amanda & beth ddr

facebook

I was just recently told that KAIO (college-age and twenty-somethings group at ncc) had a facebook page, I should join facebook, and that I then would be made an admin of that page so I could help everyone in KAIO stay informed and build community. I didn't take it seriously at first, but then I decided to try it out. I set it up last Friday at 1am. I had 100 friends within two days. I now have 159 friends. It is one of the coolest things I have dealt with online. Myspace can be really trashy, but facebook seems to be different, for all of my exposure so far of less than a week. I liked it so much that Amy made a facebook account for herself, as well. There is an iPhone app for facebook, so I am on facebook on my iPhone as much as I am on my computer at home and my computer at work, as well. I have connected with friends I had in high school who've I've not seen nor heard from in 9 years until facebook. It is an amazing networking tool. I just hope I can keep blogging and doing facebook without it killing me for time.

ben fagerlie

Ben and Amanda came over last night when Amy was at a baby shower for Holly King. They brought me a sundae from DQ and we talked about movies some while Amanda used my iPhone. What they really wanted to do was to play DDR on our Wii. Dance Dance Revolution is fun, and we did play for about 30-40 minutes. That is a picture of Ben taken by Amanda when she was using my phone.

cupcakes

Aidan enjoyed Eli's birthday cupcakes, too!

eli's bday

We were over at Chris & Nicole Blackfords' house Friday to play games, but it also happened to be their son Elijah's birthday. He liked his cupcake. Can't you tell?

quote

"There is no theory of evolution. Just a list of creatures Chuck Norris has allowed to live."
~Kevin O'Brien (mutual friend of Matthew du Mée from his college days)

aidan and eli

Amanda Fagerlie brought her nephew Elijah Blackford over when watching our kids Sunday night.

Aidan has really started liking to wear hats.  Normally he'll put both of the ones they're wearing one inside the other and wear them both at the same time.

The boys looked so darn cool wearing them together that I had to get some pics.

Uhuh...what macho studs, right?

car and me

We're pals.

Maybe kissing cousins?

Well, I just kinda had to...

car and chris

I have a couple of friends who recently got engaged. I am going to have to check with them to see if they want their real names used on this blog as they both have expressed a deep desire to not write personal information about themselves on the web. For my purposes, at least for now, we'll just call them Car and Chris (since that is what Aidan was able to say of their names anyway). I think those names are pretty cute. ;-) I am planning on having their pictures on here, and if they don't want me to do so, they can contact me and I'll remove them (they read this blog, too). They are getting married in April and they've asked Amy to do the pictures. We're excited about that. I was also asked by Car to be a groomsman (he was one of mine, just fyi). I'm REALLY excited about that! I've already got a bunch of great things to say during a toast to the happy couple. Heh heh. They came and stayed with us this past weekend and we enjoyed it greatly. We played the Wii, watched movies, went to church, chatted and had good conversation; no Settlers, though. They slept on our couches and floor in the living room. Both bedrooms are taken up by children, now, but Car used to come and stay in our spare bedroom when not engaged. ;-) We hope to have them come back and join us numerous times as we grow close as good friends, if the LORD wills.

Here Car and Chris are eating our cereal.

Car. Quite good lookin', I'd say.

Chris. Quite good lookin', Car'd say.

It's alright: they're engaged.

headed to El Paso

Now, it has been quite a while since I've been back to my old summer stomping grounds in El Paso, Texas. I went there for 7 summers, working with the children's missions organization GMTC: Gospel Ministries To Children. Ben Dowdy, director of SWGMTC El Paso, shot me an email and a phone call to let me know that my dear friends, Chad and Cody Kitchens, had just lost their mom, Annie Kitchens. I still don't know what happened to bring about her physical departure from us, but I know that she was a believer and that she was an incredible woman, a woman that I used to call mom. I had stayed with the Kitchens numerous times during my times in El Paso. One of my most found memories of Annie was when she, Chad, and I were listening to some dc Talk and they said that they liked their old rap stuff better than their newer rock phase (this was a while back); they both then introduced me to The Pirates of Penzance. I love my brothers, Chad and Cody, and I want to be there for them if I can be. So, with that said, I contacted Ben Dowdy, asked if he knew anyone's place I might be able to crash at for Friday night (the memorial service is Friday at 6pm), and he offered his place to me (even though it is 30 minutes from where the Kitchens live). I gratefully accepted, so I took tomorrow off from teaching at DVHS, and I am headed to El Paso in the morning. I am going by myself, with our only vehicle, but Amy has her parents in town, at least, and they have car seats for our kids if they need to go anywhere over the day that I will be gone. I am thankful that the LORD let me have this time where I can go and be with my brothers in El Paso, even though it is going to be a time of mourning while there. I love these guys. Pray for their family, please, and for my safety, as well as for Amy's sanity in dealing with the kids while I'm gone (Aidan's been quite a pain these past few days, "bless his heart").

