BMW, Ink.

New Blog Address

noreply@blogger.com (Blake and Melody W) — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 01:39:00 +0000

We've just transferred our blog to a new hosting service.

blakeandmelody.wordpress.com

Click on the link to see our newest post.

Thanks for following!

Friday Photos

noreply@blogger.com (Blake and Melody W) — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 04:22:00 +0000

Birthday Week Fun

noreply@blogger.com (Blake and Melody W) — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 13:37:00 +0000

Anniversary Celebration

noreply@blogger.com (Blake and Melody W) — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:38:00 +0000

Blake and I enjoyed an anniversary celebration in Duluth on Sunday night. He made arrangements for the boys and the hotel and suprised me with a very welcome get-away! It was great weather and a lot of fun to return to our engangement spot on Minnesota Point. How grateful we are for these years the Lord has granted to us to sojourn together.

Baby Dance Video and Other Clips

noreply@blogger.com (Blake and Melody W) — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 22:59:00 +0000

A couple of recent fun videos for your enjoyment:

Jamin Crawls

noreply@blogger.com (Blake and Melody W) — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 03:39:00 +0000

About a week ago, Jamin did this amazing feat.

Fall Day on the Bluff

noreply@blogger.com (Blake and Melody W) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 04:42:00 +0000

Had the opportunity for a gorgeous hike in the beauty of what God has made in MN autumn. Last weekend we climbed to the top of Barn Bluff that rises almost straight up from Main St. in Red Wing, MN.

Loving the Fall Weather!

noreply@blogger.com (Blake and Melody W) — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 23:43:00 +0000

First "Big People" Meal for the Little People

noreply@blogger.com (Blake and Melody W) — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 02:48:00 +0000

It was a moderate success with regard to ingested food, and a whole lot of fun to watch!!

Five Months Old!

noreply@blogger.com (Blake and Melody W) — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 17:28:00 +0000

The boys just recently passed their 5-month old b-day!

Wrestling Match

noreply@blogger.com (Blake and Melody W) — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 03:13:00 +0000

The boys had their first WWF session caught on tape recently. Dad was NOT the instigator. Hard to tell who won the match, but a good time was had by all.

Summer Pics

noreply@blogger.com (Blake and Melody W) — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 20:19:00 +0000

Here are a few recent pics of the growing boys. At four months old, Ira and Jamin are weighing in at 15 lbs and 15 lbs 4 oz. They are smiling, squealing, and laughing; grabbing their toes, kicking, flapping, and rolling over. We praise God for their physical health and their generally peaceful, happy temperments.

Can you guess who is whom? It's tricky with hats on!

Juxtaposition (sometimes) of Emotions

noreply@blogger.com (Blake and Melody W) — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 18:50:00 +0000

A few recent fun photos of the boys:

At Great Grandpa and Grandma's

Airing Out

Time for a Swing? Uh.. maybe not

Memorial Day Remembrance

noreply@blogger.com (Blake and Melody W) — Tue, 26 May 2009 03:32:00 +0000

My grandparents took me to a moving Memorial Day service three years ago. This poem was inspired as I watched a handful of veterans stand up for a few moments to be honored, my grandfather included, and as I meditated on those who endured and those who did not.

For a moment you stand; we give you praise
For how you’ve served us in your days
And on this day we remember you
Though most of us have not a clue

Together we honor those who died
Guarding fierce the pilgrim’s pride
Some willing, some not, and most afraid
Of how high could be the price they’d pay

Grandpas, brothers, even sisters, mothers
Giving lives on behalf of others
Lives spent on the fields of war
Some not knowing what the fight was for

How many of you are now amiss?
You whose graves we bow and kiss
We know your fight was not in vain
Yet we can’t measure the cost in pain

I recall the words of a teacher well
When he stared at us and said “war is hell”
As a boy enthralled with Grandpa’s tales
I didn’t know all that they entailed

Bullets, bombs, and blades that killed
And blood of many guiltless spilled
The toll not only those who were slain
But cost in grief for those who remain…

The songs are sung, the flags are raised
Heroes alive and dead are praised
The guns are fired in the air
And we honor you with a prayer:

God, don’t forget the tears that flow
Every time the bugle blows
And don’t neglect those who wince
At the firing squad’s remembrance

Help us to consider well
Those who mourn and those who fell
And to remember that the life we live
Came by sacrifice we did not give

-B

Two Years Ago Today

noreply@blogger.com (Blake and Melody W) — Tue, 19 May 2009 18:09:00 +0000

Two years ago today Blake asked me out on our first date. I knew it was coming for a bit; and frankly, I was rather terrified. It was my first official, on-purpose date ever. Knowing that he was going to invite me into an intentional relationship challenged my faith in the Lord as never before.

