Here and Now...and Yet To Come

Last Post

2010-02-12T16:58:00.003-06:00

I'm pulling a Mitch. The Here and Now...and Yet to Come is being shut down. It's been a long time since I have written anything that could be considered a blog post. Most, if not all, of the material I put up now involves the family or specifically Israel. All of you that read this have a facebook, I think. What I do now can be done on facebook just as easily if not easier. It's all about streamlining right? I'll keep it up for a week or so and then I will remove it. So this is it. After a little over 4 years of posts and such, the old blog is going to be shut down. Farewell.

Snow and Games

2010-02-10T23:12:00.005-06:00

Dru had a snow day Tuesday. It was great. We bundled Israel up and took him out to play for the first time in the snow. It has snowed other times this winter, but seemed too cold to venture out in it. Needless to say, he a great time. It's not on the video but we did end up wiping out a couple of times. Luckily, Dru was across the street shoveling our neighbors driveway at the time. Israel is no worse for the ware. In fact, I was reminded of A Christmas Story because I'm pretty sure he couldn't move his arms.

The second video was taken this evening. Israel and I have been playing a game throughout the day that involves calling out to one another as loudly, and I'm trying to teach him as softly, as possible. It's good fun. You also get a little microphone action to top it off.

Believe it or not, I do have an excuse for not posting in a while. With all of the videos we've been taking with the flip, our storage has been eaten up. Thankfully we were able to get a hold of an external hard drive (thanks Mustoe and Steve) and move all of that stuff over. Since I know the only people that read this blog anymore care most about seeing Israel (I don't blame you, that's all I care about seeing too), I didn't want to put a "fruitless" post up so to speak. Anyway, enjoy the two new videos. Dru and I certainly enjoyed living them.

Family Photo Shoot

2010-01-05T17:31:00.000-06:00

Now this is a family photo shoot.

Go Bucks!

Christmas Tumblr

2010-01-02T10:48:00.003-06:00

If you want a little recap of our Christmas in Florida head over to Dustin's site.

Update: Here is a picture of Israel at a playground in Panama City that Dustin took. Thanks for the pic D!

The Finished Product

2009-12-09T11:29:00.001-06:00

Christmas Tree Fun

2009-12-08T21:47:00.000-06:00

7:30 of Israel

2009-11-17T18:11:00.002-06:00

BeatBox and Metallica

2009-09-25T19:05:00.000-05:00

Bath and Breakfast

2009-09-14T15:25:00.000-05:00

Israel and His Buckle

2009-09-11T08:53:00.000-05:00

Saturday

2009-09-11T01:26:00.002-05:00

Go Bucks!

The Raborns

2009-09-10T22:57:00.001-05:00

In honor of the new Raborn little girl, I have added a link to their blog on the right hand column of this site. Or you can check it out here if you like. CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!

It Has Begun

2009-09-04T10:41:00.002-05:00

Workouts will be forthcoming. Only 17 years to go until college combines.

Dru is Digital

2009-09-02T12:27:00.001-05:00

Israel Movie Mix

2009-09-02T11:45:00.001-05:00

Velcro Video

2009-08-19T14:42:00.002-05:00

My new friend Loggy made a sweet video for the current sermon series at Living Word UMC. I was blessed to be a part of it. You can check it out here. Don't worry, it's only 41 seconds long.

Two Israel Videos

2009-08-17T21:50:00.000-05:00

These were taken about a month or so ago when we first moved to Missouri.

We Are Now Home Owners!!!!!

2009-08-03T17:38:00.018-05:00

So...What Do You Wanna Talk About?

2009-07-14T11:07:00.000-05:00

It's been 2 months and a lot has happened. My plan is to use several posts to explain exactly all that has occurred in our lives in the last 2 months, but that might take a while. In the meantime, head over to Mustoe's Blog and listen to the newly formed podcast titled "So...What Do You Wanna Talk About?" I had the privilege of being a guest for the second episode. It's all in good fun.

As Promised

2009-05-11T12:02:00.003-05:00

Ok...it took a while but I think I have given plenty of eye candy to wet the appetite. The progression is backward in time from the present to spring break. Hope you enjoy them. I'll be sure to let you know when Israel decides to reverse directions and actual go forward. Right now we're constantly saying, "beep beep back the truck up".

