Wow.

Hi ya'll it's been awhile. Sorry about that. Been busy. Last semester I took Pro Photo @ Pickens Technical college. pretty cool stuff. I start back up on the 7th. God's been good. My friends are back from college, so life's good at the moment. I'm going skiing tomorrow with some family from out of town. should be fun. I got a pass to A-basin this season. Yeah, it's dope. (hehe, I've been wanting to say that). So this'll be my 6th time up this season. I've got be up at 5 tommorrow morning so I probly should get to sleep, or at least go get my stuff together! But it's fun listening to music and writing, remembering all the good times I've had with y'all. Ya know, God is TRULY good. I've got so much to be thankful for. All the good times. For some reason I enjoy looking backwards at my life more than I do forward now. Kind of funny, since it used to be vica versa. ohwell, I guess that's part of the enchilada platter of life. Can't have it a la carte. Nope you gotta get the black beans and rice too. (ok not sure where this is going). Anyhooo... Christmas was great as always. Food, Family, and presents–it just doesn't get much better. Keep praying for me. Oh yeah and Daniel Sloan made it home safe, so yay! He's home with his family now in Texas. Well, now I've really got to get to work, I guess I'll talk to you later, hopefully sooner than July. Keep on keeping on, eat those black beans and rice, and don't get burned on the plate–it's hot.

-AG

Photos Up!

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=17608&l=f0bbd&id=671640929

Enjoy!

title here

Well I don't have time to write much. I've got to go to work in about an hour. Two weekends ago My dad and I went backpacking in the Lost Creek Wilderness, Colorado. That trip was awesome. Lost Creek is my new favorite wilderness. Wildflowers were going crazy, they were all over the place. There were whole hillsides of wild raspberries, and wild strawberry patches abounded. It was awesome just reaching down and grabbing a trail-side nibble. Fishing was poor, but that was more b/c of the weather than anything. The rain made the river swell up and get muddy. To make a long story short, it was awesome! We liked it so much that we were going to go back the last weekend, but, as it turned out, after we drove up there, when were at the trailhead, I came down with the stomach flu. So, when it didn't pass in a few hours, we went home. That stunk big time. Dad kept reminding me that God was in control. I know that's true, but it still stunk. So anyway I was over the bug in 24 hours, which was nice. So maybe I can get some more backpacking in this fall, we'll see. Well, g2g. I start school at Pickens tomorrow @ 7 AM. Well. Lata! I'll get new pics up soon.

blahg!

Ahh! I haven't had a chance to write anything lately. I've been working a lot. This week i'm working just over 40 hours. Good news though, Vacation is close. I'll be going backpacking next week, the week after that, and the week after that. 3, 4, and 4 days a time, respectively. Anyway keep praying for me, I need to get to sleep b/c I open at work tomorrow. Be prayin especially that I would be completely committed to giving up the things of this world to follow Christ entirely. Music has a unnatural hold on me. I can't see how some music is bad, but my parents say no, so when I listen to it that automatically makes it bad. It may not have a rebellious spirit, but yet I'm rebellious to listen to it, right? I know it's kind of sad but that is the single biggest reason why I would want to move out of my parents house. B/c of something stupid like music. grr. And is it ok to "like" the music, even if I don't listen to it? I'm inclined to say yes. However when it becomes something I can't obey my parents about, something is wrong I should think. So that's the biggest thing I've been struggling with lately. I've been struggling with it since way back in the day. It seems so innocent at times, but when I think that I'm going to be standing before The All-knowing Holy God of the Universe one day, I know I'll be ashamed. I can't talk myself out. Wow I've been writing for longer than I planned. now I've really got to get to sleep. later.


-AG

If only life were like TiVo...

