It's been a long, long time...

I tried to get this posted when it was still Monday, June 2nd...which is technically is in Montana time, but it's now Tuesday, June 3rd in Missouri time. How about those time zones? Well, I've been thinking about this passage...

Nothing but a Wisp of Fog

And now I have a word for you who brashly announce, "Today—at the latest, tomorrow—we're off to such and such a city for the year. We're going to start a business and make a lot of money." You don't know the first thing about tomorrow. You're nothing but a wisp of fog, catching a brief bit of sun before disappearing. Instead, make it a habit to say, "If the Master wills it and we're still alive, we'll do this or that."

James 4:13-15

The local high school's held their graduations this past weekend. Ten years ago, in 1998, I graduated this same time of year. It's been ten years. Wow! Now, having said that, the Montana trip is going well so far. We've checked out a lot of stuff...spent today in the Mountains and in Red Lodge, MT. Got a chance to see some wildlife. Sarala loves animals. I love it.

It's been great to talk and to see old friends and family. Saturday night I visited with two old family friends. The first is like an aunt to me, even though we're not related. Her husband was a good friend of my dad's...so it was like seeing family. It was crazy to catch up and find out that she's retired, living back on the rez, and has adopted her two grandsons. Sarala was smitten with them...one is 10 and the other 5. A lot has changed.

The second was a person who was a father figure for me from the age of 13 on until I graduated college. He was present at my high school graduation...I've got a picture of us together. He was healthy. Now, he has a degenerative disease that has him in a wheelchair. He can barely talk. I've been away too long.

I completely disconnected with everyone except for a few good friends and my older brother after college. The situation with my mother and brother was a big reason for the disconnect. Now, I feel like I should've come back more often, made more of an effort. I don't know. It makes me sad. It that span since I've been here...my older brother committed suicide, the disease has hit Myron, and life has changed drastically for many others.

My time away was great for me though...God really stretched and grew me during that time. I feel like a foreigner now that I'm back. It's a good thing though, I've grown up and God loves me.

I guess all of this is why I'm trying so hard to be around for Sarala...quitting basketball and trying to be home. I want her to grow up with great experiences. I want her to know the Montana and Wyoming side of her family, the good stuff I've experienced...the pow wow's, mountains, skiing, camping, friends, nature, family...so on. I guess this is also why I'm carrying my camera everywhere now.

I again leave you with this...

Nothing but a Wisp of Fog

And now I have a word for you who brashly announce, "Today—at the latest, tomorrow—we're off to such and such a city for the year. We're going to start a business and make a lot of money." You don't know the first thing about tomorrow. You're nothing but a wisp of fog, catching a brief bit of sun before disappearing. Instead, make it a habit to say, "If the Master wills it and we're still alive, we'll do this or that."

James 4:13-15

I Should Probably Be Packing...

By the time this posts, I'll be in Montana...hopefully enjoying some good weather (I'm hoping, but the forecast doesn't look so good). I'm going to try and continue blogging every weekday so there will be updates posted...hopefully pictures too.

From Wednesday, May 28th:
I'm sitting here "packing" my iPod, making sure it's loaded with all the good stuff...music, photos, and video. It'll be interesting to get with old friends and compare the music we're into. I've also got a bunch of photos and videos that need to be shared.

God wired me to love music. Not just the listening part, but the playing part of it too. Music has always been, and continues to be a big part of my life. I grew up playing the violin with an orchestra and symphony. I now play weddings, graduations, and the like with it. I've picked up playing the guitar in college and now play on the weekends at church. I've got a mandolin that I'm teaching myself to play. I love music.

All kinds, from classical, bluegrass, some hip-hop, punk, rock, praise...etc. I enjoy listening to the musicianship of singer-songwriters, full orchestras, bands, Native American drum groups and praise teams. The stuff I enjoy the most are live performances. I don't know what exactly it is, but the "raw-ness" of live music is unlike anything else. A lot of what I've been listening to lately is "live" recordings of stuff. I'm planning some concert trips this summer. The stuff happening with the gas prices threatens how much of that I'll get to do. Oh well.

