June 30, 2003
check back soon— i may try and publish a photo on this site of our hike yesterday!!!
Can you believe after 2 years of living in Colorado that yesterday was my first climb of a 14eer (colorado lingo for a mountain above 14,000 feet) I have hiked up 15,000 ft in nepal several years back, though…..My cousin, Christopher, and i hiked almost 4 hours up to 14,255 up Mount Evans! what a climb it was!!!!! Almost July and I was walking through knee deep snow, hiding behind rocks to eat lunch to avoid the bitter wind, and watching guys skiing down a long slope— WHAT A DAY! My fourteen year old cousin’s first time in the mountains and his first ever hike up a mountain! I was real proud of him - Tonight we were taken to dinner with a woman who lives here in Denver. Her former husband, Bob, did the music with my grandfather in church revivals in the 50’s.. I got real chocked up as she told me stories of Papa (who died in 1980) and how he always made her laugh, always sent $2 bills every birthday and spelled her name wrong every time…She still carries a $2 bill in her pocket that he sent to her many years ago….She is 78 and got married again just 5 years ago — her husband is 85 and plays gold 2 times per week — They seem like newly weds! It was beautiful conversation.
Zayd is sick the past 8 days with a bunch of cough stuff. Please pray for him. We fly out july 13 for asia and it is his first overseas plane ride! (25 hours) We are a bit nervous but trusting God that he will do good. We sang in church this morning…”I am hungry, I am hungry for more of you Jesus…” How this explains my soul tonight!
June 26, 2003
I am trying to email direct to the blog site, sorry for the 2 days of error. June 23 (this past Monday) was a special day in my life. Our 2 year wedding anniversary! WOW! 2 years I have been married. In these 2 years I have been transformed in more ways than I possibly could write here. How marriage has taught me about patience and communication. Ahhh, the beauty of companionship, friendship, and intimacy. What everyone use to tell me in my singlehood, “joel, you will never get married!” What a joy to have a wife who I love like no other and who wants to move to Nepal with me and take our 7 month old son!!! for those whom are not married, may God give you this sacrament and gift one day — for those who are, tell you spouse they are your best friend today and you could not live without them! I know that is how I feel.
Welcome to my online journal. I hope to post daily (keep your fingers crossed). I hope to be upfront about all that God teaches me and speaks to me!! Something is stirring in my heart these days of a greater reality of the presence of Jesus. His desire to give me more than I could ever want or imagine — I welcome this awakening in me and don’t know what to do with it actually.
Zayd is growing more and more each day. Fatherhood is such a joy — He smiles at me when I look at him and give him attention. He is happy. What a reminder of God’s heart when his children gaze upon him– he is delighted and takes joy!