Bear Crawl - Backwards

2009-05-11T11:56:00.004-05:00

Mother's Day

2009-05-11T11:50:00.007-05:00

Israel new just what his momma wanted...he's a smart fellow.

Israel's First Easter

2009-05-11T11:45:00.006-05:00

New Bed

2009-05-11T11:42:00.001-05:00

Israel on PC Beach

2009-05-11T11:25:00.013-05:00

1. Family Portrait.
2. The sand was oh so nice, but the water was oh so cold.
3. Three generations of Caldwell stubs. Israel, mine, and pops.
4. The sun is tiring.
5. A big thanks to my cuz for the new digs!

Why Do I Do This?

2009-05-04T08:46:00.004-05:00

I'm tired...I don't know why I do this to myself. You would think that after almost 20 years of schooling I would have figured out how not to wait until the night before to write a 10 page paper. Maybe I'll get there someday. I've been up since 3:30 am after going to bed at 11:30 pm. I don't need sympathy, I need a kick in the rear. I still have to edit and revise before it's due at 5 this evening.

Man I suck!

In other news:

Exciting news on the way...plus new pictures...I promise!

Israel update: He's moved to the "rocking on the knees" stage. Actually, yesterday he was up on his hands and feet like a bear. It was pretty funny. I think he'll started moving forward soon. I'll let you know.

In St. Louis

2009-04-24T08:28:00.003-05:00

Just a quick note to let you all know that Dru and I are currently in St. Louis. Dru has an interview with the Parkway school district and I'm meeting with a couple of pastors in the state. For those of you who don't know, we are strongly considering moving back to Missouri this Summer. I ask that you pray for us while we try to discern how to go about this search process. I also ask that you pray for us to continue to seek God's will for our lives.

I'm a bit behind on posting new pics of Israel, but I promise those are on the way.

Mitch Has Done It

2009-03-25T13:49:00.004-05:00

The Right Reverend Mitchell Jarvis (a.k.a. The Bonester) has finally decided to begin the blogging quest. Here is a link to his blog or you can follow the link to the right. Enjoy!

I Know I've Put On Some Weight But Come On!

2009-03-18T09:08:00.002-05:00

I had an interesting experience the other day. It's been a while since I have blogged about random events in my life, but I thought this one was noteworthy. Please be warned that this contains some bathroom humor and may be a little explicit.

So I sat down to go to the bathroom. Since I am a man, I'm sure that you can deduce which "style" of relief I was partaking in. All was going well for the first half of the event. I think it would be fair to say that the excrement proceeded in an orderly fashion. Then it came time for the subsequent wiping. That's when it happened. I am right handed. So, generally I lean to the left to use my right hand. It started off as a lean just like all other leans, but it certainly didn't end that way. I leaned it cracked. That's right. The toilet seat completely snapped in half. How does that happen? I know I've put on some weight but come on! I don't know if toilet seats go through rigorous weight limit tests but it has to be able to handle at least 230 right? Well, apparently not.

Tell It Slant - Eugene Peterson

2009-03-07T10:41:00.002-06:00

I recently read a book by Eugene Peterson called Tell It Slant. This was required reading for the speech class that I am taking this semester. It was certainly a good read and I would recommend to all who are thinking or desire to think about new/old ways of communication. Below is a brief reflective essay. Thanks to Mustoe for taking the time to help read and revise it.

