The Towers

I think this is an albino Wallaby- Sort of looked like a big rat to me, especially if you saw it's tail

I am not too sure what type of deer this is. I have been searching to no avail

Heading out at dusk- what a beautiful place. I just cannot imagine what it would be like to live somwhere like this.

Where the Heck is Namibia???

That is one of the most common questions I hear when I answer people's question to me of where I am planning to go next. Yes, I have a new dream..this time to go on a companion mission trip to Namibia (which for those of you who join in asking that question- it is on the south western part of the African Continent.) The ELCA NJ Synod is putting together a trip to visit some churches in Namibia in June 2008 and I am hoping to join them. I have not been to this part of Africa before and hope to learn more about it and the people that live there- firsthand. and Botswana is right next door- I wonder if I can do a side trip and try to find Prescious Ramotswe of the First Ladies Detective Agency? And can I find someone to drink bush tea with in the afternoon as we sit and quietly solve all the problems in the world? Yes, these are the things I contemplate late into the evening hours.

I ask that any of my friends who read this and are willing to pray that God will bless this mission and that He will lead me and the pastor leading this trip to discern if this is my next call. Thanks

Jay makes the show

Jay got back on Sunday from his week in Florida/Daytona Biketoberfest. He had a great time and even made a cameo appearance on the big time Florida news program. You can see him on the video clip from the link below. He follows the people watching woman with the big hair- And please, when you see him in person, mention that you noticed he didn't have his helmet on

http://www.local6.com/video/14371558/index.html?taf=orlpn

Reagan Update

This arrived in the mail today... The latest shot of little Reagan. He continues to grow and do well. He now ways a whopping 5lbs, 9oz!! Thank you for your prayers and please keep them coming, Marylou is hoping to have him home within the month.

Some old treasures

I was cropping with two friends today and I was not very organized so I started going through some boxes I had sitting around. I found so many great things I had put aside.. some notes from my kids when they were younger, and some great photographs. Here are 2 that I scanned one much older than the other...


These are my great grandparents in Germany. My dad visited them when he was around 5 or 6. His grandmother was tiny... she was as tall as his 10 year old cousin. His grandfather liked to drink something called Kirsch (I think that is the way it is spelled) that was clear like water but a lot stronger. My dad remembers his older brother, my Uncle Henny, bringing their grandfather his "kirsch" for the evening only he had substituted it with water. My great grandfather was quite surprised and took off after my uncle... good thing he was a fast runner.

This is me and my sister Lois during a snow storm. I just love this photograph, we were way too cute.

My Expressive Home

I just got my first order of Uppercase Living Expressions from the UPS man yesterday. Boy oh Boy am I in trouble. I want to cover my home in words. Thankfully I have lots of walls to use and so here is just the start. In my art/crop room I have a wall to hang some of my favorite photographs that I have taken. A while ago I read a quote of Ansel Adams and knew I wanted to use it on this wall.

Words to Inspire

In my crop room I want to put words to encourage me in my art. So far I have chosen just 3- Dream, Imagine, and Create, but I hope to add more as time goes on.

The Bathroom

In the bathroom up in my art room I have hung some photographs of flowers I have taken. Ralph Waldo Emerson's quote just had to go in there.

What started it all

My quest to get quotes and words on my walls started with a desire to get this verse of Scripture in my house. I have it on a plaque but I really wanted to have it written on my wall. Finally I get to have it done- I chose a soft copper color which looks great on the blue walls. This room is our entry room- we see it soming and going and will serve as a reminder to al of us Whom we serve.

My Laundry Room

Anyone who knows me knows that I do not like doing laundry. It is my most hated house chore. A few years ago I decided to paint my laundry room the color called Kalahari sunset- named for the Kalahari desert in Botswana. I hung a batik I got in Kenya on the wall and try to believe I am in Africa when I am in there doing laundry (and yes, I know that the women in Africa are not using a maytag washing machine to do their laundry- but hey, its my dream) And so it seemed appropriate that I add the words, "I'd rather be in Africa" to the walls of my laundry room.

