If I Had Walked With You

I wish I could remember
a time I never knew
when you came down to walk with men
and prove what love can do
I wish I could have been there
on the shores of Galilee
when the wind obeyed your voice
and you calmed the raging sea

I wish I could have sat there
and worshiped at your feet
as you told stories of lost coins
and seeds and tares and wheat
I wish I could have been there
when you brought the dead to life
and on that blessed morning
when you left the tomb behind

If I had walked with you,
broken bread in the upper room,
if I'd seen the blind look you in the eye
through tears of gratitude
Would I follow in your footsteps
each day my whole life through
if I had walked with you?

I wish I could have watched with you
in old Gethsemane
when you drank from the bitter cup
so all could be redeemed
What can I do to thank you
for all you did for me
when they nailed you to a tree
on a hill called Calvary?

Though I can't see you
I know you're there
I know you love me
and hear my prayers
I've heard the stories,
I've heard your voice
I've read your word
and I've made my choice

I will walk with you,
show my love by the way I live,
by the way I feast upon your word
and by the way I give
I will follow in your footsteps
each day my whole life through
Yes, I will walk with you

I'll always walk with you

All I Need

Take it.
Take it all.
It was never really mine anyway.

If there is anything standing between us,
if there is anything keeping me from you,
then take it

I trust you with my heart,
my soul, my life
and my salvation.
In the past,
when you've taken things from me,
I've been angry and hurt.
But no more.

Now I see that you simply want
what is best for me,
and when I cling to other things
it keeps me from feeling your love
and serving you as I ought

So take it,
take it all,
whatever it is.
Family, friends,
money, respect,
pride,
it doesn't matter

Take everything.
I don't care how much it hurts,
and when I have nothing left
then I will finally realize
that you are all I need.

Brussels (Home of the Frozen Toaster Waffle)

This is the Subway we ate at (it was the nicest, largest Subway I have ever been to):

The Nu Skin offices are on the third floor of this building. If you look at the bottom of the picture there is a metal thing that looks a little like a bike rack. This is apparently the best way to "reserve" a parking spot in Brussels (I guess there are many more cars than parking spots):

I took a picture of this street because it is a modern road that is made of paving stones instead of asphalt:

This is the Nu Skin offices:

This is the conference room we spent the day working in:

 This is a cathedral near the main square (grand plaza) in Brussels:

 My co-worker Eric and me:

 The main square:

 Yummy goodness (these are dessert waffles, NOT breakfast waffles :) ):

 The "famous" status of a peeing boy:

An interesting-looking Marriott hotel:

 The Brussels Opera (built in 1856):

We ate at a restaurant called "Drug Opera" (so-named because it was once a drug store and it is around the corner from the opera). The chicken casserole was amazing:

The menu at Drug Opera was available in 6 languages. It was hard to find the language I was looking for!

Paris Videos

Postcard from Paris

 (Above) This is the French poster for the movie "Paranorman." The literal translation of the movie title in French is: "The Strange Power of Norman."


(Below) me in front of the Notre Dame cathedral in Paris:

 Notre Dame:

 Notre Dame:

Inside Notre Dame:

Stained glass window:

Statue of Joan of Arc:

We walked from Notre Dame to the Louvre and I took a picture of the streets in Europe. I'm pretty sure there isn't a single truck in the entire country of France:

Me standing in front of the river Seine:

A random tower I saw at the end of an alley:

Another picture of the street:

The Louvre:

Across the street from the Louvre:

A picture of the ceiling (inside the Louvre):

Another picture of the Louvre:

The Louvre courtyard:

Another view of the courtyard:

Inside the Louvre:

A painting on the ceiling of the Louvre:

The Mona Lisa:

A picture of me inside the Louvre (so I can prove I was there :) )

A painting that stood out to me:

An arch in the Louvre courtyard:

The gardens at the Louvre with the Eiffel tower in the background:

The Eiffel tower. It's HUGE:

Me in front of the Eiffel tower:

 Me on the first floor of the Eiffel tower:

The Seine and Paris (as seen from the Eiffel tower):

Seasons

When the snows of winter begin to recede
leaving white caps
atop mossy green mountains,
the world is fresh and new
and the changing of seasons
brings the promise of miracles yet to come.
It is a time of hope and rebirth,
of wonders that are and may be.
It is a beginning of joy.

As the sun continues to warm
the once-frozen ground,
the promises of spring are fulfilled.
Bright red geraniums adorn
well-manicured lawns,
while lush green foliage
clings to the trees.
It is a time for adventure,
friendship
and freedom. A time for a deepening
of roots.

When the nights begin to cool
and the leaves catch fire,
spreading red and gold hues
across a tapestry of anticipation,
memories rest quietly
on sunburnt lips
while the sharp smell of crisp wood
drifts across the stars
and a season of closeness
and connection
and celebration
begins.

Then the silent snows of winter arrive,
filling the world with beauty
and covering everything with crystal white,
just as our love covers us
like a comforting blanket,
softening the edges of our difficult days
and filling our empty places
while we await the return of spring.

Turning Ten

Last weekend my son turned 10, and we celebrated his birthday with a trip to the planetarium.


My wife and son sitting on a Mars landscape:

Me and my son on the moon (I'm waving to Neil Armstrong):

My son on a Mars landscape:


A random girl wearing a Pikachu costume and backpack (I thought it was funny so I took a picture):

My son and nephew playing with the plasma ball (he later bought a smaller version at the gift shop and absolutely loves it):


My son and nephews:


After we came home from the planetarium, we invited a few family members over to our house for pizza, cake and ice cream.

My son playing with his plasma ball:

Singing happy birthday:

Smiling because he's about to eat cake :)