Halloween Drama

We are battling nasty colds/fevers here in the Moser household.  Isa was the first victim on Wednesday and then Sam came down with it yesterday and he has been miserable.  Benjamin was the last to drop and went to bed feeling crummy.  Isa has bounced back rather quickly but Samuel threw up twice today and can't kick his fever.  So, he lasted about two minutes in his costume.  I felt cruel even putting it on him when he was so hot and miserable.  Isa refused to put her costume on for awhile.  "Isa, don't you want to be a zebra?" Her reply, "NO!"  After some convincing (okay bribing) she put it on.  Benjamin has been in his monkey costume for days and has waited months to knock on his neighbors doors and get candy.  Yet, two minutes before we headed out the door he started sobbing and said he didn't want to go because he was scared.  We reassured him that he did not have to go and he could stay back with Nana but our neighbors are very nice.  After a good cry, he was out the door and pumped.  He sweetly greeted every neighbor, took his candy, said, "Thank you, neighbor!", and then told me that the neighbor had given him candy as a present.  Benjamin was done long before Isa because he started feeling worse and went to bed with a fever as soon as we got home.  Pray for healing over this house!

Papa and Nana are here!

Aargh!

Poor Sam.  He couldn't even sit up for a picture.  I hate when kiddos are sick.  

Cool earring, Papa. 

Darling little animals.

Love the mohawk.

Oh yeah...you REALLY love the mohawk. 

Suspect: A notorious zebra from the region of Latin America.   

The gang

He didn't need the umbrella for long.  It only rained for about one minute and then turned into a perfect evening.  

The Jungle Animals (plus a chicken)

Anybody home? 

[Donate to the Moser family's mission in Vancouver! Click HERE to give online.]

"Pumpkin Patch"

We spent the morning at a pumpkin patch with our friends Ken, Brittney, and Grey.  (Okay, truth be told, we just went to the huge market beside the pumpkin patch because we didn't want to pay $10 admission per person to go inside the pumpkin patch.  We're cheap.  The kids were clueless.  We said we were going to a pumpkin patch and the market had pumpkins so they didn't know the difference.  Crisis averted.)

[Donate to the Moser family's mission in Vancouver! Click HERE to give online.]

Growing Too Fast

All Samuel wants to do these days is stand.  He is getting so steady.  (Will we be able to handle three mobile children?)

There is nothing 'baby' about Isa anymore.  It's weird to look at her and see this growing, changing, talking little girl.  We never had much time with her as an infant so it just seems crazy that she is already such a little lady.  
Sweet profile.  
The kids have gotten so much mail lately. (Thank you to everyone who keeps blessing our kids!)  Benjamin keeps all the postcards and cards.  Yesterday I came in his room and he was lining them all up across the floor admiring them.  
[Donate to the Moser family's mission in Vancouver! Click HERE to give online.]

Monster Post

Making Pizza from drewandbekah on Vimeo.

Our beautiful little girl.  She is becoming quite the little lady.  Here she is waiting and excited to help make pizza for the first time.  We were slightly concerned since she is a little crazy and the pan and crust are about 500 degrees when they come out of the oven for toppings.  But she was a fantastic listener and was very calm and careful.  

Benjamin did great with letting Isa have a turn for every step.  Funny how long it takes to make dinner when you add two little helpers. 

Drew and I were completely exhausted Friday night.  Can't remember the last time I've felt that worn out.  Here is Drew snuggling with Benjamin and trying to stay awake.  We went to bed at 9:00 and woke up at 8:00!  I think it's been 3 and a half years (since Benjamin was born) since we slept that long.  Yeah Saturdays!  Yeah kids sleeping in!

Benjamin loves his stuffed animals (he is my child).  He has given them all super special names as well.  Six months ago he just started throwing out the most random, made up names for his animals.  Every time he would name one I would think to myself, "Well, he's never going to remember that."  But he does and he says them enough that now Drew and I know them all to.  There's Ina the little monkey, Ping-cooks the bear (Ina's mom), Baba the monkey (Ina's dad), Gimme the lion, Ketchup-a-go the frog (Gimme's mom), Eechy the big frog, and of course Mickey Mouse.  The pig he is holding in this photo is Isa's and Benjamin asks Isa all of the time what her name is.  Can't wait to find out someday.

