Coming Home

Ready or not, here I come!

John

Oot an' Aboot

Last night we played Ultimate in the parking lot. There were only eight of us but we still had a lot of fun. Even though it was getting toward evening, the air was still really hot and humid and whenever stopped moving I could feel myself burning up all over. We didn't just end up playing one game though. Because of the people that were playing and the difference in skill present we switched up the teams a couple of times and played five or six games. My favorite game was the last game. Bye then we were down to six players. Anna, Danielle, I were on a team verses Shauna, Erin, and Nareda DeCleene. The DeCleenes were good and had previous frisbee experience but on the last game we didn't let them score once. The moved the frisbee a lot and got close the end zone quite a few times but couldn't quite make it all the way. We ended at nine o'clock 7 to 0. We all had fun and and everyone got a chance to be on a winning team.


Today we had a Staff outing to the Allen Premier Outlets. Rachel, Claudia, Anna, and I are close to the only staff people left here at the Ministry Center, so we four went together. We stopped in at a couple places including: Ralph Lauren Polo, Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, as well as Eddie Bauer, Fossil, and J. Crew. While at Eddie Bauer I could feel familial ties being awakened inside of me and I saw a couple of things that I liked. I ended up just getting a nice t-shirt with a fish on it. At Fossil I was looking for a belt and a wallet, and that's exactly what I ended up getting. At my last stop, J. Crew, I didn't find the sweatshirt I was hoping that they would have but I got a new navy and green striped tie for a good price. After we left the outlets, we all stopped at Costco. I love Costco. Sam's Club and Walmart just don't compare with Costco. We stopped there just to look around and have lunch (at three thirty). While there we couldn't pass up walking around and getting all the samples though. When we left Costco I realized I didn't have my Camelbak bottle and that I had probably left it at one of the stores we went to at the outlets. I called Eddie Bauer and Tommy Hilfiger to see if they had found it in the fitting room areas, but neither had. After thinking about it for a while I realized that I had left it at Tommy Hilfiger. We weren't too far away, so we drove back, but they didn't have it. Someone must have thought it looked cool and taken it. The good news is that they are on sale at REI and I'm going to get two new ones when I get home.

I only have couple days left here in Dallas. Anna and I are flying back home on Tuesday and right after that we are going to the beach. I can't wait to get home so I can all the stuff that I need to do.

John

Finally Having Fun

I'm going to Six Flags today. I'm so excited, I'm sure it's going to be a ton of fun.

John

Explosion

I was just about to blow something up. It's a good thing that the Lord is abundant in grace.

John

Bad Dad

I really have failed at being a good dad. Two weeks ago, while Taylor was here, he and I found a pair of pigeon eggs on the roof and decided that we should try and hatch them ourselves. We wrapped them in a wash cloth and put them on a heat pad thingy. Now, two weeks later I'm sure that they're dead and won't ever hatch. What a sad story. I also caught a bee and put it in a Starbucks cup. I watched it lick the sugar off of the inside of the cup but when I came back a while later, the bee was curled into a ball. I thought it was dead but put it on the window ledge just in case it was just to cold. It never moved again. I'm a terrible daddy.

John

Storm

Last night we had a really big storm here. There were tornado warnings and flash flooding all over the area. Big thunder is a common thing down here, everything is bigger in Texas you know. Lightning strikes that would come halfway down to the earth then curve back around to connect with the clouds. It was all really amazing, and we happened to be driving to a mall during the whole thing. The wind gusts reached 90-100 mph and they actually broke a window here at the training center. All in all, it was pretty cool.

John

Gettin' In To Trouble

This is a picture of my roommate, Taylor. Last week he and I took a quick break from painting to throw little mud balls at people's windows. After he left, I went around to all the windows and cleaned the mud that had been baked on to them off.

Fading Star

This week has really been actually quite slow compared to last week and all that was going on. I actually have breaks and rests this week, whereas last week I worked all the way from breakfast to lunch then from lunch until dinner. But everything is alright and I can't wait......to do something, I guess.

John

One Thing I Forgot

Yesterday, I ate a whole lemon. The whole thing, peel and all. That was interesting.

