Hiking Photo

Here's a pic from a hike I went on last Wednesday. It was lead by Sheryl DeWitt, our Family Life Studies professor, and Elena Thomason, the Omega section Resident Director. It was a fun hike. Bonding time, really.

I honestly don't remember the name of the trail that we were on. However, I do remember that we were on the southwest side of the Springs. As you look at the photo, you're looking east-northeast, out over the city of Colorado Springs

Here are the names of the peoples, from left to the other side (and their home states too).
Back Row: Christian (Minnesota), Me (Kansas), Betsy (New York), Diana (???), Anne Marie (Texas), Jess (Maine)
Front Row: Bethany (Florida), Charlyn (???)

Bethany was funny. She's never experienced the changing of the seasons. Crazy Floridians. She wore red leaves in her hair the whole way down the mountain. Amusing.

I'll Take a Smear & Mantle, on the Rocks, Please

Hello to my peoples.

Focus on the Family Institute is going rather well. Classes are very interesting. We have a ton of reading. But at least it's not from text books and the like. Some of the books are good. Some books are okay. No books are bad.

Please check out TrueU.org. It's here on my blog, to the right. It's a link. Check it out.

(Insert randomness here.)

So today I went rock climbing. Two words: fan tastic. We were two staff people and three student guys. Just us five. We climbed three 5.9 routes and one of 5.10 difficulty. If you want to know what those ratings mean, don't ask me. I'd Google it, if you're into the World Wide Web and surfing. The units digit refers to the steepness and technicality of the climb. The tenths digit refers to the difficulty of the individual climb within the "5" class. 5.10 is on the verge of being difficult. I really had a confidence boost after doing the 2nd and 3rd 5.9 routes. Then I was on to the 5.10 route. It's amazing how well those silly little flat-soled climbing shoes - that make you feel truly sorry for all those Chinese women who were forced to have their feet bound back in the day - will adhere themselves to a ledge that's only 1/4 of an inch wide. (Sorry for the insentive historical reference. It's the only way to describe the way those shoes make your feet feel.) And I got to learn cool words like "smear" and "mantle." I love new words. Smearing is when you don't really have a foothold, so you put your weight on a relateively vertical and smooth place on the rock. This creates enough friction that, considering you balance correctly and don't move too quickly, you can manage to get to your next hold. Google "mantel." It's too hard to explain, but I can do it. My advice to any aspiring climber (because I'm so good and have lot's of advice to give) is to trust your footholds more than you think is prudent. The shoes really work. And use your legs. Every other time I've gone climbing, my forearms just kill me. I use them too much to support my body. But this time, because I really used my legs mostly, my forearms felt like money. I really think that if I were to stay out here in CO for very long, I would really get into the whole rock climbing scene.

So remember. Go climbing. Use your legs.

And check out TrueU.org, because as our motto says:

"It puts the 'orldvi' back in 'Worldview' "

Practicum Assignment. Yesssssss.

Today I received my Practicum assignment here at the Institute. If you don't know what practicum is, you are alone. I mean you're not alone, or whatever. Think internship. That makes things easier. Anywhoodle...

I have been assigned to work with the editors of a web site called TrueU.org. Everyone, especially you college students who are cool and check my blog and go to web sites, should check it out. It's all about being a Christian on a college campus. You will find a message board called the "Coffee Shop," and lots of sweet articles by the people who are going to be my bosses. In time, you may even find an article or seven by yours truly. I don't mean to brag, but they must like my skills. (If you keep in mind that as I'm creating this post, I'm talking out loud in a Napoleon Dynamite voice, you'll think I'm much less pompous than you might otherwise).

I am pretty excited about my assignment. I'm looking forward to working with people who are excellent, hilarious, and thought provoking writers. Though I believe God has gifted me with the ability to write and communicate, getting myself to do it is like pulling teeth, and He hasn't gifted me with the ability to enjoy having my teeth pulled, despite three and a half years of braces. (Thanks, Mom and Dad, for foregoing the addition to the garage to finance my dental rearrangement. I appreciate it.)

So, check out TrueU.org. It's scrumtroulescent.

p.s. Keep checking for updates. I should be posting a picture or two from my hike this past weekend. I climbed two 14ers in one day. And I'm still sore today. This 22-year-old body just isn't made to take that sort of beating. I'm getting old.

Meteorological magic

I love the weather here in Colorado. The high today was 65 degrees, which occurred sometime shortly after noon. At about 3:30pm, a storm rolled in. While friends and I, including one of our professors, were hiking in a canyon on the west side of town, clouds engulfed Pikes Peak. On our drive back to the Institute, the clouds parted, and I was the first to notice, and had the pleasure of bringing others' attention to a significant dusting of snow on the mountains. It was a glorious sight to behold. The storm moved off the mountain in a few hours, leaving us with a beautiful sunset. For now, my verbal bumblings and your own imagination will have to suffice in producing a picture of the beautiful scene that we all beheld this evening.

With the cool weather we've been having, the aspens should be turning soon...