A good friend...

A couple of years ago I was invited by a member of our church to go to a Jazz game. This was a surprising invite as the phone call literally went like this:
Sean: Hello
Lynn: Hello Sean, this is Lynn Luttrell
Sean: Hi Lynn, what can I do for you?
Lynn: I've got a problem that I think you can help me with.
Sean: ....okay...
Lynn: You see, I've secured some tickets to tomorrow nights Jazz game and I need someone to take one of those tickets off my hands
Sean: (surprised) Well I'm sure that I can help you with that problem!

Lynn showed up and took three of us to the game the next night. The coolest part was that the tickets were second row seats under the basket. I learned so much about professional basketball that night, but I also learned a lot about my friend Lynn.

My friend Lynn passed away last night after an extended battle with cancer. He has meant a lot to the members of our church as he and his wife have poured their lives into making our church a reality in the Salt Lake Valley. In fact, our church actually started meeting in their basement and he stuck with it from that moment forward.

Lynn always went out of his way to greet me with a smile and shake my hand every Sunday. He stood in my corner when times got tough, and always had something encouraging to say. He loved his wife dearly and took care of her. It was very clear to see that Lynn loved Jesus and he wanted to see him glorified in his life. While it is sad to see him go, I am glad that I got to know him, and I know that he is now free from pain and standing in amazement of his Creator.

So goodbye for now my friend, thank you for your example and everything you have done for the kingdom. Rest in the loving arms of your Creator and welcome home.

Chili cook off and a fun holiday game...

For the past two years, Rachael's parents have hosted the annual York, Patrick, Robbins chili cook off. This is a combines several birthdays of extended family and allows everyone to get involved. Each family is supposed to submit a chili which will then be voted as to which is the best for the year.
As the reigning champion of several chili cook off contests I was very confident in this year's submission: Tres Carnes (three meat) Chili. The meats were steak, chicken, and bacon, it was awesome. I'd like to say that my chili won the competition and retained the crown but sadly I lost out to another chili named Captian Brown's. I did however take second place and with it came a box of strange jelly beans.
Take a look at the list. Jelly Belly has lost its jelly bean creating mind. How do you come up with a rotten egg flavor, and what if you get them mixed up with the buttered popcorn and ship them to the wrong customer...sick.
So here is a fun holiday game for you and yours:
1.) Buy a box of Jelly Belly Bean Boozled jelly beans
2.) Open the box and commit to eat whatever jelly bean falls into your hand.
3.) Eat the bean
a. supress your gag reflex if the bean is bad
b. sigh in relief if the bean is good
4.) laugh at your family members or friends as they eat nasty jelly beans.
I personally had the joy of eating skunk spray, booger, vomit, and moldy cheese. Moldy cheese is by far the worst.
We had a lot of fun playing this one. I dare you to play. I'd be interested to see comments of which beans you end up with should you have the guts.

Copeland, Lovedrug, Lydia, and Lights in Concert

Rachael and I recently got the chance to see Copeland, Lovedrug, Lydia, and Lights in concert at the Avalon. I was already a fan of Copeland and Lovedrug and went with an open mind to the other two bands. Here are my thoughts from the concert:

Opener: Lights
We got to the show a little late so we only got to see Lights perform two songs. Her music is what I would define her music as indie pop music. One thing that I noticed about her was that the girl could flat out sing. She really gets in to the music and it is evident that she enjoys performing
Opener: Lydia
Lydia was for me one of the best surprises of the evening. Two members of the band came out, played a song and started telling us that their trailer with all their gear was totaled when their trailer disconnected from their van. They have only been able to buy a keyboard and an acoustic guitar...so that is what they used. The lead singer has a really interesting voice and they use very interesting harmonies in their songs. I have since added their albums to my collection and they are good to quite good with a full band. I would recommend them.

Opener: Lovedrug (pictured above)
By far the best band of the evening. Lovedrug not only had the most efficient sound check of the evening, which I really appreciate, but they also executed their songs with precision and quality. They performed several songs and the crowd was obviously waiting for Copeland so the lead singer became frustrated that people weren't as in to them. They performed mainly songs from their new album, The Sucker Punch Show, and their second album, Everything Starts Where It Ends. I had been excited to see them perform but was very surprised at how talented these guys really are. They shouldn't have been an opener, in fact, Copeland should have opened for them.

