Nathan & Erin

2008-06-15T19:37:00.001-06:00

2008-06-15T19:33:00.000-06:00

2008-04-17T23:57:00.000-06:00

2008-04-17T23:01:00.001-06:00

2008-04-17T22:58:00.000-06:00

2008-04-17T22:53:00.000-06:00

2008-03-03T17:25:00.001-07:00

Charlotte is starting to smile and it's so cute!

2008-02-25T10:55:00.001-07:00

2008-02-10T13:12:00.000-07:00

Well, here are some more pictures. Charlotte is doing well. She is growing and revealing more character as the days pass. She does, however, have jaundice, so we have been in the hospital since Thursday so Charlotte can have a special blanket wrapped around her. I don't think she is very comfortable, but hopefully by tomorrow she and mom can come home. I have a mid-term on Tuesday, so I have been going back and forth from the house to the hospital. Anyway, we will post more pictures soon.

2008-02-10T13:04:00.000-07:00

2008-01-28T21:53:00.000-07:00

2008-01-26T11:33:00.000-07:00

2008-01-22T19:46:00.000-07:00

Charlotte Nicole was born on Saturday at 7:13 p.m. She was 19 inches long and weighed 6 pounds and 2.5 ounces. She has tons of really dark hair. We are home now from the hospital. We were there for 5 days! Erin definitely went through a lot that day (January 19, 2008). She was induced, she received an epidural, a spinal, she pushed for 2 hours, and then the doctors told us Erin would need a C-section. Needless to say, Erin is really sore and in a lot of pain. I keep reminding her that she did so well and that it was worth it because we have a beautiful daughter now! Charlotte is starting to sleep better. She slept for 6 hours last night! The doctors tell us she is healthy, which is awesome. Erin's parents are here and they are helping us out lots with the baby, cooking food, and helping Erin. We are a happy family!

2008-01-22T19:25:00.000-07:00

2007-12-20T20:15:00.000-07:00

The best thing about these pictures is that they may be the last ones before the baby comes! We have been getting prepared and can't wait until she comes! Erin is 35 weeks, so we likely have 3 to 5 weeks left. Erin finishes her last day of work tomorrow and I am now done work until the new year. This Christmas we are planning just to relax, read, watch movies, etc. It has been a crazy fall, so we are tired and looking forward to this week. We hope you all have a great Christmas! I will post pictures of the baby within a couple of days after she is born.

2007-12-20T20:12:00.000-07:00

2007-11-17T23:20:00.000-07:00

Maria, Erin and I just finished watching the movie Reign Over Me. It is a thought-provoking film about an old friend attempting to help his friend, who lost his whole family in an airplane crash (9/11), process his grief. They both end up helping each other (we are all in need of loving friends). The movie depicts an element that often does not exist in relationships, namely, patience. Often family members and friends of those who have lost loved ones expect them to overcome their sorrow quickly. And in some cases people end up in psychiatric institutions as a result of not being able to do just that. Anyway, Erin and I put together our crib today! Got to get ready they say! Don’t know the time or day, best be getting prepared! Today was a cleaning and organizing day as I arrived home from Montreal late last night. I got to tour around Old Montreal yesterday. I used the subway system, which was fun considering my French is practically non existent (the way to the airport was fun too because my taxi driver couldn’t speak English). I visited the Notre Dame Basilica which was incredibly beautiful, and walked down the cobblestone streets in Old Montreal. This last trip was 13 days long, so I am excited to be home. Now all I have to do is make sure I do my homework instead of reading John Caputo’s new book: What Would Jesus Deconstruct? Erin is feeling pretty uncomfortable these days, but she is hanging in there. The baby is moving around continuously. Looks like she might just break lose any minute now. I can’t wait until she comes! Got to get ready! 8-9 weeks left (the pictures are Erin at 31 weeks).

2007-11-17T19:59:00.000-07:00

2007-10-16T12:39:00.000-06:00

Here is Erin at 26 weeks. I think her belly resembles a squash. Erin has informed me that there are many different types of squash. So I have decided it looks like a pumpkin. Our little girl is moving around lots and enjoys kicking Erin's bladder. Her eyes are now open and she can recognize and distinguish different sounds. I talk and sing to her all the time. Erin finally received her Bachelor of Arts degree two weeks ago. She is excited about not having to do school ever again. Erin and I saw a huge moose in Three Hills last week! We followed it in our car. Well, this week I start traveling again. I will be joining the Christian College University Fair Tour on Thursday. We are working our way west (Kelowna, Abbotsford, Victoria, etc.). I get to go to Vancouver Island, so that will be nice. Also, I know someone in every city on the tour, so it will be nice to catch up with people like Barry Sommer, Daniel Enns, Jordan Vantol, and Chris Brambleby. Anyway, I have to go and do homework (two essays). Good times.

