New Post....

Ok, I guess I'll put something new here, but it's not going to be substantial....
Everything is going great with Work (at Marsh still) and at School (ivyTech). I was sick earlier this week so I missed working Monday-Wednesday, but I'm able to work again thankfully! Praise God that based on the test results, i do not have Hepatitis A!
If you wanna know more...Read my xanga...

TTYL

ECHO JOURNALS!

Alrighty, My journals are all now posted, i warn you it will take you a while to read them all! there's about 4,000 words! So you might space them out - dont read them all at once!

Hope you enjoy reading!

Saturday June 18, 2005 (Drive from Indy to Selma)

Kevin and I got up at about 6 a.m., pulled together the last minute details and packed everything into the car. Mom and Dad took us down to the Southside RP church where we finally arrived at about 7:20 a.m. After a quick challenge from Pastor Johnston and Mr. Hanson we got a group picture and loaded into the van and truck. We pulled out of the parking lot at about 7:45 with me driving the truck (and trailer) and Heather Baumgardner driving the 12-passenger van. Driving the truck took a little of adjusting because there’s a dead spot in the steering, but after 3 or more hours, I had pretty much got it figured out. J We drove for a good long while, probably around 3 hours before we stopped somewhere in Kentucky past Louisville for a bathroom break. After about 15 minutes we were back on the road and this time I rode in the van. Following another 2 hours or so we had another quick break and were back on the road. Again I rode in the van until we stopped for lunch at about 12:45. We stopped at the welcome center to Tennessee and got out the meat, peanut butter, and jelly for sandwiches; chips and water which constituted our lunch. After about 30 minutes we were back on the road again with Mr. Hanson driving the truck again and I rode in the van once again. At about 3 after we got gas, I got in the driver’s seat of the truck again and drove until just after 6pm when we stopped in Selma, AL at the wal-mart to eat dinner (again sandwiches like at lunch). After filling up with gas, we drove to the church which was only about 15 minutes away. We got to the church at about 7:45 and met Pastor Joseph and also Ray and Alice Joseph who were here visiting. The group played a couple games of “zoo” and “I never” before we started cycling people through the shower (those that wanted one). Lights went out at about 10pm, and at last I’m able to sleep! Boy am I tired (it’s kinda hard to sleep in the vehicles with everyone talking)!

Sabbath June 19, 2005 (At Selma RP Church)

Morning Service

Isaiah 65-66:2 “The society that could be” Pastor Ralph Joseph

Journal

After about 10 hours of sleep I got up at just before 8 a.m. I rolled up my sleeping stuff and packed up my tub then went and ate breakfast. We had cereal and Danish rolls plus OJ and bananas. After breakfast was all cleaned up, we had a time to spend with God and reading the Scripture. I also read some from the book “His way to Pray” by Wayne Spear which I have been reading for a while. Finally about 9:20 we went upstairs to be ready for Sabbath school which started at 9:30. the topic was the story of Gideon. Following a brief fellowship time we started the worship service from Isaiah. Then to the pitchin lunch GREAT food! After a couple hours we took a lovely tour through some of the important areas of the movement of the 60’s. we got back about 7 then had dinner. After many took showers, lights went out at 9.

Monday June 20, 2005

We got up at 3:45 a.m. and were packed up and on the road at 4:30 a.m. Mr. Hanson drove the truck for the first 3 hours and then we stopped in the first rest stop area in Florida for breakfast. I then drove from just before 8 until roughly 11:30. We got gas and then drove for about 30 minutes more before stopping for lunch. We ate most of the leftovers from the pitch-in at church yesterday. After less than 30 minutes, we were back on the road and then Jill drove the rest of the way. We stopped once for a bathroom break and hit the road again. At about 5:30 we got to the church we would stay at. Then we ate dinner (sandwiches again) and then had a bit of time then had devotions and bed at 9pm. Total driving time was about 13 hours counting the breaks and lunch, but we were all definitely glad to finally be there! I made a quick call home and let them know we had arrived.

