my NEW YEAR 2012 update

With my N-kids (nieces & nephew): Natalie, Tyus, Teresa

For those who may have thought I've fallen off the face of the Earth, this blog letter is to assure you that I am alive and well. My annual New Year letter for 2010 may have been a “no show” and this 2011 letter may be delayed, but there's been good reason. I've been busy with new adventures and a new relationship, and I'll do my best to catch you up on the latest.

First off, the 2010 letter never did get written because I spent the first few weeks of 2011 in Europe, traveling in Italy and Switzerland with Amy, my (yes, it is true) girlfriend. (We are pictured below in Florence.)

Amy and I met while I was finishing up my studies at the Franciscan School of Theology in Berkeley in the spring of 2010. Amy graduated from FST a few years earlier, but attended the Earth Week Celebrations I was overseeing as part of the Green Seminary movement at the school. To say it was love at first sight is probably true – at least for me. Her bringing brownies to our Earth Week potluck didn't hurt either! We went on our first date the day after my graduation in May, and have been seeing each other ever since. We share a common love for nature, a commitment to the environment, and passion for service. We enjoy traveling, used bookstores, and chocolate cake (me, more so than her). We both have a strong connection to our family and the “little people” in our life (though mine are not so little anymore). And while she is not a vegan, I still love her anyway. We began 2011 in Assisi together, and ended the year, beginning 2012 together at a retreat site in Lake County.

With Amy in Burlingame and me still at Redwood Glen, I am often on the road. Though laid off from camp for a year, I re-joined the staff last year, continuing with Guest Services and marketing. I moved from the trailer to Creekside Cabin, and I continue to trek to Berkeley as I continue my life as a student. 

Six weeks after my FST graduation (with family above), I began in the Doctor of Ministry program at the American Baptist Seminary of the West. My area of study is Franciscan Eco-Spirituality with my project being retreat resources to raise ecological consciousness and creation care, based on Francis of Assisi's Canticle of the Creatures. With these growing areas of passion and study, I am looking to learn Italian and make a third pilgrimage to Assisi this new year. I have no plans to rush the D.Min however as I look to a 2015 graduation.

With the G-kids (godkids): Kayla, Brandon, Micah & Tomo

With a new relationship, school, work, and of course, time with my “not so little anymore” people (the N-kids and the G-kids), I do keep busy. However, I continue to run 7 miles 3-4 times a week, maintain regular yoga and core conditioning, and still choose a vegan diet (though chocolate is my big exception).

Though still hunting for the “perfect” chocolate cake and loving Italian-style drinking chocolate, my latest chocolate passion is “hot cacao.” This is a hot chocolate made from ground, roasted cacao beans (see left), which are steeped in hot water, strained, and then served with frothed almond (or soy) milk and a bit of sweetener. I found this new way of drinking chocolate at Bean Street Cafe in downtown San Mateo, one of my favorite places to study.

I continue to blog about my chocolate finds and experiences, though I do not post as regularly as I'd like. You can check out the latest at http://cacao-me.blogspot.com/.  And if you are on Facebook, be sure to check out my “europe via chocolate” photo album featuring my chocolate discoveries a year ago.  I hate to admit it but my favorite find was this chocolate waffle sandwich (above left) in Florence.

Other highlights from 2011:

• kitty-sitting for Amy when she traveled (see me and kitty on the right at home)
• getting to know Amy's family and her little people (she has 3 nephews and 3 nieces, all 4 years and younger) on trips to Champagne, IL., Las Vegas, NV., Pordenone, Italy, and Asilomar, CA. 
• the Jay Family reunion in November with cousins coming in from Hawaii and the East Coast 
• starting compost bins 
• opportunities to speak at churches on the topics of eco-spirituality, creation care, and eco-justice.
• 
  participating in "Kenny's Run" to raise funds for hystiocytosis, a rare childhood cancer.  Kenny is now 11 and healthy.  His family, now living in San Ramon, were members of Sunset Ministry in San Francisco when I was pastor.  (The photo of me running on the left was taken by a local news reporter who covered the event which will hopefully continue in 2012.  Interested in running with me?  Give me a call!)
  

Because I never did get a 2011 letter written,
here are some highlights from 2010:

• traveling to New Zealand and Australia, with my mom accompanying her at the Australian tennis open.  (See me above in Frodo's home at Hobbiton in New Zealand.)
• meeting Amy 
• graduating from FST 
• starting my DMin at ABSW 
• being re-hired at Redwood Glen 
• vacation with my parents and sister's family at Brockway Springs in Tahoe
• moving into a larger house at camp 
• being selected to participate in the National Council of Churches Key Leaders Training 
• eating and drinking all sorts of chocolates!

As 2012 gets underway, I hope you and your loved ones are well. Thank you for your friendship and patience in spite my lack of corresponding diligence.  I do hope to keep in better touch, and at least maintain annual updates on thus blog.  To catch up, you can reach me at Redwood Glen, 100 Wright Drive, Loma Mar, CA 94021; email at me.backpacker@gmail.com, or leave a message on my Google voice number at (650) 762-5153.

I'm always ready to grab some chocolate!