Family Vacation

Yup, you guessed it. I’m on family vacation. Everybody is home; the house is filled with fun, laughter, food, and good times; and I haven’t done a stitch of work for the last 36 hours. What a life. It is just nice to be able to kick back once in a while and do absolutely nothing for a change. I love it.

Last night, we had our zenith experience of the Christmas season, (at least Ken Millers kids think so. . .) the tradition of giving gifts. (If that was the zenith, then it can only go down from here. . .) Before we actually unpacked our gifts, we listened to a story tape that was very influential in all of us kids’ childhood, Medieval Mom. One reason we did this instead of the typical Christmas story, was that Craig’s Gf was in attendance. We thought that we would HAVE TO share this little part of our family tradition with her. It was very enlightening for Ra to say the least. . .

Right now, we’re all sitting here in the living room; I’m listening to some trio’s by Haydn and posting, Floyd is drinking some warm beverage of some kind and reading the book he received for Christmas, Craig’s on his laptop doing who knows what (perhaps chatting with Ra?), Loyal is reading the latest cover article of Young Companion to Anja, (we’re all sortof listening in as the inspiration comes) Dad’s doing some random money things, and Mom is looking at the rules of a game called Up-Words, with the hopes of playing soon. So, I think that you are slowly getting the idea of our type of family vacation.

Our home phone ringer is turned off to facilitate more uninterrupted family time. This allows the answering machine to sing a recorded version of “Happy Holidays” to all perpetrators who are trying to interrupt our family time. Take that!!!!

Tonight we will use some gift certificates that some very kind people gave to our family to be used at Sirloin Stockade. Better yet, they will have all-you-can-eat barbecued steak. Yummmmmm!

I think you are beginning to understand why I like family vacations. The food, family, and fellowship are an unbeatable combination.

thesinger

Guest post by Ryan Nisly

If you have been reading my blog, you may or may not have gathered by
now that the comp class at Pilgrim is working on a mini book about
Center Church leaving the Amish, other churches that were outreaches or
expansions of Center, and the effect that the local Beachy churches have
been to others both locally and world-wide. We did some interviews of
older people that were in Center back in the “Good old Days.” Here are
some things that came up that I thought was interesting.

It was decided that instead of adding onto Center, new churches would be
built. Cedar Crest, Arlington, and Cornerstone have all been officially
sponsored, but members from these four churches have already been
influential in the construction of other churches.

For the first few years, German was used in church services with the
exception of when visitors were present who could not understand the
language.

Pickup trucks were acceptable before automobiles were.

The split from the Amish was because of several reasons: The German
language used in church services created language barriers for visitors,
an eagerness for mid-week Bible studies, missions, and modern
conveniences with an emphasis on transportation. (This is in no wise a
complete list.)

People from Center were much (and quite possibly, still are) more open
minded and sensed a need for higher education than other Beachy circles.

A phone rang at the Arlington church while various women were there. The
caller wanted to talk to Mr. Arlington Beachy.

Random quotes: (I’m not including names since many older gentlemen from
our church wouldn’t feel comfortable having their names published online
and I don’t feel like calling them.)

“A horse couldn’t run fast enough.”

“I feel a little proud sometimes to be going to ‘Center Church.’”

What a traditional winter Saturday!

About everything I’ve done so far today has been extremely traditional for a cold winter Saturday. This morning, I woke up late, (9:30); very traditional. Heard the wind moaning outside my window well and thought how nice I wasn’t at the Youth Chorus work project. Got up, read a book for a while, checked my email, just the normal waking-up kinds of things I do; very traditional. Started getting hungry, so I helped mom get the pancakes on and ready; very traditional. Ate brunch at 11 o’clock with Grandpa in attendance; very traditional. Checked my email, read several more chapters in the book I’m reading, and just had good times; very traditional.

The work part was also very traditional. We did some tree-limb clean-up because of the ice storm that happened two weeks ago and it was COLD!!!; very traditional. (I’m the dude in the yellow hat; also very traditional.)

We bundled up nicely, shivered through it, and even had some fun; very traditional.

We got the work done that we needed to and came inside to drink some of Mom’s wonderful homemade hot chocolate. That warmed and filled us nicely; very traditional.

And here we are. I’m sure that pizza is on the menu for tonight; VERY traditional. And now I’m chatting up a dear friend over the telephone; very traditional.

