Where his name came from. . .

Tyndale: William Tyndale has been one of my heroes since I first learned about him in a World History class at BYU. Born around 1490, he became a devoted student of the Bible, and the "pervasive ignorance of the scriptures that he observed in both priests and lay people troubled him deeply." Fluent in eight languages, he undertook the translation of the Bible into English from the original Greek and Hebrew text, hoping that all would be able to read directly from it. Church leadership at the time was very much against what he was doing. In an exchange with one clergyman, he exclaimed, "If God spare my life, ere many years I will cause a boy that driveth the plough shall know more of the Scripture than thou dost!" (1) He performed this work at great personal sacrifice, heavily persecuted and eventually martyred.

It's estimated that the King James Version of the Bible retains roughly 80% of Tyndale's translation, and his work has been the foundation of almost all English forms of the Bible. I am so grateful to him and to many others who understood the importance of everyone being able to read directly from scripture, and who sacrificed so much for it to be so. Not only so that I and my family and friends can do so, but because in the early 1800s, it also allowed a 14 year old farm boy in upstate New York to be able to do so. . .

Coincidentally, this year is the 400th anniversary of the King James Version of the Bible, and we have been noticing William Tyndale's name being mentioned even more often, even after we'd already decided on it. (He was even in the centerfold of this month's Ensign. (click here for the web version)

We considered spelling our Tyndale's name more like it sounds (rhymes with 'kindle'), but ultimately, we decided to keep the most commonly accepted spelling.

(1) As quoted from Boyd K. Packer in May 2011 Ensign, from David Daniell, introduction to Tyndale's New Testament (1989), viii.

William Tyndale is featured in this window in the Emmanuel College chapel, Cambridge. Photo by Kenneth Mays, Ensign, August 2011.

Conrad: When I was in grade school, I read and loved a book called Konrad. Ever since then, I thought I might name a son that. Then I found out that two of my sisters had the same plan, and that my grandfather's middle name was Conrad! Somehow, my sisters (who had all their kids before I'd started) let me win. I love the name even more knowing it was Grampa's middle name. He was always a man I loved and respected and was comfortable around; one who was kind and who always encouraged me towards worthy endeavors and good works, both by word and example.

And somehow, it turned out that Sam really liked both of these names (and who they honor) too!

Introducing Tyndale Conrad

Tyndale Conrad

(Tyndale rhymes with 'kindle')

Born August 3, 2011

7:38am

6 lbs 12 oz

19 3/4 inches long

We are loving him! This was the same afternoon when Sam brought Ked.

More details/photos to come. . . eventually.

Me and My Boys

Sunday, July 31, 2011; almost 39 weeks

Ward Campout

Before the annual ward campout, a member of the bishopric gave me special instructions to not go into labor until after it was over. Sam was asked to give a talk/fireside at it. He did a great job, and I received a public thank you for not going into labor. (This was July 29-30; I went into labor on Aug. 2nd.) I always love this event and was really glad we could make it.

Sam starting the morning fire with a bunch of the kids. Ked had a great time being outside and getting really dirty. Obviously I failed at my attempt to teach him to not sit on the grill.

We had a great time playing in the creek by our campsite. The little fish were cool, but as usual, Ked mostly liked just throwing rocks in the water.

Feeling Spoiled

Our new home. Cheaper rent than our old 2-BR apartment (well, until you add utilities. . .), but 3 bedrooms, basement storage, much bigger kitchen, a balcony deck, a yard to call our own, parking right next to the door, and best of all, a washer and dryer. Lovin' it!

Sam with Ked playing in the sprinkler. (Another couple lives below us, which is one of the downsides, since the place is old and rickety and I'm sure we drive them crazy with all the noise we make on the hardwood floors. . . but they are nice!)

And yes, the day I have been waiting for!!!! A garden to call my own. Okay, so it's really small and doesn't get quite as many hours of sun as it should, but it's something, and I'm also putting garden containers on the balcony deck--the place even came with some!

36 weeks along

The Opportunistic Cowboy

Sometimes I think Ked purposely spills food so that I get down to clean it up and he can climb on top of me. This morning he even said, "G'yup!" when he got on.

