Thanksgiving Blog A-Z

Well, Thanksgiving has come and gone. I started on this blog post a good week before Thanksgiving, but with only working on it a few minutes here and there, that clearly wasn't enough time to finish it. But since it was already started, I figured I'd go ahead and post it.

God has richly blessed my life in so many ways during 2010 and this is just a small sampling of the things, people, and places I'm thankful for, from A-Z.

A: Adventure Races

I love to run. I love running around the block, on trails (the Duke University Cross Country Trail would be my all time favorite place to run), and recently I've gotten more involved in running races, 5ks, 10ks, and half-marathons. This fall though I had the chance to run in two Adventure Races. Adventure Races bring the ordinary 5K to the next level. The first was called the Jailbreak and was held at the DFW Adventure Park in Roanoke, TX.

I signed up for the Jailbreak not knowing much about it, except that it was a 4 mile course, with several obstacles scattered out throughout the course. It ended up being a ton of fun. There were still a few long stretches of just running, but there was a slide down into a river, which you had to wade through. There were mud crawls and several other obstacles. In the end it was fun to just out run and get a little dirty and contribute to a good cause (all the proceeds from the race contributed to providing clean water for those who don't have it).

By the end of the race we were covered in mud, and had laughed all the way through the course. We rinsed off by the time we took a picture, but I grantee you, we were plenty dirty!

Well we had so much fun doing the Jailbreak, we decided to do the Caveman Extreme.

The Caveman Extreme was so much more fun than the Jailbreak! They sprinkled 30 obstacles into 3.1 miles.

While the Jailbreak may have had great weather conditions, the weather for the Caveman Extreme was not as picture perfect. Between the falling rain and incredibly high winds that continuously blew threw on that day, it only made the adventure race that much more adventurous.

(the picture of the 3 of us does look a little cheesy because a big gust a wind came in as we were taking it - oh well)

As you can tell from the tiredness on my face, I was worn out after the Caveman Extreme. But I loved it! It was a fun day, and a race I'll always remember!

B: Baptism

One of the blessings of being an ordained minister of the Word and Sacrament is being able to administer the sacraments of baptism and the Lord's Supper. I haven't participated in a lot of baptisms. On Pentecost, which was also Confirmation Sunday, I baptized one of our Confirmands. Usually the two methods of baptism are "sprinkling" or "dunking." Well, this 6th grader decided he wanted to be baptized by pouring (our sanctuary isn't really set-up for immersion baptisms). It was a lot of fun to celebrate his baptism on a day when we were celebrating his confirmation as well as Pentecost.

In August I had the opportunity to be a part of another baptism. My friends Emrys and Sara wanted to have their daughter Gwendolyn baptized. Emrys is a pastor, but he wanted to be the dad and not the pastor. So, they invited me up to New York to be a part of the service. It was such an honor and a privilege to be there and to baptize Baby G! What an amazing expression of God's grace and love for us that we are in-grafted into the family through baptismal waters!

C: Chris Tomlin

I have always loved Chris Tomlin and his worship songs. There is something special though about seeing him perform his own worship songs live. He has a gift of singing, but also he has a gift of leading worship. I had the privilege of seeing him twice this year, and both times were amazing. Turns out he is from Tyler, TX. It was great to see him there - he was sooo excited to be in his own hometown!

D: Duke = 2010 National Champions!!!

As long as I can remember I have been a Duke basketball fan. I grew up to season tickets to Duke basketball games, and I have seen more games than I could even begin to count. But, I had never seen them play in the NCAA tournament. Well that changed this year. First, they played their Sweet Sixteen game in Houston, so I went down for the game.

Then, as I realized they might make it to the Final Four I started to think about if it would be possible to watch them play in the National Championship Game. The idea was crazy. It involved leaving shortly after lunch on Easter Sunday, picking up Tully in Memphis, camping along the way, and arriving in Indianapolis on Monday afternoon, just in time for the National Championship game.

Well, let me tell you, it was all worth it. The trip was very memorable. And seeing Duke win a National Championship was amazing!

The morning after the game, we drove back to Lucas Oil Stadium. They had run out of the National Championship t-shirts the night before, and so we wanted to make sure we got them

before we left town. Then, we started the drive back to Texas.

