along the journey

A friend came over and spent most of the morning with us. Her and her daughter had pizza with us before she had to take her daughter to school. I said something that was a bit rude, so I want to make sure she knows that I really didn’t mean to be rude, and want to make sure she knows it.

After they left we headed down to show off the family to my co-workers. As I pulled up the building manager was coming out of the loading dock, and he approved of me parking in front of it, which was really nice since there were no meters available and we didn’t have any quarters anyway. I paraded them around through 5 or 6 of the 18 floors of our building. They were all very tired afterwards and are now resting soundly in the bedroom.

I’m so proud of them. Especially Amy. She’s doing so well. Recovering so quickly. Taking such excellent care of our new baby. It blows me away at how effortlessly she does it. Guess that’s just the Mom in her. Love you honey.

It’s been about 2 and half weeks. Friday is the TMBG show at the Science Center. Amy and Caleb and Jason and Matt and Jenny and possible some other Xaris peeps will be going. I need to send an invite to the BaltiBlogs mailinglist.

I feel overwhelmed with life. Been very busy. Helping Amy around the house as she recovered from her spinal tap last week. Taking care of the puppy who ate too many cicadas and forgot how to poop outside.

I downloaded this Jason Mraz show from Archive.org- it’s one of my first experiences with listening to Mraz. He’s quite a story teller, and has a great voice. I’ve not had the opportunity to really dig into the lyrics, but I’ve had a great time listening to this.

Our neighbor is buying the house next to him for his son. They’re going to have to gut it and build out again. They have an above ground pool, and no one living there. He’s got it all cleaned up and the water is mostly clean, and has told us that anytime we want to swim, to come over. Amy and Caleb and I did that for about an hour tonight. It was nice, but the water was a bit chilly since he seems to be filling it constantly.

Last night I went to watch the O’s loose to the White Sox. I went with Jay of Breakwater. Jay and his wife Stephanie were at the Servant Evangelism Conference that Amy and I attended last week in Dayton Ohio. We had met them a few months ago when Jay had a meeting at a coffee shop downtown. While we were in Dayton Jay invited me to go with him to the game. We had a great time, talking about SE, baseball, and life. I can’t wait to get to know Jay and his family better.

Earlier today I was surfing the net, checking out Relevant and noticed one of the “slices” mentioned that They Might Be Giants will be playing in Baltimore on May 29th. Further searching and a call to some random Science Center employee, that they’re playing at 6:15, outside of the Maryland Science Center on May 29th. Followed by a laser light show. And here’s the best part, it’s Free.

So, yes. Today is my birthday. I turn 26 today. We celebrated with my parents last weekend with a nice dinner, paid for with some of our tax money. Amy made me a cake then. Today she came by the office and we went and had lunch together. This is an activity that we don’t get to enjoy much, now that I work downtown and you have to pay to park. Caleb and her had given me cards. When I got home she had some decorations up and had made another cake. She really is a sweet heart, and I think I’ll keep her.

We had friends over for dinner this evening. It wasn’t for my birthday, but because it was the best day that fit into our schedules. They brought me a card and a gift card for Blockbuster, I didn’t even know that they knew it was my birthday. Their kids wished me a happy birthday as soon as they walked in the door. It was special.

Ron and Barb and Amy and I talked about evangelism and outreach. We talked about some things that we know we need to work on, things that God has given us passion for, and how we’re going to pursue that passion. Ron is an amazing leader, I’m very thankful to have him as a mentor. Barb and Amy seemed to hit it off well. Barb was a school teacher before she became a stay-at-home mom, I think she definately has some insight and could be a very valuable resource to Amy. They left us with some homework. I hate homework.

Yeah. that’s the ticket. THat’s why it’s been so long since I’ve updated.

Not really but it’s a better excuse than the one I got. Any computer time I’ve been spending lately has been playing Enemy Territory, a free multi-player only, stand-alone modification of Return to Castle Wolfenstein, meaning you can play for free, without having the original RTCW. I’ve also started learning how to make maps for the game, it uses the same editor that Medal of Honor uses, and there is a guy at work that is working on making a MOH map of our building. At least just the areas we work in. So I figured I’d learn, so I can help.