Samuel's new favorite thing to do is pull Drew's leg hair.  'Just a little bit further...'

Sam is planning his escape.  Seems sturdy enough.

What do you do when it rains everyday?  Go to the library.  You can park under the library and not get wet!  Woohoo.  I like it.  

[Donate to the Moser family's mission in Vancouver! Click HERE to give online.]

You know what's sad...

...when you are really excited to get 'dressed up' (okay so khakis, a sweater, and a necklace might not be dressing up to some people) and feel like you are going out on a date even though your 7 month old son is going with you and you are meeting a friend who's in town for dinner.  We don't get out much. :)  We were treated this night to a fabulous dinner on English bay and a delicious latte with the most amazing latte art (It's the little things that make my day) you have ever seen.  I forgot our camera so no other photos from our evening out.  

What is Love?

We had our weekly common meal last night.  We split between two homes for a little less craziness.  We all sat down (at one table!) to enjoy a wonderful meal, our friend Aaron blessed the food, we all said, 'Amen', and then out of left field Benjamin in the most serious of tones asked, 'What is love?'  It was quiet for a moment as we all pondered that.  Aaron said, 'Good question, mate. (Aaron is from New Zealand)  What do you think love is?'  Benjamin replied, 'My love mama and daddy.'  Aaron responds, 'That's love, mate.'  

I have been thinking about that moment since it happened.  I am just struck by the great responsibility Drew and I have to show our kids what love is.  In no way is the love we show our kids perfect because we are not perfect, but we have the responsibility to set the foundation for knowing what healthy, nurturing, godly love is.  Not only do our children observe how we love them, but they also are drinking in how we love others.  They don't miss anything.  Humbling.  Heavy.  Lord, help us love well.  

"God is love.  This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.  This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.  Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another."  1 John 4:8-11

[Donate to the Moser family's mission in Vancouver! Click HERE to give online.]

Happy Thanksgiving!

Today was Canadian Thanksgiving so we celebrated by going to the United States. :)  Thank you Geoff and Anne (yet again) for your hospitality.  You guys are amazing.  The kids were all sitting in this chair when they woke up this morning so of course I wanted to get a picture of them because they looked so darn cute.  Isa actually smiled for these pictures which is a rare thing these days.  (Not that she's not happy, she just doesn't feel like humoring her mama by smiling for the camera.)  Benjamin gets his love for the mornings from me.  [sense the sarcasm] Samuel most definitely takes after his daddy and is pleasant even early in the AM.  

[Donate to the Moser family's mission in Vancouver! Click HERE to give online.]

Samurai

[Donate to the Moser family's mission in Vancouver! Click HERE to give online.]

Benjamin is Protesting Winter

The weather here has turned much cooler (though we have still had some sunny days, praise the Lord God Almighty!) and Benjamin is in total denial that winter is coming.  He had an utter meltdown about two weeks ago because I told him that he needed to wear jeans or sweatpants because it was cold outside.  His sobbing response, "NO WANT to go to winter, mama!!!"  After that ridiculous battle to get pants on him, the next day I decided it wasn't worth the fight and made him a deal that he could wear shorts as long as he wore a sweater or sweatshirt.  He was okay with that.  He tells me every morning, "No like pants mama because they touch my feet."  Huh?

Samuel was excited about joining his brother and sister for morning cartoons. 
Benjamin is very tactile...always rubbing our ear lobes, arms, hands, etc.  Isa hates it and screams when he does it to her.  (Her skin is incredibly soft and squishy so it's very tempting for poor Benjamin.)  Benjamin has realized that Samuel will tolerate his need for physical touch. We're thinking this is Benjamin's love language.

Benjamin holding Sam's squishy little hand.  

Isa was not into the camera this morning.  
Benjamin was very proud of the outfit he picked out this morning.  I thought he looked like a golfer.  

In Christ Alone and Prayer Request

Most days I have a really annoying Wiggles song playing over and over again in my head but usually on Sundays I am thankful and blessed to have songs that are a little more precious flowing out of mouth throughout the day.  Songs that bring hope and peace and joy and life.  We sang this hymn in church this morning and it was one of those moments when I couldn't sing it loud enough and my eyes welled up with tears.  After a long week and a lot of moments where I felt like such a failure as a wife and a mom, this song brought much needed life and healing to my soul.  Truly, He is my light, my strength, my song.  Here in the love, death and power of Christ I stand.  I am the beloved of Christ.  You are the beloved of Christ.  Amazing.