It was one trip I will never forget!

E: Effie

Until April of 2010 I drove the same car I got (used) when I was 16. That car traveled with me to the University of Richmond. It went with me to graduate school at Fuller Theological Seminary in California, and it made the drive from California to Texas when I stated at FPCA in 2008. I had that car for thirteen and a half years, and I loved it. But, sadly, the transmission went out. There was some debate if they were going to be able to find one to replace it at all, and if they did, the transmission would cost more than Effie was worth. So, I finally decided to get a new car. I donated Effie, and I love my new car, but it was still a sad day when she was towed away.

F: Family Time

I don't get back to North Carolina nearly as much as I would like, but I have truly enjoyed the time with my family when I was there both between Christmas and New Years, and for a brief visit in August. This is just a wide range of pictures from the year, everything from my parents and I at the 2009 Durham Debutante Ball, to lunch with my grandmother, to coming back from a walk with my dad, to opening stockings with my brother.

G: Good Friends, both near and far

I love where I live and work. One of the problems though is that because I have lived in several different states, I have friends who I love dearly that are scattered throughout the Country. And while I might not get to see them often, I am thankful for the visits I do have, and the friendships that are maintained across the miles.

And I am thankful also for the new friendships I have created here in TX!

I won't try and explain them, but these are pictures from the year of people I love and am thankful for. Clearly I couldn't take pictures of everyone, so these are just a few I picked out.

H: Healing for Moises

In March of 2009 I went to Belize for the first time with a missions team from FPCA. One of the first nights we were there, Tim Tam from the Word at Work asked at dinner if any of us would go with him to hospital to meet and pray for a boy named Moises. He told us simply that he had been in an accident in January, was in bad physical condition. Well I don't think anything could have prepared me for the little boy we were about to meet.

After attempting to fix his massive internal injuries through several operations, the doctors in Belize were not able to do anything to save his life. He was literally barely hanging on to life. During the last operation, the surgeons had been unable to close his abdomen. They began to sob as the surgery came to an end, knowing that this boy would most surely die within a few hours.

Well somehow he held on. And he made a promise to God, that if he was to live, that he would dedicate his life to serving God. The doctors asked us if there was anyway we could find him medical care in the States. We went back to the rest of the team, told them the story of Moises. And we began to pray, and make phone calls, and pray.

Several hospitals told us to give up, because we wouldn't be able to find a hospital or a surgeon who would be willing to take on Moises' case. Well a hospital in Amarillo did. And someone volunteered to fly his private jet down to Belize to get Moises. Only a few weeks after we first met him, Moises was on his way to Amarillo, TX to get medical care.

About 5 months after that, Moises was headed back to Belize - he had gone through the necessary surgery and was fully healed!

We had a chance to see Moises in March of 2010. Except for the large scar on his stomach, he looked like a typical 8 year old.

We had a great time taking him and his siblings for ice cream, getting the tour of their house, teaching them to play American football. Moises recited Psalm 1 for us, which he had been working on memorizing. It meant a lot to me to see him back in Belize and doing so well.

I: Internet on my phone

Wherever I go, I almost always have my blackberry with me (it's not that uncommon to spot me holding it in pictures, or to see it sitting next to me while I'm eating). I have become so thankful though to have the world "at my fingertips." To be able to google anything anytime. I love being able to look up batting averages while at a Rangers Games, or directions when I'm lost. It's handy to be able to check movie times or respond to an email. I am definitely a fan of my blackberry.

J: Jumping out of Planes

I went sky diving in August of 2006 for the first time. It was a planned event - we made reservations and looked forward to the day for weeks. I had a great time, and knew that if the opportunity ever came up again, I would always be up for sky diving a second time.

Well, just as I was wrapping up a youth retreat one Sunday afternoon, I got a friend who volunteers with the youth program at FPCA, "want to go sky diving?" After checking with Michelle and Becca (who as in town helping to lead the retreat), we decided that sounded like a great way to spend the afternoon. So the five of us loaded up in the car, and headed to Sky Dive 35.

