Back from the Big Apple!

Wednesday, August 15th: Before school started, Kari and I took a vacation to NYC. As some of you may have read, I was able to celebrate Valentines Day 2007 at Yankee Stadium with my wife. We flew to New York City on Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2007, with Warren and Nicole. It was an early flight so we laid our heads down to sleep at midnight, but could not fall asleep because of our excitement. Finally we fell asleep about 2am., but that would not last long because our alarm clock was set for 4:20am. We headed out the door with JMob, who we are thankful for because he watched our apartment. As we arrived, we saw a bus of people getting out at the same airline we were attempting to check our bags at. Realizing the long line ahead, we rushed inside and beat the crowd. We checked our bags and waited for Warren and Nicole. They arrived a few minutes later and learned of the crowd ahead of them, so we went through security. Later that afternoon, we arrived in LaGuardia Airport a little afternoon noon Eastern Time. We checked in Hotel Edison, which was on 47th Street and about 30 steps from Broadway, also known as Time Square. We spent a little time exploring Time Square and the many shops that it is has to offer including: Toys R Us, M&M World and Hershey's Time Square. That evening we had dinner reservations at Tavern on the Green in Central Park. In order to arrive at our dinner reservation on time, we choose to take a carriage ride around Central Park to the restaurants front entrance. We enjoyed a wonderful meal that evening and did a little evening sight seeing in Lower Manhattan.

Thursday: I am not sure what New Yorkers call the east to west blocks, but I call them "long blocks." If you study a map of Mid Town Manhattan, you will notice that the street blocks north to south are short and west to east blocks are long. That morning we got up with tickets to go on an Island Cruise at 10:30am. We hit the streets to walk five long blocks west and four blocks south to Pier 83. I recall Kari asking, "Why didn't we take the subway?" I responded, "Because it doesn't go that far west." Soon enough, we arrived to the destination and boarded the boat. The three hour tour took us down the Hudson River to the Statue of Liberty and back up the East River, to the Harlem River and than back to the Hudson River. The trip was three hours, very informative and spectacular. Kari and I both saw many things we had not seen on the Island Cruise. We took the tour guides recommendation and had John's Pizzeria on 44th Street. It is not the typical "by the slice pizza," but rather a "sit down" pizzeria. We watched as they prepared our pizza from the kneading of the dough to it being pulled out of the brick oven. That afternoon, we decided there were sites Warren and Nicole wanted to see and there were things we wanted to see. Warren and Nicole headed off with map in hand exploring NYC. Before leaving home, I had made a list of some of the sites I wanted to check out. We began checking the map and plotting our course when suddenly we would confronted by a deal we could not refuse. We bought tickets to ride on the tour buses with the tops cut off, allowing the rider to see many of the sites from a different angle and keeping us on street side, instead of riding the subway. We rode the bus for almost two hours and I went down my checklist as we would passed the sites I wanted to see. Most of them were pictures I wanted to take, so we didn't have to even get off the bus. Near dinner time, we got off at South Street Seaport to have some dinner and explore the area. In the main mall area, there was live music, everyone was eating outside, and plenty of shopping was going on. We spent the evening there and caught the last bus from South Street Seaport back to Time Square. As we were leaving, I snapped a few pictures of the night skyline, but soon after my battery died and I was unable to get some of the amazing lights we saw.

Friday: Friday was the official, rest and relax day because our feet was killing us. Warren and Nicole had a list of sites to see that morning, one being the Good Morning America shoot which got them out of bed fairly earlier. We stayed in bed because we could barely walk. We hit the streets later that morning and decided brunch was necessary. The Hard Rock Cafe loomed in front of us and quickly we ducked in the restaurant to find us some grub, as JMob puts it. After lunch we went out on Broadway and saw a film crew setting up. This peeked my curiosity, so we hung around to see what was going on. I do confess, I was scared to ask, but Kari was not. Kari approached someone who seemed to be the audio guy and asked him what was going on. He replied, "Some shoot with the mayor." Kari had been telling me to keep an eye out for famous people and we just stumbled on a front row seat of a press conference with the mayor of New York City, Michael Bloomberg. We watched the police with the little ear pieces secure the area and than watched a van full of NYPD hit the streets. Prior to the police pushing the crowd back, which had no clue what was going on, we had been pulled into the shot by one of the producers.Assuming they wanted the conference to have a "friendly" appeal about it, we were glad to pretend to be New Yorkers and stand near the mayor. Several minutes passed and one of the camera men came over and said, "This is a mock press conference with the mayor and you are the press core, pretending like you are taking pictures of the mayor." We gladly appeased the camera man. Now we had questions. We got another camera man's attention and he explained it was a shoot for The Colbert Report and the mayor would be making a live appearance for the scene. He did make his appearance and seemed to be a very friendly man. Bloomberg waved, smiled and spoke to many of the New Yorkers. Not to mention, posing for a picture of a tour bus that stopped, opened the door for someone to snap a picture of the mayor. They took a few takes and the mayor was swept away. The producer came over and told us, "You've just been in a scene for The Colbert Report, can you hang out and sign a release?" We signed the form and headed to the Rockefeller Center for there new attraction, Top of the Rock. We enjoyed the 67 story elevator ride and not so much enjoyed the three flights of stairs to reach the 70th floor of Rockefeller Center, but once we arrived, there was no complaining. I have been to New York two previous time and had never been to the Empire State Building or any height worth talking about. This view was SWEET! You can look at pictures all day and still be unable to get the bird's eye view you can get from on top of the Rockefeller Center (not to say Empire is less, I just have never been). We spent the afternoon on the observation deck taking pictures of the city, of ourselves and of one another. The clouds began to roll into the city and we decided it would be best to head back to the hotel and get ready for the evening dinner and Broadway show. Once on the streets the rain began to pour and our free panchos kept some of the rain off of us, but the rain did not slow us down. We made it to the hotel to find Warren and Nicole getting ready for the evening. Considering we did not have the tickets already (we had vouchers), Kari and I decided to quickly get the tickets and than get ready to dine at the hotel restaurant Sofia's. Our meal was good, but what was to come next was amazing.The show began at 8pm., so we arrived about 7:45pm. to avoid some of the traffic. Tonight's presentation, The Lion King, live from the Minskoff Theatre in New York City. This was the first time I has seen the production, but Kari had seen it previously. The costumes moved so smoothly with the actors; each color set the tone for the scene; and the vocals we bright and on key. What an amazing experience. We had thought we might grab a shake from Ellen's Stardust Diner, but we were all beat, so we headed to bed.