In Christ alone my hope is found;
He is my light, my strength, my song;
This cornerstone, this solid ground,
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My comforter, my all in all—
Here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone, Who took on flesh,
Fullness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness,
Scorned by the ones He came to save.
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied;
For ev'ry sin on Him was laid—
Here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay,
Light of the world by darkness slain;
Then bursting forth in glorious day,
Up from the grave He rose again!
And as He stands in victory,
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me;
For I am His and He is mine—
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death—
This is the pow'r of Christ in me;
From life's first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.
No pow'r of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home—
Here in the pow'r of Christ I'll stand.

***Prayer Request:  My brother (my kids' beloved Uncle Matt) starts his second round of chemo tomorrow.  Please pray that the Lord would be a shield of protection and joy around Matt and Julie.  That he would keep Matt healthy and strong and pray for minimal side effects over the next 6 months. 

Big Boy!

Samuel has been sitting really well for about a week. (He started sitting right after I realized he is almost 7 months and I had yet to try to sit him up on his own.  Sweet, content, neglected little Sam.)  For those of you (Nana) who are wondering about the red spot on his forehead, he is always scraping his head against the mesh on the pack and play.  I'm hoping it doesn't leave a permanent scar because it never seems to go away.  If it's not red, it's brown and looks like a birthmark.  Hmmmm, maybe it's time we put him in a crib.  


Samuel is sitting from drewandbekah on Vimeo.

Benjamin and Eloisa Sharing

I was doing dishes and I looked over because I heard Benjamin say to Isa, "You want some Isa?!" (Isa always finishes her meals a good 20 minutes before Benjamin) and of course she answered, "Yeah!" like she does to any question that he asks her because she adores him.  Well, I had to get the camera when I realized that they were sharing cream cheese.  Mmmmm.  At what age do you start becoming grossed out by that?


Sharing. Yum? from drewandbekah on Vimeo.

A Day in the Life of the Moser's: Friday

9-Noon--Conversation

Friday mornings are designated for either a theology conversation or a 'check-in' (depending on the week). For our theology conversations, we usually look at a portion of Stanley Grenz's book, Theology for the Community of God. A 'check-in' time is where everyone in the community gets about 5 minutes to let everyone know how they're doing. It's a time to share so that the community better knows how to love, support, and pray for one another. 

Noon-1:30--Coaching [Bekah]

Fridays are also Bekah's coaching days. She meets with her coach, Amber, for lunch to talk, share, and enjoy a meal without kids tugging on her arms and legs. 

1:30-?--Misc.

Friday afternoons are technically 'free' for us, which means we don't have anything officially scheduled. However, this time always gets filled with something [reading, preparing, errands, laundry, grocery shopping, etc.]. This is also a good time for us to connect with donors, call friends/family, etc. 

[Donate to the Moser family's mission in Vancouver! Click HERE to give online.]

A Day in the Life of the Moser's: Thursday

9-10 AM--Bible Study

In addition to always reading a book together, we're always reading through Scripture together. Every week, our director's husband, Aaron, leads our Bible study. Aaron's a hilarious Kiwi (aka from New Zealand) with a passion for scripture. 

10-Noon--Worship

We also worship together every week. One week it will be in our meeting space. The next week we join the Jacob's Well community [a ministry among the residents of the Downtown Eastside] and worship with them. These times have become some of our favorite; there's something powerful about worshipping together as a community. 

1-5 PM--Radio Station Cafe [Drew]

After worship, we head home, eat lunch, and Bekah stays with the kids during naptime. Well, for Ben, it's 'quiet time'. He's too old and mature for baby things like naps now. I spend the afternoon at the Radio Station Cafe, building relationships and having conversations with the customers and workers. 

5:30-8:00 PM Common Meal

On Thursdays we also have our 2nd common meal of the week. Each residence takes a turn hosting and preparing the meal. It's always fun to see what's on the menu each week!  We have been so blessed by these common meals together and feel like it is something today's church should do more often.  There is something beautiful about gathering around the table together. It is Christ that binds us all together. 