Headliner: Copeland
After Lovedrug finished, there was an extended setup/soundcheck by Copeland. After they completed their sound check they left the stage for about another 10 minutes...frustrating. Copeland opened with a song off their new album, but I noticed that the harmony vocals/back up vocals were mysteriously missing. there were other mics on stage and each of the band members sound checked their mics but nothing during the performance. Overall I enjoyed their performance but the highlight was when Lights came out to sing with them. They weren't as together as Lovedrug was but still put on a good show.

Tunes/Albums

When asked if I have a favorite band, I usually reply that the question is too difficult to answer as I listen to a wide variety of music. My favorite albums to listen to are the albums that you can just push play and listen to the entire album. The two albums pictured on this post are of that variety. If I am looking for something to listen to, I usually go back to one of these two bands. Copeland's vocal work and ingenious incorporation of a orchestral instruments, including a basson and dulcimer, and on several tracks lend an eerie feel. The albums ends abruptly and leaves you wanting more of the same...the way a good album should.

While I'm not a huge fan of the cover art for Lovedrug's album, the music more than makes up for the creepy cabbage patch vibe. The first thing I noticed about Lovedrug is their guitar work. Lovedrug give's its nod to some classic rock riffs but keeps it original while adding some very interesting vocal harmonies to the mix.

The best part about these two albums/bands is that they are now touring together and will be stopping in Salt Lake City. It is a rarity that two of my most listened two bands come to town, let alone together. I am very much looking forward to the show. I might even post about it.

Also listening to:
mewithoutyou
Band of Horses (thanks to Lawrence for suggesting these guys)
Ben Harper
Ben Folds
The New Frontiers

Home Alone

Rachael went to an all girls leadership weekend and so I got to spend the weekend as a bachelor. The past couple times when Rachael has had to be out of town I have not enjoyed it but this time I decided to fill my weekend full of guy stuff.

You know what I mean: No shaving, violent movie watching, video game playing, junk food eating, football watching, guy stuff. I started the weekend with watching Thursday's episodes of My Name is Earl and The Office. The Office episode was quite possibly one of the most awkward and simultaneously hilarious episodes yet. I then met up with my bros-in-law to see the movie Appaloosa...don't waste your time with this one...and then went back to Mike's house to play Xbox Ghost Recon, eat pizza, and watch football.

This morning I got up and realized that there is a reason that one person should not consume pizza, cheez-its, oreos, and coca-cola all in one evening....ugh. I headed over to rehearsal and found that our auditorium smells of citrus carpet cleaner as we just paid to have our carpets cleaned. After I opened a few doors to let the powerful smell that I am convinced will cause cancer in laboratory rats clear out, I directed both of our service rehearsals.

After rehearsal I headed to the Utes game and watched the Utes destroy the Colorado State Rams 49-16. They are now 8-0 and are in the drivers seat in the Mountain West...Go Utes! I came home and realized that I hadn't showered since Thursday night. I spent some time reading and now here I sit, blogging...and yes, I did end up taking a shower so at least I have that going for me.

Even though I have enjoyed this weekend immensly, I have found that it is always better to have Rachael around. I'm sure I'll live longer because my sugar to good food intake will be severely lessened, I'm sure that I smell better when she is around, that and I kinda like her.

I can't wait for this week at the gym to make up for all the bad eating...ugh.

our view for the weekend

I thought you might like the view from our mountain getaway...I know you're jealous!

getting older...

I should have seen it coming. The moment when I first used a "Karate Kid" reference in a talk with the youth and they had no clue what I was talking about. I should have seen it coming when I got so excited about the "Transformers" movie because it would bring me back to my childhood days of watching the "good" Saturday morning cartoons. And when I realize that when the day comes that I have children, as they grow up they will have no concept of not having cell phones, the internet, or ipods, I am really starting to feel old.

Now I realize that there will always be people that I know in different life stages, I don't debate that you probably know better and in your eyes I'm still "just a kid" but hear me out...I'm sure all of us have had this moment, or will if you give it time. The beginning of my getting old feeling comes from this actual quote stated to me this weekend: "You were born in the 70's...whoa."

Actually I am quite proud to say that I was born in the 70's, am a child of the 80's, and in essence a product of the 90's. I can remember actively taking part in fads like slap bracelets, pogs, crystal pepsi, and hypercolor clothing. I will proudly admit that I watched shows like Mr. Belvedere, Doogie Howser M.D., A.L.F., and Full House. I had a metal Tonka truck, He-Man, and G.I. Joe to keep me from being bored. I will even humbly submit that I listened to such popular music as New Kids on the Block, Vanilla Ice, and yes, even Hanson.

