Things I Discovered This Christmas

It took us several hours when we got home to unload the car, unpack or stuff (new and old), and take down our christmas decorations. That was yesterday. Today, I've spent most of my time learning about my new gadgets, taking care of my wife, who abruptly came down with a bug, and a few moments on the phone with my dear friend in the East. Now the day is over, A is asleep for the night (hopefully), and I have finally taken the time to reflect on the holidays. In my moments of meditation I've laid bare a few discoveries/re-discoveries. First of all, there is an incredible FREE service called Skype that everyone I know should get. It is a download on the internet that enables you to do "voice-over-internet" a.k.a. free long distance over the internet, and it's crystal clear! However, you can only call someone for free who also has Skype. I've experimented with it with my dad and we were both impressed. If you are interested, I've added it to my links so you can check it out. Today, I talked free with one of my dear friends thousands of miles away, for 40 minutes. All free. I digress. This brings me to the second thing I've discovered. I knew I missed B & C, but until I heard his voice, I really didn't realize how much I missed them. My heart was greatly strengthened just to share a few laughs and stories with my old pumpkin carving rival. Third, I became aquainted with a new attribute of my wife: her artistic photographic ability. I know that there is no way for me to explain this in print, so I have determined to create a slide-show and add it to the blog as soon as I figure out how. As I was learning to import pictures from our camera to the computer and alter the files I came across black and white photos she had taken while learning to use the camera that are just outstanding! While we own a camera and have been incredible places and seen incredible things, we have never been "camera toters," so when I saw what happens when you put one in her hands I was truly amazed. Last, I've re-discovered, as our departure from the U.S. gets closer by the week now, how much I truly love family. The richest blessing of my life has been those precious people I have the privilege to call kin. I had a dilema when I married A. I had always said that my family was the best in the world. As I got to know her family I thought, "how can there be two best families in the world?" Then I realized when we married that there weren't two...the best family in the world just got a little larger! As we spent time at her house and then mine, I continued to be taken aback by the grace the Lord continues to show me through those He allows me to live life with. So, as I end my long rambling about my reflections, I guess I really just want to say to those of you friends I haven't talked with in a while, and to family I talk with almost everyday...I love you all so much.

Merry Christmas!

My brother-in-law Jake gave us a beautiful picture that he drew. This is part of it, taken with our new digital camera! We are now set to share photos with you wherever we are in the world! We had a wonderful Christmas with my family and A's. We continue to be amazed at the way the Lord blesses us "beyond what we could ever ask or imagine!"

Small Truly IS Beautiful

After first being introduced to this book, subtitled Economics as if People Mattered, by Dr. Roark in Interdisciplinary Christian Thought, I didn't give it much of a thought. Then while visiting A's house, I found a copy on my father-in-law's bookshelf and picked it up for a little night-time reading. Upon inquiry I learned that it was a copy he bought during his college days. I'm now half-way through and loving it. Although I am not an economist, it deals with issues I am currently studying for graduate work, such as soil and environmental issues. I love the themes of simplicity, beauty, peace, and permanence! There are wonderful discussions on education, nuclear energy, and natural gas. I would highly reccomend it to anyone wanting a unique perspective on life. And I'm only half-way finished.

Tour of Lights-2005

Well, tonight was our annual tour of lights! We had coffee and chai as we drove around the incredibly beautiful town of Stephenville. Lots of cool lights, but our favorite was a dummy hung from a tree tangled in lights made to look like a christmas tragedy. I really wanted to go back by, slam on my brakes, run up to the door and bang on it, act scared to death and tell the owners that their dad/husband had hung himself while decorating. Anyway, 24 hours, three blogs, four links, two pictures, and one comment (thanks mom) thus far, we be doing it.

Back in the Day

Strangely, though our blog is now two days old and we haven't told anyone that we have it yet, I felt that I should post a picture to you so our blog isn't dull and pictureless. The funny thing is, there is no "you" yet. Last night I tried to post a picture in the top right corner, you know, like a profile picture, but because my dad is a professional photographer and shoots digital, all of our "decent" digital pictures are massive files and do not lend themselves to being posted on a blog. I'll have him teach me to reduce them over Christmas break. So, for now, probably until A sees it, this one will have to due. This was taken well before we were married back in our college days in the '70's when I had a fro.

New to blogging...

We were just sitting on the couch racking our brains about what to call this thing. We decided, sort-of, on unitycannon.blogspot.com for lack of a better idea. This idea came from our wedding day when we opted for a cannon with a really loud boom as opposed to a unity candle. It was a lot of fun seeing everyone's faces as it went off. Hopefully, this is symbolic of our marraige, unity in a really big way! Still learning about unity and the art of compromise on little issues like what to name our blog!...and grammar.