The Kitchen AKA.....

THE GATHERING PLACE
I love how this looks on the soffit over my stove. The kitchen surely is the gathering place in my home and so this expression was perfect for this spot.

And Let Me Not Forget...

My iPod skin.I have to tell you, I know this is silly. I know there is no need. I know. I know. But still...I love this silly little decorative covering for my iPod. I think I will have to order more and change from time to time. Yeah, this Uppercase Living bit is going to be dangerous for me.

What in the World??

How bizarre is this? Back in 2004 I took Kyle, Shelby and one of Kyle's friend's Paul on a four week trip in an RV to see a bit of our country. While driving in Custer National Park in South Dakota we saw a strange looking car coming up the road. We heard music and saw all of these fishes glued all over a blue car. We had no idea what it was and was just thankful to have one small bad shot of it to prove we had seen it. Fast forward now a few months and I am sitting at work, waiting on a patient, so I pickup a Readers' Digest to leaf through. And there I see this article on the Shashimi Tabernacle. No we were not hallucinating- there really is a car covered with sea creatures singing. IF only all the answers in my life were so easily answered.

Why you might ask am I writing about this now, 3 years later... Because I have been clearing out some stuff from my cropping room and finally found the original article and had to scan it to add it to the album. See, It pays to clean

Randy Pausch

This morning I watched a You Tube clip from a man named Randy Pausch. He is a professor at Carnegie-Mellon and was participating in a series called "The Last Lecture." This was for the prof to imagine they were going to give the very last lecture in their lives and so, what would they say? For Professor Pausch unfortunately this is not just an exercise in theory but in reality- he is dying from pancreatic cancer. His positive attitude is inspiring and his message is great- take the time to watch it.
Go to YouTube and search on his name and watch all the clips from his whole lecture- It is worth the time.

Revolve 2007

I have shared quite a bit about my Women of Faith conferences but this weekend I got to go to Revolve- a teen girl conference. I went with Shelby and 2 other moms with 3 other girls up to Hartford for Friday night and Saturday. The conference allows the girls to experience a greater Body of Christ than in their church- it is really cool to sing praise with 7,000 other Christian girls and their moms all at one time. There are also some incredible speakers and performers who all share the message of God's love for them and how precious they are. They talk about a lot of the issues the girls face every day and give them a message of hope. Who doesn't need that? I was just so glad to see the 4 girls we brought participate and enjoy being there. I can't wait until next year's program.

They Guys of Revolve

One of the things the people at Revolve realized over the years is that if you get some guys to perform in the program the girls will come. So this year they booked some amazing music artists- KJ-52, Chad Easthamand Hawk Nelson. Add a couple of guys into the drama team and you have a recipe for success.

KJ-52 is a Christian rapper- quite the experience. I actually liked his music but refrained from doing the hand pumping and jumping- I think shelby sppreciated that.

The drama team presented important issues in a way that made it easy for the girls to hear. The great thing about it is that their skits open up opportunities for conversation later on.

Chad Eastham talked to the girls about guys. This year his message was are you a treasure or a target? It was great to see how focused the girls in the arena were on listening to him speak and how clearly he shared his lesson.

Hawk Nelson

Picture this, you are in an arena with over 7,000 teenage girls. The host announces that next up is Hawk Nelson. All of a sudden it seems like the whole arena seating area empties out as all the girls run to the floor and up to the stage. What a trip! This group certainly has its share of fans among the attendees at Revolve. Their music is a little rock a little punk but very fun. It is embarassing when you realize that you are a 45 year old mom, standing on the floor photographing a band and you are bouncing along with all the teens. Actually I think that if Shelby could have seen me she would have been embarrased. But all is good- she is thrilled that I got so many photographs of them, especially the bass player.