Trip to Uganda!

EXCITING NEWS!

The first week of September, I'm going to be traveling to Uganda with Compassion International. I have been working with Compassion for a couple years now and cannot say enough about how wonderful they are. They know exactly why they are doing what they are doing, who they serve, and the best way to serve them.

I will be there 10 days and will be blogging EVERY night of that trip that I have internet access (which should be most nights). We just got a video camera so there will be some video blogs as well. I want to let you know now so you can make sure and check this blog during my trip. You can also sign up on my email list if you want a reminder.

I'm more excited than I can tell you, and hope that you can experience a little of Uganda with me!

Rocky Recap

It's been fun being at Rocky Mountain High again. I had such a fun time getting to know some great folks from all over the country. Thanks to everyone who was so encouraging to me throughout the week. God always reveals himself to me through other people. Thank You!

I got to hang with some great bands as well, Remedy Drive and Vota. Check out their music, they all have such great hearts and it was fun getting to hang out with them.

Oso's Cousin

Like us, my brother and sister-in-law are also in the pre-kids stage where our dogs are our children. We love them. :) This picture of Oso's dog cousin makes me pretty happy so I thought I'd share it with you. I know it's not halloween yet, but seriously, is this not the most awesome dog picture you've ever seen?

The Rockies

I know this view well. The brown lodges that dot this valley and the evergreens that clothe the surrounding mountains. I’ve eaten in these dining halls and touched pine cones that rest on the ground under these trees.

Mountain mornings are unlike mornings elsewhere. I love to move my hands through this air and watch the swiftness in the flight of these birds.

I’m in the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park, CO. Since 96 I’ve spent a week out of every third summer here for a youth conference my family has been involved in. We set up shop just before the Christian Artists Seminar swoops in, and I’ve often overlapped my time at both. People come here for conferences, sure, but mostly I like to think they come because they are drawn here.

And I know some’ll tell me it’s the elevation...but I also like to think that I am more aware of my breathing up here because I am more aware of my aliveness. more aware of the gift i’ve been given to breath, to taste and to see.

I know some’ll tell me it’s the time change... but I like to think it’s the nearness of God’s creation that opens my eyes early in the day, to awaken me wholly.

Right now there is a baby crying, some band playing in a nearby lodge, a dog barking, and the conversation of a family sitting in the bench beside mine, but that is okay. It still feels quieter up here. Internally, anyway.

I blame the mountains. They are louder than any noise I could make.

Your Spanish Dance

(For my friend, you know who you are.. :)

your life is worth a million songs
I don’t know where to start
maybe with the way I move
from hard to softer heart

for everybody has a space
to hold inquiries pose
behind the brown and hazel eyes
a steady fire glows

you fill the gaps with green and blue
a waking with the light
or sleeping till the dinner bell
and dancing late at night

the way you take a bitter day
with ease and changing chair
no matter rock or dirt or sand
the ground is always there

Politicians, my Uncle Bob and Billy Joel

What do they all have in common? My new soul-audio blog. :)

If I stand back and evaluate my blogging, I've found I write a lot about my observations of human nature. This mostly stems from the good bad and ugly I find in myself, and this new soul audio blog is no exception. I think I would have liked to study anthropology, maybe I still can one day.

Zach asked about Soul Audio and to answer I'll direct you to their 'about us' page which has a brief description of who they are. They seem to have a nice objective view on music and I enjoy reading their interviews and artists blogs, of which I participate.

Caffeine, a Reintroduction

I've given in. I'm not sure how long it will last and I'm already getting some headaches but...I've taken up caffeine again. It's just sort of neccesary. I'm not sure how I've lasted 4 years without it! 4 years! That sounds ridiculous. On the night Kirk and I met the topic of caffeine came up somehow.

"I just stopped drinking caffeine"
"me too!"
"O yeah? Well maybe we could get some decaf together sometime".

Actually I made that last part up, but it was probably something like that. We did spend a lot of time talking over coffee in those days. Both of us have taken it up again in the last few months. This is due in part to this coffee shop and Rachel's amazing espresso drinks. (try the cuban, you'll never go back) And also in part to our lives getting busier and requiring a little help.

Does anybody have any energy tricks that don't involve caffeine? Mental energy is what I need the most. Is there some secret I don't know? Don't tell me it has to do with waking up early and running. Ok fine, if it does, tell me. But don't expect me to be excited about it. :)

Secrets? Do tell...