The things I love about being home…
I am back with Nicole… life without her is just not the same!
I am back with Jake and Paige… these two bring me so much joy, I love there smiles and laughter!
I got to sleep in my bed… Nicole had freshly washed sheets (this is not to mean that there are never freshly washed sheets on our bed).
I got to have embraces from Nicole, Jake and Paige… they are a blessing!
I get to see Jake wink at me again… I love doing this with him!
I do not get tired of hearing Paige say “Daddy, Daddy, Daddy”!
I went to church… I missed our community there!
I had a Starbucks venti 3 pump 180 degree mocha! Thanks Mom!!!
I had BBQ! Thanks Nelson!
I had Tex-Mex food!
I got to mow the yard, I miss how I feel when I am finished and it looks good!
I got to see some of my favorite people!
I realized how much I miss this place and the people here!
There are many more things I love about being home, these are just at the top of my head at the moment. I am thankful to be home, yet I hope that I will not forget what was revealed to me on this trip. We are a blessed people here, I want to be more compassionate for those that do not have or are different than I.
I also came back as it turned to our country’s birthday. I am reminded by a dear friend of the perspective of this event through the eyes of our faith:
In the wake of fireworks, homemade ice cream, and waving American flags celebrating our nation’s independence, I can’t help but be skeptical. Before you take me as a cynic, I have to say that the fourth of july has always ranked among my favorite holidays. It’s just this concept of freedom that I get hung up on. A seeming victory against one form of oppression seems to only treat the symptoms of a chronic case of slavery to one thing or another. The fight against racism has lead to shackles of political correction, battles for women’s rights yielding bonds of cultural feminization, the struggle for independence breeding threats of terrorism.
A college campus seems an unlikely place to see the face of desperation. With promising careers on the horizon and a metaphorical blank slate ahead, not to mention wealth beyond measure, it seems the students at my alma mater have everything they would ever need. Regardless, we all seem to be searching for a ticket to the underground railroad….able to transport us away from what controls us, whether it be our desire for money, power, possessions, approval, achievements, etc. This freedom we yearn for is an ideology that is outside our grasp. We are unable to attain it on our own.
One of the sweetest lines to my soul is this: there is freedom in surrender. Offering up everything to the only one who is able to break the bonds of sin liberates me by His great love. By His mercy, I am pardoned; by His grace, I am set free. Now, this is cause for celebration! Happy independence day.
May we be truly free… the TRUTH shall set us free!
ken
1 Comment
July 8, 2008 at 9:26 am
Ken….we are glad you are home too
It just wasn’t the same around H-ville without ya!
(and thanks for the blogging publicity…haha).