Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Merry Christmas (early)

Merry Christmas to the Koch Kids (early)




Laurn just could not resist giving the kids their Christmas gift so that they could play in the snow with it. They have been having a blast. In fact last night (22nd) it came in handy. My parents decided to come down early and parked at our neighbors so we used the quad to transport their entire car load of gifts, luggage, and food for their 4 day stay. It was fun. Just as we were pulling out of our driveway, 6 snowmobiles flew past us down Carty road. What a site. The locals here (from Reidikes) say they have not seen this much snow since 1979. Here are a few fun pictures. More will follow of the kids on the quad.















Saturday, November 15, 2008

Sunday Afternoon

A few weeks ago on a sunny warm fall Sunday afternoon we took the kids to the Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge for a picnic and a walk. We all had a great time.






































Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Deuteronomy 6:5-9

Love the Lord your God with all you heart and with all your soul and with all you strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hears. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the toad, when yo lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on you hands and bind them on you foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of you houses and on your gates.

Today I had the pleasure of not only having a wonderful scripture written in our dining room but of visiting with Chelsea Berkompas. She agreed to bless our family with her artistic talent. She did a wonderful job and it was a very enjoyable afternoon. She also encouraged me to "post something new" on our blog.
If anyone reading would like to have a scripture done call Chelsea.
Thank You!!!




Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Silverstar 2008

Same spot as last year.
Jessica got a turn at a picture this time.

Huckleberry feast. They were everywhere.
A much needed rest after a hike to the top and back. Looks like they are sharing some funny memories from the hike.

Silverstar 2008






Silverstar Late Summer Hike with VonderLuft's

Laurn, Caitlin, Jessica, Felicity, Marcus, Carl, Greta, and Galanna on their way up Silverstar.
Beautiful fall colors


Caitlin & Jessica being just like their father and trying to scare the living daylights out of me.

Monday, September 15, 2008

A Vision Persevers By Laurn Koch

Today, September 15th, we received our copy of Every Thought Captive. In it, Laurn wrote an artical about our time in Virginia and the things we learned. It is a wonderful artical and I wanted to share it. Hope you enjoy it.


June 26th marked the beginning of another couples camp in Mendota, Virginia. My wife and I own a mini- farm in Ridgefield, Washington. Amongst other things, we raise cows, chickens, a golden retriever, a few farm cats, kids and tomatoes. God has seen fit, in his kind providence, to bless us with seven children ranging from 15 years to 9 months. We got word through our dear friends the Seiferts (couples camp alumni) that it was the place to be, so we decided to make the long and arduous trip. The east coast, we were soon to discover, seemed to be an entirely different planet. While we have been conditioned, on the west coast, to live fast paced, drive euro designed cars, live in homes that resemble a Cabela’s store, and spend half our salaries on lattes, such is not the case in Mendota. Imagine our dismay to find only one Starbucks location in the entire county. It seemed as though the culture in Virginia simply didn’t care about such things. It was here, on this remote side of the moon, that we began to triage our life. With the few short years we have been given here on this earth, what really matters. What engagements lend themselves to dominion taking and kingdom advancement?
Camp officially began with a discussion about breakfast cereal. You know, how it was consumed, why it was consumed and if the little marshmallow goodies were left for the last or not. With the ice broken, we then moved to the central theme, the kingdom of God. We were fascinated with the basics, the essentials. As we live our lives, the basic assumptions, the things we pre-suppose, often go unremembered. It was revitalizing to hear them once again. RC spoken of covenant life, the nature of the Kingdom of God, how we need to apply ourselves to believe the promises of the covenant and live our lives accordingly, the God appointed roles and responsibilities of husbands and wives, the unique example of Federal headship and submission displayed for us in the trinity. Question and answer time evoked a parade of topics, ranging from the problem of evil (why does evil exist in a benevolent, omnipotent Gods world?) to the proper place of older daughters (in or outside the home). We loved the fact that all this was taking place in the basement of the Sproul home. There was something familial about it. Something that resembled the life of the covenant. You never quite know a man until you see his children. The sproul children were indeed a delight to us and a constant reminder of our little olive plants back home. Their smiles and obvious joy spoke volumes. Denise seemed always ready with delicious food (especially the pasta) and a willing hospitality that brightened our time there. All this against the backdrop of RC’s bout with a kidney stone. I now knew the man.
I would be remise if I didn’t mention anything about the covenant community there at St. Peter. The few days we spent with the folks in Virginia began with a dance and ended with a baptismal feast. Our evenings were spent watching the fire flies wink in the trees while mulling over the virtues of good Virginia burly. Our hosts were the Murphy’s of Brumley Gap. What a testament they were to us of the sovereignty of God, and a window into a God honoring home. It has been said that ideas have consequences. We watched those consequences played out before us in a way that left no doubt of the worldview behind them. Thank you once again Steve and Kara.
The Lords day worship had all the familiar liturgy of home. We sang Psalms of assent, heard the word of God expounded, feasted on the life of Christ at his table, and exalted our father corporately, as the body of Christ, in the baptism of a covenant child. We were moved at the pastoral display. When the infant was marked, Lawrence wept.
Truly, I could wax on and on about the rich theology gleaned in our time there, the practical counsel we received, the experience of life with the people, getting to know Dante Tremaine, but in the end, all I really want to talk about is my beloved wife. After all, this was couples camp. Psalm 128:3-4 states “your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your sons will be like olive shoots around your table. Thus is the man blessed who fears the Lord.” With hope renewed, vigor restored, and headship in tact, my prayer is that I will love my wife as Christ loves the church. That as the father has given to the son a dominion, laws and authority, that I will bestow the same upon my bride. That she will be to me as a treasure of great worth, to be cherished, nurtured, invested in and protected. That I will be to her a prophet, priest and king, so that on that day, on that day of days, I will not be found wanting.

