During my four week stay at Beijing, which is also known as Zhongdu (an old Chinese word meaning “Central Capital”), I encountered all sorts of aspects of Chinese life. Each morning I would wake up and step into a beautiful, spacious classroom with polished wood floors and oriental rugs. With a fresh mug of green […]Read Post ›
A promised highlight of my adventures through the British countryside was the opportunity to have Yorkshire Pudding in the actual town of York. As out of touch as I was, the word “pudding” caused me to envision a delectable dessert made of butterscotch or chocolate. Instead, I was given a puffed pastry filled with roast […]Read Post ›
During the two summers I spent in China, I picked up a little Mandarin. I quickly learned how to ask for the food I wanted, and still remember the words for “watermelon” and “ice cream.” I also learned to say “No, thank you,” as politely as possible, and can even sing Happy Birthday in Chinese! […]Read Post ›
“What if all the great stories that have ever moved you, brought you joy or tears – what if they are telling you something about the true Story into which you were born – the Epic into which you have been cast?” John Eldredge – Epic As my college choir toured England, my […]Read Post ›
The soft Tuscan sun warms my face, enhancing the beauty of my wife’s smile with its gentle glow. She closes her eyes and inhales deeply, drinking in the scent of honeysuckle and fresh-baked stromboli, hot out of the oven. Without a care in the world, she lies back in the wooden gondola and lets her […]Read Post ›
Janelle has always been particularly fond of dolphins and other sea creatures, and so we’ve found our way to aquariums quite often. Here are a few of our favorite (and not so favorite) experiences: Miami Seaquarium – Miami, Florida – We saw how “Flipper” the dolphin was trained, and watched trained dolphins perform all sorts […]Read Post ›
One weekend my wife and I drove to Davis, Oklahoma to camp out by Turner Falls, which happens to be the largest waterfall in Oklahoma. The falls were beautiful and we had a lot of fun hiking over the hills and crawling through the dark caves which surround the campgrounds. I was a little fearful […]Read Post ›
If I had to choose the one travel experience that made the greatest impression on me, I would have to go with the summer I spent in Shanghai, China. It was the first time I had ever traveled out of the country, and with fresh passport in hand I raced to the airport and flew […]Read Post ›
For our honeymoon, Janelle and I had saved our pennies for nearly a year to send ourselves on a trip to Italy. Once there, our first stop was Rome, and what an unforgettable sight it was! We were left in awe by the history and tragedy surrounding the Colosseum, were fascinated by the elegant beauty […]Read Post ›
While touring London, I had the opportunity to walk through the impressive royal halls of Kensington Palace. This is where Queen Victoria was born and spent her childhood, and where she lived until she became queen at the age of 18. It is also where Princess Diana lived, and where many noteworthy events from British […]Read Post ›
Everyday Musings... 