our little girl

Meet Rebekah MeiLyn. We got her information and picture today exactly one year from the day we sent our first preapplication.
We are keeping a separate journal for our trip. You can check it out here.

Thanks to all who have prayed and walked with us through the journey so far. We should find out our travel dates in the next couple of weeks.

God is good.
j

joyous it was

Saturday K and I sat with 500 other folks in the biggest theater in OKC to witness Episode III. I have to admit, for a couple of hours I was a seven year old kid again caught transfixed by the story and action and power of George's world. I sat next to a kid that was probably 8-9 and before the movie he was bouncing in his seat saying, "This is going to be the greatest movie I've ever seen!" over and over to himself. I knew how he felt.
I was a full-on Star wars junkie as a kid. My mom still has thousands of E-bay dollars worth of action figures and vehicles and playsets and more in her attic (not that I could ever bring myself to part with them) I can remember spending entire Saturdays with that stuff spread all over my room creating wars and worlds and loving every second of it (probably long after I should have been too old for it).
And now it has ended. (except for the TV shows that apparently are in the works) The beauty of timing though is that it ends just in time for me to start teaching Caleb about the joys of the force. We won't be costuming up for a convention, but we may be spreading some stuff out over a new room one of these days.
Sure I could focus on the goofiness of it all or the dialogue problems or even a continuity issue or two, but those are things that adults think about. When it comes to this, I do not want to be one of those.
Bring on the geek chants.
j

see if you can spot the irony

From yesterday's Daily Oklahoman religion section. (Don't ask why I know this).

Today, the six-week program "Moms, Mentors and McDonalds" culminates with a talk on nutrition by a panel of mentor mothers. King said after the session, participants and their children go to several area McDonalds restaurants for a meal and play activity.

See it?
j

the morass of abandoned blogness

Do you have any idea how many blogs are out there with one post from 2001 that says some version of

This is the beginning of my weblog, which was started very spur of the moment. I'm afraid there is not much form currently, but hopefully it will take shape.

And then nothing. NOTHING. I am looking for a name for another blog to work out a set of ideas that don't really belong here and it's impossible. I wonder how hard it would be for blogger to implement a purge after six months of silence. My guess it would free up thousands of spots that are currently claimed by one post wonders.
Ah well, just have to get more creative with the name.

how 'bout hjgatsaamnfkg.blogspot.com?
j

progress?

Driving down I-35 today I see small trees that have been recently planted by one of the bridges to "beautify" the highway. Just behind these new lovely trees I see bulldozers tearing out dozens of huge trees that have been there for decades to make room for what I'm sure will be some lovely retail outlets and parking.

Does that make any sense?
j

mclaren's blog tour

Brian Mclaren is taking to the blogosphere today to talk with people about his new book The Last Word and the Word After That. I haven't read it yet, but it is causing a good deal of yelling and screaming. The book is the third after A New Kind of Christian and The Story We Find Ourselves In (both highly recommended by the way). The latest work deals with the afterlife. My thought is I will be uncomfortable with some of what comes up in it, but the stretching is worth it.

Anyway, for those who are interested, Brian will be posting and conversing with people in the comments section of several blogs today. Here's a list of the ones I know. Take a few minutes and engage.
Tall Skinny Kiwi
Jen Lemen
Dwight Friesen
Pomomusings
Jordon Cooper
Paradoxology

I know Cody has read the book. Any others? I'd love to hear thoughts on it here.
j