The funny thing is that through each of these, I have always viewed myself as not arriving yet, there was always an age that I was looking forward to. I looked forward to 13 because it meant that I was a teenager, 16 because it meant that I could drive, 21 because it meant that I was an adult in the government's eyes, and 25 because it meant cheaper car insurance and the ability to rent a car. My next landmark? 30.

As I face this next July and my departure from my twenties to my thirties I have resolved to embrace getting older. I actually quite prefer it to the alternative. I've never looked good wearing girls clothing which seems to be the trend amongst skinny young men, I have never been able to grow my hair longer than a few inches before it starts bothering me, and I don't see what is so special about American Idol, even if last year's finalist was from Utah. I listen to the music that I like, drive what I want to drive and have the ability to select where I go on vacation. My favorite part of getting older? I get to laugh and be glad that I don't have to do things like high school, experience adolescence, or ask my parents for enough money for Taco Bell again. Besides...there is a glorious sophistication that comes from getting older.

As I have more and more experience at this thing called life, I'm feeling old, but maybe that isn't such a bad thing after all.

Go Utes!

I realize this post is a little after the fact but I wanted to show you one of the greatest sights ever for a Utes fan.

The Utes did about everything they could to lose that game but still came out on top by two points...Go Utes!

My "last lap"

With the Olympics ending in Beijing, I can finally get some sleep and take some time to update my blog. Maybe I can incorporate an "olympic" feel in my next entry...

It is that time of year when the days get shorter and school gets back into session. When I was in Youth ministry I found it always to be a bittersweet time as I had to say goodbye to students who were in my group for five years and say hello to a whole new batch of 7th graders. Don't get me wrong...7th graders are great...really...I mean they are really cool...in their cute, 7th grader way. Anyway, my transition out of youth ministry is almost complete. We have 7 people in our church who have felt God's call on their life to be in the ministry. We are giving these 7 people the chance that I had 8 years ago. Hopefully a few of them will be on staff with us a few years from now.

Rachael and I are in completely different places in life and it feels as if we have traded places. If things were back to normal, she would be in school and I would be at work. But today I find myself waiting for my next class to begin while Rachael is hard at work. Rachael is loving her job but day after day I am finding that I understand her less and less as she is learning a new medical language complete with crazy abbreviations. Something that I'm sure Jake has been privy to since Erin started med school. Her patients, though I don't know names because of patient confidentiality, seem to be enjoying working with her and it has been amazing seeing how charged up she gets because she is doing what she loves!

It is a little weird but as the title of this entry states...this is my last lap. That's right, I will graduate from the University of Utah in the spring. I have 13 credits this semester and so far my classes don't seem like they will be too much of a stretch. That could mean that the classes are easy or that I am actually starting to grasp the concepts that these professors are teaching. I'm banking on the easy factor.

Worship ministry is going good. I am finding that it is a much more "in the spotlight" position than youth ministry. It is easy to celebrate victories but for everything that you do right there are several people who don't like the volume, the style, the look, or the overall feel of worship. I am of the school of thought that worship is not about us at all, but that is a difficult message to get across sometimes. I have enjoyed introducing new songs to our congregation...our band recently learned the song "The Stand" by Hillsong. If you haven't heard it, check it out. I have a lot of support from our Sr. Pastor Kevin and our other Associate Pastor Robert. We also have a team called the church leadership team or CLT. They have provided a lot of support for the changes we have been making across the board.

All in all, it has been one crazy summer and in a weird way, I am looking forward to the routine of a school semester and the fall. Go Utes!

Currently listening to: Myriad, Muse, Edison Glass, The New Frontiers, Radiohead, and lots of Ben Harper.

Currently watching: Nothing...didn't you read above?...school is back in session!

Titles change but the mission stays the same...

If you have been to our church in the past year you would have noticed that I have been leading worship every Sunday. This came about during a huge transition time in our congregation in which our senior pastor (Rodger) retired and our associate pastor (Gregg) in charge of worship was called to another church.

While Gregg was here, anytime he took vacation I would fill in for him. When he left that role switched from filling in to a full time gig. I have been leading worship for a year now and am loving it while at the same time am terrified that I am insufficiently qualified for such a position. All the while God kept confirming that I was in the right place...right where He wanted me.

To make a long story short, when our new pastor Kevin arrived he asked me where my ministry passions were. My answer to him was "If you took youth away I would be sad, if you took worship away, it would kill me."

