tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2603730669898259272012-02-16T10:51:13.354-05:00thoughts and happenings in the life of a musician, singer, songwriter, traveler, father, husband, brother, son, etc., etc.jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13718600646124921400noreply@blogger.comBlogger168125LayinItDown-Updateshttp://feedburner.google.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-260373066989825927.post-69497355808945534962012-01-24T22:43:00.002-05:002012-01-25T10:05:13.912-05:002012-01-25T10:05:13.912-05:00in my post a few days ago ("part v") i mentioned that, although receiving the news that our twin latvian girls also have a 2-year old sister hit me like a sledgehammer, i wasn't quite sure why it...<br/> <br/> ... click headline to read more...<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LayinItDown-Updates/~4/cdplMqzzlqI" height="1" width="1"/>jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09638607529182046504noreply@blogger.com0http://jonsimpson.blogspot.com/2012/01/cross-cultural-papa-part-vii.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-260373066989825927.post-85978528204273848772012-01-23T18:20:00.001-05:002012-01-24T07:50:52.539-05:002012-01-24T07:50:52.539-05:00just wanted to share this video as part of my family's adoption story - my good friend clay parker accompanied us to the airport when we first picked up the girls for our month of hosting them, and...<br/> <br/> ... click headline to read more...<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LayinItDown-Updates/~4/NVwM4h_SQNQ" height="1" width="1"/>jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09638607529182046504noreply@blogger.com0http://jonsimpson.blogspot.com/2012/01/cross-cultural-papa-part-vi-prequel.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-260373066989825927.post-62175617636272410622012-01-20T20:31:00.000-05:002012-01-20T20:31:05.677-05:002012-01-20T20:31:05.677-05:00it's been just over a week now since we had to send our twin girls back to latvia at the end of our month of hosting. i've fully intended to write another installment in the "cross-cultural papa"...<br/> <br/> ... click headline to read more...<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LayinItDown-Updates/~4/EPuQAoo1deA" height="1" width="1"/>jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09638607529182046504noreply@blogger.com0http://jonsimpson.blogspot.com/2012/01/cross-cultural-papa-part-v.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-260373066989825927.post-68030077954387817182012-01-14T09:15:00.000-05:002012-01-14T09:15:25.211-05:002012-01-14T09:15:25.211-05:00this week my family and i put the 4-year old twin girls we'd been hosting for the past month on a plane back to latvia. as i anticipated what it could be like, i thought i might have a lot to say...<br/> <br/> ... click headline to read more...<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LayinItDown-Updates/~4/wiQN7J6YpSo" height="1" width="1"/>jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09638607529182046504noreply@blogger.com1http://jonsimpson.blogspot.com/2012/01/cross-cultural-papa-part-iv.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-260373066989825927.post-56696448930645304102012-01-04T21:00:00.000-05:002012-01-04T21:00:01.154-05:002012-01-04T21:00:01.154-05:00and now we find ourselves at the end of week three-of-four with our latvian twins. so much has happened relationally in our family even in times of little happening event-wise...certain fears have...<br/> <br/> ... click headline to read more...<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LayinItDown-Updates/~4/jQDghRp5JZU" height="1" width="1"/>jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09638607529182046504noreply@blogger.com2http://jonsimpson.blogspot.com/2012/01/cross-cultural-papa-part-iii.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-260373066989825927.post-40818544677690271492011-12-27T10:57:00.000-05:002011-12-27T10:57:40.072-05:002011-12-27T10:57:40.072-05:00my second week as a cross-cultural papa has come and gone, and in about another day we'll have reached the halfway point of hosting our precious 4-year old twins. only about four days ago my wife and...<br/> <br/> ... click headline to read more...<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LayinItDown-Updates/~4/lE-4S9zcp5w" height="1" width="1"/>jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09638607529182046504noreply@blogger.com1http://jonsimpson.blogspot.com/2011/12/cross-cultural-papa-part-ii.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-260373066989825927.post-6166567483949173872011-12-21T11:00:00.011-05:002011-12-21T11:00:14.048-05:002011-12-21T11:00:14.048-05:00the anticipation in the air - palpable. the eyes of 60-plus adults and children singularly-focused, peering through a glass wall and down an obstinately-empty airport corridor, waiting with bated...<br/> <br/> ... click headline to read more...<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LayinItDown-Updates/~4/Y19U4AtGx4g" height="1" width="1"/>jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09638607529182046504noreply@blogger.com1http://jonsimpson.blogspot.com/2011/12/cross-cultural-papa-part-i.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-260373066989825927.post-23192274811751156662011-12-13T12:28:00.000-05:002011-12-13T12:28:47.740-05:002011-12-13T12:28:47.740-05:00in the midst of preparations for my family and i to host a pair of 4-year old latvian twins (you can get a bit up to speed reading my wife's blog here), i took the opportunity to do another sweep...<br/> <br/> ... click headline to read more...<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LayinItDown-Updates/~4/T2NxhLnBH8s" height="1" width="1"/>jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09638607529182046504noreply@blogger.com3http://jonsimpson.blogspot.com/2011/12/souvenirs.