Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Good Walk/Great Wife

Today I got a little over-zealous in my hike. I kept thinking, 'Surely I'll exit somewhere relatively near to where I entered,' so I continued walking.

And walking.
And walking.

Finally I exited the ranch to find myself behind the Humane Society, far from where I had started this trek. I walked for almost 3 hours, so going the way I came would lead me right up into the brushy hillside and steep, rocky trails right about dusk.

No thanks.

So, I called my lovely wife, who is Googling the address of the Humane Society on her Droid and coming to get me as I text this post from my phone.

So now, I won't have to be eaten alive by a mountain lion!

Thanks, Babe!

The Past Several Days Have Been . . .

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

062810

- Probably about 3/4 unpacked!
- Supposed to have internet after tomorrow morning. I'm not holding my breath.
- Praying to find a job soon.
- Went taste testing at Orfila Vineyard. It was a blast!
- Kimberly has a nasty cough. She sounds like a smoker!
- My car has an unpleasant odor in it.
- Looking forward to establishing some sort of routine.
- Kimberly is a beast! She put together 4 chairs, a table, and a tall cabinet all in just 2 days!
- Its annoying that some people feel the need to defend Indiana when I express positive things about California. I mean, really people, just because I like it here doesn't mean I immediately hate where I came from! I've got enough love for 2 states!
- I've gotta list of people I'm really missing already! I've also gotta list of people I'm really NOT missing. I guess it all balances out. Although, the people on the MISS list are pretty awesome . . . (sigh).
- I love the oceanside pier! I can't wait to build a fire on the beach this fall!

Saturday, June 26, 2010

062510

- I love being in Cali with Kimberly!
- Today we went to Dixon Lake and chatted with some fishermen, saw an enormous fish, and watched diving ducks catch minnows.
- The unpacking of our apartment is going well. I imagine we'll be all done within just a few more days!
- My mom made the trip with us and is staying to visit for a while. We are so glad she's here!
- Tomorrow we're heading to the IKEA in San Diego. It'll be Kimberly and Mom's first time there. Maybe I'll take them to see Sea Port Village, too. I know they'll love it!

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

M-TH

Monday- Loaded moving truck. Everything, well, almost everything, fit just fine. So super blessed by many helpful hands! Thanks!!! Love you guys!

Tuesday- Hit the road bright and early. Made our way to Haviland, KY and stayed in the Barclay dormitory.

Wednesday- Met up with Kris (happy birthday!!!). Hadn't seen him in a while, so its great to have him join the convoy! Reached Holbrook, AZ. Beautiful country out here!

Tomorrow- ESCONDIDO!!! Woot! Woot!

Monday, June 21, 2010

Making Memories and Giving Goodbyes

I landed in the Indy airport about 7:30pm last Wednesday after a month out in Cali. In just less than a week, I've made some wonderful memories with friends and family, given all the necessary goodbyes, helped Kimberly finish a little packing, and loaded all of our things into the moving truck.

Its been a whirlwind of happiness, sadness, excitement, anxiousness, thankfulness . . . pretty much a little bit of most emotions imaginable.

But most of all, I feel joyful.
I am so blessed, and have been reminded of that nearly every other minute this past week.

In about four hours we'll be hitting the road hard, making our way out to Escondido permanently and hopefully reaching Kansas before calling it a day.

Prayers for travel safety are appreciated!

Thank you to those of you who made this week so special!
I love all you guys and can't wait to see you again in California!!!

Sunday, June 20, 2010

The Kinda Dad

The kinda dad who would, and still does, give his kids a big hug and tell them he loves them.


The kinda dad that knows how to do it all.


The kinda dad that teaches by example.


The kinda dad I'm proud to call mine.


The kinda dad that is a blessing to have.

Saturday, June 19, 2010

Jackson

Today, Kimberly and I visited with Jackson, our godson. Jackson's mother, Marva, was a great friend of ours, and our lives haven't been quite the same after losing her to domestic violence almost four years ago. Marva's intent was for us to raise Jackson if anything were to ever happen to her. Unfortunately, something did happen to her. And unfortunately we were unable to get custody of him. I see Jackson and am reminded of his mother, and of his father, who also happens to be Marva's murderer. It's a varied mixture of emotions. I often wonder how life would be if we would have been able to adopt him.