2007-09-18T23:05:00.000-06:00

Here is Erin at 22 weeks. I can't hug Erin without bumping into baby first. I felt the baby move this last weekend. It was amazing. Erin says she does summersaults in there (restless like the rest of us). I think all she does is sleep and plan her escape. I've started telling her stories and last Friday we took here to her first concert (Mutemath and Pilate). I am convinced she is going to be a poet or musician or a philosopher. Erin says she will be girly and play with dolls and that I need to love her selflessly (even if she doesn't become my little poet, etc.).

2007-08-23T13:45:00.000-06:00

Here are some more belly pictures! As you can see our little one is growing! Erin is 19 weeks this Tuesday. We went in for an ultra-sound the other day and were told that we were 10 days earlier than we thought. As a result, our due date is January 21st not January 11th. Next Friday we have another ultra-sound and we will find out if our baby is a boy or girl! We will also be given a DVD of our baby in 4D (fancy technology). Other than the baby not much is new. Erin and I, being a part of the Prairie Admissions team, are getting ready for students to arrive. There are about 75 students here already. I love meeting new students and being able to put a face to a name. At night we either read or watch a movie (pretty exciting stuff). The funny thing is that I wouldn't have any other way (which means I am getting old and/or less restless).

2007-07-20T17:02:00.000-06:00

Erin is documenting her pregnancy. Here are the latest pcitures (14.5 weeks), and, yes, her belly is getting bigger! I am getting pretty excited as the days go by. I know that there will be some major adjustments to our schedule and life when little junior gets here, but I know (with certainty) that having a child will be such a blessing!

2007-07-19T17:40:00.000-06:00

Here are some pictures from Steve and Heather's wedding. They got married in the same place Erin and I did as Heather's grandparents own the vineyard. It was a really fun and beautiful wedding. They had an awesome jazz/fusion band there, great food and wine, and it was good to finally really meet Erin's extended family and friends as I didn't get a proper chance to at our wedding. Steve and Heather are perfect together and Erin and I pray that God blesses them as they get settled in their home and grow together.

2007-07-19T16:42:00.000-06:00

2007-07-19T12:38:00.000-06:00

Here are some beautiful pictures of Oregon that Erin took exactly two weeks ago. It was a great day. Tony (Erin's Dad), Suzannah (Erin's sister), Erin and I drove through the Redwoods to California and the Oregon coast. I swam in the ocean, which was incredibly cold, we went out for fish and chips, and we watched the sunset. I really think I need to move to Oregon soon...

2007-06-08T12:01:00.000-06:00

Well there you have it, Erin's belly at 9 weeks. Not quite a balloon yet, but she is starting to show. We found out two weeks ago that we are going to have a baby and we are excited. We meet with the doctor soon and then we will have an official due date (probably January sometime). Right now I am at home sick getting ready for my trip to California (I leave tomorrow). Erin is at work with a stomach ache and box of crackers.

2007-05-02T21:09:00.000-06:00

This is the birthday card my parents sent me; I just think it fits me perfectly! Thanks dad, very thoughtful card. I have been making music mixes since I received a stereo with two tape decks back in the 5th grade. Throughout high school and college I always had to have a mix for every trip and occasion or whenever a multitude of new releases came out. Anyway, wicked card. In a lot ways I can't believe I will be 25 tomorrow. That means I have lived a third of my life. There is still so much to do, so many books to read, people to meet, classes to attend, time with family and my kids (future), classes to teach, so many more joys and inevitably more pain. I am thankful for these last 25 years and for God's grace in my life. Right now my beautiful wife is making me cinnamon buns! Tomorrow Erin and I are going to Calgary for her Immigration interview, which means (hopefully) she will be receiving permanent residence here in Canada. At night we are having friends over for a barbecue and cake. Should be good times.