I have since take a step of faith into a completely new area of ministry. That means that I am transitioning out of full time youth ministry and will be working for the Kingdom in the area of worship. I will still be able to see my students and encourage them in their walk with Christ but the relationship changes a bit. It truly was one of the most difficult things I have ever had to do when I told my students that I was no longer going to be their youth pastor.

So here I am. In the middle of yet another transition on this crazy ride called life. All I know is that I want to be where God is moving me. I may not know what is in store for me in this area of ministry but I know who is leading me and that makes all the difference.

They never told me it would be easy...only that it would be worth it.

Sean

Moab...our new favorite place

Rachael and I have been married for 4 years as of June 26th. When we looked back at those four years we realized that we had not been on a vacation by ourselves since our honeymoon. This year we decided to change all of that and headed down to Moab. We got to spend two days and nights hiking in Arches National Park. We also got hooked up with a free hummer tour from some friends in our church family. The whole trip was amazing! You can bet that we will be taking the opportunity to get out a little more often now. Check out the photos! I even included some pictures of our dogs who recently got back from the groomer.

World Changin - Back in SLC!

In 2001 I went on my first World Changers project in Casper, Wyoming. I have since been to Puerto Rico, back to Casper, Clovis California, and Sioux City Iowa on projects. Each of those years I served either as a crew encourager or a crew chief working on a house. Last year after working for a year and half to bring it here, World Changers came to Salt Lake City and I served as the Associational Coordinator. The project was amazing! In fact if you check last July's posts you can read about it there. This year World Changers was back in SLC and I was once again involved, this time as Project Coordinator. This year was awesome as well. Here are some first blush numbers from the week:

Participating churches: 11
Number of Crews: 21
Completed Projects: 30
Gospel Presentations: 85
Salvations: 8

Needless to say it has been a very busy couple of weeks for Rachael and I as we have been working to make this project happen. It worked out for us that the project happened during one of Rachael's scheduled off weeks so she could come and keep me from going crazy!

The worst injury of the week wasn't someone who fell of the roof, someone who fell off a ladder, or who impaled himself/herself with a nail gun. All things one would expect when dealing with teenaged construction volunteers. The title of worst injury goes to yours truly for spraining my ankle while setting up a worship service. While it sucked to sprain my ankle a very interesting story comes out of it.

I was given a master key to the school we used and could use that key to open any door of my choosing (ahh the power). I was in the coaches locker room and happened to check a closet and saw some crutches in there. I thought to myself, "It will be good to know where these crutches are if someone needs them." I then sprain my ankle and our first aid coordinator tells me that he is going to get some crutches for me. I tell him of my discovery earlier in the week and give him the key. After getting the crutches he comes back into the room and says, "How much do you wanna bet that we don't have to adjust these at all?" I stood up and checked the crutches and sure enough, they were perfect. God sure knows what he is doing!

There are a lot more stories from the project but I would simply bore you with them, so instead I'll just post a lot of pictures. I'll also start working on another post with some pictures of our trip to Moab. Watch out now!

Some of our summer staff...Randy and Quinton. We also had Danielle, Anna, and Rachel



My new friend Okesene (O2 for short)


Some shots of work being done...and the whole group:


I've got a lot more where that came from but blogger is being weird. I'll check back and post again later.

Sean
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Even busier

Weddings, youth trips, world changers, graduations, church life, and life in general have all made this spring/summer a very busy one for Rachael and I.

Rachael begins work next week and is very excited about getting to use the skills that she has gained over the last three years to help people live better lives after tragic accidents. I am looking forward to hearing stories of recovery as they always make for good sermon illustrations.

I am busy with making this year's world changer project in SLC a reality. Keep praying for this one as we are currently a month out. I am working very hard to stay ahead of the game on this one.


Movies/TV shows watched:
Iron Man - see it! explosions galore!
Indiana Jones - good but it was my least favorite of all the Indy movies as it took a weird turn.
Juno - Loved it...a very honest look at teenage pregnancy but quite funny in the process. Why it didn't win best picture is beyond me.
Prince Caspian - Very good but the music at the end was very distracting
30 Rock - so funny
The Office - Will Jim propose?


Just read:
Unchristian - very good book about how my generation looks at Christianity
Angels & Demons - Dan Brown distorts images to tell an interesting story about science vs. religion
Do Hard Things - currently reading this one...I'll keep you posted.

Listening to:
Muse, Lovedrug, Iron and Wine, Sufjan Stevens, David Crowder, RHCP, Smashing Pumpkins, Lupe Fiasco, Wilco, and Copeland

If you are interested in seeing how the World Changers project is going between July 5-12, click here for updates.