Saturday: Kari and I awoke to celebrate my Valentine's Day present, tickets to the Yankees game versus the Detroit Tigers. Before heading to the stadium, we went to Canal Street to do a little shopping. We grabbed some pizza and caught the subway south. We had fun on Canal Street shopping and browsing. It was soon time to catch the Number 4 Train north to Yankee Stadium. We thought we would arrive at the ballpark a little early, but much to our surprise we were unable to get into the gate because I had my backpack. "NO BACKPACKS...," the sign read in bold letters and we were advised to rent a locker at the bowling alley across the street. We did as we were told and learned, you really don't rent a locker, you just pay the bowling alley $5.00 to "check" your bag. Either way, we took care of that and made it to our seats for the National Anthem, fly over (it was military appreciation day), and the first pitch. Prior to entering the stadium, I received a text message from JMob, he let me know that Roger Clemens would be starting. If you haven't seen 54,000+ people react as a singular body, go to Yankee Stadium. Former Yankee Gary Sheffield, now Tiger, has recently been in the papers making statements about the current manager of the Yankees, Joe Torre concerning race and fairness towards players. Basically, Sheffield was bashing Torre and the fans let Sheffield know how that did not appreciate the rude comments toward the Yankees' fearless leader Joe. Every time Sheffield came to the plate (he is the designated hitter, he only bats now), all 54,000+ booed, yelled, and whatever obscene gesture you can think was directed towards Gary Sheffield. Another unique and amazing experience in New York City. Jorge Posada hit a home run and Bobby Abreu hit a two run home run. Roger Clemens recorded his 1,000th strikeout as a Yankee and Kari and I had seen our first Yankees game in the House that Ruth Built. They went on the win the game 5-2. We caught the not so busy D Train south and met Warren and Nicole at Ellen's Stardust Diner. The Diner features a wait staff that performs Broadway tunes while they serve their patron's. Many of the staff members are trying to make it to the big stage, but in the meantime work at the diner. It is a delight place, outside of any typical restaurant. Except for a few picture of Time Square, bedtime was approaching.

Sunday: Our last full day in New York City. We received a recommendation from Kari's sister, Ashley to check out the Time Square Church. We walked a few blocks north and found the church. We were politely greeted and ushered to a seat. When the greeter opened the doors, I was surprised to see we would be worshiping in an old theatre this morning. It was amazing. The 9 o'clock hour is set aside as a prayer time, so we walked into a prayerful room. Ten till ten, the stage curtains dropped, but the prayer continued. The time of worship began at ten and we spent about two hours in the presence of the Lord. It was a great recommendation and we would definitely visit again. We walked over to Juniors and had lunch with Warren and Nicole. I will mention one thing about Juniors, instead of chips and salsa, or olive oil and bread, we received pickles, beets and onions for a pre meal. Very interested, to say the least. That afternoon, we took a Sunday nap and than hit the streets again. We spent some time at Macy's and a few other shops around there. We ended up the evening with at a restaurant called City Lobster. It had a great menu and most of all Kari was looking forward to lobster. Although the service was not good at all, the food was pretty good, but the quiet and not so busy atmosphere was delightful to us both (and we weren't getting rained on outside).

Monday, August 20th: This was our last day in NYC. We were forced to schedule a two o'clock Super Shuttle pick up, but that gave us a little time to roam the city. We went a several popular shopping destinations, FAO Schwartz, Tiffany & Co., Bloomingdales, and Diesel. At Bloomingdales, we met up with one of Ashley's classmates, Adrianna. We had lunch with her at Patsy's. The meal was good, as well as the company. We caught a cab to get back over to Time Square to catch the shuttle. It arrived about two o'clock and we set out on our journey back to Austin. With one layover in Cleveland, we all made it through security at LaGuardia Airport and waited to board in NYC. We got on the plane and began to taxi the runway. Soon after we noticed the taxi continued. An announcement was made there would be a 45 minute delay before take off. We sat on the plane and paid careful attention to our watches. After about 30 minutes, another announcement was made that we would not be leaving for another twenty minutes. Total, we were delayed about an hour and fifteen minutes. Carefully doing the math, our landing would allow for ten minutes to find the gate in Cleveland. When we hit the ground, we were running through the Cleveland airport. According to the screens, the flight was on time, but were angusihed to learn the gate was on the otherside of the the airport. We ran through the terminal and much to all of our surprise we arrived with minutes to spare to learn that the flight had been delayed. After talking with the airline company, we found out we would not be home until 1am., a three hour delay. Three hours later, we caught the plane to Austin. We arrived about 1am., and grabbed our baggage and treated JMob to some waffle house.

It was a wonderful trip. Kari and I both got to see many things we had not seen before. We also got to hang out with our fiends from Lockhart, Warren and Nicole. I hope you made it through the reading, if not, don't worry it took me more than two weeks to get it written and I am still not sure what all I wrote! Have a great day everyone!

Salt Lick review

Jeremy's Take on the Building/Overall
Atmosphere:Upon arriving in Driftwood, Texas to the popular
and well known restaurant, JMob and I were expecting to eat some
amazing BarBQ. The gravel drive and cedar post fence provides a
wonderful "ranch" atmosphere which adds to the restaurant patrons
experience. The building was built by the current owners parents and
each stone was hand picked from the land to build the building that is
home to the Salt Lick. Sitting at the long, old, and wooden tables,
watching the fire will excite any patron.

JMob's Take on the Building/Overall Atmosphere: I've already been here previously, but it was years ago so I already knew what to expect. There were some things I noticed this trip I hadn't previously. For instance a sign that reads "Please limit eating time to 1hr and a 1/2 to allow others to enjoy our food." A second thing i noticed on the wall was a Texas Monthly article about Sandra Bullock, which says the interview took place at Salt Lick.

Jeremy's Take on the Beef,etc.:After adjusting to being served at a BarBQ restaurant (typically, I order meat market style), I ordered the beef and sausage plate that came with coleslaw and potato salad. Trying both meats without sauce first to preserve the original taste, I found the sausage very typical of a sausage anyone could buy at your local grocery store. I make this comparison to grocery store, because I expect homemade sausage to be distinctly flavorful and fresh. The flavor was not well seasoned or fresh tasting. Upon eating the second bite of the sausage, I might have chipped a tooth on the bone pieces I found in the sausage. Even when I drowned the sausage in sauce, I was unable to completely enjoy or eat the sliced link that was brought out. The sliced beef or brisket was a different story. Although this brisket is not one brag about. It seemed like any typical brisket, yet was lean* and juicy (as any brisket should be). There was nothing flashy about the beef, but I did enjoy it with and without sauce. The sides were not typical potato salads and coleslaws. Each had a distinct flavor and I enjoyed the different recipes served by the restaurant.
*I prefer the lean beef.