Ah Yes, that would be sweet... Put life on pause, get the DP and Beer Nuts, have some fun, and press play. But no, it's always in turbo mode. It stinks but ohwell. Anyway I said I'd have some stories and I do... but it's kinda late and I'm kinda tired, so they'll have to wait. I've been really busy lately. So I haven't had time to write anything inspirational. It'll happen eventually. I posted pictures here. I will say that it was awesome again. The sunsets are beautiful. Alrighty. Nighty-nite.

Speechless

Well I got home from Boundary Waters. I've got so much to share, I can't really write it all. I'm kind of tired now, and I've got over 5 GB of photos to back up, sort through, convert to JPEG, and store. So I won't write much, I'll just say that I had a great time, and saw a new and amazing part of God's awesome creation. Missed y'all. I'm not sure why, but I'm in a slow Switchfoot music mood right now–reflective and pumped. I usually don't think to much of Switchfoot, but for some reason it just fits now. Anyway. I'll share more words and pics later. Boy, I could wax poetic talking about Boundary Waters (not just b/c I'm listening to Switchfoot either:-) Lata all.
keep prayin. God is good. I've got stories about that too. Just stay tuned.


-AG

Vacation!

Well, I'll be going on vacation in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. It's going to be sweet. Thank the Lord I've been able to get almost all the camera equipment together that I wanted. I posted pics of my new case with all my equipment on my public facebook gallery. So take a look. I'm pumped. It's gonna be OFF THE CHAIN. wow that's even fun to type. Anyway, I'll hopefully have lots of amazing pics and stories to share with y'all. I leave tomorrow, and I have to pack tonight. So I apologize to all the people that I'm missing their graduation parties. And I'm bummed I'm missing camp. But such is life. Lata all. Pray for me spiritually and physically.


-AG

hay is for horses

I know that I haven't posted in a long time, and I told a lot of people I would. So here goes. I don't have time to say everything, so I'll just share an brief update and then a email I sent to Mr. Tom Needham.

First of all, I saw a goldfinch in my front yard, actually a pair! The best part–I got pics! To see them go to this page. um. what else... oh yeah, I stink at bowling. uh, there's gotta be more but I'm tired. so g'night! I covet your prayers.


Now the letter, which, should adequately express to all what God has been doing in my life in a particular area. I could write a novel of Homer's proportions and still say nothing of what I feel. Excitement about what God has for me, bummed-outness that all my friends are going off to college, and on and on and on. here it is:

Dear Mr. Needham,

I wanted to thank you again for speaking on Sunday night. I’ve got a lot to tell you about what God has laid on my heart. First of all, I know I’ve been called to missions, and I’m pretty sure God wants me in west Africa (I hope Cameroon). My desire is to be used of God, however that might be. I just see God’s working in my life in so many ways that would help with missions (specifically in Cameroon), I can’t see that He doesn’t want me in Cameroon. I want to be serving in Cameroon, and I think God has given me that desire. God has made it pretty clear to me that I’m not going to be in Cameroon this summer, though.

I’d like to tell you about myself and how I could be of service, so that maybe you can understand why I’m so excited. I love photography, and I’m an aspiring “pro” photographer. God’s blessed me with a pretty nice set up. Okay, this is my “dream”. That’s all I can call it. Just keep in mind that all I want to do is Glorify God with my life. Okay, here it is:

I want have a photography business set up by the time I go to Cameroon. I’m working on this right now. I can’t think of anything better than combining my two passions–Jesus Christ and photography–into one. From my ever-changing viewpoint of my life, it just doesn’t get any better than that! I’m not very good at getting my thoughts down on paper, which is something I’m working on, but I hope I can explain everything so that you can understand my excitement. I’d like to be a self-supporting, or near-self-supporting missionary to Cameroon. I’d take the pictures, send them back to the states and sell them. It sounds so naive when I write it down, but I really think it could work. Only God can make it happen though. From what I hear and see of Cameroon, there’s plenty to take pictures of. The hard part would be selling them. I’m working on that though.

