requests and joys

hey all... just a quick post and reequest for pr@yer.  We met with our landlord yesterday to pay rent and they notified us that our rent would be going up $200/month!  This is a huge surprise in light of the financial crisis.  Guess they figured out how they were going to deal with the changes.  Please lift us up in pr@yer as we cannot afford this, but don't want to pack up and move in the middle of winter (well, we don't want to move at all to be honest).  

Our washing machine is also broken and it's apparently our responsibility to have it repaired.  It's interesting how different things are here sometimes.  I'm down to my last several sets of socks, so it's hand washing for us (and a generous offer from Sally to use their washer).  We're going to call soon about getting it repaired - but nervous about the hassle it might cause.

I am done teaching for 2008!  PTL.  I'm so tired and ready for a good, long, hardy sleep.  I've got some reports to write for school and the agency and then a bit of rest is in order.

Today we're baking pizza with the ch^rch youth and then taking them to see a Christmas pageant.

Merry Christmas!

A very Merry Christmas to everyone!  It is such a wonderful day!  We're excited for traditions, good food, time together, the Christmas play at ch^rch and most of all - a little time with J.

Fire wire transfer

Our American dollars have run out. It’s time for our first wire transfer… we’re a bit nervous. There’s a flat charge on the U.S. side, there’s a percentage charge on this side… and we aren’t sure we have all the right transfer numbers. But it’s what we’ve got, so we’re going through with it. Keep us in your thoughts.

Being on the spot

How does it feel to be called upon to share your t’mony in a foreign language? That’s a great question. And I can honestly answer it now. On Sunday during B!ble study, the pastor called on me (without any preparation) to share my t’mony with the 20 or so people in the room. I got up, shared for about 7 minutes (I was given 5-10) and then sat back down. I made several mistakes (of course). Then they proceeded to grade my t’mony. The good news is, most folks thought it was good. It’s a typical format that Vadim (the past0r) is teaching. He’s been teaching how to share your t’mony for the past 3 weeks. Life before J, accepting J, life after J. It’s nerve wracking to try to stumble through all that grammar in front of so many people. I mean, if you can move a comma to the wrong place in Russian and have a sentence mean that the person should be executed, cannot be forgiven instead of you cannot execute the person, the person should be forgiven – imagine the terror of grammar. That was just a moved comma.

We’re working on getting adjusted again. I can’t believe how much Russian I’ve forgotten. It’s really ok – I’m just really critical about it. I feel like I’ve hit a plateau and I really need to push through it. I didn’t expect to experience any culture shock or difficulties in coming back after being gone for only a year, but the adjustments are here all the same. One of the hardest things is not being asked to help out or to participate. Just being expected to be everywhere all the time. We’re pretty tired, I haven’t been sleeping all the well – probably a manifestation of stress. I think I’m taking a lot on myself and feeling overly responsible for Amy. She’s doing great, but since I lived here before, I think I’m taking on unnecessary stress.

LIfe on Purpose

This has been one of my life mottos for a long time. I'm really excited to share that the blog name, "life on purpose" has become available - and Amy and I are going to start blogging together there. So if you've got this one bookmarked, please change your bookmarks to the new address. We'll both be posting there from now on!

http://lifeonpurpose.blogspot.com/

Lactic Acid...

yeah - my legs are full of the stuff... we ran, and my body is reminding me that I did. I got up in the middle of the night because my cell phone battery was dying... of course I was groggy. It was 5am... it beeps every three minutes when the batter is dying...

SO - I just rolled out of bed and nearly collapsed as my legs screamed at me in pain. And then I stretched and realized I'd be okay.

I'm a bit stiff & I'm going to ice my knee again.

Did someone say 8 MILES?!

That's right, the miracle of love has brought me to a place I could have never imagined. Amy & I ran 8 miles tonight as we continue to train for the Indianapolis Mini marathon (13.1 miles total). It's in 3 weeks. And I'm supposed to try and get up to 10 miles at least prior to the race.

My goal of course, is not to win or really run crazy...it's to finish. I'm really excited to have completed 8 miles at this point. We'll see how I'm doing tomorrow.

Thank you God for Aleve...

The knee once again...

So I returned to the doctor to have my knee looked at. They initially thought it was cartilage or an irritation with my kneecap. Something like retropatellar pain syndrome. But with my lower level of activity in the past months and the 6 months of time... the doc thought to do an x-ray. So I had an x-ray on my knee.

While I was there, they did an x-ray on my chest for the tuberculosis film that I have to take with me to Russia for camp. And then they drew blood for the HIV test I have to have in order to get my Russian visa... yikes.

So, the x-ray didn't show anything. The doctor poked and prodded and decided to schedule me for an MRI on my knee. This will show if there are any tears in the ligaments of my knee. He's thinking that I might have stressed, stretched or torn part of my anterior meniscus.

Next week on Tuesday keep my knee in your prayers. I'm not sure what I want them to find... something wrong that can be fixed or just that I need to do physical therapy.

I really need to be able to run this race with Amy though - it's such an encouragement to her when we run.

Planes, Trains & Automobiles

Seriously? Yes, seriously. Today at 11am, I received a call on my cell phone from a computer. Our flight had been canceled to return from Colorado. The flight was grounded in Chicago due to a thunderstorm.

so I called to reschedule the flight and the following fiasco ensued:
- I was told I could reschedule for $100
- I was told we couldn't fly out until that evening, and then it would entail 4 flights to get home
- I was told that I couldn't speak with a supervisor, but that the agent would speak with support
- so I opted to go to the airport and talk to someone in person

I was frustrated, but trying to keep my cool.

at the airport:
- they were wonderful. so many flights were crazy because american airlines was grounded and they were taking up a LOT of slack
- people were being really mean to the agents
- our agent had supervisor authority and booked us on a new flight and upgraded us
- we decided to fly out of Denver instead of Colorado Springs (we could stay with one of Amy's dear friends (Jaci) in Denver)

rental car:
- we rented a car from Hertz (where Jaci works) and set off to travel to Denver. About 20 minutes on the road and I got a migraine. I haven't had one in something like 3 years. It was awful, but with time, prayers and a hood over my eyes it passed in several hours.

denver:

- we had a marvelous time with Jaci. She made us dinner and took us to an 'clean' improv club. It was hilarious. I got volunteered by my lovely wife to participate and ended up making the sound effects for one of the scenes. It was really fun.

PS I guess the only trains were the ones carrying coal and passing us on the highway... and the ones at the airport between terminals.

Quarantine

It's been an interesting day at PILAT today. We're a fairly close community... and looks like one little guy brought a bug with him to our community... and then it passed to another little lady, and another. And then an adult got sick, and another. So right now we've got a total of about 16 people sick in our community of around 50. So it's a pretty significant chunk. And every break or meal another person seems to disappear.

We have a 24 hour quarantine underway for the folks who are sick. Once their last symptom has occurred, they have 24 hours to hang out in their rooms before coming back to the community.

The sad news is that Amy is now among their number. Last night she was very ill 3 times and still isn't feeling great. Someone took me in to town to the store so I could get some Popsicles, chicken noodle soup, and gatoraid.

