Home

This past weekend, Sarah and I went home to Mississippi. It was a really fun trip. We went swimming everyday except one. We were also able to take a trip to the beach and clinton, where I went to school. This trip was about several firsts: Sarah hung out in MS for the first time, we got to be the first overnight guests in Sarah Shelton and T's new home, I saw my grandfather in his Alzheimer's home, Sarah ate Edds, Kiefer's, and crawfish for the first time, we saw my buddy nick's new concert venue he is building in hattiesburg, and we saw Van and emily's new home. This was really a fun trip. Its funny how quickly life moves. So many of my friends are doing a lot of things that to me, seem really "adult." It is really a blessing to get to share this phase of life with them. I can remember when I was in college and I thought about the "settling down" part of life and how it made me feel. I used to think that the settling required giving up a lot, and namely personal freedom. It has been really cool to watch a lot of my buds start this process and disciple me into a true understanding. It does seem like they are giving up a certain degree of personal freedom, but not nearly as much as I thought. Furthermore they are all sharing life with people that enhance their freedom and days. That is beautiful and attractive. It is so cool to watch the way they are enjoying this phase of their lives. It gives me so much hope. It helps me see the beauty of all the different stages of life we find ourselves in.

When I went to see my grandfather, I got the real sense he knew me. He never said my name, but all the while he spoke to me as though I were familiar and he understood who I was. I got to take a long walk with he and my grandmother. At first I was really scared, but the more we walked the happier I was that I was with him. The whole experience has helped me know how to pray for my grandmother in new ways. I can't even imagine how hard all of this has been for her, but I think on Friday I caught a glimpse. She is a really strong and godly woman. The most beautiful part of this whole trip was when we were sitting on a couch and trying to figure out where to walk. Pawpaw said I'll go with you wherever you want to go; to which my grandmother replied, "and I will go with you wherever you go." It got me. Love. Real love. It was such a blessing to be there in that moment, no matter the pain.

This trip also helped me see some of the whack things my family does, that I don't even recognize because it such a usual part of life. I think we all can relate to irrational things our family memebers always do, but we don't even recognize because some time, long ago we realized its better to just accept than change them. Thats all well and good, until an outsider comes and participates with your family. Then you are forced to look at some the wierd quirks of the people you grew up with, and try and answer the question why. Why, is perhaps too difficult a question to answer for half of it. All in all it is kind of a fun process to have to look at your family's behavior objectively. You realize we're all kind of crazy, and because of love we will overlook behavior that is completely irrational and unproductive. This wasa fun a part of our trip.

Sunday night I was able to visit a church my friends go to. It was fun to visit a church. It was a lot of fun to worship with these guys. Their church meets in the Fondren district of Jackson and is seeking to reach college students, young pros, and families in that area of the city. They meet in a beautiful Lutheran church building. The building was really sweet. The talk got me thinking about scripture. It seems that so often when someone speaks topically they choose to interpret scripture to prove their point, rather than communicate what it is saying. I know this pastor meant well, and he didn't say anything unbiblical, but he simply did not interpret a particular passage in the manner it was written. It just reminds me how tempting that can be, but how important it is to not use scripture as validating a point, but rather really try to undderstand what the writer was saying. That being said, it was a really great experience to be with these people and share that time of worship.

In regards to my relationship with Sarah, things are a lot of fun. I'm crazy about her and learning much of us, her, and myself.

Side bar--Barry got 715, but the Rox won the game. Double victory. I also have been thinking how interesting it is that BArry has been criticized for being a terrible teamate for wanitng his space, and yet now that Roger Clemens(diva) has decidde to play he can set his demands and no one dare accuse him. Even before all of the steroid stuff with Barry people would abuse him for having his own trainer and space in the locker room. Clemens doesn't even travel with the team unless he want to, and no one dare question him as being selfish or a team guy. Just frustrating, but also a great reminder that perception matters. Reputation matters. We can be such sheep sometimes, and choose to believe whatever we want.

SF--I'm going to San Francisco for class next week and am stoked. I'm gonna try to catch a giants game at SBC. Stoked, yet another ballpark visited.

RED hot chili peppers--The new cd is money. Musically it is awesome and I like the lyrics of some of the songs. They are so unique and enduring. Only band I know besides P-funk that the baseline can carry the melody. Freaking sweet. Fave songs of the moment are desecration smile, torture me, and 21st century.

This is getting long so perhaps I should try and blog more frequently in little bursts.