Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Well, for Christmas this year I spent it in Des Moines with Jamie, Gretchen, their girls, and some of Gretchen's family at her parent's home. We arrived there on Wednesday afternoon and got back home yesterday afternoon. It was a great time! There was plenty of food, including an awesome meal of grilled steaks and twice-baked potatoes on Christmas Day. Because of all the food and snacks, I went and worked out both Friday and Saturday mornings with Jamie. I had to offset the calorie intake somehow! We also managed to get a few games in on a Wii, which Gretchen's brother-in-law Robbie had. I might just have to get me one of those someday, as the games were a blast!

I also have this entire week off from my internships sites, with the only thing that I must get done is some research for my final Masters paper for school - a 40 to 45 page paper. I will probably head to the U of M's Wilson Hall Library tomorrow to begin the research process, assuming they're open over the holiday break.

After sleeping in late this morning, I went out to breakfast at Mickey's Diner in St. Paul, followed by an amazing 100 anos at Stogies on Grand - another wonderful day! I hope you've had a nice Christmas, too!

The Holidays

I love Christmastime! Whether it's Christmas music, movies, and TV shows; Christmas trees and decorations; or even a little bit of Christmas shopping (assuming the crowds aren't too hectic). Tonight was my annual tradition of enjoying a warm fire while watching a classic Christmas movie (A Christmas Carol) and partaking in a fine cigar (earlier this afternoon with Dan and Jamie)...what a fun day!

Thanksgiving

Well, I survived the Thanksgiving holiday! I spent Wednesday through Sunday in southeast Wisconsin at my uncle Dan's (a view of the Wisconsin countryside at left). We were joined by my aunt and uncle, Gale and Susan (they are the parents of my recently departed cousin, Monty). My uncle's girlfriend Jane was able to join us for the turkey feast, too. My uncle is not much of a cook, so he ordered a turkey from a local bakery, along with the stuffing and cranberry sauce. He and I managed to peel, slice, and mash the potatoes all by ourselves! My aunt brought us homemade pumpkin and pecan pies - her baking reminded me of my Mom's, as it was wonderful!

As some of you know, my uncle and I have a strange relationship. I used to spend at least one long weekend a year with him, going back to when I was about 15. I can still clearly remember (somewhat clearly) the first time he and I went to a local bar, and I was served underage as a 15 year old. This practice continued for many years, with me being his drinking buddy. After I became saved, I didn't see him as much as before, as I struggled with being around him and his lifestyle. He too didn't know what to make of my new-found religion. He is a practicing Atheist, but has at least come to accept my belief in God. I do not judge him, but try to lead by example. However, I have been known to stumble a bit when I am around him. This Thanksgiving, I managed to only partake in a few Guinness'.

We were also able to connect for an evening with my uncle's cousin Bob, who is my second-cousin. He and his wife Pat live in Alaska! They have always been known as the adventurers in our family, and hearing their stories of his small airplane was pretty exciting! I hope to visit them one day soon in Alaska. They moved there almost 30 years ago, so Bob could work on the Alaskan pipeline as a mechanic. He retired a few years ago, and has been hunting, fishing, and flying ever since!

I got back into town yesterday afternoon, after spending the morning and early afternoon in the car - with a few stops, it only took me about 5 1/2 hours to get home. Considering I get very sleepy and bored while driving by myself, I did pretty well with my ipod and some podcasts.

I hope your Turkey Day was enjoyable - any fun adventures?

A few pictures of my uncle Bob and aunt Pat in Alaska:

What a Beautiful Day

Early morning worshiping of God, in the GC prayer room for 40 (our non-stop prayer to God from Friday night to Sunday night).
An amazing breakfast at Zumbro.
A brisk walk around Lake Harriet.
My newly-mowed and raked lawn.
Sitting in my Adirondack chair, for possibly one last time this Fall.
Enjoying a Saint Luis Rey cigar.
Watching and listening to God's creation.
Seeing a little red squirrel, a bunny rabbit, and a gray goose.
Making apple crisp for tonight's GC potluck.
Making hawaiian chicken for Dan and Heidi & Anna and Evelyn, for tomorrow night.
Relaxing and reading in my favorite recliner, in my favorite spot in my house (the porch).
Thank you God.

They're Here!

I spent this afternoon at the hospital with Dan, Heidi, Anna, and Evelyn! I have an open day in my schedule (until I get a middle school secured), so I was able to get some quality time with the girls. Gretchen and the girls, along with Marissa, stopped in as well. Be sure to check Gretchen's and Marissa's blogs later for pictures too!

