Standing on a stump!

I just like this picture. 

Visiting Kevin's family

You drive out to the middle of no where take a left at the church and another left down a small windy dirt road they call a drive way and you finally arrive at Kevin's parents. The area is beautiful, but I could never live there. I would have to give up being vegetarian for one. One of the kids came up to be this time and said, "You really like salad." I think she was a little perplexed.

The reason we went back was because Kevin's Grandma died. It is always a mixture when someone who is 96 dies. Sure we are sad and will miss her, but she had a full life and was tired. I started thinking about how cool old people are. We were reminded of how generous and loving Grandma Dola was, but I also like to think about the tricks she played as a kid, the fights she must have had with her husband, how her heart must have been broken different times, the joy she felt with each child, the frustrations she must have felt. What is cool about old people is that they have had all these experiences, similair to the ones we are experiencing, and have come through it. In the end, we hope to be remembered for the good we've done and not the mistakes we've made. While the "sales pitch for Jesus" was being given under the guise of a sermon, I was thinking about what the Gospel means for each of us when someone dies. When I saw her Great Grandkids break down crying I thought about how Jesus wept. I thought about how even this wonderful woman with all her great qualities also needed grace and forgiveness in her life. I thought about how the memories shared were really glimpses of what the Kindom of God is. I thought about how God is the source of life. Not that the source of life comes from God, but how God and life are one in the same. 

Christmas in Seattle

I decided to take a walk with my camera and take pictures of what was going on in Seattle that Saturday.




 

Happy Birthday Kevin!

Ninetendo introduced the Wii just in time for Kevin's birthday. I'm not a big video game person, but I have found that Wii tennis is fun. I also downloaded Mario Brothers. I remember playing this at the arcade as a kid. The arcade would give us tokens for A's which was the best motivation I ever had for doing well in school.

I'm not sure what Matt is explaining in this picture, but it must be good. Kevin had over a few friends for his birthday Wii party. It was an interesting mix of gamer geeks and computer geeks.


I attempted to keep up the tradition of buying experience instead of stuff, but we canceled out tickets to the caberat when Kevin's Grandma died.