http://stevievan.com thoughts about faith, life, and other things Tue, 23 Sep 2008 22:11:26 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Her name means love, and that’s what she is the love of my life. Her touch brings life and rhythm to my soul: the love of my life. She shows her strength in the joy of our kids the love of my life. Our home is the refuge I long to enjoy the love of my life. Her ... http://stevievan.com/2008/09/23/ode-to-my-babe/ …Alaska’s flag, what it means to you…” That is what I remember of the opening line of the pledge to the Alaskan flag. I lived there from 1973 until I left for college in 1983. My folks left Anchorage in 1991, and my sister in 1995. As most ... http://stevievan.com/2008/08/30/8-stars-of-gold-on-a-field-of-blue/ This week was a shocker and a sleeper. The shocker was my admin, Melissa, has taken another job w/in BGEA at the Billy Graham Library. It’s a promotion for her, and I’m glad that she is able to move up in the organization. The library is getting a ... http://stevievan.com/2008/08/01/week-of-july-24-thru-august-1/ Yesterday, my in-laws said goodbye to their cat of 16 years: Sonny Boy. He was a Himalayan cat w/ sass and attitude. Over the last years, his life became a series of spit up, late night whining, and a bladder that couldn’t hold its water. He ... http://stevievan.com/2008/07/24/ode-to-sonny-boy/ Well, what a week. Arrive home safe and sound from Romania on Saturday, July 12; waited for my luggage for 1.5 hours. Nothing better to do when you want to get home….at least I didn’t have a connection in Charlotte. Came back to work and hit the ... http://stevievan.com/2008/07/20/reflections-on-july-14-18/ I have cleared my comments awaiting moderation, thanks to Nick Ciske. Nick, you rock. Thank you Askimet. My dad and the family are doing well. thanks to everyone for your prayers. We know that God is with us. http://stevievan.com/2008/05/18/thank-you-nick/ To all who have emailed and responded to me in the homegoing of my mom, thank you…. You’re words and letters have meant much to me and my family. It’s hard to sum up my mom’s life; I wish you all could have known her. We tried to share ... http://stevievan.com/2008/05/10/thank-you-for-your-prayers/ Today, my mom passed away. There, plain, and simple. I have more emotions inside than I care to articulate on the written (or electronic page). But, I also have a strange peace, as I look on my mom’s life, and see that this was all for God’s ... http://stevievan.com/2008/05/05/we-lost-my-mom-today/ Yesterday (Dec 22), I received an email from my birth dad’s brother, who informed me that my biological father is slipping away and slowly dying…. I was adopted at 3 days old, and have been a VanDusen my whole life. Just over 4 years ago, I made contact w/ my ... http://stevievan.com/2007/12/23/my-birth-dad-is-dying/ “on the road again… just can’t wait to get on the road again…” The strains of that old Willie Nelson song beckon me from time to time. I do love traveling: meeting people, going to unique places, enjoying new experiences, seeing my great God at work around ... http://stevievan.com/2007/10/05/traveling-again/