Real Joy

Today was just like any other Thanksgiving day. Lots of turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and of course chocolate pie (I made it myself this year). Nothing really unusual or monumental happend today. Despite the normality of the day I can't help but acknowledge that for the first time in a while I experienced uninhibitated pure joy. I'm not talking about the "oh I just ate a really good piece of pie" joy but rather joy that makes everything bad in the world so small and insignificant that it barely exsists. Today I experienced that in the form of an 11 pound, 26 inch long little boy, my nephew Jonah. When I look at him everything else is forgotten. It doesn't matter that he spit up on my last pair of clean jeans or spewed all over the shirt I just put on. He's perfect. He personifies everything I can imagine joy to be. Nothing in this world could make me as happy as to hold him, see his toothless grin and hear his subtle giggle. He brings joy to my life that I've never experienced before. Right now he's a reminder in my life that God loves us and wants us to be happy. In all honesty it's going to be hard to go back to Columbia knowing that everyday I'm there he's growing and changing and I'm missing out on it.

I hope something or someone brings joy to everyone like my nephew has for me.

KC MO

I'm from the city, best midwest city, best city in the whole wide wide world... it sounded like a better way to start this post than it actually is but none the less I'm leaving. As a side note, I really like it when I can quote song lyrics in normal conversation. Anyone else with me? Regardless, I'm home for Thanksgiving break and I'm excited. This is the first break since I've been in college that I don't really have any obligations. So I have some ideas of things I want to do.

1. Hang out with my nephew as much as I possibly can. He's 2 months old and awesome. I'll also put hang out with my family in here too.

2. Take as many pictures as I can. I don't have the time at school to take photos like I would like to so now is my chance.

3. See old friends.

4. Write blog posts. On Wednesday I'll be a guest poster on the Veritas Art Wednesday series. I'll be posting on photography as an art form so check it out.

5. Spend some time in coffee shops where I don't know people and read about whatever I fancy.

6. Enjoy a large Thanksgiving dinner.

7. Play a game or two of pick up football.

8. Play basketball at GPC. It's tradition after all.

9. Tinker with the bike I took apart over the summer. Maybe put it back together.

10. Probably the most important. Pray and read my bible everyday as part of the bigger picture of finding rest in God.

That's about all I have today. Hopefully I'll knock all of these out and enjoy the time off. If you see me over break, keep me to my list of things to do.

A New Move by the Bush Administration

I ran across this story and thought it was worthy to share.

Ken Griffey, Jr. is now an American Public Diplomacy Envoy. He was named as such by Condoleezza Rice. In all seriousness, this is probably one of my favorite moves by the Bush administration. Maybe it's because when I was 10 I wanted to be just like Griffey, but regardless I'm happy to see a good guy doing good things for America. President Bush, Seceratary Rice, I salute you.

Full story here.

Obama gets the World Cup to America?

I ran across this story and thought it was interesting. Who knew our president-elect had such a good head about him? He enjoys soccer! Even though he supports West Ham United I can still support him in his love for the beautiful game.

Veteran's Day and an Iconic Image

Thank you to all those who have served our country in times of war and in times of peace. I especially would like to thank my brother-in-law, his father and my own father for the time they spent serving our country. My brother-in-law is a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom and my father is a veteran of the Vietnam War. These three people mean a lot to me and I am very blessed and proud to call them my family.

On another note, I was reading one of my favorite blogs about photography and issues within the photographic community. Today they posted a story about the iconic image of a sailor kissing a nurse after the announcement of Japan's surrender ending World War II. The story is about the nurse in the picture who commemorates the event by riding at the front of WWII veterans in NYC's annual Veteran's Day parade. The story can be found here. It's cool to see how a simple photo can encompass all the feelings and emotions a nation felt after such a historic event. This iconic image is so captivating. Again, thank you to all who have served and continue to serve in our armed forces.