Talents

Playing the piano, singing, reading or eating at fast rates of speed, whistling, having compassion, having brains, painting, these are all random types of talents. Each of us have been given random different talents that makes us individuals. They help define who we are. Over and over I hear, "use your talents for God." Though I don't know how eating quickly would help God, but who knows...
What if someone does not know their what their talents are? Honestly, I view myself as mediocre in really just about every aspect of life. This really doesn't bother me (ok maybe a little), but I really wish that I knew how God wanted to use me. It may just be a part of finding yourself. The constant search for who you are and what God made you to be. Or it may be that if you are just willing God will use one of the talents you never thought He would pick. Is He waiting for the perfect moment for us to become who He wants? Or is He just waiting for us to be willing? Will He reveal it to us when we aren't looking? Sigh... The mystery of life.

Random Summer Pics

Sunset Camp (my family's camp on Raquette Lake, NY)

Cousin Morgan and my brothers

My brother and I after hiking

View from Sunset Camp

Seaton Lake, BC

A random river on the way to Whistler

My crazy family at Wes's graduation at Fountainview Acadmey in BC

An experiment which ended in failure

The Document

It started out a normal day. One girl sat at the computer writing a research paper and two boys sat with eyes glued on the tv screen watching with excitement as little characters ran around on the screen. Harvest Moon and Zelda were swapped back and forth for a couple of hours. These, however got boring and they began searching for a new old school game to play. Desperately they searched until the perfect game was found but to their dismay they realized a minor detail. Neither had money. So, their eyes quickly turned to the only person in the room that had money, the girl who sat working intently on her research paper. The thought of giving them just one more way to waste time didn't seem judicious. For a while the girl held out but their bargaining begin to work as the deal became more enticing. The document below was composed in an effort to crumble the her steel resolve.

"In this sacred document, that shall only be broken on pain of death, I Beau Hawk ________________and I, Wesley Mayes_________________, hereby solemnly swear upon each other's head to uphold this contract. The contractual terms are as follows:
~Alex Mayes, upon fulfillment of this contract, is entitled to no greater or less than one henna tattoo, of reasonable size* by Beau Hawk.
~She is also entitled to no greater or less than three shoulder rubs and two foot rubs.
~She is also entitle to no greater or less than one breakfast in or near the vicinity or a bed or possibly futon if so desired, furnished by Beau Hawk and and* Wesley Mayes.
~2 new pairs of boxers shall also be given to gird the loins of Alex.
              *No larger than her actual body
              *I messed up ok? It happens. I'm human

I, Alex Mayes, accept these terms and conditions as payment for Chrono Trigger ____________

All of this for a ten dollar game.

Some Superb Songs

Here are some random awesome songs to listen to!

Andrew Peterson - Many Roads http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23OjHJCpPao

Wolfstone - Braes of Sutherland http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mk_AD0xfkNI

Nickel Creek - Doubting Thomas http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3c_8hYK0eo

Andrew Peterson - Silence of God http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qn5-2nZR9AA

Billy Joel - Honesty http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7R3GtAnO66o

Owl City - Rugs from Me to You http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKJp7r2mXEw

Josh Turner - Everything is Fine http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIqnZJ6HkVQ

Chris Rice - Thirsty http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLe5YwDpmTk

Christy Nockels - By Our Love http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifQpZgtGHlk

Dueling Guitars - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2K5IcpZEU4

Concerning Hobbits - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1cTuUwZILg

Matthew Perryman Jones - Where the Road Meets the Sun  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuKKMfZBWhk (we met this guy on a plane, he was so awesome) also listen to When It Falls Apart

:-D

What He sees every Day

The day begun with a normal report from the night nurse but with it brought dread for the next few hours. She was 18+6 weeks with a bulging bag of water. The baby was not going to make it. Her primary doctor had given her a 50/50 chance that we would be able to help her, but all of us knew that there was no hope. The bed was positioned in what is called trendelenburg, tilted slightly upside down, and she was screaming in pain. She was desperate to keep the baby alive. In situations like these I am at a loss for words. There are no words that can take away mental or physical pain. 

The doctor came in and gave her two options. To have her water broken which speed up her labor or let the baby come whenever it wanted. She couldn't take the pain any longer and since there was no hope for the baby, the parents opted for the first plan. 

After the doctors broke her water, the baby came quickly. His tiny heart could be seen beating through his thin skin. Even at only 18 weeks his intricate fingers and toes were perfect miniatures of his parents. It didn't take long before his heart could no longer take the strain and it slowed.  He slowly slipped away as his sobbing mother held her little boy that she would never know. I couldn't take it any longer, quickly left the room and ran crying into my co-workers arms. To see a life slip away in 15 minutes, with nothing that could be done to stop it, was the hardest thing to see. It wasn't even my child. I cannot even imagine if it was my own. To go through all the pain of labor just to have your baby die in your hands. Unimaginable pain. 

Driving home I thought back on the day. God sees this every day. Every second of every day. How does He handle it? If I can't stand it I am sure that it's ten million times worse for Him. He made that little boy, he made that bird and raccoon, that man and women. With his fingertips He created life just to watch it slip away as the result of sin. 

Romans 8:22-25: "We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently." 

I'm not waiting very patiently please come back soon.