Kidologist.com: Karl Bastian's Personal Site and Blog
Archive for June, 2008
June 20, 2008 at 2:01 am · Filed under Adventures, Family, KarlTube, Luke, Photography
For our 15th anniversary we are spending a week in Lundington, Michigan. There are lots of pictures still to go through, but I wanted to blog our highlight today, on our actual anniversary. What a fun day! (click on any picture to view larger, then browse back to pick up where you left off!)
Luke was just eager to get going on our 1.8 mile hike to the Big Sable Point Lighthouse which is only accessible by hiking in.
If you squint you can see a little black and white dot in the upper left hand corner of this picture… that was our destination. Would Luke make it, that was the question!
Fortunately, some friends of our who live in Ludington, who we visited with on Tuesday evening, “just happened” to give us a kid-backpack. (God is indeed sovereign, and He likes to prove it over and over!) So when Luke got tired or decided he wanted to walk in directions other than forward, we had a way to make progress without losing too much time.
But we were in no rush, so we stopped often to rest and enjoy the beautiful scenery – a strange combination of sand, water and evergreens. (I’m sparing you all my nature photography!)
Luke definitely takes after his father in having this strong irresistible urge to wander off the well marked path! Keeping him on the trail was a constant struggle! Little explorer that he is! Oh, the fun we will have in the years ahead wandering around like Lewis and Clark!
Just had to post this one – is that one beautiful boy, or what? (note the shirt!)
Once we hid from mom off the side of the road when she wasn’t looking, but she soon found us!
“Does this road ever end?” Luke asks. “We’re not sure,” we answer!
But FINALLY we arrive and enjoy our sack lunch on a bench under the shade of some trees looking out over Lake Michigan. The lighthouse behind us and the roar of crashing waves around us. Luke seemed thrilled to have arrived at our destination and is eager to explore!
Soon he is off to see where all these wooden paths lead to. Treasure? Cookies?
He finds a steel wall with steps leading up to… to what? What could BE on the other side?
It’s water! As far as the eye can see. (Luke absolutely loves water!)
Luke ponders how there could be so much water in one place. (I don’t even try to explain that this is only a lake and that oceans are even bigger.)
He decides he likes this place very much, but he doesn’t like the big steel wall!
So he finds his way around it to the BEACH! And points so I know where he wants to go!
Soon he has found a UBPT. (Universal Boys Play Thing) Also known as “a stick.”
And what do boys DO with sticks, you ask?
Why, THROW THEM, of course! (this was only one of his many victims who were cast into the sea*!)
But then it was time to do what we came here to do – CLIMB TO THE TOP OF THE LIGHTHOUSE! Luke made the height requirement by less than an inch so he got to go on an adventure to new heights, literally!
Every twenty steps or so there was a window with a ledge big enough for him to sit on, and he absolutely loved sitting there and taking in the view. There are quite a few of these pictures, though the lighting was tricky for pictures to get both the view inside the fairly dark tower and the outside. I was able to get it by opening up the aperture pretty wide to get the outside in focus and not lose the inside. Until I figured that out, either you got nothing inside (like below) or the outside was washed out and all white. (TMI for most of you I know, but my photo-friends will appreciate it!)
This shot shows when we spotted mom from around 50 steps up in the lighthouse!
Not even half way up yet, and already the view is getting spectacular. (Yes, that’s mom in the pink!)
We waved and waved and suddenly Mom actually SAW US in the little window and took this picture!
We went rather slowly, but I was so proud of Luke. He did the entire thing all by himself! Here he is passing the 100th step. (and this is the only time I wasn’t immediately behind him)
Yes, that’s me and Luke 130 feet up in the air at the top of the Big Sable Point Lighthouse!
The view was wonderful and the sky was perfectly clear. It was pretty windy but it felt great.
The lighthouse was pretty busy with a steady stream of visitors and yet, when we got up there, we had the whole thing to ourselves for about ten minutes. It really was a gift from the Lord. Luke had absolutely no fear at all. The funny thing was, the only thing that scared him was some orange streamers they had hanging from the two hatches you had to come through on the stairs. They were blowing in the wind and really freaked him out. I had to hold him as we passed the orange streamers. Silly, but sweet too.
Can you spot us up there at the top of the lighthouse? Good thing mom was too scared to come up, she was able to take some fun pictures from the bottom. 
Here’s a zoomed in version of Luke at the top of a historic Michigan Lighthouse!
VIDEO: Watch Luke at the top of the Lighthouse
All good things must come to an end. In this case, all good things have another hour long walk before they come to an end!