Here are some pictures from the day: 1. Dan feeding Anna with a dropper; 2. Evelyn sleeping; 3. Me and Anna; 4. Daddy and Anna; 5. Evelyn and Me; 6. Heidi and Anna (I think); 7. The Sisters; 8. Heidi, Anna, and Marissa; 9. Isabelle, Marissa, Tori, and Evelyn; 10. Evelyn and Tori; 11. Anna and Gretchen; 12. Me and Anna (good picture Isabelle!):

Stillwater

After enjoying a slow morning of sleeping in late and coffee with peppermint mocha creamer, I decided to head to Stillwater. I got myself ready, and hopped into the car and sped off.

My first stop in Stillwater was, of course, Starbuck's! After getting my Caramel Macchiato, I then went and did some antique shopping. After wandering the aisles for awhile, I was getting hungry. So, I decided to grab some lunch at Shane's on Main, my friend Lisa's discovery. After lunch, I did a little shopping at a bookstore, and bought the classic novel of Willa Cather called "My Antonia." It will be added to the pile of books waiting for me to read! I then went next door to the bookstore, and bought a bottle of white wine (Oktoberfest) from the Northern Vineyards, a co-op of vineyards in central Minnesota. It will go well with a fire and the baseball playoffs tonight!

Last, but certainly not least, I grabbed my cigar and lighter, and found a great spot by the St. Croix river and the lift bridge, to enjoy a fine smoke (a Gispert). Here are a few photos from my last stop in Stillwater.

Fall

October is my favorite month.
Sunday morning breakfast, and a walk around the lake.
Green, yellow, gold, orange, and red leaves.
Framed against a blue gray sky.
Autumn.
Summer winding down for a long Winter nap.

Elementary School Rocks!

Today was the 2nd day for me at my elementary school site, Gatewood, in Hopkins. Just like last Thursday, at the end of the day, my brain hurts! There is so much activity and energy within those walls, that it's fun to be a part of it. Surprisingly, there are a lot of "disciplinary" problems to deal with, but at that age it's mostly teaching kids to make the right decisions, and to see the consequences of their wrong choices.

I even got to work briefly with one student by myself today! His name is Paul, and he is struggling at home and a bit at school, and his teacher was glad for my involvement. We went outside during lunch and threw the football around. I got the chance to introduce him to a few other students on the playground, and I think that helped him somewhat. I'm going to be meeting with Paul each Thursday that I am there, getting to know him better and giving him someone else to talk with and open up to.

I was also able to observe some classroom guidance today, with it being 4th grade Class Representative voting day. The kids were excited to give a short speech to their classmates, and they were really excited when we tabulated their votes and announced their reps. It was really cute hearing some of their speeches as to why they should be elected (maybe Obama and McCain should have been there taking notes)!

I really enjoyed my day today!

Go Twins!

I was able to go to the Twins game on Saturday afternoon versus the Kansas City Royals. My friend Jamie invited me to join him and two of his brother-in-laws and another person, and we were able to sit in a suite. Here's the view from our suite! Unfortunately, the Twins lost that game, but they still have a chance at winning their division and making the playoffs with a little help from the Tigers. Go Twins!

Update

My first two weeks of practicum/internships are in the books, and it has been going well. I am slowly getting some more contact with the students at DeLaSalle, with a few Senior interviews (college planning check-ins) scheduled for later this week. I've had a few more opportunities to work with the students at my Alternative site (Lincoln International), when I helped give classroom presentations on a career interest inventory. I've enjoyed working with the Somali and Latino populations at Lincoln.

I have also lined up another Elementary site, Gatewood, in Hopkins. I will be there 1 day a week, beginning this Thursday. And I have a lead on a potential Middle school practicum in Hopkins (one of the better school districts), hopefully starting there sometime in November.

Day One

Day one of my internship at DeLaSalle went really well yesterday! I have my own desk and computer (no access to it yet), and my very own name tag made by our Guidance Office student aid (I'll try to get a picture of it up soon). For the first few weeks, I will mainly be doing administrative tasks such as filing ACT/SAT test results, but after that they plan on getting me more involved in the counseling aspects, after I become more comfortable in that setting. The day really flew by and I was quite surprised to see that it was over so fast! I enjoyed talking with the other Guidance Counselors, and even getting to have some contact with some of the students.

On a rather disappointing note, my Elementary site backed out on me at the last minute. The School Counselor that I would be observing emailed me to say that because her position is partially-funded through a U of M grant, that they can only take on internship students from the U of M. So now I will have to try to locate another Elementary site - please pray that the process goes smoothly and quickly.

Remember...

Memorials at the Pentagon, and eventually at the World Trade Tower site:

New Adventure

Well, only 6 more days until I will be interning full-time in the school system! I pretty much have all of my sites lined up, with the exception of a middle school. They haven't gotten back to me in over a month, but are probably quite busy with the school year beginning. I will be splitting my time between DeLaSalle high 3 days a week, Lincoln International high (alternative) 1 day a week, and Anne Sullivan elementary 1 day a week. I will probably be at Hidden Oaks middle later on this Fall.

