Photo Hunters #81 - Pink

Click on picture for larger image I have been waiting to use this picture for Photo Hunt ever since I saw that "Pink" was on the list. It comes from a mall attached to a Casino in Vegas (Bellagio, I think). It shows bouquets of pink flowers that are "falling" from the ceiling. Have a great weekend! PhotoHunt

Mission San Rafael

I have added seven pictures of Mission San Rafael to my California Mission photo albums - you can go there by clicking here. There is little left of the feel of the old mission at San Rafael given the damage caused during secularization imposed by the Mexican Government. General Vallejo appropriated all of the mission resources and hired Mission Indians to destroy their own mission. All of the mission photo albums can be found by clicking here. Or you can click to a specific album (this is what I have as of 10/24/07): San Buenaventura San Diego San Fernando San Gabriel San Juan Capistrano San Luis Rey San Rafael Santa Barbara Santa Clara

Photo Hunters #80: Practical

Click on picture for larger image This is a new kitchen tool we purchased this week, and have already used multiple times. We are looking to make much more of our own food, and this is a practical tool for achieving that goal. And I like how it looks. It just needs to get the racing flames so I can be like Alton Brown. :) Have a great weekend! PhotoHunt

Parental Lessons About God

Click on picture for larger image Parents have a special gift. In many ways we get a glimpse of what God's relationship with us is like through our relationship with our children. I have seen how their growth and development cause me delight and I believe that this is a shadow of the delight God feels when we develop spiritually. As parents we can see other aspects to God's relationship with us that may be hard for non-parents to see - we can see what it is like to feel God's wrath. Remember when the Israelites are in the desert and they are worshiping the golden calf, and God tells Moses to move out of the way so he can take them out? Well, parents know what that feels like. Not just to be disobeyed, anyone in authority knows that one. No, parents know what it is like to be disobeyed by someone whom they created, someone they love above all else. So, parents, next time you feel that wrath state, remember the gift that it is. You are getting a glimpse of that relationship that God has with each of us when we stray. And don't forget to show mercy - I hear it helps when we are seeking mercy ourselves.

PhotoHunt 78: Curvy

Click on picture for larger image I was up in Pismo Beach about a month ago. This was a the view of the coast from up on the cliffs. I thought the curvy shapes of the waves along the shore fit well with today's topic. Have a great weekend! PhotoHunt

Mission Santa Clara

It has taken me some time to get moving on updating my California Mission pictures, but I have made some progress. The above photos are from Mission Santa Clara. This mission is unique in that it is on the grounds of a university, aptly named Santa Clara University. The grounds and the chapel were absolutely beautiful, but unlike other missions there is little in the way of history or expectation of pilgrims or other visitors as other missions. We had to catch as many shots as we could while staying out of way of wedding preparations. Still, I think you can see the beauty of the place. I have uploaded 10 pictures from Mission Santa Clara that you can see by clicking here. All of the mission photo albums can be found by clicking here. Or you can click to a specific album (this is what I have as of 9/27/07): San Diego San Luis Rey San Juan Capistrano San Gabriel San Fernando San Buenaventura Santa Barbara Santa Clara

Photo Hunters #76 Paper

Click on picture for larger image Californians are very familiar with this contraption, the seismograph. After every earthquake there is always a shot of a seismograph with a talking head from someone at Cal Tech in Pasadena. Well, now I've got my own picture of one! A Seismograph is basically a roll of paper with a pen suspended above it, and it records movement. Thankfully, nothing more than these little lines here in So Cal for a while. I doubt I will take a picture of the "big one." No, I hope to be visiting family in Indiana when that one occurs. Now if we could only predict it so I can make the travel arrangements.... Have a great weekend! PhotoHunt

Where Is Christ

Click on picture for larger image I have a group of fellow Catholic men that meet weekly (most weeks anyways) to share our journeys and hold one another accountable. One question we ask ourselves each week was when we were most aware of Christ's presence. At a meeting at my parish, a similar question came up - where do I see Christ. I find this question a tough one some times. Not because I don't see Christ, but because when I look, I see him everywhere. I see him in the priest who so reverently says mass. I see him in the charismatic man who shares our faith with our protestant brothers & sisters. I see him in the woman who runs the Life Center. I see him in the woman who uses her connections to raise funds for the parish. I see him in the young woman who is working with the youth. I see him in my wife when she is doing all that she does for our children. I see him in my children almost every time I look. I see him in the homeless man pushing his cart down the street. I see him in my faith brothers as they struggle on their journey. I see him in the posts of Catholic bloggers as they share their faith. I see him in the man struggling with his vice. When I look, I see him. It is only when I don't look that I don't see.