2007-04-29T14:56:00.000-06:00

This last picture is of our good friends the Richardsons. They are from Alaska and we hang-out almost everyday now. Joshua is a folk singer and critical thinker and Rosie is a hairstylist and is very similar to Erin so we get along well. Good times. This weekend has been good. It was graduation here in Three Hills. On Friday the some of the class of 1957 were here and I gave a group of them a tour of Prairie campus including our new building, which just opened (we are moving in in June). One couple spent 25 years in Pontinanak, Indonesia where I grew up so that was cool and another lady knew my parents and my grandfather! Ron Richardson was the distinguished alumni, he wrote Peacechild, which is now a movie and on DVD. Yesterday Erin and I and the Richardsons went to the Bad Lands and barbecued...pictures coming soon. It was fun. Josh and I talked about our futures and plans for obtaining MA degrees while the ladies walked around taking pictures. Right now it is raining in Three Hills and I am listening to classical music about to read Zizek, the crazy Slovenian philosopher. The grass is getting greener so I suspect summer is on its way.

2007-04-25T22:41:00.000-06:00

Last Saturday Erin was the official photographer at a wedding that took place in Three Hills. This was her first gig so consequently she was nervous that the pictures wouldn't turn out, but they did. It was an interesting wedding in that the couple was already married! They got married in B.C. the week before because the bride's mother was given a week to live so they had a small wedding so she could see them get married. Kat's mother wanted her to still have a wedding, so that's why they had a wedding in Three Hills. Kat's mother did pass away, so there sad moments during the wedding.

2007-03-18T16:50:00.000-06:00

Here is a picture of Erin and I on St. Patrick's Day. It was the warmest day in Three Hills since the day we went to Buffalo Jump in early October. We both slept in and then I went for a run with my friend Josh. After Erin and I went for a walk around town. In the afternoon I read and started working on my Nietzsche paper while Erin made two loaves of Irish bread, some cauliflower soup, and apple crisp. At night we hung-out with the Richardsons and played Dutch Blitz and watched a movie. I also called my dad to wish him a happy birthday. In the end, it was an excellent St. Patrick's Day.

2007-01-31T22:40:00.000-07:00

On January 20, 2007, my only brother James got married. It was a beautiful winter wedding and it was just amazing to see James and Nikki so happy. Erin and I had a great time in Ontario spending time with James and Nikki and family, preparing for the wedding, and celebrating with them on their special day. A lot of friends, family, and friends from Moody came to see James and Nikki get married, which was nice. They leave tomorrow actually to start ministry at a church in Indianna. Erin and I are praying that God will continue to bless them as they work with students and youth in their new hometown showing them God's deep love for them. I think James and Nikki are very capable and gifted individuals. We are excited for them, we just wish they weren't so far away. Well, bro, when Erin and I move to Waterloo we will be closer and then we can see each other a lot more. I am looking forward to hanging out again. Erin and I love you guys.

2007-01-31T22:28:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures of Jaxen Wierenga. He is so cute, he is practically a model already the way he poses. All I know is that Erin will probably take a thousand pictures a day of our children. Message to Andrea and Greg, if you can produce this cute of a kid you should probably start working on having more!

2007-01-31T18:33:00.000-07:00

2007-01-30T23:11:00.000-07:00

How was everyone's Christmas? On a scale from 1 to 10 how does it feel to be back in school or back at work? That's what I thought. Well, Erin and I had a great time relaxing in Grants Pass, Oregon with her family and friends. The weather was nice and we did a lot of nothing. We ate healthy and unhealthy food, watched movies, went to cafés, and played lots of games. I received a poker set for Christmas along with lots of books and The Office Season Two and Seinfeld Season Seven. Good times, not that it is about accumulating more stuff or anything. Above are pictures I took of a rusty door I saw with the word "apathy" written on it. The two ladies above are Suzannah, my sister-in-law and her friend Whitney. Good people. Lately I have been thinking about how apathy is something I can relate to. A lot of times I let the listlessness sink in and I act like Meursault in Camus' The Outsider, who is continually unconcerned and uncaring. Nothing is a serious matter to him, he has no ambition, nothing means anything to him. Camus says that Meursault's downfall is that he refuses to lie and to play the social game, this is how he feels (if you can call unfeeling a feeling) and therefore he is truthful. Question: Do you ever feel like you don't care anymore...about your goals, work, the things you shouldn't do, school, the things you should do? That's what I thought. You could always baptize me in a small blue basin of cold water ("I am a little concerned about your salvation and stuff..."). The answer, I have come to realize, is not necessarily movies like Blood Diamond (which is so good by the way) or reading International Development Magazine or talking to you friends about all your goals that you won't follow through on ("This year I won't shop at Wal-Mart" "This year I am going to tithe better" "This year I am going to the gym"). Whatever. The answer is prayer. Meeting with God. The question is: “Are you still sleeping and resting…?” (Mark 14:41).

