Of Chaos and Order - Ship's Log

A big part of what made this symphony especially fun was the Davis Sisters: Dee+Shapeera, Kandra and LaDreeva.

Lastly, the symphony is nostalgic, prophetic and FUN.

The symphony is nostalgic, and it’s also prophetic.

Amie and her parents treated us to a date at the symphony last night.

This weekend we pulled out all the carpet in the house, two rooms and four half-stairs, in preparation for the new carpet installation.

Amie and I enjoyed a relaxed planning session last night.

While passing the boy’s bathroom this morning I witnessed a horrifying sight.

Yesterday was well spent for an ebb day.

The ebb and flow of my life can be abrasive, wearing me down like sand upon the smooth stones of the sea shore.

Royal has for months now been telling us about his kids.

Thanks to Amie buying “Joyful Journey,” I’ve begun to experiment with interactive gratitude.

Amie renewed my New Yorker subscription this week.

On the 13th of September, right before we left for Chicago, Skyler launched this year’s youth ministry at Westminster.

Amie and Amanda (Skyler’s wife) launched their first DBS group last Thursday.

For the first time this year a person joined me on one of my Centennial Trail hikes!

We consider great literature those books which honor the ambiguously complex nature of life on earth and give room in our hearts to learn from their wisdom.

I’ve been reflecting on how to communicate my own mortality to my boys.

While visiting the Ellos in Arlington Heights David gave us a word.

I want to read this paper in-depth.

What is it about arriving in Chicago that stirs up so much resistance?

Amie and Royal have horrific poison ivy rashes.

Our September will be packed.

“Write about what interests you.”

Amie and I have finished Trenton Lee Stewart’s “The Mysterious Benedict Society” boxed set.

Amie is growing a number of edible plants in pots on our front porch, such as jalapeños.

In Amie’s Present Play cohort (now called Hi Fam!

My dad and Shawna visited the second weekend in July.

For our ninth anniversary Amie and I returned to Skogen Kitchen and, for the first time in our lives, we tried foie gras.

David Ello gave me a recommendation for a new book series, Peter and the Starcatchers.

The first week of July Amie, Graham, Royal and I went on our first ever family camp!

I’ve been at a low ebb with writing for the last month or two.

Another leg of the Centennial Trail complete!

We were delighted to host Jeremy, Bethany, Zeke and Rosie Elston at our home on the 12th!

On this day in 2020 I wrote, How does one stand in a line that wraps the DMV for two hours without growing irritable?

Amie and I went to our first play of the year at Black Hills Playhouse.

I hiked my first leg of the #CentennialTrail last week!

The day after our camping trip Royal tripped and smashed his forehead into a wall corner, knocking a gouge almost a half-inch long into his forehead.

For Graham’s birthday he and I went on our first camping trip together!

We were amazed to discover that a friend of Amie’s, Jim Walker, from her days in Pittsburgh was riding the bus to Crazy Horse Memorial with us!

And some funny pictures, just for a laugh.

Basement renovations are well on their way thanks to our friend and local contractor Steve and his family.

Graham’s birthday party was a space theme this year.

As of mid-May Royal is officially potty trained!

Our good friend, and Royal’s godmother, Kati Ray, came to visit us in early May!

We purchased a swing for the boys at the start of May.

I’ve been on an unscheduled hiatus in May.

My energy levels have been low for almost two weeks now.

The term ‘accountability’ is frequently thrown around Christian circles.

Just hours before our neighbors were coming over for tacos and fellowship they came down with a violent illness.

Today is ultra-full.