I'm not too sure where this post is going, but that's how my mind has been...getting ready for this trip. I've felt overwhelmed almost...not sure what I need to be working on. Crystal has done the majority of the actual packing. I've been playing with Sarala to keep her out of things. That's not a bad job if you ask me.

I guess what I'm thinking about is the concept of "working smarter, not harder." I've got some plans for my classroom next year that have me excited. It'll be the first time I'll just have taught...no coaching. The time that will be free will be amazing. The goal though is to keep it "free," not to fill it up with other crap just because it's there. I can get a lot done if I focus my energy.

Why don't I do that with my relationship with God? If I put any effort into it that I do when I'm messing with my iPod, live recordings, just playing or listening to music...that's a ton of time when you think about it. That's a goal this summer, to refocus my energies so that they further reflect my priorities. My energy reflects my priorities pretty accurately right now, but God...like I say he does and should, be at the top of my list. He's not right now and that's my goal...to get Him to that point...since He's blessed me with so much.

Well, until next time...Here's a video shot from Dyersburg, TN...a concert I actually attended...and then got a chance to talk to Andy Osenga afterward about guitar stuff...pretty awesome! The song is called "When Will I Run"...and the chorus fits pretty good with this post "When will I run to the arms of God..."

Homecoming...?

I'm going home...to Montana today. I don't know how to express how I feel about it...I'm excited but anxious, nervous....

Pray. Pray that things will go well. God leads us all through life. It's up to us whether or not we want to follow. I've gone off track here and there, but I'm grateful for my experiences. It's been quite a journey (hence the title of my blog) that brought me here. This blog is another reason why I'm posting this...a chance to put my thoughts into coherent words...hopefully. It's time for me to go home to visit. It's been awhile since I've been home.

There's a reason that God's put me here in Arcadia, Missouri. I've enjoyed, and still enjoy, my life here. I'm disconnected from a lot of things back home...hurts, depression, alcoholism...a lot of rough things. My history with my family has been rocky to say the least. We don't get along too well and don't see eye to eye on a lot of things. Therefore, we tend to stick to generalities and not getting into real deep discussion. I love them though. I'm anxious. Not worried, but anxious. It has been a long time since I've been home.

The last time I was home was to attend the funeral of my older brother. That resulted in a short, busy stay in February 2006. It's now May 2008. Crystal and I have Sarala. Our life here is wonderful. My life in Montana seems very distant, different from who I am today. It's not that I was so different when I was younger, I'm just coming to that realization that I've grown up and am expecting my relationships there to reflect this. I'm not a kid anymore...no longer confused, no longer angry about the things going on in my family. I'm happy. The old feelings are coming back though and I guess that's why I'm posting this. I'm anxious. I don't really know how to feel. The trip is coming up and I'm trying to not be nervous. Montana seems almost foreign now.

God, help ease my anxiety...help me to remember how you look at me...I'm loved...I'm happy...I'm incredibly blessed....

Home Sweet Home...

It's amazing how good home is. I mowed the lawn today and as much as I hate doing it...I'm glad I have a lawn to mow. I'm glad I have a push-mower to mow it. I'm extra glad that this particular push-mower is a mulching-mower...so, no bags. God is pretty amazing. The weather was great...an awesome thing for a last day at home before a big trip.

Now, it is the night before our big Montana excursion. I'm listening to a little Andy Osenga..."Swing Wide the Glimmering Gates." Good stuff. Sarala is asleep. I just checked us in via the airline website and printed off our boarding passes. As I'm finishing the last touches of packing (almost forgot socks), I downloaded the stuff I had on my camera so I'm ready to go with a clean SD card. There are some amazing pictures of things in my own front yard. Sarala spent some time exploring this evening and it was a lot of fun. Tomorrow night we'll be in Montana. I'll be able to introduce her to my land and my people. My dog knows what's up...and it's quite sad. She knows we're going somewhere. I made sure to play her with today and I'm going to make a point to do so tomorrow before we leave. We'll miss her...considered bringing her, but I didn't want to traumatize her. Well, here are the pics and I hope that you all, or y'all, have a great rest of the week.

God Bless!

















