Our House In The Middle of the Street...

Well, take a look. Here it is--the new family fort/base camp/favorite restaurant/trail head/decompression tank...all those things and more. The new House of Locks. Check it out:

211 E Chester, Lafayette, CO, 80026

Pretty exciting, huh? After renting for, well, forever, the Locks Clan has decided unanimously to become home owners. It's partly an equity issue (we want some), but mostly our hand was forced into the decision. (Many of you will remember the earlier tragic post recounting the fateful phone conversation I had with our landlord, Chuck?). All in all, it's for the best, I suppose, and I won't use time here talking about how broken-hearted we are to have to leave our current neighborhood and its amazing community. (See earlier blog entries for that).

The house is actually quite cool. It's a bit larger than our current rental, is mostly solar powered, has lots of storage, and nice little yard with a place for a small garden for Alisa. It was built in 2002, so it's not that old. We probably won't have to replace the timing belt or clutch for a while. It even has an "it'll do" kind of coffee shop a couple of blocks away for Saturday morning 'family pajama breakfasts' or for those times of obligatory peace and quiet for grading papers or writing letters.

One potential drawback is that there are a large number (hard to count accurately, as they move around a lot) of chickens across the street. This could be a good or bad thing, depending on how we spin it. But that's true about much of life, poultry-based or not. It's all in how you look at it, right-side up, or backwards and sideways. That said, we're excited about our new hacienda, and hope you will visit soon. And in case you're wondering: we move on the 27th and, yes, we need help and, yes, we'll reward you with various grillables and beer for your altruistic efforts.

Love to all,
Clint, reporting for The Locks Clan

Update

I know, lame title. What can I say, a lot is going on here so "Update" it is.

I am home from Africa. It was an amazing trip. I traveled with a group of 12 Compassion sponsors to Ghana and Burkina Faso (both in West Africa) and photographed the sponsors meeting their sponsor children. This alone is a emotional ride.

I witnessed families with 8 children living off the father making $4 a month. The "snow" of Burkina Faso (aka Red Dirt) seemed to consume everything. I learned how to carry babies on my back "Africa" style with great fabric and all. Addison is in for some fun. The church parking lots in Burkina look like motor scooter sale lots. I witnessed women with babies on their backs, stacks of items on their heads and small children in front of them riding scooters. All while looking beautiful in traditional dresses. Most of all I discovered West Africa, for me, was as much about the visual as it was the sound. Groups of mothers would meet us at the projects singing and dancing for us. In Ghana, songs were prayers and started all of our days. The local dialects lend themselves to deep penetrating voices and choir like songs lifted up.

Poverty seemed endless but Hope was steady and sure. And with this Hope poverty can have an end. Now that I'm home I keep thinking of 2 Corinthians 4:18 "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."

I missed my family. I am glad to be home. I am thankful for the opportunity to experience a different culture and gain a little different perspective.

If you're interested in finding out more about Compassion International go to the link below. I was once again amazed with the organization.

www.compassion.com

On to other things. We have been sick. We, meaning the girls and I. Clint seems to be made of steel and can not be bothered to get sick. We are also looking for a place to put our things and cook and sleep and play and live. You know, a house. It makes our hearts sad to think we might have to leave Boulder so we are praying for a miracle. We would love to stay close to where we live now. Oh the joys of going into large amounts of debt to own dust. Fun times.

The girls are good and growing and Bri is as funny as always. Last night when a babysitter was here she was singing like a rock star in bed (this in normal for her), when the sitter hears her call out "I'm having a concert!". Of course she is. Maybe we should all try having a concert in bed tonight. I think I'll borrow some animals from Bri to be my audience.

Addi's getting bigger and oh yeah, I'm going to Africa

See what I mean? Bigger.

As for Africa. I leave in a week. What!? Yes, it's true I'm going on a trip with Compassion to Ghana and Burkina Faso to photograph what Compassion is doing there. It will be a wonderful, hard, emotional, crazy trip. If you get the chance throw an e-mail or a call to Clint while I'm gone (the 9th-21st). Also, please pray for a safe time for me and the family.
Bri has been talking about flying with wings on her back like a butterfly the last few months. I've been thinking of this trip as taking a ride on the wings of God. I'm sure He'll surprise me with what He is going to show me and where we'll go.
I've always wanted to go to Africa.