Photo Hunters #75 Plastic

Click on picture for larger image I wasn't sure I'd actually get a chance to use this pic. It is one of my favorites of my boy that I took some time ago. That plastic police car was one of his favorite toys. Have a great weekend! PhotoHunt

Guardian Angels In Pismo 1

We just returned from a weekend at Pismo Beach with my folks, my brother and two sisters, and the beginnings of the next generation (my three kids and my sister's one). It was absolutely beautiful. We had a room that overlooked the ocean. After morning prayers on Saturday, I stepped out onto th balcony, and the only words that came to me were "He made the sea, it belongs to him." It was breathtaking. What a way to start Mary's birthday. The picture above is that very view from the room where we were staying. We were in here to celebrate my daughter's birthday which just past, and my father's which is coming up. The day was planned so that we watched my daughter take surf lessons in the morning (she seemed a natural - up on her very first try), had lunch, and then my siblings, brother-in-law, wife, and I would go kayaking. The picture to the left is of my oldest having her first surf lessons. This was my first time kayaking, but everyone else had been at least once. Being new, I had no say about where we launched, but where plays into the story. We ended up launching from Shell Beach, about a mile or so north of Pismo Beach. The tide was coming in, and the swells were substantial, but manageable. In that area, you do have to manage your way among many rock islands full of seals and sea birds. It is breathtaking (both because of the beauty and because the animals reek). My youngest sister (not yet 21) started to have a panic attack as the kayak she and my other sister shared came close to some mostly submerged rocks that they had not seen (we were about 100 yards out). While I have never had a panic attack, I understood the worry about smashing into rocks. But we got her calmed without incident, but she wanted to head on back, so we did (this was about 20 minutes into the adventure). The folks at the kayak company had told us to come back straight in between two narrow jutting strips of rock. The surf was definitely coming in, and it wasn't easy to see where you were going. My brother went first and made it to the beach - no problem. My wife and I in a tandem boat also made it to shore without a hitch. But the boat with my two sisters, overturned in the surf about 30 feet out. If you are familiar with Pismo Beach, you probably know that it is a sandy beach where the water is only chest high a 50 yards out - easy as pie. So when my sister (the one who panicked) sent up a shout, we thought it was in joy at having finished. It took a couple seconds to realize that something was wrong. Shell Beach is not sand (nor shell). It's bottom is a floor of sharp, uneven, slippery rocks. My sisters were getting their feet cut and unable to get into shore since they had worn flip-flops (not tennis shoes like me or gripping sandals like my brother-in-law). My brother-in-law is a former life guard. He was able to calm my youngest sister, while I helped my other sister (his wife) make it to shore. The good news was that we were able to get them in safely - plenty of cuts on feet and legs, but safe. It is scary to think about going over into those rocks like they did. A sharp rock to the head.... We thanked God for our guardian angels and for our Blessed Mother looking out for us on her birthday. Things could have gone much, much worse. I have another story from our weekend adventures tomorrow.

Photo Hunters #73 Dirty

Click on picture for larger image Is that a face or is that a face. Definitely in need of some clean up. Have a great weekend! PhotoHunt

Mission San Fernando

Before moving on to the six new missions we visited over our vacation, I figured I should finish the set from Southern California. These pictures are from Mission San Fernando, just north of Los Angeles. Clicking on any of the pictures will take you to a larger version. Click here if you want to see all of the pictures from San Fernando (there are 16 in total). I also have photos for the following missions posted (click through to go to albums): San Diego San Luis Rey San Juan Capistrano San Gabriel San Fernando San Buenaventura Santa Barbara I'll soon be adding: Santa Cruz Santa Clara San Jose San Francisco de Assisi (aka Mission Delores) San Raphael San Francisco de Solano There are eight other missions that we will be visiting over the next year or so. All of the mission photo albums can be found by clicking here.

Photo Hunters #72 Happy

Click on picture for larger image Happiness is going to your first baseball game! In going through some of my pictures I came across this one I took a few years back. I think it fits perfect. It was helmet day, and we got there early - have to teach 'em young that you have to show up for batting practice. :) Have a great weekend! PhotoHunt

Excursion By The Bay

Click on picture for larger image The reason for the lack of posts is that we have been on vacation for the past week or so. Thanks, for the prayers well wishes, especially from Amber. It is nice to know that someone noticed - sometimes you wonder if people actually read what you write. We continued our California Mission pilgrimage with visits to 6 missions in the San Francisco Bay area - San Francisco Solano, San Francisco de Asisi (Mission Dolores), San Raphael, San Jose (which is not in the city of San Jose), Santa Clara, and Santa Cruz. I hope to have pictures up soon, but am well behind on that front. I should get back in the posting groove again, but it is not easy. I did not miss remaining in constant contact with technology on my trip. The laptop was used just to store pictures once the memory cards were full. Email went unread, and the web went unexplored. It was refreshing. Kind of makes it tough to get back into the groove of things. Expect to see more here once I get things sorted out on this end.

