A Sunset Stroll

One of the biggest things we'll miss about living in Oceanside would be times like these...
It won't be the fish tacos at Rubios or nachos at Johnny Manana's. We won't miss the middle of the night booming of ammunition testing they do at Camp Pendleton or Norteño music from the barrio next to our condos. We definitely won't miss the traffic on the 5 and the threat of wildfires every October. What we will miss is the mile walk down to the beach to enjoy the evenings when the sun slips below the horizon and God paints a beautiful picture over the Pacific.

@ the Petting Zoo

"Indiana, here we come!!!"
These two California kids are ready for the Midwest. It's funny, when people out here find out we're moving, they usually ask one of two questions. Question 1: Isn't it cold there? Question 2: Are you going to grow corn and get a cow? We answer "Yes" to both.

"Hey, did you see my sign?"

Mino takes his first teeter-totter ride. I think he likes it.

Is daddy kissing that goat? No, he's just trying to fend off the little attackers at the zoo. They forget their manners when you've got carrots in hand.

"Here horsey, try this..." Mino kept trying to feed this pony bench. He didn't seem to care it was made of cement.

He's an official Boyan now!

Mino's adoption was finalized in court on Oct. 1 and we had a fiesta to celebrate the occasion last weekend on Oct. 5. Thanks to all of you who came out to help us commemorate this special milestone in the Boyan family. Here's a little video recap of Mino's big week. (Also, check out the explanation below for the meaning behind his new name.)

While we will most likely always know and lovingly call him by his nickname “Mino”, his full name, Aslan Maximino Robert Boyan, tells his real story:

Maximino – This name represents Mino’s past.
It’s the name of his biological father and it represents his heritage. The name means “the Greatest,” and in Mino’s case it refers to his great strength and ability to overcome no matter what obstacle is in his path.

Robert – This name represents the present.
It’s the name of his adoptive father and it represents a promise to always be with him, love him unconditionally, and welcome him wholeheartedly into the Boyan family. Bob (Robert Sr.) is honored to share his name with his son.

Aslan – This name represents Mino’s future.
The name means “Lion” and was used by C.S. Lewis to embody the central character of the “Chronicles of Narnia” who is the guardian, savior, and Christlike (Lion of Judah) figure in the series. This name is a promise that Mino’s heavenly father is waiting to adopt him, so he too can become a son of God through Jesus Christ.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves." - Eph 1:3-6