Our Grad!

Here is a picture of Rachael in her master's graduate garb as promised.

CONGRATS RACHAEL!!!!

It's finally here

If you have read any of the posts for the past three years you know that Rachael has been working toward her Masters degree in Occupational Therapy.

Three years of hard work, studying, and internships have brought us to graduation day. Rachael has done an amazing job and I am so proud of her. She is very excited to see this chapter of her life come to a close and begin working.

Last night we went to her "pinning" ceremony. This is a time where all the students can thank their professors for giving them stress and anxiety problems over the past three years and the professors can tell the students how proud they are of the ones who made it through the program. The ceremony/dinner was held in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building downtown and the phrase "Oh balls" was stated over the microphone. The person who said it then tried to explain the phrase by saying it meant something like "oh shoot" or "Oh nuts". Awesome. Just awesome.

I'll post pictures of the graduate after the ceremony.

A thought

So this post may make sense to you, or not. I just decided that I needed to pose a question and use this blog as an opportunity to start a discussion.

At our church we have been spending the last few weeks in the book of Colossians and moving forward in the transition that was started when Rodger left. It is the word transition that got me thinking. Shouldn't we as Christians always be in some form of transition? Is God ever happy to see us just stay the same?

This is played out several times by the Israelites as they stated time and time again that they should have been content to stay in Egypt or in the wilderness. This usually came after something happening that they didn't expect.

To me staying the same could be viewed as a refusal to grow and to be challenged. It would be like setting a goal to climb mt everest. When you reached the first camp and looked out over the amazing view you decide that you were content where you are and that it couldn't get any better than this. Life is a journey and God is continually showing us that there is so much more ahead of us. If the view is amazing where we are at now, imagine what it looks like to fulfill the dream that was began in you.

As this process continues I have resolved to no longer look at this as a transition but to be fully consumed by God's will for our church as the body of Christ. Whether that be administration, youth trips, planning worship services, or simply being still and knowing that this whole thing is in God's hands.

Our new pastor uses this phrase quite frequently: "You are more evil than you could possibly know, but you are more loved and accepted then you could possibly understand." - such a simple phrase but with it comes amazing freedom. We are wretched, sinful, horrible people, but despite that God offers grace to us so freely and says "get up and try again, I'll be here to catch you when you fall again."

Thoughts?

crashed!

Clowns are creepy...

I'll have a Patrick family update here in a minute but first a thought...Have you ever thought about how we as a society have become addicted to technology? I came to that harsh reality when a spike in power took out my desktop's hard drive. The good news is that I will be getting a new computer and the drive is alive enough to pull the majority of my files, including 27GB of music...the bad news is that the laptop I am working on now is currently trying to figure out if it wants to work or not....bummer.

Another bit of good news is that I will be moving into the world of apple computers with my very own iMac. I am very excited. Mark B tried for a long time to convince me of Apple's coolness and I just wouldn't listen. Okay Mark, you win, Mac is cooler.

On to the update...

Rachael was offered a job at the new Intermountain medical center! She will graduate on May 1st and will start her new job on June 9th. That means that we will get a month to hang out and possibly take a vacation.

I am working on World Changers in SLC this summer again. Currently we have 246 people coming and will be working on about 25 to 30 homes in the valley. Please pray for the details of this project and that things go well as I will be in charge of the whole thing this year. I also have about three more weeks of class until the semester is over so there is a lot of projects, papers, and final exams left. I am still very much on track to graduate next spring...full steam ahead.

Things at the church have been progressing well. Our new pastor Kevin is a cool guy who just wants to see Jesus glorified in everything that we do. He has challenged us to pick up and start moving forward which the church has been ready and willing to do so far. Keep praying for us as we will no doubt be challenging some deep rooted traditions that are antiquated and in need of change. We're having fun in the process which is a very good thing.

Currently listening to:

Fun stuff - Iron and Wine, Muse, Lovedrug, Copeland, and Sufjan Stevens.

Worship - David Crowder, Starfield, Leeland, Fee, and Chris Tomlin.

Until next time!

about freakin time...

to our devoted readers...all two of you, it has been a long while since I updated this blog with any sort of relevant information and for that I am sorry. I plan to remedy the problem with some photos and a Patrick family update in the paragraphs to follow.

Can you tell that I have been in college courses yet? I am sick of framing arguments and writing papers. I am just ready for a little bit of a break. Thankfully spring break is next week, the only problem is that it is also easter week and that is quite possibly one of the busiest weeks for those in pastoral ministry at a church. Oh well, you take the good with the bad huh?

