A couple of flat-bottomed boats, called skimmers, rest in the yard awaiting repair work or modifications next to two well-tended gardens, some of whose produce our two families enjoyed for lunch. This is a simple place, with no visible signs of hurry anywhere I look – no angry drivers desperately racing to the next red light, no bumper-to-bumper traffic which, to me, serves as an indicator of over-population, and smiles on children’s faces, absent the demanding pressure of over-zealous parents who squeeze every conceivable extra-curricular activity into already overpacked schedules. I’ve received intentional, polite waves from passersby and other strangers in stores, the first of which made me think it was someone I knew whose face I had forgotten entirely. This is the way of life in the country, a way of life that is every part of the DNA as someone’s blood. Northern Virginia may be part of the South geographically but what it may possess in sophistication and opportunity it lacks in hospitality, and that significantly.

Cierra and Tori have enjoyed catching crabs and shrimp from the dock located just one hundred yards from the front door of the house at which we are staying. They’ve picked fresh vegetables from the garden and can admit that this type of freshness cannot be purchased in a grocery store, no matter how many times the words ‘organic’ or ‘natural’ are used. And having spent almost a week with the Davis kids, they now have a good idea of what life would be like with brothers and a little sister.

Having grown up in Michigan, I can admit I’ve carried with me prejudices of southerners for a long time. (This negative character attribute was not minimized when I discovered there were roads named after such people as Jefferson Davis or Robert E. Lee, men who I could admit were brave and courageous, yet did not approach the stature of hero in my book.) The south has always carried perplexing qualities when viewed from my narrow perspective, knowing I had little to no exposure to the land that produced men like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and … I’m sure there are others. Ah yes, Jimmy Carter.

Any land can be mysterious, including the very ones we grow so quickly to admire because they are our playgrounds as kids. When I return home to Michigan I see things I had never seen before, which adds to it quality and my appreciation for the state I call home. I could live in the south and I’ve enjoyed being a country boy for a week.

One highlight of the evening that will be talked about for many months to come is Keegan’s attempt to imitate Evel Knievel on his BMX bicycle while sporting a motorcross helmet.

The suspense leading up to the jump was intense; the laughter, uproarious.  The jump structure seemed significantly incapable of supporting the force of the approaching jumper, not to mention that the jump path included a riding lawn mower not ten feet beyond the ramp.  A few spectators, myself included, commented on the potential for such eventualities as impalement, a lawn mower lunch, and the possibility of an adult making an attempt at the jump if Keegan managed to avoid the aforementioned disasters.  In Evel Knievel fashion, Keegan made several approaches to the ramp, ensuring he knew the exact speed required for a successful jump, and working up enough nerve to follow through with his goal.

With all the preparations made, and adults conveniently laying aside whatever parental caution they might otherwise possess, and a cheering gallery consisting of several admiring elementary-age girls all cheering Keegan’s name, the young hero was ready.  The rest of the story is told by YouTube.  Enjoy.

In a few days, I’ll be ready to begin laying the hardwood floors and will soon finish my first major house project in about two years. I’ll post before and after shots on FaceBook, which will definitely show a drastic change and considerable improvement. (I’ll be happy when I stop hitting the backspace key instead of “m” as I’m typing this.)

This app is nice. I’m not sure how much mobile blogging I’ll do, but it may come in handy.

I started seminary in January, finishing two terms and many books over the course of the first year.  Seminary itself has been a very rewarding experience.  I enjoy going to school including the interaction with classmates and professors.  As much as I know I learned this first year, there was most certainly just as much or more that I missed or failed to consider.

Unfortunately, because I was so busy, it seems like I had little time for personal reflection and I plan on changing that over the course of this next year.  That in itself came from personal reflection so perhaps I have had a little time.  I guess what I have in mind can be called “resolutions” but I would consider it a very poor idea for anyone to wait until the new year to take stock of one’s life in order to make changes.  Yet, the time of the year is fitting as this is what everyone (almost) thinks about as January 1st comes and goes.  It’s just a better idea to evaluate these sorts of things often and not just once a year because of sentimentality.  Few things in my schedule will change this next year – at least as far as I can tell right now.

