It's The Great Pumpkin Weekend, Charlie Brown

This weekend will be filled with all sorts of fall goodness, from tonight's trip to Orr Family Farms with the GirgisMelsons and Jacquie (I have heard that there is the goodness of Kettle Korn at The Orr Family Farm... I'm excited) and then pumpkin-palooza with the middle schoolers Sunday night for our first middle school night. Pumpkin bowling, bocce, and mini golf are all in the works.

Yay for fall.

Moose-tipping, I mean you....

You know what Moose-Tipping? Thanks for the sympathy.

I'm much better, and much busier because of the time out of the office due to said illness.

Thanks for asking.

Updates later this week.

Ugh

I guess that rest and pace are two very important concepts that I need to continue to work on.

Got home from Roman Nose State Park in Watonga Oklahoma on Wednesday and spent Thursday SICK. One trip to the doctor, a liter of IV fluids and some perscription meds later, I'm feeling a little better. (Though I'm still on a liquid diet and gatorade's electolites are my best friends).

Hopefully, by tomorrow I'll be able to wake up, get ready and go somewhere and not feel like I'm going to pass out. (Or need a liter of fluid).

Here's hopin' anyways.

More about the retreat later.

Quickly

... because I'm about 20 minutes away from heading up to Roman Nose to the churchworker conference. (woo)

Just got back from the District Youth Gathering at Camp.

It was fun. All girls which made for a fun road trip of sing-a-longs (La la you'll be popular).

Also, have some very, very bossy 6th grade girls with a major case of the exaggerations. (your dad is 6 foot 4? Well my dad is at least 8 feet tall!)

All in all, good time, good company, great weather, and NO injuries.

Peace Out

Yearbook Committee Number Two...

I had too much fun with these. Jamie's are the most realistic because I figured out what I was doing finally. And in 1990, I actually DID have hair like that. Only I was in third grade :)

Yearbook Committee

Ponderings

Every once in a while, emotion catches me off guard.

Last night, at a going away party for a member, I was talking to middle school mom (and friend) about different things. Then we began talking about David and about Darren. I was suprised at how raw the wounds still were. I don't know if it was because Darren's wife was at service on Sunday and I almost asked her where he was before remembering, or seeing her sit in their normal pew without him that left me feeling particularly vulnerable. Emotion was so stark and so strong last night that I didn't recognize it at first until I heard the wobble in my voice and felt the tension in my posture.

At Jamie's wedding I was struck with the same surprising onslaught of emotion though in a completely different way. As I watched Jamie walk down the aisle to meet her now husband as he was fighting back tears, I began to think about how varied the circumstances were that brought them to this point. How the unthinkable brought amazing good. How good a man my friend Jamie was marrying and that it could have turned out so so differently. How God had lovingly cared for his children through the grief, the tears and the changes in their lives. How there was only one other time that in the many weddings I've attended and been in that I can say that love and joy and hope were palpable emotions expressed through tears.

It is because of that joy that I can look at this grief and see that God's hand is working.

Alaska 9

Post-Wedding Alaska Video. It was late and we had had a long day. No offense meant, Alaskans, about the not knowing the dances. We taught you well and feel you have the sufficient skill to carry on. (Hint, Mr. Moose Pants, you CAN do the Soulja Boy)

Alaska 8

Mrs. Moose Tipping makes her debut appearance!!

Alaska 7

These videos get a little more ridiculous with each new posting. We blame the lack of caffeiene, sleep and lack of a normal altitude