2006-12-17T12:05:00.000-07:00

Here is a picture of Erin and I at the Christmas Banquet. We had a good night hanging-out with other married couples. The theme was Charles Dickens' Christmas Carol. Erin is finished school now, all she has left to complete in order to receive her Bachelor's degree is her final Intercultural Studies paper. She is researching how a missionary kid's involvement in his or her parent's ministry affects his or her spiritual well-being and consequently, his or her social adjustment to North American culture. It is really interesting. Well, we are going to leave for Oregon on Thursday morning (December 21st). It is a 20 hour trip, so please pray for our safety. Right now Erin is making gingersnaps and I am in the middle of reading an essay by Jean-Luc Marion (Synopsis so far: We strive in vain if we attempt to understand God as an object. St. Augustine said that one knows God best by not knowing Him. Seeing God is to be found in not seeing him. "Incomprehensibility does not epistemologically disquailfy the Infinite," in other words, just because God is incomprehensible does not imply that He is not true or that we cannot know Him. For as you know God reveals Himself in the person of Jesus Christ. 2000 years ago the Infinite took on flesh and this is what we celebrate at Christmas). Anyway, I am definitely looking forward to hanging-out with Erin's family in Grants Pass and simply reading, relaxing, watching movies, hiking, eating pizza and turkey, etc. I hope you all have a great Christmas! Blessings! Love Nathan and Erin

Movies to watch during Christmas:

Half Nelson
Little Miss Sunshine
Stranger Than Fiction
The Departed
Babel
Thank You for Smoking
Fast Food Nation
The Pursuit of Happyness

Check out my book wish list for 2007 www.xanga.com/drawntotreason

2006-11-29T20:46:00.000-07:00

Today was a pretty good day. It was -20 something with sunshine (this is me being somewhat sarcastic and at the same time attempting to be optimistic). I had yesterday off, which was nice. I slept in, read, hung-out briefly with Steve in the Loft, and watched Superman Returns with Erin. I am still fighting the cold I contracted after returning home from Ottawa. Erin and I bought our first Christmas tree yesterday. It was only $10. Erin insisted on getting a real tree and now the whole apartment is permeated with a strong pinecone odor that I can taste each time I swallow. It’s nice to look at though. Anyway, Erin and I just got back from the library, she is studying and after I write and post this update message I am going to try to persuade her to watch an NBC Office episode with me. Well, are you finished your Christmas shopping yet? I only have one thing left to get and I am done. Erin and I are looking forward to getting out of this -26 weather and having two weeks in Oregon for Christmas. Until next time, buddle up and stay warm friends.

2006-11-29T19:22:00.000-07:00

2006-10-27T16:51:00.000-06:00

These are some pictures of Erin's new haircut. She is very beautiful if you ask me! Unfortunately, she is feeling really sick today and I went to the Dentist earlier to get a crown done, so we are quite the pair. Erin is a part of a women's conference in Three Hills this weekend, but I rented some movies and hopefully we will get a chance to relax. I had an awesome time on the Christian College University Fair (West), but I didn't get a lot of sleep, so it will be nice to rest on the weekend. I leave for my next trip on November 7th (CCUF East). I'm going home for a few days before the tour, so I'll get to see my parents and some of my friends. Have a good weekend!

2006-10-13T21:07:00.000-06:00

This is a picture of Erin and I at Jocelyn's wedding last Saturday. Well, not much is new with us. We got a new computer (used but new to us), so I bought a wireless card and now we have the Internet. I traveled this week to Saskatchewan and eastern Alberta recruiting students. I had good conversations with lots of people, are there are some people who are really interested in coming to Prairie. I've been listening to the Bible on CD as I drive, which has been really great. Yesterday I shared with two people what I had read in Acts, it just fit into the conversation. I found out today that my sister-in-law Suzannah was in a car accident yesterday. Her head went through the windshield. She is okay though, which, of course, is good. I talked to her today, I guess her one eye is swollen over and she can't move her head. Next week I travel to British Columbia on a bus with 25 other Christian College & University representatives. Should be fun. I've been listening to Saxon Shore, Iron & Wine, Calexico, and Josh Tillman, check them out (links). Have a great weekend.

