suburban hobos

• The second preview service for our church plant last Sunday went very well.  We had quite a few visitors, including some folks who had come for the first preview service.  We have our final preview service in two weeks and three weeks later, on the Sunday following Easter, we commence weekly services.  You can listen to my sermon from the second preview service on the church website.
• Tonight Maggie is having a few women from the church plant over to watch the Oscars.  I’ve still not figured out where I’ll escape to for a few hours.
• Eliot’s first birthday is just 21 days away!  And three weeks later will be the one-year anniversary of when we first met our son.  He’s changed a lot in less than a year.

On our afternoon walk today Eliot and I met a woman who pointed out a beautiful red cardinal and his more subdued mate in a tree just above our heads.  I know it may not look like it in this photo, but surely spring is coming.

You can see a few more photos of Eliot’s first Chicago winter on this web album.

Last night Maggie’s play with the Hyde Park Community Players opened.  She did great!  A couple of days ago our neighborhood newspaper had an article about the play and it included a photo of Maggie (“the fool”) and another actor (“the blind man”) at one of their rehearsals.  Click on the photos for the full article and photo.

You can find a bit more information about the play on my blog, Signs of Life.  Maggie is about to head out for the second performance.  On Sunday they close with a matinee at 2:30.

It’s been too long since I’ve posted something new.  My excuse?  10 days in Colorado taking two classes and this past week spent preparing for our church plant’s first preview service tomorrow.  Our church website is now live and will give you a pretty good idea about the things that matter to us: http://thenewcom.com/bronzeville/

On another note, Eliot continues to be great.

We got a few inches of snow this week and on Friday Maggie took Eliot out for his first experience with the white stuff.  We think he likes it.

After a night in San Francisco we arrived home on Thursday afternoon.  All that remains of Taiwan is the jet lag.  And the good memories.  Anne Marie and Tony are exceptionally generous hosts and we had such a good time exploring parts of their world.

If you’re interested in a few additional photos you can view our Taiwan web album.

Yesterday, New Years Day, we had dinner with Michael and Dawn and some of Michael’s family.  They cooked a feast; my contribution was a chocolate cake that you should try someday soon.  This morning we’re meeting our friend Jeff for breakfast before he heads back to his work in Ecuador.  We last saw Jeff in July when he first met Eliot.

We expect the next few weeks to be particularly busy.  Maggie begins her two-afternoons-a-week job with Girls in the Game and continues rehearsals for her role as “the fool” in an upcoming Hyde Park Community Theater production.  I’m preaching a week from Sunday and have a lot of church plant work to do before leaving later this month for 10 days in Colorado for denominational classes.  Thankfully Maggie’s mom will be traveling up from Tennessee to spend time with Maggie and Eliot while I’m away.

Despite the busyness, we’re grateful for the work we’ve been given.  Happy 2010!

We continue to enjoy our time in Taiwan; it’s hard to believe that we begin our trip home on Wednesday.  Our friend Kate who currently lives in Hong Kong joined us for a few days.  We’ve explored, eaten a lot, and met many of Anne Marie and Tony’s friends.

Hold your mouse over a photo for a short description, or click for a larger view.

The past few days have been a jet-lagged blur.  We left Chicago on Wednesday afternoon, spent the night in San Francisco, and on Thursday afternoon began the long flight to Taiwan with my parents.  Hold your cursor over the photos for a short description and click for a larger view

We get to spend two weeks here with Anne Marie and Tony.  We’re looking forward to plenty of new adventures along with some anticipated rest.

Is Eliot’s hair going to eventually be curly…

…or straight?

We sure don’t know.  We’re in the final few days before we take Eliot on his first trip out of the country.  On Wednesday we fly to San Francisco and then on to Taiwan with my parents on Thursday.  We’ll be spending about two weeks with my sister and brother-in-law in their home in Taipei.

There are two questions we cannot answer about this trip.  What will Eliot think of the 14 hour flight?  How will or sleep-loving child respond to massive jet lag?

We’ll let you know when we find out.

Our Christmas letter was dropped in the mail a few days ago but I know there are always a few people we miss.  So, if you’re interested, you can download our letter (including the first Swanson Christmas photo with Eliot!) here: Swanson Christmas Letter 2009 (PDF).  And if you’d like to send us your Christmas letter but don’t have our new address just leave a comment.