Smoky Mountain High!

I know, I know... the title of the song is really Rocky Mountain High, but with what God blessed us with this past weekend, I had to change the title.

For those of you that don't know, the weather in the last few weeks has left a lot to be desired. Monday and Tuesday before we left, the saint louis area and the midwest got about 8 inches of rain in a 36 hour period. Looking at the forecast they were calling for snow on the Sunday of our return. But God worked his miracle and on Thursday-Saturday, the weather broke for amazing weather for our trip. It was a sunny and warm drive, we had clear blue skies with highs near 70 both Friday and Saturday. When we got home on Sunday evening, we drove in a blizzard. We had prayed for amazing weather and God delivered.

With that said, here is a run down of our trip.

Angie, Cathy, Brad and I left Saint Louis Thursday morning at 7am. We were all excited.


We arrived at our cabin... it was called "Awesome Views". I would say it's name is fitting.



We met up with our friends James and Amber who now live in Atlanta. The next day we went on a pretty intense hike up the Chimney Top Trail. Here is a group picture of us on our way up.



The next day we drove up to the Newfound Gap. This is where the Tennessee Mountains meet the North Carolina Mountains.



The next day we packed a picnic lunch and went rock hopping in one of the rivers in Smoky Mountain National Park



Overall the trip couldn't have been any better!

Walking in Memphis

This past weekend, I FINALLY had the chance to go see my sister and her growing family in Memphis. I hadn't been down since Thanksgiving. When you have a 4 year old and a 14 month old nephew, 3 months is an eternity. During those 3 months my sister also had her 3rd child, Leah Grace (Love) Johnson. The Love was given to her by Noah. When you would ask him the babies name, he would say, Leah Grace Love Johnson. He says Love is in there because he loves her. Leah is a beautiful baby and I am sure she will as big a blessing to my sister and her husband as the two boys have been.

I had a great weekend. Not only were my nephews happy, fun, and running all over the place, but the weather was amazing! I love visiting and really hope that someday the move closer to the Saint Louis area so I can see them more.

I don't know how my sister and her husband have the energy to keep up with Noah and Elijah.

So Saturday and Sunday the temps were in the mid 70's. Monday night in Saint Louis we get sleet, freezing rain and on Tuesday 7 inches of snow. Yet another snow day. It was the hardest I have seen it snow in my life. I am ready for spring. At least this weekend is daylight savings time. That puts spring right around the corner!

Monday night I started my small group with a group of about 6 guys. It's all about being and doing manly things, oh and also about the secrets that men keep. The first day went really well and I am looking forward to getting to know the guys better.

Finally, before I show off some new photos, I want to ask prayers for a friend of mine from college. He has had some pain in his groin area and after going to the doctor, he is going in for a biopsy in a week or so. Please pray that it's not Cancer.

Here are a few new photos, they weren't really planned, so they aren't great, but I love to photo that amazing artwork that God paints daily.

I can't think of anything!!!

I haven't blogged in a while. It's not because i haven't wanted to... it's just that I don't have any good pics to post or any profound words of wisdom :) That and nothing too exciting has happened in the past month. My sister called me out to post the following survey, I guess I will get started with that. Oh and for everyone out there, please pray for Kirkwood, MO. I go to church about 1/2 mile from where the brutal slayings took place in Kwood city hall last week and the town is in mourning. It's a great town that defines the word community.

Two names you go by… Andy and Fleck


Two things you are wearing right now… Nike Shox and an SIU hoody.

Two things you would want (or have) in a relationship… trust and respect (can't really beat those answers Abbie)


Two of your favorite things to do… Hike and take pictures

Two things you want very badly at the moment… to be done with school and to see my new niece and my nephews :).

Two pets you have or have had… Pucker and Hamburger :)


Two things that you did last night… trivia night for Boys Hope Girls Hope and watched the last episode of 24 season 3.


Two people you think will fill this out...Ehh... don't think anyone really reads this except my sister and mom.

Two things you ate today… Chicken and dumplings and St. Louis Bread Co.

Two people you last talked to… Brad and Mike C.


Two things you’re doing tomorrow… Work and hopefully waking up to workout in the morning!

Two longest car rides… South Dakota and Coming home from the SIU/NIU football game.


Two favorite holidays… Christmas and Thanksgiving

Two favorite beverages… Coke and Gatorade


Two people no longer alive who you’d like to talk to… Jesus and Paul.

Rubix Cube

My roommate got a rubix cube for Christmas and I have been caught up in trying to solve it. Well, after hours of messing around, I did it!

Happy New Year!

Well, Christmas came and went and my winter break is starting to wrap itself up. I spent all of last week at my parents house in Southern Illinois. It was a nice relaxing break from the city life. We live right by the South County Mall and traffic and tempers were at an all time high just before I left. It was nice to get away. I spent time with mom and dad, did a little hiking, met up with some high school friends, watched the Carbondale Holiday High School Basketball Tournament, oh and bought new tires. I had just purchased new tires last March, but apparently I got a bad batch and had to have them replaced. Luckily Sams warranty helped pay for them, but I still had to dish out 200.00 There goes my Christmas $$.



Overall, Christmas was very nice. It was a little quiet without having my sister and her famly there Christmas morning. We missed them.



I don't know what it is, but the past few days, I have felt a bit anxious. I think it's a combination of the prospect of going back to work on Thursday, returning to school next week and the real posibility that I could have a 2nd job coming up. I am nervous that I am going to have too much going on. I also increased my class load from 6 hours to 9 hours. That and my diet has been bad. Good healthy food is expensive and money is something that is spread pretty thin right now. I guess a second job will help. We'll see. One thing I do take courage in is that I know God won't sign me up for anything I can't handle. Maybe the reason I didn't get an interview for that 2nd job this fall was because I needed to take baby steps in returning to school so I didn't get too stressed out. He has a plan, he will give me the energy, focus, and strength if it's part of the plan. Also, school is different this go around. I am not doing it because I HAVE to. I am doing it because I WANT to.