I just decided about a week ago that I’m not graduating from high school this semester. I’m going to stay in for another year as I don’t have the funds to go to BJU, where I’d want to go. Also, I get to stay in the Youth group if I stay in High School, which is awesome. The biggest factor in my decision though, was that I can get some classes at a local community college paid for by the school district. So next year I’ll be finishing up my normal high school education and taking Professional Photography and French. This time next year I’ll be a certified pro photographer, and have the basics of French, Lord willing. Can you see how this is all so perfect for Cameroon? I don’t even have to tell you about the Achu’s and how it’s too perfect for it to be coincidence that they’re my neighbors. They and others that I’ve met at their parties have offered to help me in Pigeon and French! How perfect is that!!!

I honestly don’t know how I’d get to Cameroon, but that’s what faith is all about right? I’m currently saving money for college, or for startup costs for missions, whichever comes first. I also play the mandolin. I’m fairly good, and God has blessed me with, in my opinions, one of the finest instruments in the world. My parents bought it for me a few years ago. I used to be a better mandolin player, but during the summer of 2006 I smashed my hand to pieces, and it hasn’t really been the same since. Looking back I’m still not sure why God allowed that, but I can see that I’ve grown closer to Him. Sometimes I think it was God just saying, “Hey, give Me the glory for the talent I’ve given you.” Honestly, I didn’t know what I had until I lost it. I know that sounds conceited, but it’s true. I never knew what it was like to be frustrated because I couldn’t play something. I could literally play anything, with relatively little practice. Now, my brain still knows what to do, but my hand won’t do it. It’s aggravating and discouraging. It seems to direct me to God even more, in an indirect sort of way. Like he’s saying, “No, you can’t do anything without me.” Anyway, that’s really another story that I’ll hopefully get to share with you on the mission field.
Also, you should probably know that, as a general rule, I LOVE bushwhacking. I’m a pretty outdoorsy guy. I don’t know why but ever since I first started thinking of missions, I’ve always wanted to be the one who hikes into the remote villages and, in particular, builds the runways for the planes. I’m ready to chop, plow, hike, build, or do anything over there! I know it sounds like I think it’s all a bed of roses, being a missionary, but I know it can’t be. I have just seen far greater blessings than anything else. I figure I’ll cross the bad bridges when I get to them.
One thing that keeps on hitting me hard is that I really want to go oversees as a missionary, but I’m not doing my job adequately here at home as a Christian. It seems like it would be easier as an oversees missionary, just because it’s a different culture, but when I think about that I realize that I’m kind of chickening out in a kind of ironic way. I hope that made sense. Anyway, please pray for me. Thank you for everything! I’ll be praying for you and your family!


-AG

happyness

I got my business cards in tha mail today! yay!

Of late...

