You know I have mentioned LifeSkills a few times already and have spoken at a Benefit Dinner of over 250 people for them - well now is my time to REALLY delve into the man LifeSkills has taught me to be!!

This summer I have the opportunity to work for an organization called xxxchurch. Their website is xxxchurch.com and it is an organization that helps those who are struggling with the issues of pornography and gets people who are in the industry OUT of it!!!!!

It is my hope and prayer that this summer, 2009, will be the summer of a lifetime once again - which may lead me to hand out Bibles at porn conventions, speak, update webpages, photography, etc. This volunteer position is kind of up in the air with what I may be doing… all I hope and pray for now is that God may use me and my talents to help others who are struggling and work for a fantastic ministry.

PLEASE check out xxxchurch.com today,
ryan

“Flying car goes to market”
A Boston-area company plans to begin flight tests this year of a two-seater airplane that moonlights as a car. The illustration shows the aptly-named Transition aircraft, wings partially unfolded, as it shifts from road-worthy to air-worthy. The vehicle carries a price tag of $194,000. You sit down behind the steering wheel, drive to the runway, unfold two wings and take off. You can fly 500 miles on a tank of gas — regular unleaded — and when you land, you simply fold up the wings and drive where you want to go. At the end of the day, you fly back, drive home and park inside your garage. Read the whole story here!

This weekend plans kept failing with friends and just didn’t work out like planned,  SO - I decided it was time for me to escape!!!  :)  After I met my friend on Saturday afternoon to get some things from her, I had it in my head that I needed to go up north Wisconsin to our cottage! I got up that morning and Colby looks out the window and says, “IT’S RAINING!” and sure enough, it was - BUT WHO CARES?!!!!!  

I decided to drive the 4 hours there and 4 hours back!! After I did what I needed to Saturday, I finally got out of here about 2:00pm and was there about 6:00pm.  I went to the local Elcho grocery store, IGA, and picked me up some generic Oreo’s, and a frozen pizza!  After that excursion, I decided I would go visit our friends across the lake!  After talking with them for a while, she decided to give me a 1/4 of their pumpkin pie to add to my healthy dinner ahead of me!  

I get to the cottage and figure out the lights/water pump/heater, etc.  (we’re still in the making, not completely finished retreat just yet!)  Well I get all settled in and after FINALLY figuring out that YES, I still needed to plug in the fan to the fire to actually keep it lit during this rainy mist, I sat down and watched some “Will & Grace” while I ate my delicious meal for 4!  It began to be a relaxing evening to myself and I was able to start on some homework and catch up with my devotional books.

The next morning I anxiously busted out the new Fuji bike I bought over the summer and took it around the lake for the first time!  It was an excursion figuring out the paths/roads, but it was just a little work out, so I was able to get back in less than 45 minutes amazingly and take a quick shower.  I then said SCREW IT to all the homework and went out for a pontoon boat ride!!!!!  I felt a little guilty, so I brought my book along to read on the boat!  About 3/4 around the lake I finally realized how cold I was when I exhaled the only warm air that was left in my body and could see my own breath!!!  It was still a nice ride around the lake, because I was about the only crazy one to go out there other than the 2 loons and many ducks I saw!

I got back to the cottage and sat down to my favorite movie,”On Golden Pond” and finished even more homework.  It was ridiculously funny when I decided to cook my own lunch, realizing that I had just come up north FOUR HOURS for not even 24 hours!  To say the least, it was the most relaxing time I have had to myself in a long time.  It was a much needed getaway which reminded me that God is right here - that I can experience/feel God’s presence through the beauty of nature and the cold rushing through my body as I shiver in the cool fall breeze across Moccasin Lake…

I guess that old saying is true after all, “There’s no place like home.”

For all you faithful readers, if any of you are still left, I apologize for my lengthy hiatus. A lot has been going on in my life, all of which is good, so there’s no need to worry. I haven’t posted since September, but it feels like a few weeks, tops. Some big things have happened, most notably the CSP Women’s Volleyball team winning the National Championship. Let me tell you the story of that…

(more…)

It’s spring break for Concordia students this week. I know, it’s the end of February…. BUT the snow is melting. It’s a bit cooler today, but I can live with anything above 20 degrees. Seriously, this has been a tried and true winter.

Anyway, this past weekend, my fellow members of Vox 9 and I traversed south for Creston, Iowa. We were attending the 11th annual vocal jazz festival at SWCC (Southwestern Community College). (more…)

hello all!  i’m finally settled in boston and getting acquainted with the area.  the traffic here is crazy, so i’m glad i’m in walking distance of most everything.  classes haven’t started yet, which is nice.  tuesday is the big day!  we had orientation this past thursday and friday including a rather difficult theory placement exam.  eek!  we’ll see how i did on that.  i’ll let you know… (more…)

I’m so sorry to be gone for the past two weeks! But I ended up being really crazy and jumping on tour with Phantom Regiment for the final stretch. I’ve been gushing about this activity all summer. I don’t expect you to understand how much this activity means to me.

So I’ll explain that and give another list of what I’m excited for as school starts up. (Good idea, Billy) (more…)

Today marks three weeks until I arrive back in MN. I’m glad that summer has come and gone as fast as it has. For now though, Florida is in my sights. (more…)

Well, it’s strange to think that I’m as tired as I am, because I haven’t been doing a lot of physical activity lately…. It’s befuddling (isn’t that a great word?).

Okay, I know that each and every one of you are rolling your eyes. Get over it.

Anyway, I suppose that my lethargy is due to the three days I’ve spent at St. Peter for the LUCAD gathering. It stands for Lutheran University and College Alumni Directors. I know, I’m not even done with my undergrad work and I’m off to conventions. But I do work at the Alumni Office, and this is an excellent way to get the real scoop on Alumni Relations. (more…)

I want to wish a happy belated 21st birthday to Billy…I’m sure he partied hard (and is maybe still recuperating).
Anyway, summer has been going well thus far. CU’s Kawaskii Bacon had a great showing at the 2006 NCAA Track & Field championships in Charlotte, North Carolina. He represented Concordia well, and I’m proud of him.
I’m back home in Wisconsin, but I had to run back to Concordia to . . . (more…)