2006-10-04T16:59:00.000-06:00

2006-10-04T14:53:00.000-06:00

These are some pictures from our Saturday trip to Buffalo Jump. It was probably the last nice summer day for the year (pull out those winter jackets...if you haven't already). It is very beautiful at Buffalo Jump, you feel as if you are in the land of dinosaurs. Well, I just got back from my first recruiting trip, which was in California, and I can't believe it is already Thanksgiving! I predict that the rest of the year goes by way too fast. Today I went to the hospital because I have this wicked rash all over my arms. The doctor doesn't know what it is exactly, so I'm left popping allergy pills. Well, I got to go and read "Either/Or" by Soren Kierkegaard and do some laundry. Have a great Thanksgiving everyone!

2006-09-14T13:24:00.000-06:00

This is Suzannah's new haircut...it's so 80s...pure vintage.

2006-09-14T11:22:00.000-06:00

Here are some amazing pictures Erin took in Edmonton last weekend. Erin's sister Suzannah and two of her friends (Bo & Marcie) came up from Oregon last week and we all went to Edmonton on the weekend to the Harvest Moon Festival. I represented Prairie at the Festival, which turned out pretty good. Two bands from Prairie played at the Festival, so that helped, plus everyone loved the Prairie tattoos. We stayed downtown, saw some shows (MXPX, Blindside), hung-out, I learned how to long board, it was fun. The "Consume Much" picture is taken just outside of the Bay at the West Edmonton Mall.

2006-09-05T17:21:00.000-06:00

Well, Erin and I have been discussing lately when a good time to have our first child would be. I received this picture from a friend and showed it to Erin. We shared a brief moment of non-verbal communication. She looked at me as if to say, "Let's wait a little longer." The perfect horror of this picture has put an end to our discussion of bringing children into this sorrowful world...at least for now. On a different note here is a good prayer to pray regularly: "God in Heaven, let me really feel my nothingness, not in order to despair over it, but in order to feel the more powerfully the greatness of Thy goodness."
- Soren Kierkegaard

2006-08-29T18:01:00.000-06:00

Well, last Friday Erin and I drove to Edmonton and attended Claire Thompson's wedding. I grew up with Claire in Indonesia. It was a nice wedding at the First Baptist Church downtown Edmonton. A few other missionary kids from Indonesia came so it was great catching up with them. Two of the Clark girls were there, three of the Kirkley girls, and, of course, the Thompsons. The reception was on the 11th floor of the Delta hotel. You could see the city and the city lights at night, it was really nice. Shawn and Claire are perfect together, they are so goofy and carefree, and they smiled the whole time. I almost fell asleep on the way home and Erin got sick from drinking too much coffee, wine, carbonated drink, etc. Good times. The next wedding Erin and I are attending is Daniel Enns' wedding on September 16th.

2006-08-29T16:47:00.000-06:00

2006-08-10T10:46:00.000-06:00

I know, I know I am ridiculously in love with my books and my new bookshelf. I bought it in the AS/IS room at IKEA and now all I hear are the words of Tyler Durden: "Deliver me from Swedish furniture, deliver me from clever art…the things you own will end up owning you.” For some of my thoughts on books that I have read recently or books that I am currently reading go to my xanga blog (see link). Also, check out all the links I have added. These are some of the bands Erin and I like, organizations we support, and good Websites to get quality books and music at a decent price.

2006-08-09T18:14:00.000-06:00

Here are pictures of Erin and I holding Tristan after he had been out of the womb for four hours! Now it has been over a week since he was born in Calgary at the Foothills Hospital. Erin stayed over night last Tuesday when Scott and Sohayla were rushed to Calgary so Sohayla could have her little Tristan. Erin and I have visited the Courtins a few times since Tristan was born. He is a very cute baby. I've told Erin not to get an ideas, although for some reason, it is becoming more tempting...

