Problem: old JPG on new background

Solution: Use a PNG-24 with alpha transparency

Problem #2: IE6 doesn’t render correctly. It ads a nasty blue border

Solution: Use a PNG-8 with transparency.

Step 1: Open in Fireworks

Step 2: Change to PNG-8

Step 3: Change to Alpha Transparency

Step 4: Choose File->Export (don’t use “Save”)

Result: IE6 displays the solid colors (white with gray border), but not the alpha colors. It’s not perfect, but it works for our 15% IE6 users.

Here’s a breakdown on image types and browser functions

Yesterday, I decided I wanted to cook a distinctly fall meal that we’d never had before. I found a recipe for Pumpkin Soup made from a raw pumpkin and it turned out to be really good. Even Amber, who isn’t too fond of pumpkin pie, really liked the soup.

Ingredients

• 1 yellow onion
• 1 quart (4 cups; 32oz) of vegetable stock
• 2 1/2 pounds of pumpkin meat (the pumpkin in the pics below is about 10 lbs)
• 2 tablespoons of butter

Step

1. Prepare the pumpkin
   Peel the out layer of the pumpkin like a carrot. Our peeler wasn’t big enough for the pumpkin, so I used a zester. Once it’s peeled, cut it in half and scrape out the strings and seeds.
   
   
   (this shirt was just a coincidence)
   
   
   
2. Chop and sauté onions in butter
    
   
3. Pour in the vegetable stock, cut the pumpkin into cubes, and pour in all in. Bring this to a boil, then lower the temperature, and let it summer for 10-15 minutes until the pumpkin is soft.
   
   (note: we double the recipe and ended up using 1.5 onions, 5lbs of pumpkin, and 46oz of vegetable stock which isn’t quite right according to the recipe, but it made a wonderful thick soup)
   
4. Puree the pumpkin. After smashing it, I used the blender to puree it all.
   
   
5. Season to taste. We liked it with just some salt and pepper, but you can also add ginger, curry powder, or soy sauce.
   
   

Believe it or not, this soup is really, really good. Here some selling points

• It’s special since pumpkins are only in season for a short time
• It’s super low in calories
• Pumpkin is apparently a magical plant that has all kind of good vitamins and cancer fighters.
• It freezes well.
• It will make great, cheap, and yummy baby food

 John graduated Summa Cum Laude with his Th.M. from seminary Saturday (120 graduate credit hours!).  I am so proud of him; not only did he graduate with high honors (his wonderful thesis advisor, Dr. Horrell, raved about his A+ work!), he also contributed greatly to the seminary during his time as a student, directing the web development department & building the online education program from 0 to over 1,000 students.  With JD's awesome coding & management skills (about which you probably don't know because of his humility), Chinese pastors are now able to take theology courses in Chinese!  But that isn't the best part.  JD has also been an incredible husband, son, brother, friend, and encourager to others over the years that he's directed a seminary department full-time, studied in grad school full-time, and ran his own business full-time.  John has served his wife, his church, and his community with everything from playing Mr. Fix-It around the house, to leading our small group Bible study, to teaching 3 year olds at church, to leading retreats, to teaching Church History, to mentoring college guys, to helping his wife throw huge parties for friends, to loving our neighbors, to enabling his wife to work on her Ph.D. and soon-to-be motherhood by providing for us financially, to loving his family well as the oldest son, to making every person in his presence feel like he/she is the most important person in the room.  Yes, JD is "that guy"-- the one who always makes you laugh and feel good.  Only Shakespeare's Sonnet #29 describes what it is to be married to this amazing human being:

For thy sweet love remembered such wealth brings,
That then I scorn to change my state with kings.

Here we are with Dr. Horrell, JD's Thesis Advisor, at Graduation Chapel

With the Family After Graduation

Our good friends, John and Kristina, who are one trimester ahead of us!

We are so thankful to announce that our first precious little child is due to be born November 4th, 2008. Here is a short preview of the little squirmer:

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“Behold, children are a gift of the LORD; The fruit of the womb is a reward.” Psalm 127:3

Thanks Wes and Christy for hosting a great party!