Posted in Alaska, family, nature on December 31, 2008 | 4 Comments »
Mom, Dad, and I took a hike down Diamond Gulch to where Diamond Creek spills into Cook Inlet. It was all downhill the first way, which made us question whether to keep going to the end or just turn around.
We followed the tracks of a man (right) and man’s best friend (left).
The temperature hovered in [...]
Posted in love, music on December 30, 2008 | 1 Comment »
Regina Spektor’s songs are good for contemplating in the winter.
I recently discovered Hem, whose songs are also suited for this season.
And I stumbled upon a beautiful, simple duet by Joshua Radin called “The Fear You Won’t Fall.”
There you go, download away.
but in the month as cold as ice
I know I question things too quickly
but I’ve never questioned [...]
Posted in Alaska, family, food, nature on December 29, 2008 | 3 Comments »
Today Mom, Dad, and I took a walk on Wynn Nature Trail. Here’s the view from a platform on the trail:
For most of the trail, the snow was packed down tightly enough that walking was easy. But it was really funny when we unexpectedly fell through deep snow. I almost peed my pants, laughing.
We spotted [...]
Posted in Alaska, God, music, nature, psalms on December 28, 2008 | 1 Comment »
In Dad’s children sermon this morning, he asked the kids what they thought it would sound like for rocks, mountains, and streams to praise God. After all, that’s what Psalm 148 talks about. (Psalm 148 was part of today’s lectionary.) But what does that sound like? Dad admitted he himself doesn’t know.
I thought about this [...]
Posted in Alaska, friendship, nature, prayer on December 27, 2008 | 1 Comment »
Today I forced myself to get up at the crack of dawn (9:45 a.m.) to catch the sunrise. Below is its progression, all taken between 10:15 – 10:30 a.m.:
Sorry for the wires and rooftop marring the view.
In the middle of the picture is a peak, over whose shoulder the sun is peeking. Thus ends our [...]
Posted in Alaska, family, nature on December 26, 2008 | 6 Comments »
See Charles’ infamous ornament over my shoulder? By the way, the present I’m holding up is this bag you curl up in when you need to keep warm or protect yourself from the wind while stranded on a hike. It makes you look like a Chipotle burrito. I’m looking forward to using it.
We have choo-choo trains [...]
Posted in Alaska, God, family, music, nature on December 25, 2008 | 2 Comments »
Right now Judy Garland is singing “O Holy Night,” Mom and Dad are playing with their new toys (a telescopic lens camera and a Linux computer, respectively), and it is snowing steadily. Before the sun sets in two hours (at 4 p.m. Alaska time), we’ll take a walk in the snow.
Yesterday, Mom and I walked [...]
Posted in family on December 24, 2008 | 3 Comments »
I never had a problem believing in both Santa Claus and God. I’m glad my parents raised me with both beliefs. Some of my presents would have tags that read “from Mom and Dad,” while others would say “from Santa.” (Interestingly, the handwriting was always my mom’s. Just like when the tooth fairy left me [...]
Posted in family, music on December 23, 2008 | 3 Comments »
One Christmas Eve service, I chose to sing the alto line to the hymn “Angels We Have Heard on High.” It just skips and dances, echoing the melody in a joyful way. How could I resist? My brother thought this was ridiculous. To mock me, he started singing the bass line to the hymn, which also [...]
Posted in dork on December 22, 2008 | 2 Comments »
I got this nativity set from a white elephant gift exchange with a campus ministry group. When we discovered the misfortune, the pastor suggested we just pretend Joseph is John the Baptist circa Matthew 14:10.
