Christ the King

Yesterday went to Christ the King Church in Oxford.

Pretty good, nothing radical, nothing different. Similar in a lot of ways to what we were doing at Washington but double the people, and their facility, well not their meeting space for worship but their property in general was amazing. They sit on a lake, and every other Sunday in the summer they hold their services outdoors. Maybe we will check them out on one of those days. Often members or attenders will bring a picnic lunch and stay after church to swim or picnic and play ball or just plain old fellowhip. A few friends joined us and we hit Red Knapps in Oxford for lunch afterwards it was special. Good food , food friends and good fellowship.

Here is a link to check them out yourself. www.ctkc-oxford.org

The Da Vinci Code

I myself just finished reading "The Da Vinci Code" and can see why Christians would have a hard time with it BUT it is just a novel. I enjoyed it as a story. Just that a story, made up.... From the begining to the end but; decide for yourself; do not decide unless you read it, many people will make decisions based on what other people will tell them with out reading the book for themselves, this is a no-no. You can not be informed unless you do your research. I had no interest in reading this book until the movie was getting ready to be released and all the TALK began so I thought I better read for myself what all the huh-ub was about, so I did. Now it won't be on my top ten books I read this year but it was a good story, fast paced, kept me guessing......The following is more information to help you in your quest for"The Da Vinci Code"

Popular interest in recent major movies with positive spiritual themes (such as "The Passion of the Christ," "The Chronicles of Narnia," and "End of the Spear") has created opportunities that some churches are using for evangelistic discussion starters with seekers and unchurched moviegoers.

"The Da Vinci Code," a new release coming in May 2006 with a decidedly negative message challenging the divinity of Christ and the reliability of the Scriptures, doubtless will generate many spiritual questions and conversations also.

"Preparing for Da Vinci" is a free, downloadable program guide created by Wesleyan pastor and best-selling author James Garlow to equip believers with reasonable responses for their friends and acquaintances about issues raised by The Da Vinci Code. The Wesleyan Church Board of General Superintendents commends "Preparing for Da Vinci" as a practical tool that will be helpful to local church leaders who choose to confront head on the errors and the impact of this movie's false teachings.

Click here to download the free program guide. Related books by Dr. Jim Garlow: Cracking Da Vinci's Code or The Da Vinci CodeBreaker. For additional evangelism and outreach resources, go to or call Wesleyan Publishing House sales at 800-493-7539.

Spring Soccer

Every Saturday we generally can be found at
the soccer field. Today was not exception.
With Zach and Aaron on the same team this year
we only have 3 games instead of 4. Our U-14 team
won 11-2, Zach scored 6 , Aaron had 1.














While their big brothers played on the soccer
field, Noah and Micah played behind the bleachers.
their friend Matthew Torres was with them
and I was able to catch this picture.














Aaron and Zach had some great team plays today.
I think they are finally getting the hang of how to
play together. It only took about 10 years of soccer.















So good as a matter of fact they even gave each
other some slaps.....Now that is saying something!















Noah had a good game too! They won 3-2 and
Noah had 1 point! He played keeper some as well
and is really excelling in that area. You should
see him kick the ball back. What a foot!















Not to be out done by his big brothers Micah
scored 1 point today as well. His team won 2-0.
He is one of the youngest on his team, so he was
pretty pumped to score in his first game of the
spring season.

These Shoes are made for .......Running

Brand new track shoes......Sure to make you
runner faster, true to his word he cut
10 seconds off his fastest time and came in
second place, in his event.















Zach is in the 4th lane from the inside, Go Zach!





















All the fans came to cheer him on.
Jason was there and Craig Davidson,
even Mr Randy Hall.















Zach and Luke Paraventi. Did they pose for
this picture on their own? Of course not!
Jason had to bribe them each with a dollar.
(But hey! They are smiling)
In the end, I think he left with out handing
over the buck, maybe he knew what he was
doing after all.
Luke was running the 2 mile, and he looked good.
Zach ran the 70, the 200 and the 800.
Malow lost the meet by 1 point.
Not bad for a first timer.
















At the end of their events they gather on the
field usually for a drink and a breather until
the next event; all in all not bad for a days work.
Tommorrow we are on the soccer field

South of the Border

What is a trek up and down the East Coast
with out a stop at "South of the Border"?

We are on our final leg and are scheduled
to arrive home tomorrow in time for a few
of the boys to go to soccer practice and Zach
to get to track practice. What a week we have
had.

Matt is scheduled to preach at "New Life"
the church in La Plata, Maryland for their
weekend services this coming weekend.
One service Saturday night and three on Sunday.....
we will be leaving again on Friday; this time flying
out when the boys leave for school and returning
on Sunday evening sometime. We will try to post pictures
of the church and the area while we are away, we will be
meeting with a realtor Saturday morning to get an idea
of housing. It seems to be a rather expensive area
so we need to see if we can afford to live there. Having
never owned our own home this a new venture for us.

Well the younger boys are swimming at the hotel pool while
Zach and I watch "24" then we will call it a night.

Magic Kingdom

Matt and Joelle















The Galows for Aaron and Noah
It was raining but it did not stop the fun......















Micah's 1st roller coaster was Space Mountian!
He did great! After that we could not hold him
back.
















Chip and Dale, who is who? Look closely,
their eyes and teeth are different.......
















main street at night, with Walt and Mickey.

Think about it,
It all started with a mouse!















Minnie (yes, I made them get this one taken!)















Gepetto and Pinnochio















The mice from Cinderella?
Do they have names?

Animal Kingdom

Goofy















Micah




















In front of the Tree of Life




















Flick
















Joelle builds her own Mrs. Potatoe Head
yes! that is a camera in her hand.................
















Mickey




















We all rode Expediton Everest!
The tallest coaster in the Kingdom!

Horizons Harbour

Our Marriott vacation club villa poolside

Universal Studios & Islands of Adventure

Matt's sister Ruth and her husband John OR
to the boys Uncle John and Aunt Ruthie live in
Jacksonville,Florida. On our way we stopped
and met them for lunch at a Mexican restaurant
that served authentic Mexican food! Good choice.
Once our bellies were fool and we had a nice
(but all to short) visit we were back on the road,
we still had another two hours to go to Orlando.




















City walk between Universal and Islands
of Adventure had the NBA store and restaurant.
It also had this big guy in front of it so mom
HAD to take a picture































































Some one ate his spinach.......

Washington, D.C.

Zach sitting in front of the Potomac river.

















A view of the Thomas Jefferson Memorial.















The Cherry Blossom trees are in full bloom.















Since we have lived in Michigan there are 2 new
memorials. This one is the WWII memorial.

It is absolutely astounding.
















The boys in front of the white House.
The President was home today.
(notice the flag on the top of the house is at full mast)
When the flag is up the president is home,
when it is down he is away from home.















Micahs first visit to the Vietnam Memorial.
After being told what this memorial was for
he responded y saying,
"they must have been pretty special."

Made me teary eyed........




















after climbing the stairs and fighting
the crowds we made it to the Lincoln Memorial.

You know it is SPRING when.......