Tonight is new years eve. A time to reflect on the past 365 days and a time to look forward to the next 366 days (leap year). I plan to do a blog on what I have learned and experienced in the past year and what I look forward to next year. I'll try not to wait until March to get it done. I wish you all a happy and SAFE new year!



AS always, here's a picture I took over Christmas in Ferne Cliff State Park by my parent's home in Goreville, IL. It's not great, but kind of funky looking.

IT'S REALLY BEEN A MONTH!?

I can't believe I am pushing a month without a post. I guess my life just isn't interesting enough to post once a week. Well, in the last month I have wrapped up my 1st semester in grad school. All A's!!! My professor even wrote a long note about my natural ability and how my self-analysis was the best in the class! It's nice to have my decision to return to school validated.

CHRISTmas should be interesting this year. Not only am I broke from school, but I also spent a day and a half in the hospital just after Thanksgiving with the stomach flu. So I will also be receiving a nice hefty bill from the hospital soon. It's funny how God puts us in difficult situations in order to teach us something. I really find peace when the going gets tough by trying to find a lesson in my hardship or pain. I can't afford gifts so I started thinking about what I could give instead. This fall my small group did a study on using OUR gifts to serve others. During this time I felt really dry in my faith. I didn't feel "called" or "compelled" to serve. Everything I learned I felt I already knew. Looking back, I now realize he was preparing me for this situation. Instead of purchasing gifts I am going to give myself. I am going to do everything I can to go out of my way to help others. I am going to focus on being completely and entirely open to helping others. There is so much in the bible that talks about giving.

"Yes, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love." - Galatians 5:13 (NIV)

"Those of us who are strong and able in the faith need to step in and lend a hand to those who falter, and not just do what is most convenient for us. Strength is for service, not status. Each one of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking ourselves, "How can I help?"- Romans 15:1-2 (msg)

"Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.”- Luke 12:15 (NLT)

"You obey the law of Christ when you offer each other a helping hand." - Galatians 6:2 (CEV)

"...let's see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out..."- Hebrews 10:24 (MSG)

There are more verses than I can type. I encourage each of you to remember to serve others this CHRISTmas season. I will still put together a "creative" gift for my family, but I am really going to focus on helping those who are alone during the holidays, those that are lost, that are seeking to fill that God-shaped hole in their hearts. I love my family and they know that. This year, I am going to try and really love other's that don't know that someone cares. Not sure what I am going to do yet, but I know that God will place and opportunity in front of me.

With that said, I wish you all a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS! GOD BLESS!

Oh and as always... here's one of my latest pics. I found this tiny tiny church off of a gravel forest service road in the middle of the Shawnee National Forest. Not one of my best pics, but with the fall leaves and the clear blue skies, it was an oasis in the middle of dense forest.

Odds and Ends

I really can't seem to keep up with this blog thing. My sister has been putting me to shame. One thing I need to do is take more pictures. I really haven't had a chance and nothing has really inspired me to take pictures since leaving so. ill. This picture is one of the few I have taken. I love to take pictures because nature inspires me. Nature is simple. That's what we should aspire for. Simplicity. For instance in this picture, the little flowers are reaching toward the sun. God created in us a desire for him. That is what we are ALL searching for. Unfortunately we fill that desire with everything BUT God. We don't want to admit that we need him and that it is our soul desire to reach for him and to worship him. If we would just look at Nature. These little flowers are reaching toward the sun seeking the SUN, pointing their petals toward the LIGHT in praise and worship. They NEED the sun. Psalm 148 helps me to see worship in Nature.

Psalm 148

Praise the Lord!Praise the Lord from the heavens;

praise him in the heights!

2Praise him, all his angels;

praise him, all his host!
3Praise him, sun and moon;

praise him, all you shining stars!

4Praise him, you highest heavens,

and you waters above the heavens!
5Let them praise the name of the Lord,

for he commanded and they were created.

6He established them for ever and ever;

he fixed their bounds,

which cannot be passed.*
7Praise the Lord from the earth,

you sea monsters and all deeps,

8fire and hail, snow and frost,

stormy wind fulfilling his command!
9Mountains and all hills,

fruit trees and all cedars!

10Wild animals and all cattle,

creeping things and flying birds!
11Kings of the earth and all peoples,

princes and all rulers of the earth!

12Young men and women alike,

old and young together!
13Let them praise the name of the Lord,

for his name alone is exalted;

his glory is above earth and heaven.

14He has raised up a horn for his people,

praise for all his faithful,

for the people of Israel who are close to him.

Praise the Lord!

On another note...last Friday, despite the cool temps and the light rain, we took our class to a Pumpkin Farm to pick pumpkins. They had a blast and I did too. I am really enjoying this job. Sometimes, I worry though that I am having too much fun with the kids. I keep having to remind myself that I am there to teach and to try and help their behavior. Being one of them isn't always the best thing. But it is fun and I don't think that they are disrespecting me. Here is a picture of the kids on the bus on our way down. My student is the one on in the red and black coat on the left. Mrs. Lewis is the teacher and then Debbie and Colleen are both Aides. We really enjoy working with one another and it is a great group. Mrs. Lewis is a long term sub who will be leaving us this week when Mrs. Kite returns from maternity leave. I haven't worked with Mrs. Kite, but I hope she is as patient and as flexible as Mrs. Lewis has been. I also hope that she is willing to put up me.