Life back at home...

We are back in town and in our own beds, almost on our own time zone. Today was work and the life that we left behind for two weeks was prevalent. It isn't the daily life that you leave behind that you miss; it is you own bed. The peace of knowing that your pillows are yours and not 8 other peoples. Today was weird and I'll be honest, a little like the first day of school. Not as intense as a new school, but more like the school you've been going to for awhile but none the less it is the first day after a summer of newness. I feel like a different person, I don't exactly know what has changed or if it is permanent. Erin and I are closer which inadvertently changes my day. But I think some other things are going on as well.

I'm back to loving Football, watching the Chargers on the computer, and wishing the Hogs weren't on TV so it wouldn't be so embarrassing to be a fan. These are all things that haven't changed. A new perspective is being formed however...I don't know what it is but I'm waiting. I'm not sure my priorities are in place. My frustrations come from a lack fantasy football success or a rough day at work.

I thought about a friend who sent me a facebook message recently. I thought about his perspective. He lost his son recently and walks around everyday with that. Erin told me just a few minutes ago of a couple we know whose son has three wholes in his heart and they don't think they can do surgery on him till he is 22yrs old, he's less 6mths old. And they walk around with that. My dad and mom take care of my Grandmother who from day to day can't tell you where she is. Walking around with that all day...sheeww. It makes my frustrations small. If we are to mourn with those who mourn and rejoice with those who rejoice, then why am I looking at my belly button all the time. My God is bigger than all their problems and bigger than my mine as well. But if we are to walk as those who have hope; mourning with those who mourn means being relevant in their lives. I'm not saying getting sad and depressed; I'm saying take a genuine interest in the lives of those around us. Even those closest to us.

I heard a song to today that said "give me your eyes so I see the hurting as you do God. Give me your arms...give me your hands" There is a body and there is those outside of the body and all know what it is like to be lost. There are those with no hope and those who can't see it because the world is to big and to rough to give us a glimpse of what we know is true. So there are people all around who need the grace that we have experienced. And if you haven't experienced that grace there is comfort for you in Jesus. So don't pine at the world for it leaves hope up to circumstance. The God that I know leaves hope up to himself and shares it freely by pouring out his grace on us generously and continually. What is truly amazing to me is the God who deals with the big problems in my eyes is the same God who takes my bad day as hard as I did. That the God of the universe cares about by frustrations and my insecurities. "You are Glorious and I am Yours" that is something that we can all say to God that truly cares.

Interlaken...Awe Goodness

We left Bern after around 10 or so to get to Interlaken, my part of the trip. Don't get me wrong I love art and history and the culture of Italy and Greece. And I miss Greece often, however I hold to my words "Switzerland is what I would go back for..." It is beautiful. God is evident in the mountains, the water, the lakes, the water falls, Absolutely Amazing. 

Now Erin had some apprehension about the cold. If you don't know Erin, let me explain. Warm=Good! Cold=Terrible, Awful, Bad, Pain, Yuck, and Hate. She hates it.  My Erin is a trooper but after a night in Bern in almost freezing weather and a fairly cold Venice, she had decided canyoning was not going to be our thing. It was going to be my thing. That being said we got to Interlaken(the prettiest place in the world) and she warmed up to it along with the weather. After talking to a few people( and by that i mean girls who had gone) she decided to stick it out. That A Girl Erin! So it was off to the Swiss Alps for 30ft jumps, 20ft rockslides, 30ft repels, and waterfall repelling.

Our helmets have names on them so guides don't have to learn your name. Mine was "Duck" and Erin's was "Paris". So Duck and Paris met up with some Mississippi Boys and we headed up for a great time. Erin held her nose every time she jumped but came up out of the ice cold water with a smile. The girl was rocking out the canyoning. I on the other hand while haveing a blast was suffering from cold water allergy. My hands swelled and turned red. Everyone in our group was intrigued by how big my hands were getting. I pressed on and finished the trip of a life time with slightly larger hands but memories and experiences with my wonderful wife that I will always cherish.

It is amazing what people are willing to go through. It is also amazing how many people aren't willing to sacrifice, help, or even make an effort for others. So when you find someone who will or if you can be that person for someone take the opportunity. We all had fun canyoning and cheering and laughing for each other, but it meant a whole lot that Erin was willing to face a few fears for me. The whole trip was like that, we learned to help, sacrifice, and make an effort for each other. And I'll be honest, not even counting the memories, I love my wife more just for those little efforts and comforts along the way.

A Firenzie change of pace

All right, we made it... to Florence that is. I love this town it is better than I remembered. We have seen a lot so far and at a very fast pace, so when we got to Florence we decided to sleep in. Sleeping in goes against everything I am when it comes to vacation...wait that is not true at all. Sleeping in makes Erin feel bad it make me feel good. However, we did sleep in and adopted the laid back attitude of the city around us. God has really shown Erin and I that life comes at different paces for everyone. Day to day and person to person, time waits for no-one... we learned that from some sarcastic monks in Rome, no bones about it.