JMob's Take on the Beef,etc.: I ordered the combination plate of beef and sausage. I enjoyed the beef, but disliked the sausage very much. The sausage was too much on the crunchy side, almost like it was warmed, and not grilled. For instance at Kruez, it's almost falling off the casing. That tells me it's DONE! The sauce was probably the best sauce i've ever had. But if you need sauce to make it good, that tells me the meat is lacking.

Jeremy's Take on After Sweets:
After not being completely full, because I left half the sausage on my
plate, we both agreed it was time for desert. We both ordered peach
cobbler with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top. Once it arrived,
there was no doubt we had made an excellent choice. The orange and
yellow warm combination of the sweet treat melted in my mouth. It was
bowl licking good.

JMob's Take on After Sweets: OOOHHHH mama...."Them are some good eats." While not being full on the entree, I was glad to get something good. Peach Cobbler. And A LA MODE! It was definitely the highlight of the meal. The portion was huge and I couldnt finish it.

Jeremy's Finally Thoughts:For the two of us to eat, including a tip, I could think of several other BarBQ restaurants to visit for $40.00. Excellent service, not so good entree, unique sides, and a great desert. Basically, I left the restaurant full on potato salad and peach cobbler. Not a good sign from a restaurant with the reputation of having great beef. I give it two stars and would not recommend it to any friend of mine.

JMob's Finally Thoughts: I say 2 out of 5 stars as well. The most points coming from the peach cobbler. I would definitely recommend KRUEZ first, and Salt Lick would probably be third or fourth on the list sadly. When leaving, we were asked "how was it" and much to their amazement we responded with an "It was alright." Apparently they aren't very used to mediocre reviews.

We hope this is helpful to our readers and would love to hear any
feedback. Have a great day.

Scary Stories with Shel

Sizzle n JMizzle

Jordan Rocks Out!

JMizzle Goes Shopping

Happy Valentine's Day

Today was supposed to be a workday for me, but the job site was not prepared and I had to re-schedule the installation. Long time, no write...I feel as if I should re-cap the previous month, but just don't feel like it. I have been all over Central Texas and Galveston during the past few weeks and enjoyed every moment of the travel and work.

My title is deceiving because some of you may think I still think it is February or maybe I just haven't flipped my calendar, but that's not the case. For Valentine's Day, Kari gave me tickets to a New York Yankees' game in August. They will be playing the Detroit Tigers on Sat. August 18th, and I am getting very excited. During the move, I missed placed the tickets. You know when you lie in bed and you think about the many overwhelming things in life: bills, work, children, etc., and you just can't sleep? Well, my thoughts were on the misplaced Yankees' tickets. I'd lie in bed and try to re-play the entire move and somehow every time I saw the tickets going into my laptop bag, but they were no where to be found. It so happens Kari and I finally brokedown and searched the house: A. Because August 18th is getting near, B. They needed to be found and C. I probably was annoying Kari by asking periodically, "Where did we pack those tickets at?" They were in a box of mail and paperwork in the closet and thankfully, now I only lie in bed awake and dread the Fall Semester. I am looking forward to my Valentine's Day present in New York as Kari and I travel with our friends Warren and Nicole.

News update: All is well in the Hellums household. Kari and I had a few days not on the road this week. We will be heading to Milano this weekend to see her family and celebrate Kari's 21st birthday. On Monday, I will be going back to camp and Kari is heading north to Kaleo Lodge to see her sister, brother in law, and nephew.

God Bless to all.

Happy Fourth of July

It has been a busy first half of the summer. The Astros are 12 games back, but what's new, they are a second half season team anyway. The rain won't seem to stop, but if you consider the lack of rain we have had the past few years, I am enjoying the rainy weather. My attempt at Spanish Two did not go well. I ususally spent four hours devoted to homework nightly and all for a pending D, so I dropped the course. I have not lost hope yet for graduation because I have learned that I can take a placement test and hopeful get out of Spanish Two. All to say, I did learn a lot and know much of the material hopefully allowing me to do well on the placement test. Camp is going great. Worship in a tent is amazing, each week has taught me something new, weather it is about myself and my relationship with God or just relationships with others, camp is a mighty blessing.

Recent happenings: I got to hang out with JMob some last week, we ate some Chipotle and hung out at Waterloo. Kari and I went to YEC with Stan and Windy in Dallas and we worked with the FX Bands. The four selected bands were amazing this year. They were all humble students who knew why they were their, to worship God. After I was done working stage with Stan, Windy and Kari, we stayed to watch Kutless. We had dinner with Stan and Windy and than went to worship with Shane and Shane. After YEC, we went to Little Elm to visit Aunt Martha and Uncle Doyle. We had a great time and got to see Evan Almighty and enjoy a great dinner. That evening we played games and went to church the next morning, it was a wonderful time with our aunt and uncle. Our nephew came to visit and after one night and a day by ourselves with Daniel; James, Ashley, Ruth and Shelbi all came to visit. We went and saw Ratatouille and than hung out the rest of the rainy Tuesday. Tuesday evening, Kari cooked dinner and than Ruth and Kari made a hotdog and fries cake. The summer is about half over and I have to say that it has been one of the most amazing summers, so far. I hope that each of you have a blessed fourth and stay safe. God Bless.

Drivers' Ten Commandments

The Vatican on Tuesday issued a set of Ten Commandments for drivers, the "Drivers' Ten Commandments," as listed by the document, are:

1. You shall not kill.

2. The road shall be for you a means of communion between people and not of mortal harm.

3. Courtesy, uprightness and prudence will help you deal with unforeseen events.

4. Be charitable and help your neighbor in need, especially victims of accidents.

5. Cars shall not be for you an expression of power and domination, and an occasion of sin.

6. Charitably convince the young and not so young not to drive when they are not in a fitting condition to do so.

7. Support the families of accident victims.

8. Bring guilty motorists and their victims together, at the appropriate time, so that they can undergo the liberating experience of forgiveness.

9. On the road, protect the more vulnerable party.

10. Feel responsible toward others.

BUSY BUSY BUSY

I do apoligize for my constant pattern of video posting, but right now it seems the only thing easy and quick enough to do right now. Kari and I seem to be doing something all them time. If it isn't a dear friends wedding, than we are spending time with our families in Bastrop, Cedar Creek, College Station and Milano. During the afternoons I am taking Spanish Two at Austin Community College and plan to take Spanish Three during the second Summer session. Spanish Two homework lasts about 3-4 hours, completely eliminating any activity during the week. At nights however, I have committed to being at Highland Lakes Encampment to run sound for the worship services. This is just a glimplse of how busy the summer has been so far, I hope you will understand my lack of blogging. I hope everyone is doing well and staying cool. Until next time, God Bless.

