yes!!  my accent has not changed despite years of repeated exposure to those who say “ruf” instead of “roof” and “pop” instead of “Coke”.  you say “tuh-MAH-toe” i say “tuh-MAY-toe”…  or, “tuh-mater without the ‘tuh'”. What American accent do you have? Your Result: The West Your accent is the lowest common denominator of American speech. Unless you’re a SoCal surfer, no one thinks you have an accent. And really, you may not even be from the West at all, you could easily be from Florida or one of those big Southern cities like Dallas or Atlanta. The Midland Boston North Central The Inland North Philadelphia The South The Northeast What…

from an attempted photo shoot at home today…   mikey             allie         note:  i said attempted because in all those shots, the kids were supposed to be looking at the camera.  imagine me, hot and sweaty from moving furniture around to set up the background, tired and grumpy from lack of sleep these days, frustrated and hollering, “LOOK OVER HERE AT MOMMY!” at two poor kids with boogery colds.  this is what i got 226 pictures later. 

click here for more advent poems (not all are about his wife! ).   For Noel On Our 25th Wedding Anniversary By John Piper December 19, 1993   I am a Christian Hedonist, Though there are some who still insist I drop the name. I do not bid, Much less demand, nor ever did, That anyone should follow me In wearing this strange badge. The key To joy and holiness is not In names or labels we have got, Nor is much truth or love assured By ranks and titles we’ve secured. But I do bid that all will come And drink with me the waters from The fountain of…

no, this is not about my own mother as there’s still a world of hurt there that i’d rather not dwell on. this morning i went to the moms group at church and came away so blessed and encouraged.  noel piper came and talked about what she learned from being her mother’s daughter.  i’ve never heard her give a message before and was curious to see what john piper’s wife was like.  she was great.  very matter-of-fact yet motherly in the sort of way that you wondered what it would be like to be wrapped up in her arms in a warm hug.  and it was so endearing to hear…

note to self:  take allie out to a mother-daughter tea when she’s older.  so fun.  i’m so glad i have a girl.