the eternal student

Plague at the Perkins'

Darkness has descended upon the Perkins' house the past three days. We've been battling something ever since mid-December. The boys had been on antibiotics for 20 days and Lynn had been through a round herself. I had been spared, until Monday when it hit hard. Monday night was cold sweats and incredible body aches. I slept none-which I'm used to doing, but on my own terms. Tuesday afternoon rolls around and Lynn starts feeling it. By that night she is throwing up and feel worse than I had. Sometime in the night she handed me a knife and asked me to "Just end it! Stop the Pain! I can't go on!" Well-not really but she did think about death alot.
So, I've stayed home the past three days taking care of the kids, whom fortunately have been spared. Normally I'd be excited about taking three days off to stay home with the kids, BUT, I have this massive electric death killing storm over my head. This all happens when I finally get my a date that will work with all five of my PhD committee members for a defense date. Yes, MARCH 27th is when my PhD will officially be over. Anyways, I can't afford to take time off. I need to save my vacation days for my defense. Plus, all my spare time needs to be spent actually writing m PhD-except for blogging of course. I've never felt stress and guilt pull on me so hard. I don't know how the single parent does it. I felt guilty for not really giving the boys my full and attention and stressed because I have this Defense looming over me and I should be working on it. It didn't help to know that I was actually blessed to be in this situation where I could take time off work, take care of the kids, and still be pursuing a PhD.

Now the cloud has lifted some knowing that I am returning to work tomorrow. My manager has mentioned before that the time I take to defend my PhD in Atlanta will not count as vacation. I need to verify this. I also know that my timing is not Gods timing. This will work out. It just seems that He always brings some big event at the last minute.

Off to Garrison Keillor

We're off to see Garrison Keillor in a one man show. Coincidently, Al Gore will be right next door talking about An Inconvenient Truth.

How they change...Gideon August 2004

For old time's sake. Here is Gideon in August 2004. The other day he was sad because his eyes didn't change color like mine and Phineas'. I think his eyes are pretty darn special on their own.

Yes, his head is huge.

Human Slingshot: This can't be safe

There have got to be some serious accidents with this, but it does look fun.

Human slingshot.

Anakin Beerwalker in his Keg Racer

Need anything more be said?

This is the kind of stuff I'll make for the boys when my PhD is done and my nights and weekends aren't taken. Hopefully, that time will be in March.

Why is Jesus shown with long hair?

Something I've been wondering about lately (between PhD work): Ever seen a typical picture of Jesus? Long hair right? Anything seem wrong with that?


I Corinthians 11:14 says “Does not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?” It never crossed my mind before that Jesus may have had short hair. If he really did have long hair, then what does this verse mean? I guess a short haired Jesus just isn't sexy.

This article on the subject is worth at least a skim: http://www.thercg.org/articles/djhlh.html

Now, what about those baby blue eyes?

Gideon on the Payette River

We took a leisurely drive to Emmet, Idaho on Saturday. The boys and Lynn are finally feeling better after a 3 week bout with sickness. We were all ready to get out into the fresh air.

We spent some time on the Payette River just throwing rocks. I can't think of a more relaxing activity for the Perkins' than throwing rocks into a river.

Advent Candles

We have a family Advent liturgy into Christmas Day to remind us that we are looking forward to Christ's return. The boys have a great time getting a chance to light the candles. We stress the point to them that we look forward to Christ's return just as much as we look forward to opening presents. I think that analogy relates pretty well for toddler boys.

Some more pictures from Christmas are now on Flickr. There's a cutie of Phineas for you junkies.