life as an ostovic

I made a post on my blog circuschurch about a church in Simi Valley, CA that is taking seriously what the bible has to say about what it really means to be a Jesus follower. This has drastically effected their understanding of what a building campaign should be and how they should be as a church.  Interesting stuff. YOu can check the post out by clicking here.

 

Derrak

No comments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I took this picture on our first bike ride of the year.  It was also the first bike ride with both of the boys. Actually it was Evan’s first bike ride EVER!  That’s a lot of firsts for one picture. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Who knew you could have so much fun playing with diaper boxes while your naked!! (Actually they had their diapers on, but the story is more fun if I say they were naked.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OK, she may be embarrassed by this but I am so proud of Melanie. She and I started a diet last October and to date I have lost 23 pounds which is a nice accomplishment.  However, Melanie has lost 65 pounds!!! Isn’t she smokin hot!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last week, while Grandma Bottger was visiting, we pulled the pool out for the first time of the year. This was Evan’s first pool experience and I think it is safe to say that he LOVED it!  Both Jackson and Evan play so well together, and they had a great time swimming.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Over mother’s day weekend I was looking out the front window of Melanie’s parents house (Grandma and Weepa) and saw these guys drive by.  It was so funny because Jack was chillin big time.  They did many laps around the house, and the whole time jack relaxed like he was at the spa. “Weepa, when is my full body massage?” Fun times with Weepa!! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is Evan with Tori. Tori is one of the Zarbaugh’s, a family that has become very dear to our hearts here in MIchigan.  SHe absolutely loves playing with Evan and Jack.  I thought this picture was just too precious to not share.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I love this picture of Jack.  I bet he is thinking, “Daddy, look at me in my big truck PJ’s. Can I wear them all day?”

 

 

 

 

Melanie and I continue to press on in our journey.  I am still looking for a new position at a church. Recently I have had some great potential leads that we are very excited about.  For us it is all about focusing in on wanting only one thing,  to be exactly where God wants us.  This has proven to be VERY difficult becasue it means we have to surrender everything to him. But, he has proven to us that he is in this with us and no matter where he calls us and what happens,  he will still be there with us. I can not imagine why he cares for us in such amazing ways, but he does.  How awesome is his grace!!  We will keep you posted on the journey.

Derrak

 

3 comments

This beautiful small mouth bass was my first catch of 2008 after only about 8 casts! It was a great way to start the season off.  My good friend Bruce James took me out in his boat on Lake St. Claire this past Saturday morning.  We fished for around 3 hours and caught 15.  Not a bad outing if I say so. 

Bruce loves to mess around with this little video camera he got, and made a little video commemorating the occasion.  Check it out by clicking here.

Derrak

3 comments

Name:  2.4 Ghx macbook
Height:  1.08 inch (2.75 cm)
Width:  12.78 inches (32.5 cm)
Depth:  8.92 inches (22.7 cm)
Weight:  5.0 pounds (2.27 kg)
Age:  1 month

2 comments

It is about time for another post to catch you up on all the things going on in the Ostovic house.  You can view all the latest pictures, including a trip to the Geauga County Maple Festival, by clicking here.

This picture to the left was one that I caught recently.  The boys have started to play together which is really really fun.  This particular moment was one of the first warm sunny days of the season and the boys loved it!  They were having the best time playing together in the sun.  You can see a little video of the moment by clicking below.

So far this year, life as an Ostovic has been very interesting.   I took on a new role at Kensington this past fall working with the college ministry.  As it turns out this new role was not really a good fit, and I have left the position, a little earlier than expected.  So now I am looking for a new job. 

I have found this time to be very bitter sweet.  Bitter in that I am looking fora job and trying to provide for the family. Sweet in that it has drawn both Melanie and myself so close to God.  Closer than we have ever been.  There is something about being stripped down and remembering that EVERYTHING we have and are is provided by God’s hand.  AND he is so faithful to provide. 

So we wait and pray expectantly, longing to see where God will lead us.

Well, that is it for now.  Till next time.

 

Derrak

2 comments

Jackson absolutely LOVES the movie Cars from Disney’s Pixar Pictures. We were sitting around the dinner table tonight listening to the song “Our Town” by James Taylor from the movie. Melanie and I love this song. It has such a sense of nostalgia nestled in the reality of a changing world.

Anyway, Jackson all of the sudden began singing, and it was one of the most precious moments that I can remember in a long time. Often he will begin singing a song that we had no idea he knew the words to. This one caught us off guard. I do believe there were tears in our eyes. I tried to recreate the moment for you. I hope you enjoy it.

 

Click below to see the video.

 

2 comments

This is from Jonathan Penn’s new album A Transient Warehouse of Damaged Goods. More to come in the form of a review, but take a listen to one of my initial favorites from the CD called, “Dead Flower”.

 

Planted seeds in a fertile mind
To grow a heart desperate to find
A garden of hope in a bed of my fears

When they bloom I harvest the blend
Flowers are fine, when they’re already dead
Can I relive these the rest of my years

Oh I never want to leave them behind
No I never want to leave them behind

Dipped in bronze and formaldehyde
Preserve the sent with a brand new gise
Packing a soul of beauty on ice

First hand turns the colors to grey
Second hand lets them all slip away
By the third all the beauty is lost

No I never want to leave them behind

Will I ever learn to leave them behind

 

1 comment