Tuesday June 21, 2005

Journal

We were going to get up at about 5:45 am, however Mr. Hanson’s alarm clock did not go off. We actually got up at about 6:30 or 7. We rolled up our sleeping bags and moved them to another room; packed up our tubs and loaded them into the trailer; and got into either the van or the truck. We drove to ECHO and didn’t have much time to do our QT, but we then had breakfast. Courtney one of the interns shared about friendship and their different roles. We then sang a couple Psalms then Danny took our group on a very detailed tour of the whole place before dividing us up for our different jobs. (can’t remember what I did in the morning, but I only worked on it for just over an hour because the tour lasted till about 11 then lunch was at 12 or 12:15 depending when we stop) In the afternoon I worked with Jill and some ECHO people installing 20 solar panels on the top of a lean-to that was built. We did actually get the whole project done (even though we did work until about 6 or 6:30), to the surprise of the people we were working with. Many of the rest of the group was working on the trenching project and amazingly got it almost all dug! We had our sandwiches for dinner after showering and got to the church about 8:30 or so where Mr. Hanson did a short devo before lights out.

Sharing – Courtney (Intern)

Team unity etc…

We’re the “b” team (I got your back; we’re the body….etc)

Eph 4:16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

Ecc 4:9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil.

Ecc 4:10 For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!

1Sa 14:7 And his armorbearer said unto him, Do all that is in thy heart: turn thee, behold, I am with thee according to thy heart.

Whatever you decide, I’m behind you

1Sa 20:41 And as soon as the boy had gone, David rose from beside the stone heap and fell on his face to the ground and bowed three times. And they kissed one another and wept with one another, David weeping the most. 1Sa 20:42 Then Jonathan said to David, "Go in peace, because we have sworn both of us in the name of the LORD, saying, 'The LORD shall be between me and you, and between my offspring and your offspring, forever.'" And he rose and departed, and Jonathan went into the city.

An

5 roles as part of a team

Encourager - a friend Stacey; how can you encourage?

Coach - Uri “the Yiz,” Spiritual helper; how can you coach the teammates?

Prayer warrior “little angel” - Crystal knowing that prayer is the most important

“Bouncer” – Rosie; give suggestions to and get feedback from on any topic and they will give great advice

Carrier – Tiffany someone to help carry the burden, give the benefit of the doubt, support decisions no matter what

As applies to me:

Which of these do I show to others?

Who in my life demonstrates these to me? Who are the friends in my life who show each of these?

Devotions @ 9 pm – Mr. Hanson

Theme of “wholeheartedness”

Philemon

In the first 3 verses – we see Paul writing to his “sidekick, sister, and fellow soldier.” Paul was involved with and cared for people.

Why is caring for people so important in being wholehearted to God? God cares for people, who can I help build up? You can’t be wholehearted for God without being involved with other people. Think about other people first.

Wednesday June 22, 2005

Journal

Morning trenching (lots done!), afternoon weeding arboretum then “recycling” or composting dead plants from the herb “pre-sale” area.

Devotions @ 7:30 am – Mr. Hanson

Psalm 101 is the theme song (as of now)

Phm 1:3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Phm 1:25 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

In these 2 verses one word implies the act of wholeheartedness – LORD. This is acknowledging God is the master and I am the servant. My job is to satisfy the master. What does this mean? My first thought in the morning should be – “what do you want me to do today Lord”? Elder Ken Thompson is a great example of this – serving others before himself, looking out for others first.

Sharing - Rachel (Staff)

Share the Gospel in everything you do, you don’t know who is around you that isn’t a believer.

