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Visiting "home" at Christmas

by Shaun

 It's been a good trip back to Dallas for Christmas.  Kyndra has been living here since Thanksgiving, me staying in Reno, so this was a visit to friends and family as well as a reunion for us.  Interesting, to say the least.  I expected to have to learn how to live in a new way, but I couldn't expect what that learning would be like, really.  So, the experience is still new and hard.  That story is ongoing.

What continues to be interesting is visiting "home" after living away.  It feels both extremely comfortable and foreign at the same time.  Seeing friends and former co-workers sorta starts to feel like no time has passed at all (the year and half so far!).  That's strange; but, I also like it. It is good to feel at home somewhere.

And yet, I think it's also good to be able to tell new stories to each other, and I think that's happening as I live away from "home" too.  In the end, I want to feel comfortable being back and yet uncomfortable if I don't share the little/big stories that are hidden within the days I've been away.  

On a VERY small level, I guess this is a link to the story of Christmas - a small tale hidden away in days past, told well and inspiring love and joy even today.

Merry Christmas!

Oregonian Thanksgiving Review

by shaun

We had a wonderful thanksgiving up in Portland.  I loved the drive ... mountains, mist, miles of road.  There were so many textures of place we drove through.  *It's a great 10 hours on the road!  And, I really enjoy that city.  Especially where the Sharps live - their neighborhood is just a blast to walk around, grab something delicious to eat, or just watch the people, things, places.  

It rained and misted, but that was fine.  Back in Reno, the sun is bright and you can really sense the difference of the two places.  I like them both.  

We enjoyed good food, great homebrew that Ryan had cooked up, and meeting new people from SanFran.  Here's some pics I stole from our friend Pax's blog!  :) We are grateful they hosted us and plan to get back soon ... Ensha'alla.

Texas Visitors

by Kyndra

Richard and Brendon came to visit us last week. We loved having them here and we had plenty of fun playtime.

We made sure we took them to our favorite food places around town throughout the week ... Peg's Glorified Ham N Eggs, Silver Peak Brewery, The Blind Onion, Roses, & Sup.

SATURDAY: We ventured downtown for the River Wine Walk where we walked from vendor to vendor to sample the different wines. We even got to keep the painted wine glasses from the Art Mansion for souvenirs! It was a great time, especially watching Brendo's reaction to the new kinds of wine! ;)  Wine Walk Pics.
Later, we got a little Dark Knight action at the theater. (Anyone else share the love for Christian Bale in this movie?)

SUNDAY: We started out the day with church at The Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, where Shaun just accepted a job as Family & Children Ministry Coordinator. They introduced us to the church, and we pretty much shook hands with everyone there after the services! Brendon and Richard came to support us - and they loved every minute of it! In the afternoon, we took a trip up to Lake Tahoe for some nice bike-riding along the Truckee River and the west side of the Lake. It was beautiful, and the down-hills were tons of fun (not so much on the uphill!)

I had to go back to the hospital for internships once Monday came, but the boys kept playing ...

MONDAY:  Hiked up to Mt. Rose and explored another summit overlooking Lake Tahoe. Checked out Wall-E on the big screen. Everyone loved it!

TUESDAY: The boys headed up to UNR to check out the campus. In the evening, we made veggie burgers and headed downtown again to the Truckee River with the dogs in tow. Brendon & Richard jumped in and took on the rapids. We finished the evening with some fancy ice cream from Cold Stone. Can't forget the little casino visit! Shaun finally came out on top this time (not sure this has ever happened!) Can't say the same for Richard and Brendon.

WEDNESDAY/THURSDAY: Traveled to the South shore of Tahoe to Desolation Wilderness and hiked to a nice camping spot next to Susie Lake. I hear it was breath-taking views, freezing cold swimming and burnt oatmeal. Those Pics here.  Later that evening after everyone was home, we all crammed on our bed and watched Juno, the dogs too! We were packed in like 4 grown adults on a queen sz bed with 2 dogs bouncing around on top of us!

FRIDAY: After Richard asked for a Peg's breakfast again, they cleaned up the guest house they had been staying in, and then they all came to visit me at the hospital and we ate lunch together. Special! But, I hear they had to make one last stop at the favorite brewery before heading back to Texas!

So, come and see us and we'll show you a good ole time in Reno.  Here's how Brendo and Richard feel about it:

3, 4, or 5 things - an Update!

-Shaun

1...went to the Andrew Bird show on Wednesday night was simply amazing.  I had never seen him in concert before, but have followed his music fo years.  His talent with a live audience is mezmerizing and his band is great as well.  I especially dug trying to keep up with his drummer, looping beats and playing keys with one hand and drums with the other.  (He is the artist Dosh - check it out).  And make every effort to see Andrew Bird live!

2...I got offered a job on thursday!  Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd has offered me the position of “Children and Family Ministries Coordinator,” and I’m happy to accept.  It has been an interesting journey to this particular job and it has us analyzing our lives here in Reno (more on that another time).  This small church, just down the road from our house, seems like a unique, open group of people concerned with really serving the poor and hurting in Reno.  It will differ from what I’m used to, but we’re really beginning to see how it is (was) the next good step.  I’m very excited about it and will update more soon.  I officially start on July 28th.