Tell It Slant: Thoughts on Communication

Eugene Peterson tells us that “truth…requires the cultivation of unhurried intimacies” (4). Presently, modern society is riddled with hurried and un-intimate forms of communication. We are bombarded with images and messages coercing us into decisions which are more often than not useless and unnecessary. This violent behavior not only takes place on the macro scale for the general public, but on the individual level as well. We hurry through our days avoiding what we have determined to be senseless conversation for the sake of efficiency. For many of us, communication has been stripped of all relational aspects and has been placed in the non-relational realm of cold hard facts. Even churches have been caught up in this fad. No longer do we rely on the stories of scripture to shape our existence, but we boil them down to bullet points and outlines. By doing this we are stating that life is not found in participation with the Triune God, but is instead found in seven easy steps. We are saying that the grand dance of life with God is nothing more than fill in the blanks. We have lost the capacity to paint pictures with words and in turn have lost the art of communication. Yet, in the midst of all of this life draining, anti-relational communicating we must somehow find a way to re-capture healthy, life sustaining ways of communication. Without communication, or words given by The Word, our world would not exist. Indeed, the entire cosmos was shaped through the breath of communication. Communication is the gift God has given us to be used for building both relationships with Him and our fellow neighbor.
In his book, Tell It Slant, Peterson strives to show us a better way, which is the Jesus way, of communication both with God and with our neighbor by telling it slant. This better way has the capacity to spill over into every aspect of our lives. Telling it slant was often how Jesus chose to communicate with individuals both inside and outside of the church. That is, Jesus’ use of parables with his followers (the disciples), the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the crowds was his modus operandi. As Peterson states, “The parable is a form of speech that has a style all its own. It is a way of saying something that requires the imaginative participation of the listener. Inconspicuously, even surreptitiously, a parable involves the hearer” (19).
Jesus’ parables were absent of “God talk”. “God talk” is a term that Peterson uses to describe modern day church-speak. Churches, particular pastors and teachers, are notorious for using this “God talk” whenever we find ourselves in a “churchy” situation. In many ways, we find it much easier to speak about the Trinity than to participate in the life of the Trinity. The church as a subculture has a language all its own, a language many of us are fluent in but in many ways this language has become dead and lifeless. Why is that the case? Could it be that “God talk” has become so depersonalized that it has lost all of its “saltiness” thereby causing us, the speakers, to have lost our “saltiness”? How often are non-believers turned off or walk away from a believer using “God talk” to get their point across? Could it be that when using “God talk” we are talking more about God than with Him or to Him? “God talk”, though technically correct, does not invite us into deeper relationship with the one who created us. Jesus’ parables, along with His prayers, provide us with prime examples for telling it slant.
Telling it slant disarms the hearer from immediately putting up their guard. They are instead drawn into the conversation as an active participant as opposed to a passive, inactive, casual observer. Instead of exclusive gibberish, language is crafted out of a concern for the hearer. Grounded in a willingness to be transparent, this concern revolves around both a deepness of relationship with God and with the hearer who is our neighbor. We strive to become a servant in our conversation with both God and our neighbor. Telling it slant allows us to find ways to communicate vertically with God, through prayer, and horizontally with our neighbor in a relaxed, more authentic and ultimately more meaningful manner. Our relationship with God should permeate all of our existence. This means that non-relational “God talk” has no place in our lives. Every day conversation should be filled with relational language designed to serve those we are speaking to.
Peterson makes a fine example of this when discussing Christ’s fourth parable found in the book of Luke chapter 13 verses six through nine. As Peterson states, the parable is short but Jesus is administering a rather strong warning to those who wish to follow Him (66). Essentially, Jesus is telling us that we will only be given a certain amount of time to produce fruit. If this allotted time has passed and we have not produced fruit, then we are to be chopped down. Imagine if Christ had delivered this message in just this manner. Many may initially be deterred by the harshness of it, but hearing it in parable forms gives us time to contemplate it in a new way. Indirectly discussing trees and fruit is much less threatening than discussing the prospect of losing our life. It makes sense that a tree which does not produce fruit should be gotten rid of. The more we live with and think about the story, the more it may make sense to us. A life which does not bear fruit is a wasted life just as a tree which does not bear fruit is a wasted tree. We begin to contemplate: Is my life bearing fruit? Has it been wasted up to this point? Some of us will come to the realization that it has and make resolutions that the remainder of our life will be different. That is the truth of the matter. Christ came to give us life that produces abundant fruit. This is the effect of telling it slant.
The difference between “God talk” and telling it slant is a matter of intention. If we find that the majority of our prayer and conversation is spoken for our own vain glory and not for the glory of God, then we are using “God talk”. God desires to hear from our heart of hearts, and our neighbors do as well. Neither He nor our neighbors is interested in flowery speech designed to tickle the ears. This is not to say that we are to dumb down our speech, although certain situations may require that approach. Technical language can certainly be pertinent when used and explained correctly. It is to say that all communication should be God honoring. Using technical language to impress or impose is not God honoring and does not serve those we are addressing. Both God and our neighbors wish to have authentic, meaningful discussions of reality and life. If we are genuinely concerned about fostering our relationship with God and our relationship with our neighbor, then we must genuinely care about how we speak. It is here, at the precipice of faith and communication that we can learn to “tell it slant” (3).

