Happy Birthday Jake... but don't eat that cake!

Well as if birthdays aren't exciting enough around the Veleber house... this one takes the cake... literally. It's hard to believe that we welcomed little (now not so little) Jake Taylor into the world a year ago. It is amazing to me how fast he has grown and how fast the time has gone by.

So the big #1 was upon us and we had all of our family, out-of-town relatives and friends over for the big celebration. Other than the rain messing up the outside plans it was a fun time. Then we get to the moment of truth. Will Jake not like the cake or will he dive in head first? He was hesitant at first and after some samples he decided to go for it. Massive handfuls of icing and cake going down the hatch. And in the process... getting all over his face.



He seemed to be enjoying it until he got some into his eyes and we decided to alleviate the crying with a quick bath. Well, once we rinsed all the icing off his face it revealed why he was crying. Hives. And I mean hives all over his face. His eyes were swelling shut and he started drooling uncontrollably. Pretty big allergic reaction. We're trying to reach the doctor on the phone while trying to calculate the dose of Benadryl he should get.

So the big party that started at our house ended at TMH (our hospital). Jake is better now. He even was baptized on Sunday following the ordeal and did a great job.

Why should we ever expect anything "normal" around the Veleber house?

Where were you?

I couldn't help but reflect on the events of today that changed our world just six years ago. It's hard to believe it was that long ago. I was sitting in Christian Theology II at Beeson Divinity School when our class was interrupted by someone trying to bring us news of some sort of tragedy, but without really knowing what was happening. Class immediately was ended as we all gathered in The Commons around a TV to figure out what was happening and to pray.

I don't have alot to say about the 9/11 itself and I don't really want to dive into the "politics" of it all - which sadly, I think that incredible tragedy has merely turned into.

But I do remember the age-old question of "Why would God allow such evil?" being raised by alot of my students at the time. I remember church being packed out literally wall to wall the next few Sundays. I remember the feelings of fear, hurt, sadness and the nervousness of waiting to hear if my NY relatives were safe.

The more I think about it all, the more I long for home... not here on earth, but the real home I was created to enjoy. "But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. He will take these weak mortal bodies of ours and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same mighty power that he will use to conquer everything, everywhere" (Philippians 3:20-21).