Well, I know it’s been a while since I've posted, so here goes. I went skiing w/ Colton Clingerman on Friday and Saturday. That was pretty sweet. We spent the night in Frisco Colorado Thursday night and Friday night, It sure was nice coming back to the hotel after skiing and having a hot tub to soak in. Awesome would really be a better word than nice. The skiing itself was awesome too. Friday was a nice 20-25 degrees. Perfect skiing temperature for my liking. Saturday on the other hand, was about 40 degrees from 10:30 on. That was too hot. There was not a cloud in the sky. I still had a blast though. I was so glad I was even able to go! Even with the sun shining so long, there was still about 2-3 feet of powder up at the top and in the trees. Colton and I kind of split up on the second day, b/c I wanted to ride on powder and steeps and mild moguls, I think he just wanted to go really really fast down the blues. I think we both got to do what we wanted. I spent probably 2.5 hrs. by myself blazing trails in the trees through unadulterated powder. I was awesome, to say the least. I was getting pretty hot at one of the steeper parts though, so I stopped and lay down in the snow and took off my hat too cool off. I really got to take in the views. And it was quite, I know I couldn't have been more than .5 mile from the nearest person, but it seemed like I was totally alone, except for God. When I'm up in the mountains like that, taking in the surroundings, I just can't help but wonder how people can be so blind as to not see that an Almighty, omnipresent, loving God created all of it. Why choose to believe its chance? It's funny, when I'm hunting or skiing or doing anything away from the city, taking in the landscape before me, I often find myself praising God for picking such perfect color schemes for the world. Seems silly, it kind of is, since he created everything. But isn't it awesome!? HE WHO CREATED THE UNIVERSE, for his glory, took interest in me and the human race, Hallelujah! He didn't die on that cross to redeem Lucifer and his fallen angels. He could have, but didn't. The God of the universe, all-powerful, humbled himself in the form of a human, His own received him not. HE was broken. He was put through unimaginable pain and embarrassment, for me. His blood, in which in the life, covered my sins before The Father. BUT THAT'S NOT ALL! My GOD is still alive, indeed, he lives! Otherwise what good would his death have been to cover my sins before a god who died at the hands of mortals? NO, he died and ROSE FROM THE GRAVE, and ascended into heaven. I could go on forever. Suffice it to say, My God in so BIG! There's nothing he can't do. As I'm writing my thoughts are skipping, I can't focus on all of God at once. I can relate to the psalmist David now, when he said how untouchable are the thoughts of God, It comes out of me in a blender of frustration, confusion, and awe. I wanted to say more, but my time is gone, gotta go. Cya.

here's some pictures I took (except for the one of me, which my dad took) in the Cross Creek Valley, Holy Cross Wilderness, White River Nat'l Forest, Colorado, in 2005.


Buffalo Lake

My (at the time) new real

Me

My dad and I

Backside of Mt. of the Holy Cross.

Texas 2007

Well, it's been almost a week now that I've been back from Texas. It was kind of a last minute deal, found the cheap(er) tickets and made the decisions to go. But like I said, I'm back. It was great fun. Only went for 8 days though, b/c of school and work. It was so gorgeous down there, everything was blooming. I got some great shots. We didn't do anything really crazy or random this trip, though we tried. We just couldn't think of anything cheap, legal, and OK with the parents, or legal. What we did though do, you guessed it, was play xbox. Really that's one of the few ways this trip was similar to the past trips. Past trips, for the most part, we had girls (last year excepted), music and Sophie (John's truck), and alot of money to burn. Well, this trip we had Katie. Just kidding (it's an inside thing). Anyway we didn't have Sophie except the last two or three days, b/c it had no insurance, and John didn't want to get it too dirty since he's selling it. That was, in fact, a blessing. I didn't have enough money to feed her. We drove his parents Saturn around instead, nice and cheap. So no Sophie. The Saturn had no CD player or radio, though. So basically no music. And I think I spent maybe a grand total of $200 with a really nice paintball setup. Not bad compared to the $400 or so I've always spent before.

