all trees go to Heaven

While I don't admit to being the greenest person (politically) on this block, I must say that I was a bit concerned this past week when our neighbors managed to remove a large tree from our shared front yard. Earlier in the day, they had been out pruning and shearing a variety of foliage, but when I came home at night, there were three Latino men outside my door hooking ropes onto the tree. Now I have nothing against Latino men, but why, oh why, were they on call to remove a beautiful tree from a shared front yard at 9pm? If they hadn't had spot lighting, they would likely have pulled down a rain gutter. And why would you tear down our perfectly fine tree? Why would you do it at night? Is it so that no one else could see?

Well this isn't the first time the tree-removal people have visited our block. They were here two months ago to take down an even bigger and even lovelier tree that was ours, oh ours, whose chief transgression was to occasionally drop leaves on my car. I was the only one who parked under the tree, and I never, oh never, complained.

What once was a yard with random leafy flowers and shrubs, and two pleasant-to-the-eye trees, now contains two leafy shrubs and two awkwardly tilled patches of bare earth. Would it have been such a bad thing to leave the trees there? I'm afraid our yard is haphazardly naked, and I don't think a few seeds and some Miracle Grow will change things.

Hmmm . . . . this coming Arbor Day (whenever that is -- see, I told you I'm not Green), you think they'd notice if, during the middle of the night, I planted two huge cottonwoods and a whole herd of fat garden gnomes?

next stop: Mt. Pigsah

Maybe it's a lack of conscience, or maybe I just like stealing things, but here is yet another idea that orginated with someone else. I could start singing the classic hit from Chicago, "You're the Inspiration," but I think I'll hold off.

Here is a list of things I would love to do before I die:


take a scenic tour of every state (some states would be more scenic than others)
cook a meal for someone really important, then beam with delight when they ask for seconds
visit all 119 division I-A campuses (currently I've been to about 37)
earn a ph.d. in social psychology
take a missions trip to germany, france, romania, austria, spain
work at a job which requires use of a concealed weapon (phony id optional)
use all the German I've learned over the years
be the best father and husband I can be
win a marathon while dressed as a superhero
teach in a seminary or bible college in Europe
walk on the beach in St. Lucia
take my dad fishing on the Chesapeake

a turn south

I made myself laugh today when I thought of a joke involving Easter eggs.

It's not worth repeating.











Have a Happy Easter.

like an eagle, or at least a flying squirrel

Based on my parents' good fortune, I have question:

If you had a free round trip ticket to go anywhere in the continental US, where would you go?

the first last week

Well my parents have long since left, but I'm still thinking about all that happened last week. We must have walked a good 50 miles around the Mall, Arlington Cemetery, Pentagon City, and Georgetown. It seemed like we were always on our feet. On top of that, I ran the Cherry Blossom 10-mile race, and I ran 1.5 miles before the race started. I think if you pile that together, I could have easily circled the Beltway, and had energy left over to take a swim in the Potomac. I always love how active my folks are. We're such a mobile family.

Not to say that we didn't take in our fair share of calories during the week. We had such a random and voluminous concoction of foods that that I think we actually gained weight. My stomach is still trying to sort out all the flavors. It was like a gathering of the UN on my palette: Indian, Lebanese, Chinese, Mexican, Australian, Irish, Polish, Italian, and a wide assortment of American (barbeque, seafood, chicken pot pies, hot dogs, pizza, and many more). I guess we never really think about how much food we can take in during a week, and the wide swath of countries it can come from. Honestly, ever since college, I've been pretty much a Pasta Roni and Malt-O-Meal tycoon, which is a taste that's easy to satisfy.

On their way home though, something cool happened. They were scheduled to fly to Denver, and then on to Wyoming, but the second flight was overbooked. Sometimes airlines will just offer you a $100 voucher for future flights if that happens, but my parents got the royal treatment. They were sent on a shuttle to a Doubletree hotel, had their meals paid for, flown out the next morning, and then given two free round trip tickets to anywhere in the continental US. The only rule is that they have to use them within the next year. How cool is that?

Anyway, I enjoyed their time here, and I found that I can actually be a decent tour guide. This city presents itself so well . . . it needs very little explanation. Just take people downtown and let them go exploring. The big pointy thing is hard to miss.

surprises and excess (sometimes go hand in hand)

My parents are in town this week, come from afar to wish me their wellest. We are having just the bestest week. It's been the mostest funnest. The laughter and good food could be weighed in tonage. What a great week!

One fun story from tonight:

We were walking through a glitzy mall, and my mom was noticing every manequin in the store windows . . . the large, the small, the glamorous, the conservative, the business-like. She liked pointing out the wildest ones and making silly comments (I guess they don't wear flourescent orange capris and jean jackets in Wyoming). It was fun. She's very observant.

We went into Macy's though, and coming up an escalator I whispered, "Jo, Jo, look over there." "Where?" "Over there. Look at that." "What, him? No, I don't see it." "Off too the left."

Well she never did see what I wanted her to see, until she walked right up to it. It was a manequin in a stylish red outfit, on this low turntable in the middle of a crowded aisle. My mom went right up and looked at it . . . . . and then it moved. It changed positions. And she gasped, "Oh no!" and brought her hands up to her mouth. I thought she was going to pass out. And then the manequin, who wasn't so manequinesque after all, said, "No, no ma'am. It's all right. I'm real!" My mom turned away, laughing but in a semi state of shock. "I thought she was a dummy!"

surprises and smiles (sometimes go hand in hand)

I don't think it would be wise to share the specifics of what happened last night, but I'll just say how honored I was to see our XA group get a chance to lead 12 young children to Christ. It was a sacred moment, something I won't soon forget, and the worship that followed was holy and heartfelt. I may be bumbling and scraping my way through this school year (thanks stefa for being so patient), but God continues to use our group and satisfy the depth of our need for him.

Thank you, Lord, for being so surprisingly faithful.