Thursday June 23, 2005

Journal

This morning I worked with Jill cutting and putting vetiver grass in the loft of the old shed. I cut tons of the grass with the gas hedge trimmer while wearing one of Rohda’s long sleeve shirts, but my legs got really cut up, oh well. Jill and I gathered and loaded the cut grass onto the trailer on the golf cart then took it to the “tool depot” area and put the grass in the loft so it could get dry and then be used in a thatching project. Once we finished cutting the amount of grass that was needed, we then then went with Courtney to get some supplies for the rabbit cage project then weeded some trees on the mountain. Then we had a delicious version of shepherds pie and some really good fruit-yoghurt-pie-stuff (Heather really can cook some good food!). After lunch, I worked on the massive trenching job mostly working with Jeff and Kevin gluing pipes together, and then burying them, which required digging out under the pipes in some areas and once the pipes were in the trench, they had to be held down and then have sand (dirt) put on top of them. There were a couple pipes that we really had to bend to make them fit in the trench due to the curves, but they all went in. We worked late until about 6:15 then cleaned tools and showered. After showers we packed up and then rode to Burger King after a vote of where to go. We ate dinner on 4 of the 5 $$ that Mr. Hanson gave us, saving the last dollar for the next meal, then packed everyone into the van except for Mr. and Jill Hanson. When we got to the church, we had 40 minutes till lights out at 9:40. I got ready for bed and of course that included some aloe, but not too much. Then to bed we went.

Devotions – Mr. Hanson 7:30 am

Philemon and Psalm 101

Onesimus was: wholehearted, half hearted, no hearted to his master. He rand from his master, met Paul and became a believer, and Paul sent him back. Not wholehearted = wholehearted (or even part hearted) for something else. Not wholehearted to God we will find all kinds of excuses to skip QT, wander in daily walk etc… Also we will not talk to as many people about Christ and His work.

Friday June 24, 2005

Journal

In the morning Kevin and I worked on a whole bunch of different stuff. We started the day by moving about a ton and a half of concrete from the trailer to the back of the red truck. We also fixed a bunch of holes in the tires on a golf cart (4 in one tire, 3 in another). Then we went and finished the thatching project on the rabbit hutch. We went to the new shop to find a cap for the rabbit hutch but didn’t find anything so we worked on some other things such as airing the trailer tires and washing off the concrete at the back of the shop. After lunch I can’t remember what I did. After work went to Ft. Meyers Beach and had a lot of fun, including racing crabs, but it started raining really hard so we got totally soaked and finally made it back to the cars and left. When we got back to the church we had a little bit of time but we went to bed shortly afterwards.

Devotions – Mr. Hanson, 7 a.m.

Philemon

Especially verse 1, also Ecclesiastes 4:9-10; it is good to have someone else to hold you up and to lift you up.

2 guys (David Hanson and James Faris) plan to go to college in junior high, they studied with their door open, had food there and had quite a ministry. They held each other up in their work. Because of them helping each other, their ministry was multiplied.

Follow their example and have people in your life holding you up, and other people to hold up.

Saturday June 25, 2005

We worked from about 9-12 and didn’t get up till about 7. we had our QT and breakfast and then we divided up for our jobs. I worked on a pile of dirt and rocks, pulling out the rocks to be used on the mountain terracing project. I can’t believe how tired my muscles and my body in general is, but we got a ton of rocks out and then we decided to break for lunch. We had leftovers and then after just a little bit we went and played soccer with Courtney and Craig (intern and newest intern), 2 Hatians, and Eric an ELSABO student. After the great game of soccer was over, we went and showered. A small group went to the beach to try to find Liz Neel’s glasses that she lost last night at the beach. The others went to the shell factory to get Brandon a hat and then everyone met at the mall. We ate dinner and I had chick-fil-a but we didn’t have too much time after that but Kevin and I found some really cute animal pillows that we bought. Then we left the mall and came back to the church, had a bit of free time, practiced our Psalms that we’ll sing tomorrow in church, and went to bed.

Sabbath June 26, 2005

Morning Service – Ephesians 2 (esp. verse 18) – “Approaching the Triune God”

Many religions have a god but they aren’t triune in nature. True religion begins and ends with Christ.