Oh and don't worry Clint is getting help with the girls. Hee/hee.

A nap???

We happen to produce babies who don't sleep during the day. Really. Addison will sleep a total of maybe an hour or a little longer each day. This hour is split up into tiny power naps of 10 to 15 minutes. Bri was the same way. I had to teach Bri how to take naps and she didn't do so until around 11 months and even then it was only one nap of an hour and a half a day.

Right now as I type my house is quiet. I got to take a nap on the couch. I sat down to drink a glass of water. I checked my e-mail all by myself. I might just get time to go to the bathroom all alone. It's amazing! Both of the smallers are asleep. Is this really what other mom's experience? Phenomenal!

I hear Addi...gotta get to the bathroom.

The girls

There's No Business Like Snow Business

Here are a few shots of us in our backyard
after a little snow storm:

Whoop-ee!*

I think we're ready to try out for the US Olympic Luge Team!

Merry Christmas
and a
Happy New Year!!!

from the Locks clan

*Hey...It may not look like much, but it's free entertainment, and quality family time.

Cool Things We Have Gotten for Free That Make Me Think There Is A God

Often, people find their Faith through a series of events that defy explanation to the degree that they say "Fine! OK. There must be Something bigger than luck, coincidence and cool people doing consistently cool things. Now--what is It?" That's when the real journey begins...
Anyway, Alisa and I are pretty sure of our belief in God, but there are sometimes things that remind us that we're probably right. Here are some current examples:

Outdoor gear is expensive. I'm a school teacher in Colorado. 'Nuff said: this is an issue!

exhibit A: I had an old climbing back pack that I'd (ab)used for years. In sympathy, Mark, a friend of mine, told me I should take it to the company (Kelty) and see if they could repair it. I did. They didn't repair it; they offered me a NEW one for relatively free (regular price is over $165.00)! Right on.

exhibit B: Brianna was 'exploring' Alisa's pair of polarized glare-resistant sunglasses. Her exploration led to the violent death of said eyewear. On a lark, she decided to send them in and ask for a replacement. They did it...for free. The glasses were WAY past any reasonable replacement warranty. Sweet.

exhibit C: Inspired by Alisa's industry, I did the same...after stepping on my own pair of technical sunglasses. (Urgghh! Clutz-ball!)I had no hope of the same result. 3 business days later, I got a phone call from the company asking me to choose a new pair. 9 business days later, my new pair arrived in a cushy little box. Almost free. Love 'em.

exhibit D: Alisa needed a new climbing harness, as hers was not really suited for outdoor climbing. My boss at the Boulder Rock Club walked up to me a few days ago and said, "Hey, we got this nice Black Diamond harness (small) as a demo and can't use it. You have any use for it?" Hmmm. Yes, I do...

exhibit E: Pulling up at Copper Mountain Saturday morning (see previous post), I decided it would be a good "husband duty" to clean up Alisa's car a bit. I gathered up all the garbage, then walked over to one of the hundreds of resort trash cans. I dumped the coffee cups, hand warmer and bar wrappers and various kid-refuse. Walking back to the car, it clicked. "What the..?!" I walked back to the trash can and, sure enough, there they were: a totally new pair of ski goggles. Skiing, I fall down...a lot...really hard, so my pair had been worse for the wear for 3 years, having split all the way through the outer plate. Finding a brand-spanking new pair in the trash? You gotta be kidding...

(postscript) A buddy of mine recently gave me, out of the blue, a new ski helmet, goggles, and sunglasses. As it turned out, the helmet didn't fit and the goggles were too small. This is a weird one. It's like God was saying, "I can deliver to you. You spread the love." We're donating all of those items. Spread the love, pay it forward, embrace the beauty of community, right? I think that's what Jesus was talking about all along, anyway.

There's more, but that's enough to make my point. Something bigger than us Who loves us and takes care of us and wants us to take care of each other? A little sentimental, perhaps, but I like the idea.