We have God in our lives, that's enough. Not having those other things left us to search for original ways to have fun. (remember: sorta safe, legal, and ok with the Sloans). What we did do though was as fun as anything we've ever done before. We paintballed. We paintballed alot. we both got some pretty nice setups for paintballing. So we paintballed each other a bunch, then paintballed some other people. Then paintballed man-eating Nutria. We went out in his boat on Gilmer Lake. I had my camera (and of course my paintball gun). I got some great shot of pelicans thanks to John, who pretty much went wherever I pointed. It was on that lake that I saw, or thought I saw... Loch Ness! It was all right, the stench of moldy rotten wood and weeds. The murky water, the boat running onto a log... And then–Movement, bubbles beside our boat–we gunned it over the log, and it followed... bubbles, followed by glimpse of some foreboding creature, swimming right along side of us, just beneath the surface. I had my paintball gun at my shoulder, ready, waiting for the elusive legend to reveal itself. Suddenly, I was back to my childhood, in a nightmare were rats were all around, my life seemed to pass by me in a flurry until suddenly I heard John retort, "There it is!". Before I could decide whether to jump overboard or unload my paintball gun on it, I saw it too–a nutria! Sure enough, that was Nessy. Now, there may have been a few stretched points in that story, but I felt it was my duty to you as the reader to make it exiting. Anyway. That's all it was. So we went on our way. When we had gotten as far up the channel as we could, John stopped to relieve himself of a burden(there was a jetty of land we stepped onto . I took the opportunity to do some target practice. John did the same with the bb gun. When we had used up all our ammo, we turned around and went back out. About halfway out of the creepy channel we were in, John spotted a whole nest of our monsters. I took lots of pics, as we were both thinking they were beaver at they point. When we reached them, we realized that they were nutria. Knowing that these animals are a bane to the local ecology, we made up our mind to be their terminal bane (dat means we was gonna kill 'em). But we had used all of our ammo. So John grabbed the oar. I talked him out of bludgeoning the creature, but he had some fun pushing on a little baby. It sounded like a squeaky toy! lol. But then, out of the enclosing fog, rushed the creature, screaming threats and warnings. It charged us with bared teeth. John rushed into the boat and gunned it. But he was too slow. Before I knew it we were soaked. It had flipped the boat. I had landed about 40 feet away. John however, wasn't so fortunate, he had gotten thrown into a tree. The Nutrias rushed in-Wait a minute, maybe this is a little to much of a disclosure of my graphic imagination to disclose to you. Entertainment isn't worth it. What really happened is: the animal did charge us, but we made it out ok. Our resolve to rid the lake of this family of pest had not deteriorated so fast as our courage in the face of man-eating-nutria.
So we went to town and got a bow fishing arrow (John's idea). We didn't want to attract to much attention with noise b/c there was a house about 200 yards away, and you know how noise travels on water. We went back out that night at about 10 o'clock PM. I made sure I had a spare hopper of paintballs. We did rock paper scissors for who would get the first shot with the bow. He won. Fine with me. I wanted to paintball them. We found the nest again ok. and they weren't wise to us yet. We counted to three, on which number I would turn on the million candlepower spotlight, hit my tac-lite that was taped to the barrel, and john would loose the arrow. After he how fired and the arrow had bounced of I lit the nutria up with about 10 rounds. She didn't know what happened. So we did the same scenario a few more times until we lost the arrow. Then we took turn paintballing the animals. I spotted one out of the corner of my eye and immediately opened fire on it. After firing a 9 or 10 round burst, I stopped. It was just floating there. When I saw this my only sentiment was, "dude, I think I killed it". it twitched. I opened repressive fire as john got the boat closer. When the water settled. There it was. A baby Nessy, a.k.a. Nutria. I got a trophy shot shown below. So that just about ended the night. It was late. Anyway.

Funny thing, one of my co-workers told me (when discussing an unrelated story) that doing stuff like that in younger years is sign of a serial killer to be. And then I looked at my file at work and on the Orion personality test, it said I was a mild risk for drug abuse. Hmmm. lol. After reading the above story your probably thinking, "this guy is so weird." Yeah, that about hits it on the head.

cya.





Nutria

John's Cat, Daisy.


Sophie, John and Andy on Gilmer Square.

Trophy Shot

18

Well, I'm eighteen now. birthday was on Saturday. It feels...the same. But Saturday was pretty sweet though. I had to work from 9:30 to 2, but I got off early to go out to lunch with my parents. Then my dad took me to Gander Mountain. From there we went home. Well, I walked in to the kitchen with my back turned to the den. As I was setting the bag of stuff down, I heard this huge loud "surprise" . I must've jump a foot in the air while simultaneously turning around. Half the youth group wasin my den! Wow. The party went on until about 6:30. great fun! First birthday party I've had in about 7 years I think. first suprise party ever. Anyway. Thanks to everone out there who came! I'll be drinking starbucks forever now!!!! lata, gtgo do school.