His Enemy, My Love

I originally probably thought it was a little odd when my sister Ginger posted a picture of her "new best friends"--a washer and dryer--on her blog. http://jasondgingerd.blogspot.com/2007/10/my-new-best-friends.html Obviously that was before I had a kid. I LOVE having a washer and dryer.

Only problem is that this one buzzes REALLY loud and long when it's done (with no option to not have it come on, until we open it up and get to the wires. . . ). Ked is already known for being really sensitive to loud noises. He doesn't get as terrified as when we first moved in, and has learned to cover his ears, but it's still a little traumatic. This picture was taken probably half a minute after the buzzer had been off.

Elder Z

While I was home, I found these picture of my "baby brother." He is working hard and loving it as a missionary in New Jersey, Spanish speaking.

Derek left right when Ked was born and will be returning home soon after our #2 is born. Can't wait to see him again, and for him to meet two more of his nephews. He will be a great example for them to look up to.

Back at the Ranch

Ked was maybe a little too comfortable with the horses. . .

He kept offering them rocks. I finally showed him the tangerines and he was much more successful, though I kept fearing the horses would bite his whole hand off. They didn't, but they left plenty of orange slime on his hands.

Playing with Papa on all of Grampa's cool toys.

Hooray for Sam finally being there with us!

Picking berries with Holly and Lindy from bushes I planted years ago. They sure don't grow as easily there as out here in Virginia!

Some of the cousins born within a year of Ked.

Porter, Ked, Claire, and Dane. You can't tell here, but Porter started cracking up laughing so hard--it was awesome. Ked liked holding him.

And sometimes it was all just a little too much. . .

Ked, Lindy, Holly, Kaden, Brady, Dane

May 2011, Ked 19 months

Family Reunion May 2011

Once again, too many great people, experiences, and memories to even make mention of here. So just a sampling of the Z family reunion. I LOVE this time getting to be with my family!

My parents and most of their posterity. Sam flew in the next day, Clint couldn't make it, and we sure missed Ginger.

Having a toddler this time (and no husband until the last day) was sure a different experience. Utterly exausting. But I loved enjoying how much Ked loved it! His cousins, the water, the rocks, the sand, the sea gulls, the spa, the hose, the garbage can on wheels, the trains, the sticks, the shovels, etc.

Ked, Caleb, Reid?, Davis

Ked, Reid, Kai, Ethan, Gabe, Dane

He loved throwing rocks in the water. He got soaked doing so.

The humidity can do great things to my hair. . .

Lunch with the cousins

Maddi, Abigail, Ryan Jane, Ked, Brady, Gabe, Devonae, Kai, Kaden, Ethan

Mother's Day special dinner for all the mothers.

Jen, Amber, Brandi, Heidi, Monica, Monica's mom Deanne, Gramma Z, mom, Nat's mom Cathy, Natalie, Kate, Wendy, Summer

Little Moments

I don't remember what was going on here, but they both seem pretty content!

4/17/2011

One afternoon, I was thinking Ked was sleeping longer than usual. Then I heard some thumping sounds. This is what I found.

Impressive as his tower of food was, I'm really looking forward to having a kitchen where I can keep all the food and to Ked having his own room that is not also a storage room.

5/23/2011; 21 months

A typical breakfast stunt.

Ked loves to find new friends (dogs and cats) in the windows of the apartments around us. Every once in a great while, he'll even find another kid!

Lips

Ked has this thing he does with his lips that has always cracked us up (as well as our pediatrician). He did it when he was a lot younger and has recently started doing it again a little. I've still never been able to get a good picture of it, but this is almost it.

Riding Toys

I think it's time to get this kid another riding toy. He will try to ride anything, including toy vehicles much smaller than these.

4/15/2011

Kentucky Visit

Our six hour drive to visit Brandi was kind of a practice run for when Summer and I would drive all the kids to the DC airport to fly to California in May. This moment was bliss. All 5 kids asleep. It didn't last long.

It was great for us three sisters to get to hang out with all our kids. I loved seeing how Ked had matured enough to really enjoy playing with his cousins. Dane, Paige, and Ked had a great time jumping off the couch together and onto my bedding or sliding down on the sleeping pad.

3/24/2011

Family

4/10/2011

Sam getting ready to catch some sharp-looking kid falling from the sky.

It was great having Oma and Opa for a few days as they were driving through.

