After a busy few weeks leading up to the actual Christmas Holidays, we got even busier during the weeks of Christmas. The last days before Christmas we spent traveling, helping in the wrapping booth for Cullendale A/G, and hanging out with family. Christmas Morning was a great service and brunch and then we hit the road. Christmas Night in Bald Knob at the Piker's was great and we all enjoyed it. The next morning we were with Papaw McDaniel's for some gifts and brunch. After the fun there, we headed off to Tulsa, where we were to spend the week at Keystone State Park.
We really enjoyed our time in Tulsa, ate at some great places and spent some quality time with Jason and Papaw McDaniel. It was a lot of fun. By spending the week between Christmas and New Year this way, we really streched as much fun out of the holiday as was humanly possible.
Jennifer's Aunt and Uncle and her cousin Ally and family came to the house on New Years and we really had a good time. Lavon and Sandra hung out with us for a few days and we had a great time watching football and movies and, of course, eating.
Sunday, January 08, 2006
Christmas Ball 2005
We have a lot of good friends. In fact, we count it a blessing to have these friends. The problem is that we never seem to find the time to be together with each other. This year we wanted to do something about that. So we planned a party...no...it was bigger than that. We called it a Christmas Ball.
Complete with invitations, dressing up and lots and lots of food, the Christmas ball was a night to remember. Hopefully the first in a long line of events in our home that will make the history books. There was a lot of bad karaoke, a little bit of fighting over gifts and a chocolate fountain. (For all of our friends and family out of town, You should really plan to come next year!)
Click here to watch a highlight video.
Complete with invitations, dressing up and lots and lots of food, the Christmas ball was a night to remember. Hopefully the first in a long line of events in our home that will make the history books. There was a lot of bad karaoke, a little bit of fighting over gifts and a chocolate fountain. (For all of our friends and family out of town, You should really plan to come next year!)
Click here to watch a highlight video.
Thanksgiving in Atlanta
We were very blessed to be able to make the trip to Atlanta for the Thanksgiving Holiday. It was just the greatest time. Jennifer and I made a quick run to Nashville and hit the Youth Specialties National Youth Workers Conference. It was a blast as always. During that time though we missed (very sadly) my cousin Marni's wedding. My parents, however, allowed the kids to stay with them and Abby was actually in the wedding. (click on the picture to see pictures of her in the dress she wore at the wedding)
After the wedding, we were back from Nashville and it was thanksgiving. There were some great pictures from the Monroe family thanksving at Mark and Carla's. Most of the pics, like the one here were taken by the boys when they hijacked the camera. They absolutely love to play with the cousins. I am sure that if Zeke and Joby, Tyler and Tanner were in closer proximity, we might get more footage for America's Funniest Home Videos. (We are looking forward to heading back to Atlanta in the Spring.)
As always we had a wonderful time with my mom and dad in Atlanta. We always hit a few of our favorite restaurants, visit the dollar theater and hit every store in Cobb County. It was a great thanksgiving and can't wait until Christmas.
After the wedding, we were back from Nashville and it was thanksgiving. There were some great pictures from the Monroe family thanksving at Mark and Carla's. Most of the pics, like the one here were taken by the boys when they hijacked the camera. They absolutely love to play with the cousins. I am sure that if Zeke and Joby, Tyler and Tanner were in closer proximity, we might get more footage for America's Funniest Home Videos. (We are looking forward to heading back to Atlanta in the Spring.)
As always we had a wonderful time with my mom and dad in Atlanta. We always hit a few of our favorite restaurants, visit the dollar theater and hit every store in Cobb County. It was a great thanksgiving and can't wait until Christmas.
Returning to Subiaco - Sunday Afternoon
I can hardly believe that I am back at Subiaco Abbey. It’s only been a year but to me it seems as if we’ve circled the globe since then. Getting ready to leave was especially hard this year. It seems that as I began to get ready, all I could think of was the things that I would be missing while I was gone. All the fun I wouldn’t be having with Jen and the kids, all the time that a week represents in the lives of your loved ones. Even all the Football games I wouldn’t be seeing, all the TV and movies I wouldn’t be seeing and all the work that I wouldn’t be getting done were on my mind.
The ride up to Subiaco from Mena was nothing short of spectacular. The sun was shining, the wind was calm, and the temperature was right around 70. The leaves have exploded into the brightest colors that I have ever seen. Riding a motorcycle through the hills on a perfect afternoon like this was an experience all to itself. As I cruised along, I saw reds so bright it seemed that they were glowing, yellows and oranges the colors of squashes and pumpkins. Large-moss covered craggy rocks appeared to be upstaged by the brilliant display of color on the hills beside them. I inhaled in really slowly and tried to freeze-frame that picture in my mind. The curvy ‘pig trails’ were fun and the scenery was stunning.
It was interesting for me when I began to realize that only a week ago, the leaves on the trees didn’t look like they did today. I also know that in a month from now they won’t look the same either. It was almost as if God had splashed the hillsides just for me. At least that is what it felt like. When you ride through the back roads and you pass very few cars you begin to get a feel for just how huge God’s creation is, and just how small you are. You understand that you are only a spec in the great universe that God set up. And yet, you feel, rather, you know, in your heart, that somehow you are the focus of the entirety of it all in His eyes. You get a feeling that the eyes and the hands, even the kiss of God are on you as you fly through his creation. I imagined the trees all decked out in their finest colors watching and waving for the moment that I passed by them. Then I pictured them conversing with each other, “There he goes…something is definitely happening in that one…may he have a blessed week.”
