We Made it Back!

After an 18 1/2 hours of travel...We are now back in the States!

Germany
The entire reason we went to Europe was for my brother Jacob's wedding. There are a ton of pics to look at. It was a beautiful wedding and a beautiful day for a wedding (It rained for 10 minutes - but it rained everyday while we were in Europe for at least a half-hour, except for our last day). Here are some links to pictures (Shari's are on there, but not my mom's - yet).

Germany Wedding

This is the photographers Website he is supposed to do more that just the front page soon, but it is a very cool shot!

The Hopeful

We spent a couple of extra days in the Frankfurt area, and besides taken a wonderful 3 hour walk through some beautiful vineyards up to a monastery that produces wine translated means "The Wine of Heaven" and visiting a children's Bible museum (which had a 1535 copy of the Luther Bible Translation - Way Cool!), we really didn't do much. We had a great time getting to know Jacob's new in-laws better, and as well as our host (we stayed with a family in the area).

Paris
After 4 days in Germany we spent 5 days in Paris. Now many of you know that Shari and I were planning to go to Paris for our honeymoon, but it didn't work out and we went on a Caribbean Cruise and to Disney World instead. So, needless to say we were a little excited to go on this trip. We saw all the sites...

Eiffel Tower
Arc de Triumphe
Champs l'Elyese
The Lourve
d'Orsay
Notre Dame
Sacre Coure
The Palace of Versailles

You know all the basics, there were others, but you might get jealous if I right them all out. I'm sure that Shari will post some pictures soon. We had a blast, but I think that Shari and I wore out my parents and possibly my fast paced brother.

Disneyland Paris
Since I started dating Shari she has continually told me of her desire to go to Disneyland Paris before she died. Well, it was on this trip that I told her that I to have had this dream. I in recent years have become a huge fan of the Disney parks. We went to Disney World last March and last July and now Disneyland Paris. It was a blast. We got a great deal on a hotel inside the park. We got free tickets from our families for Shari's graduation. And we just had fun enjoying the parks. Now I can't speak for Shari, but what I like about the parks is the large vision of Walt Disney, and the close attention to detail that is put into everything. That just doesn't happen. Usually vision doesn't accompany detail.

Trip Home
The trip home started about at 3:30 am EST and didn't finish until about 9:00 pm. It was ok and seemed to got faster than the trip there. But it was definitely good to see home again. So about an hour ago I started to write this post it is now 6:30 am (12:30 pm in Paris) and I am still trying to get over my jet lag. Who knows how long that will take.

I will have some pictures up in the near future.

All Nighters after college and before Babies

Since Shari and I are traveling to Europe for Jacob's wedding today Monday and Tuesday I worked 11 hour days at work so that I wouldn't have to take too many days off of work. So I got home at 10:00 pm last night and Shari and I started packing and cleaning (if you haven't been reading - Shari's been sick lately) and Shari complains of an ear ache. Which isn't that far out of the ordinary, but since we have to be on an airplane for about 10 hours in less than 24 hours we thought that we better see a doctor, well, the only place open at midnight is the ER - downtown Grand Rapids. Well, we got there at 12:18 am. We didn't expect to get in very soon because an ear ache is really low on their priority list. We saw a doctor at 2:45 am and were out the door with two prescriptions (an antibiotic and Vicodin for the excruciating pain that will occur upon landing or so we are told).

We get home and realize how much there is to do so we went at it for about 40 minutes and got atleast half-way packed. It's about 4:00 am and Shari collapses on the bed and falls asleep (can you blame the poor sick woman who spent 3 hours in the ER). Then I went on to:

Finalize the hotel details for our trip
Printed off all of our information and organized it
Called Paris (which we can do for free)
Counted and recounted all of the money that we have the trip
Tried to lie down at 5:30 am and couldn't sleep...

Now:
Watching SportCenter and typing this post.

So, do you think staying up all night will effect my jet lag?

Of Speeding Tickets and Last Days

So Sunday, Mother's Day, was our last day at our church. On our way to church I got a speeding ticket. It was like rubbing salt in a open wound, and I knew that it was my fault. People who haven't been nice in a long time were nice (if that somehow makes everything better). People who I wanted to say good-bye to weren't there (some were on purspose).