To approach the Triune God:

1. Through Christ

2. In the Spirit

3. To the Father

Summary

One God exists in three persons.

We pray knowing He hears; live each day knowing He cares.

A Christian: One who lives by faith on God.

Evening Service – Genesis 37 – “The firstborn of God’s family”

Journal

Up at about 7:15, dressed and put away our sleeping bags into the van, and had breakfast. We then did our QT and then had about an hour to wait before the beginning of the morning service at 10:30. we had a good sermon on the trinity and then had a lunch provided by the church starting at 12. As always the food was very good and I enjoyed the fellowship with the people there. We stayed at the church after helping clean up and spent the afternoon playing duck duck goose, I never, and other games. Then we had dinner and got ready for the evening service starting at 6. We sang 2 Psalms in the middle and after the evening service we were invited over to the Bleckstrand’s house and were there till about 9:30 playing Bible schrades, eating tacos and ice cream, fellowshipping and Mr. Beckstrand gave a little talk or challenge from Prov 3:5-6 and Ps 119:105. He gave 3 questions we all will have to answer in the next 10 years (the decade of decision - ~15-~25) 1 who will we serve, 2 who will be our mate (if any), 3 what will be our mission. We then went back to the church and went to bed.

Monday June 27, 2005

Journal

Up at normal time, QT and Breakfast then participated in the weekly Monday morning staff/volunteer/intern meeting. The singing was really good. Then we divided up for Jobs I worked on the mountain taking out the logs and putting in rocks all day long. Lunch was really good and we presented Courtney with the signed soccer ball and she signed many of our books because she would be leaving Tuesday at about 7 am. When Mr. Hanson and I finished, all the logs were cut up and moved away from the mountain so we could get on to working on the rock wall for the terracing project. After work we showered and got ready to go, then went to Dr. Ju’s house and swam and ate there, leaving at about 9:30 but not many really wanted to go… back to the church about 10 and lights out at 10:15.

Devotions – Mr. Hanson – Philemon

“Love” appears in about 6 verses. We will focus on verse 9 – “Phm 1:9 yet for love's sake I prefer to appeal to you…”

We do some things out of love – cleaning our room because we want to, calling home more than once because we miss them etc…

Rom 5:7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person--though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—

Rom 5:8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Some do QT for only 5 minutes because that is what they have to do, others take time to reflect on their QT during the day and might even have 2 QT in a day just to have that much more time in God’s Word.

Love for God is a requirement for the person to exceed the rules. And by doing that makes them much more valuable to those they are serving.

Tuesday June 28, 2005

Journal

We got up at the normal time of about 6 and loaded into the van and got to ECHO. After our QT, Breakfast, and devotions we divided up for jobs and went to work. I worked with Mr. Hanson, Danny and Jeff and several others throughout the day on the mountain. We moved the wall out by about 2-3 feet and re-dug the trench. Jeff moved the rocks from the old trench to the new trench with the loader, otherwise I don’t think they would have moved.

Devotions – Mr. Hanson

Psalms 101, 9A, Philemon

Wholeheartedness – what is a synonym? Sincerity is one example. In the Roman times, it is a Latin word (sin and sere) meaning without wax. The pottery makers sometimes would fill in cracks on cracked pottery to make it look perfect. If it was perfect, the maker would write “sincere” on the bottom – meaning it was perfect.

Christ paid all our debt for sin, this book is an example of this (Paul paying for what Onesimus owed to Philemon).

God works in people and what he does is to make us valuable to others and to Himself.

Sharing – Stitch (intern)

Ecclesiastes.

Ecc 2:24 There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, Ecc 3:22 So I saw that there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his work, for that is his lot. Who can bring him to see what will be after him? Ecc 5:18 Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his lot. Ecc 12:13 The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.

Find enjoyment in whatever you are doing. Work with a joyful heart and enjoy God, remember him in everything, for that is where you’ll find your joy.