It's like some crazy public health nightmare. Please pray for the healing of everyone here and that more of us don't get sick.

7 miles at 7,000 ft

Well, today marks another milestone in my life. Amy and I continue to train for the mini marathon in Indianapolis in May (it's 13.1 miles) and today I ran the furthest I've run in my entire life. 7 miles. And not only 7 miles, but at 7,000 feet of elevation (we're in Palmer Lake, Colorado for 2 weeks).

The run was really pretty good. My knee didn't hurt hardly at all, I wasn't really all that winded. I kept repeating a verse over and over again 1 Corinthians 9:27 No, I beat my body and make it my slave...and I really had to today.

It's been several hours and I've been a bit queasy. Amy thinks that it's from too much in the altitude. So now I'm pounding down the water.

In PILAT updates - we spent 2.5 hours with Dwight today drilling vowel sounds and a little bit of work on tones... but man, the vowels can get difficult!

PILAT - Arrival

It's a fun and exciting time here at PILAT. The participants to the program are all arriving. They're going all over the world. It's SO exciting to know that the Word is being shared. There are about 27 adults in the program and 23 kids! One family has 3 kids under 2.5 and one on the way! Amy and I don't know how they do it.

Amy and I spent the bulk of the day today settling into our room, scanning and sending Amy's Russian homework to her professor and drilling vowel sounds. It's really great that we'll be able to help so many people take their first steps to learning a new language to share the best news there's ever been.

The main gist of the whole PILAT program is to learn how to share important things with people, you need to share them in their heart language. This is the language that is usually their first language and the one that connects not just in their heads, but in their hearts.

It's going to be a really busy time though and we were hoping for it to be a bit slower than things have been recently. Please pray for good sleep, some rest, and relaxation.

Tonight we already have a great opportunity to see one of Amy's best friends from college. Jaci is coming down from Denver to Palmer Lake to visit with us!

PILAT - to Colorado Springs --- Drill Practice

Today was a very interesting day. We arrived, no problem to Colorado Springs and Dwight Gradin (the director of PILAT) picked us up from the airport. He took us to their (his wife Barbara) lovely home and we had a delicious Sunday dinner with them.

Dwight suggested a brief Sunday nap (Amy did homework, I worked on mapping PILAT audio files to their drill numbers) and then we practiced drills together. It was really quite fun, but 2.5 hours of producing just language sounds can stymie the minds of the world's best linguists. I'm a geek about language and Amy is a chemist. I don't think it's fair that she's so good at this when I still get confused between n-u-c-l-e-a-r and n-u-c-u-l-a-r. She's just brilliant. Men, it's smart to marry up.

(Amy says, "hi" to you all as she labors away with the sweat of her brow and a bit of elbow grease on her Russian homework - I joined her today and read an entire chapter in my Russian book too -- it was really nice to be honest)

PILAT - to Denver

Amy and I are on another adventure right now. We're heading out to Colorado Springs (Palmer Lake to be precise) to help with PILAT training. It's at Mission Training International, which is where we met in 2006! We're really excited to be out here helping out. Mostly it sounds like we'll be drillers and sharing stories of language learning on the field.

What's a driller? We're the people who work with a small group helping them learn how to make sounds that aren't part of the normal 44 sounds of English. So we're sorta like the discussion leader or graduate assistant in a class.

Our flight path took us from Detroit to Denver and then on to Colorado Springs. The flight from Denver to Colorado Springs was overbooked, so we ended up staying overnight in Denver at a hotel (for free!)

... and the Lord's blessings have already begun for this trip. We also got FREE vouchers to fly anywhere in the continental U.S. round trip. Translation - free trip. Amy's going to get her dream vacation of somewhere sunny and it's paid for!

God is so good to us.

Updates on Russian politics and our departure

I don't usually just add posts from other sources - but this is just an update on the political situation in Russia. Please be praying. Amy & I are going to be in Russia on a educational visas - so this shouldn't directly affect us. Thank you for your prayers.

http://www.MNNonline.org/article/11048

Amy & I are both amazed and how quickly time has flown. We're leaving on Friday for 2 weeks in Colorado Springs working with Mission Training International at their language acquisition module called PILAT. We'll be helping to teach - you'll hear from us on the blog I'm sure - and we're excited about that time. Please pray for Amy especially during this time as she's missing 2 weeks of class and scanning & emailing her homework to her professor. She'll be returning just in time for the last 2 days of class and her exams. (Did I mention that Amy had to speak with her professor for 20 minutes on Monday for her Oral Exam? She received Advanced marks for her grade! I'm bursting with pride at how well she's done - God gave her the talent, and she's working hard --- it's so nice that it's paying off!)

I have only 1.5 months of work left at UM, prior to our final month in the States. In June we'll be wrapping up affairs with the house (please pray for renters or buyers) and then we'll be visiting family/friends for goodbyes. We'll also be in D.C. for the General Assembly meeting where Amy will have her final interview with World Outreach.

It's amazing to think that heading to Russia in June will provide us a small breather!

Housing market in Ann Arbor

pray pray pray pray

We got our first email regarding someone who might be interested in renting our house... please pray that they would want it and it would be a DONE deal!

New York City! - Day 3

My birthday has never spanned 4 days before! (well, maybe in Russia, I did get to celebrate several times....)

We started off just like Saturday... sleeping in! Yes! We needed the sleep. Then we got ready, grabbed New York City Bagels with cream cheese and cucumbers and headed off to Easter Service!

What a treat. We went to Redeemer Presbyterian Church where Dr. Tim Keller shared the sermon entitled, "Mary!" (unfortunately for sale) It was incredible.

I think the most profound items from the sermon for me were:

1. upon his resurrection, Jesus first appeared to a woman. during that time in history, it would have made more logical sense for him to appear to a man, but he chose to appear to a woman. not just any woman, but one who had been possessed of multiple demons.
   
2. mary didn't recognize Jesus, just like so many of us. He had to call her name, because he DOES know her, just as he knows all of us. He but called her name, and she immediately realized it was he.
   

After the service, we headed off to lunch and Young Frankenstein. This show was a special treat as I've been a BIG fan of Roger Bart for a long time and he's the lead role. It's also incredible because it's the WHOLE original cast. So Sutton Foster (a highschool classmate of friend Matt Bressie), Megan Mullally, Christopher Fitzgerald, and Shuler Hensley were all THERE!
Following the show, we bolted for the airport and made it in plenty of time, because our flight was delayed for 5 HOURS! Amy got LOTS of homework done, and we talked in Russian for quite some time preparing for her Oral Exam on Monday.

- and the special homeward bound surprise... first class seats on the way home.

Easter

The singular greatest day of the year. On this day some 2000 years ago, the Universe changed forever. Most Christians seem to think that Christmas is the holiday to celebrate - and I do love presents. And it is the day Jesus was born (well, you know, when we celebrate it in America and some other countries). But, Easter is the one that makes the difference.

When I think of denial of self, I think of things like, "should I eat this cupcake?", "maybe another mile and I can push a little harder," or if I'm really denying self, "I should send some money to someone in need," or "my time could really make a difference if I spent it in service."

