Little camper

Lily was given a little toddler tent by a friend this past week. She loves to put her dolls down to bed in it, and lay down next to them. We're pretty sure she'd sleep overnight in this thing, though we haven't tried that yet...

Bubble bath

Here are two cute picture of Lily in the bubble bath, at 21 months old...


The creature from the bubbly lagoon!

Lily at 20 months

Here are a couple of pictures of Lily at 20 months old doing some of her favorite things -- swinging on the swings at the park, and eating oatmeal...

Lily is going to be a big sister

Here is Lily's reaction to the news that she is going to be a big sister, if God wills, come July...

Valentine's Day

Here are the two loves of my life on Valentine's Day...

Lily and Isaac

Lily's friend Isaac was born a month before her. She sees him at church on Sunday, and sometimes during the week on playdates. They're obviously friends...

In Loving Memory of Midi Mikasa and her son Nathan

I have been grieving since the morning of January 2, when I received news of the death of two members of our church plant here in Long Beach. Mark and Midi Mikasa, and their 4 year old twin boys Nathan and Lucas were returning home from a family gathering on January 1 when their vehicle was struck by a pickup truck that had run a red light. Midi died at the scene, and Nathan died of his injuries at the hospital early in the morning on January 2. Mark and Lucas were hospitalized for several days but have since been released and are recovering at home.

Both Mark and Midi have been very dear friends of mine for 15 years, ever since college days at UCLA. Mark and I lived on the same dorm floor in 1992. He began attending the dorm Bible study I was leading, and became a follower of Jesus. Midi also was a member of our campus fellowship at the time. She is respected and admired by all who knew her as a woman of exceptional kindness, compassion, humility, care for others, and sensitivity.

Mark and Midi were founding members of our church plant in Long Beach and have played a very active role in the life and ministry of the church. We miss Midi and Nathan immensely and are heartbroken for Mark and Lucas.

Last Sunday morning we had our first church service since the accident. Mark, Lucas, and their families joined us as we remembered Midi and Nathan, and took comfort and hope from the truth that they live forever in unspeakable joy in the presence of God, and will greet each of us on that great day in the Kingdom of God.

Please pray for Mark, Lucas, their family, and our church. We've lost two members of our family. We trust that in the sovereignty of God even this will work for all of our eternal good. But it is obviously severe and painful nonetheless.

A trust fund for little Lucas Mikasa has been set up, as well as memorial fund for Midi and Nathan that will help with funeral expenses. Please allow me to invite and encourage you to send a financial gift for one or both of these funds in honor of Midi and Nathan. If you would like to make a contribution, all the information you need is here: http://www.folcov.org/mikasas/

Above is a picture of Midi reading to some of the children in our church: her twin boys, Lily, and Joy Teter. (Her son Nathan is sitting between Midi and Lily. Lucas is on the other side of Midi.)

Thank you for your prayers for us.

In sorrow and hope,

David