A Little More fun @ Austin Parks

Overhaulin: Week One

A Little Upset About a Call

"There were some issues that needed to be addressed," Wellman said after the outburst. "There were several things going on during the game, and when some of your players are getting the short end, there comes a time when you've got to stand up."

Phillip Wellman, Mississippi Braves Manager

Express Fall 11-6 to Memphis

Hangin' Out w/ Kari and the Burnett's

Click on the picture to see more.

Hangin' w/ Jordan

Neil Cole Quote

"I think you would be amazed to see what God can do when we decide to go to the places where the sinners hang out."

Neil Cole makes this statement after he talks about a group of students going to a club to share the Gospel. Christians should be boldly stepping in to "uncomfortable" places in order to share Jesus with the lost. Have you done this lately? God Bless.

Sex God by Rob Bell

Usually when a band releases its second album it is known as the sophomore album. In this case, Rob Bell has released his sophomore publication entitled Sex God. Bell continues to use his casual writing style to convey deep thoughts about sexuality, human relationships, and our relationship with God. Bell writes, "This path Jesus has chosen, which he continues day after day...He finds himself at odds with those in power...A conflict between love and controlling power." Bell explores the relationship God establishes with his "chosen people" in the old testament and then explores how God sent his son Jesus to die for you and I. The author calls the reader to approach life differently. In some cases, direct all our passions towards causes God might have us pursue and other times, encourages the married reader to submit to one another. This exploration of sexuality and relationships according to how God planned, is insightful and thought provoking. It is not written specifically to single or married individuals, so I would recommend to anyone striving to figure out how Sex and God fit together. Check it out.

Kwik Scuba Wash

2nd Month Anniversary

By Request

Spiderman, Spiderman,
Does whatever a spider can.
Spins a web, any size,
Catches thieves just like flies.
Look out! Here comes the Spiderman.

Is he strong? Listen bud—
He's got radioactive blood.
Can he swing from a thread?
Take a look overhead.
Hey there! There goes the Spiderman.

In the chill of the night,
At the scene of the crime,
Like a streak of light,
He arrives just in time!

Spiderman, Spiderman,
Friendly neighborhood Spiderman.
Wealth and fame, he's ignored—
Action is his reward.
To him,
Life is a great big bang-up—
Wherever there's a hang-up,
You'll find the Spiderman!

Spiderman, spiderman...

I am not one to review movies, but I thought it was necessary that I say something about the third installment of Spiderman. I also do not put much stock in movie reviews I read, so without further delay...here's my review.

Spiderman 3: This film seems to start slow, but picks up speed quickly and doesn't slow down until the end. Peter Parker, or Spiderman unknowingly encounters an alien that amplifies his aggression and attitude. It is a Spiderman many aren't familiar with, so this quickly changes the type of Spiderman film. The typical "Friendly Neighborhood Spiderman," is not so friendly in this film, but the internal battle Parker faces mirrors many characteristics that you and I struggle with. We all have choices, we can be good or bad, but we decided. This aspect of the film is very thought provoking and might be explored futher in later posts. Without spoiling the film, there are a few twists and surprises that will catch the viewer off guard. I highly recommend this film and plan on seeing it a second time in the theater. Don't always believe the newspaper or blog reviews though, go see for yourself and form your own opinion. Have a blessed day.

School Comes to a Close

My last final is today at three pm. I am looking forward to being off for about a month. After this summer, I will be in line to graduate in Dec. '07. I am registered to take seven hours of Spanish this summer at Austin Community College, yeppie! This weekend Kari and I attended Second Baptist Church in La Grange, TX to see my cousin, aunt and uncle sing in their Spring Musical. It was a delightful presentation through song about the divinity of Jesus. Afterward, we went to the country club and at lunch together.

Kari and I finally got all our stuff moved to Pflugerville. It sounds like we just got it all moved, but that is not the case, we have already been in our new place since the first of May. Although, there is more unpacking to take place in the near future, we are both very excited about our new home. We have already noticed that Pflugerville is not a college town.

Other thoughts: I hope the Astros can pull it together. Jamarcus Russell is a Raider...who drafted Brady Quinn?

Some Flower, Country, Baseball Pictures to View

Click on the photo to see more!

Country Settings & Baseball

Wedding Reception Video

JMob got bored over Spring Break and came up with this...

Easter 2007

Easter 2007 will be remembered as the “the cold one” and “the day we thought Ashley was in labor.” It all began at about eight in the morning in Milano, Texas. Kari and I were awoken by Kari’s little sister, Shelbi. The Easter Bunny had come and …

The Night Before
Prior to the Easter Bunny on Sunday morning, Kari and I celebrated Easter with my mother side of the family in Bastrop. Everyone except for my mother was in attendance to the Lueders Easter Celebration, so we had a house full. We enjoyed each others company and had a wonderful meal. We left Bastrop about 8:45 p.m. and drove through sleet most of the way to Milano. We were getting phone calls and text messages that in many areas of Texas snow was falling, in some places six inches. Kari and I both were wearing jackets and were riding with the heater on. That is why we will remember our first Easter together as “the cold one.”

Continued: Easter Day
The Easter Bunny had come and…brought many goodies to everyone. We went to church and had lunch with Kari’s grandparents, aunt and uncle, and a few cousins. About 4ish, when Kari and I were about to get on the road to Cedar Creek, Ashley called the ER because she thought her water had broke. I am not a medical doctor, nor am I familiar with pregnancy, so I just figure this was the real deal. We decided that we would go with Ashley and James to the hospital in case our new nephew was born. Ashley and James were swept into a maternity room, and the rest of us were sent to the waiting room. It was a stressful hour, but that the soon to be grandmother (my mother-in-law) could not tolerate. She proactively set out for answers leaving Kari, Shebli, and I to wait. Than, my mother-in-law came and got Kari...so Shelbi and I waited. Finally, we were all invited back to the room to learn it was not time for the baby to be born. That is the second reason it will be known as “the day we thought Ashley was in labor.” (See below for a link to pictures)

Sidenote: Kari was helping me get my fall schedule lined up and she did some math and decided I could graduate in December. After checking with an Advisor, going to summer school and completing Fall 2007, it is possible for me to graduate in December. Save your applause, till I let you know I pass! I hope that each of you had a wonderful and blessed Easter Day. God Bless.

Easter Pics!

Click on the egg...to see more pictures!