Works Cited
Peterson, Eugene. Tell It Slant: A Conversation on the Language of Jesus in His Stories and Prayers. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2008.

Cute Set

2009-03-01T09:50:00.004-06:00

Here is Israel sitting up some more in his "I love Daddy" bib.

Much has Happened

2009-02-13T19:55:00.009-06:00

Ok...here you go. I promised my mom that I would put a video up of Israel sitting and playing...yes, Israel sits on his own now. I had a video and for some reason it wouldn't load so here are several pictures instead. Also, Dru and I now have a new roommate. Jake moved in almost two weeks ago and started seminary this past week. I also thought I would throw up a picture from the ice storm of '09. Sorry it's been so long. Lastly, Dru and I are currently hanging out in Ashville, NC with Dru's sister, brother in law, and our two nieces and two nephews. Here is a picture of John and Israel in the kitchen. Of course Israel is the book ends.

Weather Woes of 2009

2009-01-29T14:59:00.003-06:00

Be in prayer for many in the state of KY. School has been canceled this entire week and many people are without power and will be some for quite some time. Our friends will be staying with us this weekend because they are without power. You can some of the pictures that are indicative of the entire state here. The only thing that is different here in Jessamine County is that we have about 3 inches of snow on top of all the ice. It's devastatingly beautiful!

It's Been a While

2009-01-20T17:11:00.001-06:00

Dru and I haven't had the internet since we moved but I just discovered an open network near our house today. Just wanted to put up a quick note that blogs, videos, pictures and such probably won't pick up again until the end of the month. Love you all and thanks for the comments.

Two Videos

2009-01-09T09:39:00.000-06:00

Big Game Tonight

2009-01-05T14:27:00.000-06:00

We need this.

Israel's First Christmas (Day)

2008-12-25T13:46:00.006-06:00

Mustoe's Fantasy QB

2008-12-24T11:47:00.001-06:00

If you have the time...this is a great read.

Livin' on Your Lonesome

2008-12-24T10:00:00.000-06:00

This is for my buddy J-Dizzle---Merry Christmas!

Are You Excited? I Am!

2008-12-09T21:23:00.001-06:00

Thanksgiving in Florida

2008-12-01T13:25:00.003-06:00

10 things about this past week:

1. Golf is fun! (Thanks Dad)
2. Driving over night is exhausting but good when your baby sleeps the entire time.
3. Wii's are great Christmas presents! (Thanks Mom and Dad)
4. Photo shoots are fun. Particularly when you get a great photographer like Chevy. You can see some of the sweet shots here.
5. The weather in Florida is nice, but disappointing for the season. (Not for golf though)
6. Oregon States loss would have been good to hear about no matter where I was. Can you say BCS bowl for the Bucks!?
7. Dru and I have a very generous and thoughtful brother in law. He knows why I mention this.
8. It's extremely sad and heartbreaking when a five month old loses their voice. Especially when that five month old is your own.
9. JD is a good traveling friend.
10. As expected, all of my work was waiting for me when I got back.

OSU vs. that team up north

2008-11-22T08:51:00.003-06:00

It's only the biggest day of the year for Buckeye fans. So, in honor of this day I thought it more than appropriate to don the sweater. This is a one time a year event (both the game and the sweater) so enjoy. I'll admit that it's not as cool as the sweater vest but it is a close second. GO BUCKS!!!

Cali Trip Remix

2008-11-17T10:06:00.003-06:00

Keep us in your prayers. All three of us fly out of Louisville at 6:00 am tomorrow morning. That means a departure time of about 3:30 am from the house. It'll be a quick trip as we turn around and fly back on Wednesday evening. Dru is still going to go to work on Thursday and I have class to attend so pray that we have the energy for all of that.

I am sluggishly finishing a 12-15 page paper for my exegesis course (I've got about 10 pages done) and would like to have it finished before we go.