No - I'm talking real self denial here. Knowing that I need to forgo every temptation, every desire to be selfish, to do what I want, when I want... and to go to the extreme measure and give my very life in the most gruesome way... I wish I could say that I would have done the same - that I have the character to resist myself that much... I know I couldn't have done what Jesus did for me.

I seriously just struggle not having more chocolate. I don't mean to be irreverent here. I really am just learning that although I have discipline, I have a long way to go - and a lot more to learn about living for others.

Bless Amy for putting up with me - I'm trying!

The Lion King

Amy & I got a backstage tour of the Lion King. A personal, just us, backstage tour. Amy's friend, Katy, has a cousin who BUILT the hydrolics...

Here we are with a Wildebeast mask

This is the stage managers desk

New York City! - Day 2

Perhaps the second perfect day in my life! We slept in and started off the day with a run in Central Park! The image to the left can be clicked to enlarge it, the red line is what we ran, and the green line is what we walked out. According to Google Pedometer - we ran about 1.5 miles to get to the park, then we ran 3 miles in the park, and walked about 2 miles out. Then 1.5 miles back to our hotel. It was a wonderful start to our day. It was so sunny.

In the afternoon, I saw another show while Amy did some homework and got us tickets to see Curtains in the evening! I love 1/2 price tickets.

In between shows, we had an incredible opportunity. Amy's friend and former roommate (Katy) has a cousin working in New York... on the Lion King (see separate post). So he gave us a personalized tour backstage. He's the hydrolics genius who built the automated pride rock that lifts out of the stage!

We topped the evening off with dessert from the Roxy Delicatessen. I recommend it, but get the cheesecake.

I've never had a birthday like this in my life! It's been so wonderful and relaxing .. and FUN.

New York City!

Amy has officially gone over the top as the award winner of the Best Wife of the Year award. For my birthday she arranged for some wonderful gifts (a new jotter blotter! new headphones! Running Shorts! and a sweet pack of items for our trip to New York City!)

She found this really cool little pack of cards - 52 adventures in New York City. Well, we won't get to all 52, but I'm excited about trying a few of them!

So we got up this morning at 4:30 am - headed off to the airport and almost missed our flight! Seems like I don't anticipate the little things that sometimes happen --- like the shuttle taking longer than expected. SO, we made the flight (by running across the terminal) but our luggage didn't make it.

So we waited in the airport for several hours and our luggage finally joined us.

We started our New York City day at the South Street Seaport. There's a TKTS location there where you can buy 1/2 price tickets to Broadway shows!

Here's the hint of the year for you Broadway fans (you can buy Friday evening shows AND Saturday afternoon matinées at this location. BUT - the same tickets are NOT released at South Street Seaport and Times Square. So if you're looking for something and they don't have it... you might be able to get it at the Times Square location.

There weren't a whole lot of options available as we were there later than we had planned. But there were tickets available for A Chorus Line! What an awesome show for Amy's first Broadway show!

We had New York Cheesecake for dessert afterwards!

What a sensational birthday!

Name Anagram - my birthday!

So I got a birthday card at work yesterday... and to my surprise, my name, written in cursive looks nearly the same upside down! (just JEFF) so the 'e' was a little large and the first 'f' was a little small... but that's pretty cool.

It's my birthday! I'm really excited to be able to celebrate this day with my wife in our first year of marriage - we're going to be traveling this weekend, the posts next week are going to blow your mind about how awesome our weekend was!

Hiatus...

Sorry I haven't written in a while. You can pretty much tell when life is overwhelming me, because I don't have time or the brain power to write anything.

This week has been really wonderful and hard. It's been an emotional roller coaster as Amy and I have tried to decide about renting or selling the house (we're leaning toward renting) - as we try to put together emails and letters to contact all of our supporters to communicate our departure date (June 30) and to ask folks to start the financial support process again (we're just shy about $1000/ monthly right now).

It's also the week of my birthday (tomorrow). So I've been receiving cards, emails, calls, and lots and lots of cake. Amy made a milk chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting that melted in your mouth and your heart. We had a wonderful date night on Tuesday with a trip to the movies (saw Juno). And this weekend is a surprise trip to New York for a last American hurrah with Broadway in the mix! Pray for good 1/2 price tickets.

Work feels a bit strange, because my job is posted and I'm really starting to wrap things up. I can't believe how quickly this year has passed. Only 2.5 more months.

New Life

Amy found this and it brought us both such joy... I had to share.

A new Blog

I've been toying with this idea for quite some time. I've created a new blog. It's a question blog. Good questions - not necessarily any answers. I find that asking questions, thinking about questions, etc has made me a better person. Maybe we can be better together.

introducing:

Questions for Thinking

I'll try to post a new question each week.

rss feed addiction

i might just have an rss feed addiction. or maybe it's an information addiction. i just can't seem to get enough information into my system. yet, i don't know why i seem to feel i need more. is it my nature as an american consumer? i don't know. i just seem to love knowing more and more. i realized this was a problem when i was searching for new feeds when i already don't have enough time to read the ones i'm subscribed to

just read an article on lifehack.org that shares about productivity as a function of discipline. without discipline, we can't be productive.

i've been discovering over the past months that productivity is a huge part of who i am at my core. i'm not sure why - is it my nature as a man? is it some small part of my flourishing type a personality?

my thoughts are all over today - sorry.

i'm listening to the new Shawn McDonald album, Roots. It's amazing.

this post is brought to you by the number 6 and the color orange

I ran six miles yesterday. yes, six. my wife right beside me the whole way. she's just an incredible bundle of encouragement when we run.

you see, i go through this transformation when i run. i really do like it, especially the fact that i'm exercising - but somehow, i become this whiny, complaining, hungry, little boy when i run.

and i really need to set my expectations well. 'cause it's not pretty when 4 miles accidentally becomes 4.7. i'm not nice when we insert a tempo run in this 3 miler that i thought was just a 3 miler.

but yesterday was really nice. really nice. amy talked to me the whole time. it was nice, not because it was a distraction from the running, but i really got to hear her thoughts on everything. i like that. i like talking to her.

she's the best. i know that you're thinking, "maybe my wife's the best." or even, "maybe i'm the best." but in this case. you are wrong. my wife is the best and i'm really glad that i met her and that she captured my heart and that we're married

Captivated

from the new Shawn McDonald album, Roots - i heard this for the first time just prior to running outside for an hour. my heart is full

captivated

when I look into the mountains, I see Your fame,
when I look into the night sky, it sparkles Your name

the wind in the clouds and the blue in the sky,
the sun and the moon and the stars so high
that's what draws me to You

[chorus]
I am, I'm captivated by You
(You know that You do)
I am, I'm captivated

when I wake unto the morning, it gives me Your sights,
when I look across the ocean, it echoes Your mights

the sand on the shore and the waves in the sea,
[Captivated lyrics on http://www.metrolyrics.com]

the air in my lungs and the way You made me
that's what draws me to You

[chorus x2]

the wind in the clouds and the blue in the sky,
the sun and the moon and the stars so high,
the sand on the shore and the waves in the sea,
the air in my lungs and the way You made me,

the blood in my veins and my heart You invade,
the plants how they grow and the trees in the shade,
the way that I feel and the love in my soul,
I thank You my God for letting me know

[chorus x2]

losing my mind

So, I'm about to go computer geek.