I pray for the day we can speak to him as a young adult, explain to him how wonderful his mother was, and how beautiful her faith in Christ was.

And I'm confident that one day we'll have that conversation.

Played 'Fact or Crap' and Made Goodbyes With Some of My Favorite Peeps

Friday, June 18, 2010

Here Now!

  • Made it to Indy from San Diego safely!
  • So stoked to be with my lovely wife again!
  • Still can't believe how amazing the past month has been!
  • Visiting with great people who we'll miss SOOOO much!
  • Good meeting at work today!
  • Finishing up some minor packing!
  • Still have so many people to say goodbye to!
  • Praying!
  • Celebrating!
  • Thanksgiving!
  • Grieving!
  • Rejoicing!
  • Leaving again soon!

Together Feels So Good

Jeremiah 29:11

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you.  Plans to give you hope and a future."

Cali Bound!

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

San Diego to Houston: Airplane Conversations

Marilyn, 73, turns to peer through the small airplane window, looking for a distraction the way people tend to do in those awkward moments directly following self-disclosure.

Suddenly, she points at a cloud and says, “Look! That one is shaped like a long-haired kitten playing on its back!”

Marilyn is eccentric.

- She’s also a 2nd time widow.
- Her first husband, father of her daughters, died of cancer.
- Her second husband died a long, drawn-out death. Marilyn served her husband for seven years as his primary caregiver, tending to him as he slowly wasted away.
- Marilyn lost nearly everything she owned in hurricane Katrina, when her home was engulfed in fourteen feet of floodwater.
- She’s isolated and lonely. Marilyn is the only person within all her family and close friends living in Mississippi. Her children and grandchildren live far away, and her dog has died, pummeled to death with onions by over-zealous parade goers. (Seriously)

Reading her life in bullet points, it seems her story is a glum one, but hearing the tale from the storyteller’s mouth lends a different twist.

A silver lining.

- Marilyn remembers loving both of her husbands very much, and she still holds them dear in her heart.
- She remembers what a good father her daughters had.
- She smiles as she speaks of caring for her second husband as he suffered from illness. “I loved taking care of him. I babied him, and he loved it,” she says.
- Marilyn is grateful to be a survivor of Katrina, when so many lives were lost. She has rebuilt her home and maintains an appreciation for life without the complications that come with a love and greed for stuff.
- Marilyn enjoys visiting family and friends, and is proud her children chased their dreams as adults and ventured far from the nest. Although saddened by the loss of her dog, she beams in her ability to travel burden free.

Marilyn looks at the world through a different lens than most be people.
I got to take a peak through that lens today.

And I liked what I saw.

Growing

Thrice?

Mr. Goodwin was right. GarageBand is a time sucker.

And it triggers the insatiable perfectionist in me.
More remixing.

Perhaps three times is a charm.
And perhaps I'll learn to sit on a project for a week or two before I declare it finished, as I always seem to revise a time or two anyway.


manipulator - 3 from Nathan Harris on Vimeo.

You Are Somebody

"Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered." NIV - Luke 12:7a

"My name is Martha Bowers Taft," a young girl confidently introduced herself to her new second grade classmates. "My great-grandfather was President of the United States. My grandfather was a United States Senator. My father is Ambassador to Ireland." She then puffed out her chest and proudly declared, "And I am a Brownie!"

We all enjoy having status and most of us would like to use that status to enhance the work of the Lord. Unfortunately, many of us think we are not significant enough to be used by God for great things. We might say, "Oh, I'm only a janitor, or only a repairman, or only a housewife." We think that if only we had a more prestigious title - such as doctor or professional athlete...or even Brownie...God could use us to do mighty things.

Perhaps the prophet Amos thought that way when God called him to serve. "After all," he could have said, "I am only a shepherd. Who will listen to me?" But instead of questioning his status, he obeyed and became a powerful voice for God.