Not that all of us had to walk the whole way, at least one of us got the royal treatment for most of the trip back. But as I said on the walk, even as my legs and back were aching, if he rests his head on mine, I could walk a thousand miles.
It was a wonderful way to spend our 15th anniversary. Several people have seemed surprised when they found out we took Luke on our anniversary trip – but when you waited as long as we did for a little child to love, he is the highlight of our celebration and the joy of our times together. (and he does take naps)
The Big Sable Point Lighthouse can be seen for 19 miles out into the Lake. I’m so glad that on this 19th of June we celebrate that we know the Big Savior who made a Point of being the Light we can build our House on! When the storms of life hit, we don’t rely on some rusty old retainer wall to hold off the erosion of time that pounds against our lives relentlessly – we can rely on the grace and mercies of God which are new every morning! Praise God!
*for those who e-mail me my typos, the use of the word “sea” here was figurative, not literal. OK?
June 19, 2008 at 6:36 am · Filed under Life, Parenting
Got my son a kids meal at Arby’s and was pleased to see that the kids meal bag had some characters values on it. I may scan the bag side when I get home. Unfortunately, their website needs work or perhaps still under development because none of it is on their website other than a mere passing mention of the core values and nothing is clickable on the kids page other than some menu items, but I really liked the six “Values” they present to kids and how they define them on the kids meal bag.
In a world that more and more just seeks to entertain kids and sell to them, it was refreshing to see a for profit company try to give some positive character instruction with apparently nothing to gain in return! I applaud Arby’s for seeking to invest in kids rather than simply profit from them.
Here is what they presented as six Core Values are how they defined them for kids:
- DREAM BIG
“If you can dream it, you can do it!”
- WORK HARD
“Do the best you can, in all that you do.”
- GET IT DONE
“Set high goals and make them happen.”
- PLAY FAIR
“Always treat other with respect and fairness.”
- HAVE FUN
“Make the most of every day. Life is meant to be enjoyed.”
- MAKE A DIFFERENCE
“Help make life better for those around you.”
I actually had some verses come to mind for each of these…. maybe you could do a Kid’s Church unit based on Arby’s with the theme of the “Beef of Scripture” or “Roasting Life” or something. Anyway, I applaud Arby’s for encouraging kids to think about higher values. Way to go Arby’s. Now they just need to get their website up to date and find some creative ways to build on these core values to encourage kids to focus on them in creative ways.
June 16, 2008 at 7:09 am · Filed under Family, KarlTube, Luke, Parenting
This video is just my Father’s Day present to myself. Yes, I’m a complete sap and am totally in love with my little boy. My wife often laughs at me and says, “You are so whipped” when she sees just the way I look at him or interact with him. The picture below is his first time sitting in a tree! (Granted, only for a few seconds – just long enough for the picture! But last Sunday at church he saw several kids in a tree and I stopped to talk to the kids about the tree and how they got up, etc. but it still surprised me when Luke said to me today, “Sit in tree!”
The video is all pictures of me and my little buckaroo to two of my favorite “Daddy Songs,” perhaps you’ll enjoy them too: Watching You, by Rodney Atkins and Little Buckaroo by Go Fish.
June 14, 2008 at 9:06 pm · Filed under Blog World, Internet, Technology
Starting a blog? I often get asked advice on starting a blog since I’ve been blogging since before there were blogs! (I used to create stand alone webpages to record events, like this one or these) I have a detailed post titled What Makes a Good Blog? but let in short I’d say just start one (and yes, just ONE will do) and keep in mind, it is primarily for YOU not your readers. I consider my blog to be my personal digital scrap book. It is first and foremost for stuff I want to save and remember, secondly to keep in touch with family and friends and yet I know that there is a wider readership and so I keep them in mind to – but I don’t seek to please them or worry whether they ‘approve’ all the time. (I’ve had complaints from time to time which is really odd since its a personal blog and the complaints I’ve received are totally inappropriate for what a blog is, but oh well.)
Bottom line: Blog whatever you want. You’ll be your #1 reader over the years, especially the old posts! (I doubt anyone reads my archives, but I cruise them often!)
June 14, 2008 at 8:44 pm · Filed under Computers, Humor, just cool
I stumbled upon this picture. Not sure what this is for, but for some reason, I want one! Maybe I’d be able to concentrate on my work better!
What is your guess for what this is for?
June 14, 2008 at 12:41 am · Filed under Family, Holidays, Luke, Parenting
I’m looking forward to Father’s Day. My first Father’s Day, as a dad, I blogged in 2006.
Little Luke on my First Father’s Day
Then I had my first official Father’s Day and blogged about it in 2007.