Photo Hunters #70 - In a Row

Click on picture for larger image How about 4 palm trees in a row in front of rows of orange trees? With a beautiful So Cal sky behind it? Hmm? Wish you were here. ;) Have a great weekend! PhotoHunt

Birds & Truth - Sirach 9:27

Click on picture for larger image I had intended to do these quote image combos more frequently - but time sure does fly, even if you aren't having fun. :) Enjoy.

Photo Hunters #69 Funky

Click on picture for larger image What could be more funky than lava lamps! It actually took me a while to get the darn things going. I had to go get a light bulb for one of them. Have a great weekend! PhotoHunt

16th Wedding Anniversary

My better half and our youngest We were married 16 years ago. They have been 16 joy filled years. God has blessed me in so many ways, not least of which is my loving spouse. I don't know where I would be without her, but it doubt it would be very good. To my dearest wife: Thank you for giving me all of you these 16 years! May the Lord bless us with at least 50 more. May our life together be holy in the eyes of God. May our family grow in size and in faith. May our love fill us and overflow into the world. Thoughts from last year: 15 Year Wedding Anniversary

Photo Hunters #68 Creative

Click on picture for larger image I may have been trying too hard to be creative on this one. It is oil on asphalt after a rain. I zoomed in thinking it was a cool abstract - kind of Jackson Pollock. Have a great weekend! A list of participants can be found by clicking here.

Photo Hunters #67 Tiny

Click on picture for larger image I called this one Desktop Dreamin'. These are from my little boy's collection of matchbox cars (and not surprisingly, the photo is on my desktop). Thanks, TNChick for making me site of the week last week, and thanks to all for all the comments! It was very much appreciated. Have a great weekend! A list of participants can be found by clicking here.

Photo Hunters #66 Shadow

Click on picture for larger image For your viewing pleasure today, we have the El Capitan in Yosemite valley as the shadows from passing clouds fall over the rock face. Hope you have a great weekend! A list of participants can be found by clicking here.

Photo Hunters #64 Sweet

Click on picture for larger image Hmmmmm. Donuts. Have a good weekend! A list of participants can be found by clicking here.

Photo Hunters #63 Shiny

Click on picture for larger image I thought I was stumped at first, but I found this one from my Mom's house that I took on Christmas day. Have a good weekend! Happy hunting! A list of participants can be found by clicking here.

Photo Hunters #62 Hair

Click on picture for larger image This one was harder. I had a couple ideas but did not execute. I did have this shot - I really like the sunlight in my daughter's hair when we were at the beach. Maybe a bit of a stretch for the theme, but... Click on picture for larger image ...not long after the first picture she cut off her hair and donated it for children suffering from cancer. Very noble. But I do miss that long hair. Credit for the second picture goes to my wife. A list of participants can be found by clicking here.

Mission San Buenaventura

Our California Mission pilgrimage continues (though I am a couple weeks behind on getting the pictures up). Today, I have Mission San Buenaventura. This mission was the 9th founded by Blessed Junipero Serra in 1782. It is one of six missions in the Los Angeles Archdiocese (San Gabriel, San Fernando, San Buenaventura, Santa Barbara, Santa Ines, La Purisima Concepcion). As with most of the missions it is still an active parish. California fourth graders have to do reports on the Missions as part of California history. Fourth graders are welcome to use my images for their reports (if allowed by their teachers). I have several beautiful pictures of the interior of the Church, check them out in the photo album. Click here or on one of the pictures to go to the photo album.

Photo Hunters #61 Shoes

Click on picture for larger image This one was easy. I had done this photo studying differences in leather, but the father daughter theme took hold. This is particularly appropriate for Fathers Day. A list of participants can be found by clicking here.

Mission San Diego

Our family has been on a local pilgrimage to visit all 21 of the California Missions. So far we have visited San Gabriel, San Fernando (the pictures there weren't so good so we are going back there), San Juan Capistrano, San Luis Rey, Santa Barbara, San Diego and San Buenaventura. I have a couple of the pix for Mission San Diego visit in this post. If you click on one of the images, it will take you to my San Diego Mission photo album. San Diego was the first mission, established in 1769. California fourth graders have to do reports on the Missions as part of California history. Fourth graders are welcome to use my images for their reports (if allowed by their teachers). There are lots more images to see in the photo album. Click here or on one of the pictures to go to the photo album.

