Christmas Bird Count with the boys

Today, Dad, Luke and I went on the annual Rutland Christmas Bird Count around the Castleton area. Participants in our circle totalled only 5, but the leader said this was the most she'd had for it. The intermittent rain, cold and icy roads made for and interesting morning. We quit at noon, but could have continued till 3:00. We'd had our fair share of chickadees and blue jays. We kept a tally of those spotted. At one stop along route 4A we (Luke) counted approximately 270 ducks just hangin' out in the river!
Now we're defrosting, having come home to mama who'd been alone all morning unable to come with us as she's recouping from her hip surgery. She's on the mend though, (with much waiting upon her on my part, but I enjoy it). We're all excited for how her hip replacement is going to make life so much easier and comfortable for her. Thankful for the birth of our Lord, and the coming New Year!

In Loving Memory of my Grandma...

Lucille Poe Hartman

April 1, 1918 ~ November 29, 2008

For she has finally been "taken home".

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.

In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you.

I am going there to prepare a place for you.

And if I go and prepare a place for you,

I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

You know the way to the place where I am going."

The words of our Lord Jesus Christ~ John 14:1-4

I love this picture!

Check out the name carved just below my (in red kanga) right hand. It wasn't me though!

Counting down the days until Thanksgiving break!

My posts have been sparse lately, but crazy college is the story of my life right now.

Though excursions off campus are rare, I enjoyed a nice dinner out with my housemates last night. The 8 of us made the trip to Buffalo to eat at "The Cheesecake Factory."
The food was good, but was nothing compared to their specialty cheesecakes which we ordered to go and ate when we got back to Houghton. I had the raspberry white chocolate.

I'm very grateful for the blessing of my housemates. There's never a dull moment in Perkins 41. So much so that I have to pull myself away and study at the library. Trying to plug away for another week or so, then it's homeward bound for a time of Thanksgiving.

Simplicity Initiative at HC: Consumerism

PLEASE: Check out this video clip.

http://www.qideas.org/talks/default.aspx?id=5

Shown as an example for a time of refraining from the consumerism of the season.
Disclaimer: You don't have to agree with everything he says. But an awful lot of it is pretty good!

Stolen selections from my October break trip to the High Peaks of the Adirondacks

Thankful for my old school rain "slicker"

I felt like I was climbing Everest at this point.

The frost on the trees was so beautiful. Stepping stones.

at Indian Falls

The crew at the lean-to

Dee: the awesome Gillette Hall RD

Avalanche Pass

Route up Mt. Marcy

Recycling/Creation Care/Preservation

"Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without"

Praise the Lord!!!

Emily Crikelair said her first words this week after being struck by lightning nearly 4 months ago.
"Hi mom" and "Hi dad"
way to go Emily!

A Happy 24th to the Luke'ster!

(Pictured here after his "white coat" ceremony at Boston U.)

Pray that this stuffy nose isn't me getting sick like everyone else on campus....Sickness tends to become epidemic here.

I want to see as many family, friends, and alumni at this as possible! Two weeks folks! It's gonna be a weekend to remember.

Can I just say: a day packing for months away from home is one of the most stressful, anxiety provoking activities. Thank God Houghton's worth it.

For Paul and Kat: in memory of listening to the album w/ the Shaffners in a Land Cruiser on a Tanzanian highway. Kat says it's a night driving album.

The Wallflowers - The Difference

These alumni SPOT contributers will be missed.

"He is able to do immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine...."

Every summer, around mid July, this comes in the mail.

We Houghton students need to sign, confirming our agreement to the statement of community responsibilities for the coming year. This year though, a few changes have been made. It's now called the "Community Covenant" and with some revision to the statement, there are different expectations at least around the area of on campus dancing. I'm still pondering my opinion on the changes, but in general, too much change tends to make me nervous. This summer, receipt of this letter is just another reminder of the approach of my final year at dear old Houghton. I'll not be sent another of its kind.

I've been sibling deprived for over six months. Tomorrow one returns from across the seas. Lucas, Luke, Luc.

Cell phone photos of a night outdoors

Almost full moon from the tent. Trusty sleeping bag.
Missing my 3 month stay in a tent, I decided to set of my brother's Coleman in the back yard earlier this week.

The night sounds, however, the hum of motor boat engines on the lake and the roar of car engines seemed to take away from the experience.

