Summer In a Blur

So this Summer has come and gone in a blur. It was full of weddings, family visits and road trips to see dear friends. It was so much fun and definitely one of the busiest summers I have had in a long time.
Well it all started when my sister, Melissa and her French boyfriend came and visited Fourth of July weekend. We went up the Putnam farm up north and boy was that fun. We went canoeing and did other fun outdoor activities.

Melissa was afraid we would tip the canoe. We would never do that, would we?

We even went to baseball game the Twins vs the Yankees. Thanks Putnam for takin us.

Me and Melissa at Twins game and yes the Twins did beat the Yankees

Here is a picture of the three of us in our sunday best.

Don’t we look great and look me and Melissa even match a little.

Next event was when I went down to Kansas City to visit my friend, from high school, on my way down to Erika, my baby sis, wedding. So I spent saturday with David and we went to a Sporting KC (soccer game) when they played none other then the LA Galaxy. Here is a few pictures.

Me and David selfie at the Game. GO Sporting. It was tons of fun.

That is Matt Besler. He played on the World Cup team and did very well.

Then I went to Erika’s wedding and was so busy that I wasnt able to take pictures but rest assured that it was a blast. She is now married, still hard to believe, and is now a Albrecht. It was a lot of fun to be part of the wedding party, I was a groomsman.

Then my parents came up to visit and we spent one of the days walking around Minnehaha Falls  in Minneapolis. It was fun to walk and show them some of the beauty and history of my city.

At the falls. Dad used my phone and got this selfie on the first try way to go Dad.

Here is me and Dad by a statue of a guy by the name of Longfellow.

Mom and me by a beautiful Garden.

Thanks everyone for making my summer such a memorable summer I had so much fun.

 

WARNING FLASH FLOOD

We have had a tons of rain over the last couple weeks and especially today. So as you can expect their has been flash flooding. I live by Minnehaha creek. So after getting an alert on my phone about the flash flood I decided to be adventurous and go walk around and check it out. So brace yourself for a whole bunch of pictures.

Minnehaha RIver no longer a creek

Well no biking or walking down this path.

It is only about three feet form the top of the bridge

Lots of water makes a awesome waterfall. Minnehaha falls.

According to a news guy those trees was where the water was at 10:30.

At 5:00 it was up to this bench which was about 30 yards from the tree in the earlier picture.

Just a high water picture.

impressive waterfall with spray.

Love waterfall a wonder of Gods creation

Those of you wondering that waterfall is about 1 mile form my house in Minneapolis. Well that is what a flood in Minneapolis looks like.

 

Fear Not

So I recently changed the name of my blog. It has a new look and a new title. I thought I should go do a quick post and explain why I am changing the name of my blog so here we go.

I have recently been doing some thinking about how my life is going and what direction I want my life to go. Lately people have been asking me how things are going on in life. I just simply reply by saying one of two things FINE or GOOD. Do I really mean that or am saying or am I not wanting them to push into my life because I am fearful or what they might see or so. I think that I have been content to fit into the mold of what culture says I should be like. I have been content in my current situation and I am fearful of stepping out in faith and embracing what the the Lord has planed for me.

Do not be afraid for I am with you says the lord.

However in the last couple weeks the Lord has been pushing me in lots of different ways and I have decide to trust in the Lord for what he has in store for my life. I am not going to let the fear of change run my life. What do I have to fear when I know God is on our side. I just need trust in him and I need to find comfort in the fact that the Lord has my life under his control and He wont let me come to harm. I recently found a quote by Corrie ten Boom that has really changed my thinking of the future. ” “Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.” I may not know what my future holds like what I am going to be doing twenty years from know or whom I am going to marry but I do know that God has me where he wants me and I need to use the time he has given me to bless his kingdom. So how does this look practically you might ask well I have decided to help my church more by volunteering as an usher as much as I can and sharing that vision with my small group of volunteering in the church to serve others. I need to rest knowing that God has my path planed out for me. There are two verses that I have been hanging on two in these time.

Jeremiah 29:11 ” For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare[a] and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

Isaiah 41:10 “fear not, for I am with you;
be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

So I want to end with a note to all my readers. Don’t be afraid of your future but put your future in the hands of the Lord.
FEAR NOT

 

Trip to Africa

This Past christmas and for a week and a half  week after I spent in Niger West Africa visiting my parents. The Whole family was able to join us.   It was a lot of fun to hang out with the family but we also able to do some sight-seeing and day trips go and see the wildlife of Niger. I saw hippos on the Niger river while i was sitting in a wooden canoe. I saw a giraffe after a rough ride through the savannah.