Wednesday June 29, 2005

Journal

We got up like normal and got to ECHO and had our QTs. Several of the girls got up early and went to ECHO ahead of time and made some eggs and potatoes for us! Such a good breakfast for our last day! We divided up into a couple groups, I went to the mountain to help Jeff and Danny moving rocks and making the wall. We finished the first wall (as far as we’re going with it) and after lunch started on the second terrace! Lunch was delayed slightly because we went to cover up the fresh mortar and move the concrete so it wouldn’t get wet. The food was great (as always) and we moved back to work. This being the last night we were here, nobody really wanted to leave, it was hard. Danny even gave us a bunch of Lychees for the road! I love the experience at ECHO so much, God uses it in my life every time I’m there and this time is no exception.

Sharing – Lindsay

Poem – “grocery list”

Take notice of the little things, it will probably have a ripple effect. Our 2 weeks here have HUGE ripple effects. Think about the little things that you could do today to show others God’s love. Noticing or doing the little things can make a day much better for people.

Thursday June 30, 2005

Journal

We got up at 3:45 and were on the road by 4:30. We drove till 7:30am when we stopped for gas, but didn’t get out. Then we drove for a bunch more and finally got to Atlanta around 3 in the afternoon. We stayed at a church and then went out for dinner! Lights went out at 7:30pm because we would be getting up really early the next day.

Notes of reflection of the trip

How have I changed?

How have I grown closer to God?

How did the things I did effect others?

Has my focus changed?

Am I really wholehearted?

What do I really need to change at home?

I am being sent back to my home after a time away (Philemon 11-12), how will I implement and apply the things I have learned from Philemon and Psalm 101 into my life?

Friday July 1, 2005

Up at 1230, on the road at 1250, I slept on the floor in the van till about 5 (4 hours of sleep) and then everyone was talking. We stopped for gas and breakfast just before 7 and I drove from then till 10:20 (9:20 indiana time) when we arrived back in INDY. We got to the SS church a lot earlier than expected so mom wasn’t able to come right away. Once she picked us up we came home and unpacked and checked email and cleaned that up too…..

Been a while

Ok, so I told everyone i'm not using Blogger as my primary site anymore, and now it's been like 1.5 months since i've put anything on here at all! Oh well, if you wanna keep up with my occasional post, read my xanga at: http://www.xanga.com/home.aspx?user=bearer_of_Christ otherwise you will be left in the dark. :-)

Well if you want to see the pictures from my recent trip to ECHO, go here: http://gallery.futuredesigns.org/index.php?album=brian%2FECHO_2005%2F and you can see my pictures along with Stacey's and Kevin's! Be warned, there are almost 400 pictures in total.
I may post some of the best ones on here so you can easily see them, but that wont happen right now.

Another piece of useless trivia, it's been over a year since i started my Blog here! It's gone by pretty fast!

Anyway, TTYL

And another one

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One Closer pic

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Heres one picture of the ring that Kevin made for me on Tuesday morning. THANKS Kevin!!

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And a close up...

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Its a bit ago, but heres a Pic of the roses we got for mom for Mother's day.

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Remember the Iris pictures i posted a while back....well these are the other kind...again if you want a few, let me know, they're free!

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This is just the flowers that i got to plant: (going clockwise starting at the bottom) Gerbera Daisy, Lobelia, Salvia, Marigolds.

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Here's a closeup of the Gerbera Daisy

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Here's all the stuff i got today to plant! Tomatoes, Green Peppers and some flowers.

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Evening service notes; Pastor Johnston

Matthew 28:16-20, 2 Corinthians 13:11-14

“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ….be with you all. Amen.”

There’s so much in these verses, we can’t really even begin to scratch the surface of the meaning of it

Verse 11 – the first big idea in this passage - The benediction shows up all through the whole New Testament and is a thing that was always an important part of the worship of God.

Even Moses was commanded to issue benedictions

At the conclusion of a letter to the church in the NT there’s always a blessing.