It just wasn't the same as laying awake to hear the sounds of the African night or the rush of the nearby river.

We've got wireless...

This "take your laptop anywhere in the house and be able access the internet" is dangerous business for the procrastinator in me.

Raging bull gores runner at Spanish festival

No fooling around here...they asked for it....

"World-famous Pamplona event pits hundreds against charging animals"

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25581214/

Trivia for the day

In an attempt to obtain some kind of comments on my obviously boring blog, here's a piece of trivia.

Define "khanga/kanga."

Whoever gets it, wins, and um, has found something out about life in Africa.

(this picture has nothing to do with it, it's just a good shot of travel there)

Dawn Treader

Dad, where he's happiest.

Sigh...

Have you ever had one of those emails that you just keep putting off cause you're afraid and don't know what to say or how to say it?

Well, I just sent off one of them, but that done, I'm now breathing a sigh of relief.

It was to my XC coaches letting them know that I won't be running on the team in the fall. It was a long and labored decision, but I think that considering my senior year in school, it's probably for the best.

Solution...

to you brilliantly shutting the locked door to your friend's apartment behind you when she didn't have the key? Easy! Have the smallest person climb through the basement apt.'s 2 x 1 ft. window and hope the land lady doesn't wake up or come outside.

This must've been fun to film...

"When I look at the stars, I feel like myself....When I look at the stars, I see someone!"

Keep praying for Emily...

She is still at a level of unconsciousness, but is able to open her eyes and show some responsiveness. The doctors are running more tests on her brain. We are all praying for continued signs of improvement. They are saying she will wake up, the only question is when.
It was also said that unfortunately, as she is taken off of sedatives, they have seen that she is becoming more aware of what is going on and that she seems anxious and afraid.
That must be such a scary thing for her and I'm sure another key topic for prayer.

I personally don't know Emily, but I recognize her face from around campus and it is so wonderful that so many are lifting her and her family up in prayer. It's amazing to realize how our Lord uses this.

Updates and random reflections...

The weather has been beautiful this week, a little hot to start out with but sunshine is a wonderful thing. Unfortunately for me, I've been working in my mom's office for most of the week shut away from the outdoors. I am however, earning some much needed cash. As it stands now, I'm likely to have at least a few different part time jobs going this summer: hopefully a couple PCA jobs, gate keeping at Crystal Beach in Castleton, maybe filling in at the office, and helping dad with his onion project for the Rutland farmer's market. He's designated himself the "Onion Man."

I just returned on Tuesday from the lovely state of Maine. My grandfather built a cottage on the mid-coast back in the late 60s and we are so blessed to have it there today to visit in the summers. I've grown up spending a couple of weeks there each summer with the whole family and often had visits from cousins and friends. Times change though, and as we've all grown up, it has been quite a few years since we've all been there together. This year I spent a grand total of 4 days in South Bristol with my parents and a friend. I had to come home for working and left mom and dad up there for a week together.

Dad is on a much needed vacation for 3 weeks and he'll be blessed to also have his good friend and college roommate visiting the cottage next week. They'll be jamming on their guitars and singing Dylan songs no doubt.

I did a little bit of sailing with dad on the John's Bay, but the two days we were out the winds weren't very strong so it was relaxing but I sure do love the speed. We've never been there this early in the season and it's interesting how things are different depending on whether it's June or August. One observation was the schools of jellyfish just off shore of the rocks. I've never really seen them cluster like that and though it's kind of creepy to see them all down there, (it reminded me of a scene from the movie "Sphere") if you really look closely, you will see they are such graceful and beautiful creatures. Definitely an example of our Lord's creativity.

My brother Philip is still living in NYC and is starting to pursue his singing and songwriting "career" of late. I'm still waiting to hear his demo.

Lucas remains in Vietnam until the end of this month when he heads to France for the summer and then back to the States and Boston U. for medical school in the fall. It's been many months since I've seen my brothers' faces and since returning from Africa I've been longing for their company. Mom continues flourishing at her Town Clerk post and it is good to see her enjoying her work. I only wish she'd be relieved of the physical pain she's been dealing with.

Finally, I am here in VT for the summer and will be returning to Houghton, NY for my senior year in August. It's a scary thought to realize I will be done with my studies in a year. I think however that I am becoming ready for it. For life.

