What a game

My niece Haley said it best in her tweet a few minutes ago. She said, "This is why there's nothing better than college sports. Especially in the #SEC. #hurryupfootball".

Tonight's college baseball game between South Carolina and Florida had it all. Drama, great plays, unbelievable intensity...and we got two extra innings of it to boot. (For details, here's a link to the game story.)

I won't deny the outcome was part of why I enjoyed it. I never cared much for Florida and also the Gamecocks are wearing a sticker on their helmet in recognition of the tornado tragedy in Alabama. But really - no matter how that game turned out, it was awesome competition.

There is at least one more game in the series tomorrow night. If you're free, do yourself a favor and catch it. And anytime you have a chance to watch SEC teams square off, watch! Even if it's a game of marbles...watch.

'Cause there really is nothing like college sports.

One year ago today...

June 26, 2010. A date that changed my life forever. One year ago today, my niece Brooke and I arrived at the Atlanta airport to begin an amazing adventure in obedience to God. We were about to spend two weeks in Ethiopia and Uganda, loving children that most of the world has forgotten. It was difficult in so many ways, but rewarding in so many more. When you let go of the things you have been clinging to, it's amazing what God can do.

We met some incredible people in the process...pictured above. Three of them we met in Atlanta and became friends with them several hours before we met any of the others. As we all gathered at the gate in Dulles airport, it seemed like we had known each other forever. Many of these former strangers are now friends whom I love very much.

So here I am a year later. How much difference did that trip really make? Let's see. Most of us are now sponsoring children in a program that barely existed a year ago. One of us is leaving today, returning for a long term commitment through Project World Mission. Another, who just graduated from high school, is traveling with her to be there (I think) until her freshman year starts. Another is about to adopt her third child from there. And many more have traveled back for additional short terms.

Which brings me to this: Next weekend, I am returning for a week. I will get to meet my sponsored children. I will get to work for several days at a place I left my heart. I will get to see 5 members of last year's team, as well as friends who live there. And I will be part of a brand new team from whom I will probably make even more lifelong friends. I absolutely cannot wait! (But, as I like to say, I'll have to, right?)

I ask for your prayers for my friend who leaves today. And pray that as I go about my business this week my heart will be prepared to be open to what God wants me to do there.

What an awesome God - he can accomplish his purposes however he chooses, and yet he has allowed me to be a part of it. I'm overcome with praise and thankfulness. And counting the days.

A blog reference: "God and Culture: Falling Skies"

Every now and then I read a blog post so good that I have to point others to it. The one linked below says more than I could possibly have to say myself tonight. I love good stories, especially stories that address the deepest questions of life. After reading this post, I have decided to try the new TNT show Falling Skies for myself.

So here it is, a blog post from a friend of a friend (I've never met Ms. Andres). Hope you enjoy it as much as I did...and maybe you'll want to try the show too.

TV Snapshot: Falling Skies and Stories

One of those days

There I sat at my desk, responding to an email. Just to my left, the was scattering of coffee beans all over the floor of my office. And then a co-worker walked in and had a little something to say about it. But...let me back up.

This morning I woke up a little late and had to scramble to get ready for work. Not unusual. I left with plenty of margin for getting to work on time - and by " plenty" I mean maybe five minutes. As I backed out of the driveway and then put my car in drive, there was the warning light on my dashboard: Check tire pressure. I pushed a couple of buttons and saw on my display that the tire pressure in my right rear tire was only 4 psi. Not good - that's pretty much a flat tire. Dang!

To make a long story sho...well, not quite so long, I pulled over and started to change the tire. A neighbor came by and offered for me to use their portable air pressure device, and - yay! - it worked for me. I had a slow leak so I was able to put enough air in the tire to get to the shop. They found a nail in it, plugged it, and I was off. An hour and a half late for work, but hey, at least I got there.

When I got to work, I found a plethora of frustrations waiting for me. (That's right, I said "plethora". I don't get to use that word much.)  There was a 10:00 meeting coming up and I was not anywhere close to being prepared for it. I had been trying to set up and afternoon meeting and I was discovering that almost nobody who I needed to be there was going to be - which was going to affect my whole week if I couldn't find an alternative. I then stuck my head in a colleague's office to discuss a matter and, well, got my head bit off. When I got back to my office, the the carafe was out of coffee. Nooooo!

(Side note: I make my own coffee at work. Not because I'm cheap, but because I'm a coffee snob. I have a grinder so I literally grind the beans right before brewing. Sometimes I even do French press coffee.)

You can guess. This kind of stuff just happens on days like this. I got the canister with the beans out and as I was opening it, lost my grip. Idid manage to catch it before it hit the ground, but in the process I spilled a fair number of beans. As I was getting ready to clean up, I glanced over and saw an email that required my attention. Ok - email first, beans next.

And then one of our other actuaries walked in and he knew everything that had already happened. He roared with laughter and blurted out, "Your day sux!"

Thanks, Kevin. Yeah, that about sums it up. Can I do a reset?

But I did make the coffee. And it was pretty dang good.