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Today our sweet Louisa turns ONE! She may be the littlest of our Frederick brood, but she’s easily the most tenacious. More than that, her smile is infectious and joy is her default setting... oh, and she has the cutest little dimples I’ve ever seen! Lou, this first year being your dad has been an absolute joy. You are a treasure to our family and I consider it one of my greatest privileges to help you become all God designed you to be. I love you baby girl, happy birthday. https://www.instagram.com/p/CGD3X4zjxA8/?igshid=1raoj103sx4oa

🎉🎁🎉 Happy Birthday to this girl! Selena, you care for our family well, you love me selflessly, you work diligently, and you write faithfully. I love the way you think, I love how you laugh, I admire how you raise and instruct our girls, and I revere the way you fight for truth. I find everything about you delightful, you’re God’s most obvious blessing in my life, and I just flat out love you. Haply birthday! (Today you can have a one hour nap -OR- watch one hour of television. You are welcome.) https://www.instagram.com/p/CB5lDOhDUmP/?igshid=1ba2neuiapkhm

We had a great hike to Franklin Falls for Father’s Day this year! What a joy it is to be their dad (plus Lou, of course... but she was passed out on Mama’s back). (at Franklin Falls Trail) https://www.instagram.com/p/CBuALRmDQns/?igshid=1ruunl92a8xms

Beach days are the best days. https://www.instagram.com/p/CBpM0Ayj8RK/?igshid=inm2s3ww9ezr

Words fail to express the joys of being their dad. Not the dog, he’s a rapscallion. https://www.instagram.com/p/CBXUibvjdCA/?igshid=r8ld7s386odr

Got some hammock time with the littlest daughter today. Louisa is such a joy! She is such a smiley, happy, snuggly baby. I love being a girl dad. 💪🏻 https://www.instagram.com/p/CBFOFAGD1va/?igshid=p7a60099a3vo

I climbed a mountain yesterday! I did it as part of a monthly rhythm where I get away, unplug, stay offline, and meet with God. It was a sweet, simple time of quiet solitude and thought. God met me in small ways as I prayed, thought, and interacted with other climbers on the route. I left at 3am and didn’t get home until after 8pm. When I finally got on my phone and checked IG, everyone was posting black squares. It took only a few seconds to see why and catch the statement folks were making. What is happening in the US is disorienting. I spent most of my climb yesterday processing through the complexities of it all. I prayed that God would help me see things wisely, humbly, and with an open heart. I’d like to say I came off that mountain with a clear solution or succinct articulation of all that is happening and how to move forward. I didn’t. I came off the mountain with a heavy pack, sore legs, and a light heart. But how can I have light heart with all that’s going on? Does having a light heart mean not feeling or lamenting the sorrows and pains of others? I don’t think so. The only reason I can have a light heart is because the same God who created and sustains mountains is the God who created and sustains each person and nation. He alone. We can stand with others in solidarity—and we should, battling each injustice they experience—but we can’t bear the weight of heart change. That is God’s business. Governments and laws should protect, and reform must happen when they don’t. Everyone agrees on this. The question is how. (This is where it’d be nice to have an answer, sorry.) I believe America is an incredible, imperfect nation and I am thankful to call it home. I just pray that God changes hearts. America groans for the Kingdom without the King. It will never happen. May more citizens turn to Jesus and trust him as a result of all of this. Then, we’ll begin seeing true justice become the norm. “But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.” Heb 3:13–14 (at Mount St Helens Summit) https://www.instagram.com/p/CA-2_D3DTmg/?igshid=1mzkqchzev1y0

She is unquestionably the greatest blessing in all of our lives. We see God’s faithfulness in you, Sel! We know His love, we experience His patience, we feel His touch, and we hear His wisdom... all because of the mom and woman you are. We love you!! https://www.instagram.com/p/CAA1qetDXTY/?igshid=1ur996or9wi8y

Over the last four weeks, I’ve taken to jogging (pronounced *yogging*). I found this trail near our house recently and I can’t wait to explore it. Honestly, I don’t enjoy running, but I’ve come to appreciate it lately for a number of reasons. Mainly, it clears my head and makes my mind sharper. I’ve noticed an increase in my ability to comprehend and recall books much better (as one example), and think much more linearly... which is always a struggle for me. Second, running seemingly slows time down, which is good and bad, I guess. Thirty minutes seems like an eternity sometimes, but it gives me time to think and reflect that I’d otherwise fill with nonsense. I’ve come to appreciate that. Finally, it gives me a chance to pray (if I’m alone and one of the girls isn’t riding their bike alongside me). It’s hard to fill the “prayer air” with words and thoughts when you’re struggling up an incline, so it gives me a better chance of listening to the Holy Spirit as He speaks, encourages, convicts, and reminds my heart of His deepest truths. So, I hope this new hobby(?) sticks around! Though I wouldn’t say I enjoy it, I’d definitely say I enjoy the fruit it bears in my life (because actually getting “fit” from running doesn’t seem like a hopeful proposition at this point!!) 😂 https://www.instagram.com/p/B_iDFBODUKd/?igshid=xa30hqbeytor