Rachael is loving her internship at IHC. They liked her so much that they are working to create an opening for her in the midst of a hiring freeze. She comes home with great stories of occupational therapy triumph and sad stories of how lives are forever changed by simple accidents. Rachael only has 3 weeks left and then will be studying for a big test (I can't remember the name of it right now). In the meantime she is starting to look at job opportunities. She graduates with her Masters degree on May 1. I am so proud of her!

School is going well for me. I will have two more semesters after this one and will graduate from the U. I'm very excited but I have to take it one day at a time.

Things at the church are gaining steam. Kevin, our new pastor, has really challenged our thinking and is taking us forward. His favorite phrase over the last few weeks is "That will change." It is an exciting time for us as we are allowed to dream again. I have been leading worship and keeping up with the youth group. All things there are going well.

Speaking of our youth group, we recently teamed up with five other churches for World Vision's 30 Hour Famine. Our students raised over $30,000 to combat poverty and world hunger. It was an amazing event and was even better because I got to spend it with my youth ministry friends from other churches.

I'll close with a few random photos that I pulled from my cell phone camera. I hope you enjoy them. I will try to update this blog a little more frequently for the two of you that read it from now on.

A fine example of the parking situation at the University of Utah. I had to climb in my passenger door to get in.

Look closely at this car in front of my truck...yes friends that is a duct tape convertible!

Did I mention that I am majoring in Pirating at the U?

Until next time...

Super Bowl Ads

This year's super bowl game was amazing. That is good considering the commercials were disappointing. The ads that surprised me the most were the somewhat racial salesgenie.com ads and the lack of coke and pepsi commercials. In my humble opinion Bud Light took the award when they let Will Ferrell do what he does best...make an absolute idiot of himself.

Here is the ad, and remember: A ton of sweat goes into each Bud Light.



Here is another bud light ad that makes me laugh every time...

A few photos to share...

A shot taken on our snowmobile adventure after Christmas

Robert Marshall's trademark prescription/multi colored reading glasses look

A Utah way to make sure the small shopping cart doesn't roll away

SNOW!

No posts for a few weeks means that school is back in session. Rachael is loving her final internship and is hoping that a job position opens up where she is at. We are both excited for her to finish her Masters and get involved in what she really wants to do.

I'm currently sitting in the Marriott Library at the U working on some homework. When I walked in about an hour ago it was sunny and a little windy. I just happened to glance out the window an hour later and we had been hit with yet another winter storm. Last Monday we had about a foot of snow in our front yard. I love the snow and living in the mountains, I would just like a little bit of sunshine between storms and Utah inversion.

Another funny thing about the snow is that our new pastor Kevin Lund and his wife Mary drove into town last night to go house hunting. Talk about getting immersed in Utah winter weather right away. Here is hoping that they aren't having to drive in it.

Here are a couple pictures I took while walking from the Library to my next class in the Social Work building

Even with snow blowing sideways...this dude still thinks that shorts and a t-shirt is a good choice

Here is a shot looking at the Marriott Library. 40mph sideways snow makes it real fun to walk around campus.

Yet another new year...

Another new year means a delayed update in the Patrick blog. I hope that all of you had a Merry Christmas and a spectacular New Year.

The reason for the picture is that we have had a lot of our married friends tell us recently that they are pregnant. This has caused several questions as to when Rachael and I will begin trying for a baby. The answer to the question is: Not yet. Should it happen, it wouldn't be a horrible thing and we would both be excited about it but right now we're still going to wait. If you have been married for any period of time you know the questions that are most frequently asked: How's married life?...and...When are you guys planning to have a baby?...

We had a very relaxing break but it will be good to get back into class and a weekly routine that isn't full of parties with all sorts of baked goods and treats that make you feel instantly guilty after eating them.

We spent Christmas Eve with my Dad and Christmas Day at the Robbinses house. We had planned to drive to California to visit my Mom and Doug for a few days but the weather scared us away. Now that they are in Cali it is a lot easier for us to get out there to see them. We'll probably be headed that way over spring break.

Things at the church are going great. We are getting geared up for our new pastor to start in February and in the meantime Robert Marshall has been challenging us and encouraging us in a huge way. It will be sad when he is no longer preaching every week but I asked he and his wife Donna to mentor Rachael and I and they agreed. We'll still be seeing a lot of them and their family which is all right with me.

So kind of a boring post but hopefully this snowball fight video that I made on jibjab.com makes you laugh a little bit. Until next time...

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