There were about half a dozen hippos

We saw one group of hippos and then saw a few loner hippos. One our way back we cruising along on our motor powered canoe when all of a sudden we stopped and there bout ten yards form our canoe was a hippo.

it was closer in real life.

Then a few days later we drove an hour outside of town and stopped to pick up our guide and went about half and hour further and went off the good road and started driving on small dirt paths. To find the giraffes. We drove for a little  and when we had found them we stopped got out and took a lot of pictures. Here a few of the pics.

Two just walking away

This one decide it better look at me for a photo

One Giraffe with two heads or two different giraffes?

Here were some moms and their your ones.

We saw about ten giraffes.

It was a very fun trip. We event went to visit Burkina Faso where I grew up for seven years a definite highlight.

Kyle (Erika fiance), Lindsay (younger sister), Erika ( baby sister) and Me

While we  were in Burkina we went to our favorite pizza restaurant, don’t know how to spell it so i wont tell u write the name, and had pizza and while we there Kyle purposed to my youngest sister, Erika. It made a already fun trip even more exciting. Kyle I  cannot wait till you are legally part of the family.

I was able to stay a few days longer after Erika Kyle and Lindsay left. It was  lots of fun to spend time just chilling with Mom and Dad. I was able to go on Campus once with Dad and see what he does first hand so that was very interesting and very encouraging. Thanks Dad for taking me along.  One night we went to a restaurant overlooking the river at sunset, it was beautiful.

Well  that was my trip to Africa it was so enjoyable and fun to spend with family. It did my heart so good. It brought me home. I feel most at home in Africa since that is where I spent most of my life. Thank you Mom and Dad for being such great host.

 

Floating down the Mississippi River

This past weekend Enoch, member of my small group, invited my small group  to his parents house up in Elk River MN. They live on the Mississippi River and so he said that those who wanted to could float down in on air-mattress and other floating devices.  We Grilled out his house and then the 6 men went floating down the river.  Ten minutes from our ending destination  we saw an old bridge support and decided to jump off.  It was a lot higher than looked and so was a little nerve-racking.  It was in the middle and the current was stronger there then it had been anywhere else on the river so it was hard to get to. After much effort we made it and boy was that fun.  Sorry no pictures  we didn’t have  a waterproof camera. Here are  a few pictures of us departing.

The Mississippi RIver in Elk River MN

A quick pic before we head out on the river.

Yes that is me floating down the river.

Everyone is in and now Enoch is the last one to leave shore.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Everyone floating away

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
It was so much fun.  It took us about 2.5 hours to make it three miles down the river. It was supposed to be a relaxing trip of just floating down the river.  There were some relaxing moments but a lot of falling in the river and trying to surf on our air-mattress. I did succeed in  getting up for a little bit. It was really hard to stay standing though lets just say air-mattress are not the most sturdy “surf boards” . It was really fun jumping off the old bridge support as well.

 

Goodbye Squanto

This past week was a sad week but more so it was an exciting week.  It was sad because I have replaced  Squanto, my car a 1997 Nissan Altima,with new car a 2005 Nissan Altima.  Squanto and I have been through a lot together. We have done several road-trips  he was my first car and has been my car since 2008.  Squanto however was getting old and so I decided it was time to get a new car. I settle on a new car a 2005 Nissan Altima with 98000 miles on it so an upgrade from Squanto.
First a look at Squanto.

Goodbye Squanto I will mis you.

My new car is called Dimitri. Why Dimitri you might ask. I bought the a car from a Russian man, so I thought that Dimitri would be a fitting name.  Without further ado say hello to  Dimitri.

RIght after I bought my new car

Front View

View from the back

This car come with all the upgrades. It has a moon roof, six disc Cd changer. It even come with a thing that locks and unlocks it.  Most of your cars probably have this but it is an upgrade for me and so much easier.This next picture is a little awkward to post but I  inserted it anyways to show my dad how much more leg room I have. When my dad heard I had gotten a new Altima he was concerned that I tall guy like me would not have enough leg room since my old car was so cramped for me.  So there is no need to worry dad I have plenty of room. Thanks for caring about me so much Dad.

See all the Leg room I have dad.

I am very excited but my new car and love how it drives and handles.