Daylight savings time has absolutely messed up my calendar! I sync my calendar with a pocket pc. At work we use Microsoft Outlook 2007. At home I have 2003. On my pocket pc I have pocket Outlook... this means three computers are interacting.... Microsoft very very very poorly coded the Outlook calendar and in the newer versions have not corrected their mistakes in the system.

So there's a patch. But the patch won't install on my computer.

I've lost additional hair this morning. I'm not even kidding. I have events that are spanning multiple days. I have events that are happening an hour earlier than they're supposed to be. I've rebooted and rebooted and rebooted. I'm usually a very patient person, but it's been over an hour of NOTHING accomplished.

I'm practicing deep breathing exercises and praying. I think I might listen to music while I decompress and try again.

Bursting with Pride

Can you believe this!? This is Amy's progress report from her professor:

It has been very gratifying to have you in the class. You are a very enthusiastic and talented student who is driven to succeed and work hard to achieve goals. Your attendance in this class has been perfect. You have also been submitting all assignments in a timely fashion. thoroughly completed and checked with the keys. You also are the most active participant in all class discussions and at co-curricular activities, initiating conversations, contributing great ideas and being an intrepid speaker. Due to your commitment and exemplary work ethic you have progressed immensely this semester, which has been reflected in consistently excellent results on all tests and quizzes, averaging at perfect 102% on them. Your skills, both active and passive ahve been developing very steadily. As the midterm oral exam accurately and coherently, while displaying a sizable vocabulary, excellent oral comprehension and cultural knowledge. This term has also seen your writing and reading skills flourish - you picked up both speed and accuracy in these areas. Your last composition was almost flawless too.

Overall, outstanding performance in all areas. If the semester were to end today, you would pass the proficiency exam with flying colors and would ear A/A+ for the course. Great job!

PS She's being very humble, and isn't so excited that I'm sharing this with all of you!

Mission Statement

Amy & I prayed and wrote a mission statement for our work in Russia. It was suggested to us that it would be really helpful as we try to decide where to focus our energies to have a mission statement. So.... here it is!

Jeff & Amy are called to the advancement of the Gospel in Russia through one-on-one discipleship and group study with young men and women. With a special heart for orphans and the lost, Amy & Jeff hope to introduce the youth of Russia to a personal relationship with Christ. Jeff & Amy strive to help youth establish a strong spiritual foundation and empower young believers to reach out within their communities and the world.

Mud, spackling, and Primer

The house is a shambles, our nerves are holding out, and the paneling is nearly gone. The walls are mudded, sanded, and part of the first coat of primer is on the walls. Hopefully by the end of the weekend the Living Room Renovation will be complete.

Here's the south wall (before)

The southwest corner (before)

and the north wall (with primer)

The bathroom renovation

The pepto bismol pink gets to stay, but the faucets are leaking and the moisture has bubbled part of the wall in the bathroom. We already painted in here and put in a new light fixture, but there is more to be done! Thank God (and I really mean that as sincerely as possible) for Butch the plumber. Not only did he do a great job, but his prices are excellent.

Bubbling wall repaired!The new faucets! (no leaking!)

New shower head - nice stream, but we miss the wand

Check out our prayer needs!

The list at the right has some updated prayer requests. We really do appreciate and covet your prayers. Here's a little list right now:

• we're really trying to figure out if we should rent or sell our house. we're fixing it up right now (translation: putting money into the house, carpet, paint, plumbers, etc) the market is really bad in ann arbor - so we don't know if it's smarter to rent or sell. please pray for wisdom.
• we're trying to figure out priorities. I'm frankly overwhelmed with the number of things that we have to do and decide. where should we store our things? should we paint or relax? should we just sit down and spend time together or should we be working on support development? there's just a lot. Amy's busy with her intensive Russian coursework (really busy) and I've been very busy at my UM job too.
• we received our new terms of call for 2008 (translation: our budget) and we have to raise quite a bit more money as a married couple and with the cost of living and inflation rates in Russia. So we're at a $1000/mo deficit right now.
• i've been working on the process and procedure to replace myself at UM. Please pray that the right person will be found for the role. I really want to leave the department in strong and capable hands.
  

Spaghetti

On Saturday night, we had a delicious pasta dinner with tomato meat sauce and a vegetarian alfredo. It was served with Farfalle (bowtie) pasta. It was topped off with an incredible cake, created by Angie and the chocolate layers were interspersed with PEANUT BUTTER frosting! The second half of the cake was vanilla frosting....

On Sunday after we spoke at New Hope in Clay City, Laura made spaghetti with meat sauce for us. It was also delicious with homemade garlic bread. Noah (our 1 year old nephew) really enjoyed trying to feed himself.

Last night, Sara whipped out her skills as a high cuisine chef and made an incredible hot italian sausage cream sauce mixed with sundried tomatoes tossed with cayenne pepper and baby shells.

I'm glad I like pasta...

New Hope

This morning Amy and I spoke at a new church! It's in Clay City, Indiana and our brother-in-law is that pastor there. It was a blessing on so many levels. We had an entire 30 minutes to share and speak with the congregation. It was so wonderful to be able to share with them about our calling to Russia and the work there. They had so many questions! Everything from average monthly income, information about alcohol and abortion, what ages kids are when they go to school, and how could they help!

It sounds like they might be planning on joining us as a supporting institution! This is exciting news as Amy and I have nearly an additional $1000 to raise monthly at this point. Our new prayer cards should be ready soon. If you're not on our mailing list and you'd like to be to receive prayer updates and newsletters comment on this post and give us your name, address, and email. We'll make sure to add you!

Flexibility - a piece of my own medicine

So, I almost always share with mission teams that, "flexibility is our friend and expectation is our enemy." It's a really good motto - especially when you're moving across the world, or taking a family of 8 to Siberia, or a group of 11 high school students.

Sometimes we work and plan and plan and work and our best efforts are thwarted by circumstances. And because of other things going on in our lives (like searching for your replacement at work, having the walls of your house stripped of wallpaper - but not yet painted, plumbers coming, and leaving town for the weekend to visit family, celebrate birthdays, speak at churches..........

....... aaaaaaaargh.

Amy and I need to learn to say no better. And with just one year in the States, it's really hard. When do you say no? To family? To work? To Mission? To relaxation? To repairing the house to sell (or rent?)

....... aaaaaaaargh. (the screaming helps)

It's late, I'm overwhelmed, and probably just overreacting. I NEVER exaggerate.

I'll instead quote some favorite song lyrics - "Days" by Ayiesha Woods

Don't you wish that every day was an easy day
And there was nothing that you couldn't do
But if every day was an easy day
You'd never be able to say that Jesus brought you through

That's the best thing about today - Jesus brought me though. So I'll be here again tomorrow and there will be a smile on my face. It does rock to be following after God who understands.

Oh - and the best news of the day... 7 happily married months.