This coming Friday is also my last day at Target! For that matter, it is my last day receiving a paycheck for quite awhile! I will be living off of student loans for the next 6-8 months while I complete my required internship hours and my final Masters paper. It's been awhile since I didn't have a job, so I am trying to look at the experience as an "adventure," and will try to enjoy the time as much as I can. Hopefully next Fall I will be gainfully employed as a Licensed School Counselor.

I cannot wait until Monday!

Quote II

During this time of politics, I think the following quote sums it all up:

"Those who stand for nothing fall for anything."
- Alexander Hamilton

Fair Thoughts

I really enjoyed the State Fair this year! I went early Friday morning, and rode the bus from Southdale Mall, which saved me the expense of parking and the hassle of driving. I wandered around for a bit before settling on my first food of the day at 8:30 - a corn dog! I then quickly moved over to the cheese curd booth to partake in their goodness! I met up with James and Amy and their kids, and we walked around the Fair together for a few hours. We branched off after awhile, and I managed to get my last item of food for the day, a fresh strawberry shake from the dairy barn. I was going to share some cookies with James and Amy, and enjoy a lot of milk for only a buck, but their kids are not fond of chocolate chip cookies and I didn't want to eat a whole bucket by myself. Well, actually I did want to, but I decided against it! I will just have to wait until next year to enjoy them.

I was also able to spend time yesterday in one of my favorite spots in Minnesota - Stillwater. My friend Lisa was going to spend the day their because her husband Eric had to work, so I managed to join her for the day. It was a really fun time. Afterwards, we met up with Eric, and Jamie, Gretchen and the girls for a BBQ in a Bloomington park. It was a fun way to end the holiday weekend!

State Fair!

It's that time of year once again, time for Summer to be winding down and Fall to slowly (I hope) begin. Those that know me, are fully aware of my enjoyment of the Great Minnesota Get Together - our own State Fair! My family rarely went to the Fair while I was growing up, so I began my own tradition once I got older of going to the Fair each year. I've even been known to go twice in one year! I'll be heading to the Fair this Friday.

For me, the Fair is nothing more than eating a lot of unhealthy food (Pronto Pups, cheese curds, chocolate chip cookies and all the milk I can drink for a buck), to just getting a chance to people watch. I might wander down to the barns and the animals, but for this city-slicker I'm more interested in the fresh milkshakes than I am the cows or horses!

Once I've made my way around the Fairgrounds a few times, and had my fill of food, than it's usually time for me to get out of the crowds, and to begin preparing myself mentally for the end of Summer. I am actually really looking forward to this Fall, as I will be doing my practicums and internships full-time in a few weeks. But for now, I am focusing on, and looking forward to, the Fair.

Life, or Something Like It

I've been struggling with loneliness for quite some time now, and oddly enough, I am actually getting used to it. Most days I seem to be OK with it, with brief moments where I actually don't focus on it. And for the most part, I've come to accept it, like an old worn sweater, or a tight-fitting glove. I think that what I keep telling myself is that it's just for a season, and that God has something for me to learn during these times, but that doesn't always make it easier to get through those moments. I still greatly desire to have a wife and children, and I know that feeling will be there until the day I finally have them.

Until then, I am learning to take one day at a time, trying not to focus on the feelings of frustration, doubt, and anger. Instead, most days I am rather melancholy, and have learned to enjoy having some time by myself where I can read a good book, watch a little TV, or go out for breakfast and a long walk. I know better than most people (as a budding counselor) that when times like this happen, it is best to busy oneself with life's steps, try not to focus on the feelings, and let things happen as they may. But, I am such a control freak that it's rather difficult for me to release, rest, and run to God instead. I am definitely a work in progress, with some distance to travel still...

Happy Friday!

Quote

To borrow from Eric and Jamie, I found a great quote from Alfred Adler (the former psychologist, and the namesake of my graduate school).

"God who is eternally complete, who directs the stars, who is the master of fates, who elevates man from his lowliness to Himself, who speaks from the cosmos to every single human soul, is the most brilliant manifestation of the goal of perfection."

- Alfred Adler

Now top that one boys!!

Back to School?!

I cannot believe it, but I am actually looking forward to going back to high school! I start my school counseling internship at DeLaSalle in about a month, but am really excited to begin it now. I also have an alternative school and middle school all lined up, with an elementary school yet to be determined.