Andy O..."Swing Wide the Glimmering Gates"...from Dyersburg, TN

"I'm Also Part Native American Indian...2/15th's"

I, unlike Michael Scott from "The Office," am actually full-blooded Native American. The whole "ethnicity" thing cracks me up sometimes. Sure, I've experienced racism, but there's also the other side to it...people trying to be super sensitive to the fact that I'm Native American. This can be rather funny sometimes.

Now, I don't think I've ever had the sensitivity thing happen to me on the level of these two clips...but I find these hilarious nonetheless. Enjoy!

Back to CA...

It hasn't hit me until recently, how important our trip to CA was. We are now parents, Sarala's name is actually Sarala, and nothing can change that.

God has done some amazing things through and with Sarala. I'm still blown away by all that. It really becomes evident when I look at the first picture we ever received of Sarala, look at her medical papers, and then at the legal process that brought her to us. We're incredibly blessed.

Here's a little video I made for my mom, to showcase CA pictures. I'm excited to introduce Sarala to my family later this week. She's met my mom and brother, but she'll be able to meet everyone else in my family and friend circle. It will be good!

A Summer Morning...

It's officially summer, even though I have to go in to work for half a day tomorrow...it's still summer. We slept in, as much as you can with a baby (8 am), and didn't have to do anything.

It was glorious...everything I dreamed it would be.

Sarala and I shared some Golden Graham cereal and watched some cartoons. She then proceeded to sneak off with the box, go sit down by the couch, and eat.


I thought "okay, she'll do fine." Well, as she was finished, she then took out the bag of cereal and with me telling her "no," dumped Golden Grahams on the floor.

This was an expected treat for Montana.


She's a crazy little babe...Sarala. I love it.

This little "episode" got me thinking about discipline. I'm really trying to do her justice by being fair and consistent. She knew not to dump the cereal, cried as I told her no, and was sad that she had to sit in the chair for a minute.

I also know that this isn't that big of a deal in the big scheme of things. I just need to deal with it and move on. She knows that I love her. She'll also know her story, how God has healed her and how it took miracles from God so that she could be with us. He loves her. We used to refer to her, and still do I guess, as God's baby because of her time in CA without us. He has surely blessed us with a beautiful, wonderful baby girl.

It got me thinking about Psalm 78:4, which I heard at church this weekend:

We will not hide these truths from our children;
we will tell the next generation
about the glorious deeds of the Lord,
about his power and his mighty wonders

We, as Christ-followers, definitely have a role in this...telling people about the "glorious deeds of the Lord, about his power and his mighty works." We all have our own examples of this. I love that Sarala will always have her story and hopefully it will serve as a continuous reminder of how much God loves her.

Here are some other passages that I heard this weekend:

Proverbs 19:18

Discipline your children while you still have the chance;
indulging them destroys them.

and Psalm 127:3

Children are a blessing
and a gift from the LORD.

It's Summer...Why Am I Up So Early...?

Summer has officially began!

For some reason I woke up super early this morning. Saturday is usually sleep-in day, but I woke up before Sarala. Hmmm...I don't know. As I'm sitting here typing this I hear the neighbor kids already playing outside. They too must have woke up early in the anticipation of not having to wake up early for school anymore as well.

Now, I normally don't post on weekends but I got a new camera yesterday and am pretty excited about it. It's a Canon Powershot. I took some pictures and some video with it and with the extra time I had this morning, made a little movie of Sarala.

The song continues after the credits due to the fact that I didn't take a ton of pictures yesterday, so I kept the song rolling with some cool scenery pics of California.

Enjoy!

You Made It!

Well...this is it! We did it. It's the last day of school. HAVE A GREAT DAY!

I Never Used to Like Taking Pictures...

I've found out that I like to take pictures. I never really have before. I don't know, maybe it was the camera. The pictures that I've taken recently have turned out pretty good and I'm thinking that I may have found something that I would like to get into. Therefore, I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of my new camera. It should be here tomorrow. It's a Canon Powershot...not an SLR but a good P+S with a lot of zoom. I'm excited to get out there and take some pictures. Also, we'll have it when we go to Montana...and even though I lived/grew up there...I need some pictures of home. Hopefully everyone is having a good day amidst the chaos of the end of the school year. I am actually taking a break from entering in grades in SIS...something I should be doing now...but I'm halfway done...then I've got to do report cards, permanent records...ALMOST THERE!!