Sunday, September 7, 2008

BIG SKY MONTANA

The Elliot's have a wonderful cabin outside Billings. We stayed one night and went fishing in Red Lodge the next day. We could have stayed there much longer. It was beautiful and big and peaceful.
Another one of Caitlin's pictures
The Boys fishing at Wild Bill Lake
A creek that comes out of Wild Bill Lake
Another one of Caitlin's pictures
This is the best picture of the trip.

Some birds Caitlin found. I have no idea what they are but she did.


Friday, August 29, 2008

We took a trip to Silverstar as a family. It was beautiful. We even got Grandpa to come along.
Caitlin had fun taking pictures with her camara.
Pretending to fall to make me scared. They are just like their father.
This was a picture Caitlin took. She was having a lot of fun trying to get interesting pictures.

This picture of Mt. St. Helens was taken through Caitlin's binoculars. I of course would have never thought to try something like that. It turned out pretty good.















Next stop, Bristol and Mendota Virginia. We flew to Nashville, TN had some good BBQ, saw a few country music stars, and spent the night. The next morning we were off to Virginia and R.C. Sproul Jr.'s home for Couples Camp.


Laurn helped R.C. move a fence for his sheep at the end of Couples Camp.

We would recomend this camp to any married couple.










Abingdon, Va near Birstol and Mendota has some beautiful historic buildings. This is the Martha Washington Hotel



Friday, August 22, 2008

We have had a packed summer. It all started when we went to San Francisco for 2 days with Launr's Mom. It was a great trip. A needed rest for the two of us. The picture was taken on a boat ride we took to the Golden Gate Bridge and then around Alcatraz. It was a perfect day. Thanks Mom.

Friday, June 13, 2008

Caitlin


This picture best represents Caitlin's personality. She loves being outdoors, hiking, fishing, camping, taking pictures, taking in God's wonderful creation. She also loves finding a tree (of in this cast a HUGE rock) to sit on with a good book.

This was taken in Cannon Beach this spring. Caitlin loves bright colors, especially Orange.


This was taken during her 13th birthday party. Laurn presented her with a purity locket and had the whole house in tears with his promise to protect her and find her a suitable young man to marry some day. She promised to only give her heart to her father until that day.


Often when Laurn gets home for working or at the end of a had days work on the house he charges in and announces "it's time to go hunting kids" They all rush to their safe, get their BB guns and run out after him. Caitlin is an incredible shot.