HELLO DIMITRI

 

Rock Climbing

 

Yesterday I decided to try something new.  Mike my roommate invited me to go rock climbing with him. I have never been and it was a spontaneous thing decided to go. It was a little nerve-racking at first but the more I climbed the more confidence I gained.  As I was climbing I realized that I was a little more afraid of heights then I thought. I did however eventually make it to the top here is a video and some pictures.

Starting to climb

I dared to look back and down at the camera for a good picture. I still climbed a little higher.

Being brave and looking down.

Climbing higher

Still climbing

and higher. Wow the is pretty high ( hun Erika and Mom)

Still climbing!!! Wow that is high

Here is a video of me climbing the wall. When you don’t want to climb anymore i just let go and the automatic belay lets me down slowly to the ground.

It was fun and I would like to go again sometime.   I learned through this experience that I am a  little more afraid of heights then I thought. As I was reaching the top I started to get a little uneasy in the stomach however I still climbed to the top and was glad to be back on the ground.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Snow in April!!!!!!!

I moved up here in 2005 and haven’t left and sometimes I wonder why I haven’t. Today is one of those. It is April 18 as you all know and in most areas around the country it is spring. Well not here in Minnesota. We have broken 40 only a few times since spring officially began. Just about everyone I have talked to can’t wait for the nice spring weather to come.  I guess the saying ” April showers brings May flowers.” Well I am curious what April snows bring. I am beginning to think that April snows bring no spring. This is really sad. What is even worse is that this isn’t going to be one of those small snows. This is one of those snows that we are supposed to get in December and January and maybe February and March but, definitely not April. Well  enough rambling here are some pictures.

Look at that Snow

 

State Fair

I want to start out by dedicating this post to my Aunt Donna who joined her heavenly Father at end of September.  Early on in the summer When i was in Kansas visiting we talking about State Fairs and I was telling her how I was going to go to  Minnesota State Fair in End of August.  She said ” Andrew if you go make sure you have a pronto pup. It was always one our traditions when we went to the state fair.”

So I made sure I had one and took lots of pictures

On August 24 I went to the State fair with Chad and Ruth Whipple with their kids; Isabella, Piper, AJ and TJ.  We also joined by Amy Putnam.

The Minnesota state fair is known for things on a stick and things deep-fried,

In honor of my Aunt Donna I ate a pronto pup.

My First pronto Pup is just for u Aunt Donna

Here I am eating my first Pronto Pup in your Honor Aunt Donna.

Just a quick look at how busy the State Fair was when we went.

According to my tour guides (Ruth and Chad and Amy) when at the state fair u have to go down the giant slide. Unfortunately there is no picture but next year I will be sure take one.

Then we had roasted corn like we have in Africa well sort of not near as good but pretty close.

Ruth Eating the roasted corn.

Then we had my favorite the deep-fried cheese curds.

I am eating deep-fried cheese curds. They were so good and yet so bad for me.

We then went and Bella had a huge bad of popcorn. Dad this would be your favorite at the fair i am guessing.

Dad doesn’t that look good.

Then as it was getting dark we saw a french crepery (SP) and immediately thought of you Melissa .

I doubt they were as good as in France. We didn’t try them so they could very well have been.

Then we got what the State is very famous for. Sweet Martha Cookies.

It is so full u have to eat like 20 just to be able to close the lid.

Then I had a giant turkey leg and what is called Putin, a Canadian delicacy. It was good but a little overboard. It has fries deep-fried cheese curds with gravy poured over it. Wow a little much.

The turkey leg or should I say turkey club.

This is Putin good but too much food especially after all the other food.

So this was my day at the state fair. It was so much fun I cannot wait to go back next year.  The next day when I was working out with my personal trainer I regretted  eating all that bad food,but I would do it all in a heartbeat. It was so much fun and such good food. Thanks Whipple and Amy for such a good time.

 

“Tree Removal”

Over Easter I went to go visit my sister and relatives in Kansas. It was a great time. I did lots of eating and sleeping.  On saturday however me and my cousin Greg did a little landscaping or tree removal to be precise. So here  are some pictures of us hard at work. Contrary to what the pictures show I did help a lot. Someone had to take the pictures.

We started small with the small "tree" and went to the bigger "tree"

It was heavier than it looks.

Here is the big one we pulled out

OK so we used a loader tractor.

Here we are standing over our prize

Maybe we could have a future in “tree removal?” After you have seen our work we will let u be the judge. 🙂