And the water keeps on moving, just like life.  When we want to put our life on hold, for whatever reason, life just keeps on going.  Throughout history man has tried to control and harness the power and movement of water.  We build dams and canals, we dredge and coax, but the water keeps on moving.  And it will carve its own way through the landscape.  Life keeps carving a way though time.  A ravine or a canyon, what will my life carve out?  Hmmm.  I guess we'll have to wait and see.

We celebrated Memorial Day(weekend) like so many other families.  We went camping.  It has been so long ago that we took the kids camping that they don't remember it.  The days were very warm, high 80s and the nights were very cool, low 40s.  We stayed three nights and had a wonderful time.  I think they will remember this trip.  I know that I will.  I will remember that it takes me a little longer to set up a tent than it used to.  I will also remember that I can't hike as long or far as I used to, and  I like sleeping on an air mattress instead of the ground.  We fished, we watched the birds, and we went exploring.  There was no cell phone service so our phones were eerily silent.  Now the weekend is over and we were all glad to be home in our own beds.  Some of our best times were sitting around the table.  Food always taste so good when it's cooked outside, even with propane.  Also, we taught the kids how to play "Spades", the card game.  They caught on quick and loved it.  The only bad thing about the weekend was this dumb drought.  We weren't allowed to have a fire, and what's a camping trip with out a fire.  Still, it was an awesome weekend.  Now I can't wait until we can go again.

Day 263. Whew what a month since I last posted.  No excuses for not posting, I just haven't done it.  But, since I mentioned it, this last month we have traveled to Albuquerque, Dallas, and Oklahoma City.  Stacy went to Wichita this last weekend, all for the sake of JBQ (Junior Bible Quiz), and a  family reunion on Easter weekend.  So, church and school during the week, complete with tennis and Starr testing, and traveling on Friday and Saturday.  Then back home to minister on Sunday.  Stacy's sister had two surgeries on her little finger, and a few other folks in the hospital,  And somewhere in there we took time out to buy a new car.  It sounds a lot worse than it was.  Yes we were busy, but it was all by our own doing, and worth it.
Easter Sunday was great.  We had a great turn out for morning worship and lunch.  Then after lunch we had an egg hunt for the kiddos.  It is so much fun to watch the different characteristics of even the youngest egg hunter.  It was a great day. 
As far as the new car goes, we are loving it.  We traded in our minivan for a SUV.  We were able to get all that we wanted and then some.  God is so good. 
I'll try to keep up on the blog a little better.  As I remember things that have happened I will post about them.  Maybe some older memories too.


Day 221.  It has been a bonifide blizzard today.  It started last night and ended this afternoon.  We got 12 inches of snow and had wind gusts up to 58mph.  We got out of church last night and the snow had already started.  Usually people stay around for awhile and visit, but not last night.  As soon as we said amen they started leaving.  It was kind of funny, but I don't blame them at all.  Anyway, I stayed around the house today.  The horses in the pasture behind our house didn't seem to mind the snow and wind.  They were playing and running around and having fun.  The blizzard is now over and we have to wait for the snow to melt.  Maybe another system will come through and bring more snow.  It is still winter after all.  We will be suffering in the heat of summer all too soon.  This is the season that we are in so we might as well try to enjoy it.

Day 217.  This almost looks like a time lapse photo showing the wing movement of migrating geese.  But, it isn't a single goose, it is part of a flock that flew over.  When they fly over they sound like a room full of noisy people.  It is cool to see the position of the wings during flight.  It's not all soaring.  There is a lot of work involved for them to stay in the air, and they have to stay in the air to reach their destination.  To get where you want to be you have to keep moving. 

Day 214.  I think this can has seen better days, and yet, it has never  been more cool.  It has become part of it's surroundings but is still distinguishable enough to be separate.  Considered by some a work of art and by others a piece of trash.  What do you see?  Just because something or someone has been broken or damaged doesn't mean that they are trash.  I wish people would grow up and look past the faults that they find in others.  We all have enough faults of our own we need to work on with out trying to fix someone else's.   What is the first thing you notice when you look at some one?  Are they a work of art or a piece of trash?  It's your perception, not theirs.

Day 208.  Well, the weatherman said we would get snow.  When I went to bed last night there was no snow.  Everything was dry and dead.  It's still dead but now everything is covered in snow.  The snow changes the look of the landscape.  I love snow.  Don't miss understand me, I still would rather it be warm and sunny, but I do love snow.  It makes everything fresh and clean.  Like a new start.  Just like when Jesus makes us new by forgiving our sins. 

