Lazy, crazy, hazy days ...

This past Saturday was one of those summer days that you wish could last forever ... and a perfect day for some photos.

Sometimes I think about moving to another state. Then I look at the sky and change my mind. Seriously. Good job, God.


Suzanne in the evening sunlight...


There's something rather fairy-tale-ish about lily pads...

Is this what Heaven will be like?

The Windows of Manhattan

Last summer I went to New York City. I stayed with a friend in the upper west side of Manhattan. I remember walking through the streets of Greenwich Village at night. Every highrise I walked past had rows of large, brightly lit windows. Through the windows I could see glimpses of massive and beautifully decorated lofts, every one completely different from the next. Each window was like a snapshot into someone's life - a freeze frame from an episode of Friends. I would see a small piece of their home and imagine what their name was, where they were at that moment, what they ate, where they shopped, who their friends were ... I was fascinated by the life journeys represented by these windows. There were unending possibilities of fame, heartbreak, triumph and tragedy.

I think those Manhattan windows intrigued me for the same reason I like reality TV shows. I'm a natural born people-watcher. I love anything that allows me to see into someone else's life. I'm fascinated by other people's life stories.

This is also why blogging appeals to me. I can literally sit for hours at a time and read people's blogs. When I'm reading a blog, it's like I'm being allowed inside another person's head for a momentary glimpse of their world. And every blog links to a bunch of other blogs that link to other blogs that ... well, you get the idea. It's sort of like a black hole. It sucks me in.

When it comes down to it, though, I guess that's really what life is all about - sharing in each other's life journeys. We are people created for community.

Dave'n'Ellie

My baby sister Ellie is going to be married on August 11. She and her boy Dave were out here last week so we went out to take a few pictures one morning. Here are a few of my favorites...

Life hurts, sometimes.

I'm mourning the loss of a friendship today. And it's breaking my heart. The hardest part of this whole thing is that I'm primarily to blame for the demise of this relationship.

There are very few things in my life that I wish I could go back and do differently. I usually live my life very free of regret. But at this moment, I would give almost anything to be able to rewind the clock back to a year ago.

Most of the time, when I'm upset about something, I'm able to pull back and look at it from the larger perspective of eternal life, and that always seems to help me realize how unimportant the problem truly is. I can't do that this time.

Relationships are different ... they are made of traces of eternity.

Today I hate this free will that God has given me. I hate that I have the ability to choose to do things that hurt other people. I hate that I am selfish and fallen and capable of causing others pain. Today I hate my human nature.

Lord, help me to do better tomorrow.

Rather remarkable, isn't it?

I was perusing someone's blog today and came across a posting that I thought was rather clever. So I'm stealing their idea...

Here are a list of things that I have never done (which I find to be rather remarkable considering my 20+ years on this earth.) I have never ...

1. watched Star Wars. Any of them.
2. seen a cow up close. (In fact, I've never even touched one.)
3. licked a battery.
4. dyed my hair.
5. ridden a jet ski. (Quite sad, for how much I love water sports.)
6. understood the appeal of Ben Affleck.
7. had a balance on my credit cards.
8. met a Canadian I didn't like.
9. played broom hockey.
10. watched an episode of South Park.

So I'm curious. What things have you never done that most everyone else you know has?

The debate goes on...

Well, it seems I just can't get away from this topic. I am currently reading another book on the creation/evolution debate given to me by my friend Tom.

But yesterday I came across this posting on one of the blogs I visit every so often. This guy is smart and does a good job of explaining many of the thoughts running through my head.

Obviously at this moment in time (and quite possibly forever) I have not landed firmly in one place regarding this particular issue. The more I read, the less it seems I know. I do think, though, there's value in the struggle.

I'm BAAA-aaack!

Last week, due to some unpleasant circumstances (which have since been addressed, I might add) I impulsively made my unannounced exit from Blog World. However, I found I couldn't stay away. I'm back. I've created a new blog and will attempt to make it better than the old one.

Plus ... I found some really great posts on other blogs and wanted a place to share them.