It definitely wasn't as scary the second time around. I don't know if it's because we made the decision to go so quickly, or if it was just because I had been before. But whatever it was, I had a blast!

K: Ketchup

A strange thing to be thankful for I know....but ever since I was a little kid I loved ketchup. It really is the perfect condiment for sooo many foods. It was tragic the other day when I ran out, and there was no back-up....

L: Lord's Supper

I already mentioned what a gift it was to be a part of a baptism, but I thought it deserved mentioning what a gift and blessing it is to be able to serve communion. Unlike baptisms, this is something I get to do on a fairly regular basis (we serve communion monthly at FPCA).

There are certain times during the year though that I have had the privilege of serving communion in services that were very meaningful and memorable. At Becca's ordination service in February, she and I served communion together. Having worked together as seminary interns for 3 years at San Marino Community Church, it was special to stand side by side at her ordination service and celebrate the Lord's Supper.

It made me remember too of my own ordination service when as one of my first acts as an ordained Minister of the Word and Sacrament I served communion with my youth pastor/mentor Paul Ransford.

There have also been other times throughout the year when I have simply partaken of the sacrament that have been very meaningful. One of those times was at my Company of New Pastors retreat this past September. What a gift to partake of the Sacrament with my colleagues at the end of our time together.

M: Mission Trips

I love mission trips. I love being able to interact with people of other cultures and having the opportunity to share God's love with them through words and actions. I love taking teams on trips and watching their lives change on the trips. It's truly a blessing that as part of my job I have the privilege of being a part of several mission trips this year.

In 2010 I traveled to both Belize and Galveston. The top picture is of the Belize team on the last day, and the bottom photo is of the Galveston team on the last day. Why do we always wait until the last day to take pictures?

N: (Nearly) Newly Renovated Bathroom

Every room in my house has been textured and painted, except the guest bathroom. Well, we "hired" Rob at the Belize servant auction to texture and paint this last room. As he was removing paneling and getting the room ready, he discovered mold. Long story short, a texture/paint project quickly become a bathroom renovation project!

It's not completely done yet, but in about a week, the shower should be functioning again. And then all we really will need to do will be texture and paint the walls.

O: Ordination of Becca Moran

I mentioned earlier that Becca was ordained in February. I flew out to California to be a part of her service, and it was an amazing gift to be there. Mostly because she's one of my best friends and I know how hard she's worked to get to this day. But our stories are very similiar in that we both felt a call to ministry in high school. And so I understood that this day was a very important defining moment. It was wonderful to be able to celebrate that with her.

P: Pausing for Reflection

Life has become really busy. Or I guess I should say life stays busy. I crave those quiet moments when I can sit and something be. Those are the times I turn off my blackberry and escape all the beeping that comes with having my phone attached to my hip.

My Company of New Pastors retreat to California is one place that creates that opportunity to pause and reflect. You couldn't ask for a better place to meet than a monastery on the cliffs of Malibu - provides the perfect place for some good prayer.

Q: Quirky Faces

As you might be able to tell, I love pictures. I love posed pictures, but I love those random pictures too that tell the true story of what's going on, those ones that make you laugh every time you see them.

R: Running

I mentioned earlier, I love to run. This was a year for me of trying to get back into shape after my Oct 2009 abdominal surgery. But, despite not running fast, I still had a blast. I did some 5ks, a half marathon, and have just loved being able to run.

The most fun race I did all year was one I did down in Cleburne, TX called the Boo Run (it was the day before Halloween). The race was to benefit a local charity called Community Opportunities Inc, whose "purpose is to provide life opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities." Those individuals that are a part of COI were the race volunteers. I have never seen more enthusiastic, nicer race volunteers.

The COI mascot is a bee. "Our mascot, Bud E. Bee is a symbol to those we serve. To look at the bee you think how can such a thing fly. It's wings are too small for it's body. Well, no one seems to have told the bee he couldn't fly; he just does. Our philosophy is the same for the people we serve...we don't set limits...we let them FLY!" In the spirit of the day, Michelle and I dressed up as bees. No one else really dressed up at all, but because we did, we quickly made friends with the race volunteers and had fun (both while we were running and after the race). It was the best race of the year, for lots of reasons.