Photo Hunters #60 Art

Click on picture for larger image This is a close up of a modern art sculpture in front of LACMA (LA County Museum of Art) A list of participants can be found by clicking here.

Photo Hunters #59 Colorful

Click on picture for larger image I took this shot at the LA County Arboretum in Arcadia about a month ago. There are peacocks running loose all over (not to mentions some beautiful grounds). If you live in or plan on visiting So Cal, it is definitely worth a visit. They did some film and TV series there as well, including the Fantasy Island intro scene where Tattoo say "Da plane! Da plane!" A list of participants can be found by clicking here.

Word of the Cross - 1 Cor 1:18

Click on picture for larger image I have been wanting to start combining my photos with quotes. Here is my first attempt. You can click on the picture for a larger image. I know at least one person who visits my blog who will likely recognize the cross. :)

Photo Hunters #58 Cooking

Click on picture for larger image I went with the process of cooking rather than the alternate "cooked." I took this shot last Saturday as we were enjoying a wonderful sunny afternoon. Looks so good, I think we'll do it again this Saturday. :) A list of participants can be found by clicking here.

"Be still; know that I am God." (Ps 46:10)

I borrowed this image from The Ironic Catholic. Check out her original post (and everything else at her site)!

Photo Hunters #57 Five

Click on picture for larger image I've been saving this shot for an appropriate theme. It is one of my favorite shots in the past year. There is a 5 in the numbers up front. A list of participants can be found by clicking here.

First Communion

Click on picture for larger image My son made his first communion last Saturday. I wanted to post on this earlier, but I didn't for a couple reasons. One reason was that I am swamped. The second is that I have more than just joy to share. First the part that was less joyful. The parish decided that they would lead with announcements about not kneeling after Communion. I prefer to have first communion done at a separate, special mass on Saturday morning instead of during the "Sunday" mass on Saturday evening. We also had to leave our two daughters with my parents because communicants sat with parents (not family, as siblings were explicitly excluded) rather than together. Every third child or so carried in butterflies during the procession (what does that have to do with Holy Communion) Then to top it off, my sons first Communion included a bit of liturgical abuse with the children called to gather around the altar during the consecration. As they were coming down from the altar for the sign of peace they handed out roses to the children to give to their parents. Way too much extra-curricular activity takes away from the entire point of the day - it isn't about butterflies or standing with the priest or felt banners or roses for the parents - it is about the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist and children now at the age of reason able to receive Him. Here is where the joy is. My boy got it. We had spent years talking about this day - he got the point. The day was about the first time he received the body and blood of Jesus Christ, his Lord and God. This day was extremely important to him and he was so reverent at mass. After Communion, in spite of the admonition about kneeling, he fell on his knees - not even bothering with a kneeler! Christ's presence was palpable right then.

Photo Hunters #56 Childhood

Click on picture for larger image As a boy, Tonka dump trucks were the best. This well loved vehicle is my son's. A list of participants can be found by clicking here.

Photo Contest

Click on picture for larger image I recently started entering some of my pictures in photo contests at worth1000.com. I had a few "jury picks" which are like honorable mention. But in my third contest, I came in third place. So I thought I would share. This is a picture of light pillars outside of Bally's Casino in Las Vegas. The photo contest was to find colored patterns. This is a not a big deal contest, but it is kind of fun.

Photo Hunters #54 Rare

Click on picture for larger image Rare. Hmmm. How about an endangered species? I took the shot at the San Diego Wild Animal park. A list of participants can be found by clicking here.

Fr. Larry Richards Confession Talk

Click on picture for larger image I am in a bowling league and we had our final games in Vegas this past weekend. We had fun - the whole family took a drive across the desert and rented a house for the weekend. Now, you may think it odd that on the way to Vegas we listened to a CD on confession, but that is what we did. A friend who is part of my Cursillo 4th day meeting group gave me three CDs to listen to. I got something out of all three CDs, but the one that I wanted to share here was the on confession. It was a talk by Fr. Larry Richards. It starts with a focus on God's love and forgiveness, but to understand forgiveness we must understand sin and our own sinfulness. He goes through a very challenging and engaging review of the 10 Commandments as an examination of conscience. Father gave me quite a bit to think about for my next confession. The point that got me most was his discussion of the first commandment. For those who forgot, I have it here: "'I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself a graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them or serve them; for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments. " (my emphasis) Fr. Larry was talking about how we focus on the rules, but it is all about our relationship with God. People don't think about violating the First commandment, but it is most important. We are to put God FIRST. But we all fail. It got me thinking about how am I not putting God first in my life. If I can start each day asking how am I putting God first, and end each night evaluating how I did - I think I will be in a much better spot. Fr. Larry has a site at www.thereasonforourhope.org. There is more on the site, but let me point out two directly related points of interest. You can buy the CD on the site for $7 or download the mp3 for $2 (specifically here). There is also a PDF "sin list" examination of conscience that is worth reading (click here).

