46

the lord of hosts is with us /

the god of jacob is our refuge

leadershipping

what: the missouri governor's student leadership forum on faith and values.

when: tuesday through thursday.
where: jeff city.
who: scott, josh, and i.
a blast? check.

it all began on a snowy, zero-degree morning at 6:30, with much shock over the cold and lots of steaming coffee.

^ ...and josh forgetting his sunglasses and wearing mine.

then we made it.
we came... we saw... we conquered.
or really, just toured the capitol.

^ a very large chandelier

^ the missouri state seal. ask me why there are bears in it. i will make up a -really- good story.

^ listening to some history in a room with a massive, room-sized mural...

^ this is lauren. she is a music major with a beautiful voice from missouri southern, and she was a fabulous part of group 3.

^ we went up to the outside of the very top of the dome... the river was a wee bit icy.

^ the governor's mansion, where we had dinner on tuesday night

^ pretty iglesia

^ very old bolt :)

^ the dome, which is apparently topped by the goddess of wheat. who knew?

^ supreme court, anyone? we met 5 justices, including chief justice price.

^ there was a large number of stairs to get up to the dome...

^ ...and more stairs...

^ i like large windows.

^ in the whispering chamber near the top of the dome

^ in session!

^ oh, ya know, doing some voting in the house.

^ this foto outside the governor's office would be more effective if there wasn't a cord in front of the door. alas.

^ i loooove capitols.

^ josh, me, & scott

^ mr. ab director likes the conference so far

^ headed to the governor's mansion

^ me, kisa, & lauren... the governor has some sweet stuff in his house.

^ lauren wanted her pic with our trusty tuxedoed servers, who were actually inmates.

wednesday was pictureless. "team-building" exercises and a massive dodgeball game at the ymca. a few hours of touring the jefferson city correctional center and listening to an offender rap for us. pizza, m&ms, and lively discussions at the hotel, in lieu of canceled dinners in area homes. skip to thurdsay...

^ post-governor's prayer breakfast, where cards pitcher adam wainwright was the speaker. this is our lovely group, minus one facilitator, blazer. l-r: makita, derrick, greg, carl, emily, edmond, me, sam, and lauren.

^ and of course, repping eu... scott, moi, & joshua. too bad there are no popped collars.

^ did i mention how freakishly cold it was?! because of this white stuff that was piled up everywhere...

^ last event of the conference: tour of the now-unused missouri state penitentiary. built in 1836.

^ home sweet home...?

^ scott's expression pretty well describes how we all felt about this place.

^ josh wanted this picture taken. i don't even know.

^ this is the dungeon. with the lights off... massively creepy.

^ another of the many wards.

^ the headline says "it's COLD outside." oh, really? is that white stuff actually cold??

and a few pics from the ol' phone, as my camera battery went kaput...
^ more of the lovely dungeon

^ warming up...and coloring...in cafe via roma after our freezing hour and a half spent in the old penitentiary

^ more coloring... and thanking God for hot coffee

^ our last view of the capitol on the way outta town

suffice to say. it was a jolly good week. and the coldest one i have probably ever experienced... it is currently 2 degrees. TWO. you would think the Lord could spare a few more than that. i guess not.

but the cowboys are walking all over the eagles yet again, so i am content :o)

manny's first white christmas

^ manny says hello and merry christmas!

^ manny woke up to a white christmas... his very first. his very first snowfall, too! he was very, very excited.

^ the first thing he did was make a snow angel.

^ he decided a snowmanny would be fun to make. the snow is so cold!

^ he met his new neighbor, mrs. potato head.

^ they worked on the snowmanny together.

^ uh-oh... mrs. potato head proved to be quite pernicious!

^ manny decided to get his revenge with a good old-fashioned snowball fight.

^ mrs. potato head cackled evilly as she hoisted her snowballs.

^ poor manny.

^ the sun was bright and the snow was starting to soften, so manny and mrs. potato head decided to become friends and enjoy the rest of the morning together. they took turns sledding through the hills.

^ later, manny helped build a giant snowmanny in the front yard before going inside for his christmas day nap.

^ manny hopes you have a happy new year!

it's the little things in life

"for to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
and he will be called
Wonderful Counselor,
Mighty God,
Everlasting Father,
Prince of Peace."
[ isaiah 9:6 ]

merry christmas!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pn10FF-FQfs

nieve

i cannot lie... tejas' attempt at snow fails. you can't even tell that it's snowing in the foto. but it is, in fact, snowing quite rapidly! it's kind of gusting around so that when you get out of your car it almost knocks you over.

quite a change from the sunshine and temp of 70 yesterday!

i just wanted to point out that it is, indeed, snowing. probably the closest i've come to a white christmas before :o)

merry christmas eve! don't forget to leave your cookies out for santa. he told me he likes gingersnaps the best. since i'm an elf, you know...

adventures of manny, pt. 2

so apparently my dad was a little bored one evening...
this is what he sent me a few weeks ago.

poor manny... how he misses amy.

she is his best friend.
he likes to look at her picture.
“i hope she comes home soon,” he sighs.

suddenly, he hears a car door slam!
“oh,” he says, “maybe that’s amy now."
manny races down to the door.

manny looks out the door.
no amy.
poor manny. false alarm.

manny feels so dejected.
poor manny. poor, poor manny. he is sad.
“what can I do to see amy,”
he thinks.

“i know,” he says, “i’ll go to see her at school.
she will like that...”
manny races back to his room.

“let’s see... here is missouri
and here is springfield.
hmm, if I take that highway..."

manny prepares for the trip.
he knows it is cold in missouri,
so he borrows some warm socks from amy’s dad.
“this is not going to work,” thinks manny.

manny then begins to pack.
first, he gets a toothbrush.

“silly me,” cries manny, slapping his forehead.
“i don’t need a toothbrush.
i don’t even have a mouth!”

oh manny, watch out!
don’t fall off the counter!
careful, manny!!!!

manny! are you okay?
talk to me, manny!
poor manny. poor, poor manny!!

“this is not my day,” says manny.
“but it doesn’t hurt...much,” he groans.
“but that’s okay, ‘cause i’m a man and i can take it!!”
i guess manny will have to stay at home
and wait for amy.
poor manny. poor, poor manny!

manny sits up in bed and says,
“i want to tell amy something.
hurry home, amy. i miss you a lot.
and bring me something from evangel...
maybe a womanny?!!!!!”

^ yes, thank you for that, father dear.

stay tuned for the christmas adventures of manny!