2006-08-08T14:34:00.000-06:00

How was your long weekend? It went by way too fast for me. On Friday night Erin and I, Steve and Stacey watched V for Vendetta. It is a good movie about an utilitarian society that attempts to control its people and condition its social agents. V is this terrorist or anarchist, who seeks revenge against those involved in testing minority groups and a children's hospital with medicine that leads to infection and death. Anyway, I think it was well written at times, it is has lots of action as well, just watch it. On Saturday Erin worked at the Bookroom and I helped Steve Davis move into his new place. We had some good chats, some pizza and brew. After church on Sunday a bunch of us went to Gull Lake and barbecued, swam, etc. I lost my wedding ring playing football in the water. We all looked for an hour for the ring. Finally, I saw this guy with a metal detector and I asked him if he would look for my ring for me. Just before we left for home I went out to him in the water and he showed me my ring! It was amazing, I thought I lost it for sure! Thank God! Yesterday I finished reading Brave New World by Aldous Huxley and Erin and I played tennis and just relaxed.

2006-08-01T15:57:00.000-06:00

Here are two pictures of the main stage at Creation Festival in George, Washington. I just got back Sunday night. It was a great trip, I got to hang-out with my sister-in-law Suzannah, we made friends with the people next to us in the tent, and we had the chance to see Hillsong United and David Crowder Band. I left Three Hills after my exam on Tuesday, which went pretty good. It took 10 hours to get to Spokane, Washington, it was a nice drive. I arrived at the Gorge on Wednesday, it took awhile to figure out where I had to go and it was incredibly hot outside. I finally found Suzannah and we set-up the Prairie booth and our tent, etc. The next three days we told people about Prairie, handed-out Prairie tattoos, camped, smuggled pop into the tent area, watched bands, bought New Fire Paradise and Truth clothing, and drank lots of water. It was a lot of fun, I didn't get too much sleep and on the way home I had to sleep in my car because there was no room at any hotels in Spokane! So, needless to say I am very tired. Erin is planning to come with me next year, should be good.

2006-08-01T14:49:00.000-06:00

Okay, so I promised I would write a movie review for Pirates of the Caribbean 2, it is a little rushed, but here it is: Pirates of the Caribbean 2 has all the elements of the first move: homour, pirate legends, adventures at sea, supernaturalism, love, and an evil villain and his crew, but it is, in a sense, over-produced and the plot was a little strange. Basically, Captain Jack Sparrow searches to find the key to unlock a treasure box, so he can possess the heart of Davey Jones, which will then give him control over the sea, and, of course, he is deceptive and lucky as usual and finds it. The only problem is he isn't the only one looking for it. I enjoyed the parts in the film with the great squid because I have always found the myths about a giant octopus destroying ships at sea intriguing. Pirates of the Caribbean 2 is definitely an entertaining adventure ride close to three hours in length and worth your $10. It has cannibals, a giant squid, battles at sea, mystery, a lot of humour, internal conflict, etc. Is the first one better? It could be just the ending of Dead Man's Chest, which was frustrating and exciting at the same time, but I think the first one is better for different reasons, one being that I didn't sense that the characters developed that much.

2006-07-18T15:52:00.000-06:00

Here is a hilarious picture of Captain Jack Sparrow running away from cannibals. Erin and I and our neighbours went and saw Pirates of the Caribbean 2 last Saturday night. Later this week I will post my review of the movie as well as post the albums of the week. Today on the way to work I fell off my bike and cut up my fingers, I might post a picture of my hand tomorrow just for fun. Have a great day. I have to finish writing a paper tonight. It should be good times. One week until my exam!

2006-07-18T15:08:00.000-06:00

Here are some pictures Erin took of the Three Hills parade last Saturday. Kids love candy, I saw a few children almost get run over by cars/carts trying to get candy. It's funny we tell them not to jump or run infront of cars and then we take them to the parade!

2006-07-17T14:47:00.000-06:00

Erin and I are going to Warped Tour 2006 in Calgary on Thursday! We are excited to see bands like: Underoath, AFI, MuteMath, The All-American Rejects, Emery, Classic Crime, and Thursday. It seems to be a concert summer for me for some reason, I am leaving for Creation Festival next Tuesday where I will get the chance to see Hillsong United, Anberlin, Project 86, Starfield, etc. Erin and I saw Pilate live the other day and Phantom of the Opera (as I have already mentioned), we are going to Harvestmoon Festival in September (MXPX, Blindside, Copeland, etc.), and I am going to see Tool in August.

2006-07-14T14:55:00.000-06:00

Check out these storm pictures from the other night. Erin took them right outside our apartment building.