Day 205-207. Over the weekend I went up to the mountains around Ruidoso, NM.  It was the annual High Altitude Men's Retreat.  We had a great time.  On Friday morning we walked up to the top of the mountain that we were on.  Four guys from my church and a couple of guys from another church and myself made the trek to the top.  We had a time of praise and worship up on the top of that mountain.  It was really great.  Up on that mountain is where I took this picture.  Notice the lack of snow.  It's the middle of February.  There should be lots of snow on the mountain tops.  There may not have been any snow but the Holy Spirit came and saturated the place.  I know that our group came home refreshed and fired up for God.  I hope the news of this retreat spreads though our district and more men will want to come and catch the fire.

Day 199.  I can't believe it's been almost a week since I have blogged.  I have missed it.  Time just got away from me, no excuses.  Later this week I will go to a men's retreat with some of the guys from the church.  The same guys went last year.  That is where this photo was taken.  We had a blast and I am expecting this year to be awesome, too.  I saw this T-Rex  head coming out of a building and I stopped to take a picture.  I'm glad they are extinct.  I wouldn't want to live next to one.  Studying the fossils is just fine.  We all have to deal with our own monsters and we don't need any extras running around.  I wouldn't know how to deal with a real T-Rex, but I know I can handle my monsters because I can do anything through Christ who gives me strength.  

Day 193

Well, a cold front came through today.  It was pretty cool to watch as it came over the horizon, and then across the terrain.  It  lasted most of the day, dropped only enough snow to cover the grass, and then it was gone.  Just like so many things in life, it's here only a short time and then it's gone.  So, enjoy it while you can.  Opportunities come way to far apart to let them slip by.  What causes us to miss those opportunities?  You can make all the excuses you want, but it is mostly because of fear.  We simply don't know the outcome so we are not willing to risk our time or dignity.  Are you more afraid of failing or succeeding?  Think about it.

Day 188

Did you ever have one of those days that seem last forever.  I guess Scooter had one of those days.  He sure looked like it anyway.  He didn't even perk up when we fed him.  Some days are just like that.  But for Scooter everyday is a new day.  He wakes up and yesterday doesn't matter.  He doesn't remember today why I was upset with him yesterday.  Actually, neither do I.  If we treated our friends like we treat our dogs, how many more friends would you have?  And, how many would run away?  Scooter has no reason to run away, he has it good around here. 

Day 186

Day 186, a photo by dgakins2 on Flickr.

I am posting this picture directly from flickr just to see if I can. I took this picture some time ago, but I like it and wanted to show it here. I just thought that it deserved more attention than what it was getting. Every picture should have its fifteen minutes of fame. If only we could be satisfied with that, and quit wanting someone else's fifteen minutes too.

Day 182.  Poor Mr. Man.  In order to ensure that he stays out of trouble we had to place him in a Hannibal Lecter style face cage.  This will ensure that he won't be falsely accused of wrong doing.  Strangely enough, I think he likes it.  He is still smiling anyway.  Actually, Mr. Man was just playing around with Stacy's back scratcher.  He has such a strange sense of humor.  It is fascinating how appearances can make a wrong impression, though.  Just because someone has a tattoo doesn't mean that person is in a biker gang, and having a gun doesn't make you a murderer.  Appearances cause us to jump to conclusions, usually wrong ones.  Instead of looking at people though critical eyes, try to see them through compassion.

Day 181.  Even in death some things can be pretty.  I picked up one of my ministry books and these petals fell out.  I had picked them up and put them in the book some time ago, when they were fresh and still fragrant.  They reminded me of the rose sitting on a shelf behind me that is itself all dried out.  So, I put them together.  Here is the thing, the petals and the rose are from different funerals.  Somehow they ended up preserved and lying around my office.  This week in our area we have had three fatal accidents.  Every one a tragic loss.  Sometimes we think that we are indestructible and life will never end.  The truth is, every day is a gift.  Unwrap it with excitement and enthusiasm, but unwrap it carefully.

