Archive for the ‘Pictures’ Category
Dominican Republic: Kids
July 20th, 2010 | No Comments | Posted in » God at Work, My Life / Family, Pictures
As I’m reflecting on my first couple of days here in the Dominican, I can’t help but be amazed by how many kids we’ve seen running around everywhere we go. When our bus pulls up anywhere, we’re practically mobbed by them.
They want to hug us, hold our hands, tug at our shirts… anything to be close to us. They want to be held, played with… loved. And, amazingly, they all seem to be filled with joy.
Yes, joy. Though so many of them live in conditions most of us here in America wouldn’t subject our pets to, these kids are filled with joy.
It’s simply amazing. I’ve been almost completely overcome by emotion by seeing the poverty in this nation, particularly as it pertains to children. Yet these kids shine with joy unlike that I’ve seen almost anywhere. It lifts my heart.
And to see them play, particularly with Jeffrey? Wow. They can’t speak a single word to communicate with each other, yet they connect with each other so well as they play. They speak the universal language of fun. It’s just awesome.
I wish I had more eloquent words to describe what I’ve seen and how I’ve felt. However, like so many things I’ve seen down here, it’s just not possible to communicate the thoughts, feelings, images, and experiences through words, or even through photos. You’ve got to see it to understand.
Poverty
July 18th, 2010 | No Comments | Posted in » God at Work, My Life / Family, Pictures
As I’m processing what I’ve witnessed here in the Dominican, it’s pretty clear what jumps out about this nation and these people at first glance: this is a place of immense poverty.
It’s difficult to witness, let alone process.
I’m sure you’ve seen the commercials on television for Haitian relief, or for save the children, or for some charitable relief organization trying to make a difference throughout the world in places like this. Most of the time, when we see these things, we have no sort of emotional response… we’re more likely to simply change the channel to check out what else we can find to fry our brains, or to wonder if the scenes shown are staged. If we do have an emotional response, it’s usually of irritation… how dare these organizations try to wind us up emotionally to extract money from us!
But witnessing poverty first-hand?
There simply isn’t much that will move you more.
You can’t help but be affected by seeing families living in 4′ x 8′ shacks constructed of whatever materials they happen to be able to find. You can’t help but shed tears as you see children with distended stomachs, running around naked and playing in mud puddles. You can’t help but want to do something… anything you can think of to help. You can’t help but be overwhelmed because the need is so great… where can you start?
You can’t help but question how and why God would allow this. In the United States, even the poorest of the poor have a roof over their heads and somewhat regular meals. They’ve probably even got a television to watch, clothes to wear, maybe even an old beat up car to drive.
The contrast between “our” impoverished and the impoverished here is so dramatic. Here, the impoverished don’t eat for days. They pick through trash dumps to find whatever supplies they can for subsistence. They cobble together shacks for shelter made of old vehicle hoods, cardboard, scraps of tin. They have parasites living in their stomachs. Bugs and lice living in their hair. Scabs and scars arising from all sorts of nasty things we can’t begin to imagine.
Even the “average” person here rarely works, for there simply aren’t jobs available. We complain about a 9% unemployment rate, how “awful” our economy has gotten, how horrible our 401K has performed, how “health care reform” will ruin our nation. Here, unemployment is 75-90%. Savings and retirement are foreign concepts. Health care is virtually non-existent.
I could go on and on, yet never adequately communicate what I’m seeing. Take a look at some of these photos, though, and allow these images to move you emotionally. Consider how God would have you personally respond to what you’re seeing.
A Dream Come True…
July 10th, 2010 | No Comments | Posted in » My Life / Family, Pictures
When I was growing up, I loved baseball. It certainly wasn’t the only sport I loved, but it was definitely near the top.
I remember throwing a tennis ball against the side of the house when I was around 7 or 8 years old (maybe younger, I don’t know for sure), playing a pretend version of the game… if I caught the ball, it was an out, if not… there were runners on. I remember making diving catches and imagining being on “This Week in Baseball” (remember that one?).
I remember practicing pitching in my backyard, throwing baseballs (yes, baseballs) against the brick foundation of the house toward a strike zone I’d made there with tape. I’d throw more pitches than I could count some days, always trying to get my accuracy down, and later, different pitches.
The Royals were definitely my team when I was young. There wasn’t much better than watching George Brett, Frank White, Willie Wilson, Kevin Seitzer, Bret Saberhagen, Paul Splitorff, Dan Quizenberry, and the rest of the guys back through the early to mid-80′s. I remember watching the pine tar homerun on television… watching the Royals fight for the pennant almost every year… I remember listening to the Royals on the radio whenever I went to visit my Grandma and Grandad Stickley… and I can vividly remember watching the 1985 World Series.