2006-07-14T09:27:00.000-06:00

Well, here you have it, Erin's new haircut. It is pretty short, but it is cute...I love it. Right now Erin is working at the bookroom and I am registering students for classes. We don't have too much planned for the weekend. I have a lot of reading to do for my course and I have to write a paper. Have a good weekend everybody.

2006-07-13T18:15:00.000-06:00

These are the albums of the week. The first is Sufjan Stevens' new album entitled The Avalanche (2006). I bought this album on Tuesday and I love it! The song "Pittsfield" is incredible. I love Sufjan's voice and his quirky yet melodic songs. The next album is from the very talented Thom Yorke, lead vocalist from Radiohead. His solo album entitled The Eraser (2006) has elements of Radiohead in it, but is quite unique. The album is very vocally driven and the music is mostly electronic. The overall sound is a kind of Postal Service meets Radiohead. The last album is Pilate's sophmore release entitled Sell Control for Life's Speed (2006). I love this album. Lyrically it is honest and I think the band has really captured their own unique sound on this album. Erin and I recently saw Pilate live and we were very impressed. I had the chance to meet the lead vocalist Todd Clark and he was a really kind, easy going guy. Well, every week I will share new music and music I love with you all.

2006-07-13T13:59:00.000-06:00

Well, this is my new haircut. It is pretty short. Erin got her haircut today and it is really short, but I love it. It looks like a hairstyle from the 1960s. I will put up pictures of her tomorrow. Well, my time at camp was amazing! I got to drive a boat, go tubing, play drums in chapel, speak in chapel, meet amazing counselors and campers, and make new friends. I love all the people I met at Moose Lake Gospel Camp and I am definitely going back next year (and bringing Erin this time). Nathan McLean is a great guy and did an awesome job directing camp. Now I am back to work, and it is crazy in the office. We are trying to register students for classes and go through their payment plan options, and so on. I am getting excited to meet all the students I have been working with in August and September. It is my prayer that they sense God's presence and His purpose for their lives when they step foot on to campus. I think places like camp and Bible College are so important for a young Christian because they provide the opportunity for a young person to grow in their knowledge of God, deepen their faith, study a discipline, fellowship with other like-minded people, have fun playing games and relaxing together, learn to articulate their thoughts, and get a sense of God's calling for their lives. Those are the moments I remember from school and camp. Times of surrendering, times around a campfire, times handing in a paper and then going and celebrating with friends, times praying with my roommate before going to bed, times rushing to chapel so I wasn't late, times eating in the dining hall, times playing volleyball and ping pong, and times worshipping God together. Doesn't that sound like a good time?

2006-07-13T11:48:00.000-06:00

This is my reading list for the rest of the year. After my final exam for my Literary Criticism course (July 25) and after Creation Festival in Washington (July 26-29) I plan to start reading the following books in order:

The Sickness unto Death by Soren Kierkegaard
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
Lost in the Cosmos by Walker Percy
Thus Spoke Zarathustra by Friedrich Nietzsche
Subversive Orthodoxy by Robert Inchausti
The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky
The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell
Works of Love by Soren Kierkegaard
The DaVinci Code by Dan Brown
Katzenjammer by Jackson Tippett McCrae
The Plague by Albert Camus
Reading Karl Barth by Kurt Anders Richardson
Things That Fall From the Sky by Kevin Brockmeier
Who’s Afraid of Postmodernism? Taking Derrida, Lyotard, and Foucault to Church by James K.A. Smith
The Moviegoer by Walker Percy
The History of Reading by Alberto Manguel
Invisible Monsters by Chuck Palahniuk
The Sacred Journey by Frederick Buechner
Twilight of the Idols by Friedrich Nietzsche
Through Painted Deserts by Donald Miller
Dead Languages by David Shields
The Weight of Glory by C.S. Lewis
The Last Word and the Word After That by Brian McLaren
A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce
No Exit and Three Other Plays by Jean-Paul Sartre
Confessions by Saint Augustine
Choke by Chuck Palahniuk
An American Childhood by Annie Dillard
The Antichrist by Friedrich Nietzsche
Recapture the Wonder by Ravi Zacharias

2006-07-13T11:39:00.000-06:00

These are pictures from July 1st. We went with friends to Sylvan Lake, Alberta and spent the day on the beach. All of us got sunburns. We barbecued, swam, laughed, and ate junk food on the beach. There were tons of people there. My cousin Jessica came, and my good friend from Calgary, Chris Brambleby. We watched the fireworks in Red Deer, they were short, but good. We hope you had a great Canada Day!

