Salutatorian Speech

As Flickr won't let me upload a four minute video on my free account, here is THE SALUTATORIAN SPEECH in all it's completeness. It's definitely better with the end left on.

Sunset, and playing in the leaves, because it's fall here, in winter

Young Adventurer's recent adventures

Young Adventurer played in his school orchestra Christmas concert this week. He played with the 7th grade orchestra and as part of this quintet. The same day he ran in his first cross country meet.

started strong

Finished strong

This week's wildlife

Found the snake in the backyard, the rest were at the Riparian Preserve. Can you spot the non-native species?? :-)

Rebuilding Freedom

We visited New York this past July as part of our summer vacation. These are some photos I took of the 9/11 Memorial, St. Paul's Chapel, and the Freedom Tower. Rebuilding and restoring hope in the face of evil, and the idea that destruction is not the end should point us not to just a vague idea of freedom, but to Christ, who rose from the dead to secure our ultimate freedom from all evil. 

The New York skyline, seen from the crown of the Statue of Liberty 7/8/2013

New York City and the Freedom Tower as seen from the Liberty Island ferry

St Paul's Chapel

Freedom Tower

The Memorial Pools

Reflecting pool, with the Freedom tower in the background

The Survivor Tree, which lived through the terrorist attacks in spite of it's location next to the twin towers

The Firefighters' Memorial

The Freedom tower, lit in red white and blue, from our hotel in midtown Manhattan