John

Rock On

Here's another picture of me climbing.

Lets Rock

I know it's been a over a week since my last post, but I'm still here and I'm still alive. I guess the reason for my lack of communication this week is that I had a lot of work to do. Not just a normal lot, a whole lot; an extra lot. While the Bells have been gone, we've been working on quite a few projects, trying to get a lot done before they get back. Consequently, I have had a lot of work to do. But life here isn't all hard work and sweat. Yesterday, we all went rock climbing ;the staff and a couple of the people from IPS. I had so much fun. Towards the end of our time there, I could really tell that I was getting tired. My forearms were tight and my hands were losing their grip. Also, a couple of time my hands and my elbows would freeze up and wouldn't respond. But still we all had a lot of fun, and I can't wait to go when I get home.

John

Paint Party

While Mr. Bell is away in Russia, we all decided that it would be a good surprise for him if we painted the gazebo out in the courtyard. Yesterday we rented a power washer and Zach and I power washed the whole thing. Then last night, instead of playing Ultimate Frisbee, we all had a painting party and painted the gazebo. As can be expected in such an endeavor, there was a fair bit of 'messing around' going on. As I found out, if you 'mess' with someone they are going to 'mess' with you.

She painted my head. But at least she killed the spider.

John

Life, Love, Laughter

Life is going well for me still. I'm working on one particular project right now. I dismanteled a park bench and I have sanded, stained and sealed the new boards for it. I'm nearly done with it and it is really looking better as it comes along. As well as that, I'm continually working outside and doing various jobs inside for Claudia.

The weather is quite interesting around here during spring. If you don't like the weather, wait fifteen minutes; it'll change.

On Sunday, after lunch, Anna and I went out in the van to fill it up. While we were out we stopped for gelato and we walked around West Village (The Ritz). While walking around I saw three Lamborghinis, two Ferraris, and multiple Porsches. I also saw the guy that plays Petey in Remember the Titans. I'm not joking; it was him. I'm super serial.

Mr. and Mrs. Bell left today for Russia. So we have the Training Center to ourselves, except for IPS.

This weekend we are going to Grapevine, some big shopping area out near the airport. And nect week we are going rock climbing. Woohoo!

The View From My Room

West
Southwest
Up

Dallas

This is the view of Downtown from the roof of
the Training Center.

Knockin'

I didn't know exactly what time I needed to be up this morning for Church so I got up at 8 and was ready to go by 9:30. I found out soon after that that I didn't need to go to church until 10:30. I now had an hour of free time and nothing to do. I read my bible for a while (I don't remember how long) and then went up to my room. I haven't taken very many pictures yet so I took my camera up to the roof to get some. The weather is finally getting to what it should now and the sun was out.

Lone Star Stow-Away

I made it to Texas. There is so much to say and so little time to say it all. Maybe if I get more time I will little by little be able to reveal what being here is like. Everything about flying and coming to a new city is so cool. Tonight I went to the Maundy Thursday service at Park Cities Presbyterian Church. The cermony was really an expirience that I think everyone needs to have some time in their life. Earlier today I helped Zach blow off and clean the parking areas and drive ways before lunch. After lunch He and I mowed all the lawns. That was a trial, but the Lord is gracious and good and I got through it with His Strength. After that, I think Zach had to do school or something, so I spent the rest of the work day edging the grass and cleaning up my mess. Yesterday my flight was delayed about half an hour but I didn't really care. When I got to DFW I disembarked the plane and picked up my baggage. After about a ten minute wait I saw Anna at the same time that she saw me. I grabbed my bags and we ran at each other. We listened to Gaelic Storm on the drive back. Everyone here has been hearing a lot about me from Anna, so when I finally came everyone really gave me a warm welcome and I already like one of the group. It's great. Almost every moment that we spend together has a story to go along with it and there is no way I can write them all down. The weather is sunny and warm in the day and cool and breezy at night. I sleep with my window open. *Siiiiggghhh* I wish I could tell you about all the has happened already and I know that there is more to come on the way. This weekend we are going to Bethany's Grandparent's house; I know it's gonna be fun. I'll write more later. Send me an email.

John