Here is something you may want to know...Israel rolled over from his stomach to his back for the first time a couple days ago. He's also beginning to hold his bottle when he eats. We'll try to get a picture of both to put up soon, although I'm not sure how we will do the rolling over...oooohhh maybe a video, with no sound of course because our camera is a bit old but still very much functional. How was that for a run on sentence?

Enter Caption Here

2008-11-14T09:52:00.003-06:00

Bumbo on Stove

2008-11-14T09:48:00.004-06:00

An OSU/Dora Birthday

2008-11-14T09:44:00.004-06:00

Thank you to April for the sweet birthday cake! We loved seeing all of you!

Documentary

2008-10-20T14:19:00.001-05:00

Here is an interesting documentary on the town of Crawford, TX. It documents the town and it's residents from the day George W. Bush moved in to the present. If you have time...

Game Day - OSU vs. MSU GO BUCKS!

2008-10-18T11:48:00.004-05:00

Cali Bound

2008-10-13T08:51:00.005-05:00

Well, I am not Cali bound but Dru and Israel are. They're flight left this morning around 9:20 am eastern time. They fly to Charlotte, NC then to Los Vegas, NV then to Sacramento, Cali. It's a short trip seeing as they will return early Thursday morning, but please pray for their safety and God's guidance with the specialists.

Also pray for me to get a lot of my studying done while they are gone. I gotta hit the books hard to sail smoothly through the rest of the semester.

Peace

Update: Dru and Is have been re-routed through Philadelphia...They will take a plane straight to Sacramento from there. Airlines...

Update #2: Dru and Is are safely in Sacramento...they're tired to say the least. Dru was heating up some noodles when we spoke, then she was going to feed Israel and go to bed. Speaking of bed...

Update #3: Dru and Is are safely home! Both of them are very tuckered after a long night of flying so they are taking a snooze at the moment. It's good to have them home...I think Is grew another12 inches while they were gone...Dru tells me that he is 14 1/2 pounds and 26 inches long. Thanks for keeping them in your prayers!

More Pics

2008-10-04T14:29:00.012-05:00

Ohio State vs. USC Loss

2008-10-04T14:24:00.003-05:00

Before the Game...After the Game

God in History - "Early Christian Thought"

2008-09-05T09:37:00.004-05:00

"That God was known in history, in the life of a human being, validated experience; it allowed Christian thinkers to appeal to the lives of holy men and women, especially the martyrs and saints, and to the experience of the church, as testimony to the truth of God...Christian thinking did not spring from an original idea, and it was not nourished by a seminal spiritual insight. It had its beginnings in the history of Israel and the life of a human being named Jesus of Nazareth, who was born of Mary, lived in Judea, suffered and died in Jerusalem, and was raised by God to new life."

-Robert Louis Wilken

"The Spirit of Early Christian Thought"

The Gorans

2008-08-31T18:18:00.002-05:00

I wanted to let all of you know about friends of ours who are going to be missionaries to the Ukraine. Dave and Shannon were married a little over a year ago. Both of them are graduates of Asbury Seminary and have a true heart for God and the spreading of His gospel. From the Caldwell family...we love you both. You can keep up with the Gorans at there blog here and with the link on the sidebar.

Feets a Forward

2008-08-26T20:52:00.003-05:00

All Smiles

2008-08-26T20:49:00.003-05:00

Shots in St. Louis

2008-08-11T22:27:00.011-05:00

Evolution of the Hawk

2008-08-11T22:23:00.004-05:00

Hard Drive Update

2008-08-01T08:10:00.002-05:00

For those of you who are curious about our busted hard drive and the information recovery dilemma, you should know that all is well. Through the many connections of Wilmore I was able to find a computer guy in Lexington who salvaged all of our photos, school work, etc. for a measly 75 bucks. I thought that was a pretty good deal. The guy even wiped the hard drive clean so that when I send it back to Dell they won't have access to all of our personal items. Sweet...all is well that ends well.

More Recent Bath Photo

2008-08-01T08:09:00.002-05:00

Bath Time

2008-08-01T08:01:00.006-05:00

More Visits

2008-07-26T13:45:00.008-05:00

2008-07-26T00:39:00.002-05:00

I stole this idea from Chad...This is a Wordle of the paper I wrote in response to my trip to India this past January. Enjoy!!