Easter 2007

Shane Claiborne's Irresistible Revolution

Last Thursday, I had the opportunity to hear Shane Claiborne speak about the way God is currently using him in Philadelphia. Shane lives on the north side of Philly in a community known as The Simple Way Community. Basically, Shane live in a community with many people considered poor and homeless. Many of the community members grow food, make clothes and one of the communities is making Veggie Fuel (an alternative fuel). This was an eye opening lecture series hosted by Texas State because throughout Shane’s lecture all his reasoning came directly from scripture. He proposed alternative economics and social structure based on what the New Testament says. Many of the thoughts and ideas are hard for many Americans who strive for the “American Dream.” Often times we forget about the poor, enslaved and homeless.

Where do your clothes come from?

One story that stands out in my mind is of a little boy who worked in a sweat shop (yes, they still exist). The boy had a scar across his face, from forehead to chin. Shane described the boy to be about 12 or 14 years old. The boy said that his master had beaten him and wanted him to continue his work in the textile factory, but did not what the boy to bleed on the fabrics. Instead of giving him the day off, a towel, or even a band-aid, the master took a lighter and burned the gash on his face back together. I wasn’t even there, but I will never forget this story.

Some notable quotes:

"We worship a homeless man on Sunday and ignore one on Monday.” referring to Jesus

"It's very fashionable for us as Christians to talk about the poor, but not too the poor. If we really care about poor people, we know the names of poor people."

Claiborne talks about his many experiences in his book entitled, “Irresistible Revolution." He made many challenging statements and some challenges can only be met with complete lifestyle change. I have already been effected by his words by simply evaluating what I need to buy and what I want to buy. Have a blessed day.

More Wedding Pics...by Nicole

Click on the pic...to see more!

Wedding Pics

An Evening with Dr. Hooper

Tuesday night, Kari and I usually host a bible study at our apartment (previously it was her apartment and now it is ours), but last Tuesday, Texas State was hosting Walter Hooper. Hooper, now Dr. Hooper, after being awarded an honorary doctorate from Concordia University the night before, is the world’s foremost C.S. Lewis scholar. He presented a lecture entitled “The Legacy of C. S. Lewis: Master Communicator.” Having read many of Lewis' books, fiction and apologetics, I decided it was necessary our bible study, or at least myself, attend the event. Uncertain of the direction Hooper would take, I had half a mind Hooper would discuss Lewis' faith. Indeed, most of Hooper's speech was about Lewis faith. I think the most complimentary statement Hooper made was, "He lived an ordinary life, supernaturally." Hooper also mentioned Lewis' lifestyle was always the same. Often times, people act one way at church and another way at home, but according to Hooper, Lewis lived a consistent lifestyle. The speech lasted an hour and a half and rarely straying to far from the fact that Hooper pointed out that without Christ, Lewis wrote about nothing, cause he had nothing to say, but the words he did write were from God (paraphrased Hooper). It was an excellent speech that gave the listener a better understanding of who the man C.S. Lewis was from an eye witness and friend.

Two Week Anniversary

Today marked the second week anniversary of our wedding day. We can't say enough "thanks" to all the wonderful people who participated and made everything great on March 10th. We talked about the wedding for hours upon hours and wouldn't have changed a single thing. So far, it has been the best two weeks of my life and I am looking forward to our future.

We honeymooned with Royal Caribbean Cruise lines in the Caribbean. We made three stops: Key West, FL; Grand Cayman Island; Cozumel, Mexico. It was both our first cruise, so we had only "heard" what to expect. I have to say, everything we heard was true, except for what Kim told us. Kim, Kari's roommate, went on a cruise in January and told us everything was free, "just put it on your Seapass card." For those unaware, your Seapass card is tied to your credit card, so everything is not free. We enjoyed our time on the sea and our ports of call. We would change a few things about the cruise, but mainly the time we spent in the ports should be extended. We would get off the boat, see a few sights, and than run back to the boat.

See the links below to check out some of our wedding and honeymoon pictures. We hope to add more wedding pictures soon as well. Thanks again to everyone for your participation and support in our wedding. God Bless.

Honeymoon Part One

Click on the pic...to see more!

Honeymoon Part One

Honeymoon Part Two

Click on the pic...to see more!

Honeymoon Part Two

Wedding Day Pics

Click on the pic...to see more!

Wedding

Friday and than March 10th

As I sit in McCoy Hall computer lab, I consider the next few days. I am not stressed or scared, but excited. Excited to consider, that this time next week I will be on a cruise in the Gulf of Mexico with my wife Kari D. Davenport. We are setting sail on our cruise Sunday from Galveston, TX. All of the wedding plans and details our taking care of and my cousin, DL and I will be picking up our tuxedos this evening. It is wonderful to consider all that God has done and provided for me. Before the summer of 2005 began I told a few close friends, "I am giving up on blonds, I am not dating anymore blonds!" Unaware of what God had in store, I went to camp and met the woman of my dreams. She walked in Miles Auditorium ready to setup chairs, and I stood on a ladder repairing lights. Let's just say the blond hair did not hold me back, because we immediately made conversation with one another. We both are looking forward to March 10th not only for the celebration of our union, but also to share it with all of our close family and friends. We hope it brings the same joy it does us to celebration this wonderful time with each of you. I am uncertain of my next blog, but it is a minor worry. See you this weekend or not, God Bless you all.

Thursday Afternoon Blog

It is afternoon and I have 2 1/2 days of school left before my wedding day. I am in a lab on campus now and am pondering taking the rest of the day off. My last two classes are fun and interesting, but recently in my two o'clock class I have been napping or dozing. I think it is because the class is after lunch and it is the perfect time for a siesta.

Ah...the countdown is on...As my friend Beth put it on my facebook. She is going to remind me daily that my wedding is approaching. The most frequently asked question so far is, "Are you nervous?" My response is, "No, not really, more excited than nervous, but I have thought about it before I fall asleep and I think to myself, 'YOU"RE GETTING MARRIED!'" Than I fall asleep. I hope that answers some of your questions about my nerves. More than anything, I am looking forward to celebrating our union on March 10th with my family and friends. God has blessed me with a wonderful Godly woman and I am looking forward to spending 24/7 with her (minus going to work time...which would not make it 27/7, but you get the point).

At bible study on Tuesday night, the ladies went to a worship service led by Lindsey Kane. The guys hung out at Kari's APT and enjoyed some college basketball (cause the Maverick's weren't on) and poker. It came down to Josh and I, but Josh had to go, that was the end of poker night. Kari and the other ladies enjoyed their time of worship.

Wednesday, Kari and I had the oppurtunity to share the Gospel with two young men at church. Both of these young men came to salvation decisions that evening and shared the news with us and Nic. It is exciting to see the Lord moving in these young people's lives.

That's all folks...Until next time...God Bless.

Mark 10:17-22

As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. "Good teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"

"Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good—except God alone. You know the commandments: 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.'"

