Espresso

I think I need to make the intuitive decision not to drink coffee in the evening. Well, I'm up so I thought I'd post instead of lay in bed. Just a thought and then a couple of good pictures.

I am really looking forward to my classes this trimester: Marriage & Family (which Trish will be attending with me), Counseling Practicum II (anxious but excited about this one, I have to actually do peer reviewed counseling), Theological Mosaic II (the topics strike my interest more than last semester), Essential Community (basically engaging a diversity of people and forming authentic community), and Mission in Global Context (my heart's desire).



This black and white one was taken by our good friend Meredith Dancause.

My Mom

My mom visited me this past week. I tried to give her a taste of Seattle and I think she enjoyed my efforts. In the process, I became a lot more familiar with Seattle. This picture is at a park by my house for a sample of the beautiful outdoors.

Here we are at the Freemont Troll under a bridge. That is a VW Bug under his left hand.

In our explorations, we found a fabulous beach park. I can't wait to go in the summer.

Steven's Pass

Today Trish and went snowboarding at Steven's Pass. As per my previous post (we're on 26 days), there was lots of snow at the resort 3000 feet up and an hour and a half drive away. The visibility was bad most of the day, but overall a fun experience. I am just glad we had the opportunity to go, but we probably won't go too much as it is a bit expensive.

Talking Rain

SEATTLE, Washington (AP) -- After 22 consecutive days of measurable rain, Seattle is closing in on a record so dismal even forecasters in this city famous for its gray skies are complaining.
With more wet weather predicted over the next several days, Seattle may soon break a record set in 1953. The city saw 33 consecutive days of measurable precipitation then -- the most since the National Weather Service office there started tracking rainfall in 1931.
Though Seattle is famous for its rain, the city's average annual rainfall from 1970 to 2000 was 37.07 inches, compared to 49.71 inches for New York City.

10 Month Update

Wow, Roxy is active. She has become quite the handful. When she is awake, she is constantly moving. On the plus side, I think she wears herself out and sleeps eleven hours a night and takes about three naps. I can't think of any big firsts this month. She only stands for a split second. I don't think she will be walking anytime soon. Have I ever mentioned she is loud... piercing.

Reflections on First Trimester

I've been wanting to post this for a while. The following are a few thoughts concerning my first trimester at MHGS:

• I had high expectations for my time here and they have been met.
• I thought my views, theological understanding, doctrinal beliefs, etc. had been pretty much deconstructed before I came to the school. Man, was I wrong! I had and have a lot more deconstruction to go. I echo Meister Eckhart; "I pray God to rid me of God." That is take away my blinders, destroy the box I've put You in, and continually transform Your image.
• God is mysterious and I love that. It makes me want to seek God and not reason out the mystery.
• How I hold (metaphorically) the Bible has changed so much that I dare not start to write how because it would take too much explanation for this post.
• My conviction of the importance of community has been strengthened. Relationships are what the world is all about.
• I feel like my vision has broadened much as I've realized that God can be seen in everything; all of creation and even in evil and suffering.
• I've realized that I want to live my life in solidarity with all of humanity as Christ lives in solidarity with us. He is part of our rejoicing and He is part of our suffering.
• I just realized that this post could take more time than I have and not do justice to what I sense stirring and changing in my heart. However, here are some buzz words that you can bring up in conversation with me sometime if you want to hear more: postmodernity, tradition, narrative, feminist theology, liberation theology, I-Thou, dialogue, story, encounter, contextualization, contradiction, mutual surrender, authenticity, presence, and incarnational. There is more, but I'll stop there.

Currt Dawg

We had the supreme privilege of having the one and only Curtis W. Sutton visit us the last few days. We met Currt Dawg when we arrived in Japan and he has become a great and true friend. He met us at the airport on the first and spent the last four nights with us.Together we visited Canada for the first time ever and spent Monday in Vancouver, BC. It is about two hour drive from here. Trish had to work the last three days so we ate lunch with her downtown and Curtis, Roxy, and I spent two afternoons downtown shopping, drinking coffee, walking around, and visited the Experience Music Project. Last night we met up with Steve and Meredith who we are quite fond of and had some good ole fashion fellowship.

St. Louis and Beyond

Trish's hometown is actually St. Charles, a suburb of St. Louis.

Anyway, besides the aforementioned funeral and all that goes along with that, we had an enjoyable holiday time.
All we did was eat and during the breaks: we visited friends (including the Weber family), traveled to Springfield with Jen (Trish's eldest sister) and stayed two nights with Sheila (Trish's middle sister) and her family and visited Silver Dollar City in Branson where the Christmas lights were amazing, watched Narnia and King Kong, visited the St Louis Art Museum which had an exhibit from the "Tombs of Ur", did some shopping, and spent New Year's at "First Night" in downtown.