"You'll find me in St. Louis"

2008-07-26T00:18:00.001-05:00

...I'll let you finish the line. Dru and I and the boy are in St. Louis until next Wednesday. I have great intentions of getting some photos up by tomorrow. See you then!

Back Online

2008-07-21T20:38:00.001-05:00

I am typing from our actual computer this time. It's amazing what a working hard drive can do. Now if I can just find someone locally to recover all of our data from the busted one. Any suggestions? I should have new pictures up within the next couple of days. Thanks again for hanging in there.

New Hard Drive

2008-07-20T18:43:00.002-05:00

Well...a new hard drive is on the way which means that our computer should be up and running by the end of this week. Unfortunately, all of our information, pictures and such will be lost. You could say that I am a big believer in backing up your information now. Also, data retrieval is ridiculously expensive.

Computer Busted

2008-07-14T17:38:00.001-05:00

To those of you who have faithfully checked the site for updates about our new little/big arrival I apologize. Our computer is sick...busted...and I am trying to fix it. Hopefully it will be back online by the end of the week. Thanks to Dru's parents and sister for visiting and thanks to Leah and Mom and Dad for hanging out and taking care of us...We love all of you!

The Past Few Days...

2008-07-03T23:28:00.005-05:00

Have been great! Israel is, so far, an easy baby. That's not to say that we are lacking on sleep, but all in all I would say it isn't too bad. He had his tongue "snipped" today. If you hadn't heard, Israel was tongue tied, which means that he wasn't able to breast feed properly. A quick trip to the ENT physician and he is right as rain. We have already seen a difference in his milk intake just after a few feedings.

Dru's parents and her sister Leigh left this afternoon and we were grateful to have them here to help out. We're now looking forward to my parents and sister coming. That's all for now.

Also, our boy is a genius. He already holds his own pacifier and he's not even a week old. (Yes...that is an Ohio State changing pad. Thank you Hannah.)

We're HOME!!!

2008-06-30T21:19:00.005-05:00

We arrived home this afternoon around 1:00 p.m. No question about it, we're tired but doing great. Israel loves his new bassinet and has already won over the neighbors.

Snoozing with Mom

2008-06-30T21:10:00.004-05:00

Dru and Israel took a nap on the last morning we were in the hospital.

Visitors

2008-06-29T22:02:00.005-05:00

Evening Shots

2008-06-28T21:33:00.001-05:00

Breakfast Never Tasted So Good

2008-06-28T07:43:00.002-05:00

Since Dru missed out on all of the blogging fun yesterday she checked it all out this morning. Thank you all so much for being a part of our special day. Even through all of the pains and frustrations we know that we are loved and cared for by a loving community. Unlike Jacob who saw God in Esau's face, we saw God in all of your words yesterday. May we all continue to "wrestle" with Him.

Love, Adam, Dru and Israel

Morning After

2008-06-28T07:40:00.004-05:00

Israel Pyron Caldwell

2008-06-28T00:31:00.002-05:00

Our Son Has Arrived -- 22 inches, 9lbs. 12ounces

2008-06-28T00:06:00.005-05:00

Still Pushing

2008-06-27T22:59:00.004-05:00

We can definitely see the head and he has a lot of hair!

Besides...

Dru thinks that the 28th is a better day anyway right!?

We're Pushing

2008-06-27T22:00:00.001-05:00

We've begun the pushing process!

9

2008-06-27T20:28:00.002-05:00

Dru is now 9 centimeters so it should be within the hour...hopefully...Our son will be here soon!

7-8

2008-06-27T18:32:00.003-05:00

According to Dr. Loof just this second Dru is now 7-8 centimeters. Apparently the epidural is doing the trick...Let's just pray that she is able to give vaginally and that we won't have to revert to a c-section.

Post-Epidural Drip

2008-06-27T17:21:00.003-05:00

Honestly, Dru and I aren't trying to have a pitty party but we are thoroughly disappointed that this all turned out this way...thanks for your encouraging words...I guess

Tired...But We'll Make It

2008-06-27T15:06:00.004-05:00

Dr. Loof just visited once again. She is currently only 4 centimeters dilated after almost 12 hours of labor...the boy may be too big so we are going to try an epidural hoping that it will relax Dru enough to continue to dilate. If he is too big then we'll go and get him. No matter how you slice this...it sucks...