Remember, with God there is no "I am only this or that," when it comes to His children. No matter how you perceive yourself, God sees you as having potential for great service and as the old saying goes, "He's not through with me yet!"

*Borrowed from HERE.

Mile a Minute & Getting Nowhere Fast

- in just a little more than 2hrs my alarm clock will be going off

- I can't wait to see my wife

- I've never flown alone before, hope I can find my gate and all that stuff

- it'd be nice to hear back from the school I interviewed at, whether I got the job or not, I'd kinda like to know

- lots to accomplish this week, hope it all goes well

- standing in our new apartment today I got a chill and thought, "we're gonna be so happy here!"

- there is a bird outside singing loudly and it doesn't exactly sound like a lullabye

- I hate typos

- still sticking to the diet really well, but I've slacked off on exercizing this week

- I have learned that I like NCIS

- thinking about 'big dreams' vs 'reality.' I can dream big, but at the end of the day, I'm chicken

- need job

- wondering where we'll put that darn freezer

- and how do you place a chaise lounge in a room shaped liked this!?

- excited to see my kitties soon

- need job

- need job

- not checking luggage at the airport

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

manipulator - revisited

Here's a new song I just finished writing. I posted it yesterday, but realized there were some typos in the video and I noticed a couple things in the music I wanted to change. So after a few spelling corrections and remixing, here is Manipulator.

Enjoy!


manipulator from Nathan Harris on Vimeo.

Hooray!!!

In about twenty-five hours,
I'll get to hold my lovely wife again, 
for the first time in exactly thirty days!

 
 I am sooooooooo excited!!!

Monday, June 14, 2010

BTW

My first earthquake was a 5.9.

I Just Felt My First Earthquake

That's all.

Thank You, Dan and Susan!

Where do I even begin? I've been staying with Dan and Susan for several weeks now, without them really even knowing me much when they welcomed me into their home.

They are such kind people, and so genuine.

Initially, the idea of staying with someone I had only been acquainted with made me a little nervous.

"Will it be awkward?" I worried.

But not only have they made me feel like a guest; I've felt very much like I'm with family.

I've grown to love them very much, and am so appreciative of the opportunity they've given me. I've been able to find a great home while staying with them, and I think I'm very close to getting a job, too. These things would have just been so difficult to achieve remotely. Building relationships with such warm people has also relieved many moving jitters.

Thank you, Dan and Susan. You both are so great! I can't thank you enough!
You have been a blessing to me!

Manipulator

*My second GarageBand song.

Manipulator from Nathan Harris on Vimeo.

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Homing Around My New Home

The last several weeks I’ve been dependent on my GPS system to get me all around San Diego county, but its not just any ‘ol GPS system! I’ve downloaded Homer Simpson’s voice, so Mr. Simpson himself has been my guide, complete with the occasional “Doh!” and request to stop for ice cream.

And to my delight, my posse of guides has grown! I’ve been living on the northeast side of Escondido for about four weeks now and am becoming somewhat familiar with it, but our new home will be on the exact opposite end of town. So Susan, Alice, and Nathan put me behind the wheel this afternoon to give me hands-on training on the “how-to’s” and “where at’s” of the southwest side of Escondido.

It’s a lot to cram into this brain, but I think I’m starting to kinda get a it!
Thanks, crew!

San Diego County Fair

Yesterday I visited the San Diego County Fair. It was complete with rides, fried treats, shops, livestock, life-size butter sculptures, exhibits, live-music, and demonstrations.

I bypassed the temptation of ‘all-things-fried’ and ate a chicken kabob, however, I did stray from my diet and ate an entire bag of cotton candy. And it was the best cotton candy I could ever even imagine!

It was a great time taking in all the sights, smells, and sounds; and of course, the company was great too!

Hey Baby!


-->
The hummingbird saga continues! The newly hatched babies are growing quickly, and are starting to somewhat represent birds now. Check out the pictures below! The babies are really starting to fill out their nest much more compared to just a few days ago!











Saturday, June 12, 2010

Rattle Rattle

I have a healthy fear of snakes.
In fact, I don't like them.