Other than that haven’t really been doing much on the computer. Mom and Dad were here last weekend. It was great to see them. They’re visits are always too short, but I know how it feels, when we take longer trips we’re always ready to get going home.

We started leading our own small group. This week was an off week, so I made some phone calls in hopes to make sure people aren’t slacking. Not really, it just feels like forever since I’ve seen most of them. Amy and I are working in the nursery for the month of February, so even when we get to church we still don’t feel like we’re connecting with people.

I can’t write a book, just because I haven’t updated in forever, so I’m gonna go now. Take it easy, until next time.

While we were visitng my parents over the Thanksgiving holiday mom brought out boxes of old pictures that she had found while cleaning out a storage area. We had gone through and taken the ones I wanted to take, with the plan to scan them and share them. One set of pictures that are of particular interest are those of my back shortly after my last surgery, where the wound was left open, to heal from the inside out. While eating dinnner tonight, Caleb was going through a closet and found this particular set of pictures. This prompted me to go through the trouble of hooking up my very old scanner and getting it working. So I scanned the pics and have placed them online. Now for a warning….. IF YOU ARE AT ALL SQUEAMISH, DO NOT CLICK THIS LINK TO LOOK AT THESE PICTURES. Did you understand? DO NOT SEND ME HATE MAIL ABOUT THE CONTENTS OF THIS LINK, I HAVE WARNED YOU So, without further adieu…. very graphic open wound pictures here..

While looking for a cable to hook up my scanner, I found a box of pictures that we had put away when we moved here…. for lack of a better place to put them. While going through them we found a few of Amy that she wanted scanned, I went ahead and uploaded them too…. so these pictures are of Amy and her friend getting ready before a high-school dance.

And finally…. one of a spectacular moment in our lives-

Amy’s Baptism - February 16th, 2000

So we’re sitting here, flipping channels and decided to watch American Idol. I really think that the best part of the whole series is the begining, when they’re doing the initial auditions. They get in front of the judges and perform some crazy crap and then expect the judges to fall in love with them. It’s hilarious that they feel they need to explain their awfulness to them. And of course Fox makes these shows about people making fools of themselves, but it’s so much fun to laugh at these people. I wonder how many of them come on and make a big deal, hoping to get on tv.

We went today for an eye exam. I, honestly, can’t remember ever having an eye exam. So we went today…. taking advantage of my insurance. I left with glasses. I’ve never needed glasses before, so it’s a little strange. It’s a very light prescription, but it is a prescription. The hardest part I’m having is having a piece of glass sitting so close to my eyes. I can honestly say that everything is much clearer. I would never have realized that things were a little blurry… but I guess that’s what getting an eye exam is for. I don’t have to wear them all the time, just when I need to focus on something, computer screen, book, tv…. so almost all the time. I’ve been wearing them since I got them. I took them off for about 5 minutes while I was playing Nintendo but then decided that I was much more comfortable with them on.

Tonight we’re going to a Pampered Chef banquet in Lancaster. Should be a good time. Tomorrow, Amy is going out with Susan for lunch and then to a Stampin’ Out party. It’s gonna be Caleb and I. I’d love to do something other than come home and mess around. Maybe I’ll see if someone wants to hang out…. who knows.

Well it’s been so long since I’ve written. Christmas was good. New Years was good. January 3rd was better. Me and a few co-workers got to attend the Ravens Playoff Game against the Tennessee Titans, courtesy of a large corporation that we’ve been working with. It was a great time, had good food, good beer, good times. Ravens lost. I lost my voice.

Been getting lots of AIM spam….. here’s one today….

Martha 1246: Hi dron321
Do you think I am pretty? You can see me live
Just click here (<-link to some porn site)
dron 321: How are you Martha
dron 321: I've missed you
dron 321: I wish you'd hang around more frequently instead of just sending me these little messages and then logging off
dron 321: It's really starting to piss me off
dron 321: I don't think we're going to be able to see each other anymore

They never ever reply.