CHRISTMAS FOR SEAN

This is Sean's 3rd Christmas with us, but the first one we believe he understands what's going on, and has really gotten into. 

HUNTING

A few weeks ago was the Ohio youth hunting weekend. Myself and two other dads took our kids out for a day of deer hunting. About an hour after lunchtime, Will and I spotted a deer close emough for Will to get a shot at it. Good news is he hit it, bad news is not enough to kill it. We spent 2-3 hours tracking that deer and never found it. I was assured the coyotes would get it. Though not growing up a hunter myself, I do enjoy getting out a couple of days a year, whether we see anything or not.

THE NRA WILL SEE YOU NOW

Will has been busy teaching Sean a few things.

PHOTO MAGIC

Found a new feature I'm going to enjoy using for my photos. The photo of the buggy is mine, the wall is not.

(click to enlarge)

(original)

                                                       

PONDERING

WHAT GOOD IS GOD?

This has been a great book to read. Though I already know the answer to the title, I was more drawn to the book by it's subtitle: In Search of a Faith the Matters.
I believe many who take their faith seriously, or desire to, want to make their faith matter. Yancey starts each chapter with a story about Christians living out their faith around the world and here in the U.S., usually in the most difficult situations, followed by the text of a speech/talk he gave to a group of people living out their faith in those circumstances-to be an encouragement to them. I've been most challenged by the contrast of people I read about and how differently I live my life. The fact that I live in a culture so dominated by everything superficial, it is hard not to be drawn in by all the trappings our society offers, to become a participant in things that don't matter. Galatians 5:17-18 reminds us there is always a constant fight between the Spirit and the sinful nature, something I sort of take comfort in...meaning, what I experience in my thoughts and desires is not unusual but common to everyone. Still, there is that constant tug that can be overwhelming at times.
All that to say, this read book has been a challenge to continue to re-evaluate what my goals, desires and life should be about.

ALL ON HIS OWN

Today my son:

-emptied the dishwasher
-set the dinner table
-put a new trash bag in the can
-and would have vacuumed the living room had we asked.

Oh, did I mention it was my 4 year old son.

NOTHING NEW

Wish I had more to say. I'm on the road this week in Indiana, next week, not so sure yet, and hopefully things wind down for the rest of the year. Travel has been crazy this last month and I'm ready for a break.
That's it...I told you I didn't have anything new, but thought I should fill up some digital space just to let you know I'm still here.

GREAT READS

For some reason, I've been reading three books this past week that in one way or another, can be sad and depressing...yet have a very powerful story/message.

1. Shattered by Frank Pastore: A baseball pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds in the early 80's, he was living the life as the world often defines it until he is hit by a ball in his pitching elbow-a hit that brings his baseball career to an end. He recounts his growing up years with a terrible mother who always slammed his dad, taught Frank there was no God, and manipulated people and the system for her own selfish reasons. Yet, through the experience of having his elbow shattered and a series of other events, he comes to Christ, yet still has to deal with his future, and repairing any relationship he may have with his parents.

2.The Lost Boy, by David Pelzer: This was probably the hardest book to read. It's a story of a boy growing up in the foster care system in California, during the late 60's and early 70's. Unbelievable stories of how a mother could treat her own child, and how Dave managed to navigate his way through anger, misunderstanding and rise above his circumstances.

3. The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch: Though I'm not completely finished with this title, I'm convinced with a few chapters left that it will be one of the better books I've read. Randy knew he had 3-6 months left to live due to having pancreatic cancer. As a professor at Carnegie Mellon University, he chose to give one last lecture to his students about the meaning of life and what to value most. Many worthy lessons and things to remember.

CAST

Poor guy, he only had his thumb operated on, but the cast goes way above hi elbow. Hopefully in a week or so, the doctor may reduce the size of the cast.

A DAY AT THE ZOO

SHOOTING

The day started out with Will and I joining a friend from church to go clay shooting. It was great. Will has always liked guns, and though we've shot the .22 at grandpa and grannies place, this was the first time he used my shot gun in a controlled environment. I also think we've found a hobby Will can really get into. Later, Will went with our friend to find the deer his daughter had shot earlier that morning...that was around 3:00 pm. Will didn't get home until close to 8:00 pm. Long day, but it was good according to Will.

I got home, changed clothes, and headed out with Liz and her friend Gordon to take his senior portrait. We hit a couple of locations, but there was this empty semi-trailer we happened upon, and it seemed like a cool idea for pictures...the end result is below.