Personal Air Conditioner

And we wonder why the electric bill is so high.

It has been nice that Ked can get his milk cup out of the fridge himself, and that he can bring the gallon of milk to me or Sam for a refill and put it back. But sometimes this new trick of his is a battle. . .

4/1/2011; Ked, 19 months

The Royal Wedding

Back in April, Kristel and Stephen were married in the Salt Lake Temple on the same day as the "Royal Wedding." (I didn't know anything about it, until the happy couple was interviewed by a TV crew as soon as they walked out of the temple.)

So glad I got to be there for their sealing! A great couple! I also enjoyed getting to visit with my old roommate Kristen (on the left) and many other old friends and roommates.

Nap Time

Just because he was resisting and delaying nap time each day, it didn't mean he didn't need it!

I felt pretty bad when a woman in the grocery store pointed out to me how tired Ked was. I was busy comparing prices until I saw his heavy eyelids, rubbing eyes, and finally the head go down. I found a bib for some padding and he slept while I quickly finished. Ked is not usually the type that will sleep anywhere other than his bed (or occasionally in his car seat).

Ked has been resisting his naps (crying and climbing out of his crib and destroying anything he could find in his room when I'd try--a major battle for hours some days) ever since I took the pacifier away. (This also made bedtime much more difficult, but he would at least eventually sleep.) After a week or two I gave in and handed him back the pacifier. Bliss. I love that thing. Except when he wants to keep it while he's awake. That's a whole other battle (especially when I'm trying to get him to eat), but one I'll gladly take over the alternative for the time being. . . It's been so nice having him sleep again!

Washington D.C. Temple Visitor's Center

We had a great visit to the temple during Sam's spring break. Someday we hope to live much closer to a temple. (Right now it takes about 4 1/2+ hours to get there.) It was so good to feel nearer to my Heavenly Father, to feel the warmth and peace and clarity of mind, and to be reminded of the great blessings we receive as we live faithfully. Sam and I went in separately so we could take turns watching Ked. Ked enjoyed the visitor's center a lot. I enjoyed watching him enjoy it. (I won't mention how much he exhausted me since he never wanted to sit still!)

Ked 18 months

Fort Fun

Ked loves when his dad makes him a fort. Ked has taken on the responsibility of pulling the cushions off the couch and putting them on the floor--apparently the fort is not complete without them.

This was when we made the fort as part of our Monday night Family Home Evening. It's been fun as Ked has been getting older to cater more to him in our activities. We try to play with him anyway, but it's nice to have one night when he's guaranteed a lot of attention from both of us together. He loves it! Now if we can just get him to sit still during his 30 second scriptural lesson. . . Actually, he does a pretty good job with that too. He likes to point at things in the pictures.

Feb. 28, 2011

I Shall Be Whole

Rinita, la Bonita. That's what I called Rina when we were neighbors and then roommates; a great friend of mine (and of many). I was pretty excited to open the Ensign and see this painting with her as the model. (The author, Al Young, is the father of Elspeth Young, also an amazing painter and person and another friend who was in our ward in Provo.)

Rina taught me much about having faith in our Savior, and also about charity, compassion, service, perseverance, and striving to do what is right. So it is appropriate that in this painting, she represents this woman from the Bible.

"And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment:

"For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.

"But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour."

(Matthew 9: 20-22)

Surprise Greetings

After just a few minutes in the bathroom, this is what I found when I came out. Except when I first came out, his diaper was in his hands. I'm not sure how I feel about this new independent stage. . . especially the part where he can undress himself.

Yesterday I left Ked in his room during nap time, even after I heard him getting out of his pack-n-play. I was listening and knew he was getting into things, but didn't realize the extent. Lesson learned. (His diaper bag had snacks and a roll of toilet paper--to be used as tissue--in it.)

Ked 18 months

Our Little Dish Washer

Ked LOVES dish washing time. Hopefully he still feels that way when he's a little older and it's his job. . .

Ked is very insistent on being involved once he hears the dishes clanking and the water running, and will do anything to get to the water (as you can see here). It's gotten to the point that Sam won't do dishes until after Ked is in bed, keeping things much easier and drier.

On the rare occasions I do the dishes, Ked and I have a deal. I wash; he rinses.

Ked 17 months