So it has been a long time since I have been doing any updating. It may just look like all I do is post pictures, but hey, that's ok right? I've never been much for just writing with nothing to play off of, so instead I'll just give you a few insights into what my life has been like over the past two months: (mind you this is just the bare bones, but if you want to chat, I�m here)

FTE conference: This was an ecumenical ministry conference in St. Louise. I met some amazing people there and overall had a great time. I attended different workshops and seminars and participated in daily worship services. It wouldI found all of the planary speakiers to be interesting. One of them, Michael battle, had the particularly neat observations of the amercianztion of christiantiy, noting specifically the trends to individualism and materialism. It was frustrating at times, because I knew that some of our discussion on seminary and vocation, were just a bit different for me as a catholic. Sacrifice, obedience, fulfillment and peace. How does one juggle all these?!? It was neat to have a catholic roommate (joey) with whom we could just discuss some of our own issues and fears. I also got to meet alot of people from all different sort of denominations. I met a really great girl named sarah, and am learning alot about TULIP now. Yup, a lot of amazing things happened there and it will be fun to see the full fruit of it all.

4th of july: well, not much to actually say, but I put up a lot of photos from it so I figured I could give some context. I went to seaside with my family. It is the first time I have been swimming in the pacific since I was a kid. My brother, French cousin and I all were all obsessed with sand castles over the weekend.

Research grant: I have so far conducted 11 interviews. I doubt I will get to my original goal of 15, but each interview has taken about 2 hrs each, so I am not terribly concerned. My interviews covered such breadth and depth that I don�t really know how I am going to turn it into an actually finished piece. I can certainly talk the talk, I just hope that I am able to follow through. God give me the grace to finish this!

Mt. St. Helens: I finally got away from home and family and went camping. I drove with my 2 french cousins up to ape cave and went hiking through there. What a neat spot! I then continued on up to the lava canyon to see a stream that has cut through some other lava tubes. I then made the long and windy drive up to our campsite. It took us 2 hours just to get there. We burned our potatoes and my pancakes were a bit charred in the morning, but it was amazing to get out there. There is nothing that sets me right spiritually than a trip to the woods. We drove from there to the windy ridge observatory and hiked to the foot of the mountain. What fun!!

Misc:
books I have read and enjoyed this summer: sometimes a great notion, peter pan, Joshua, Joshua and the children, david copperfield, harry potter 4 and 5� and I can�t remember the rest, so I guess they are not terribly important.

Favorite new lawn sport: croquet