That face when you get to hold a physical copy of your book for the first time while also holding the baby that was conceived, carried, and birthed while you wrote it... it’s a good, good day! Selena will agree... birthing a book isn’t terribly unlike birthing a child. It’s a labor of love that starts out pretty (very) fun... then there’s an extended period of discomfort followed by a big push, and finally you get to hold the fruit of your labor in your hands. It’s hard to take it all in, and you know that one day, your baby will have to learn to live out in the world on its own. Baby Louisa is many years from having to fend for herself, but our latest book gets released into the wild in just a few weeks. We are nervous, excited, a little anxious, and filled with anticipation for what God might do with this particular labor of love. Despite the uncertainty of the coming weeks, we are certain of this: God is gracious and faithful! In case you’re wondering, See-Through Marriage releases on May 5th and is available pretty much anywhere books are sold. You can go to https://SeeThroughBook.com to learn more, but mostly I just wanted to capture this unique moment and share it with you all. Much love from our family to yours during this bizarre time... https://www.instagram.com/p/B_GYUx-jddq/?igshid=161nclav801dw

When you can’t go out for ice cream daddy daughter dates, you bring the ice cream daddy daughter dates to you! Clementine and I had a sweet time of chatting about school, bikes, cats, and dogs. Keep an eye out for this one in a few decades... she’s smart as a whip and fearless in all she does. Love you Em! https://www.instagram.com/p/B-qS5tdDOzv/?igshid=uml5ka8h657u

The two older girls have been asking to play with me much more lately. The problem is, I’ll spend (lots of) time with them doing what I think is “playing”, and they’ll still feel like we didn’t play together. Hmm. Some of it is because they’re kids and kids like to play... a lot. Another part of it is because I’m missing something. Somewhere along the line, their bucket isn’t getting topped up. So I’ve been racking my brain over the past week. So I explained it to Dela and asked her to help me to play better. I admitted that sometimes I forget how to play. Im still figuring it out, and in some ways defining “play” will be a moving target. What I have figured out, however, is that it’s not really a matter of what we are doing together... it’s a matter of *how* I play with them. Kids have a sense for when we’re distracted. They know when they’re not getting our full engagement, attention, or energy. We could be playing hide and seek, putting a puzzle together, or playing hot lava on logs on the beach (like in this pic). I’m thankful for the hearts of kids and their uncanny ability to live life in whatever moment they’re in. I’m also grateful for a Heavenly Father who is never disengaged or distracted—and who uses our kids on earth to teach us lessons about his character in ways we’re more likely to understand. https://www.instagram.com/p/B9QLg1eh-wh/?igshid=7ruf0e75o81x

This quote wrecks me every time. If we profess faith in Christ and really believe he is who he says he is, we have everything to gain. We also have everything to give up. True Christianity means *costly grace*. It's free for me, but it's not cheap. Being saved by Jesus is free, but following him costs me everything. Reading and receiving God's Word is free, but believing it costs everything. This might ruffle some feathers... but Biblical Christianity is not Old Country Buffet—we are not free to pick and choose whatever bits and pieces our palate craves. We must consume the whole meal. Anything else is *something* else. Thank God for a faith and a worldview that withstands. Jesus gave everything, following him costs everything, God's Word endures everything, and God's grace is worth EVERYTHING. May we follow Jesus like this is all actually true. https://www.instagram.com/p/B89aY_WB6xC/?igshid=1udglfv8g6qff

Truth, it seems, is up for grabs. Anyone can declare something (anything) as true and if someone contradicts them, it must be because they're "bigoted" or "narrow-minded". It's insane, but it's the world we live in. Hyper individuality and postmodern thought have rendered most truth claims impotent. In a world filled with people desperate to find "their own truth", we need to declare the truth of the Gospel more consistently and more boldly than ever. We must cling to the truths of God and let him do the hard work of winning hearts and changing minds. Clinging to truth starts with humility, or knowing that we are not ultimate beings. We have limits and they're good! We can't know everything, but we can know God. We can't do everything, but we know the One who can. God is truth and his truth is ultimate. The sooner and nearer we bring ourselves to God's ideas (His Word), the closer we will be to Him, and the clearer we will see the Truth. Remember: "For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does." (Ps 33:4) https://www.instagram.com/p/B8rZEinB-Kp/?igshid=1lnn3quitb97g

Valentine’s Day is a tad more complicated when you have three daughters! But I wouldn’t change a thing... let’s do this! Still, Selena... you will always be my first and ultimate Valentine. (Can you believe this is the 20th one we’ve celebrated together!?) Unreal. Pic by @jeffkmarsh https://www.instagram.com/p/B8jTQgugi3s/?igshid=1tv18bpuq52kd

Love that smile ❤️ https://www.instagram.com/p/B7q_haNh7Ak/?igshid=7av87ehamofl

This message has been thematic in my personal study time lately: "life is short, eternity is long, and God is big... keep that perspective". The ways I work that out day-to-day are varied, but the biggest way is through a narrower and narrower focus in how I spend my minutes and hours. Distractions abound. Our hearts naturally and readily are turned aside by screens, comparison, novelty, romanticized views of things, and temporary pleasures. It's a good and perpetual fight we must engage in—to war against distractions and contend in our hearts for the right perspective on this life. Jim Elliot summarizes the key to this heart shift so well: "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." The question is if we believe that what we gain by living for Christ is worth the sacrifice. Only God can illumine our hearts to that truth, but once we behold it—and in those moments when we haven't forgotten it—there's nothing we wouldn't give to gain Christ in greater measure. God, help me want nothing more than you! "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." Phil 1:21 https://www.instagram.com/p/B7jbyZFBDbn/?igshid=58nxxjerfqlo

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Hi, I'm Ryan.