in temperature, altitude, or even moisture? It got bad. I thankfully have really happy wheezers. hmmm, thank you Lord? I think Isaac is on his way to getting the cold again too... UGH! Will this end?

Have I said lately that I LOVE my church? Sure, the pastor is hot, but wow... the people overwhelm me with their love for this city, for those that don't know the Lord, for college students, for young families. It has been really exciting to be a part of what the Lord's doing here.

I promise an update and some posted pictures REAL soon. Life is busy! Blessings dear friends...

Finally further west than Dallas...

Theo and I are heading out to Boulder, CO to visit with some dear, dear women in my life. I am looking forward to this opportunity to connect with Jennifer, Jane and Katie (& Owen) after too many years! We enjoyed and struggled through seminary together...

Isaac and Daddy will have some really good, intentional play-time!

Why is it so hard to even take a shower with two children? I'm not kidding... I have dreds!

I had mentioned in my book tag that the one book that I wish had been written would explore motherhood from a reformed perspective. I know it sounds drab, but seriously... I'm not sure enough books have been written about motherhood period! I yearn to be a better mother... I yearn to do the best I can to fulfill this role that the Lord as called me to. Does any one have a recommended read?

Isaac has his 5th cold of the summer. It's driving me batty. He is pretty darn sick - he has been asking to go to bed all morning & has already taken a good long nap. (It's 11:30am!!) He really is downright miserable and I feel SO badly for him.

I love my church. I love the people that I have the opportunity to worship with every Sunday evening. I was struck during the service last night that I look forward to that time of the week more than any other time!

Fantasy Football season BEGINS

Oh... the thrill of a new football season! We drafted last night and thanks to my dear and gorgeous husband, I can boast of a pretty rocking team.
QB M. Hasselbeck - Seahawks
WR S. Smith - Panthers
WR D. Branch - Patriots (unless he miraculously gets more money from someone else...)
WR K. Johnson - Cardinals
RB C. Williams - Tampa Bay
RB J. Jones - Dallas
TE H. Miller - Beloved Steeler
RB C. Brown - Tennessee
WR I. Bruce - St Louis
RB R. Dayne - Denveer
QB P. Rivers - San Diego
TE M. Lewis - Jacksonville
RB D. Staley - Beloved Steeler
K D. Akers - Eagles
DEF Pittsburgh Beloved Steeler

My weak spot - RBs...

We've beem humming the Monday night football theme song all week ;)

Don't ya'll wish you had a beer in your family? I've been tempted on numerous occasions to order a case of this (I'm sure FINE) brew. I meant to for Koerber family vacation!

Nancy, I shamefully didn't read this until just this morning (while in pursuit of that sermon mp3).... I must agree that my most frequent reads consist of the morning paper and Sandra Boyton (as well!), but here goes:

1. One book that changed your life: I have to go with the good ex-CCO staff answer - "Tranforming Vision" by Welsh and Middleton however, Nouwen's "Prodigal Son" comes in a close second.

2. One book that you’ve read more than once: "Jane Eyre" Charlotte Bronte -

3. One book you’d want on a desert island: The Bible

4. One book that made you laugh: "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson - I was embarrassed by how much I laughed out loud!

5. One book that made you cry: oh, probably some sappy Christian novel - I must confess that yes, I do read them sometimes. Francine Rivers is a good distraction...

6. One book that you wish had been written: something regarding motherhood from a reformed perspective. (I struggle with finding "purposefullness" and "rest" in being a mother often.)

7. One book that you wish had never been written: I think there is a slew of literature that should never have been written - you can usually find them on metal racks on paperback with half-nakedness all over the cover!

8. One book you’re currently reading: "the Case for Kids," Paul Tripp (I am actually watching the video series with Matt - does it count?)

9. One book you’ve been meaning to read: Matt's latest Jack Miller read regarding Evanglism. The name of the book escapes me.

10. Now tag five people: I don't know how to add links http://mmdemontaigne.blogspot.com/, http://aaronreinard.blogspot.com/, Gusmom (http://www.xanga.com/gusmom), oaksusu (http://www.xanga.com/oaksusu), and Jeana (http://www.xanga.com/jeanayah).

Momma and "Tee-oh" as Isaac would say.




Mommy and Isaac on the New England beach.



Isaac not enjoying his ride.... :(



Daddy and his boys...



I love my little men and their daddy...

Random musings...

The Beach

We just returned from a 2 week vacation: 1) three days in Cook Forest all by ourselves as a family 2) four days in Boston (to visit Mikey and Sharon K. - no Sunday, CityLife folk!) and final week in OC NJ at the BEACH! We had a lovely time - a very full vacation indeed. I'll have to post some pictures later.

History

Ten years ago, I spent the entire summer in OC (CCO beachproject) - I worked at SouthSeas shop on 8th Street (the Boardwalk). I enjoyed my time there. It is crazy surprising to me how much the owners care about our family. When there that summer - I would have never anticipated the longetivity of that relationship. I married into a family that spends their summer vacation there. The Millers have seen me through my Penn State years, married and now having children. They ask always of Matt's work and continue to be a part of my life. I am grateful for that relationship - what a treat it has been!

My Chunky Monkey

Yes, Theo is called our chunky monkey. The poor dude was born covered in hair (certainly something he has inherited from his father, heehee.) He has not outgrown that hair even still! Remnants remain on places better not mentioned.... but what a chunk this sweet child is! I love the gerth and am grateful for it. I can't believe how much this child has grown up. We have left newborn stage and are dealing with babydom. I love watching him grow and learn. He should be sitting up in a month or so...

