Animal Diaries

This came to us the other day via e-mail. I think all pet-owners will appreciate....

The Diary of a Dog

8:00 AM: Dog food! My favorite thing!
9:30 AM: A car ride! My favorite thing!

9:40 AM: A walk in the park! My favorite thing!

10:30 AM: Got rubbed and petted! My favorite thing!

12:00 PM: Lunch! My favorite thing!

1:00 PM: Played in the yard! My favorite thing!

3:00 PM: Wagged my tail! My favorite thing!

5:00 PM: Milk bones! My favorite thing!

7:00 PM: Got to play ball! My favorite thing!

8:00 PM: Wow! Watched TV with my family! My favorite thing!

11:00 PM: Sleeping on the bed! My favorite thing!

The Diary of a Cat

It is day 683 of my captivity: My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre dangling objects. They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates and myself are fed hash or some sort of dry nuggets. Although I make my contempt for the rations perfectly clear, I nevertheless must eat something in order to keep up my strength. The only thing that keeps me going is my dream of escape. In an attempt to disgust them, I vomit on the floor.

Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at their feet. I had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts, since it clearly demonstrates what I am capable of. However, they merely made condescending comments about what a 'good little hunter' I am. The audacity! There was some sort of assembly of their accomplices tonight. I was placed in solitary confinement for the duration of the event. However, I could hear the noises and smell the food. I overheard that my confinement was due to the power of 'allergies.' I must learn what this means, and how to use it to my advantage.

Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my tormentors by weaving around his feet as he was walking. I must try this again tomorrow -- but at the top of the stairs. I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies and snitches. The dog receives special privileges. He is regularly released --and seems to be more than willing to return. He is obviously retarded! The bird has got to be an informant. I observe him communicating with the guards regularly. I am certain that he reports my every move. The captors have arranged protective custody for him in an elevated cell, so he is safe....... For now.

The Class of 2011

We found this on Scott Crocker's blog. Each year Beloit College distributes their Mindset List and this year's was just released. The Mindset List gives a glimpse into the worldview of the nation's 18-year-olds and the world they grew up in. This is true of today's college freshmen, most of whom were born in 1989 (note: Adam was a high school junior in 1989, and Anne was a sophomore).

Here are a few highlights...

- What Berlin Wall?
- They never "rolled down" a car window.
- They have grown up with bottled water.
- Nelson Mandela has always been free and a force in South Africa.
- Pete Rose has never played baseball.
- Rap music has always been mainstream.
- "Off the hook" has never had anything to do with a telephone.
- Wal-Mart has always been a larger retailer than Sears and has always employed more workers than GM.
- Al Gore has always been running for president or thinking about it.
- They grew up in Wayne's World.
- U2 has always been more than a spy plane.
- They were introduced to Jack Nicholson as "The Joker."
- Fox has always been a major network.
- Being a latchkey kid has never been a big deal.
- They learned about JFK from Oliver Stone and Malcolm X from Spike Lee.
- Tiananmen Square is a 2008 Olympics venue, not the scene of a massacre.
- MTV has never featured music videos.
- They get much more information from Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert than from the newspaper.

- They're always texting 1 n other.
- They never saw Johnny Carson live on television.
- The World Wide Web has been an online tool since they were born.
- Food packaging has always included nutritional labeling.
- Russia has always had a multi-party political system.
- Being 'lame' has to do w/ being dumb or inarticulate, not disabled.

A New Year

Tomorrow begins a new year for Campus Crusade in Portland. For Anne and I, it will be the start of our tenth year with Campus Crusade. I will be in planning meetings all week with the staff team. We will be figuring out strategies, schedules, and events for the coming months. Please pray for focus and wisdom as we pursue what God has laid out for us this year!

Ho hum...

How to impress your children! Again this year I (Adam) am training for the Portland Marathon on October 7. This requires a series of increasingly long runs each weekend to build the necessary endurance to run 26 miles on race day.

A few weeks ago I ran 14 miles. I told Alex how far I ran. His response: "Why didn't you just run one more mile and go 15?"

The next weekend I ran 16 miles. Alex's reply: "So? That's only two miles more than you did last weekend."

CM2007 Review

This July, while we were in Colorado, Campus Crusade hosted one of its largest conferences ever in South Korea. 16,000 Students from 127 countries united in Busan, South Korea at Campus Mission 2007, the Campus Ministry's first global student mission conference
hosted by Korea Campus Crusade for Christ. The purpose of the international attendees - to be trained to reach their respective countries for Christ. Check out the video for highlights....

Typical marriage stuff

When I got home today, Anne and I had the following coversation. Keep in mind, we used to get upset about stuff like this. Now, we laugh:

Anne: "I threw away that awful green pillow that was on the sofa."
Me: "But that was my favorite pillow to sleep on when I am on the sofa."
Anne: "I'm sorry...I didn't know."
Me: "That's fine."
Anne: "You can get it out of the garbage can if you want. I'll wash it."
Me: "... ... Did you throw it in the can with the dog poop, or the one with a couple inches of 'garbage water' in the bottom?"
Anne: "... ... I'm so sorry."

RIP, comfy pillow.

Finally....

After 7 weeks on the road we have finally returned to our home base. The majority of the time we were in Ft. Collins, Colorado for a Campus Crusade leadership training program as well as our National Staff Conference. However, we were able to see some sights along the way. I've posted some pictures below so that you can see some highlights of our travels through 11 states and 3 National Parks. We are working on readjusting to life here in the northwest and once we are settled, we will begin updating the blog regularly.

More later.....

Lake Tahoe

Colorado Springs and Garden of the Gods

Tubing with Uncle John

For a week the kids and I (Anne) were able to visit my family in Silver Lake, Michigan.

Colorado Friends

These are Alex and Allison's good friends Caitlin and Michael from Colorado. This also is the best picture I have of Alex's black eye which he got during our time in Ft. Collins.

Our Future Race Car Driver

Rocky Mountain National Park

Yellowstone National Park

More Yellowstone