Tonight there is a volleyball game at Partridge. Tradition would dictate that I wouldn’t go because Dad would say that family time is more important. We shall see.

thesinger

ps. Photos courtesy of Anja and Loyal, respectively.

Quotes of the day on “Light”

I thought these were just great!! Enjoy. . .

You are … the lens in the beam. You can only receive, give, and possess the light as the lens does.
– Dag Hammarskjöld, 1905 – 1961

When you get to the end of all the light you know and it’s time to step into the darkness of the unknown, faith is knowing that one of two things shall happen: either you will be given something solid to stand on, or you will be taught how to fly.
– Edward Teller, 1908 – 2003

Begin today! No matter how feeble the light, let it shine as best it may. The world may need just that quality of light which you have.
– Henry C. Blinn

Science is spectral analysis. Art is light synthesis.
– Karl Kraus, 1874 – 1936

We cannot hold a torch to light another’s path without brightening our own.
– Ben Sweetland

Surprise!

Here are “several” pics from the snowboarding trip. I know that this is kindof a shock to you, but with enough faith you can get over anything.

Anja is feeling very excited.

Kevin, on the bus, ready to hit it.

Austin, on the bus, (holding my board) ready to hit the slopes.

Yeah buddy. HU HU!!!!

Austin, ripping up a fresh line.

This is Loyal, (believe it or not) ripping up another fresh line. Check out the huge plume of powder that he’s whooshing around.

If Canon is good in KS, then Canon is good in the snow. . .

Random snowshoer who I talked to and asked if I could shoot his picture as he was walking down the mountain. He kindly agreed, and here we are.

The next three are some random candids that were taken in the evenings.

I took the next two on a beautiful, bright, and mostly cloudless morning. Enjoy.

Yours truly, with my wonderful board.

Loyal and Bruce, bro and cousin, respectively.

Austin, doing his deed on the rainbow.

Here’s a group picture.

Andrew, going for some AIR!

Leroy, doing his deed on a kicker.

Loyal, jumping the same kicker.

We generally sit together at one honking big table for lunch. We met and ate at the top of the gondola which is that building on the crest of the mountain in the second scenery picture. (Have I confused you yet?)

Bruce and Nate did a lot of filming. Therefore, it is only appropriate that I donate some space on my blog to acknowledge the hard work they did.

The last evening we had a singalong time with Bruce and Austin. Both had their guitars along. We had GOOD TIMES that evening.

Well, that’s all. I hope you enjoyed the “trip.”

Peace in the valley,

thesinger

Is he happy or what?

words? why would you need words if you could have a picture?

thesinger

Link to wonderful post.

“A typical day on the slopes” is written by none other than Kevin Nisly, who is a third time boarder and fellow partner in crime.

Please, do go ahead and read his summery of a day on the slopes. It is written quite well!

thesinger

pictures? we’ll see.

ps, the Anonymous Somebodies will be singing at the Christmas Banquet tomorrow night. ‘Twill be a lot of fun.

Just got our internet back.

We got home from snowboarding on Saturday evening, and were greeted by LaVon, Twila, and kids because they needed a slightly warmer environment to live in. (They were and still are out of electricity due to a massive ice storm that took out many power lines, including ours. We just happen to have a generator.)

The snowboarding was just ROCKIN!!! I feel that I honed my skills, and had a lot of fun shredding it up. I think my favorite run was a mostly untracked black that had at least 1.5 feet of fresh powder on it. It was so nice. For you boarders out there, it was the kind of trail and snow that you could just point it straight down, lean back on your back foot, and let her fly!!!!!! What sublime happiness.

Perhaps, if you’re lucky, you will get some random pictures of the trip. I did not spend hours and hours photographing the mountain because there was too much to powder to shred, but I might have several people pictures that may be worth showing the world. We’ll see.

Peace in the valley,

thesinger

Sore, tired, but very stoked!!

This has been a great day of boarding. Oh, and it’s doing the snowing number out on the mountain. We cut several lines off of Storm Peak that were absolutely gorgeous. Trees, powder, aspens, the whole works. What a party. Oh, and it’s puking out there. What a life.

Tomorrow, I’ll be taking my camera so that I can capture some of the beauty. Should be just great.

Peace on the mountain!!

thesinger

ps, did I mention that it’s snowing?

Off to bed.

So that I can feel inspired to go to Steamboat Springs, CO in the morning. We are leaving at the bright and early hour of 5:00 AM. Should be a party.

Peace in the valley,

thesinger