S: Snow

When you think of Texas, you might think of hot summers, football, or BBQ. But you probably don't think of snow. There's a good reason for that. Well, this past winter we got a lot of snow (for Texas). It was a beautiful treat (I just wished it had lasted longer!!!)

T: Texas Rangers

I have never been a huge baseball fan. When I lived in California I went to one LA (Anaheim) Angels game and several LA Dodgers teams. While I would cheer for both teams and enjoyed the games, I never really connected with either team.

Well, when I moved to Texas, I started supporting the Texas Rangers. I went to quite a few Ranger games this season. And it turned out to be quite the year to start liking the Rangers - they made it al the World Series! This is a series of pictures from the year (more or less in reverse chronological order).

Josh Hamilton speaking at the Ranger Rally (a few days after the end of the World Series)

The end of the Ranger Rally, with Captain watching over the confetti.

Michelle, Nick, and I at Game 4 of the World Series

Kinsler (aka, the Hobbit) playing in the World Series

World Series game #3 - Saturday, Oct 30

Final score at the end of WS Game #3!!!!

After one of the Tampa Bay v. Rangers Playoff games

During the Tampa Bay playoff game

I just thought the bobble head was cool...

At that same Tampa Bay v. Rangers Playoff Game

Random regular season game in late August - needed to get a picture with Captain.

What a better way to end the first day of school then by going to a Ranger Game?

I'm a big fan of Chick-fil-A - I needed to get a picture in front of the giant cow. Nick and Michelle humored me.

I even got to catch up with long lost Richmond friends at Ranger Games!

July 5 - the night we took the students from the PCHAS homes to the Rangers Game

Random game with friends in June - best seats I think I sat in all season!

U: Underwater Camera

Last Christmas I was given a digital waterproof camera. It has been incredibly helpful all year long on the various trips to Belize, Colorado, Fun in the Son, on the Galveston Mission trip, and just when I've had chances to play some.

V: Vacation

I've been able to take some vacation time this year, to go out to CA for Becca's ordination service, to run the San Antonio half marathon, and to come home to Durham for a week in August (and then head up to NY to be a part of Baby-G's baptism). It's been great to have that time of relaxation, and rest. In particular being at home in NC, I was truly able to rest, relax, and take some true vacation time.

W: Water Skiing

The last time I had gone water skiing was in the summer of 2003. I was in upstate New York with my college apartmentmates, and we went water skiing one day. So when my friends Don and Brenda invivted Michelle and me to go water skiing, I was excited, but I wasn't expecting to much out of myself. I was just hoping to stand up.

Well turns out I was able to get up (on two skis). I can't get up on one ski, but I quickly learned how to drop a ski. We went out several evenings in the late summer, and I had a great time figuring out how to use one ski. I took several falls, but had a great time learning. And the best part was being out on the lake with friends and being able to enjoy the night time temperatures, and the beautiful sunsets as well.

Maybe by next summer I will have figured out how to get up on one ski...

X: XX Chromosome

I usually have problems thinking of things that start with the letter X, and granted there aren't that many X words. This year, I may have cheated just a bit, but I'd thought I'd celebrate the precious new life of my friends Rob and Stacy. They had their 3rd little girl (though decided not to find out the gender of the bay until she was born). She was born this past May, and it's been a joy to watch this new little girl grow.

Y: Youth Ministry Trips

I love what I do. I love ministry, but in particular I love youth ministry. Summers are particularly a busy time for me, because there are a lot of trips, mission trips, conferences. I love those trip though. I love the long van rides, and the chance to just hang out and talk. I love working on mission projects together. I love worshiping at conferences together with youth.

I could post pictures, but I wouldn't know which ones to choose.

Z: Zucchini and other fresh vegetables

I really do love eating good, fresh vegetables (squash and zucchini happen to be a favorite). And I'm always game for trying new fruits and vegetables. In Belize I discovered I have a love for papaya. And I September I went to a restaurant in Downtown Los Angeles. The options when ordering a taco was to either have a normal corn tortilla or to have a cactus leaf. Well I was intrigued, so I went with the cactus leaf. And I must say, it was really good.