lego work

isaac has been enjoying his lego lately and with very little help put together this amazing spaceship.

MLK

Isaac and i finally made it to the Martin Luther King Jr National Historic Site in downtown Atlanta today.  Since celebrating MLK's birthday back in January, Isaac has been asking to see his tomb and church.  today was the day and we were both moved by what we saw.

here we are with the tomb in the background.

We also walked around Ebenezer Baptist church where MLK grew up and where his father was a minister.  just a block away is the home he was raised in and the city has done a great job of preserving some of the shotgun shacks that lined the streets in the first half of the 20th century.

inside the center there is a great collection of important photos, videos, and documents describing MLK's life and mission.  i was interested in seeing his copy of E. Stanley Jones' book about Gandhi (pictured here next to his key to the hotel apartment where he was shot) and MLK's personal bible.  apparently ESJ's book was a key text for MLK as he shaped his commitment to non-violence.

whatever struggle still remains in the US and across the world, we have in MLK (and Gandhi) another way forward for humans to live.  his self-sacrifice is a remarkable example and i'm reminded how far i have fallen short in my service to God's kingdom.  i'm freshly challenged to resist the urge for self-preservation and more faithfully orient my energies and resources toward self-giving love.  God help me.

(geoff)

summer is here

it feels like summer here in kentucky.  waves of hot, humid days punctuated by rolling thunder and pouring rain.  i took this picture at our friends farm (three springs) about an hour north of our home.

our garden has been doing it's part growing wonderful food but we have been neglecting it.  as many of you know, our time has been given over to emergency repairs to our two bathrooms. 

the short story: our downstairs bathroom had been leaking horribly for many years undetected.  in addition to the causes surrounding freezing pipes each winter we discovered thoroughly rotten floor joists and wall studs (stay tuned for a more detailed photo essay). 

we are five weeks into the repair work and after enduring more than four weeks without a toilet we are pleased to announce we again have a flushing commode. 

right now Isaac and I are in Marietta with Sherry's mum.  we are visiting for a few days while waiting to pick up Sherry from the Atlanta airport.  Sherry, her dad, and her sister are in Ireland on a short trip and will return on Saturday.  Sherry's father was presenting a paper at a medical conference  in Dublin and generously brought his girls along for a special father/daughter(s) adventure.  Sounds like they are having a wonderful time.

(Geoff)