And all the time, I remember wondering what it would be like to actually be on the field at Royals Stadium. I always thought that would be the coolest thing ever.
Well, yesterday, that dream came true. I was given a ticket for a Royals on-field promotion, where I had the opportunity to take batting practice, shag fly balls, and meet with a couple of Royals greats (Willie Wilson and John Mayberry). Words cannot describe how cool the experience was. Suffice it to say that I felt like I was eight years old again… running around the outfield like a crazy man to snag fly balls… taking cuts at pitches thrown by Willie Wilson, hoping to really crush one (and yes, I did hit a few that were pretty nice)… just sitting there listening to Willie and John talk about their days in the majors.
Oh yeah. The reality of playing baseball at Royals Stadium? Even better than I’d imagined.
See the Morning…
July 1st, 2010 | No Comments | Posted in » My Life / Family, Pictures
Let me ask you a quick question… when is the last time you actually took time to see the morning? No… I’m not talking about just being awake near dawn, going about your normal routine, and happening to glance around a bit as you rush off to work, school, or wherever it is your daily tasks take you.
No… I’m talking about really “seeing” the morning.
You see, I’ve been having a bit of trouble sleeping recently, and have found myself up at or before dawn pretty frequently. So I’ve been doing a bit of early morning bike riding… just me, my mountain bike, some great worship music on the iPod, and God.
I can’t help but be amazed by morning. By all that God has created. By the beauty of the rising sun, and the way the colors of dawn splash across the sky. By the crisp, bright nature of the colors at this time of day… even of ordinary things. By the scent of the morning breeze. By the crispness of the air. By the stillness and the way sound penetrates it.
It’s truly something special, and all too often we allow ourselves to miss it all in the rush of life.
You Might be a Redneck if…
June 25th, 2010 | No Comments | Posted in » Just For Fun..., Pictures
You might be a redneck if…
… this is your idea of a waterslide.
Yes, this is a real photo taken earlier today in northwest Missouri.
Unbelievable…
KU’s Finest…
May 31st, 2010 | No Comments | Posted in » Just For Fun..., Pictures
Seen at today’s Royals game…
Yep, someone ran on the field… a KU fan.
Figures… 
Playing in the Rain…
May 30th, 2010 | No Comments | Posted in » My Life / Family, Pictures
Earlier this evening, we arrived home right at the start of a spring rain shower. It turned into a spontaneous play opportunity, as you can see below…
I can only imagine what our neighbors must have thought as the five of us raced around the front yard in the downpour. Not that I care… we all had an absolute blast! The laughter of the kids is still ringing in my ears!
Anyway, I’ve got to ask… when is the last time you decided to play in the rain?
It’s critically important, you know. Not getting soaked in a gully-washer… of course not. But taking a few moments to enjoy and truly experience life in the middle of the craziness and difficulties God allows to come our way? How do you respond when the rains of life come?
Do you scramble madly for the safety and dryness of some sort of shelter? Do you reach immediately for your umbrella to try to keep yourself from getting drenched? Or do you soak in the moment on occasion, allowing yourself to experience it all, finding a few moments of simple joy in the coolness of raindrops falling on your face? Perhaps finding peace in simple remembrance of who controls the storms?
Perhaps something else?
We’ll never know unless we linger (and yes, maybe even play for a while) as the drops fall on and around us.
Low and Slow…
May 29th, 2010 | No Comments | Posted in » My Life / Family, Pictures
Oh yeah… I’m definitely loving the smoker / grill Nancy got me for my birthday!
I took time again today to fix some hickory-smoked brisket and pork, slow cooking everything for about 10 hours. I’ve gotta say, there’s simply no question… pork has definitely made the best BBQ I’ve fixed so far (just ask the Bragers)!
Anyway, here’s a photo to make you drool. Would share a photo of the final product, but it disappeared too fast…
Next time I’ll be smoking with the apple wood my friend Tom was able to find for me today… I’ve heard it makes for an even better meal! Can’t wait to find out!
Still My Birthday Princess…
February 28th, 2010 | No Comments | Posted in » My Life / Family, Pictures
Allison is definitely still my little birthday princess…
Hard to believe she’s three today! Daddy loves you, birthday girl!
Just a Couple of Snowbirds…
February 18th, 2010 | 2 Comments | Posted in » My Life / Family, Pictures
So… my mom and dad just took a week-long trip to Mexico. Yeah, they’re snowbirds of a sort.
But hardly your typical snowbirds.
Check it out. This is from an e-mail I just received from them, showing what a retiree (Dad) and an almost-retiree (Mom) do for fun on vacation.
Yeah. Rappeling and zip lines.
Parents these days.