Christmas

Well, I did it, I bought my 6 year old a real skateboard. Everyone asked, "isn't he a little young for that" and "Where will he ride it, the dirt hill you live on" and my favorite, "are you trying to kill your son?"

But the look on his face when he saw it was priceless. I bought him safety pads, he already has a good extreme sports helmet and we have a cement floor in our basement. He can practice inside for a while, then progress to the tennis courts at school once spring comes. Next year we'll live in an apartment with pavement outside anyway, so he'll be fine.

Now, if I can just remind him to be safe and not get too discouraged when he can't do tricks on the first try we'll be in business!



On a less fun note, this Christmas was bittersweet. My Grandpa Dex is going blind. I didn't realize how bad it was until I saw him on Christmas day and he couldn't see his presents, or his dinner. It's so sad to see a man who works like crazy all day every day loosing his sight. He is having such a difficult time accepting it. My prayer is that he will be able to accept it and stop working (before he gets himself killed). My continued prayer is that he and Grammie will be able to relax and enjoy life until the Lord finally calls them home.

My other grandmother, Memere, is also not doing well. She's so old and frail. She's just not the same woman as she was even a year ago. The oxygen and walker seem so foreign in her house. It will be difficult for the family when she finally looses her battle, but I know the Lord is saving a special place for her in Heaven.

Mission Trip

Well, I'm back from my mission trip. I traveled with a group of Vermont Volunteers in Mission to Camp Hope in VanCleave, Mississippi. We worked on a variety of home improvement (and recovery) projects. The work day went by fast, despite struggles with plumbing and walls that were far from square.

I was doing physical labor from 8am to 5pm and felt great doing it! My joints and muscles were feeling good (only a little sore in the mornings). The warmer weather and higher humidity was great for my joints and my lungs. It was quite a blessing for my body. Who knew doing construction would feel like a vacation?!
My group never met our home owner, but I am glad that we didn't. That way we were able to serve without recognition... the best way to bless someone, anonymously.
We ended our trip in New Orleans to do some site seeing and hear some great jazz.

It was interesting to see how much of the sinful stuff is back in the gulf, while other areas are still so destroyed. We noticed that in Biloxi the casinos were up and running, while small businesses and residential neighborhoods seemed almost empty. The same was true in New Orleans. Bourbon street and the french quarter were alive and well while the ninth ward and other poor residential neighborhoods were still boarded up and mostly deserted.


My trip really made me appreciate the work I am doing at home. I don't need to travel to do mission work. God has me doing mission work at home in Central Vermont. We have plenty of poverty, drugs and social struggles right here in our own back yard.

I am enjoying my work at Hedding with the youth and other neighborhood ministries, but I am prepared to leave for seminary in the summer. After that, only God knows where I will be and what I will do. I can't wait to see where He will send me next!