"Teacher," he declared, "all these I have kept since I was a boy."

Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

At this the man's face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.

I have read and probably taught Mark 10:17-22 many times, but somehow have over looked one big truth in this passage of scripture. As you have read above, the young man comes to Jesus and addresses him as "Good teacher." This is evidence that he knew that Jesus was the Messiah and that if he was to find eternal life he would need to seek out Jesus. The young man had an understanding of who Jesus was, but did not have a relationship with Christ. We learn that the young man has kept all the tenats of the Jewish faith, the 10 commandments, but he is still lacking something. The young man is chasing after earthly things, not heavenly things. Jesus tells him, "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." Jesus does not want the man or you and I to sell everything we own, but he wants us to make him our number one priority (Matthew 22:37; for more). The man sought after riches and wealth and did not have a place for a relationship with Christ. We often chase after many things in our lives instead of God; money, relationships, poplarity, etc. God wants us to chase after Him in such a way that we will not need to seek after these other things, but solely relie on Him. Another truth I grasped from the lesson last night was its not about rules, but the relationship. Jesus asks Him about the commandments, and you can imagine the young man is completing a checklist in his mind, "Thou shall not steal, Check! Thou shall not covet, Check!" Often times, sadly even churches, make it so hard to be a follower of Christ and yet, Jesus simply wants us to wholeheartedly chase after him, first and foremost (again, see Matthew 22:37). It was all about following the rules for this man and not accepting God's grace through His son Jesus. This is something I strive to put into practice, but never had a heard it so clearly in Jesus' explaination to this young man. We can jump through all the rules and reglation hoops, but without Jesus in our lives, ultimately we have gained nothing, but earthly tresure. That is why Jesus last statement to the man is, "follow me." Are you following Christ? Or are you too busy trying to be a good person and work your way to eternal life? Christ calls us to a relationship with His father in heaven. I hope and pray that you will consider these words and apply them in your own lives. God Bless.

Weekend Feb. 23-25

It was an amazing weekend. I will try to briefly re-cap some of the exciting times I had. Friday, I was looking forward to a camping trip that evening with some close friends. Little did I know, because I did not leave my house till noon, that the weather outside was nasty. In my defense, I did get up at eight Friday morning, prepared my computer for repair and added some credits to a film due Thursday. But...I took a nap from 10am till noon. I went to campus to turn in my video and ran into a little trouble with the campus police, but no ticket was involved. I was informed that I MUST HAVE a Texas State sticker to park anywhere on campus (but that is another story). Ultimately, I parked on the west side of campus and had to walk to the east side of campus and turn in my project. I ran a few more errands and than headed to the house to begin helping Will fix my computer. We began the processes of reinstalling Windows XP and than trouble shot the DVD Burner issues I had been having. In the end, we learned my CD-ROM drive was causing all the problems and will be thrown away soon. I saw Kari off to Milano that afternoon, as her and Johanna were going to Milano for bridal pictures and a wedding shower. Nic and I talked frequently and about 5pm I was going to be on my way to meet with him and the rest of the guys. Two hours later, and a pit stop and Warren and Nicole's house, I picked up Mark and met Nic at Garcia's. Yummy, Mexican food! We called off camping and decided to watch a movie and play XBox 360. On a side note, I have always bought Sony PlayStation products, but after three weekends of playing the XBox 360, I may be switching game consoles. We ended the evening watching one of my new favorites Man vs. Wild. Saturday was intended to be a sleep in day, but Tim sent me a text message about 9:15am and the day began. Nic and I ventured out about 10:30am and had breakfast at Mr. Taco. We killed time that afternoon and watched a movie with JMob that contained an R rating, but after the viewing, we believe it should be reconsidered to have more of a warning of the content. What I am trying to say is, JMob, Nic and I do not recommend Babel to any viewer of any age. It may have been nominated for many awards, but the material was unacceptable. At six that evening, I was thrown a Man Shower. The men of my church all gathered at Kreutz Market for food, fellowship and fun. Many words of wisdom were received and we received wonderful gifts from many of the members of FLBC, Kari and I are both thankful for your love, support, and generosity. Nic, JMob and I ended the evening by going to the movie theater. We were plagued by junior high students talking on their cell phones, cussing, and not adhering to any requests to be quite (even by the theater management). By 11:30pm., Nic and I watched a few highlights and went to bed. It had been a long day. Sunday school began at 9am, and the first thing we did was retrieve the Junior High girls couch from down stairs. At DNow Lockhart, we played a Scavenger Hunt entitled Bigger & Better. Each team starts with a paper clip and must go house to house, business to business or whereever, as long as it is not kin and they are aware they are playing for keeps, must get something, Bigger or Better than the paper clip. The Junior High girls won because they traded an old, ratty couch for a brand new $700 couch. They proudly sat on their new couch this morning in Sunday school. Kari and Johanna drove in for church and would have been on time if it weren't for the DPS officer who insisted on chatting with Kari about her speed. Neither Kari nor Johanna attempted to cry their way out of getting the ticket. We went to lunch with good friends and napped the day away at Nic and Johanna's house. Those are just some of the many highlights of the wonderful weekend I had. It was filled with great friends, good food and my lovely fiance. I hope you had a wonderful weekend as well. God Bless.

Video Re-Cap

Film By: JMob

Weekend in P'ville

Last weekend I was in Pflugerville, TX for a Disciple Now (DNow). I had previous volunteered to help with the sound with Stanley and JMob, but Tom had other plans. The youth minister, Tom, asked me to be the Seniors co-leader. The weekend began with a chicken sandwich from Dariy Queen where I got to know some of the other leaders. The theme of the weekend was Consumed, from Romans 12:1-2. I watched the students on Friday night being led in worship by The Justin Cofield Band, half heartedly singing along with the words on the screen. At that point, they did not seem too "consumed" to me; either that or they were tired. We listened to Pat Cammarata speak and then we were dismissed to our homes. A wonderful family, the Richter's, opened there home at the last minute because the original host family became ill. We began the evening of study and jumped head first into Romans 12:1-2 with other supporting scriptures. We talked about relevant ideas and the effects our lives have on those around us and what it meant to be a living sacrific.

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual[a] act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."

On Saturday, we did some more studying and then did a scavenger hunt themed after the show Dog the Bounty Hunter. I saw my life flash before my eyes at least eight times during the hunt, due to crazy driving (and not on my part). It was good fun and a quick way to see all of Pfulgerville. We had dinner and went to Starbucks. The Seniors went to worship that night with different hearts and attitudes. I can't speak for any of them, but there was a noticeable difference in each of them after that evening. New friendships were formed, many received God's forgiveness, let go of guilt, and many drew near to God this weekend. It was a wonderful evening of worship. I was blessed by the Seniors from First Baptist Pflugerville this weekend and was glad to service in such a way. God Bless to you.

