Well I've really had an excellent year so far: SMBI, a trip to Oregon, guy's week at my place, and a lot of good times with my friends here at home. Work went well and I was blessed with employers who were not only easy to work with but have become good friends. Anyway, things are about to change in a big way!

I was accepted into the Verity program in Indianapolis for some intense study in biology which will earn me a Bachelor of Science and hopefully be all that I need to fulfill the prerequisites for med school. I'm really excited about the whole thing right now - it's the fulfilling of a dream that I've had for a long time. There are some things that I'm a little apprehensive about but I really believe that this is the right thing for me to be doing and that God will work out the details.

Hopefully Dad and I will be leaving for Kansas on Tuesday morning bright and early for the 16+ hr drive. I wanted to see my Grandparents and other friends there before putting my nose to the grindstone. I'm hoping to buy a car somewhere in KS as well... could be interesting finding something that's reliable enough to take me places and is still in my price range! In a week from today I'll be driving to Indy - as ready as I can be for whatever's next.

So since I'm sitting here with a wireless connection for once, maybe I'll upload some pics. Brace yourself for random! As you can see, I didn't take all of them so thanks to those of you who let me use your pics.

Here are a bunch of us who were in Oregon for Steven and Jenna's wedding.

Kevin and I

Random shots around the yard

A porcupine we met in the blueberry patch

A closer shot!!!

Wild blueberries - unbeatable

A day on the lake with our VBS teachers

Cruising the streets of Kenora the week all the guys were here - check out Benji's site  http://www.xanga.com/benjbeiler for more pics from then.

And now I'll be feeling pretty good about the xanga updates for a while!!  

Be blessed!

Currently Listening Three Wooden Crosses By Various Artists see related

  Yes friends, it has been forever since I last posted. Of course, this is what I was afraid of when I signed up for xanga.  The problem here is not that I don't know what to write about. Rather, that I simply do not take the time to post like so many of you wonderful people do! Thus, I realize that I really should be firmly disciplined for my lack of effort but there seems to be nothing which can be done. I've always liked picture posts but with dial-up it is painfully slow (yes, it actually *hurts* when you wait for dial-up to upload a picture!)

Anyway, enough complaining about xanga.

Right now I'm getting a good taste of what it's like to live alone. My parents are in Pennsylvania and Tennissee for three weeks which leaves me with free run of the place. So far it's been going great. Meals and laundry have been working out great.

Proof that I'm not starving

I've kept busy with work (which is the reason that I didn't go with my family) and nearly every evening I have something going away from home. I've also spent several nights with Gerald Yoder's family. Last night we had a howling good time together!  

I came home this evening to about three dozen little pansies on the front door step... (the flower kind) So that was really cool. I planted them all in mom's flower bed here by the house which kept me busy for a while. The apple tree and the lilacs are blooming right now which really makes the place look great. I'm enjoying the responsibility of taking care of Dad's little greenhouse too. It's been too long since I took the time to work with plants. So yeah things are going great.

our apple tree in bloom

At this time I would like to post a warning to any low-profile personalities that may want to vandalize this property since I'm the only one here. Do not even consider wasting your time here. I will be very stern with you. By very stern I mean very stern! So consider yourself warned. Thank you.

Hopefully I can do much better in updating in the future. (heh heh... funny joke, eh?)

And now blessings to you all!

CAM Disaster Relief

 Here's a picture of the group that went from our area. Lee organized the whole thing for us. Thanks Lee!

Left to Right: Vincent, Me, Jordan, Ben, Lee, Joe

As soon as we got to Mississippi we went to the beach. At 80 deg. F, there was a 100 deg. difference from up here to there. Everyone felt like it would be a good thing to go to the ocean and wind down after the 15,000 mile drive. It was totally awesome!

The four of us have tried many different poses and "abstract group" shots over the years. Ben says we were "trying" to look cool on this picture... I like to think that we succeeded!!!

The CAM base had quite a few books and magazines covering the events of hurricane Katrina. I was absolutely amazed at the amount of devestation that it caused. In the one area that we were rebuilding they say there used to be 10,000 homes. After the storm, only 38 were liveable.

We had the unique experience of working for Brian, a man who was featured in Time magazine following the storm. He swam with his dog in one arm for 2 hours in the floodwater until the wind blew them past an undestroyed attic further inland. At one time, he says that he looked up and saw the sun for a few minutes before the wind came pounding in from the other direction. His land is right on the coast so we could see the Gulf as we worked.

Left: Brian and I. This was the street that he was blown along before he found safety. Right: Me trying out the stilts. I am not a mudder!!! The mudding that I did was out of necessity... thanks to Lee for all his encouragement! 

Ben and his new pal...  We got a real bang out of this bird. (At least those of us who watched the whole thing unfold did) I'd encourage you to read Ben's take on the story. His user name is "benamincy".

There's still an incredible amount of work to be done down there and volunteer groups are still needed. It's quite the experience! Go if you can.

-God's Peace