Update

2008-06-27T12:56:00.002-05:00

3-4 centimeters an hour ago..lot of pain but breathing through!

Playlist Thus Far

2008-06-27T10:54:00.004-05:00

Queen - Greatest Hits

Billy Joel - Greatest Hits

Chick Corea - Solo Piano Standards

Palestrina

Reliant K - MMMHHHMMM

Coldplay - Not Sure of the Album

Pitocin Administered

2008-06-27T09:40:00.002-05:00

Unfortunately pitocin has been administered to Dru up to this point. Hopefully this will speed up the process a bit because she was still only 2 centimeters dilated 3 hours after her water broke. Not a good sign, so we made the difficult decision to proceed with the drug. Let the pain begin! Perhaps we will have a son at the end of this thing. At least that is the goal!

Labor Dabor

2008-06-27T07:59:00.011-05:00

It has begun..well, were at the hospital at least. Dru woke up this morning about 6:50 am, had a contraction, then her water broke. It wasn't a gush but more of a trickle for those who care about the details. I will say that from this point on there will probably be only pictures posted without much dialogue. Hopefully you will get the gist of what is happening. Perhaps the most funny thing up to this point was the fact that the reception desk was completely empty when we first arrived...more funny than disheartening. We covet your prayers!

Baby Buckeye 41 Weeks

2008-06-27T07:54:00.003-05:00

This was yesterday which marked our 41st week. I thought you all would want to see one more before the actual labor posts. Enjoy!

Baby Buckeye 40 Weeks

2008-06-24T16:59:00.009-05:00

We went to see the doctor last Friday and today and Dru is currently 70% effaced and about 2 centimeters dilated. For those that don't know, you can't start pushing until 100% effacement and 10 centimeters dilation. Suffice it to say, we have a ways to go yet. The Doc estimates that the boy is currently 8 lbs 9 ounces with a 9.8 centimeters diameter of a head. I don't think Dru is too keen on all of that but we shall see what happens. I am hoping that this is the last post before the actual birthing process of our son begins. I toyed around with the idea of placing a web cam at the end of the bed so that you all could witness the miracle, but Dru seemed to protest a bit to this. I'm not sure why.

4 Years and Running!

2008-06-19T09:00:00.003-05:00

Today is Dru and I's fourth year anniversary and though it may be cheesy to say, I love her more now than the day we got married.

Baby Buckeye 38 Weeks

2008-06-16T17:27:00.004-05:00

Well, we are coming down to it. Not much to say. Enjoy the pictures. Also, if you haven't heard...Mustoe is getting married in a few days. Sorry we can't be there buddy. We both love you more than you know.

The Apocrypha of Muad'Dib

2008-06-04T07:55:00.002-05:00

"Atrocity is recognized as such by victim and perpetrator alike, by all who learn about it at whatever remove. Atrocity has no excuses, no mitigating argument. Atrocity never balances or rectifies the past. Atrocity merely arms the future for more atrocity. It is self-perpetuating upon itself-a barbarous form of incest. Whoever commits atrocity also commits those future atrocities thus bred."

-Children of Dune
-Frank Herbert

"What would we be...

2008-05-27T22:31:00.004-05:00

...without wishful thinking?" - Wilco

As I wrote the previous post I was listening to this particular Wilco song. One of my favorites. Honestly, what would we be without wishful thinking? Not much I suppose. Life is to be lived consciously I like to say. Without our hopes, thoughts, dreams we really would be nothing. Maybe we would simply be caught in the humdrum of the nine to five not knowing where we are headed or what life has in store for us. I think this may be kin to "The Prophetic Imagination" that Walter Brueggemann speaks of. Our hopes, thoughts, and dreams should always be tied to God's hopes, thoughts, and dreams. The trick is to continually remind ourselves of God's story as opposed to the consumeristic saturated world we live in which is the story of buy buy buy. May God continually sing His song in our hearts. A song of love, peace, joy, patience, long suffering, justice, and most of all unselfishness.

