in case you needed proof

Taken at the beach in Pangasinan, Philippines. This photo leaves little doubt that the princess kicks ass.

My first album of photographs

Sometime in 1971, when i was 6 years old, my family took a trip to the newly opened Disney World. That trip is the first time that I can remember being allowed to use the family camera. I took a photo of the rest of my family posing with dwarfs. After we returned and the film was developed, I excitedly looked for my photo. With a little detective work, it was soon resolved that the photo of everyone's feet was mine. What a disappointment.

For us, cameras usually only came out on special occasions. I can't remember it ever dawning on anyone to take photos of the details of everyday life. Digital cameras have changed that completely. Now, there is nothing so trivial that it doesn't deserve to be documented.

Alexa has been taking and trying to use our cameras and cellphones since she could grab them. Finally, Alexa convinced her mom to let her start taking photos on her own. In just a couple of months, our three year old has developed into a star toddler photographer. She loves taking photos of everything and is learning quickly. When she gets to Denver, we'll probably get her a camera of her own so that she can go crazy.

Here is an album of some of Alexa's first work. The last photo is Alexa planning more shots and directing everyone on where to go. That photo was taken by her mom, the rest are alexa originals.

you are the reason i've been waiting so long

In two weeks from this moment, Maylin, Alexa, and Christopher will be in the air on their way here. I don't know that it will fully sink in until i actually see them. The time apart from them has been amazingly empty. I don't think that I needed the lesson, but there's not even a little doubt about who I want to travel through time with.

The other day, I talked to Alexa by webcam.

Me: Lexa, are you going to come to 'merica to see daddy soon?
Alexa: Yeeeeesssss!
Me: Do you know how to get here?
Alexa: (pausing to think) on pwane.
Me: Yes, but can you tell them the way home?
Alexa: (thinking and a little worried) No.
Me: Its alright, I'll tell the airplane how to get here, ok?
Alexa: (looking relieved) OK!

You are the reason I've been waiting so long

Somebody holds the key

But I'm near the end and I just ain't got the time,

And I'm wasted and I can't find my way home

a beautiful 2007 performance by Winwood and Clapton
followed by an amazing way-back machine live performance by Blind Faith

A soon to be American Girl

I'm 3 now and ready to be an American girl! Not too much longer and I'll be in the land where the moon and the stars are extra big, and girls rock. 

Can you believe that American Girl was written 30 years before I was born? This photo is me with my first guitar that has strings. It's hard to hold and play without a strap, but i'm practicing the poses.

The Kick Ass Princess is gonna be a rock star!

Well, she was an American girl

Raised on promises

She couldn't help thinkin'

That there was a little more to life somewhere else

After all it was a great big world

With lots of places to run to

And if she had to die tryin'

She had one little promise she was gonna keep

Running on Faith

We're getting close to the end of the wait to be reunited. I can say with absolute certainty that it has been the longest 10 months of my life. I feel like i've had 10 years stolen from me because of the time that I missed with my babies. By the time that they get here, they definitely won't be babies anymore. It has been a trial on many levels, but the relief and excitement of the end of exile and beginning of our lives together overpowers the negative of the experience.

The other day, I was listening to KBCO on the way home from work and Running on Faith came on. It made me realize how much that i've been running on fumes since I left the Philippines last June. I don't have faith in much, but I have absolute faith in my children and the love that I have for them.

Lately I've been running on faith

What else can a poor boy do?