Day 180.  Mr. Man is taking a walk on the treadmill.  Maybe it's part of his New Year's resolution.  Actually, I think he was trying to run and hide but he got sidetracked on the treadmill and couldn't get off.  He gets blamed for a lot of things around our house.  "Mr. Man hid my home work, Mr. Man took my shoes", and so on.  It's like that comic strip where they have an extra kid named "Not Me" that no one ever sees.  But, when the parents ask who did it all the other kids say, "not me".  Around our house it's Mr. Man.  It's easy and no one gets into trouble for whatever he did.  Besides, isn't blaming some one else for my mistakes and problems normal?  It seems that taking responsibility for the bad as well as the good in our lives is a thing of the past.  It's always some one else's fault.  Ok, I'll get off that soap box.  Annie likes to blame Mr. Man when she cant find something, but she found out pretty quick that he won't help her find it. 

Day 178.  This picture is from Saturday.  We took the bible quiz teams to a meet.  It was a good day and the teams did an awesome job.  Maggie was so psyched because the team she is helping coach went undefeated.  Dugan and a friend spent their lunch time setting up the tables and chairs in all six rooms, so he was tired.  Then he had to turn around and keep score in one of the rooms.  He did such a great job.  These kids have memorized more scripture than most adults know.  It's not just the scripture but the references too.  They also have learned doctrines and truths that have helped them in other areas of their lives.  Dugan and Maggie are smart kids anyway, but I believe that all of the studying and memorizing that they done through JBQ has helped them in school as well.  Every time we get a report card their grades just blow us away.  When the meet was over Dugan went to work loading up the tables and chairs, and hauled them back to the storage room.  I love that I didn't have to beg the kids to work hard, they just did it.  Wouldn't it be great if more people would work hard and stop waiting for someone else to do it.  The bible does have a lot to say about being lazy and not working, and it's not good.  I like to eat so I will keep working, and teaching my kids to work also.

Day 174.  Here is Mr. Man getting caught eating Dugan's piece of banana nut bread.  He has a bad sweet tooth.  Not any more mischief than that today.  I went to a minister's meeting today (without Mr. Man) and listened to a  Christian lawyer.  It was very informative, and a little scary.  But, most of all it made me realize the importance of being proactive as a leader.  You just can't take chances these days by being negligent with volunteers and children's workers.  Playing with Mr. Man is all in fun, but playing with the lives of children is not.  After all, we are supposed to be their protectors.

Day 173.  This is what we call Mr. Man.  It is actually a toy from a fast food chain kids meal.  He is a character called Mr. Happy from the Mr. Men Show.  But, we named him Mr. Man. We took Mr. Man  with us to Florida back in June of 2012.  He kept showing up in the funniest places.  Honestly we didn't even think about some elf that seems to do the same kind of stuff.  We just had a lot of fun.  He showed up in a box of donuts one morning, and had lunch with us one day.  Stacy buried him up to his neck in the sand at Daytona Beach.  I took several pictures of him with my phone.  My intention was to have a whole set dedicated to the adventures of Mr. Man.  But, I left my phone in Florida and though I was promised, I never got it back.  So, I lost all the pictures that I took, but we still have the ones that Stacy took.  Now Mr. Man has started showing up again so I will be featuring some random shots of him.  

Day 172.  Well, there wasn't a lot of color in the sunrise this morning, but it was still nice.  Last night I made this banana nut bread.  Actually it is pineapple banana nut bread, and it is wonderful.  The crust has a light crunch to it and the inside is moist.  I always buy bananas to put in the kids lunches, but they don't always eat them all.  So, I make bread.  We love the bread and the pineapple adds to the flavor.  Sometimes an added ingredient makes things better, and sometimes it will ruin it completely.  Life with Jesus is great, add the Holy Spirit and it is even better.  But, if you add things like bitterness and anger, or jealousy, life gets real burdensome.  It all depends on what you add to your life.  Who knew that banana bread could hold the secret to an awesome life?  And, like this bread, life will be gone before you know it.  So, be careful what you mix in.

Day 171.  For some reason Blogger isn't letting me upload pictures from my computer right now.  I have to upload to Picasa web first then bring it over.  It's just an extra step I guess.  I've been having a tough time finding new things to photograph.  I always have my family, but they get tired of me following them around with my camera.  Actually, I try to catch them off guard, they don't fall for it anymore.  There is only so much to photograph around here, and I have run out of inspiration.  I started praying for inspiration and this morning there was the most amazing color in the sky.  I immediately grabbed my camera, grabbed a few shots, and thanked God for answering my prayer.  There still isn't much to photograph around here, but as long as He gives me sunrises and sunsets with such awesome color, I will stay inspired.  Sunrises like this inspire me for the day and not just for pictures, it inspires my spirit to draw close to the painter of the sky.