right now i'm at my desk.
in front of my computer.
typing this blog.
but i'm distracted.
i keep glancing out the window.
not sure why.
maybe to see if it has started to rain.
or if the clouds are still hanging around.
right now my bumper sticker or t-shirt or license plate cover says, "i'd rather be at a local coffee shop with a good book, a new cd, and a latte."
i kind of need a day to recalibrate.

A Vonderful Goot Game...






for weeks students brushed up on their skills.
both mentally and physically.
learning a new SAT word each day.
wind sprints and yo yo's in the backyard.
push ups.
logic puzzles.
protein drinks and sleep deprivation.
insane? maybe.
but quite necessary.
why?
because when it's all said and done.
when the cards are put back in the box and the tables are wiped down.
when you take one last look back into the room before turning out the lights.
only two people walk away with the t-shirts.
only two people walk away with the trophies.
only two people are worthy to be called Dutch Blitz'rs.

congratulations to Tricia and Brittany for being this years North Texas Dutch Blitz Champions.

bonjour...

yesterday i helped my soon-to-be brother-in-law jay move some old furniture from his parents house in paris...wait for it...no, in texas.

the day was spent driving to paris.
picking up a uhaul at none other than hicks muffler and tire.
loading four pieces of 100 year old furniture put together by 100year old screw drivers onto the truck.
watching papa semple close the deal on a car and sell another.
Eating the most amazing BBQ at Scholl Bros. BBQ and drinking the best sweet tea ever.
(Jay says you know a place is going to be good when the sign out front of the restaurant just reads BBQ)
watching mama semple close the deal on a BBQ catering gig from said amazing BBQ place.
a quick visit to the eiffel tower. (there really is an eiffel tower)
and then back to dallas to move the 100 year old furniture into Jay's apt.

going into it i didn't think it was going to be that strenuous of a day but around 5 pm i hit a wall.
maybe that was the all the sweet tea wearing off.
i was tired and hot but more than anything i missed my wife and couldn't wait to see her.

he makes me as surefooted as the deer...

a few years ago two of my roommates from college and i had the opportunity to spend the weekend hiking in the grand canyon.
we had planned on backpacking into the canyon on a friday, spend two nights at primitive campgrounds, and then hike back out on sunday.
(suddenly as i am writing this i can't help but think of the spiritual undertones that could be applied to this trip. "how?" you might ask. well, we made our decent on Good Friday and ascended on the third day, easter morning.)
i guess you could say it was sort of a spiritual death and resurrection, but i wasn't thinking in those terms that weekend.

we left lubbock in the evening on thursday and drove through the night to the canyon.
its about a 12 hour drive.
i did most of the driving, but richard finished off the last couple hours.
jay slept in the back most of the time.
which paid off that morning when jay had to stand in line for the permits while richard and i tried to sleep in the car.

we arrived just after 5 am.
just in time for the sunrise.
we pulled over into a viewing area, got out and watched the sun rise.
warm, golden light flooded into the canyon.
i had seen pictures of the canyon before but none can truly capture the magnitude of the canyon's beauty when your actually there.
especially at sunrise.
i felt very small.
and cold.
because it was snowing.
yep, snowing.
on easter weekend.

we retrieved our permits that morning, and after an early lunch began our descent into the canyon.
on our second day in we had a little extra time after we got to the next campsite to go explore.
the map we had indicated that there was a spring not too far away.
we needed to refill our water bottles so we went off looking for it.
it was quiet and peaceful out.
we really felt like we were the only ones there.
we probably were.
we found the spring and refilled our bottles.
adding an iodine tablet and some lemonade mix to help add some flavor.
while we were standing there i remember hearing the crack of falling rocks.
we looked up to see two big horn skipping along the ridge high above us.
(this is the part where you do the whole "oh look, a big horn. that's why i come up here." routine.)
they make it look so easy.
i remember there being sections of our hike that were pretty difficult.
one miss step could mean a long fall.
i'm amazed at how graceful the big horn makes it look.
so when the psalmist writes, "he makes me as surefooted as the deer, enabling me to stand on mountain heights." i think i get the idea.
i am encouraged and comforted knowing that God won't let me slip.
that i can have confidence, not in myself, but in He who is faithful.
because i'm not always as confident as i may look.
seriously.


read psalm 18.
it will blow your mind.