Day 21: A picture of you and your family

I love my family!

Here's a picture from my brother's high school graduation.

From my college graduation.

And from an extended family photo shoot taken last summer (you ought to see the large one with my dad's entire side of the family).  This picture is actually the most complete because it includes my brother's wife Katie.

Day 20: Something you’ve learned.

This question is so vague I'm almost not sure how to answer it.  Twenty-five years is a long time to accumulate knowledge.

I've learned algebra, American history, how to interview for a job, how to be a good friend, patience, how to pitch a tent, how to listen more critically, the correct way to write a sentence, how to build furniture, etc.

All great things, but nothing quite "blog worthy".  In my opinion at least.

How about instead I tell you about something I'm learning.  I'm learning the steps to progress.  How to weed through the garden of my life.  How to become stronger and wiser.  And most importantly, how to hear God more clearly.

If there's something that I've learned, it's that obedience and the willingness to deal with personal issues clears out the air.  And when the air is clear, God's voice is so much stronger.  And when you're certain of the message sender, your actions and next steps become clear(er).

Day 19: A picture of your favorite article of clothing.

I love these shirts, but even more I love what they stand for.

Give A Shirt is a local organization that sells tee-shirts and uses they money raised to clothe homeless teens in Salem.  What's even better is that the idea came from high school students looking for ways to make their community better, healthier, stronger.  I love that.  Teens serving teens.  I love that this generation is poised to serve, just waiting for us to let them.

These are my go-to shirts.  I wear one at least once a week.  Thankfully my office is pretty casual, so I wear them to work too.  I love them, love what they stand for, and love what they remind me of: that we're full of potential to make a difference, all we need to do is act.

Blessed

Every once in a while I'm overwhelmed with the blessings in my life. Gifts God has given me, good friends to live life with, and strong words of affirmation and encouragement.

That's community.

People intentionally getting together to celebrate with someone, to encourage someone, or to just be with someone. An intentional choice for relationship.

It's a beautiful thing to see it lived out. But more than that, it's a blessing to be a part of. An overwhelming blanket of encouragement and support.

I am truly blessed.

Day 18: Virtual tour of your house.

In case you weren't able to make my housewarming party this afternoon, here is a nice virtual tour of my home.  The irony of this topic landing on the day of my housewarming party was not planned, although you'd sure think that.

And if you haven't been able to see it in person, come visit!  I love company.

 We'll start the tour upstairs in my room.

Closet in my bedroom.  I built those shelves.

I had an extra bedroom, so this is what I use it for.  Probably my favorite room in the house.

Interesting "closet" in the closet.  Gotta love "old house charm"

My roommates side of the closet.

My roommate's room. 

Travel back down the hallway to the upstairs bathroom.

And the largest closet in the house--in the bathroom.  With carpet.  Hmm...

Through the hallway upstairs, to the upstairs landing.

Ta da!  I definitely reupholstered that chair

Desk/office-y area

Fun built-in bookcase. (Stairs to the left)

Down the stairs.  Watch your head (if you're tall)

The TV room, an immediate left after you're down the stairs.

Back out to the living room/sitting area.  Front door/entryway

Dining room.  The largest room in the house actually.

I love yellow, if you couldn't already tell.

I made that light fixture.  Definitely fun.

To the kitchen.

Lots of cabinet space.

Utility room/Toby's space.

There he is now, posing for a picture.

Washer & Dryer

Back into the dining room and into the downstairs bathroom.

Front of the house.

Backyard.

Day 17: Bible verse.

Two of my all-time favorites.

Jeremiah 17:7-8
"But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green and they never stop producing fruit."

Phillipians 4:13
"Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus."

Day 16: Favorite Picture of yourself of all time.

If I had access to little kid pictures of myself, this might be a whole other game.  Sadly, going through baby albums at my parent's house is not in the time table I have for this week.
Fortunately there are so many "favorite" pictures of myself I'm not at a loss to find one.

As Brian Regan says (when forced to pick a sno-cone flavor), "GRAPE! I'm gonna get grape or cherry. They're both favorites, so either one is good, but if they have both, I'll get grape, because grape is a little more favorite. But if they don't have grape it's like alright its fine, cause cherry's favorite anyway. It's like another favorite, but not as much. Not as much favorite. But they're both good. They're both good."

Finally, someone as indecisive as I.

Most of these pictures I love because of what they remind me of.  Memories and people I love.

Brittanie's wedding and my two best friends.

Freshman year of high school.  When everything seemed sort of Utopian. 

My Portland Marathon run.  One of the hardest things I've ever done. 
Mentally, physically, and emotionally.

Me and my brother at his wedding.  I love this kid so much it hurts sometimes.

My favorite senior pic, and coincidentally still one of my favorite pictures of myself.