The real slim Aaron

I was searching for an old picture and I ran across these two fantastic photos. Aaron was in his prime.

Ok, now I am going to Hawaii.

A time for prayer

I too, am back.

My return is due to a bit of pressure from my dear friend from the beautiful town Lynden. If your eyes just lit up because of the name Lynden, feel free to post on his blog, ask him if he knows "Marty Den Hoogen or Helpring Vanden Huevel" (or whoever your connection might be), and fulfill you Dutch bingo desires.

My true reason for this post is to once again refer you to a familiar name on Edmunds Delight, Rose Carlucci. I have devoted entire posts to this dear friend/WWC grandma, but this time the occasion is more serious.

Rose has been diagnosed with a brain aneurism, one that reaches 6mm in size. I don't know much about brain aneurisms but I assume that anything inside one's head, even something as small as 6mm, is a big deal. She has been in the hospital for the last 10 days and I have not had an opportunity to visit her; the reason is not because I am not available or willing but because she can not accept any visitors at this time. So I ask that my faithful bloggers will also be faithful in their prayers for Rose Carlucci.

On a lighter note, I will be leaving for a family vacation to Hawaii tomorrow morning. I will be gone for precisely one week and I will take lots of pictures. Stay tuned for a post-Hawaii post and some more news about Rose.

Missing you...

I got a call from my buddy Spencer and I hope to go out to lunch with him today, maybe tomorrow. I miss hanging out with WWC people at the pool. I'm going there today in hope to see a few of the "front office ladies" and my boss Steve, if all goes to plan I hope to see my 83 year-old friend Rose.

My friend Dianna had a few pictures of our last lifeguard party--I don't have any, maybe I could get a link to that site. I only have one picture from the summer, it's a good picture but I look WAY different since I have been in Iowa.

Another goal of mine is to get a hold of Megan, we need to visit our little friend Sarah. I'll try to get her number today by rummaging through the files at the club--I'm good at stuff like that.

On a topic away from work, I went to Luke's last night. We watched more SBTB then you can shake a stick at. Robert showed up in his PJ's.

Going back to Cali, strictly for the weather, women and the weed...

Well I'm home again, and it's good to be back.

My first day consisted of waking up at 7:45, dropping my sister off at work, taking the car to get an oil change, going out to eat with Nathan Van Egmond, helping my mom clean a house, and watching my brothers JV soccer game at Calvin Christian.

Tonight, I plan on spending the evening with Cooper, Luke, and Aaron.

Like I said--It's good to be back.

A run-in with Catholicism

Remember the classic movie scene where "that guy” says something at a party and the music comes to a screeching halt and all eyes give him a disgusted look? I was that guy last night…

I walked into my RA's room because he was having a Christmas party, it was a joyous occasion to celebrate this wonderful season; however, it didn't stay joyous in that room much longer. The crowd was casually talking about theology, a topic that I too, like to participate in. One fiery young lady who I have grown to fear, Ali, was talking about how the Creeds and Confession course at Dordt was not "open-minded" enough for her. She then went on to explain to us that she was Catholic and she wished the course would have been accepting of different denominations.

Now this is the part where I decided to participate and since I had not said anything to this point, everyone was quiet to hear what insight I had to share.

I said, with a speck of confidence, "Well Catholicism isn't really a denomination..."

Instantly, and I mean instantly, all heads turned my way and heard a few faint gasps, including a hushed "Oh my". Ali looked up at me and said, "What the Hell?" I then tried to explain that the class was obviously not meant for other denominations and even if it was accepting of other denominations then it would look at something closer, not Catholicism. During my babbling/drowning/thrashing everyone just stared and waited for me to finish.

Once I finished, Ali muttered, "I don't really feel comfortable here." She left and then I was left standing with everyone staring. Finally someone said, "I knew what you meant." Another chimed in "Oh yeah, I agree with you." Soon everyone expressed their agreement to my position. I thought about how unhelpful all of these people turned out to be.

Then one of the Canadians in the room started to talk about why he though predestination “wasn't correct” and that creeds from thousands of years ago are "useless". That's when I decided to leave.

Christmas Ideas

Japanese and their crazy laps...

Count the fingers, I'll be home in three days.

Bad day at work

Bad day at work yesterday.

I missed a day of work (coaching swim team) because the practice day was switched. I came in next day completely unprepared for the terror that I was about to receive.

My boss (the head swim coach and a fiery woman) said a number of things that I would like to post here:

"I guess I was just raised to come to work when I was supposed to work, but maybe that is just how I am."

"I will evaluate all of these things in my hiring process next year; I guess it's just a learning experience for both of us."

"I can't fire anyone (obviously me) because I don't have anyone to hire."

"I guess we will just make the most of it for the rest of the year."

Yep, so that's it. I guess we will just make the most of it this year. And to top it all off--I have a hour long car ride with her tomorrow. 7am, we will be traveling to our swim meet, just me and coach... I can't wait.

Christmas Time is Here!!!

As you may have heard from other sources, my roommates and I had a Christmas party.

Look at some pictures from the night.

The menu was fantastic. We had more goodies then "you can shake a stick at." I made some BBQ meatballs, but I ended up eating about half of them. You can't keep me away from a good meatball.

We also made puppy chow. Has anyone else ever noticed that Luke Faber has the recipe for puppy chow in the Calvin Cookbook? It says he likes to double the recipe so that he can have enough for more than just himself! Good thing you weren't there because we wouldn't have had enough!! Thanks Luke!!

There's something sweet and almost kind

I would consider myself a faithful follower of Aslan's Mane. For Aslan and Edmund harmonize a delicate, sweet song—which makes most women swoon.

But there's more.

I crave the comfort that comes from burrowing deep inside the golden warmth of Aslan's posts. But I thirst for something else...

Something I know he has.

Very few have seen it, but I have, and I want you to see it. Yet we must wait, wait for Aslan to decide:

Are we ready? Maybe not, but don't despair, our day will come.

Guess who's back...

Due to a series of events---thanksgiving trip to Tucson, the passing of my grandfather (with the trip to Boise that followed), and the sea of endless homework---I have been unable to "blog-it-up", so to speak, for quite sometime.

I traveled to Tucson, AZ for Thanksgiving. The drive took 52 hours, roundtrip. We encountered terrible weather through northern New Mexico and the Denver snowfall exacerbated our situation. Many prayers were said on our behalf (Kelley and I) and we were granted safe travel to our final destination (Iowa).

The funeral in Idaho was an indelible experience. The burial of my Opa was reverent and the service that followed reminded us of the hope that we have in our Lord, because of our faith through his grace. The communion with relatives (and of course my beloved family) followed the service and ran late into the night.

If you missed the link (hidden in "my beloved family"), you need to check out the pictures of my family; I love them.

All in all, I have been blessed during this busy time. Schoolwork always looks so daunting, yet it somehow seems to work out.

However, at this moment, it is still threatening; by Wednesday night, I will be relieved.