under the auspice of harsh punctuation and wit-driven convos

Yeah, it's a long title, but it's worth it. That is what I now refer to Cassi Robert's conversations with me online. Check this out...

sassilassicassi: and can i assume you're listening to a jars of clay album?
pseudobass: you may start assuming

I mean, how witty can one be? Wow. And check this out...

sassilassicassi: this conversation reminds me of one i had with sarah once online
sassilassicassi: i'll have to show it to you; i printed it out at one point
sassilassicassi: only ours made me laugh harder, i think
pseudobass: fine then!
sassilassicassi: because of the fury of our typing
sassilassicassi: no! i mean yours an dmine
pseudobass: oh, you and me
pseudobass: heh heh
sassilassicassi: an dmine, haha
sassilassicassi: geez, get all defensive...
pseudobass: an dmine?
pseudobass: that sounds scary
pseudobass: does it hurt?
pseudobass: heh heh
sassilassicassi: i was trying to type quickly
sassilassicassi: and yes, it hurts

My goodness. How good can it get? It's pretty sweet, I gotta tell ya.

sassilassicassi: woah.
sassilassicassi: anger.
pseudobass: wow, the "woah" without a period is playful
pseudobass: but the "woah." with period is too serious
pseudobass: calm down
pseudobass: heh heh
sassilassicassi: that's how it was intended.
sassilassicassi: .
pseudobass: .
sassilassicassi: ahaha!
sassilassicassi: .
pseudobass: .
pseudobass: .
pseudobass: .
pseudobass: take that!
sassilassicassi: .
sassilassicassi: !!!!!!!!.
sassilassicassi: .
sassilassicassi: .
pseudobass: yikes
pseudobass: that's just insulting

And then there's Amy, sitting patiently in the wings, shaking her head and having a small chuckle at my expense. Well, making people laugh is one of the things I'm all about; and, no, it doesn't matter why they're laughing, even if they're laughing AT me, at least they're laughing, right?

seven random things

I have been tagged by my friend Christy du Mée to reveal seven (7) random facts about myself and pass the baton on to seven (7) others. I will do the seven facts, but I will not pass it on. I know, what a thrill kill.

meme

/meem/ n. [coined by analogy with `gene', by Richard Dawkins] An idea considered as a replicator, esp. with the connotation that memes parasitize people into propagating them much as viruses do.

Random Fact #1: Amy and I dated for a month and a half before we were engaged on April 27th, 2002.

Random Fact #2: The wedding date (December 28th, 2002) was set by our parents even before we were engaged at a meeting of the families.

Random Fact #3: Amy and I only went on two dates alone before we were engaged. One was to see the Phantom of the Opera in Tucson at UofA, and the other was when I proposed at Encanto Park in Phoenix (we had a KFC picnic).

Random Fact #4: Our son, Aidan, is the first Van Liew male to not have blue eyes.

Random Fact #5: Amy ranked higher than I in high school. I was 5th (of 405) when I graduated from DVHS, yet Amy was around 3rd or 4th (of 9) when she graduated from NFHS. She beat me: how 'bout that?!

Random Fact #6: Amy is 2 1/2 months older than me to the day.

Random Fact #7: I have never had a manicure or pedicure (so, Christy, don't feel too poorly). I'm not saying that I would mind getting one, though.

nfhs commencement speech

The following is my speech for the Northwest Family High School commencement which took place tonight, Friday, May 11, 2007.