Photo Hunters #54 Steps

Click on picture for larger image I took this shot around New Years 2006 at McCormick Creek not too far from Bloomington, IN. A list of participants can be found by clicking here.

Friday Feasy #140

Click on picture for larger image You can find Friday Feast here. Looks like another light week on the feast questions. Appetizer What is your favorite kind of bread? Sourdough, of course. Soup When was the last time you bought a new pillow? I bought one last year for my wife - one of the conforming kind that they sell in Brookstone. It was a body length pillow that was really helpful with the pregnancy. Salad Approximately how many hours per week do you spend surfing the ‘net? My lawyer advises me that I should exercise my fifth amendment right. Needless to say it is more hours than I watch TV. Main Course What’s the highest you remember your temperature being? I have no idea. It was so long ago and I was so delirious, I just couldn't tell you. Dessert Fill in the blanks: When I ____________, I _____________. When I let go, I am much happier.

Advice For Couples Starting Out

Click on picture for larger image At Catholic Dads, there has been some discussions on the pluses and minuses of NFP (Natural Family Planning - for those who don't know it is an effective way to plan when children are born without resorting to artificial contraceptives). I don’t want to comment directly on that discussion, but I do want to share my perspective guided by my own experiences on family planning. I am not judging anyone (except perhaps myself), just hoping that insights I have gained from my experience might help a new or soon to be husband. We got married at 23, and did not have our first child until 28. We planned it that way. We got married knowing that a family was important to us, but the conventional wisdom was to go to school and get financially settled - and we bought that "wisdom." When we got married, I was just starting five years of graduate school and Mrs. K had a year left as an undergrad and then got a masters degree. We were busy getting set for the “future.” My daughter was born about a month before I finished my dissertation - so we timed it pretty close to plan. That was more than 10 years ago. Having children changes everything, including how you see the world. As I look back, I regret that we followed the conventional wisdom. I am sorry we waited until we had finished our schooling. The most fulfilling part of my life is my relationship with my wife and children. I waited five years to discover what God had in store for me. Further, it installed a habit of looking at family set against finance and career. My degree has allowed me to do well for myself, but I have found the the more money I have made, the less happy I have been (it takes time to make money). This makes sense when we realize that we are created to love one another, not to be consumers or workaholics. In the end, the conventional wisdom sets up a pattern of choosing financial wellbeing over family life and spiritual wellbeing. I have some advice to those just setting out, or those waiting to have kids. It stems from my wishing I had done differently. It is this: Don’t wait to have kids, and don’t limit your love by a number. God will provide what is needed. Have faith.

Photo Hunters #53 Hobbies

Click on picture for larger image I am not a numismatist nor a philatelist, but I did deal in coins as a hobby for a few years, and had some stamps from back then as well. The walking liberty half dollar (in center of picture) is my favorite US coin design. A list of participants can be found by clicking here.

Friday Feast #139

Click on picture for larger image The photo was the table set before Easter dinner this year! You can find Friday Feast here. This weeks feast seems a bit on the light side. Which is not bad given a surge in work requirements. Appetizer When you were a child, which crayon color was your favorite? Blue. Definitely blue. In fact, it is still my favorite. Soup On a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 being highest), how likely would you be to change jobs if it required you to move? 2 - the only reason it is not a 1 is that I leave open the possibility of divine correction. But I have moved from So Cal to Portland to the Bay area back to So Cal and then to Atlanta, all for work. I am back in So Cal for good. At least that is my plan. Salad Take all the numbers in your birthday and your phone number and add them up, one by one. What’s the total? 85. And...? Main Course Have you ever “re-gifted” anything? If so, what was it and who did you pass it on to? Sort of. I have re-gifted a box. It was a wood wine box. It held one bottle and was decorated nicely. It really served no function - I used the wine, put in a new bottle, and gave to my boss. I think I saw a fellow employee with it at a later point. Dessert Name something you need from the store. Diet soda and tri-tips for grilling.

Mission San Luis Rey Photos

Click on picture for a larger image I have added Mission San Luis Rey to our list of California Mission sites. Unfortunately, they do not allow pictures inside the church - but let me tell you the altar and art work are awe inspiring. Click here to see all of the San Luis Rey pictures. Click here to see all of the California mission photo albums.