You see, I'm not the average Christian girl who would be simply thrilled to have a guy like Blake express interest. His pursuit required me to trust God with my heart in a whole new way. And it was the Lord I feared. I was learning about His soveriegnty in suffering, and I knew He had no obligation to keep me from pain. I knew that the Scriptures tell us we are called to suffer for His sake, and I knew this was a glorious Gospel call. I was soberly ready to walk it...as long it was on my own terms.

But during the months previous, the Lord had been dismantling these terms and gently stripping my heart of pride and unbelief. He had prepared me for this step of obedience. So it was over a delicious Indian curry dinner and with many tears that I awkwardly accepted Blake's invitation.

What an incredible two years have passed. During that first summer, through lots of spiritual and emotional growth, I became convinced that I wanted to be at this man's side for the rest of my earthly pilgrimage. Blake proposed in October on Minnesota Point in Duluth. (A story that makes the girls say "aww" and guys say "ugh".) A week later I went overseas for two months with an internship team of college students. Two months after that, we were married. Eight days after our first anniversary, we were holding our beautiful twin boys!

"This is the Lord's doing and it is marvelous in our eyes."

Life lessons from these two years:

Unbelief is clinging to your own inadequacy instead of Christ's sufficiency
Jesus mediates all pain and pleasure to our hearts well.
Walking by "faith in future grace" means trusting God can make you what you are not yet. Let Him govern your becoming.
The Fear of the Lord is a trembling within His safe embrace; it's not a feeble attempt to keep Him at a "safe" arm's length.
Being obedient is vastly better than merely being "safe".

Pretense-Free Expressions

noreply@blogger.com (Blake and Melody W) — Sat, 16 May 2009 01:30:00 +0000

One of the very enjoyable things about baby personalities is that there is no pretense in their expressions -- what you see is how they're feeling.

Here are a few of our recent favourites:

"It's not fair when you tickle us, Mommy!!"

"We're gonna go for another walk??"

"I can't believe you just said that!!"

Can't Wait To Start Playing Legos Again

noreply@blogger.com (Blake and Melody W) — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 19:43:00 +0000

My brother Alexander and I actually made a Millenium Falcon out of legos on our own when we were younger. I think ours was just as cool. Plus, this one costs $500.

-B

The Brothas Hanging Out At Home

noreply@blogger.com (Blake and Melody W) — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 04:15:00 +0000

Can you tell them apart?

For His joy to become our joy

noreply@blogger.com (Blake and Melody W) — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 02:54:00 +0000

Tonight we read through the last discourse of Jesus with His disciples, as recorded in John chapters 13 - 17. How incredible to have a seat at the table with Jesus to hear the last words on His heart before going to the cross.

Some observations:

The joy that was to come

"these things I have spoken.. that my joy may be in you" (15:11)
"your sorrow will turn into joy" (16:20)
"no one will take your joy from you" (16:22)
"ask and you will receive, that your joy may be full" (16:24)
"that they [disciples] may have My joy fulfilled in themselves" (17:13)

Our friend Jason recently reflected on Hebrews 12:1-2, and the joy that was set before Jesus as he endured the cross. John 13 - 17, shows that Jesus wants His joy to be the joy of them that follow Him. His sorrow on the cross was turned to joy, that His joy might be ours!

BMW, Ink.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 22:07:00 +0000

Why BMW, Ink.?

BMW is not actually for the car manufacturer... though we would maybe consider trading the minivan (truck) for one...

BMW for the initials of our first names and last
Ink. because we have been incorporated by God into covenant with one another and with Him
Ink. as this is a place where we will jot down some of our thoughts and perspectives of life and faith
Ink. does not mean only words but will also include pictures!

We have slowly moved toward the world of the blog, and with the encouragement of a few friends we are stepping into it... albeit still a bit hesitantly. Maybe you can help us.

Two Precious Gifts

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 01:18:00 +0000

Jamin and Ira

Ira Edmund

Jamin Gilbert

Jamin and Ira