[Donate to the Moser family's mission in Vancouver! Click HERE to give online.]

A Day in the Life of the Moser's: Wednesday

[Check out our Monday schedule and our Tuesday schedule if you missed it...]

9-10am--Book Discussion

We're always reading a book together. Past books we've finished: Life Together, by Bonhoeffer; What is Your God Language?, by Perrine; Submerge, by Hayes; Spiritual Direction, by Nouwen. We are now starting Simply Christian by Wright. Each apprentice and staff member takes turns facilitating the discussion.

10-12:30pm--Conversation

Our conversations are extended teaching and learning times where we dive into missions, theology, or what it means to serve as a community together. A staff member leads this; these conversations usually offer a lively discussion as we have a very diverse group of believers here at NieuCommunities. 

12:30-1pm--Simple Meal

From our conversation, we walk to our community garden and have a simple meal. A simple meal is...well...pretty simple. Just bring something from your fridge or cupboard and see what all shows up. We say a quick prayer and have a short meal before getting our hands dirty in the garden. 

1-4pm--Gardening

NieuCommunities turned a rotting lot of land here in our neighborhood into a neighborhood garden. The produce harvested goes to one of our local homeless ministries. But the unexpected blessing from the garden is that it gives us a chance to work in the neighborhood and interact with people in the community who are passing by. As winter approaches, our gardening time will shift to another group service/ministry project. We'll all look forward to Spring, giving us another time during the week to get outside and get a little dirty. 

4-5pm--Coaching (Drew)

Each apprentice is paired with a staff member for weekly (or 2x/month in Bekah's case) coaching. My 'coach' is Deric, and we meet weekly. Deric helps me process through our experiences here at NieuCommunities, and offers any support I need. It's been a real blessing to have this, as so much of our time in NieuCommunities is all together in one big group. 

[Donate to the Moser family's mission in Vancouver! Click HERE to give online.]

A Day in the Life of the Moser's: Tuesday

[Continuing our series of posts on what a 'typical' day looks like for our family. You can read Monday's HERE.]

8:30-11:30 AM--Little Nest Cafe [Family]

Tuesdays are reserved for our ministry involvements. One of the things Bekah and I started praying/thinking about shortly after we landed here in Vancouver was a way to do ministry as a family. As you can imagine, there aren't a lot of options for a family with 3 kids 3 and under. But we stumbled upon this amazing cafe in our neighborhood called The Little Nest. It's a 'play cafe'; a new concept springing up all over the place. The entire cafe is geared toward young families. In other words, "Bring your kids. We encourage it. Let 'em tear all over the place."

So we decided to go once a week and let Ben and Isa play in their play area while we had some coffee and a muffin (their food is incredible), and try to meet some of the families in the neighborhood. It's a great point of connection.  We're in our 3rd week and we're beginning to know/notice a regular Tuesday morning crowd. This also happens to be one of Bekah's favorite places in the entire world (not kidding); her business mind is already working on how and where to start a Little Nest of her own. 

12:30-5:30PM Radio Station Cafe [Drew]

Tuesday afternoons are a time for me [Drew] to spend time at the Radio Station Cafe. There couldn't be a wider gap of difference between the Little Nest and the Radio Station Cafe. This coffee shop is located in the heart of the Downtown Eastside [A neighborhood I reflected on in more detail HERE], and seeks to serve the best cup of coffee in the world in one of the worst neighborhoods in the world. I lend my expertise as a barista, and offer any assistance in helping the management try to come up with creative ideas to help the shop bring in a profit. The cafe is currently subsidized by another non-profit in the area, and their goal is to be self-sufficient. It's a lofty goal, considering most of the clientele is on welfare and most of their welfare check goes to rent and drugs. 

While it limps along financially, it's a beautiful oasis in the middle of a concrete desert. It's become evident very quickly that the residents of the Downtown Eastside are craving a 'home away from home'; a nice cafe where they are welcomed, not shooed away. It's a place where we try to convey dignity and respect to all who come through the door (drug addicts, prostitutes, drug dealers, etc.) and build relationships with them. I don't have pictures of the cafe yet because picture taking in the Downtown Eastside is one of those things you do ONLY when you've truly earned the respect of the residents, which takes a LOT of time.

[Donate to the Moser family's mission in Vancouver! Click HERE to give online.]