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