I struggle to maintain my humility in life and to always keep my importance in proper perspective before Christ, but for a moment today, I felt that the Father was acting as if he was attracted to me. For what reason I don’t fully understand. But I kind of like the fact that there seems to be a sparkle in the eyes of the Father for me his son. A willingness to have the trees even ‘dress to the nines’ to bring me joy.
The ride up to Subiaco from Mena was nothing short of spectacular. The sun was shining, the wind was calm, and the temperature was right around 70. The leaves have exploded into the brightest colors that I have ever seen. Riding a motorcycle through the hills on a perfect afternoon like this was an experience all to itself. As I cruised along, I saw reds so bright it seemed that they were glowing, yellows and oranges the colors of squashes and pumpkins. Large-moss covered craggy rocks appeared to be upstaged by the brilliant display of color on the hills beside them. I inhaled in really slowly and tried to freeze-frame that picture in my mind. The curvy ‘pig trails’ were fun and the scenery was stunning.
It was interesting for me when I began to realize that only a week ago, the leaves on the trees didn’t look like they did today. I also know that in a month from now they won’t look the same either. It was almost as if God had splashed the hillsides just for me. At least that is what it felt like. When you ride through the back roads and you pass very few cars you begin to get a feel for just how huge God’s creation is, and just how small you are. You understand that you are only a spec in the great universe that God set up. And yet, you feel, rather, you know, in your heart, that somehow you are the focus of the entirety of it all in His eyes. You get a feeling that the eyes and the hands, even the kiss of God are on you as you fly through his creation. I imagined the trees all decked out in their finest colors watching and waving for the moment that I passed by them. Then I pictured them conversing with each other, “There he goes…something is definitely happening in that one…may he have a blessed week.”
I struggle to maintain my humility in life and to always keep my importance in proper perspective before Christ, but for a moment today, I felt that the Father was acting as if he was attracted to me. For what reason I don’t fully understand. But I kind of like the fact that there seems to be a sparkle in the eyes of the Father for me his son. A willingness to have the trees even ‘dress to the nines’ to bring me joy.
Off to the Abbey
It was a very busy weekend. The Fastlane Rally on Iron Mountain was a smash. We had a great group of riders and everybody seemed to have a really good time. Ramon (our friend from South Africa) put on an incredible stunt riding show in the streets of Mena. (We had them shut down of course) We captured some great video from this weekend and I think that the ministry to sport bike riders is poised at a very important growth moment. Possible 2006 we see a large growth in the areas that we are presently reaching into.
Later on Saturday Night, I played some music with the band that we threw together. It's always fun to get a chance to play the harp with some good musicians. Sunday Morning we blessed all the bikes (and riders) that were present and then pretty much everyone left.
It was time to take my sabbatical again, and I was more than ready to head back to Subiaco Abbey. This year the weather was really nice, so I took a ride on one of the ministries Goldwings. In the picture here, we had just had lunch in Mena, and I was telling the kids bye. (They love to climb and ride on the bike.)
As it turned out, even though I really love my sport bike, I was a little surprised at how wonderfully the big Goldwing handled in the curvy mountains. And it was sooo comfortable. I will definitely be looking for more opportunities to travel on that bike.
Later on Saturday Night, I played some music with the band that we threw together. It's always fun to get a chance to play the harp with some good musicians. Sunday Morning we blessed all the bikes (and riders) that were present and then pretty much everyone left.
It was time to take my sabbatical again, and I was more than ready to head back to Subiaco Abbey. This year the weather was really nice, so I took a ride on one of the ministries Goldwings. In the picture here, we had just had lunch in Mena, and I was telling the kids bye. (They love to climb and ride on the bike.)
As it turned out, even though I really love my sport bike, I was a little surprised at how wonderfully the big Goldwing handled in the curvy mountains. And it was sooo comfortable. I will definitely be looking for more opportunities to travel on that bike.
Return to Blogging
Every 3 or four months I completely fail to blog. You might even think that nothing happens to us when I don't blog, but in fact life does continue to happen. I will try in the next few posts to cover the last few months in our lives. But all of this missed blogging begs a deeper point. Why don't I stay current with my blog?
Probably the same reason why I don't always take the trash out when it gets full. Probably the same reasons why I don't make all the calls that I should. Probably the same reason why I don't paint, draw, write or play music as often as I want to. All of these symptoms probably stem from the same problem, yet I am having a real difficulty deciding what it is.
Oh well, maybe I'll figure it out tommorrow.
Probably the same reason why I don't always take the trash out when it gets full. Probably the same reasons why I don't make all the calls that I should. Probably the same reason why I don't paint, draw, write or play music as often as I want to. All of these symptoms probably stem from the same problem, yet I am having a real difficulty deciding what it is.
Oh well, maybe I'll figure it out tommorrow.
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