just posted some new shots on my pics page.

how do you like that shot of scott? pretty cool huh... a little help from photoshop, but not alot.

Ive found that my picture taking is very sporadic. Sometimes I take tons of pictures, and then I will go for months without taking any. I think I have a bit of an eye for fotography - but mostly I have posted my "snapshots" here on this page. I like spelling fotography that way... because I can.

anyway, so I posted some pics on marc and julies site too. also updated jesses web address (thanks for the heads up kairsie)

helped kairsie move out yesterday. I have mixed feelings on the issue - on one hand I know she has wanted to move out for a long time, so I know she finally got her wish... and we really needed to find someone else for ACTV - on the other hand, I will miss her with the challenging conversations, and just being around... just being Kairsie.

I know things wont be the same - they never are. Ruthy is moving on from leadership in the Youth Group. I will miss that too.

Part of life I suppose. But in many ways, life is good, and moving forward. not enough hours in the day.

Im not usually a computer game player, but I found this copy of the old atari game rollercoaster tycoon. I stayed up way too late the past two nights building rollercoasters, and theme parks to keep my fake people happy. I realize it is time down the drain... oh well. I felt addicted for a while - but I get bored quick... so I guess a two day addiction isnt that bad. I probably won't play it again. While it is pretty cool how you can design all this stuff, it acomplishes no real end (except the pure entertainment value)

I watched AMEN a movie about the holocost, and how the church and the pope sort of ignored what was happening to the Jews - mostly because they werent catholic. It was an interesting film - not really made that well, but interesting because of the content. The main guy in the film was a specialist in poison gas, and a catholic - he struggled on how to best fight against the nazi's - he decided it was best for him to stay involved on the inside so that he could be a witness... but in the end, he helped the nazi's kill so many more people because of the advice he was giving with the poison etc. anyway- i cant imagine, it must have been a horrible dilemma. I feel bad about my fascination with the holocost - it is hard to believe it was real - im sure it is, but its crazy how it all happened.

Bush and Kerry are 9th cousins twice removed.  hehe
 
yeah, i took the bait on a funny add for ancestry.com 
 
the link to the family tree... ok...its really far back there. but heres the link... http://msn.ancestry.com/landing/strange/bush4/tree.htm
 

RELEVANT magazine :: GOD.LIFE.PROGRESSIVE CULTURE.
RIP FIF - I know this is old news, but I thought I would say that there are few bands that impress me, and FIF just rocked. The zany crazy side of them, the rock and roll side of them, and the passionate spirituallity just absolutely impressed me... even though I really liked their earlier stuff better, they were always a great band, and cool people too (at least the ones I had the privilege to meet and interview)

Ok, now the pictures are fixed sorry... there are some cute ones, so check em out.

on other business, the audio blogger thing is cool... it wont replace writing (because I can think about it before I write it, and actually say something reasonably "together" whereas if I just talked it into my cell phone - well, I would have a tendancy to ramble. Anyway, it would be much more boring than the boringness which is already this blog.

today - a wednesday: one of my favorite days of the week. I keep busy, usually cleaning the house, or working on small things outside - but mostly whatever I can do with a toddler on my heals.

Maria is growing up so fast. It is facinating to see her learn and grow, and she impressed me today. She is picking up more and more of the english language, and being able to better understand what you want from her.

Today was playing with this wood puzzle thing, and she was walking all around the house with these pieces. Once I caught her putting a piece in a trash can, so I thought it would be prudent to find all the pieces to make sure none were gone permanently. Well, I found all but two pieces... so I told maria to show me where the other pieces were - I pointed to where they were missing from the puzzle, and I gave her my hand - and surprizingly, she walked me around and into the kitchen, and over to the corner where she had stashed them underneath the dishwasher. Anyway, I thought it was cool that she understood, and remembered where she had put them. She is also getting more particular about wanting things her way. Discipline so far has been limited, but I can tell it will be much needed soon. This is the hard part I have been expecting - and this is the part that many parents screw up... If a parent is too harsh, the parent might get immediate results but as soon as the child is away from the parents, they sort of rebel - also, overly strict parenting is just mean.... BUT even worse is not enough discipline. When a child is undisciplined, they grow up having trouble fitting in to society with its rules [written and unwritten.] Learning cleanliness, manners, politeness, when to hold your tongue etc. Its all part of growing up, and I realize it starts really young. Maria is learning (or needs to learn) now that you don't always get everything that you want - but that you can be content anyway.

I know that discipline will be part of our lives together for the next 15 years or so - for better or worse - But I think I will be a good dad in that regard. I had a good example in my dad.

The bible talks about parenting and discipline several times... PR 3:11 My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline and do not resent his rebuke, because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in. :: the scripture is saying that fathers can discipline out of love. - -

-and- on the other side it says in EPH 6:4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. :: so I think the bible is really balanced on the issue.