So the other day the Summers crew invited me to join them for a Pacers game. When I accepted I didn't realize that we were going to be on the 7th row! The Pacers ruined Tracy McGrady's return to the lineup for the Rockets by pulling out the win 81-75.

Jerry, Nathan, & Jeremy (my brother-in-law) Summers and I were about ten seats over from Larry Bird the whole game. We found that whether things were going well or poorly, he sure doesn't show much expression. And I guess Jeremy and I don't either, as you can see from the picture below - you can see us right above Jeff Foster's head. (This picture is copyrighted by the Indianapolis Star and can be viewed at the photo gallery at this article.)

Labels: EverydayLife

This is a classic scenario that plays out in a mall near you every single day:
A starry-eyed, love-swooned lad saunters into a diamond store. From behind the counter, a stylish 40-something woman greets him with a knowing smile. He soon notices she has enough bling on her fingers to pay for his thousands of dollars of college debt and then some. After some pleasantries, she begins walking him through the Four C’s of diamonds: clarity, color, cut, and carat weight. He ends up walking out a little bewildered by the price tags but also a little more educated about diamonds. Unfortunately his education was not complete . . .

You see, I’m in the camp that says we change it from the Four C’s to the Five C’s: clarity, color, cut, carat weight, and conflict.

Have you heard of conflict diamonds? If you’ve seen the new movie Blood Diamond then you know exactly what I’m talking about. In Africa alone diamonds are nearly a $10 billion a year industry. Unfortunately millions of those dollars go toward funding violent conflicts that result in thousands dead and in some places millions displaced. In recent years this has particularly been evident in Angola, Sierra Leone, and this very moment in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

While legislation has gone a long way – such as the Kimberly Process – it’s still up to the end-user (read: you and me) to make sure that conflict diamonds are a thing of the past. We can do this through asking the right questions of the stylish 40-something with the bling on her fingers:
- What country do your diamonds come from?
- What is your company’s policy on conflict diamonds?
- Can you certify that these diamonds are conflict free?

As we ask these questions, the diamond industry will be pressured into a more thorough system of warranties and certifications. Also the diamond industry will then help put food on the table for those who need it most instead of those causing devastation. When that day comes, that starry-eyed, love-swooned lad won’t have to worry about his engagement ring killing innocent people.

To learn more:
DiamondFacts.org
World Vision Article

Those more observant bloggers might have noticed that my World AIDS Day banner in the top left corner has stuck around a lot longer than just December 1. On some pages, that might be due to lack of website maintenance. However, at this blog it is quite intentional. I have decided that it would be a good idea to recognize that to a certain degree every day is AIDS day. With around 40 million people suffering (mostly in sub-Saharan Africa) and over 15 million AIDS orphans, this is a catastrophic phenomenon on our planet that is beyond comprehension.

I don't know the orphans. I've never shaken their hand or kicked a ball with them. But I care about them. I want to do something to help them. I think in a small way it starts with thinking about them. Because maybe if I think about them from time to time, allowing simple things like white bracelets and banners on blogs to remind me, then possibly I'll start to talk with others about it more. Maybe if I think about them I'll be more prone to learn about what life is like for them. Maybe if I think about them I'll be ready when God opens up a door for me to tangibly help them. Today, and a lot of days - even though I may be smiling and laughing and eating well - I'm thinking about those who are suffering.

"It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped each time a man stands up for an ideal or acts to improve the lot of others or strikes out against injustice he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring those ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest wall of oppression and resistance." --Robert F. Kennedy

I thoroughly enjoyed the movie, I am challanged and inspired by the man.

In the last month and a half I have had the honor of hosting some of my favorite people. The onslaught of visitors made for a pretty crazy schedule, but it was well worth it. Allow me to give you the rundown.

Josh Jackson was with me from Oct 10-13. While it was seemingly a short visit, we packed a lot in! We golfed in freezing temperatures, had the opportunity to ride rodeo competition horses, took a 150+ mile drive around the Black Hills, and experienced many of my favorite restaurants and hangouts around downtown Rapid City. Josh is a great friend; I enjoy every conversation that we have.



Mark & Jessica Schmerse spent a week in Rapid from Oct 23 to 31. A highlight was driving four hours over to the Big Horn Mountains in Wyoming to hike around the Cloud Peak Wilderness. We knew there would be snow, but we were surprised how much snow! Brooke and I enjoyed the intense Chicken Foot (dominos game) battles late into the night. We also explored the Black Hills together, hung out in coffee shops, worshiped at Fountain Springs, and invited them to our dance class. If I have to pick a couple to come live with me for a week in my 450 sq ft studio apartment in downtown Rapid City, I pick the Schmerses! ;-) They are wonderful friends!



Andrea and Macy Summers - my sister and niece - came out the week before Thanksgiving, Nov 17-22. Macy turns two this week and is the life of the party! She's adorable. After Macy was asleep, Brooke, Andrea, and I enjoyed playing cards and laughing into the evening. It turned out the best place for Macy to sleep was in my closet! We called it her "Big Girl Room". We also toured around the Hills, saw Mt. Rushmore, hung out with friends, and enjoyed walking around downtown Rapid City. It was great to spend time with family around Thanksgiving.





Over the Thanksgiving holiday Brooke and I drove down to Colorado to connect with friends and enjoy the mountains. The Schmerses (from Illinois) and Emily Stokes (from Denver) joined us for some early season skiing at Steamboat Springs. It was a blast! Some friends of the Schmerses, the Decosters and Waldens, had us over for an incredible Thanksgiving feast. Although Rudy couldn't come ski with us, it was great to reconnect with her as she hosted us for two nights in Denver. The friendships and adventure made the road trip unforgettable!