Tim Hawkins Ode to Chick-Fil-A

I love living in Reykjavík, but every now in then I get a real hankerin´for the original Chicken sandwich.

Helen Haley Meets Reykjavik, Iceland

We surprised the kids early this morning with their last Christmas present (In Iceland, Christmas lasts until January 6th).  Check out the excitement here:



Colby and I both had to go to school, so the babysitter still came to watch the girls while Nonny got some rest.  Now, as you know, 90 percent of Icelanders speak proficient and fluent English.  Only old people and young kids don't know English.  Our babysitter, Halla (in her 20's), is no exception.  Nonetheless, after I introduced them, mom started to speak LOUDLY and SLOWLY, waving her hands, using SIGN LANGUAGE to try to communicate with Halla. It was a classic moment.

Classic Moment #2:  Darcy did her nightly routine of spilling her milk at dinner.  Tonight, however, instead of getting frustrated, I watched in amazement as Nonny stood up, arms in the air shouting, "Hold it! HOLD IT!  I know JUST what to do!  I brought something with me for THIS VERY THING!"  Colby's eyes got big as we waited for her to rummage through her suitcase, watching the milk edge closer and closer to the end of the table.  After unsuccessfully finding THE STRAW that she had packed for "a time such as this," and telling us of her concern about the rising price of milk, she then proceeded to put her lips onto the table and suck up the spilled milk.

And that was only DAY ONE.  It's going to be a fun 10 days!

Brit Hume breaks the rules of pluralism

I was really surprised to see Brit Hume speak so forthrightly about the redemption found in Christianity and how it could make a difference for Tiger Woods in his current situation. In doing so he stepped over typical media lines and spoke like a real person who believes what he believes, rather than emptying religious speech of all meaning and making faith akin to choosing an ice cream flavor.
Leap of Faith

Ísland, Best í Heimi! New Year's Celebration Iceland Style

We spent the evening last night with our friends Örlygur, Svala, and Jeremy. After a great dinner at Örlygur´s we took off for The Pearl so we could position ourselves above the city in time to take in the fireworks. We had heard about the fireworks, but little can prepare someone for experiencing the real event. The first video below is the excitement of the build-up. The explosions began several hours before midnight and continued a while after. The second video is the climax of the evening. Annie's narration is classic "Annie" for any of you who know her well. Enjoy!

Out with the Old and in with the New

So, it's the time of year when everyone waxes eloquent about the previous year's trials and accomplishments, and begins to dream and wonder about the coming year's possibilities. It is certainly a good thing to take time to assess our lives from time to time and if these next few days afford the opportunity, well that's just fine. 

I'm finding myself less interested this year in the exercise and I don't think it is really cynicism that's the cause. I just look back at the past year and realize a bit more that so little of the control of my own destiny is in my power. That's not really a complaint. The past year is full of favorable and unfavorable events that I have both handled and mishandled. In the midst of the year's history - the circumstances of which I had hoped to shape with my own hands - I have felt more than ever another hand reaching back and shaping me. It is an experience at times painful and at other times exalting, but almost always mysterious.

I have no intention to become a passive observer, only to learn from this year that I could be a more attentive student, hoping in a God more active than I knew before. I will make my plans, set my sails, aim for the mark, and then see if anything is left when the Refiner tests them with His fire.