Verse 14 – the second big idea in this text – the Trinity.

The OT constantly insists that there is only one God. But in the NT there’s 3 distinct entities that are specifically named or shown to us.

Perhaps the most graphic example of this happening is in the Gospel of John.

John 14 is probably the best example of Jesus explaining the coming of the Holy Spirit.

How do we explain that there is only one God but in 3 persons?

The thought of the Trinity is perhaps the most difficult thing a human mind has to try to comprehend

There are 3 people that are co-existent, but only 1 God.

In the Works of Jesus and the reality in the New Testament is summed up in the existence of, and the attempt to understand, the Trinity

Verse 14 - The third big idea – The grace of God

Grace: we must be saved by grace, live by grace, labor by grace

The human heart wants, yearns, tries…to come up with a good reason for why God would save each of us….beyond the grace of God, but that’s the only way of salvation.

Grace is unmerited – there’s nothing I can do to earn it.

Ponder the grace of God in calling me to faith in Jesus Christ

But didn’t I do something in my childhood that makes me eligible to receive the salvation of Jesus?

No, in each of us it was His grace, and only that.

2 Cor 6:1 - not receiving the Grace in vain – Am I living for myself or by the Grace of God?

Am I living trusting God’s grace? Or is it just my human will?

Philippians 1:6 – God will bring the work in you to completion

Our culture encourages us, even in the Christian church, to live by our determination, our human drive. But we don’t hear about walking in Grace.

You can’t serve without God’s grace working in your heart.

2 Corinthians 12:?, 1 Corinthians 15:? – our labor must be by the grace of God, and then you’ll see marvelous results.

Have you ever taken your “to do list” and made it into your prayer list?

What God will ask me to do is way beyond what I am able to do.

Am I saved by my works? Or have I been saved by God’s grace?

Slave of besetting sins? Or trusting in God’s grace to overcome?

Laboring by the grace of God? Or exhausted by sheer self effort?

Don’t live in pride, self will, rebellion….submit to God’s grace.

And another one (I won't bore you with posting 10 very similiar pictures, so these are only the best few)

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I took a couple really cool cloud pictures: This one Kevin helpfully placed himself in, but its the best one and its messed up now...

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And a couple more Iris flowers. Oh if anyone reading this wants some...I have hundreds (well it seems like it anyway) too many so you can have all you want for FREE!

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If you've never seen an Iris flower....here's what they look like.

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Here's the whole tree, it's getting kinda scrawny looking though

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Many years our/my Magnolia tree has a hard time blooming well, this year was the exception.

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A few pics:

These are a couple pictures showing the "huge" pile of mulch and the progress of the project of spreading it all out.
*I took the pictures a couple days ago so they are slightly out-dated* :-)

Anyhow, I'm off to get some sleep, even though I'm not super tired, but if I don't go to bed, I will never want to get up tomorrow!

The blocks I put in front of the barn

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a daffodil

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This area is now mulched

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Where I put some of the mulch on Thursday

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everything in the driveway

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2 cubic yards of soil

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5 cubic yards of mulch

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Updates...

I hate to break the horrible news.....I think I'm on the verge of being converted to Xanga!

So for a while, my main site will be Xanga. Check it out at:www.xanga.com/bearer_of_christ

But as for the update part - things are going great right now. Everything's pretty much just like normal, working about 30 hours a week and the rest of the time is at home working on different stuff.

Due to the wonderful weather recently I've been doing a bit of stuff in the yard cleaning it up etc. Today I went and got 2 cu. yds. of dirt and 3 cu. yds. of mulch and I'm going to get 2 more cu. yds. of mulch tomorrow morning. Thankfully I had some help, Jaci volunteered to come along and was a great help, even if she could barely move the dirt or mulch! :-) Thanks again! Now I have my work cut out for me for about the next month - spreading around all the dirt and mulch! Oh well.

I'm off to bed...Catch you all later.