Paul spoke of David, in Acts 13. Paul told of how the LORD “testified concerning [David]: ‘I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do’”(v22). Just a bit further down the chapter, Paul makes another comment about David: “…David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, [then he died]” (v36). What will be said about you, graduates?

David faced adversity. So have you.

Andrew, you were born with a condition that many people do not live long with, and yet the LORD has seen fit that you serve Him and for Him to keep you growing strong and maturing into the caring, compassionate, and trustworthy man you are today. Andrew, I’ve personally seen you show love for others as you pray for them in discipleship or as you play with and care for young children or as you welcome someone into student ministries or even befriend someone who might not be very lovable in other’s eyes. You bless me in how you love the LORD and respond to others.

Sarah, you continue to have physical struggles that debilitate you, take you in and out of the hospital, and yet the LORD has seen fit that you serve Him and for Him to give you an incredible heart for others that brings joy to so many whose lives you impact. This is seen in how you are always ready to engage someone in conversation (which Amy would attest to as being completely different from just a few years ago), how your perspective on the pain you’re in now will allow you to comfort others in the future, and how you seek out passages of Scripture that both comfort and challenge you, such as “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day” (ii cor 4.16). For me, Sarah, you are a shining light of what dependence on the LORD should be.

Bethany, I don’t know you as well, but you’ve had insecurity and timidity in relationships and yet the LORD has seen fit that you serve Him and for Him to grow you, mature you, and as this past year progressed, you have, and I quote, “really blossomed…both academically as well as in the way [you interact] with [your] friends.” I’ve been told that you are a very humble girl who is talented, but you don’t necessarily see it. You’d rather be behind the scenes, and you accomplish this even at such a small school by being behind the camera, which is continually rolling, and you’ve always got that cute and funny smile. You work hard until you master whatever you are doing. Bethany, you are a diamond in the rough which God is making into a shining jewel for Himself.

All three of you have faced, are facing, and will face adversity, still the LORD has been faithful, has brought others around you, and has worked in your lives, just like He did with David.

So, how will you continue to serve God’s purpose in your generation before you die? What will be your legacy? Will you do everything that the LORD wants you to? Keep this in mind as you make decisions of schooling, family, and career. In the book of James it says, “Now listen, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.’ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, ‘If it is the LORD’s will, we will live and do this or that’” (ch4, vv13-15). Is it wrong for you to make plans for your future? Not at all. The idea here is that when you make those plans, remember who’s in control of it all. Remember who it is all about.

Your challenge, graduates, is to make your life all about Him and not about you. It is to do the LORD’s will with your life, loving Him and loving others. It is for you to do all the LORD would have you do. Are you a man or woman after God’s own heart? Will it be said of you, Bethany “served God’s purpose in her own generation,” Sarah “served God’s purpose in her own generation,” and Andrew “served God’s purpose in his own generation”? From what I know about the three of you, that is your desire, so live it. God’s greatest blessings be on you, graduates.

kdice

I guess I have an impact on the weak minded. Chris Blackford and his wife, Nicole, have now both joined me playing kdice, and it is because they read about it on my first blog about it. The power of suggestion. Below is the latest "whole board domination," as Chris put it.Not only that, but now Nicole is calling me out, telling me that she'll dominate me so bad that my great great grandchildren won't even dare to play kdice. How rude is that? All's fair in fun & games?

latest stab at it

Brown just wouldn't flag...so I had to take out more than half of his holdings. He then proceeded to cuss at me after he'd flagged to surrender. Another juicy little tid-bit is that Nicole Blackford (married to Chris Blackford, one of my all-time best friends) is also a player of kdice. Below is a picture of one of her latest dominating wins. I'll definitely be looking to beat "signingtime" whenever I see her on kdice. Muahahahahaha...ah-ha?