Family and Love

Kari and I had our first wedding shower. I attended for several reasons, one, it was my family, two, my mother was in town. It was a delightful afternoon filled with great food, fellowship and laughter. We were blessed by some wonderful gifts that we are both grateful for. Upon reflecting about the weekend, it was amazing to see a family can come together. I have never felt abandoned or unloved, but I often feel there is a certain tension in my family. This tension was dissolved this past weekend. A few close family memebers were unable to make it, but I could have called roll and over 90% of my immediate family was present. My brother and his wife, Aaron and Katie hosted the shower at their home and served BBQ. We spent the afternoon just hanging out and catching up with one another. As defined by the Oxford English Dictionary a family is,

"The group of persons consisting of the parents and their children, whether actually living together or not; in wider sense, the unity formed by those who are nearly connected by blood..."

All these qualifications were met. My grandparents, mother, brother, aunts, uncles, cousins, and Kari's mother and sister all came to show their love and support. Each of these people took time out of there day, first, to think about us by purschasing something for us and then traveling to another place in order to have the celebration. We were truely surround by love. I consider these qualities and reflect on my own life. Jesus said,

"'Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.' This is the most important, the first on any list. But there is a second to set alongside it: 'Love others as well as you love yourself.'

First, we come to a relationship with Christ and he showers his love upon us. We make Christ number one and we give Him all the glory and love humanly possible. Then, the Word of God says we love one another. This love that flows from Christ, in us and through us should be reflected among our communities, worldly and even to the next door neighbor. Often times I am guilty of not caring or loving someone that might have needed a simple "hello!" or smile. This event encouraged me to live and love better. Love everyone around you. We are going to fight, disagree, and have tons of opinions, but at the end of the day we are called to love. I encourage you to delight in the Lord Almighty today, give Him praise, and live in such a way that you reflect Christ. God Bless.

Adventures of Mark and Brooks: Quest for Immerse-Part Two

Adventure of Mark and Brooks: Quest for Immerse-Part One

Post Ice Storm 2007

The TV news had cameras all over Central Texas filming the destruction of the "Ice Storm 2007." The Austin Chronicle noted the event in there last issue,

"Meanwhile, people in northern states snickered at us tough Texans freaking out over temperatures barely dipping below freezing, and useful TV weatherpersons beamed earnestly through huge amounts of face time – not to be repeated until the August heat waves arrive."

Looking back on the event, I couldn't recall even one of the weather men's name, even if offered money. I attended half a day of school on Thursday and then went to Milano for the weekend. Saturday, we spent most of the day at the Jr. High One Act Play competition in Temple, TX. Milano Jr. High presented Dearly Departed. It is a knee slappin', backwoods play that has the audience laughing from the first scene. Sunday, Kari and I attended Gause Baptist Church and spent time with close friends and her family. It was a delightful weekend. Monday began by spending lots of money on textbooks. I purchased five books and already owned one, to my benefit. Later Monday afternoon, Nic and I filmed a commercial for an upcoming Disciple Now (DNow). Our budget was small ($0.00), the crew was Nic and I, and our actors were two Junior High Students and one sophomore. Part of the theme verse comes from 1 Timothy 4:15-16, "Cultivate these things. Immerse yourself in them. The people will all see you mature right before their eyes! Keep a firm grasp on both your character and your teaching. Don't be diverted. Just keep at it." We had fun trying to visualize the word immerse in an entertaining way to catch the youths attention. I will be posting the video once it is seen by the youth, so you check back later. Have a great day, God Bless.

First Day of School

Today was supposed to be the first day of school, but due to weather conditions Texas State University was closed. As of this blog, school has also been cancelled till noon tomorrow. I got out of bed to sleet/snow about noon. It was a wonderful way to start the semester.

Missouri Trip: Review and Road Home

Wednesday: We spent the afternoon playing a game called Pit before we went to Kansas City. We left Blue Springs about five to arrive at the Crown Center to eat at Fritz's. The food is similar to Sonics, but the deliver method is what makes this restaurant unique. Around the entire restaurant, above each booth is a train track. At each booth is an elevator that lowers the food that is delivered by the train. You review the menu and pick up an old telephone receiver to place your order. Than the train whistle blows and the train comes from the kitchen to deliver your food. After dinner, we explored Crown Center and the connecting Westin Hotel. Later that evening we explored the famed Country Club Plaza. Known just as the Plaza, during Christmas time they lite the area with thousands of lights. To conclude the night, we went to Kim's uncle John and aunt Tina's home to watch Diary of a Mad Black Woman. Before we arrived at there house, we stopped at Quicktrip. Quicktrip is a gas station that has wonderful Freezonies (basically an icee). We had a delightful evening with her family, the hospitality was overwhelming. It was a blessing to be in such good company, watching a film, eating pop corn and laughing.

Thursday: The night before, we had planned to travel to St. Louis that morning. We were going to get an early start and see a few sites in St. Louis, but we did not get out of bed in time. We awoke about 10am and decided it would be to cancel our plans. Instead of getting up, we feel back to sleep and had breakfast at 1pm. After a the ladies prepared breakfast, we decided to take a nap. It may seem like laziness at first, but keep reading. We decided to rest the afternoon away and have dinner in Kansas City. We ate at Buca di Beppo in the Plaza. It is a family Italian restaurant that serves authentic Italian food. We explored the Plaza and did a little shopping. After leaving the Plaza, we explored downtown. We found a city park that overlooked the Missouri River. We headed back to Blue Springs early to visit with Kim's father who had been away on business. JMob's father was concerned about the weather and about midnight, we became concerned. After reviewing all the maps online, watching news casts from Dallas to Okalhoma City, we decided it would be in our best interest to leave that night (an ice storm was about to hit). We packed our things and said our goodbyes a few hours early and began our journey home about 1am Friday morning. Within forty-five minutes, the ladies on the trip were sleeping and JMob and I talked and sang the miles away. About 4am, JMob and I listened to Oklahoma radio warning all the listeners about poweroutages, getting all necessities from the store and advising people not to travel after 7am. Our projected rate, put us in Dallas by 7am. We had beaten the storm. The laziness earlier blessed us with enough energy to get us home and prevent us from being stranded in Missouri. Kari and I spent the weekend with her little sister Shelbi. We ate Mr. Gatti's with JMob, played video games and watched Napoleon Dynamite. It was a good end to the week.