Leaving the teens was the hardest part. People in the church didn't seem to care. There is no plan for continuing the youth group, and for some of these teens that's all they have. We worry about the teens and we worry about the church, but we have to give it to God. I honestly couldn't tell you if it was a good day or not.

German phrase of the day...

In anticipation of our trip to Germany, Shari and I went to the library and got German for Travelers. So I thought that it might be fun to have a German phrase of the day so that you know that I'm actually learning it.

So here it is...

"Konnten Sie langsamer sprechen?"

"Could you speak more slowly?"

This is my ill atempt to not be the guy that walks around with German for Travelers everywhere he goes.

The Winner

This movie was the winner of a cell phone movie contest and won $5,000! It's only 30 seconds long.

Shari's Graduation Speaker

Shari's graduation speaker was a producer on the the new X-Men III movie. When he stepped up to the podium they showed the theatrical trailer to X-Men III, after it was over there was loud applause (myself included) and he said, "There is nothing like a movie producer giving a shameless plug for his new movie any chance he can get."

Anyway he went on to talk about the Christian's role in culture. He quoted George Barna by saying that only 4% of American culture is effected by Christians (4%)! And 67% is effected by the media. That's crazy! He went on to say that Christians are some of the most prominent members of movie staff (producers, directors, actors, camera persons, etc.) and that it is changing the business. He then quoted another Barna study saying that two hours after a Sunday Sermon 90% of people couldn't tell you what the sermon was about, but months after they watched it people can quote lines from movies.

He said that it is his job to find great literature that exemplifies Christians attitudes and morals and put them to film. And that movies are the new Sunday Morning Sermons!

So I'm going to ask you the reader (lets discuss) why is it that movies have such a great effect on our culture?

A Word of Encouragement

Not for you...but for me.

I don't know what it has been but I have felt tired the last couple of weeks. But yesterday Shari and I went out to lunch with a friend of hers who has become a friend of mine and it was great. She took care of everything and when she talked and listened she really cared. I had to leave early to make it to work and I hated it. I just didn't want to leave. When I got to my car I felt recharged and rested. I felt ready to go another mile.

Thank you

The beauty of Grace

Hey everyone I finally convinced my wife to write her own blog!!!!!

She will be much more entertaining than I am!

The Beauty of Grace

Check it out

SHE DID IT!!!!!!!

Not that we worried but Shari graduated! Yesterday Shari walked with her classmates and accepted her college diploma. I am so proud of you! Shari nothing makes me more excited than to see you succeed. I love you, Shari! Congratulations.

Where Were They Going Without Ever Knowing The Way!

This Song by Fastball back from my junior high days got me thinking about people with an invincibility complex (you know the people..."Nothing bad could ever happen to me!"). We always look at these people as inexperienced or dreamers or even immature (well, they tend to be teenagers). But is this really fair. Is an invincibility complex actually our natural reaction to a perfect world? What I mean by this is that we were created to live in a world without sin, without death, without pain, and without tears so wouldn't it be natural to view the world from this perspective? Let me know what you think.

They made up their minds
And they started packing
They left before the sun came up that day
An exit to eternal summer slacking
But where were they going without ever knowing the way?

They drank up the wine
And they got to talking
They now had more important things to say
And when the car broke down they started walking
Where were they going without ever knowing the way?

Chorus:Anyone could see the road that they walk on is paved in gold
And it;s alway Summer they'll never cold
They'll never get hungry
They'll never get old and gray
You can see their shadows wandering off somewhere
They won't make it home
But they really don't care
They wanted the highway
They are happy there today , today

The children woke up
Ancouldn't couldn't find 'em
They left before the sun came up that day
They just drove off
And left it all behind 'em
But where were they going without ever knowing the way?

Anyone could see the road that they walk on is paved in gold
And it's always summer, they'll never get cold
They'll never get hungry
They'll never get old and gray
You can see their shadows wandering off somewhere
They won't make it home
But they really don't care
They wanted the highway
They Are happy there today , today (repeat)