Just the other day, I went to Target and got my school supplies! I needed some notebooks to take the required notes for my practicums/internships, so I bought a few composition books, and a calendar/organizer to keep track of which school I am at, on which day. Maybe I'll color coordinate each day for the particular school...just so my unorganized friends can mock me!

I haven't been this excited to start back since I was in elementary school! I am looking forward to the Olympics beginning tonight, and then the State Fair later this month, but shortly after that I will be heading back to class with much anticipation (who'd have thought)! I can just hear the students now, "Mr. M, can we talk?"

Summer Reading

The dog days of Summer are here, and I find myself spending more time with a good book, than I do with any other activity of late. Part of that is due to the amount of time that I have by myself, but another part of that is the great pleasure that I find in reading. To borrow a page (no pun intended) from my friend Lisa's blog, here is a sampling of the books that I am either reading, or that are lined up in my queue.

"A False Spring" is a baseball classic that I read about once a year. It is about unfulfilled potential, and how a person has learned to live with that failure. One of my favorite lines is that the author (Pat Jordan) doesn't view himself as a writer who used to pitch, but as a pitcher who happens to be writing just now (ten years after his minor league pitching career ended). I dive into this book whenever I need a quick and enjoyable read, and whenever I am feeling nostalgic for things past.

I am also in the middle of reading a book about Sandy Koufax, called "Sandy Koufax: A Lefty's Legacy." Koufax was a dominate pitcher in the 1960's, who ended his career early by retiring in his 30's. He went out while on top of the game, when he was still overpowering the sport. Over the years, he has been rather reclusive with his life, but was willing to share his story with the author of this book. It has been a glimpse into the mind of a pitching genius.

The third book I am reading, which is a difficult one for me to get through, is called "The Shack." I bought it based on a recommendation of my friend Eric, and have been intending to read it for months now, and have finally started to do so. It's a hard read for me not because of the writing style, but because of the content. From what I've pieced together so far, it's about a family that loses a child to kidnapping/murder, and how they've dealt with that loss, and with their relationship to God. Those that know me, know that I do not enjoy violence, or bad things happening to children, so this book is stretching my boundaries a bit.

As usual, there are more books on my bookshelf waiting to be read, with the last count of about ten books lined up! They range from Erwin McManus' newest "Wide Awake," to a work of fiction about golf. What are you in the middle of reading, or what type of book would you want to read if you had the time or the desire?

In a Fog

This is the view from my 34th floor window at work this morning; a thick fog covering up the skyline. What is usually a pretty clear and far-reaching view, is now just my own reflection, staring back at me.

In a fog...that pretty much sums up my life these days. I'm not sure of what is out there, or what my next step might lead to, because I cannot see through the fog. It's at times like these when I need to rely on God the most, and trust in His leading me through the confusion.

James' Adventure

James sure has been gone awhile...
It looks like he found out where the swamp was!
He had to push the four-wheeler out of the mud!
At least he found his shoes!

Men Being Men

Scenes from the 2008 GC Men's Retreat:

Details

Well, this Summer sure is moving along quickly, isn't it?! I am getting my plans in place for the Fall, with my remaining requirements for my practicums and internships. I have my high school internship in place at DeLaSalle, while I just received word from Hidden Oaks middle school in Prior Lake that they want me for a practicum and possibly then an internship. I have also been getting some alternative practicum hours done at Lincoln International high school this July during their summer school program, and will be finishing up the remaining hours in September. Now all that is left is to get an elementary school lined up, for both the practicum and internship hours.

My plan is to quit at Target in mid-September, and focus on getting all my hours done within 6 months, as well as writing my final project paper/thesis. I hope to be completely finished with my program by April, and will then be in need of a short-term temporary job (to pay the bills) until next Fall, when I hopefully will have a School Counselor job secured! I know that God is a God of details, but there sure are a lot of details for me to work out/worry about in getting things all lined up!

Roads

"Two roads diverged in the middle of my life,
I heard a wise man say
I took the road less traveled by
And that's made the difference every night and every day."
- Larry Norman and Robert Frost, The Shack

There have been many roads over the years that I have chosen to take; some not so good, that have shaped me into the person that I am today. Finally, I chose to follow the road leading to God; and even though it has been difficult at times, it is the better road to be on. I once struggled with alcohol, unhealthy relationships, and dead-end jobs. I once chose to live for myself, and my own desires, and I paid dearly for those choices. I could have easily kept on drinking, kept on chasing after women that I shouldn't have been chasing, and by now I might have actually been married with a family, but I know I wouldn't have been in God's will. Instead, I am no longer drinking to excess like before, I am still single (looking and waiting for the right woman), and I desire to do God's work through my soon to be profession of counseling.

No one ever said being a Christian would be easy; as it is sometimes filled with loneliness and doubt, but I have come to understand that it's the best road that I could have taken.