College has been wonderful and I have grown much in my time at Houghton. I have been finding however, that as much as the Christian campus atmosphere is a true blessing, I will be ready to move on from the academic corner of my life. My semester in Tanzania has left me with much to ponder and explore for the future. But to be honest I have little idea of where I will be heading after graduating. I only hope I will be spurred on to be coming to my Lord with it all in order to begin to better see what He has for me.

Well, I should get back to labelling those cabinets....

You don't scare me!!!

Prayer

Please pray for Emily Crikelair.
She just finished her freshman year at Houghton College and was struck by lightning this Tues. She's in the hospital and recovering slowly but is unconscious and further damage is unknown.

I don't think I could live much more than a week in an empty house.
The solitude is nice, but it's kind of a downer to wake up and remember there's no one downstairs to say good morning to.

Sometimes...

Sometimes I miss waking up to the sounds of the African birds
and crawling out of my tent to the new day.
Sometimes I miss the breakfast bell calling us to the kitchen
and rousing some from their sleeping bags.
Sometimes I miss the "good mornings" and the "habari za asabuhis."
Sometimes I miss the simplicity. Sometimes I miss Tanzania.

Nouveaux- "We Believe"

I came across this video on a tape we have of Christian music videos from the mid 90s. It's amazing how music and hair styles change, but I still find the song to be catchy and upbeat.

Hedgehog

I guess these folks have pet hedgehogs. random but awefully cute.

$4.07

Ridiculous

This past week dear friends and Houghton alumni, Joel and Christine Tate were here and we found ourselves discussing some of the name changes that have taken place here in resent years and since their graduation in the mid-90s.

Lets see if I can remember a few....

Formerly ~ Currently

~East Hall ~ Gillette Hall

~South Hall ~ Rothenbuhler Hall

~NAB ~ Chamberlain Center

~Info Center ~ Welcome Center

~HR (head resident) ~ just another RA

~Open Hall ~ Open Dorm

~Brookside ~ Randall

~RDA ~ARD
~Freshman ~ First Year Student

~Welcome Weekend ~Highlander Connection

Born this day...

Bob Dylan (Robert Allen Zimmerman)

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/175077/Bob-Dylan#

I'm sitting in the campus center and there was just a robin on the outside windowsill confusedly tapping away... weird.

When the mystery was revealed to Daniel

"Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever;
wisdom and power are his.
He changes times and seasons;
he sets up kings and deposes them.
He gives wisdom to the wise
and knowledge to the discerning.
He reveals deep and hidden things;
he knows what lies in darkness,
and light dwells with him.
I thank and praise you, O God of my fathers:
You have given me wisdom and power,
you have made known to me what we asked of you...."

Daniel 2: 20-23

Last one....

Today I took my last doxy (Doxycycline), the beloved (a song was adapted for it) antimalarial med that practically the whole group was on while we were over in East Africa. I needed to take the preventative for 1 month after returning in case any of that nasty virus was somewhere in my system.

Dear Daniel/Revelation,

oh, please don't be cruel to a heart that's true....

Luxury dessert

Though my Mayterm roomie and fellow Tanzanianer Bethany
and I consider ourselves East Hall girls,

we're making the other women's dorm (Lambein) our home for the time.

Tonight I went out fishing in the dory with dad... he caught a nice small-mouthed bass... I only got bites.

New on Main Street in Castleton...

Sandwich, pastry and coffee shop at the newly renovated train station...






















stop by.

Only at Houghton College....

Ray Parlett (campus security) sends out email to Houghton's community about a bear sighting near the Academy... gives helpful hints for safety.

Finally...

some sun shinning on this place... it's a beautiful day!

Michael W Smith - Place In This World

Old School Classic! Love it! He's so young in this video. Can't say I'm admiring the guitarist and drummer as much though.

Commencement speaker

This year's speaker for Houghton College's graduation is chairman of Wycliffe Bible Translators and former U.S. ambassador to Tanzania!
read more..... http://www.houghton.edu/commencement/speaker.htm

Cold spell...

This recent cold spell after it being warmer is bad news for the orchards around. Yesterday at the apple orchard in Shoreham where my father is employed the owner did samplings and only one blossom out of fifty was still alive. The cold right now has the potential to ruin an entire crop.

The group