Super Cool Bike

Hey good news! Jesus Saves!!!! More good news though; My dad's (mine mine mine) motorbike is running! I spent alot of time rebuilding the carburetors and I fixed a few things that could've been causing the bad performance it had. (A clogged jet on the secondary carb, replaced the float needles, found some REALLY damaged o-rings, replaced the choke plunger). So, after taking a long side trail when the oil plug hole stripped out, we filled it with oil, put some new gas in it, and it started on the first kick. hahahahahahaha!!!!!!. My dad took it around the block a few times , and he said that it was way way way better than it was, but still had some problems. But, we both figured that adjusting the air screw and the linkage in between the carbs should prove effective, b/c we had messed them all up before trying to get it to run right.
So he's going on a business trip so while he's gone I'll get everything set to factory specs while he's gone. I'm also gonna get some engine cleaner and clean the engine, it's all covered it oil. I posted a picture of the bike all put together. Only thing missing are two little plastic side panels, and a smash panel.

More good news!!!(Isn't God good?) I got my own skis!!! yep they're some 2005 Solomon Scrambler 7's . with bindings. Got a good deal. no boots though, felt I should wait on those. So I'll continue renting for a while(after all I have a rental 4 pack)

the bike is a 1984 Honda XL 600R

keep praying for me. ttfn.

More snow stuff.

Well, I finally got to go snowboarding with all the snow we have. It's melted a lot, so we barely had enough but it was sweet. Colton Clingerman brought his board(s) over, so we went over to a nearby hill and built a jump. I'm not feeling so hot right now so I'll just let you look at the videos. I'll probably get more from Colton's camera at a later date, probably monday .
Next big snowstorm we're doing this again.

I was so close to nailing that 180º. I actually did land it, although rough, on the next run (which of course I have no video of).


This is Colton, he landed pretty much every jump but didn't try anything crazy.

belated post

only


Hey I realized I hadn't posted in a while so here goes.

I went to this youth activity the other day, it was a giant snowball fight and snowman making contest. It may sound silly, but it honestly was alot of fun. here's a pic of us with our winning snowman.



My photography web page is getting up to speed, slowly. I was just going through some old pictures from last summer of when I climbed Mount Missouri (14er) with a couple friend. I found this picture and decided that it was web-worthy. I took this as the nasty noon weather
was rolling in. The thunder sounds like nothing else in the world when the lightning strikes only a couple hundred yards ahead above you, and then the sounds rumble and retort with fury off the crags on the other side of the 3000 ft. valley. Oh I want to get back up there so bad. It's funny how by mid summer, I want to b skiing and by mid winter I want to be mountaineering and backpacking.




I guess that's pretty much it. I'm going out to lunch here pretty soon to Macoroni Grill for my dad's birthday, so that should be cool. Well, later. pray that I'd be in the Word daily. ttfn.

I'm back, and I've got photos!

Hey I'm back! Got some photos for y'all. Not much going on in my life, just getting further and further behind in school. I'm going skiing on the 3rd. We're still shoveling snow here. Ice too. I went out yesterday and today and broke up the ice that was their sidewalk. I'd not kidding, it was 5-6 inches thick in spots. crazy stuff. Anyway, the pics:

Virginia

Well I'm in virginia right now, on a public library computer. The base here is pretty sweet. Lots of big guns. And I mean BIG guns. one of the projectiles on display weighed 3310 lbs. It was taller than me. I'll get pictures up when I get home.I'm leaving in a few minutes to go to historic Williamsburg for a couple days. My sister's house is kinda cute. It's small, but cute. The weather has been awesome. couldn't be better. Well, honestly, I can't think of much more to write about. Kepp praying. My personal time with God seems to suffer on vacation. later

 

 

-AG 

Well I went snowshoeing again on saturday. It was pretty cool. Here's some pics. We didn't really see that much. We did see a great horned owl but I didn't get a picture. sorry. In that picture of the mountains, you can see Mt. Evans is getting hammered with the weather. Pretty neat. Well, g2g pack for my trip to VA, cya!



-AG