Binge Chilling

I just read an article forwarded to me by my supervisor about Balance at Work. It was really interesting especially because it pointed out that many folks are choosing to NOT advance at work to higher level positions, because of the sacrifices required at home or in their personal lives!

Balance? It's a foreign word to most people. It's something that Amy and I are constantly striving for. We actually sat down in January and made a 5 month calendar to BLOCK off some weekends and nights to just be together and chill at home.

And we're struggling to do it. This weekend is one of the 'black x' weekends in our calendar. We've been invited to participate in at least SIX activities this weekend, and we feel like we've done a good job choosing to not do some of them... but others we are STILL doing... so much for BLACK X's...

How do we make priorities and resolve the issue when our priorities are in conflict. Amy and I are home for just one year and our priority is on our spiritual lives, our marriage, and connecting with family and friends while we're home. But we are still very involved in ministry work (Amy spends about 35 hours a week with Russian lessons and homework).

Sorry - I feel like I'm about to step up on the soap box... the point of this post is to share:

"Indeed, balancing work and life may not be as difficult as you think. I recently learned about a great concept called binge chillin'. They say that to binge chill (BC) is to do whatever you want, as long as it is not work-related, for a minimum of 24 hours-without guilt!" - from NASPA Forum

I think that Binge Chillin' is what Amy and I had planned for the Black X days -- but I'm not sure that Binge anything is really healthy for us... it's just catching us up from an unhealthy lifestyle with TOO much in it.

We need to plan times for our spouses, families, friends - ourselves, and most importantly the reflective, introspective time we all need with God.

Valentine's Day

I woke up this morning to a shock. Amy leaped in front of the stairs at the bottom of the stairway. I almost fell down. She was justified in doing so - because she was preparing breakfast in bed for me! And I had already gotten out of bed (you know, getting up and ready for work?)

She's SO wonderful. So my valentine's day started with heart shaped pancakes and sausage!

I guarantee you that I'm the world's luckiest and most blessed husband.

Miracles and praises!

Ok y'all. Last Wednesday, Amy got in the car to drive to Bible study and it didn't start. Perhaps a sign that she was supposed to stay home and do some studying and hang out around the house working on projects (you should see how much wallpaper she can remove in a few hours!)

So she tried it again and it wouldn't start. We called a tow company and they said it would be a few hours. She tried it several times - and it wouldn't start. So we got on the phone and prayed together. The car started! I'm not kidding. She tried multiple times - and it wasn't because she flooded the engine or anything like that. She wasn't even pressing on the gas!

Yes God! He rocks.

Sustanance - what we really need to keep going

I'm continuing in my study of the names of God and I'm just continually blown away at how awesome it is to experience a new aspect of God (for me). The power of another language to capture concepts that we don't have in English continues to encourage and compel me to learn more.

Today's study continues with the name, "Adonay - Lord, Master" -- I was just reminded through reading today that:

Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me. (Psalm 54:4)

So often I forget when times are hard and difficult, that we don't have to go through them alone. Not only is God there to sustain us, but His people are here to be His hands and feet too.

Entropy - a physics lesson

Entropy "...is a measure of the unavailability of a system's energy to to work." This isn't a jbrake original idea. Not by any means. I last studied physics in high school more than a decade ago (yikes - nearly two decades). I heard about this concept while speaking at the men's prayer breakfast at Cornerstone in Brighton. One of the men, Richard Brown came up to me and shared this illustration.

If you have a large bowl (like the kind that your mom used to have that she always kept fruit in) and you were to drop a ping-pong ball in the bowl, where does it end up? It comes to rest in the bottom of the bowl. It finds the place of rest in the bowl - and without an external force, the ping-pong ball will stay at the bottom of the bowl.

It is the place of comfort. It is the place of rest. But we are not called to live our lives in a place of rest and a place of comfort. We are challenge to move past our personal comfort to a place where we can make an impact on the world for the good. The breath of God is needed to move the ping-pong ball beyond its comfort zone.

Breathe on me breath of God...

Names of God

I've been doing a study of the names of God - it was inspired by a conversation that I had with Tom (Robinson). He was talking about how the relationships we have in our lives change - even the names that we use to refer to people change. He used the example of Ruth Ann, his wife. When they first met, they were just work colleagues. Then they became friends. They started dating and they were boyfriend and girlfriend. Then engaged and fiances. Married, they are husband and wife. Along the way, casual friends become best friends, confidants, inseparable, united.

I started thinking and I realized that God is so complex that there isn't just a single word for Him in Hebrew or Aramaic or Greek...

I wanted to know more about how He's referred to in the original languages of the Bible.

So far, I've learned the following names of God:

• Elohim - God, Mighty Creator
• El Roi - the God who sees me
• El Shadday - God Almighty
• El Olam - Eternal God
• Yahweh Yireh - the Lord will Provide
• Yahweh - LORD
• Adonay - Lord, Master

It has already been an incredible journey for me over the past weeks. It's a LONG study and I'll be continuing to learn more as I explore His many names. It's so fascinating to see which name is chosen to describe Him in which passages in Scripture.

Right now, I'm amazed at the differences between Yahweh and Adonay. In English they both mean 'lord.' But Yahweh is the personal name that God used to describe Himself. So it's the Hebrew word that is their most personal and sacred way of referring to Him. Many Jews will not even utter the word as a sign of respect for Him. Adonay also means lord, but in the sense of master. It sets up the relationship between God and His people. He is their master and they His servants. Isn't it awesome that there is such a loving and merciful master for us to serve?

Weather

It's a boring topic - most of the time. But this winter has been bizarre...

yesterday morning I woke up to fog, green grass, and wet ground. Amy and I ran two miles on Tuesday night. It was muddy, but not really all that cold, and certainly not snow covered.

yesterday at 3:30 I was in a meeting and there was light rain thinking about sleet.

when I got out of the meeting, there was more than an inch of snow on the ground.

it took me 40 minutes to get home (usually it's about 7 minutes).

this morning, the plows were out, it was a mess and there's snow everywhere...

it's the third or fourth time this year that there's freaky snow after warm weather...

should I shovel the driveway or just wait for it to melt? (who am I kidding, Amy shoveled last time we had snow - she's so awesome!)

Archives...

I've been writing - I promise. I'm just a little behind in posting. So get ready for a LOT of posts. Starting in February, you're probably okay - here's the WHOLE month of January.

Amy's 1/2 birthday!

Tonight was a special day for Amy! It's her 28.5 birthday. We weren't able to celebrate her birthday in the traditional fashion in August, so I planned a surprise party for her! Some friends came over and we wore 1/2 birthday hats, hung a 1/2 birthday banner, gave her 1/2 presents and 1/2 cards! It was really fun.












Then we granted her 1/2 birthday wish and spent 2.5 hours ripping wallpaper off our living room walls. Yikes. Here's photos:

LeaderShape - Day Six – Staying In Action

Excerpt from LeaderShape.org website

"On this final day, you'll prepare to return home and face your responsibilities as a LeaderShape graduate who practices the discipline of "leading with integrity." You'll learn what it means to be a part of the nationwide LeaderShape community - a network of mutual encouragement and support. A Learning Community commencement ceremony concludes the week."