Luke on my second Father’s Day
Well, my third Father’s Day is just around the corner. It’s hard to believe – the time travels fast, but no complaints, Luke is at such a fun age and is so delightful to play and live with. Today we went on a hike in Oak Lawn at what we call the “secret river” – a beautiful hidden man made river tucked away in a busy suburb just a few houses from my wife’s folks. Granted, its more of a drainage ditch than a “river” but its still pretty beautiful. Especially a walk with daddy and son…
We started out around the block and discovered a hidden bridge! the ends led to a chain link fence that was chained and locked, but could be entered from the side quite easily.
There’s just something fun about going exploring!
Look at that happy boy!
Just too cute!
What fun hiking and climbing around!
It looks like a real river anyway.
Awwwwwwwww
I wonder where this path goes?
Later, we got the sidewalk chalk out.
Not quite a Pablo Picasso, Claude Monet or Pierre-Auguste Renoir, but I did my best.
Father’s Day 2008 here I come!
Being a dad is the greatest thing in the world!
June 12, 2008 at 12:07 pm · Filed under Uncategorized
I’d like to DOUBLE YOUR MONEY! How? Read on!
Imagine being a part of something that is humanly impossible – but that God is clearly behind!
Barney Kinard, our Kidology Coach of Kidhelper.com (Creative Children’s Ministries) has partnered with Kids Around the World to build a playground in India and along with it, do an evangelistic mission trip.
Barney is currently raising funds for the trip the Kidology Foundation is going to pitch in with a MATCHING GRANT. If you would prayerfully consider giving toward this awesome project, Kidology will match your gift up to $500 toward this project! Help us send $1000 toward this wonderful project that will have a lasting impact on some of the world’s poorest kids.
You can read more about this trip on Barney’s website. He has really picked up a passion for India since he was there last year and I’d love to encourage him by helping to raise some funds for the trip.
These pictures are of the VERY KIDS who will soon have their own wonderfull playground to play on – but the trip is about much more than a playground. The playground is a tangible way to show the children and community God’s love, but it also opens doors for ministry. While there to build the playground, the children will hear the Gospel and many children’s ministry workers will receive much needed training.
Share in this project and share in the blessings of knowing you helped make this ambitious project possible. Over $60,000 has to be raised, so we are only a small part of the overall effort to make this happen. Over $20,000 has already been raised all by small gifts from people who have told Barney they want to see this happen! Please consider if you might be able to help, even many small gifts will go a long way to bringing smiles to these children’s faces and making it more likely we will get to meet them in eternity!
To give simply visit our donation page and indicate “Playground for India” in the comments field.
UP-DATE: With our pledge, the project is up to $30,000. Thank you for prayerfully considering being a part of this effort!
June 8, 2008 at 9:31 pm · Filed under Family, Luke
As I sit here to blog my whole body is sore and tired but my heart is full and satisfied. Most of my readers probably won’t be interested in this post… (sorry) but I’m posting anyway for some family friends I’d like to show my weekend projects to.
Let me just say, I LOVE one day projects that cost more in personal labor than dollars, and this weekend I tackled two!
SATURDAY’S MISSION: Restore life and beauty to the backyard flower garden!
I cut out this little corner a few years ago and every year I love to do the flowers. It’s kind of a gift to my wife for her view out the kitchen window. In a few weeks it will be overflowing with flowers! Cool thing is, it started to pour rain just as I finished. I also jazzed up the front yard a bit with flowers hanging in our swing, in a pots by the driveway (both ends) and added some stepping stones. Fun!
SUNDAY’S MISSION: (after church, of course!) Create a Play Park in the backyard for my little Luke! He went with us to the stores after church and then I was able to create the whole thing during his nap! (Luckily, he slept three hours!)
Can’t wait to enjoy some lemonade while watching him play outside. Some friends gave us the used boat sandbox and the rocket ship we got at a garage sale for $10 last summer (!), but storing them in the backyard killed the grass and the corner was looking pretty sad with weeds and dead grass patches. (The tree was a gift last year from mom and dad, but I put some mulch and concrete rabbits at the base.) I know, TMI!
But when Luke woke up from his nap, it was fun to say, “I have a surprise for you… Daddy made you a park during your nap.” We have named it “Luke’s Park” and he took to it right away!
So, after 3 flats of flowers, 1 hanging plant, 2 potted plants, 32 bricks, 6 bags of cedar mulch, 8 bags of red mulch, 10 bags of white play sand and 6 bags of white stone (under deck stairs, not shown) and one 16″x16″ flat brick later (for under the garden hose holder)… we have a beautiful flower garden and a backyard park for Luke. Whew! I’ll sleep deeply tonight. Hope I can get out of the bed tomorrow!
