một, hai, ba ...

Maiden Voyage

 

Beckham with his cousin Grace (5 yrs. old), headed out to sea...

(with several adults spotting of course... in knee deep water... for those of you who already think I'm a crazy Mom :-)

3 weeks old...

Hard to believe little B was so small and new... What a fun family photo, thanks to Kelly Cotter for digging out of her archives and sending my way tonight!

Nostalgia

Every now and then  - or, quite often - I love to remember France. Anthony and I spent some time there a few years ago (including a few days with his parents), and there's just something about the country, and certainly Paris, that awakens me a bit, fills my senses, gets my imagination churning. I'm convinced I'd be a better and more prolific writer if we lived there from time to time :-) But perhaps photos and memories can be effective too...

Four photos from the archives:

       

Viet Toc

Beckham attended his first Viet Toc benefit dinner this past week. Anthony's Mom has been deeply involved with this ministry to the persecuted Montagnard people in the highlands of Viet Nam, and twice yearly she coordinates a benefit dinner/concert/auction attended by 600+ people from all over the mid-atlantic region.

This year marks the 10th Anniversary of Viet Toc. If you're interested in sponsoring a child's education, health, and protection through this ministry, information can be found on their website (there is both a Vietnamese language and English language section).

Beckham donned the traditional clothing of the Montagnard people for the occasion and, as usual, charmed the masses.

    

Lunch with Grandma and Grandpa Hanke

 

Sparing exhausted Anthony and Bethany (Beckham had a rough Friday night), Mom and Dad drove all the way in from Winchester just to have lunch with two Saturdays ago, rather than us driving out to them as planned. Amazing. And such a good time.

 

Restoration Anglican Church

My brother (David Hanke - @bikearlington on Twitter) is the Rector of Restoration Anglican Church in Arlington VA - as of, TODAY.

Restoration Arlington had its first worship service today and Anthony and I were so privileged to be a part of it... A truly remarkable morning... I am so excited for my brother and his family and the 80+ others who have committed to launching this church. The doors officially open to the public on Easter.

Below: David preparing the Eucharist (will be celebrated weekly) on the left. On the right, my nephew Bennett in the line-up of 30+ children waiting to come-in to the sanctuary for communion.

         

Park Time with Daddy and Grandpa

     

Travel Wreck

It has been a ridiculous month of work travel. I hereby authorize any and all of my blog readers to hold me accountable to never committing to that amount of travel again. It just tore me apart, and noticeably impacted little B. too.  Ugh.

Of course the trips were fruitful, but it was just too much.

Rounding-Out and Gearing-Up

Had a truly refreshing time last week at the Catalyst Conference - even more so than expected. Very fruitful, and my mind has been spinning for days with new ideas and desire to innovate.

Had a wonderful past couple of days just being home with Anthony and Beckham. Breakfast with Ben and Ainsley Arment in Atlanta before heading home, coffee on Sunday with Joy Eggerich and her wonderful parents (founders of Love&Respect ministries), naps during Beckham's naps (haven't tried that one in forever - A MAZ ING), and impromptu lunch today with my brother's family. Love watching our kids together, especially now that Beckham can literally run around everywhere exploring.  Great afternoon and evening at home, and then a late-night glass of champagne in our kitchen with Kelly Cotter, celebrating her passage of the bar exam.

And now, to bed.

But look for some really fun photos and videos of Beckham from our family time galavanting at playgrounds and in our yard these past couple of days. Life with little B could not be sweeter.

Looking Ahead Into the Weekend...

- Doctor appt for Beckham's 12 month tomorrow.  12 months=1 year=UNBELIEVABLE!  My good friend Ainsley is helping me find a new doctor if the appointment tomorrow is sub-par.  Its my doc's last shot before we move on...

- Beckham's little friend is coming over to play with little B while his friend's mom says goodbye to her best friend (who is moving to Oxford and living out one of my life-long dreams!)

- I am speaking at the Global Leadership Forum on "The New Evangelical: Profile, Policy, and Practice." Local? Definitely worth checking out if you are. Great line-up.

- Lots of family coming to town for Beckham's First Birthday Party Giraffe Extravaganza (or something like that. Definitely involves the color orange and fuzzy animals)

Phew! I better go to bed!