we're baaaack!!

had a fantastic time at norris lake with my brothers and their families. it was a great time of relaxation, sharing and having fun together. some highlights of the trip were:

1. kylie hitting speeds upwards of 30 mph on the tube. you should have seen her. she was all by herself screaming "faster, faster." it was a proud moment for me.

2. kylie learning to go completely underwater. i wasn't there for this one, but jason assures me she did it a dozen times in the hot tub. wish i could have been there.

3. taking the girls out on the boat by themselves. this was one of the most relaxing parts of the trip. emily, maurie and mandy allowed me to drive them around the lake and look at all the lakehouses and beautiful scenary.

4. eating every meal together as a family. we all gathered around the big dining room table and ate fantastic meals together. it was mostly loud and chaotic, but i wouldn't have wanted it any other way. we have a great family.

5. playing the wii in the evenings (and most of our down time in the cabin). it was fun playing the wii with hunter, jason and josh. we all had a good time with guitar hero and wii sports.

6. getting to visit my mom and dad on mother's day. we ended our trip in cincinnati, and got to spend the evening, and this morning, with mom and dad. it was a perfect end to our trip and we thoroughly enjoyed the short time with mom and dad.

we arrived home safely around 1:30pm. i listened to some shane claiborne on the way home, and was reminded about the peculiar people we are called to be, but often times don't live up to that calling. more than anything, the jesus i have come to know, is one that has opened up the possibility to experiencing "true life" in the here and now. a life that is marked by love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. a life that is spent pursuing simplicity and peace. a life that is empowered by the same spirit that rose jesus from the dead, and works to make us into the very image of jesus. one that transforms my family, church and vocation into the "kingdom now." this is the jesus we seek to incarnate. this is the jesus that, when followed, will bring persecution and hardship. this is the jesus, i want my kids and the people i meet to be introduced to.

may god, as revealed in jesus, so capture our imagination that we lose our lives, in order to find true life.