Standing Man!

Aedan can now stand well!! He is so funny when we stands. I try and get him to walk to me, but he usually dives. He's taken just one step..once for me, and once for Ryan, but I don't think he knew what he was doing. He should be walking soon. Last night Ryan and I were telling Josiah that Aedan would be walking soon. Josiah's response was "no walk". I guess he doesn't want his baby brother to grow up. Aedan has been wanting big people food, too. He now eats cheerios, goldfish, bread, cheese, and sandwich meat. I also started to introduce whole milk to him some.

Judea Project 2008

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Acts 1:8

This past week was the Judea Project, a local missions week. It is the first part of the three year mission plan. Next summer is the Samaria Project, which is an out of state mission trip, and the summer following that will be the the EOE (ends of the earth) trip, which is an out of country mission trip. The project started on Sunday afternoon with a free car wash for the community. Other services and outreaches that we did were visiting church shut-ins, visiting nursing homes, door-to- door canvasing (with surveying) for pick-up games with children, working at the Cookeville Care center, giving goody bags to teachers (school starts this Monday...YIKES), cooking a meal at the Cookeville Rescue Mission, prayer, and a creative outreach where groups had to use money to minister to someone in someway.

The teenagers did a great job throughout the week. Several of them were able to share the Gospel with people. I was able to be involved some, but not as much as usual, or the last two times we did the Judea Project. I'm grateful to have been there some to experience the week with our students. The aspect of the week that stood out to me the most was on Tuesday when we went to a nursing home to find several of our church shut-ins (elderly whom cannot come to church). I had four students with me, and we went down to the bottom floor of the nursing home, where many patients are that have alzheimers. We found a couple of them, but they were sleeping. Then, a nurse pointed out a patient named, Annette, who we were supposed to visit with. Annette was in a wheelchair and was being pushed up and down the hallway by her husband. I began to talk with him, and I tried to address her, but he said she wouldn't respond to me. He goes to our Sunday night service, and spends Sunday mornings with Annette. I'm not sure if I have ever seen him before or not. Several times during our conversation, he would pat her head, and kiss it. He called her his "baby doll". It was such a beautiful picture of love and commitment. He said he had been to Annette for 27 years. He told us his first wife died, and that he met Annette about 6 years later. It was such an encouragement to see this man's love for his wife.

Well, this was the last week of summer here in Cookeville. Students go back on Monday. Guess it's time for Ryan and I to work on the fall schedule...here's a couple more pictures of our students from the week:

Look at these beautiful people!

O'Brien Family Reunion - July 7th-14th, 2008

The OBrien family reunion takes place every other summer at Folly Beach, SC. It is really the only time when everyone is together (other then maybe a wedding) . I was excited about this summer since Josiah would be able to enjoy the beach so much more then when he was seven months, two years ago. Below are some family pics:

Mama and the cousins!! Missing a few: Elizabeth (we missed you this summer:(, Caroline, and Ellie

Another cousin shot

Josiah was anti-picture taking all week. He refused to smile and look at the camara. Oh well, maybe next time. Thanks Francie Duffy for your patience!

Mama with Aedan (love this picture!!!!!)

Caroline, Mom, and I

Kim and Aedan


Cousins: Colin, Ellie, Craig, and Michael
More cousins: Emily, Molly, and John
Mama and Uncle Jerry

Josiah's first footprints in the sand

After leaving Clemson, we headed down to Charleston on Monday. We stopped in Columbia and had lunch with Ryan's parents at Cracker Barrell. The whole way down, Josiah was saying that he was hungry. I gave him all the snacks that I had for him: apple slices, gold fish, and bears. At lunch, he ate soooooooooo much!!! He must have been really hungry. I think he ate more then I did! After lunch, we headed down to North Charleston to visit with my dad. When we got there, Josiah had to go down for a nap. We had yummy pizza from Andolini's and played at the playground near my dad's after dinner. Around 6:30 or so, we headed out to Folly. It was great to see everyone when we got there. The cousins and Ryan and myself took Josiah out to the ocean as soon as we could. He looked so excited to see the beach. He was a little timid of the water at first, but ended up soaking wet!:) Here are some pictures of that night evening on the beach.

Josiah with cousins, Chris and Molly. Check out Josiah's smile!:)

Josiah getting his feet wet.

Ryan and Josiah

Here's Josiah soaking wet! (Bathtime)

On Tuesday, we began the day at the beach. Aedan really liked the beach a lot, and was quite fearless toward the waves. Josiah did well, too. He got knocked over a couple times by the waves, and didn't like that very much. (More pictures...)

Aedan's first look at the sand.

Aedan eating the sand!

Ryan and Aedan

Aedan loving the beach!!

Josiah like crawling with Aedan on the sand. Tuesday was a real fun day on the beach. As the week went on, the boys (especially Josiah) became more and more tired since they took shorter naps and woke up about an hour earlier then normal each morning.

Josiah jumping a wave!

Aedan with Chris and Molly...how sweet!

On Wednesday morning, we went down to the end of folly (at the park) and met up with my dad (aka Papa) to spend some time with him. Josiah acted real tired this morning, so he often wanted to just sit in the beach chair. Papa gave him his very own little water bottle, so he thought he was hot stuff! Here are some pictures on the beach with Papa.

Papa and Aedan!

Papa and Josiah

Josiah and Aedan playing on the blanket.

Ryan built a sand castle with Josiah and Aedan.

My dad put out a fishing line, and caught a fish. He had Josiah help him reel the fish in.

Josiah was afraid of the fish...check out his face!

Wednesday night was the O'Brien birthday party. There's a random type of gift exchange (that I won't try to explain. )

Here's Emily opening up her present.

Enjoying the party!

Josiah liked jumping off of Charlie and Fiona's bed onto Colin's mattress. He did this often throughout the week and also during the birthday party. (Thank you Arizona OB'S for sharing your room with Josiah...it was great entertainment for him. Colin, I hope he didn't get too much sand in your bed!)

Thursday and Friday were beach days! On Thursday night, we had a celebration for cousins, Craig and Ellie, whom just graduated high school. Craig will be going to Flordia in the fall, and Ellie will be going to Winthrop. I wish I had some pictures from this night...Ryan and I were upstairs with the boys during the opening of the presents. I didn't think Josiah could handle a "presents" atmosphere without getting one..haha! Congratulations, cousins!!

Josiah and Molly

Aedan: Future Boogie-boarder!

Josiah: Future Surfer???!!

They look like they're playing here and having a great time, but actually they are fighting over the board!! I was in the water riding waves...Ryan took this picture! Note: Josiah has his bag of apples! hahaha!

On Friday night, we took the boys back up to North Charleston to see my dad. We went to Chuck E Cheese. The boys did really well. Josiah was wild, but was MUCH better than last time we were there. He still doesn't like to ride things. He's more into the video games, and running all around (like into the kitchen..hahaha)! After dinner, we went to Target, Babies R Us, and Ross to shop for the boys. Papa got the boys their birthday presents for this year, and also some other things!

We left on Sunday morning as early as we could. It was a good thing because just past Knoxville I 40 was closed! We ended up on two different detours trying to get back to Cookeville. It took FOREVER! Our trip coming back was 12 hours (which included stops)! We were glad to be home after being in the car for so long! See everyone in 2010...