The New Biz

For countless years now I have loved wood working and for even longer I have loved the outdoors. Because of these two passions of mine, I am pumped to announce my first ever business start-up (except for selling baseball cards and pogs to the neighbor kids). I have decided to call it, Adventure Indoors Log Furniture. Initially this will just be a part time endeavor and my goal is to maintain at least 2 projects a week.

In the shop!

If you are interested in the "rustic and outdoorsy" kind of theme than let me know, I would love to make something for you. Or if you know somebody that does, I would be grateful if you would spread the word!

I specialize in log furniture but also am trying to develop a reclaimed barn wood product line. I have a few pics of what I have made below, if you have any questions than just holler. I make just about any household furniture and can match about any budget you might have. I apologize for some of the pics being a bit cruddy. A website will be out shortly, with better pics!

Hat/coat racks

Fishing pole or gun/bow racks

Desks

End tables/night stands

End table with 'barked' legs

Log Beds

Barn wood headboards

Sofa tables/entry way tables

Glass coffee tables/display cases

Coffee table with glass top

Standard Coffe table

Goat, Guns, Fishing & Friends...

Does it get any better than that? Here are a few pics of some of my friends and I enjoying a Sunday afternoon in Peabody, Kansas (middle of no where Kansas--sorry Jim!). This has surely been one of the highlights of the summer. The guys pictured below are my buddies from Saudi Arabia... I enjoy taking friends such as these to new places and to try new things. Many of them had never shot guns or been fishing before. One buddy of mine was ecstatic when he caught a 6 pound catfish! My American friends and I also thought it would be cool to give them "a little taste of home". Goat is a staple food in the Middle East, so we decided to find a live goat and cook it up over a camp fire (it wasn't alive when we cooked it)! We had a blast. Check out the pics!

Trip To Seattle!

Indo Cafe. Can you feel the excitement? Probably not... but that is OK. This was my first Indonesian meal in 3 months. Although it took a while to get used to the massive servings of rice and everything being fried, I did eventually grow fond of fine Indonesian cuisine during my 14 months in Indonesia. Can you see the delight in our faces? If you look close enough into our eyes you can hear Caleb saying, "get this camera out of my face... IT'S GO TIME!" I am saying, ahhhhhhhhh are you kidding me? Can we stay for dinner too? Well, we didn't stay for dinner but it was for sure an unforgettable experience and one of the highlights since I have been home.

This is my favorite Indonesian dish called soto. It is basically the equivalent of Campbell's chicken and rice soup. I ate it at least 4 times a week. Caleb is about to eat some nasi goreng, aka fried rice.

This is a shout out to one of my best friends in Indonesia. We bonded many a times over a nice dish of Soto.

Pak Girindra: Pasti waktu saya makan soto ini saya ingat Bapak dan merinduhkan bapak juga. Terima Kasih banyak sudah menjadi teman akrab saya yang suka soto juga!!! Saya tidak pernah akan melupakan pengalaman kita di Madiun.... khususnya waktu kita makan soto setiap minggu!!!

This is the whole crew. Joe and Kelley actually got to come to Indonesia last summer to visit. So of course they are diggin the food too!!!!!!!!!!

This dish is pretty darn tasty too. It is chicken strips drizzled in a peanut butter sauce!

The first ever Starbucks! Pretty cool. There were actually several in Indonesia!

hmmm.... I wander if he could use a sidekick? I am a pretty mean hoola hooper!

Sweet memories.

Just a few weeks ago I was out doing some rat hunting at my grandparents farm. There have been many things since being back home these last three months that have caused me to deeply miss Indonesia. Killing these rats, believe it or not, has been one of those things. This may be hard to believe and you may think I am a bit unusual but some of my fondest childhood memories were of killing rats on my grandparents farm. So you can imagine how excited I was when I killed this porker pictured below while in Indonesia. Some people fear and shriek in terror at the sight of these things. Not me. I run with excitement for the nearest weapon. The three I'm holding look like wee little babies compared to the big momma.

Trip to Colorado!

I just got back from a trip to Colorado with Mike and Caleb (We lived in Indo together)! Whether I'm in Indonesia or the U.S. I love the outdoors! Below are a few shots from our adventures in Colorado. It was a great time of being refreshed and encouraged as we shared many stories and wonderful experiences together from our time in Indonesia. I love these guys and I love the fact that we will always look back on our season of life in Indonesia with great joy!

Not too many of these driving around Indonesia!

We stayed in this cabin for a night.... no running water and we had to use an out house! I love it!

I can see Indonesia from up here!

My boys.... minus Jordan! We miss you man!

This is me pulling myself up to the summit. Man, what a hard climb!

Back home baby!!!!!!!

Just a few weeks ago I arrived back on American soil after almost 14 months in Indonesia. As I walked off the plane I was welcomed home by my parents and two of my best friends waving me in with American flags. I was exhausted from the travel and though it was hard to leave Indonesia, I couldn't have been more excited to see my family again. The goodbyes in Indonesia were tougher than anticipated but my heart was filled with joy in knowing God had given me some amazing friendships. I experienced so much in the time I had and I believe that my life will never be the same. I have learned that in this life we need to do difficult things, things that cause us to lean on God more than we ever thought possible. It is then, and only then that we will realize our true need for God. I have seen that when we trust in Him and not ourselves, He will never do us wrong and will always make our paths straight.

Mike, Jimmy, Me, Amy, Caleb!

Back with my bros. Man I love these guys! From left to right: Marc, Matt, me!

This is my family on Christmas morning. We are eating my mom's special casserole, bubble bread.... and no rice, ahhhh it is good to be home!

Here is me wearing my favorite Christmas gift! This is the best long underwear money can buy! After a year in the torturous heat of Indonesia, 20 degrees F feels a bit more like Antarctica. This was just before a long winters nap!!!!!!!!!!!

14 months of riding a motorcyle, eating foreign food, hiking mountains and using Indonesian public transportation I have realized that I was safer in Indonesia. Just two weeks after being home I've already had my first Emergency Room visit. A few days ago I decided to get out my snowboard and dust it off for the first time in 2 years. A combination of being a bit rusty and wanting to impress my little brother led to disaster. I nearly cryed after slamming my sholder into the ground from giong off a jump a bit too fast. Fortunately it was just a bad bruise and nothing had to be reset!

My new home!!!

As you all now, I am living in a new part of Indonesia. I moved from my home town about a month ago in search of new adventure! Though the decision was difficult to make in deciding to leave East Java, I had to follow my heart's desire to get more exposure to business here in Indonesia. So far I have had an incredible time and have learned a lot.

Basically, I have been helping with a business that does multiple things. The part that I am involved with is an Island resort. Guests that come out have to take a traditional Malayu boat called a "pancung" for 1.5 hours to reach the resort which is located on one of thousands of Islands on the western side of Sumatra. Some of the photos below are from one of the "ethno-tours" that I helped with. For an ethno-tour we actually take the guests into the villages located close to the resort. They are then able to be immersed in the local Riau Melayu culture and also help with community development projects. The scenery around the resort is pretty unbelievable!

An evening shot of the resort.

The is a shot of the resort from a boat. The closest village is about a 15 minute boat ride. The resort also includes 14 acres of beach front and jungle.

The following shots are from a local village on an "ethno-tour" that I helped with.

This is us as we are about to leave the village. The village people are usually very welcoming of guests, as many of them have never seen white people before! Several trips to local villages within the last few weeks has allowed for some great opportunities to learn culture, share my life and help with service projects.