At all.

But there is one quality of the rattle snake I appreciate; because I hear it, I don't have to see it.

Wii Night With Some Awesome Peeps!

*Thanks Dan, Susan, Nathan, and Alice!

Thursday, June 10, 2010

strong and brave

"I've commanded you to be strong and brave. Don't ever be afraid or discouraged! I am the Lord your God, and I will be there to help you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9

What Is Your Life's Purpose?

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, 
"plans to prosper you and not to harm you, 
plans to give you hope and a future." 

NIV - Jeremiah 29:11

Why do you think you were you born? What is your life's purpose? Can you write it down in a phrase or a sentence? Let's fast forward. What do you want on your tombstone? What few words would describe your priorities or your passion?

Clarity of purpose is a key to successful living:

* It guides us in our decision-making.
* It helps us to know when to say yes and when to say no.
* It determines where we will go in life. It's the difference between just existing and making a difference.
* Only through our Creator can we find our ultimate purpose; He created us for a purpose. No one is here by accident. God has a plan for every life - a destiny to fulfill.


So, what's yours? What's your purpose?

I can't answer that question for you, but the One who created you can. Get to know Him through His Son Jesus, and His ever-insightful Word in Scripture. You'll be taking the first and most important step in discovering your life's purpose.

*Borrowed from HERE

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

060910

A unbelievably blue pond nestled between the hills. Awesome views. Beautiful, fragrant flowers.
Bible study and lunch on a pier over the lake.

Great day.

ahummina, hummina, hummina, hatched!


 Momma Bird's eggs have hatched! At the moment, they look more like black fuzzy bugs than humming birds,  but I'm sure within the next couple weeks, they'll be adorable. Momma is protective of her little ones; she'll only feed them when I'm at a distance. I waited and waited to get a shot of her feeding her babies yesterday, but she would only lay on them, feeding them when I'm across the yard and too far to get a good picture.

Watching these little humming birds grow is going to be awesome!

Kimberly, you wanted to see Moses, so here she is:

Desire

". . . God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death." James 1:13-15

Father God, I want to want You more.
More than anything else.

Please help me to desire You alone.

Amen

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Today's walk led here:

Yikes!

Woot! Woot!

I've lost about 16 pounds in 2 weeks!

I'm so excited!!!

Oh, Father, can I come home?

All other gods have crumbled
While you remain the same
Mighty One, so humble
To accept this trader’s praise

Jesus, to You I stumble
From my idolatry
My hands are red with Your blood
How could you forgive me?

I sing to You now, broken
Wholeness is in You
Amidst the world’s deception
I’ve fallen from the truth

Joy is oneness with You
And love is You alone
Peace is at Your feet, Lord
Face down before Your throne

Oh, Father, can I come home?
Oh, Father, can I come home?

Monday, June 7, 2010

This Is Amazing!!!

It seriously chokes me up each time I watch it! So awesome!
If you don't know who Bryan Gaynor is, you should look him up.
He has spina bifida, but that hasn't stop him from being an unbelievable dancer!

Sunday, June 6, 2010

Back home again, in Indiana . . .

On May 16th, I packed up all my clothes into my car, swung by Farmland to pick up Pink, and headed out to Cali. Since then I’ve found a great apartment, became more familiar with Escondido, and hopefully I’ve landed a good job. (We’ll have to wait to find out for sure about that one!)

Yesterday I booked a flight back to Indy, scheduled on June 16th, coincidentally exactly a month after leaving. I’ll spend about five days in Indiana helping Kimberly with whatever packing is left, wrapping up things with my current job, and spending a little more time with friends and family before loading up the moving truck and caravaning back to Escondido with Pink, Kris, Kimberly, and my mom (who we are very excited to have making the trip with us!).

*Back home again, in Indiana . . .

Crunch

I pulled into the drive. I jumped out of my car to go inside and open the garage door to put up my car for the evening. I was stepping inside through the front door when I heard it.

Crunch.

Not only did I hear it; I felt it.

Crunch.

I hesitantly looked beneath my right foot, which was just outside the door, and there I saw, with much disgust, that I had step on a huge snail.