Our SkinnyMinny

Not me, unfortunately. Isaac turns two next Thursday. WOW. I have loved watching him grow... and am enjoying this season immensely! He comes up with new phrases everyday and has learned many a new dance ;) He even tried to go peepee on the potty yesterday. I love this child. I love what he has added to my life.

Motherhood

I am still trying to figure this thing out. Wow, I love it but often feel like all I do is change diapers. How can I participate in growing the Kingdom by doing that?!?

the most recent. Are not they almost identical? Man, I love these kiddos.

ck

Floyd Landis... I'm really disappointed. Love, Chrissie K

A gentle reminder

An email from my husband to a woman we know. I think I was copied on it because he so dearly knows the nature of my heart... he knew I needed to hear this today.

As I was praying and reading the Word today I was cut to the heart by a passage in James. It was nothing that I did not know, but he was tracing our behavior back to our desires. He was talking about pride as the root of sinful behavior. My heart so quickly chills with true love towards God and I grow impatient and frusterated easily. I am reminded that I am an empty jar of clay and that I need God to refill me continually. Today I saw how easily pride leads to discontentment and restlessness. As I trace anxiety back to its roots I find the source lying in a prideful assumption that I deserve certain things. I deserve a certain lifestyle, a certain reputation. Rather than believing that God can care for me in all circumstances I am quick to believe that I need to have something in my life to be stable. When I succumb to that mindset, even the smallest things can steal my joy. I sometimes feel resentful as a pastor that I can't do my job unless my heart is right with God. That may seem silly, but I would rather think that I can control my own emotions and that I have a right to be grumpy or bitter. As I meditated on that this morning it occured to me that in reality none of us have the right to our own emotions. If we belong to Christ, we belong to him body and soul. None of us have a right to withold the fruit of the Spirit that God wants to see in his children. Gal 2:22 talks about the Spirit warring against sinful nature. The Spirit wants to produce "peace love joy patience kindness goodness faithfulness gentleness and self control." Our sinful nature would get in the way. Our main duty as Christians is to kill the sinful nature through the hard work of repentance. In practice for me that means following my sin back to the source. Why am I frusterated...? As I mentioned before, often the result is a prideful attempt to find my security in something other than God or a prideful attempt to think I am better than others and that I deserve to have certain things in my life.

I find Gal 2:22 to be such good news. Joy and peace and self control are fruit of the Spirit. We cannot produce them on our own by sheer will power, and we are not expected to. Rather through repentance (see Gal 5:24) we remove the barriers to the Spirit producing fruit in us. We also need to spend time dwelling in Christ (john 15). As we read his word and pray for his grace and participate in the life of the church, the Spirit does what we cannot do on our own. This is wonderfully good news. I always feel more frusterated when I know that I am bitter, yet I feel so unable to "make myself happy."

MK (aka huge fan of Jack Miller... )

I was tagged on xanga... www.xanga.com/ckoerber

CK's list of SIMPLE pleasures (in no particular order):

Theo's good morning smiles.
My husband's kiss to my forehead.
A clean house (a rarity these days).
An hour to myself to do whatever I please.
New piano music.
Chicken, french fries and choo choo's... (our weekly tradition of ChicFillet, a lawn chair right beside the tracks watching at least 4 trains pass! Isaac's latest obsession)
Isaac's obsessions.... he gets so excited about firetrucks and trains!
Our new church.
A good book.
The gospel - simple yet complicated and what a sweet pleasure!

CK

Being a pastor's wife now IS an odd thing. I spent 4 years in seminary expecting it to happen possibly when we were closer to 40. Never would either of us have imagined we'd be plopped into this role so "early" in life. I do not think, however, that we could have landed in a better, more forgiving and graceful community than the one we have.

So, both boys are asleep and I keep wondering from thing to thing that I yearn to do but can't when they are awake. I have started three emails for work, sat down and played our new piano, I have started cleaning up the kitchen and started typing in this blog. I can't focus on one thing... there is so much that I want to do with this precious hour of no children.

Isaac is bored with staying at home - but there is no other option! It is wicked hot outside and I just can't muster up the energy to get us out to some other place to play. He's been begging to go and play with his "ba-hee-ball -oop" otherwise known as the basketball hoop to older human beings. This child is Mr Sports Star. He can drop kick a football, kick his soccer ball in a net 10 feet away, make baskets w/ his basketball, hit baseballs and pitch like Curt Schilling! It is ridiculous what this child can do at almost two years. What a super star. Grandpa is proud.

Well, the boys are still asleep - I must get some work-work done. Is there anything wrong with hiring a maid to do my house so that I don't feel guilty about working w/ Advent?! How about if she only comes 2 times a month?

I have yet to listen to the whole sermon - but I heard it was good! Little Theo made his contribution to the beginning of it... http://www.cityreformed.org/Audio/2006-07-23.mp3

Isaiah 8:16-9:7 -- "After Darkness... Light"

How can I be a mom and not be completely infatuated with my children? They are such beautiful squirts.

Motherhood has been a difficult thing of late... My self-pitying parties seem to be more frequent... I often lose sight of tremendous calling that motherhood is and yearn impact the world differently. I hadn't expected my life to be ALL motherhood... just thought kids would be a "neat" additive to what I had already going on. I miss relationships as they were without children sometimes. I miss being able to completely focus on a person and who they were without constantly sniffing for the poopy diaper that is sure to cause a red bum if not caught right away. Many of the moms that have surrounded my life now have encouraged and reminded me frequently of this beautiful calling in life, of which I am VERY grateful. I need to be reminded which hurts my heart to type - as I should know and love every moment of this. It will not last forever!

Life is good to us. How underserving we are such tremendous amounts of grace and mercy demonstrated to these sinfilled beings!

Xanga dropout

I got roped in because all that I knew blogged on xanga. I rather this space... I've grown up ;)