I finally blogged again...

but over here....

http://alvisadventures.blogspot.com/2011/05/training-for-life.html

Now back to neglecting this one!

The "other" blog...

Jewel was having trouble navigating our blog (it opens in Korean here in S. Korea, so the difficulties were legitimate). She was able to make her own blog quicker than we were able to figure out adding a new blog to this site. Her clock is cooler, too.

So, check out http://www.alvisadventures.blogspot.com/ to keep up with us as well.

Happy monsoon season from Seoul!

Happy Mid-Year

Mid-year? Yes, we are now 1/2 way thru 2009 and I thought this would be a good time to challenge everyone to dust off their New-year's resolutions. If you are like me, you had good intentions to do more, do better at something, or perhaps stop doing something when the new year rang.

I've reviewed my New Year's resolutions, and admittedly have a ways to go to get back on track. (I am happy that I actually wrote them down, so they can be assessed.)

The half way point of 2009 comes right as the Alvi 5 moved to Seoul, South Korea, so there are plenty of changes taking place. As we set roots in a new country and new culture, this will be a good time to start again with my new year's resolutions. This also means for the first time in my new year's resolutionizing, I might be doing at the end of the year that which I set out to do at the beginning.

The resolutions I'm refocusing on are:

--Speak more softly (read: stop yelling, particularly at or in response to my children). Proverbs 15:1; James 1: 19-20

--Read the Bible daily (I will restart where my chronological Bible is on the calendar as well as attempt to catch up from where I left off). Acts 17:11; Psalm 145:1-3

--Work out often (I think Crossfit will be my workout of choice for awhile, if my knee allows) 1 Corinthians 9:24-27; Philippians 3:12

One resolution I did keep already: Support (participate with?) Jewel in a Triathlon or Duathlon. 1 Corinthians 9:24-27; Hebrews 12:1-3.

I have others that I'll periodically revisit and attempt to keep, but the three above are a sufficient challenge, considering my somewhat lacking performance thus far.

Check back in another six months to see how the mid-year resolutions turned out. I'm hoping a little better than the last six months.

How about you?

The Bums

I took my family to hang around a bunch of bums last Monday night. It was a phenomenal time. The crazy thing is that I've know these bums most of my life.

When I was between the ages of four and nine, my parents befriended a bunch of university students from our church in our college town. For us, the name "bum" is a term of endearment that has lasted three decades. (vice the dictionary definition) Our house was always open to the bums and their friends. When they needed a place to crash, a dollar for gas (you could buy close to three gallons with a dollar then), some advice for the world that awaited them after college, or "whatever," they could get it at our house. Many attribute their personal spiritual development and growth to times and talks with my parents. One bum even lived with us for a quarter of one of his years in college. He moved into my brother's room; and my brother moved into mine.

The stories on Monday ran well into the night. Memories of riding horses, putting diesel in my dad's motorcycle, the nick-names they had for my brother and me were just a few of tales told. The list goes on.

Over the years, I've been to many of their weddings (one reminded me how my brother and I wanted to give them all of the money from our piggy-banks as our gift to them) and have pictures of me and their children when their children were the ages of my kids. Tthey threw a reunion / party for Jewel and me when we got married. I've received random e-mails and letters from them, indicating that they were praying for me and my family.

I've unhesitantly reached out from across the miles for everything from a furniture set (that remained in Germany after we moved, ten years after we got it from one of the bum couples) to beds to connections to churches in their areas. Sometimes if you want a bum, you have to be one.

Between the memories and the stories, there was a common thread that ran deep and strong. Each family that was there shared a connection not only through college, but through Christ. Below are some Facebook posts that indicate the richness of the relationships: "What a great family you have. I was reminded AGAIN this week of the rich heritage the Lord has given us. Thanks Dan...I hope to see you again soon." "Thanks for letting us hang out at your place last night. You have a very special family and you seem like a great man of God. Kinda like your pops! :)"

Even though all of the bums get togther only once every five (or more) years, their individual lives and families have motivated and inspired me since I was in kindergarten; and they still do.

They don't necessarily fit one's mental picture of a bum today; but they'll always be bums in my mind.

And that's a good thing.

Simplify

Can you do it? Can I? The fact that this random posting can be seen (potentially) by millions immediately upon posting begs the question.

At least I found a shirt that advocates it.

I'm sure I can simplify today. I am in Alaska, watching three small children in their pajamas playing on the floor. I'm sipping coffee. The sun is peeking through the clouds (and has been since 4 am). Today's simplification includes: eating, a trip to the pool, naps (for parents and children), a visit from childhood friends.

There are many facets of life that can be simplified. At church on Sunday, our class discussed money and its place in our lives. (Matthew 6:24) Like food, it's necessary. Like food, it can overwhelm or master. And still like food, many can live with a lot less than they think.

So that's my goal of the time between homes and countries. Simplify. Get by with less. And maybe even play on the floor in my pajamas.

First Entry

This posting will be short, but the Alvi 5 blog is about 6 months past due.
Now that there is a little more time in the day to use the computer for things other than school, I've decided to jump on the blog-wagon.
If this is like other projects, the fall off the wagon may come before July.
We'll see.