But resting and peace seem to go against that most of the time. We all need to take time to soak up our surroundings, the people around us, and the grace that we've been blessed with. This town moves at a lot of paces one being the Italian pace wake up late and stay up late, the guided group pace- wake up early and move slowly through the city as unit that is impenetrable and impossible to get around soaking up and over paying for everything- and then the back packer pace that is somewhere in between soaking up the moments, sleeping late, taking naps, and displaying too much public affection.

We got to take our pace into the church next door to hear an orchestra/symphony(someone with more knowledge can tell me the difference) until 1030 at night. It was amazing. I didn't nod off or anything. In fact maturity led me to believe I enjoyed. I sat and watched them play and then I would watch Erin watching...that makes me enjoy things so much more. The last piece was riveting we sat and watched waiting for the next surge in musical intensity only to be quietly taken back by the soft flutes and violin. I never would have thought I'd be watching my wife and I enjoy a musical performance miles away from home. It was the perfect ending to an almost perfect day. Sometimes a change of pace, or an experience that isn't typically yours can be quite effective on your life journey. I shared with Erin in her passion and love for music and found a different part of myself and she has become quite the traveler due to a impulsive husband... I say that to say whether changing pace or sharing in someone else's life gets you to grow or see God's world differently I say try it....

From the Vatican to the What the...

After a Morning of amazement and art history that rocked the world of a girl from Walnut Hill Florida and boy from Monroe La to a St Peter's were the extravagant religious display exceeded our understanding. While the Old testament temple was built to honor God with his glory and extravagance, St Peter's didn't quite ring true for us. It is beautiful and worthy of its prestige; however it seems to speak of the works man. Did Peter really think that centuries later people would be rubbing his toes off in order to get a prayer answered. I think not . Peter would want to step out of the way of the cross that allows grace to flow freely for everyone. I kept thinking about Paul's words "his power is made perfect in my weakness... so for Christ sake I will boast my weakness." I know that God Wants our best and the monuments are great and the excellence is without question, but my gut just felt unsure. I thought of "don't let left hand know what the right is doing..." I say that to say this I spent most of St Peter's listening to casting crowns seeing that God was bigger than our vein efforts to make it about more than his love. I've been all over this amazing city and the magnitude of it humbles me greatly. But Erin and I have realized that God is God even in St Peters, even in the begger without an arm, the Pagan art work, the city of greatness, and the hostel full of crazy youth finding themselves. He isn't bound by our comprehension. He walked this earth and shattered our expectations with incomprehensible grace and love. Our love is growing for each other and the people that God loves. HE is our existence and the amazement, he alone brings glory to himself. And like on this trip I am happy to be experiencing him in new ways. All things to all people means seeing life not our own as one worth saving. And to that all means neccessary should be taken...letting God's glory be shown while we await our reward in another sacred city.

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We just spent our first day in Rome and we walked all over the city. It was "AMAZING" to quote my wife's email to her parents. We started with a simple fountain of Triton followed by the spanish steps and the trevi fountain. We were awed by the Pantheon. The architecture alone was so substantial and intriguing. We had lunch on the river and saw a castle or two. But the Capuchin Monk's Crypt was humbling, sobering, scarey and awesome. Quick background, These monks scammed the people into paying for a holy burrial place that they turned into a masterpeice of art. There medium(or materials for you not familiar with art) was the human bones and remains of the people and monks they had been burrying. I don't have to long for thought so I will leave you with the dead monks quote. And see how you respond. In the midst of bone walls, bone decour, and bone chandeliers read a plaque,"What you are we once were; What we are you soon will be..." Mind blowing for our spiritual walk...sobering and humbling, how about you?

From Greece to Rome...

After a few days of beautiful travel Erin and i have landed in Rome. We saw the beautiful Korinthian countryside by bus and ferried from Patra to Italy but not before having a gyro and pita in Greece...More to come tomorrow we stroll the streets of Rome for fountains and memories...that sounded corney. We will be relaxing and discovering the lighter side of Rome.(that wasn,t much better but I haven,t had a lot of sleep) so for now it is Va benne, chow!

Our trip, Our Vacation, and Mission

Ok, here goes Erin said we can't have kids till we go to Europe... I said aight lets go. A year late we are here. The flight was long and the sleep schedule is shook to pieces but I'm good and spirits are high. We just finished our first day in Athens, atop the Acropolis, through the Plaka, up Mar's Hill, throughout the Agora, looking at the Parthenon, and all on a bagel and juice. I have learn two things from traveling with Erin: Small suprizes are better than big ones and I enjoy her enjoyment more than my own experiences. Her being happy, her amazement brings me pure joy.

We sat atop Mars Hill listening to a Great Song(that I think is called "This City") It says "There is know one like our God" and the chorus say" greater thing have yet to come Greater thing are still to be done in this City." All I could think about was Paul standing infront of scholars and philosphers and the governing men of Athens saying " Men of Athens" this unknown God is the God everything, he sent his son, and as great as this city is there is still more to come. What greater things are yet to come. What are you called too? Will God say to you Greater things have yet to come great things are still to be done in you. I'm asking God for courage to be the father and husband he wants me to be. How about you?