TEMPLATE

I think I need to come up with a new template. I don't want to leave blogger, especially since I'm not a computer programmer, and blogger makes it pretty easy to put a blog together. So, stay tuned, maybe things will change here soon. Or maybe they won't. I think what I need more is ideas and thoughts to write down. A dry spell is going on right now.

GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE

SAN FRAN

Liz and I left Yosemite this morning and ventured into the San Francisco area...yikes. Not sure what I think of this place yet. After checking into our hotel and doing laundry, we headed out to find something to eat. By happenstance, we decided to eat at a generic pizza place situated on the corner of a small strip mall. I think I've had the best meal of the trip at Pepi's. Liz had ravioli, and I had the Cchicken Parmesan. The sauce was sweet and the chicken was perfect. Fortunately, I could only eat half and brought the rest home for a little lunch tomorrow.

We originally had set out to find watch the sunset, getting something quick to eat, but getting dinner served took too long and we managed to watch the sun set, but were driving the whole time looking for the beach. We finally found one and Liz was able to get her toes wet in the Pacific ocean. On our way back to the hotel, we stopped at a mall...only to find ourselves the complete minority. Let me put it this way, if Sean wants to marry an Asian women, and can't find one back in Wooster, he can move here and have too may choices.
I thought I had landed back in China. The travel books mentioned there was a huge Asian contingency here, and they weren't lying.

The photos are from our time in Mariposa Groves at Yosemite.



I've not been good at all updating my blog with the travels of Liz and I. The fact is, we've been pretty busy trying to experience all there is to do here. Part of the "problem" is we are staying outside of the park about an hour away in Mariposa, Ca., a nice little tourist town where the food portions are plentiful, but the taste is fair. (I did have a really good chicken burrito today-at Taco Bell). So, we're finding we don't have a whole lot of time to surf the web or update what's going on. And, I'm doing my best to stay on east coast time, so I've been hitting the pillow by 8:30-9:00 pm, and getting up around 5:00 am.

I think Yosemite National Park is now my favorite national park among the ones I've been too. This is a photographers paradise, and having two or three days here will not be enough. I'm hoping to bring Dawn here, and it would be great to see Yosemite in the Spring when the water falls are really running. I already have three to four hundred photos and I don't know where to start editing, but thank heaven for digital!

Here are a few other highlights:

1. So far, we've met people from Denmark, Wisconsin, Indiana, & Washington.

2. As Liz and I hiked among the giant Sequoiass, we briefly talked to a homeschooling mom and daughter who, due to the husband being laid off from his construction job, are taking 4 months off to see many of the National Parks throughout the whole western part of the U.S.

3. While taking the park bus to get our car (1/2 hour drive), the bus driver had a man who had his rescue dog with him, talk about what he does and how he trained his dog. Made the bus ride shorter and gave Liz some occupational ideas.

4. No pictures can do justice to Yosemite-you just have to come here to be awed by grandeur of the canyon walls.

5. Saw a real life search and rescue helicopter deliver a patient to a waiting ambulance...see my previous post.

YOSEMITE SEARCH AND RESCUE

I have so much to post about Liz and I being at Yosemite National Park, I don't even know where to start. I must have several hundred photos from the first day, which by the way, this park is a photographers paradise. Anyway, while coming back from a hike, we had seen Search and Rescue go by and assumed a hiker had fallen. Sure enough, it wasn't too much longer that we heard a helicopter go through the canyon. Once we made it to an open marsh area, the helicopter came in, fixed a long rope to it's bottom, took off again only to return a few minutes later. As you'll see from the video, I couldn't have had a better seat had I been to an air show.

OUT AND ABOUT

This past weekend we attended a wedding on Dawn's side of the family...and had some down time to be random.

DEEP IN THE WOODS

WEST VIRGINIA MORNING

SUMMER TIME FUN

ANOTHER DILBERT THAT HITS CLOSE TO HOME

A DAY AT THE CLEVELAND ZOO

I'd hate to be that chip

Dawn thought we'd be the talk of the development if we could get one of these plants on our patio

I think these guys are ready to go home.

COME ON...PLEAAAAASE

IOWA BARN

From one of my recent trips to Iowa..east of Des Moines.

(click on picture to enlarge)

DILBERT

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LIZ

Where has 16 years gone? Dawn and I are very proud of Liz. Happy Birthday my sweet girl.

DORM ROOMS, A KISS, AND THE TRANSFORMERS

While Will and I were in Chicago, we happened upon a movie set for the third Transformers movie.

  I showed Will where Dawn and I went to school and pointed out my dorm room. (Actually, Will has been on the campus before, but I'm getting old and like to reminisce).

Moody Bible Institute as seen from the 94th floor of the John Hancock building

Where Dawn and I first kissed!!!