What does this day mean for me? I get to see Amy!!!! It's been a WHOLE week and I'm dying to see her. It's the longest we've been apart since our engagement on two continents. We have LOTS of tears and re-entry into reality begins. It's hard for all of us to be in a supportive, encouraging environment for 6 days and then to turn around and face the word. Emails, cell phones, facebook, and a world full of busyness and demands awaits us... how well will we do staying connected to the "I" that we know we've become, to the "I" that we know we need to be becoming?

Time will tell for us all.

We have a commencement ceremony for all. Here's a picture of me speaking to the faculty for the week. They were really wonderful to work with.

I think I most enjoyed sharing with the faculty and all the students about the vision that God has for all of us. Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future." And 1 Timothy 4:12 "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity."

LeaderShape - Commencement

The final module for LeaderShape is a commencement ceremony as we all embark on our journey back to the real world. We share a final moment together as a group and the facilitators all have an opportunity to share some final remarks with the participants. I already mentioned that I shared a bit from the Bible (1 Tim 4:12), I wanted to include a few of my other remarks as well.

I was thinking about the 'gifts' that we all bring to any relationship that we form. Throughout the course of the week at LeaderShape - we share a lot of gifts, wishes, thoughts, beliefs, etc. So these are the summary points from the week for me:

"If I had only one more time to speak with y'all, what would I want to share with you?

"I thought the following would sum up our week together nicely.

"My Advice: Be Real -> remember that it's a process, but nursery magic can happen to all of us if we let it.

"My Thoughts: 1 Tim 4:12 -> although you are young, you are powerful!

"My Belief: ik che wi cha sha -> the common man whose time has come. We are all the common man, and your time has come.

"My Question: if not you, who? if not now, when?

"My Gift: you -> no one else is more qualified to be uniquely you. you have to do it.

"My wish: go to the edge:

Go to the Edge, He said
but I'm scared
Go to the Edge, He said
what if I fall?
Go to the Edge, He said
so I did.
And He pushed me.
and I flew.

My wish is that you don't stay on the ground, take the risk. and soar.

LeaderShape - Day Five – Living And Leading With Integrity

Excerpt from LeaderShape.org website

"The concept of "integrity" is a challenging one, but central to LeaderShape's philosophy of lifelong leadership development. You will discuss how core ethical values, thoughtful decisions, and courage all play critical roles in sustaining integrity and fostering trust and respect. During the afternoon, you'll have open time to discuss "burning issues" before you prepare for a creative Family Cluster LeaderShape Revue in the evening."

It's impossible to talk about this topic now-a-days. What is integrity? You have to start with a moral compass to even begin to touch this topic. So we explore our moral compass, what does it mean to be in an ethical dilemma, and what does it mean to have standards that we don't cross. It's a really good day, but very challenging.

LeaderShape - Don't be Late, Don't Forget Your Nametag

If you're late to a session, in a fun loving activity called, "cursive with your butt" participants refresh the other participants how to spell their names.

If you show up late or without your nametag, it's a problem - to encourage timeliness and name-liness participants come to the front of the room and sign their names in cursive with their derrières. It looks like this (sorry).

LeaderShape - Day Four – Bringing Vision To Reality

Excerpt from LeaderShape.org website

"A vision is only a dream unless it results in action. Three key requirements will be discussed (relationships, stretch goals, and action steps) which move a vision forward. In addition, the issue of power will be explored in a dynamic group simulation exercise."

The rubber hits the road today as we work with participants to help them take their BIG dreams of an ideal and transformed future and create concrete goals and plans to bring them into fruition. It's sometimes the toughest day at leadershape, because we encourage them to think SO big that the reality is often daunting.

Leadershape - Start with Yourself, a primer on how to change the world

The following words were written on the tomb of an Anglican Bishop in the Crypts of Westminister Abbey:

When I was young and free and my imagination had no limits, I dreamed of changing the world. As I grew older and wiser, I discovered the world would not change, so I shortened my sights somewhat and decided to change only my country.

But it, too, seems immovable.

As I grew into my twilight years, in one last desperate attempt, I settled for changing only my family, those closest to me, but alas, they would have none of it.

And now as I lie on my deathbed, I suddenly realized: If I had only changed my self first, then by example I would have changed my family.

From their inspiration and encouragement, I would then have been able to better my country and who knows, I may have even changed the world.

_______________

We can all change the world, we just have to start with ourselves... let's do it.

LeaderShape - Day Three – Challenging What Is, Looking To What Could Be

Excerpt from LeaderShape.org website

"Creating a powerful vision is one of the most important aspects of leadership! During this exciting day, you'll begin work developing your own vision for the future which defines a bold change for your community, group, cause, or organization back home.

The evening will conclude with a Guest Leader Forum and Reception. This is your opportunity to interact with significant leaders in business, education, and many different professions. Using an informal question-and-answer format, these individuals will share their insights and experiences related to the challenges of "leading with integrity.""

There are so many highlights on Day 3, that I don't know where to begin. I'll share three highpoints for me.

#1 The video the Power Of One I truly believe that within each of us lies the capability and capacity to change the world. We need more Martin Luther King, Jr's, more Mother Theresa's, and more Gandhi's to challenge us to transform our future.

#2 The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams excerpt with the participants in the hopes that it touches that part of all of us that knows we are loved, we are powerful beyond measure. We need to but tap into the love that is there for all of us (especially through God) and enact the changes that the world needs from us. We are each of us created to be a purpose for the betterment of others and the world... we need to be loved and to love in return.

#3 The Guest Leader Panel. It is so valuable for all of us to see leadership in practice in the real world. And to see leaders who are visionary, risk takers, and people of integrity is far too rare of an opportunity for all of us in our world today.

(this is a photo of a number of us 'dancing'. I think this pose is called Superman).

LeaderShape - Day Two – The Value Of One, The Power Of All

Excerpt from LeaderShape.org website

"You'll begin the second day in an experiential team-building activity. By working your way through a series of initiatives and discussions, you'll discover how relationships, trust, and problem solving can be enhanced in a supportive group setting.

Next you'll add another dimension to your self-awareness by completing a behavioral style inventory. From that information, you'll have an opportunity to set several personal goals for the week and share those with members of your Family Cluster. You'll also participate in exercises which explore the concept of "inclusive leadership" and how to create communities which value respect, openness, and diverse opinions."

Today begins the work in earnest of looking deep within ourselves to see what we're passionate about. What makes us who we are. What is the future picture of the world that I would like to see. Can I have an impact that will improve the world.


We really began to open up to each other in a very painful and honest way this evening. Especially as we explored difficult questions about inclusion like, "I witnessed an act of oppression or discrimination when..." and "I participated in an act of oppression or discrimination when..."

LeaderShape - Day One – Building Community

Excerpt from LeaderShape.org website

"You'll begin to explore what leadership means and discuss its core components. You'll meet the other participants in the "Learning Community," and you'll also join 8-12 other young adults in a group called the "Family Cluster." As your primary reference group, the Family Cluster will offer you feedback, support, and help you develop and refine your vision for the future."