3...Kyndra just wrapped up week 3 of her fieldwork with some hard, but good, evaluations.  She is no longer a mere observer and is having to learn while doing it  - sometimes for the first time.  But she works with good people and has the best attitude about it all.  It’s really eye-opening to hear the real stories of therapy every day.

4...I’m enjoying having more time to read books and blogs lately.  I admire someone like Annie Dillard who claims to try to read about 300 books a year.  I’ve been reading, but not quite like that.
The most enjoyable book lately has been rereading Dan Price’s stimulating memoirish book - Radical Simplicity.  It really is a creative workout.
The blog I’ve enjoyed following is McLaren’s notes on Faith, Politics, and Voting.  He is releasing them in parts, of which there are 6 so far.  All are good, clear, and challenging.  Take a look and let’s discuss!

5...Guests from Texas will arrive late tonight and stay for a week.  I’m really looking forward to Richard and my brother Brendon being able to hang out with us here.  It’s a bummer that Kyndra will have to work during the week ... but I’m still free, so that’s all working out pretty well!!  We’ll make plans when they arrive, but the skies are clearing out and it’s not so smoky from the California forest fires ... so it’s a good week to be here.  I’m thinking we’ll head out to Desolation Wilderness just southwest of Lake Tahoe - to hike and camp.  Some rafting is probably also in the works, along with sitting around with pipes, showing off the campus, and some casino time if someone feels lucky!  We’ll keep you posted with pics and stories along the way. 

There’s the Ohome update.  Peace and all good. 

Annual Veggie Party - Oct. 12th

UPDATE!:  Due to a trip for 3rd-5th graders at IBC (to pine cove), we will have to have the Annual Party later this month.  Evite still forth coming, as well as another blog post.  Your Oct. 12th evening is now back open!  Read a book or something! 

Here are some links to previous veggie celebration recaps and also "the story" of becoming a vegetarian almost 3 years ago. 
For now, save the date - that Friday night - and we'll send out some evites soon!  Hope you can join us.

-shaun & kyndra

Cobalt Season shows

Tour dates have been announced for a show I think you must go to!  I saw the Cobalt Season do a “house show” last year, and it was uniquely great.  It was actually my first “house show,” and I really didn’t know what to expect.  This uncertainty grew larger when I learned that the show would actually happen at a “church” and not actually in a “home.”  Still, it was called a “house show,” and I’m so glad I went out to see them. 

I went because I had known Ryan Sharp in high school (a bit), and we’d recently exchanged emails about Emergent Village and his involvement, and about his story as Jesus-follower, artist, husband, nomad, good guy, etc.. 
And, okay, let me be honest … not knowing what this “house show” had in store, I wondered if The Cobalt Season might play a couple of songs, but then if it might turn into a “who’s got a song for us?” kind of evening ... you know, where we pass the guitar around and such.
So, the night before, I brushed up on some late Rich Mullins (the Jesus Record he never fully recorded) and I’ll admit I was ready to bust out and play “You Did Not Have a Home” in a cool non-chalant, emergent-type key of D.  Alas, that time never came. 
Ryan and Holly took the stage (we’re at the church, remember?), and the stories and songs poured, and the night flew by in a wave of encouragement for me.  There really was a great life-story weaved into the songs and the sharing and the performance.  This was truly a LIVE show to me – the artist sharing life. 
And I met some good people that night too.

Well, now, not only can we all expect great community at the Cobalt Season shows that happen around DFW in October and November, but the new album, In Search of a Unified Theory takes amazing strides in musical creativity for the band.  The melodies are strong and layered, and when added to the personhood of the artist … well, it’s something special for sure!  Listen and buy – you’re supporting good music by great people and we need more of that. 

See you at the Dallas shows! 

ASLE conference

Hey, in case you check here, but you don't check out ThoseAwake, I wanted to update and let you know that I'm at Wofford College in SC this week (with Brian and Richard), at the Biennial Conference of the Association for the Study of Literature and the Environment.  It is going great, and we leave here tomorrow (friday) to head home.
We're blogging it over at ThoseAwake, and we're posting pics here.

peace.   

Using Twitter

I've enjoyed using twitter so far.  You can join too.  I even just like the warm look and feel of it.  Here's a snapshot of a conversation today, albeit suggestive:

abortion politics

Had a good conversation with Richard and Reagan today - we even touched on the charisma of that Barack Obama guy.
The topic of abortion came up, and some general thinking about how (or if) to vote for someone because they are strong in some areas that we like and care about, but may differ from our ideals in others.  This is the fine line we walk, I guess. 

Then, Crunchy Con Rod Dreher posted something to this affect - linking to another good piece by Rich Lowry called - Who Cares About Abortion?  Good question, cause it seems it goes back and forth for many.  Worth reading and thinking about. 

vote well, get educated,
s.o

feliz navidad

technorati tags: OREILLYS, CHRISTMAS 2006, FAMILY PIC