As far as seminary goes, I think I could be far more diligent in my work, presiding over the things I’m learning and considering how new and expounded truths should help shape my heart and not only my mind.  Fortunately, I have good friends with whom I can share new ideas in the context of Christian brotherhood and not simply in the confines of a stale virtual classroom.

This is also a year of firsts.  I now have a teenager in the household.  Cierra turned 13 yesterday.  I absolutely cannot believe that fact.  Cierra and I spent a few minutes this morning talking about a video we have of her sitting in our living room at our house on Fort Belvoir.  She was somewhere between 1 and 2 years old.  The video captured her singing along with “Jesus Loves Me” on a little Fischer Price cassette player.  We also laughed about a chocolate pudding episode when she was three – this event she shared with her 1 year old sister.  Mom was upstairs doing laundry and the girls discovered a bowl of chocolate pudding in the fridge and it wasn’t long before they were both swimming in it on the floor.  Good times.

Lastly, I think I’ll share how my 2009 began.  I just read Jason Pelt’s year-end review about an hour ago which reminded me of how I heard the news of their house fire.  It was of course January 2nd – one year ago today.  I was sitting in my living room on that morning, reading and enjoying a cup of coffee.  My cell phone rang and it was Jason Pelt on the other end.  Jason sounded a little strange.  Here’s a recap of the conversation:

Kevin: “Hello”

Jason: “Kevin”

Kevin: “Yeah, what’s up, Jason?”

Jason: “Um, I need you to do me a favor.”

Kevin: “Uh, sure, what do you need?”

Jason: “Can you run to Target or Walmart and get me a cell phone charger?”

Kevin (confused, thinking Jason is calling me in his sleep): “Um….”

Jason: “It’s for a Samsung Instinct.”

Kevin (convinced Jason is calling me in his sleep): “I guess; is everything okay?”

It was only then that Jason, who had no sleep the night before, informed me that their house had burned down.  Interesting way to start the new year.  Thanks Jason.

Happy New Year!

As all parents know, as kids begin to develop their skills in speech and comprehension they can often get things mixed up and have no clue how their innocent combinations of just the right words at just the right times makes for the perfect recipe for laughter.  My two girls, as with all children I suppose, have also been known to say things that produce such a response and I think I’ve been extra alert for these moments now that Annie is sharing these little stories from their lives.  Of course, my kids are getting older and such moments are more infrequent than I’d like to admit – although perhaps a pre-teen with such verbal predispositions such as I’m talking about may not be a good thing.  Nevertheless, Cierra and Tori, especially when they’re communicating with one another, often produce turns of phrase for which the most profitable sitcoms would pay millions.

This is where Cierra excels.  She’s a lot like me – direct, to the point and would likely find Occam’s Razor a worthy principle by which to guide one’s use of words.  Cierra is also quite pensive at times – at least that’s what it looks like.  When riding in the car, Tori is usually folded into some impossible pretzel shape in the backseat reading a book while Cierra often stares out the window ostensibly deep in thought.  It is with such an introduction I give you Cierra’s most recent note-worthy quotes.

Quote 1

Location: Dentist’s Office / Setting: The girls have just completed their six-month cleaning and Tori seems to be pleased with the flavor of toothpaste the dentist used to clean her teeth when Cierra, finished with the hygenist, enters the waiting area.

Tori: “Did you get your teeth cleaned, Cierra?”

Cierra (annoyed): “Yes.”

Tori: “What flavor did you get?”

Cierra: “Disgusting.”

Quote 2

Location: In the car. / Setting: Music playing; peaceful ride to Fredericksburg; Cierra is doodling in her drawing book when she slowly brings her head up and sits staring for a few seconds.

Cierra (turning to me):  ”I just realized that you can’t scratch your nose if you’re wearing an astronaut suit.”

Update 7/31 9:00 pm – 57%

Update 7/31 11:42 pm – 61%