We have caught Shinobi doing this multiple times in the past twelve hours:

We will be in a different room and walk into our bedroom to find him curled up in a ball on top of Jonathan's velvet mushroom ottoman thing (there are sentimental feelings attached to it, don't ask me). This new little trick is so ridiculously cute, to us at least, we just about die laughing. I have no idea why he started doing this!

He is almost two and a half years old and we really like this age. He has figured out ways to communicate with us and does it frequently. Last month we signed him up for his second year of visiting nursing homes as a therapy dog. We are taking him to Jane and Karl's house to play with his best buddies Lincoln and Scout on Sunday. He stayed with them while we were in Hawaii and I think it was the equivalent of a "Men's Retreat" for him because he returned to us much more dog-like. We are so glad to have him!

We had some friends from college visit us last weekend. The Bartletts and the Provenzolas were on a road trip to Disneyland and stayed with us Saturday and Sunday on their way back to Oregon. We took them to downtown Palo Alto, Fisherman's Wharf, and Alcatraz. It was a real treat to get to see them.

We have started a home group with some of our friends that meets on Thursday nights. We call ourselves The Thunderwolves. Who wouldn't want to be in a bible study with a title like that right?! We are learning about the Kingdom of God for the first couple months and intend to be outreach and service minded. It is so encouraging to have a good base of friends here who love the Lord.

I want to share one of my favorite old hymns, it has been rattling around in my head lately. Enjoy!

1. What a friend we have in Jesus,
   All our sins and griefs to bear!
   What a privilege to carry
   Everything to God in prayer!
   Oh, what peace we often forfeit,
   Oh, what needless pain we bear,
   All because we do not carry
   Everything to God in prayer!
2. Have we trials and temptations?
   Is there trouble anywhere?
   We should never be discouraged—
   Take it to the Lord in prayer.
   Can we find a friend so faithful,
   Who will all our sorrows share?
   Jesus knows our every weakness;
   Take it to the Lord in prayer.
3. Are we weak and heavy-laden,
   Cumbered with a load of care?
   Precious Savior, still our refuge—
   Take it to the Lord in prayer.
   Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
   Take it to the Lord in prayer!
   In His arms He’ll take and shield thee,
   Thou wilt find a solace there.
4. Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised
   Thou wilt all our burdens bear;
   May we ever, Lord, be bringing
   All to Thee in earnest prayer.
   Soon in glory bright, unclouded,
   There will be no need for prayer—
   Rapture, praise, and endless worship
   Will be our sweet portion there.

We visited Tim and Katie in Oahu for a week at the end of September. We rented a Jeep Wrangler with a soft top so we could cruise around and not be confined to tour buses. We went to a bunch of different beaches, each one so different, in the North, East, South and a little West. We hiked a volcanic crater, in a rain forest to a waterfall, and on a ridge overlooking the ocean. We snorkeled a little with turtles and pretty fish and surfed a little (though my arms gave out pretty quickly). And we did a day and a half in Waikiki looking at shops, gorgeous hotels and restaurants, beaches, sailboats, and surfers. One of our favorite areas was North Shore, it was a little more country bumpkin-esque with hard-core surfers, huge waves, street vendors, and roosters running around. It was nice staying with "civilians" and going to the grocery store, coffee shops, local restaurants, and to see how people live there. We spent all day Saturday and half of Sunday with Katie and Tim and then went to dinner or cooked dinner with them most of the nights. It was really good to see them. With the time difference we ended up waking up at about 7a each morning so we had really full days there.

We took a ton of photos of all the gorgeous scenery, but here are a few of our favorites.

 

O God, our help in ages past,
our hope for years to come,
our shelter from the stormy blast,
and our eternal home.

Under the shadow of thy throne,
still may we dwell secure;
sufficient is thine arm alone,
and our defense is sure.

Before the hills in order stood,
or earth received her frame,
from everlasting, thou art God,
to endless years the same.

A thousand ages, in thy sight,
are like an evening gone;
short as the watch that ends the night,
before the rising sun.

Time, like an ever rolling stream,
bears all who breathe away;
they fly forgotten, as a dream
dies at the opening day.

O God, our help in ages past,
our hope for years to come;
be thou our guide while life shall last,
and our eternal home.

- Isaac Watts

Nick and Stacey had their baby girl! She is so sweet and cute. We love getting to play with her all the time. Welcome to the world little lady!