Baby Buckeye Week 36

2008-05-27T22:19:00.005-05:00

I'm late. Get over it. "It's too late to apologize" as some may say. Anyway, again, this was late in the evening before shower and bed and Dru insists that I put the disclaimer with it. Yes, Dru is tired, but isn't that to be expected when you are 36 weeks pregnant, holding down a full time job, commuting over and hour a day, and completed 15 hours of post-graduation credit towards a masters during the same semester that all of this was going on? (That was a mouthful.) I think so. Shoot, Dru puts me to shame. Enjoy the pictures!

Not Many Thoughts

2008-05-20T09:18:00.004-05:00

Coming to the end of the semester I realize that I haven't given many thoughts on how to be a Christian this past year. Instead, I have used quotes from others to frame what I have been thinking and reading. Honestly, I think I've come to a point where I wonder if what I have to say matters beyond those I am close with and living in community with. When I first started this shindig I had delusions of grandeur thought others might actually be interested in what I have to say. Really, others have thought and said everything that I have thought or probably want to say much better than I ever could. So, I have acquiesced to giving pithy little updates about our life here in Kentucky. This certainly isn't a bad thing. I know that family appreciates it, particularly during this exciting time of pregnancy and all. To continue this somewhat stream of conscience blurb, I think that maybe I don't have much to say because I am not faced with the rigors of ministry like I was two years ago. Perhaps in a couple of years when Dru and I blow this blue grass, horse infested country side (not that I don't like horses) I will have more productive things to say. Until then, be prepared for more personal updates, useless entertaining videos, and helpful quotes from people much smarter than me. Thanks for hanging in there.

The Stars

2008-05-13T20:14:00.001-05:00

"But I know, somehow, that only when it is dark enough can you see the stars."

-Martin Luther King Jr.

Baby Buckeye 34 1/2 Weeks

2008-05-13T11:59:00.008-05:00

Once again I am a bit late in getting this posted. Dru and I had a "whirlwind" of a trip this past weekend in Missouri. (Literally, there were tornadoes and everything!) Of course, we were given many nice things to add to our collection of baby goods. We certainly have been blessed. Dru wanted me to let you all know that these picture were taken late at night, after a long day, right before shower and bed. So...I guess keep that in mind.

The Meaning of Life...Consummation

2008-05-08T10:15:00.003-05:00

"The Christian hope of the consummation of life and history is less absurd than alternate doctrines which seek to comprehend and to effect the completion of life by some power or capacity inherent in man and his history. It is an integral part of the total Biblical conception of the meaning of life. Both the meaning and its fulfillment are ascribed to a centre and source beyond ourselves. We can participate in the fulfillment of the meaning only if we do not seek too proudly to appropriate the meaning as our secure possession or to effect the fulfillment by our own power...For the ending of our life would not threaten us if we had not falsely made ourselves the center of life's meaning..."

-Reinhold Niebuhr

For Your Entertainment

2008-05-01T10:33:00.002-05:00

Jesus People Episode 1

Jesus People Episode 2

Jesus People Episode 3

Baby Buckeye 32 Weeks

2008-04-28T08:20:00.009-05:00

It's hard to believe that our countdown is now at 52 days. I guess this really means that we are having a kid. Although I suppose I could conjure up some explanation for Dru's appearance and the constant wiggling going on in her belly but I won't do that. I've decided to accept the evidence that has been presented to me because, frankly, I can't refute it any longer. Honestly, both Dru and I are getting more and more excited as the days go on. We finished our last Lamaze class and feel somewhat prepared for birth. Lord willing, our birth plan will stay in effect and there will be no complications.

Dru has finished all of her after school obligations so she'll be able to come home at reasonable hours. There are many nights where I have to convince her to go to bed so that she can get an ample amount of sleep, but other than that all is well.

Baby Buckeye Week 30

2008-04-17T15:18:00.003-05:00

I apologize once again for getting this picture up late again. I can't seem to get them up on time. Dru and I had a great time in St. Louis a couple of weeks ago. Next Wednesday will be our third and last night of what I call "breathing" classes. Who Who Who Heeeeee to all of you. I seem to be a little under the weather starting yesterday. Problem is I can't tell if it's a cold or allergies. To be honest it is probably a combination of both. Bad time of the year for me so to speak. Dru is officially done with classes but she is currently tutoring and teaching clubs after school so she hasn't slowed down much. Anyway, enjoy the new picture.

Here's Why You Should Watch...

2008-04-15T15:41:00.001-05:00