Today our family celebrates the Papa. I am particularly thankful for a father who introduced me to good music, food, drink, to travel, the outdoors, reading and learning. I am thankful for a father who let me have the first sip of a foamy beer at dinner, who taught me how to play pool, who challenged me to excellence in all I do and who took me to my first electric rock concert at age 5. However it is his presence that I'm thankful for the most, as well as his willingness to preach the Gospel to his family daily. Thanks Pop. Love you! 

finally finished...

My dad asked me if I could paint a bold color, bold brush stroke painting of Ruby Peak for the new house in Oregon...I started in October making a homemade canvas, primed and toned it...then it sat for a few months, just waiting and waiting to be painted on...however the painter was rather nervous! I had never painted a landscape before, and it took many frustrating and stressful hours to work out the kinks. However I'm fairly pleased with how it turned out! It was a big challenge and I learned a lot!

Different

Well it’s been almost two weeks now since I’ve been home. One week was simple, routine, adjusting back into a different life, and the second week I started work. Getting back into “ranch” shape is no easy task, which includes lugging 5,000 lbs of brisket into a freezer, making 750 lbs of baked beans, lifting box after 50lb box of potatoes, and the list goes on. It’s no longer mental work I’m doing but physical. I needed these two weeks to in a way chill out, readjust, and stop my brain from going a million miles an hour like it did all year at Whitworth.

So now…now I’m ready to start writing. To start thinking again, processing, reading and looking for ways to make this a rich summer. It will be different from past summers, as they have been spent in my second home Northern Ireland and the Czech Republic. But “different doesn’t mean bad, it just means different” …that is a phrase I heard many times from Paul B. while I was there, and I’ve tried to remember that as I find myself in “different” situations. This summer will be filled with different. Different challenges, different lessons, different people, different culture and different opportunities to serve. I will miss N.I and Czech this summer,  with my entire heart I will…and I already do. But just because I’m not able to go this summer doesn’t mean I won’t go in the future Lord willing.

I am thankful for the time I get to spend with my family as those times have been short over the last three years, I’m thankful that the Lord has provided a job for me, and I’m looking forward to what the summer will bring. I pray that I will be able to embrace different this summer, be flexible, willing and joyful. I don't know what exactly lies ahead this summer but i'm excited to find out!