great evening

Tonight was great. The poker games were fun, but it was the fellowship of believers that made it even better. We got to just mess around, poke fun at each other, and enjoy getting taunted. It was a blast. Chris Blackford, Matthew du Mée, Michael Withem, Gethsemane (Sam, Chris' friend, and now mine), and I were the only ones who made it, but, boy, did we make it! I had so much fun. I got to talk with Gethsemane after everyone else left (he was waiting for his wife and step-daughter to pick him up). We talked about music and people who we know in common (JJ - the tenor section leader from DVHS when I was a freshman; he made All-State Jazz along with Gethsemane; they both went to Grand Canyon University for college on full-ride scholarships for vocal music). Gethsemane is also a Tenor 1 (same range as JJ and I; but with a little more range at the bottom than I - but that's true for almost any man) and plays the piano and guitar. He'd led worship at his previous church (now trying out NCC) and he had led the youth there, as well. He is 26...quite accomplished. He loves recording and computers. We had a great time laughing and getting to know each other tonight. Amy said his great laugh reminds her of someone she knows. She can’t remember who that is right now, but she had good feelings hit her when she heard the laughter (I bet it hurt). I look forward to getting to be around Gethsemane and his wife more. They’ll be trying to make it to our Saturday night Bible study, too, and we’ll see them on Sunday at church. Good times. Good times.

poker night

We've got another poker night a-brewin'. Tonight, Chris Blackford, Michael Withem, Matthew du Mée, Jon Dixon, Jeremy Quade, and Chris' friend and ex-coworker, Sam, have all been invited and most likely all will show. Jon is the only unsure one in the bunch, with his insane work schedule. Should be a great night. We've got the Suns game we can keep tabs on, the poker game to play, and a game cube coming in Matthew's hands. I know I am looking forward to it. Aidan will just sleep, Amy will be over at her parents, and the boys will play.

kdice

I'd have to say that blogging has become filler for me at times. It is the thing I do when I don't have anything else to do. That's not been true all of the time, but it has been true recently, if you can tell by all of the Suns reports but not much of anything else. Last week I only posted 4 times, the lowest in my short, illustrious reign as Dutch Royalty. I hope to remedy this with more interesting things being reported on. There is much that I could have written, but I found another thing to occupy my time: kdice. It is an intriguing strategy and chance game that needs 7 people to play. It is totally online, so I can play with people from all over the world, and I have. Many players are from the US, but there are those from Germany, Denmark, Australia, Britain, Brazil, and many more countries. Guess I'm not the only one who enjoys the game. Matthew du Mée is the one who introduced it to me, so I thank him for my newest addiction! He challenged me to get 1600 as my level so we could play on some of the more illustrious boards, and I fought to get there. I made it, and now I am just waiting to take Matthew on. Amazing that the level he told me to aim for was the score on his SAT and the street address where he eventually wishes to end up at (1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW). Coincidence? I think not.

the best part

I must say, the best part of the Suns 129 - 127 victory was being able to cheer the Suns on with my guys. My discipleship group has been together since they were in 7th grade, and I joined them as a leader the second semester of their 7th grade year. This is my sixth year with them, and they are a great bunch of guys. We poked fun at each other, each one pretty much getting his own turn, but we laughed and screamed and had a blast cheering our Suns on to this great win. We were hosted by the Tolmachoffs, and they provided pizza and the HD experience that this game deserved. What a blast we had together! We all jumped up and yelled when Nash hit that three at the end of regulation to tie. We high-fived and grunted together. Guys, if you're reading this, I love you all. You're an incredible blessing to me, and, no, not just because you like the Suns, also. I've been extremely privileged to be your d-group leader for all this time, and I am looking forward to the impact the Lord will have in and through your lives throughout the rest of this year and the many to come. I am proud to call you my friends. Serve Him with all your heart. He deserves our all. It's all for His glory: live like it.

aidan's response

We got to enjoy dinner with the Ogles last evening. While there, Christine (friend of the family and boarder with the Ogles) asked us if her brother, who'll be in town soon, might be able to stay in our spare bedroom for a night or so. I will still be on Spring Break, so it works for me, but I wanted to make sure Aidan was okay with it. I looked at him, smiled, and I asked, "Aidan, is that okay?" I nodded my head to give him a nudge in the right direction, but he shook his head instead. It was hysterical! We all laughed so hard that he got scared and started to cry. What an incredible blessing it is to have a son who thinks for himself!