2006-07-13T09:01:00.000-06:00

The pictures of Erin's dress didn't really turn out. Here are some funny, yet beautiful pictures of Erin before we went to the show on Tuesday night.

2006-07-12T15:05:00.000-06:00

Well, Erin and I went and saw The Phantom of the Opera last night. It was really well done. We sat on the second balcony, but we could see perfectly. The singing was really good, the stage/sets were elaborate, the whole thing was quite an ordeal. It is really a funny plot if you think about it: A scarred man, who was orphaned as a child, lives in the basement of an Opera House, somehow he teaches a beautiful girl, who hears voices in her head, to sing. Then, he writes notes to everyone who works at the Opera House with instructions on how he wants everything to run. The Phantom is an insecure, controlling, obsessive, narcissistic, emotional man, who is in love with love and just needs a day on the beach. Anyway, Erin looked beautiful last night of course. We went to Swiss Chalet before the show and overall, we had a great night. Remember, take off your mask and let people see you the way you really are. When we wear masks we deceive others as well as ourselves. Tomorrow I will put up pictures of Erin in her dress, pictures from July 1 (yes there are pictures of fireworks), and my summer reading list, as well as my "rest of the year" reading list.

2006-07-12T15:01:00.000-06:00

2006-07-11T09:30:00.000-06:00

Sufjan Stevens' new album Avalanche comes out today! Sufjan Stevens is an American musician, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist from Detroit, Michigan. He is known for his lyrically focused and instrumentally rich songs that often relate to faith and family. His music, which is indie pop with influences from folk and electronica, has enjoyed wide critical success in the United States, particularly with the albums Michigan (2003) and Illinois (2005). Stevens has announced plans to make an album for each of the 50 U.S. states. His new album is extras and outtakes from the album Illinois (2005).

2006-06-30T13:39:00.000-06:00

Erin and I and going to see The Phantom of the Opera on July 11th! I got Erin tickets for her birthday which was June 11th. We are planning to dress-up, should be stellar even though Erin is a lot more excited than I am.

2006-06-30T13:30:00.000-06:00

2006-06-30T12:52:00.000-06:00

Let's just say Erin loves her new camera, she is always taking pictures of me at home and of people who come over to the house. Here are two pictures of us (Erin was trying to figure out how to work the timer). Tomorrow we are going with friends to Sylvan Lake, Alberta to hang-out on the beach, have ice cream, and watch fire-works. Should be good times. Then on Sunday I travel to Moose Lake Gospel Camp for the week. I am helping my friend Nathan McLean, who is the Director of camp that week, with worship (drums) and chapel (speaking). Unfortunately Erin can't come with me because she has to work. It will be a relaxing week, I plan to catch-up on homework, rest, and hang-out with new and old friends. I will put pictures up of our weekend when I get back. Happy Canada Day!

2006-06-26T12:14:00.000-06:00

Erin graduated from Prairie this last April. Her family came from Oregon for her graduation and we had a really fun weekend. Erin is now working at the Bookroom at Prairie. We are planning to live in Three Hills for another year and then move to Waterloo where I will finish my studies. This year I will continue to take courses through correspondence from the University of Waterloo and work as an Admissions Counselor for Prairie, a job I am really enjoying! I recently won "Rookie of the Year" in Wilmore, Kentucky at the North American Coalition for Christian Admissions Professionals (NACCAP) conference! God has blessed us tremendously and we are very thankful. Bro, good work on pulling off the engagement plan, Nikki, you look very happy in the pictures I've seen. The ring is stellar, nice work. I am very happy for you guys! We will be there on June 2nd for sure! Can't wait!

2006-06-26T11:58:00.000-06:00

2006-06-26T10:40:00.000-06:00

Erin and I went to Canmore, Alberta last weekend for our one year anniversary. It is hard to believe it has been one year already. We are doing well and really enjoyed our first year together. We stayed at the Marriot Residence, which was tucked away in the mountains. We went shopping in Canmore, had a fancy dinner, went in the hot tub at the hotel, and, of course, watched the hockey game. It was a relaxing weekend. Year two here we come!