What a high energy day! The faculty was pumped up and excited to meet the participants for our 6 day long intensive leadership program. As an extrovert, I know that I'm so energetic and pumped full of adrenaline that I must scare people.

The highlight of this day is often sharing the meaning of reflection as it relates to being a leader. Taking time for self-reflection and to just think in our busy world is really critical. I also love the definition of a leader that I learned from Caroline Fiskus, "ik che wi cha sha."

It's Lakota Indian and means "the common man whose time has come." The thought here is that we are all leaders in training. We are all teachers and learners. We are (or should) be in the process of discovering who we are and who we can be. Shape ourselves into the person that only we can be to be prepared for that time when we are needed.

LeaderShape - Training Day (part 2)

I'm really excited about the week that is about to come. I've just spend the day and part of the evening with the faculty for Towson LeaderShape. They are incredible individuals with life stories that inspire and tug the heart. I'm excited to work together with them for the next week.

Deb, my co-Lead for the week (see photo), has a daughter who woke up feeling ill this morning. So we were faced with our first LeaderShape dilemma. Deb had to take her to the urgent care clinic which meant that I'd be conducting faculty training solo for the day.

All went well and the missionary motto, "flexibility is my friend and expectation is my enemy" once again came into play in a major way in my life.

The training went off without a hitch and we headed off to a dinner of sushi... I ate not only california rolls, spicy tuna rolls, and monster rolls, but raw salmon, raw tuna, and raw yellowtail. The latter is like butter - so delicious.

LeaderShape - Training Day

I'm about to leave my hotel room and meet the faculty for the LeaderShape Institute. I'm really looking forward to this week talking about purpose, passion, individual strengths and differences and integrity.

Today Deb (my co-Lead) and I will be working with the faculty to give them an overview of the curriculum. It'll also start off the week of TOO much good food - most likely anyway.

If you're interested in more info about LeaderShape, check out their website.

I had an awesome surprise in my hotel room thing morning... the shampoo and soap are mint scented! One of my favorites. It's really nice in the morning, because it's such an energizing scent.

bad blogger...

I must be a bit too busy - I'm a bad blogger right now.

Be patient and I'll soon have Christmas posts and the trip to Florida online... you can look forward to hearing about LeaderShape really soon too!

Reunion

The Lord's many blessings pour down upon us! Amy and I were able to drive to Indiana to pick up a VERY special package. Helen! Helen was Amy's teammate for 7 months when Amy was working in Kenya at the CMF clinic in Ewaso Ngiro. Helen is home for a month or so while the situation in Nairobi calms down following the elections in December. It was an emotional reunion for both of them. We had a marvelous time together. We ate our way through Ann Arbor (we had Vietnamese, Bubble tea, Cracker Barrel, Macaroni Grill, and OUTBACK!) It was really a highlight of the year for us already to host Helen and help her to transition into her time in the States.i

Expanding my Culniary Horizons

Amy & I safely made it home! Our flights were ALL on time and we had only a one hour layover in Atlanta. It was incredible, everything went off without a hitch!

We're pretty tired from all the excitement, but it was worth every moment!

We got home and Amy thought it would be fun to try some new food - so we launched into some Vietnamese cuisine... it was really quite delicious. We had Pho (a traditional beef soup) and then we had Goi Rolls (lettuce, shrimp, rice noodles all wrapped up in rice paper). I think the highlight for me was this really tasty peanut butter sauce.

Really anything with peanut butter makes me happy.

Good ol' fashioned Disney fun

Amy and I had fun with these shots:Finally a cup of Coffee with enough caffeine.

Disney Bride and Groom (we saw more than a few of them)

Epcot Center

Around the World in less than a day! Epcot is a great park and educational too.

We started off with the SOARING exhibit at the Land and saw the hydroponics gardens (look at the Micky shaped pumpkin!

Then it was off to Mexico. You'll see dad showing off here.

Amy and I battled a troll in Norway.

The day wouldn't be complete without a Bit-Of-Britain and a red phone booth in England.

And we wrapped up our evening with French Pastries before the fireworks show!

Relaxing in the Rain

Today was a great day. We just spent the whole day relaxing with mom & dad at the park where they have their camper. We relaxed, ate, did a bit of laundry and just passed the day talking. We toured around a little bit in the car and had a marvelous pork dinner! The picture above is mom & dad in their new camper! It's killing them that they don't actually take possession of it until April!

Beaches are Romantic Places

I'm not sure much text is required for this post. Tarpon Springs, Florida. The subjects are Amy and myself, mom and dad.

Grandpa's Birthday!

Today we celebrated Grandpa's birthday (a few days early!) We went to a really great shrimp place (nothing like fresh seafood!) and we gifted him with a new stereo that can play his XM radio. Dad and I spent a few minutes (well, more than a few) getting everything hooked up - but in the long run, after a bit of furniture moving, we got everything working.

Florida!

We're in Florida and LOVIN IT!


This is the image that greeted us when we arrived! Mom & Dad (and Snow White)

Tomorrow we'll be with Grandpa and Jean and go to Tarpon Springs and see the Sponge Docks. Then it'll be off to Epcot Center at Walt Disney World!

PS just finished reading Hebrews - I really love ch 11, 12 and 13!

Improvisational Workouts

Amy and I are training for the mini marathon (13.1 miles) in Indianapolis on May 3. We started the training on Sunday this week and every day is laid out for us to have something to do in order to be prepared for the mini. Even the rest days are chosen for you.

So - we were supposed to have a cross training day and lift weights or something, and I wasn't feeling very well and I didn't want to go to the gym. So we created a make-shift at home weight system...

Have you ever lifted weights by just increasing the repetitions with a lighter weight? I'm telling you that you can be sore by lifting cans of peas and corn.

That's right - we used canned vegetables. I think it was incredible insight when Amy thought to use canned goods.

Podcasting - work related

So I was asked to put together a podcast for a panel discussion that happened last semester. I was editing the audio to make it sound better and so that the file would be about 1/2 the size it currently was.

And there was this pesky white noise that I couldn't get out of the audio. I turned the volume way up, looks at wavelength amplitude - kept searching and couldn't see a thing... but I could hear it.

It was awful...

Then, I stopped listening to the audio file to grab a print out. I came back and there was still white noise.

It was the bubbles in my pop can.

Sometimes when we seek the problem we need to take all environmental factors into consideration!

Pouring Rain

It's pouring buckets! It's January 7th! It was 65 degrees today in Ann Arbor! There's a potential flood warning because of the expected water and the snow melt together. Whoa.

Shaving Tip!

So I don't think I've ever posted a blog like this before, but I'd like to share a really amazing tip with you all. (especially the guys).

Amy and I were at Walmart on Friday and I picked up a little bottle called, "Shave Secret." I tried it out on Saturday - I hadn't shaved in 2 days. I had a new razor blade, and nothing super fancy (Gillette Sensor Excel (only 2 blades)).

Smoothest shave EVER. No cuts, no nicks, no burning, amazing.

I wanted to share. I believe in the close shave, but the burning, red irritation isn't my favorite part.

in one 24 hour period...