June 6, 2008 at 1:52 pm · Filed under Children's Ministry, DiscipleLand, Discipleship
Jump over to DiscipleBlog.com where I posted a thought provoking article on what I am calling the Bibleless Trend in Children’s Ministry. I am certain if you teach children the Bible you will find it just might give you pause for consideration – or encourage you if you are not part of this rapidly growing trend that has rendered thousands of evangelical children’s ministries void of actual Bibles in children’s ministry!
Let me know our thoughts there on at this post. Go there now.
There is a great discussion on the post on Kidology.org Join the discussion!
June 5, 2008 at 2:26 pm · Filed under Adventures, Children's Ministry, Conferences, Photography, Spiritual Growth, Yosemite
(Reprinted from Yosemite Summit for my blog readers)
- Don’t miss the video at the end, and click any picture for a larger view.
It’s hard to believe the Yosemite Summit 2008 is over. It’s been several weeks, but it still feels like a part of me is still there in the Sierra Nevada. It’s been fun sorting through the 5000+ pictures we took and reliving the fun memories. Not only the incredible PLACE we were, but the awesome friendships that were formed and will continue to grow in the years ahead.
It was an amazing time together and God did some incredible work in our lives. For me, my soul comes alive in this place and I finally feel truly free. We started our first day watching the sun rise at Glacier Point. The views are simply spectacular!
It was a time to leave the busyness and noise of normal life behind and just listen to God. There were times we could just sit and soak our souls in the presence of God as well as walking with Him on the incredible hikes.
There is just something powerful about reading God’s Word and praying when you are in a place where His handiwork is so much on display. The rocks indeed did cry out – God is real, and God is here.
The hikes themselves were indescribable. The first day we did a solitude hike (each separated by about five minutes so we could hike alone with God) and then on the second day we did the Panoama Trail which took us on an incredible hike around the rim of the valley, through many types of landscape and ended with the Mist Trail which goes to the top and then down the side of two thundering waterfalls. In the picture below we are near the starting point and in the background you can see the waterfall we would be at some seven hours later!
By the third day we did some easier hikes that had incredible views of the valley, some with a few straight down of seveal thousand feet! Below is one of the few railings due to the incredible drop straight down over 3500 feet!
The hikes were challenging – but the views breathtaking and like nowhere else on this continent. Not only can you not believe what you are seeing is real, but when you are hiking, you can’t believe “I’ll be there in a few hours” or “I was there yesterday?” We hiked through areas that at times looked like Narnia in winter – under the shadow of huge trees walking on several feet of snow while at other times we were out on barren rock checking out lizards. The scenery and climate changed constantly. We’d be hot and enjoying cold water to cool off, and later getting drenched from the mist of a raging waterfall. Like I often say, “This is the place God just showed off.”
I have been to MANY National Parks and NONE have the views and variety and splendor of Yosemite. I’ve often said the Grand Canyon is a yawner if you’ve been to Yosemite. We ran into some guys who were at the Grand Canyon just two days before (doing a cross country hiking trip) and they said Yosemite outdid anything they had seen at the Grand Canyon. They were in awe and said Yosemite far exceeded even their high expectations!
Yosemite is a photographers heaven. My wife was a little worried that I’d fall off a cliff in pursuit of a great picture and end up in real heaven. So I told her any time I saw an awesome, but dangerous, photo opportunity, my motto would be WWSS. (What Would Sara Say?) That motto cost me many potentially incredible shots… but also brought me home alive.
I have been dreaming of doing some of the serious hikes at Yosemite since I was a boy. Coming on this trip, and bringing a group of fellow children’s pastors with me was a dream come true. At one point I asked Yosemite had lived up to my grand descriptions of Yosemite before we arrived – and they all said no. One guy said, “You didn’t do Yosemite justice. You can’t begin to describe this place.”
There were people there from all over the world. (I was surprised there weren’t more Americans – or are we too used to having entertainment pumped into our homes?) I don’t know how anyone comes to this place and doesn’t leave with an awed sense of having been in the presence of the Creator. Everything here points to one thing: GOD.
I still have a lot of photo and video editing to do to create the “official” highlight video, but I decided to give you a small taste of what Yosemite Summit was like. It was truly a time of experiencing God in a place where his creative power is on full display and where his Voice is more easily heard. Men, as you watch this video, whisper a quiet prayer asking God if He is calling you to join us next year for Yosemite Summit 2009.
I just booked the lodge for 2009 and updated YosemiteSummit.org with next years dates!
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