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-260373066989825927.post-47580096893075725792011-11-09T14:00:00.063-05:002011-11-09T14:00:00.851-05:002011-11-09T14:00:00.851-05:00... and to wrap things up (unless another story pops into my head about the tour that absolutely must be told... or something like that), how about some more images? beautiful... i visited this...<br/> <br/> ... click headline to read more...<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LayinItDown-Updates/~4/6wC9oKrDTMc" height="1" width="1"/>jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09638607529182046504noreply@blogger.com0http://jonsimpson.blogspot.com/2011/11/kyrgyz-memories-10-potpourri.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-260373066989825927.post-20409118484656983922011-11-08T14:00:00.123-05:002011-11-08T14:51:31.168-05:002011-11-08T14:51:31.168-05:00you read that correctly: while i was in kyrgyzstan, i went to hawaii. it's actually quite close to the border of kazakhstan. yeah, i wasn't aware of that, either... welcome to hawaii... yep,...<br/> <br/> ... click headline to read more...<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LayinItDown-Updates/~4/oCCZMCcuqQM" height="1" width="1"/>jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09638607529182046504noreply@blogger.com0http://jonsimpson.blogspot.com/2011/11/kyrgyz-memories-9-hawaii-in-kg.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-260373066989825927.post-7355530427545028372011-11-07T14:00:00.186-05:002011-11-07T14:00:03.455-05:002011-11-07T14:00:03.455-05:00i love food. while i'm not necessarily the most adventurous of eaters or someone who enjoys the taste of everything, food plays an important role in my life. and though i do like to eat when i'm...<br/> <br/> ... click headline to read more...<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LayinItDown-Updates/~4/XLU8Bh9n1hk" height="1" width="1"/>jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09638607529182046504noreply@blogger.com0http://jonsimpson.blogspot.com/2011/11/kyrgyz-memories-8-culinary-samplings.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-260373066989825927.post-49538312758961947122011-11-04T14:00:00.063-04:002011-11-04T14:00:01.722-04:002011-11-04T14:00:01.722-04:00how about some more images from the tour? (insert reference to a picture being worth a thousand words here...) some of the audience at our final show i know rabbit's feet are supposed to be...<br/> <br/> ... click headline to read more...<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LayinItDown-Updates/~4/Kcy91ZaVmU8" height="1" width="1"/>jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09638607529182046504noreply@blogger.com0http://jonsimpson.blogspot.com/2011/11/kyrgyz-memories-7-potpourri-photography.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-260373066989825927.post-34297215792103889302011-11-03T14:00:00.076-04:002011-11-03T14:00:00.606-04:002011-11-03T14:00:00.606-04:00aside from the many other good things that take place during each tour i have the privilege to undertake, my hope is that am able to remain a constant learner and therefore gain further bits of...<br/> <br/> ... click headline to read more...<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LayinItDown-Updates/~4/wEhrA2RrqUA" height="1" width="1"/>jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09638607529182046504noreply@blogger.com0http://jonsimpson.blogspot.com/2011/11/kyrgyz-memories-6-random-observations.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-260373066989825927.post-86454401334802411962011-11-02T14:00:00.053-04:002011-11-02T14:00:01.957-04:002011-11-02T14:00:01.957-04:00a sampling of images from the recent concerts in kyrgyzstan: dustin goes big cranking out the tunes at the final gig lucy strikes a pose students thanking us (in english!) for our...<br/> <br/> ... click headline to read more...<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LayinItDown-Updates/~4/jjtUtlljRsI" height="1" width="1"/>jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09638607529182046504noreply@blogger.com0http://jonsimpson.blogspot.com/2011/11/kyrgyz-memories-5-pix-from-gigs.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-260373066989825927.post-83199844690456601782011-11-01T14:00:00.049-04:002011-11-01T14:00:05.914-04:002011-11-01T14:00:05.914-04:00this was it - this was what i had hoped for in coming back to kyrgyzstan. i didn't ask about it in advance because i wanted to be completely open to whatever opportunity presented itself, but... i...<br/> <br/> ... click headline to read more...<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LayinItDown-Updates/~4/VppdSP2qbPw" height="1" width="1"/>jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09638607529182046504noreply@blogger.com1http://jonsimpson.blogspot.com/2011/11/kyrgyz-memories-4-orphans-and-strangers.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-260373066989825927.post-18969815677596011492011-10-31T14:00:00.060-04:002011-10-31T14:00:00.430-04:002011-10-31T14:00:00.430-04:00in october of 2010 i was also in kyrgyzstan, leading my first tour there. to take a step back and reflect on the circumstances in my life that were a part of that tour a year ago as compared to now...<br/> <br/> ... click headline to read more...<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LayinItDown-Updates/~4/gIQWWrUCdw4" height="1" width="1"/>jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09638607529182046504noreply@blogger.com0http://jonsimpson.blogspot.com/2011/10/kyrgyz-memories-3-difference-year-makes.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-260373066989825927.post-23675419032818161212011-10-28T14:00:00.019-04:002011-10-28T14:00:03.090-04:002011-10-28T14:00:03.090-04:00i've said this before, but one of the pleasures of touring in a certain place multiple times is the opportunity to connect with new people, and reconnect with people you've met previously. my time in...