820 Pages

If I calculated correctly, I have read 820 pages in the last week. For some veracious readers, that is not very much. For me––someone who, despite being in grad school, has never been a fast reader or even enjoyed reading––is a huge accomplishment. I read because I "should."

So, to have read 820 pages this week––which was reading week, but most people usually vacation––is a feat. A feat considering I read laboriously, Jean was gone, I was sick, and had two sick kids, is quite remarkable. I am grateful to Jean for giving me the 3 days at the cabin to get through a book and a half. If it wasn't for that, I would be in big trouble. Now, I am at the end of book four. I just need to type two papers for Monday and I'm golden. Until Tuesday...

Operation Pink Birthday Ribbon

Wednesday Jean left the warmth of Seattle for the frigid, arctic conditions of Grand Rapids in order to be a birthday surprise for her friend Lyndsay, and to see her BFF Anne. Operation Pink Birthday Ribbon was a huge success in that Lyndsay was surprised to tears when she say Jean at the Gerald R. Ford International Airport.

I am glad that Jean was able to get away. She has been working so hard in ministry and is just exhausted. It will be great for her to be with close friends, and not have to worry about Sunday details, or family details. She can rest and laugh and renew and just be herself. Great friendships are awesome like that!

Reading

Jean was awesome enough to procure a small log cabin for me for several days so that I could get some reading done for one of my classes. With having five classes, being a husband, dad, and I'm sure other things, too, it has been easy to fall behind. For one class, I need to have four books read and two papers written by the time classes resume next week. Thus, the cabin. I got the hardest book done, and half of another. So, finishing 2 1/2 books, and two papers for that class should be a breeze. Maybe...

The cabin was simple. No TV. No internet. It had a kitchen, an eating area/sleeping area, and a bathroom with a cast-iron tub. I didn't lounge around and sleep the time away. During meals I would watch a Catalyst speaker. Other than that, I just read. Pulled a couple of chairs up next to the gas stove to stay toasty and just read. But, I feel refreshed. And, I feel like I have more reading to do (after I play with the kids).

Food for Thought

My psychopathology professor says this phrase over and over:
The thing you don't like about someone else is the very thing that you don't like about yourself, but haven't worked with yet.

Fix You

Most are familiar with this song by Cold Play. I love the music in this song––the gradual buildin, and the point where the guitar and drums come in always brings out the greatest air-virtuoso within me. I even love the words of the song. Well, most of the words. I love all of the words except, "and I will try to fix you." It seems like a good intention. These words have always made me wonder, though, "What is so wrong with me that you need to 'FIX' who I am? Am I that unlovable? And, what will you do with me if you can't fix me?"

The past two Fridays and Saturdays I have been taking an intensive 2 credit class called Domestic Violence: The Impact of Abuse. Several times over the past two days our professor made the statement, "I don't like to think of people as being broken. Because what happens to things that can't be fixed? They get thrown away. I would rather think of someone as being wounded and in need of healing."

My story has involved me being thrown away, which is how I learned to throw away. I don't want you to think of me as broken anymore, and I don't want to think of you as broken anymore. I want to know that you won't throw me away. That you will help in my healing. And, I want to be the person who won't throw you away. I will befriend you in your healing.

Worship Leader's Nightmare

And, the nightmare isn't the lack of audio...

Good Stuff

I love this footage of Drew Brees with his son . . .

Typing Papers

I have a new way of typing papers now . . .

The Big FOUR-OHHHHH!

Last week I turned 40! [Gasp!] And, Jean surprised me with the gift of Sherpa! A great gift indeed! I was sitting between classes and working on my computer. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a body coming at me. Then it bear-hugged me from the side. I heard a whisper––"Happy birthday my brother!" I kept asking who it was because for the life of me I couldn't figure it out. It was Johnny! I couldn't believe he was standing here, next to me. With a big tear running down his face. Oh, what a great gift.

He was here for 5 quick days. I enjoyed showing him the sites of things like Pike's Place Market and Seattle's underground, to Deception Pass, and taking him to eat alligator.

He was a great refreshment to my heart because the last several weeks have been a time in which I have been missing dear friendships. He is a man who I can just be myself around and he loves me in that and for that. Ahhhhh. What a great birthday.

Two Angles of Sleep

Same night, two different angles of two very sleepy and lovable guys.