I woke up to find the morning news being shot right behind my boat. They do this periodically so I guess they like my view too.

Visiting the wonderful Noble Coffee Shop in Ashland, Oregon I decided to try something new and ordered the “Siphon Service.” This alternate process for making coffee is not only intriguing to watch but it also produces the cleanest cup of coffee you will ever taste! Here is a video that demonstrates the process!

After a rather long hiatus I’m back to blogging and I could not be more happy about this! Where have you been, you ask? Actually I never quit writing it’s just that the writing I was doing is not of the sort that you would read here. My last six months of grad school were rather demanding but I am glad to be done and to have a little more time to begin pursuing some of my interests again, including writing about the rich experiences of life. There is so much more to come…

I am taking a road trip all the way up and back down California, with the possibility of a little Oregon mixed in. Nearing the end of graduate school I began planning this road trip with great expectation. Sporting a new camera I have now set out to explore the “rest of California” that I have yet to visit!

During my first day of driving I took a different route to Monterey than I normally take. Traveling up 5 North and exiting at Jayne Avenue, I took 98 over to 101. The scenery along 98 is absolutely gorgeous. This particular mountain took my breath away! I will be adding ongoing photo updates to my new Tumblr blog as well at www.andyjohnson.tumblr.com/

When we sing Away in a Manger, we still picture a crib for Jesus’ bed. This is perhaps because we don’t have anything to relate a manger to in our own experience. Laying a newborn baby down to rest in anything but a comfortable little bed is unimaginable to us.

One of the unique features of the Christmas story is that due to the intervention of history, a Roman Emperor’s call for a census, Jesus came into the world under circumstances that were far from ideal. Rather than preparing to give birth in the safety and comfort of her home, Mary embarked with Joseph on an arduous journey to Bethlehem in the final days of her pregnancy.

I would like to applaud Google for donating $20 million dollars to all of us by giving it to 25 charities dedicated serving us all. It is an expression of global solidarity and concern for others that is worth applauding. Thanks Google! May this example of generosity motivate us all to give what we can to the causes that we support.

Here’s the story of a girl that traveled to India and made a lifelong friend who she continues to support at the Two Worlds Children’s Home. I was part of this trip along with Mission Focus and continue to support the work of this amazing cause! Check out www.BlessIndia.com for more details about how you can get involved with supporting these precious orphans in India and changing their lives forever!

I woke up this morning to the gentle sound of rain landing on the boat. While enjoying the soothing noise, I rolled over and reached for my phone. Then I saw it, the news I have been waiting for over the past few weeks. The text message read like this, “It’s a boy 10 lbs 8 oz huge and adorable!! Collin ” My heart rejoiced! My beautiful little sister is safe and precious baby Collin has arrived! There could be no better way to start my birthday weekend. Born one day before my birthday and just after Thanksgiving, I envision Collin and I celebrating birthdays together for many years to come Stepping out of the boat and onto the dock, I looked up and saw a full rainbow, a rare sight for San Diego, come out to commemorate Collin’s birth. Welcome to the world little guy! I haven’t even seen your face yet but I love you and can’t wait to hold you in my arms! We are going to be buddies…

Thanksgiving is a bittersweet time of year for me. For the first 24 years of my life, I always spent Thanksgiving with the extended family on my mother’s side. It is a time of belonging, sharing hearts in conversation, eating the best Thanksgiving meals ever prepared, and topping it all off by playing football with the cousins. Since I am one of the two members of my extended family living West of Indiana, and due to the logistics of flying home for a short weekend in the middle of a busy season at work and school, I have not made it back to the family Thanksgiving for several years now.

I woke up this Thanksgiving morning struggling to feel thankful. All I could think about was how for yet another year, I can’t be back with my family for this special time. Realizing that ingratitude is often a matter of perspective, I tried to think again about my circumstances and made an important discovery. I am thankful for friends who become like family.