We drove home from Indianapolis
We shoveled the driveway
We went back to work/ school
We ripped up carpet in the great room, small bedroom, staircase & hallway

--- we're tired. But the carpet is being installed as I type. I'll post pictures soon.

I've been ranked

for those that know about the facebook trend sweeping the universe - I'm on facebook and I mostly use it for work and staying connected with friends and former students at Michigan and from Turning Point (the youth group at church).

I've been ranked by the peeps and here's how I've come out:

17th better hair (are you kidding - I'm balding!)
20th more creative
22nd prettier eyes (I used to be 18th)
24th funnier
27th a better profile picture
39th rather be trapped on a desert island with
52nd better taste in music

Back at work.

Sometimes life is really funny and ironic.

Yesterday on the drive back to Ann Arbor from Indianapolis, I was in a melancholy funk. I didn't really know why I was down - just heading home from a great break, beautiful wife by my side, wonderful family, a calling and mission in life, great job, food, shelter....

... my soul must have just known what was coming... (I'm just building dramatic effect here).

So I came in to work early this morning - with no keys. So I couldn't get in the office. So I went down to the information center to work behind the desk for a while - noticed that the plasma screen computer is missing - it was stolen over break.

I'll deal with that in a bit.

Got an email from someone about a work matter that we've been waiting to hear back for a couple of months and they said, "no" - all signs had been aiming toward "yes."

I'll deal with that too.

I finally realized that our office manager wasn't going to be in until Monday and that she wouldn't be letting me in to my office. So I had to find another way in.

Got in.

Couldn't remember my password.

Remembered it.

Welcome to 2008. I'm going to turn around as the day goes on - I always do.

I forgot my USB drive too - my files are somewhere at home and I'm at work.

LOL - I like the irony.

Coming Home!

1) over the next day or so, I'll be updating the blog with our adventures over the Christmas Break in Washington state. check back frequently!

2) We arrived home this evening to an amazing sight. Yes, over a foot of snow! In our driveway... So - we shoveled. And shoveled. And shoveled. And decided to shovel only the half that we needed to get the car in.

Then we unpacked all of our gear from Christmas.

Then we moved furniture. (we're getting carpet on Friday)

Then we went shopping. (no food in the house!)

Then we ate some pizza.

Then we took down the Christmas decorations. (and watched Gilmore Girls)

Then we went up to bed.

--- we were so rested from the break --- now we're tired again. :(

Being Real

One of my favorite stories of all time is the Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams. I think that this excerpt below is the crux of the story and that we should all take it's lesson to heart. What does it mean to be real? Do I have the strength and courage that it takes to be loved so fiercely that my hair and whiskers might fall off? If I allow myself to be so loved, what would I be able to attempt to change myself or the world? How could I make an impact that makes our world a better place?

EXCERPT - Velveteen Rabbit

The Skin Horse had lived longer in the nursery than any of the others. He was so old that his brown coat was bald in patches and showed the seams underneath, and most of the hairs in his tail had been pulled out to string bead necklaces. He was wise, for he had seen a long succession of mechanical toys arrive to boast and swagger, and by-and-by break their mainsprings and pass away, and he knew that they were only toys, and would never turn into anything else. For nursery magic is very strange and wonderful, and only those playthings that are old and wise and experienced like the Skin Horse understand all about it.

"What is REAL?" asked the Rabbit one day, when they were lying side by side near the nursery fender, before Nana came to tidy the room. "Does it mean having things that buzz inside you and a stick-out handle?"

"Real isn't how you are made," said the Skin Horse. "It's a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real."

"Does it hurt?" asked the Rabbit.

"Sometimes," said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. "When you are Real you don't mind being hurt."

"Does it happen all at once, like being wound up," he asked, "or bit by bit?"

"It doesn't happen all at once," said the Skin Horse. "You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand."

"I suppose you are real?" said the Rabbit. And then he wished he had not said it, for he thought the Skin Horse might be sensitive. But the Skin Horse only smiled.

"The Boy's Uncle made me Real," he said. "That was a great many years ago; but once you are Real you can't become unreal again. It lasts for always."

The Rabbit sighed. He thought it would be a long time before this magic called Real happened to him. He longed to become Real, to know what it felt like; and yet the idea of growing shabby and losing his eyes and whiskers was rather sad. He wished that he could become it without these uncomfortable things happening to him.

The year in Review

This is a gift I was given by Angie, dear dear friend of my lovely bride.

I share it with you to reflect on your year.

Year in Review

• What is the current condition of my heart?
• What am I, at my root layer, feeling, sensing, fearing, hoping?
• Am I worshipping more completely as a lifestyle than last year? Or two years ago?
• Marriage: Is there increased intimacy with my spouse – have we grown closer together, or added layers of scar tissue? Have I loved accurately? How have I love accurately?
• How is the Enemy nipping at my heels? / What has he lured me with? / What do I want to be set free from?
• What did this past Advent & Christmas season teach me about the nature of God/ others/ myself?
• How did God/ Jesus/ Spirit reveal their presence to me throughout the year? Draw or describe or list or create a poem of these encounters.
• What practices/ disciplines are currently nourishing my soul…moving me toward Kingdom action? Have I retreated well? …[Retreat means little when action is detached.]
• 3 Films – The ones that impacted my core/ challenged my identity or simply caused me to laugh: Characters I related with/ to & Why?
• Music that STIRRED (live shows/ top 3-5 discs/ songs/ lyrics) my blood or caused my toes to tap.
• Recall some of the elements that make me (us) come ALIVE??? “The glory of God is man fully Alive”
• List the areas/ experiences/ activities/ people that have poured Life into me and vice verse
• Timothy Relationships: Am I mentoring young Timothy’s who are in turn mentoring others?
• Am I investing into David-Jonathon/ ‘Philios’ relationships as if it were “ministry life insurance”?
• The specific items or times that sparked something inside me and others…
• ReDefinE ministry/ Church/ Kingdom after the experiences of this season.
• Most interesting individual(s) I met this year and why
• 3-5 books that Inspired/ Equipped/ Intrigued/ Humored
• My favorite sporting moment was…
• 2/3 Salt & Light Moments that marked this past year:
• Is my (our) lifestyle and ministry increasingly impacting the “least of these’? Have I loved accurately?
• Can I (we) share a recent story of someone walking into a faith pilgrimage with Christ?
• 1 or 2 areas where I just dropped the ball:
• Now think: Practical Implications for both of these areas (What can I do now to serve the community around me more accurately?)
• In a phrase or two, what was last years statement (what was this year’s most apparent life lesson/ principle)?
• Favorite Group Moments/ Community Encounter(s)
• What God given dream(s) am I nurturing?
• Try to recall the Highlights/ Lowlights of each month
• My most painful/ sorrowful moments were when… My most joyous occasions were when…
• What was I consumed with this past year? / What dominated my time?
• What does a more holistic schedule look like practically speaking?
• Where am I wasting time? / Where am I wasting other people’s time?
• Conclusions/ Realizations/ Implications based on reviews
• Assess strengths/ weaknesses/ where support needs to come from
• List just a few GOALS & action steps for the next year