Vacations - Part 2

We plan our vacations early, so in January we made reservations for a cabin outside of Omaha. Four nights and five days in a nice air conditioned cabin in a nice quiet campground along the river. You'll notice I did not say it was a nice river. This is because a month before we were to leave for vacation the river flooded the campground and our cabin, canceling our reservation.

We were able to get 2 nights in a Super 8 for the same price. Iwas disappointed, but my kids were ecstatic. For them a motel is akin to a playground except with television.

I was looking at this trip as more of a prelude. A chance to knock Nebraska off our 50 states while saving some money for a big trip next year (we already have reservations for a state park in Myrtle Beach [maybe I don't learn]). But it was a really great time. Our first night there we visited the pedestrian bridge, Jill even took a jog on it. The only other thing I've got to say about this is that Nebraska smoked Iowa with their side of the bridge.

I had a great time at the Omaha Storm Chasers game. The Royals may not be lighting it up in the majors but their AAA did look head and shoulders better than the cubs that night.

The biggest part of the trip and the #1 reason to visit Omaha is the zoo. It met all our expectations and then some. We spent eight hours there and still forget to go inside the Wild Kingdom exhibit. We spent an entire hour in the rain forest area and it wasn't enough. The only place that wasn't enjoyed by all was the gorilla exhibit. Don't get me wrong it is incredibly well done and has great views of the animals. Unfortunately, I'm scared of monkeys (I'm lumping gorillas with monkeys, I'm not a scientist). I was holding my two year old in a little bubble thing that lets you get a 360 view of the habitat. We were looking at a big one about eight feet away when a bigger one crawled over the back of our bubble, face to face with Meadow. I tensed badly and froze. Meadow was done after that. I really don't like Monkeys and I think my fears are legitimate.

We tried to take a different path home, but it still took longer than it should have and had us driving on a road with one lane clear and the other covered with water. It did give us the chance to find a geocache at a park in Nebraska while Jill did a nice statue imitation.

Vacations Part 1

It used to be that when someone said vacation I thought of Colorado. It was the main part of the first big vacation I can remember. Before Disneyland, or Stone Mountain, or San Antonio there was a deer sticking his head through the window of the van and eating a crazy ball. It might have been an elk. I think I remember it, but so much of the trip has been retold among the family and friends that went with us, that I don't know what is my memory and what is just the visual images the stories conjure. That trip was only the beginning. Throughout the time I lived with my parents, Colorado was our most popular vacation destination. We would go other places, occasionally, but we would go to Colorado regularly.

When I was a kid I wanted our parents to build another house in Colorado with a hallway connecting the two. I thought if we did that I could visit every day. I must have slept through Kansas on that first trip (I recommend everyone but the driver do this). I learned to hate Kansas for its geography long before I hated it for the Jayhawks. God may have put the flattest, ugliest land between Missouri and Colorado just to teach me patience. Have you ever noticed that if you have a puzzle of the 50 states you can take Kansas out and almost alll-most slide Colorado into that spot? I would do that often as a kid, dreaming of a Kansas-less America. (Some of this ire was raised by this article where a national sports writer and MU grad takes shots at Missouri) I loved Colorado, though, and was willing to deal with Kansas to get there.

Then, I lived in Denver for two years destroying the idea of Colorado as a vacation spot. So this summer I took my family to Omaha. My next post (assuming I write again before another year passes) will be about this year's vacation (with pictures).

Burning Tithe

What if we were told to throw 10% of what we earned up into the wind? Or if we were asked to take part of our take-home pay, change it into $100 dollar bills and burn it in front of the church? I doubt we would have many takers. But it seems to me that would be more of an act of faith then bringing our tithe to the church.

For the most part I believe that our church does a good job with the money my family has given over the years. I have no regrets and give cheerfully to the church. Even if I do not think some of the things the church spends money on are necessary, I know and can see that it is intended to bring people closer to God.

More than that even. I think if I didn’t believe in God, I still wouldn’t have much trouble giving to my church. I would continue to like the people employed there. I would still know that some of the money is being used to give help to people in genuine need. That it fulfills a place in our community and gives comfort to all kinds of people. I don’t think I would have to believe in God to tithe.

In reading some of the Old Testament it struck me that much of the best of a people who by a modern definition would be extremely poor, was destroyed, and used by no one. Some was given to priests to be sure, but much was simply destroyed. Some of it just to create an “aroma” pleasing to God. I’m not sure what an anthropologist would say, but that seems to me an offering given in faith.

I wonder what the Lord is trying to tell me? What sacrifice is he looking for, and will I believe enough when the time comes?

Meadow's Faith

Meadow had a hard night. Two teeth came in and they stormed the gates with a battering ram and siege towers. Both Jill and I were up with her at various points during the night. By 6:40am she had endured all she could alone and needed support. I comforted her as best I could at that time of day, but then I had to get ready for work. By the time I had showered and dressed she felt very heatbroken and alone. Where did my daughter turn in this her time of need? To Jesus. Baby Jesus. Well a westernized, blonde haired, represenatation thereof.

We set up a precious moments like nativity set on the mantel with a tiny Jesus wrapped in swaddling clothes that sits in a tiny manger. Meadow has loved this baby since we first unboxed it in early November. And she will carry it around, and talk lovingly about it (and sometimes will put it in her mouth which makes me wary of singing Rich Mullins songs around her). So this morning at her most forlorn moment it was to Baby Jesus she turned. She pleaded with me to get "baby" down for her, then put him on the couch, crawled up and held him. Alas, Jesus wasn't enough this morning and she soon pointed to the TV and said "Duck!" Which means she wants to watch Sesame Street.