<br/> <br/> ... click headline to read more...<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LayinItDown-Updates/~4/-YVakeo_2jA" height="1" width="1"/>jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09638607529182046504noreply@blogger.com0http://jonsimpson.blogspot.com/2011/10/kyrgyz-memories-2-connecting-and.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-260373066989825927.post-88590812961643713302011-10-27T14:00:00.028-04:002011-10-27T14:00:00.250-04:002011-10-27T14:00:00.250-04:00our group of seven artists (two other musicians, three dancers, and one&nbsp;extreme unicyclist) from three different countries arrived in kyrgyzstan in early october to do a series of gigs and share...<br/> <br/> ... click headline to read more...<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LayinItDown-Updates/~4/-NncMF6t5yY" height="1" width="1"/>jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09638607529182046504noreply@blogger.com0http://jonsimpson.blogspot.com/2011/10/kyrgyz-memories-1-brief-overview.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-260373066989825927.post-33463154256204094402011-10-26T14:00:00.004-04:002011-10-26T14:00:02.687-04:002011-10-26T14:00:02.687-04:00earlier this month i had the privilege of returning to kyrgyzstan for my second tour there in as many years. i want to share some of the events and stories, but it's often rather difficult for me to...<br/> <br/> ... click headline to read more...<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LayinItDown-Updates/~4/t41D1VxetTk" height="1" width="1"/>jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09638607529182046504noreply@blogger.com0http://jonsimpson.blogspot.com/2011/10/kyrgyz-memories-preface.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-260373066989825927.post-62896657124062591252011-09-26T11:00:00.006-04:002011-09-26T11:00:10.697-04:002011-09-26T11:00:10.697-04:00i've seen the following titled both "the high calling" and "others may, you cannot." i've also seen it attributed to "anonymous" as well as to george d. watson. whatever the specifics of those...<br/> <br/> ... click headline to read more...<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LayinItDown-Updates/~4/3090jNXZwaw" height="1" width="1"/>jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09638607529182046504noreply@blogger.com0http://jonsimpson.blogspot.com/2011/09/high-calling.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-260373066989825927.post-34055373819606739992011-09-21T14:00:00.021-04:002011-09-21T14:00:06.428-04:002011-09-21T14:00:06.428-04:00lift up your heads, all you in chainsyou fettered, yoked to lives of shamefreedom has come to you this dayall wounded ones, all you who mournall bruised and beaten, broken, tornmercy has come to you...<br/> <br/> ... click headline to read more...<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LayinItDown-Updates/~4/1jGvyDhbPEU" height="1" width="1"/>jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09638607529182046504noreply@blogger.com0http://jonsimpson.blogspot.com/2011/09/sound-it-out.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-260373066989825927.post-10248737315264389582011-09-20T14:00:00.023-04:002011-09-20T14:00:02.932-04:002011-09-20T14:00:02.932-04:00through shadow and water, a process to alterillumines this clouded soul to seethe hold of delusion and points of confusionare becoming clearer to me is this some alchemythat's working change in...<br/> <br/> ... click headline to read more...<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LayinItDown-Updates/~4/7Up6W_YdDnI" height="1" width="1"/>jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09638607529182046504noreply@blogger.com2http://jonsimpson.blogspot.com/2011/09/alchemy.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-260373066989825927.post-58759484713084360682011-09-19T14:00:00.005-04:002011-09-19T14:00:04.984-04:002011-09-19T14:00:04.984-04:00like a wave the deluge hit ussent us reeling as the flood came rushing inthought the dark might suffocate usunderneath the weight of all that could have been and right now it seems ironicthat the...<br/> <br/> ... click headline to read more...<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LayinItDown-Updates/~4/pPny6ETcBOA" height="1" width="1"/>jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09638607529182046504noreply@blogger.com0http://jonsimpson.blogspot.com/2011/09/stronger-than-death.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-260373066989825927.post-66672039623566488242011-09-16T14:00:00.002-04:002011-09-16T14:00:00.213-04:002011-09-16T14:00:00.213-04:00all common sense would have me come undoneon hands and knees at just Your nameyet somehow, almost paralyzedat ease in this state i despisei stay close to unmoved by what i claim wonder, Your words...<br/> <br/> ... click headline to read more...<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LayinItDown-Updates/~4/AqM8i3AKnGk" height="1" width="1"/>jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09638607529182046504noreply@blogger.com0http://jonsimpson.blogspot.com/2011/09/overcome.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-260373066989825927.post-58586900582844552552011-09-15T14:00:00.003-04:002011-09-15T14:00:05.775-04:002011-09-15T14:00:05.775-04:00annaleise says with a sigh on her lips,“this season has taken its tolli've been locked in a battle of willswith the world in a war for control “see, all this time i've wanted to besomeone i haven't...<br/> <br/> ... click headline to read more...<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LayinItDown-Updates/~4/Txwb9vESqPU" height="1" width="1"/>jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09638607529182046504noreply@blogger.com0http://jonsimpson.blogspot.com/2011/09/in-lieu-of-break.html