Now, we are experiencing the Ice Storm 2007, accoring to the TV News. Most public schools have cancelled class and all universities have done the same. This might be the best way to start of semester, just don't go! It will be nice to have an extension on the Christmas break, but I am ready to get back to school. That is it for now...have a good day...stay warm...and God Bless.

Missouri Trip: Mid-Week Review

Monday: We began our trip on Monday to Kim's house in Blue Springs, MO. Kari, Jonathan, Beth, and I were "On the road again." We spent most of the day on the road, leaving San Marcos at 6:45am. We arrived in Dallas about 10am and spent an hour at NorthPark Mall. After our break, we hit 75 North towards Okalhoma. Our first major town in Okalhoma was Muskogee. If you ask JMob, it is pronounced Mus-kah-gee. It was a wonderful laugh. We crossed the Missouri state line about 5pm. We got off I-44 and went north on 71 to Kansas City. We went through Carthage, MO, where the Battle of Carthage took place. Before we got into Kansas City, we exited to Blue Springs, which is east of KC. We arrived at Kim's house in Blue Spings about 8pm. Kari stuck her head out the window and yelled, "Roommate!" Kim was standing on the porch and replied, "Awe, roommate!" Later that evening, we had a "Texas" dinner, nachos were served. Before the meal was prepared, Kim decided to drop the bowl of beef on the floor. Dinner was delayed for a few hours, but bedtime was soon to come.

Tuesday: JMob and I were allowed to sleep till 11:30am. Apparently, the girls decided to get up early that morning and hang out and we needed to join them. We got moving and headed to a classic Blue Springs restaurant The Big Biscuit.Kim showed us around Blue Springs and we ended up in Kansas City. Just east of KC, we stopped at Arrowhead Stadium and Kaufman Stadium, where the Chiefs and Royals play. The two stadiums are side by side. We were allowed to go into the Royals Stadium, but we took it upon ourselves the see the Chief's field. Kari walked into the Arrowhead Club and her and Beth began looking around. There was no one in sight, so they continued to "look around." We all followed and eventually got to the field. We saw the Kansas City Star, Hallmark Headquarters, Union Station and many other buildings. Later that eveing, we went to dinner at 54th Street. We went skating at Crown Center in downtown Kansas City. No one offically wiped out, but JMob did hit the ice. Kari and I skated hand in hand several times on the ice. It was a delightful evening, that ended with a stop at Starbucks.

Wednesday: We began a late start, but the looks to hold a wonderful time in Kansas City. We are planning to go to a restaurant where the food is delivered by a train and a popular area of KC called The Plaza. Tune in next time...for the conclusion of the Missouri Trip.

Ice Skating is Wonderful

2007: End of the year...and beyond!

Christmas and the New Years celebration has come and gone. Kari and I traveled many miles across the great state of Texas visiting family. We began celebrating Christmas on Dec. 17th with my mom's family in La Grange, TX. Than my mother came to San Marcos on Friday, the 22nd to take our engagement pictures. We shot photos on the Texas State campus and near the San Marcos River. We exchanged gifts later that evening. On Saturday, we went and celebrated Christmas with Kari's family in College Station. On Sunday, Christmas Eve, we went to my aunts and celebrated with my dad's family. Later that afternoon, we met my father at my Granny and Grandad's house. The house remains empty after their passing in July and September. We reflected on their lives and the many memories that we made in their home. We drove to Milano that evening and read the Christmas story. We woke up Christmas morning to find many gifts delivered by Santa. Later that week, we spent time at Kaleo Lodge in Mineola, TX with most of her mother's family. On New Years eve, we traveled back to join the FLBC youth on a trip to Main Event in Austin. We stayed up till one o'clock with the youth bowling, playing video games, putt-putt golf, etc. It was a blessed holiday filled with lots of time with family and friends.

The new year, 2007, brings new labels and adventures to Kari and I. On March 10th, I will no longer be single, but married. We will be getting married in Cameron, TX. I am now a senior at Texas State and graduation is around the corner. We have several plans for the upcoming year and are excited about the future. We are looking forward to what God has planned for us. May God Bless each of you in the new year.

Main Street Bethlehem

The first and second weekends of December in Burnet, Texas attract many people from around the state. Sunday, December 3rd, Kari and I attended Main Street Bethlehem with several friends of ours. We journeyed across central Texas to witness the live nativity sponsored by First Baptist Burnet. When I first considered the trip, the stereotypical "nativity scene" popped in my head: people dressed up as Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus and a few live animals. The church saw passed this simple vision and went above and beyond to achieve a town setting, characters dressed as towns people, and doing activities that we might has seen in Bethlehem during the time of Christ birth. The life-size town of Bethlehem in Burnet resides on half a city block and contains soldiers, peasants, drunkards, and peddlers. Most of the population was attempting to pay their taxes, or raise enough money to satisfy the tax collectors. Bread-makers offered a sample of bread, rope maker touted the strength of their rope and Roman guards led petty thieves to the jail tower. This amazing atmosphere led us by a blacksmith forge and through a booked inn where wealth men and women found refuge from the cold. This entire town scene culminated in a cave located on the outskirts of Bethlehem. Therein the cool and damp cave were was a young couple with a new baby boy. This baby represents Christ. This cold night was well-worth spent in Burnet. It bring into perspective the humbling beginnings of our Lord. In the words of Isaiah, "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Emmanuel." "God with us," is what Emmanuel means and through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, our sins can be atoned for by his blood. It was a wonderful reminder and experience to be a part of. God Bless.

Golf Highlighs...Enjoy

Olen Miles Auditorium @ Highland Lakes Encampment

On Saturday in route to celebrate Thanksgiving with Kari's family in Milano, TX, Kari received a text message from our friend Stine. I cannot quote the text message, but will paraphrase, "Miles is on fire." Kari relayed the information and ten questions flooded my headed. I inquired, "How and when?" Kari called Stine to get some details. Stine told us that the building was on fire and that the roof had fell in. According to an e mail sent by the camp,

"The blaze broke out about 1:00 p.m. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. However, the building and all its contents were totally destroyed, according to Executive Director, Danny Dawdy. Even though the building was insured, the estimated cost for the damage has not been determined."

Memories: As most of you know Miles Auditorium was where I have spent my last three summers. It holds many memories for myself and Kari. It is also significant because this is the place Kari and I meet in the Summer of 2005. I was on a ladder fixing the lights the stage when I saw a beautiful blonde young lady coming in to move chairs. We immediately were acquainted because I wore a maroon Texas State bracelet. She mistook it for Texas A&M, and proceeded to inquire about the bracelet. From there, Miles Auditorium, she and I began our relationship. This place will not be forgotten. Keep the camp in your prayers. God Bless and have a Happy Thanksgiving!

*Photo taken by Stine Taylor

My Current Tunes