Night before last: The stereo was stolen out of my jeep. Big bummer and quiet rides for some time.

This morning: Culture shock! The Pay Less grocery store i normally visit closed yesterday. Grand opening of the new one was today. It was as if i were stepping into a television commercial ... welcomed by a bright lit display of oranges, apples, bananas, lemons ... not a one missing and each brilliantly polished. Every product stocked flush with each aisle. Commercialism! Ahhh! With blinders on, i had a mission and couldn't escape fast enough. Just give me an old lady on the side of the road offering green oranges and a conversation. They will never taste better.

This afternoon: Nine holes of disc golf. First round of the season.

And a congratulations on the engagement of Becca & Joel! She'll be the first Cross Fire married. Unfortunately, i'll have to miss as the wedding will be in June ... someday the Northwest will find me.

Oh, what a week this past has been. The handsome young man to the right is Levi Robert Vandercar. i had the joy of being with Luke & Tammy on Friday night at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Chicago where Levi was born at 11:45p. At seven pounds, Luke said he weighed the exact same as Emma and Evia when they were born. Please pray, or continue to pray, for little Levi, as he is in the neonatal intensive care unit. Throughout the pregnancy, doctors had been speculating on Levi's health. Today, the urologist said that the tests are showing positive signs all around and that Luke & Tammy may even get to take him home as soon as Tuesday! Praise the Lord! And ... Levi was baptized today! Erik & Alyssa, his godparents, were able to join Luke, Tammy, and pastor for the baptism. Click on the left image above to view the video or download the video file by right-clicking and 'Save Link As ...' Levi's Baptism. At about 5 minutes, it is quite large ... 31.2 MB. i edited out the creed, the Lord's Prayer, and a little scripture. Enjoy! Tammy and my mom have been and will continue to be posting updates as to how Levi is doing.

Congratulations are also in order for my cousin Cori and her now fiance, Ed ... congratulations! And props to Ed for a creative geocache proposal in the rain.

This past week was full of many wonderful things and much music. i traveled to Indy on Monday evening. After enjoying a 'David Letterman' sandwich at the Ripple Bagel & Deli, i attended my first CICSA (Central Indiana Christian Songwriters Association) meeting. i then stayed the evening with Pete & Carrie. Nancy, sorry i didn't drop by while in the area ... next time. Tuesday, Ed brought me a mastered CD of the songs we have thus far recorded, i attended my first SAMI (Songwriter's Association of Mid-North Indiana) meeting here in Lafayette, and i enjoyed a late-night of hookahing with Ed, Cori, Adam, and Alan. i also completed a new song that was inspired by my visit to Sacred Grounds this past weekend. Check out the song page for The Rhythm & Me. Wednesday, i worked on having my name added to the Tippecanoe School Corporation substitute teacher list and then attended Ash Wednesday service at Grace. Expect a wonderful new website design soon ... compliments of Cori. Last night, i enjoyed the stylings of Ed & Adam and learned a bit about soloing on the strings. Today, i received a great mix CD from Tracy, i accepted an offer from Tim Jank to join the team of staff at Camp Lutherhaven for this coming summer, and i just returned from an evening at B-Dubs with Justin.

Random thoughts that have crossed my mind in recent days ... God does not care so much that we care about people and things, but that we care for them. ... Why does it often seem easier to commit to dying for a cause than to living for one? ... Do we need to find our way from countless kind words to community, or is it me? ... Let us continue to reflect on these lives we live. Search me, O God, and know my heart. Blessed Lent!

As you can see, Lafayette received her share of snow, which is wonderful and would be even more so if my boots were here instead of in Hebron. Shoveling snow and the result of an aching lower back has reminded me that i've not done much of anything active recently. And the deep drifts sweeping across our parking lot have reminded me how thankful i am to have a 4x4 Jeep Wrangler that, to this point, has kept me from shoveling the back yard as well as the front.

Over the past couple months, in which i've done much of nothing, i have been wrestling in my mind with what path i will walk in the coming days. Many possibilities have presented themselves and many people have offered me a place to lay my head. Thank you! And so it happens that i've been presented, if only in passing, with paths that could have potentially led me to Oregon, Idaho, Missouri, Minnesota, Massachusetts, West Africa, Italy, and many various parts of Indiana. Though i may never know what path might have been best taken, i am quite certain that, for now, i will remain here in Lafayette. i have begun application for fall admission to the Purdue University College of Education Department of Curriculum & Instruction graduate program for mathematics education. And as i'll still question the decision, i also question what i might do between now and August. Quick brainstorm session ... what would you do with six free months?

Over the past couple months i have been reclaiming the passion i once knew so well of playing and writing music. Ed and i have met twice at church to record my music ... Tracy has offered to design really cool album art ... i will soon have a more professionally produced album ... and i hope to soon begin playing some shows again. i'll let you know when the project is done ... save your money. Still, i don't know what tomorrow might bring ... apart from meeting with an old friend over coffee.

Looking forward to ... something.

Snow fell heavy through much of today and is now as a diamond-strewn field in the night ... quite beautiful. Justin drove his tractor over, plowing the alley and the backyard lot. Thank you! This evening Cori, Ed, and i watched The Motorcycle Diaries. Their first viewing ... my second (or third?). Certainly recommended as it holds a place among the few DVDs in my personal library.

In my mind, i continue returning to a scene in which 'Che' and Alberto depart many friends. Through a misty fog we see them lining the riverbank ... waving as we leave them to their lives and push forward into the rest of our own. What does that mean for today? For tomorrow? Only God knows.

The days pass like a bad conversation from which i don't know how to walk away. O Lord, be my desire. May i rise up to run after You. May my feet fly and my eyes not turn aside.

The past two nights have again found me enjoying the coffeehouses here in town. Last night i took my first trip to West Lafayette's Cafe Royale where i enjoyed the music of Arthur Alligood and Mike Reeb. i recently received Arthur's most recent album from Brian & Emily Shilts, so it was a joy to meet him. Then tonight, i huddled in with the happy crowd gathered downtown at Murky Waters to again rest in their music. Thank you! Afterwards, i joined Justin, Dav, and Whit at B-Dubs for a few drinks. Deep down ... life is good.

When the clouds are full they empty themselves upon the Earth. The snow softly falls, disturbing the desolation of barren fields & naked trees ... a comfort in the cold. You are filling me again ... empty me as You will.

Tonight, i enjoyed the music of John Davey and Mile7 at Sacred Grounds ... and i thought of days past, as i, too, had played there some long time ago. Another Silas night as i ask God why all my memories have escaped to the place where dreams dwell and wonder whence Eppie shall arrive. The few memories that still grapple with reality and continue to make me are those for which i stopped long enough ... and those which continue to stop me now and again. Those are memories dear to me.