The shell was smashed to pieces, and the snail . . . well, it was gross.

Very, very gross.

Saturday, June 5, 2010

taking a walk

This Mess

My first (and appropriately titled) GarageBand song, 'This Mess' . . .

Not sure how I feel about GarageBand yet. I need practice! All the pre-recorded loops and such! I can't quite get the feel and melody that's in my head and in the lyrics to come through in the music. But it was fun trying!

Actually, no it wasn't.
It was very frustrating trying, and the end result is disappointing . . .
I can't even sing the whole song in-key because not all the chords are where they should be. Gr!

Music is one of those things I'm  just so drawn towards, driven to create but not really skilled or equipped for. Its incredibly aggravating and can really get depressing at times.

Its like . . . um, like when you're a child, laying in bed so tired. As exhausted as you are, you're legs are restless as though you could run for miles, but its 9:00pm and you're six years old, so all you can do is stir. 

I did that from time to time as a kid anyway. And that's how I feel now when there's all these lyrics and melodies, harmonies and runs in my head with nowhere else to go.

No brilliant voice to unleash them with. No fantastic compositional skills to document them. No beautiful instrumentation to  bring them to life.

Just my head for them to echo in, driving me crazy.
Eh, oh well.
Such is art ;o)

So here it is. My mess.
 
This Mess from Nathan Harris on Vimeo.

Thursday, June 3, 2010

(the good kind)

Today I had my first official face-to-face interview here in Cali. It went very well, and ended with an assuring, "You'll be hearing from us very soon. I'm sure of it!" YAY!!! I was really blessed throughout the conversation that things just seemed to flow very naturally. Although I was so nervous the first minute or two, the words seemed to come out in at least a somewhat intelligible form. I brought along a manual for a treatment program I wrote a few years ago and they LOVED it, skipping several questions in the interview process, feeling like my written work spoke for itself and showcased my abilities at modifying behavior positively. Overall they seemed impressed with me, and I was happy with their general view of treatment and their approach to habilitate emotionally disturbed and behaviorally challenged youth and integrate them into mainstream society. It would seem this would be a match made in . . . well, heaven ;o) Afterwards, I made my way over to Seaport Village, which is only about a 15 minute drive from the school I interviewed at. I enjoyed a packed lunch I brought along, sitting in the sun on a grassy hill, listening to the water and watching ships pull in and out of the port. After my meal and some sun-soaking, I browsed through Seaport's shops and just took-in the great, peaceful atmosphere of the village. Then, to top my day off, a few other great things happened. A couple messages really found their way straight to my heart through the blessing of modern technology and communication. I was really touched by the words of some God-lovers, and I can't even begin to understand or describe our Creator's perfect timing. God is so good. So, so good. And He continues reminding me of His goodness, over and over, though I'm so undeserving. His grace and His mercy . . . His love . . . Sigh. (the good kind)

ahummina, hummina, hummina, humming bird!

Dan and Susan, the kind and generous people who've opened their home to me during this transition, have a beautiful backyard. Its bursting with blooms; full of flowers and foliage.
And wildlife.
Dan discovered a hummingbird nest the other day, cradled in the bend of a vine in a hanging flower plant. The eggs inside the nest are so small! I took this picture of them next to my pinkie-nail so you can really see just how tiny they are.
After several minutes of standing v - e - r - y . . . . s - t - i - l - l , the momma bird decided it was safe enough to return to her nest. She settled contently on her eggs while I snapped away on my camera, getting some great shots of her. I had never been so close to a humming bird before, and I couldn't believe she returned to her nest with me standing right over it! Such a cool experience!!!

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Upcoming Interview!!!

I have a job interview this Thursday at 9:30 am. I am interviewing to be a behavior specialist for a day-program of the San Diego Unified School District's mental health department. I don't have a lot of information about the job yet, but everything I do know about it so far has been very appealing to me! Its almost been a year now since I've worked in behavioral modification, so I'm reading through articles online and going through old work I've done in the past to re-immerse myself into the vernacular. I'm nervous! Please pray! Thanks!