GREAT HONK!

I haven't met Nathaniel's sweet Mother Debbie yet, but I admire her already for surviving this lad's Adventuresome Spirit! Good grief!

Do we have to fly through the air with the greatest of ease? I do love it though! Seeing Nathaniel BMX and Joy skateboard is a thing of beauty. If you can watch and pray at the same time!

Which came first?

Who had the doo first? The thanny or the care? Chicken or egg? Did I copy his spikes or did he say, "I want to have a doo just like care when I grow up?" We don't know, but I'm doin' my research. Goin' back to the funky hair-doo archives!

The thing to remember is "I miss Thanny! Come to WaTown!"

Joy Kathryn and Nathaniel Wayne

You might not recognize these two Cuties without their skateboards and BMX. They met at the Skatepark where Joy scared Nathaniel sportin' her "Don't start with me" game-face.
But he found out the next day at church that she was all face and no force; just a tender-heart bear!

What dear kids they are; learning how to dwell with one another with wisdom and understanding.

If the world was filled with God-seekers like you - Joy & Thanny - we'd live in an entirely different world. A far better place 'twould be.

I love you like none other -- the mom

Gabriel and Elissa

Here's the pic we've all been waiting for: Gabe and Elissa overlooking scenic Gregory, SD, where Elissa hails from. No need to wonder, "Can any good come out of Gregory?" The answer is "YES, Elissa, born and raised in Gregory." Thank heavens she migrated to Spearfish where she met Gabe the Babe! Your budding relationship makes the mom smile.

"We're not afraid of garlic OR onions, E!" hahahahahahaha

Go with God you two! all my love

Pure Joy at the half-pipe

"Yes, she's the only person of the female persuasion at the Fargo skatepark doing her skateboarding tricks. She sets her game-face - "Don't be messin' with me, mama!" - and works and works. What a doll! I mean what a Skateboardin' Studette!!

Thanx to Gabers for the new and improved skateboard - Christmas 2006.

Ask and you shall receive

I had just posted a comment wishing that my other two children, Gabriel and Joy, had their own personal photographer like their sis Danielle. There are many pics floating through cyberspace for D, but not so for Gabers and Joyful. Until...the mom thought of robbing from MySpace and posting on Mac Blog. Tadaaaaaa!

Here's our son, Gabriel Man of God, in beautiful Spearfish, SD.

Now I say, "our son" because it seems very lonely to say "my son." And besides it takes two to tango so Gabe is Robert's son as well. In the same way I can't seem to bring myself to mark 'widow' on marital status forms, I always want to say "our children;" Gabe, DaniO and Joyful. Gabriel is his father's son to be sure and it seems dishonoring to slice Robert out of the parent component. Gabriel will forever be Our Son - and how proud we are of him.

Mended hearts

John Van Duzen was one of Robert's best friends back in the Colorado days of leading worship. John was a fellow youth pastor from Sterling, CO. This is a shirt from one summer when John, Robert, and Nathan - our wonderful drummer - led worship at Camp Wondervu's Junior High Camp.
John said, "A week of joy with Robert and Nathan, that's what it was for me."

Oh how I'd love to hear from all the folks Robert played with through the years, winding their way to the Father's Throne. I bet there's a whole new bunch of folks Robert's strumming and singing with. A thousand notes of praise.

Keep it sacred, keep it safe

Ken Willson of Willson and McKee played "Amazing Grace" on the bagpipes at school. The children talked through it, not realizing that it was a sacred moment. Not recognizing that God's Kingdom was at hand.
It was the same during Jesus's earthly sojourn:
"We played the flute but you did not dance;
We sang a dirge, but you did not mourn."

May we, Dear Lord, be a Generation who knows when the sacred is near; when to lament and when to rejoice.

Birthday Wish for my Danielle Beth MacMurchy

Now for the mom's Birthday Wish: May your very presence invoke a Blessing. The idea is from Joseph's time with Potiphar.
"From the time Potiphar put Joseph in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the Lord blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph. The blessing of the Lord was on everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field." Gen 39:5

Wherever you plant your feet this 24th year of your life, Danielle, may the Blessing of the Lord that makes Rich follow you. And remain in the hearts of those whose lives you walk through. All my love

Jason & Adrienne, Rock & Kim

Stop the boat: You four look like something out of Abercrombie and Whatever his name is. Only fully-clothed! Lovin' the college photo and Jay and Ade, the newly-weds.
Just thinking that there's been a lot of water under the bridge; some bitter, most sweet but none stagnant. Love to you all! You've weathered your storm with Grace.
Miss you Noah Steven Graves.

McKinneys and McHendricks in McMexico

Woo Hoo- Here's all the Scottish friends spending the holidays in Mexico.

Don't worry about us, left behind in the frigid snow and sleet. We'll be fine...

Friendship Stone & Courting Dulcimer

The most wonderful thing I learned from Willson & McKee, our Artists-in-Residence:

Around the countryside of Old Ireland, there are Friendship Stones. They stand waist-high with a hole near the top. Friends would meet there way back in the day, 100's of years ago, and touch their fingers through the stone's hole and make a wish for their friend.
We're going to mount a Friendship Stone in our classroom, right Denise Mayer? woo hoo

IDEA: If you leave a wish under 'comment' I will send one back to you. So refreshing to make a wish for another. Most of our wishes are for ourselves; birthday candles and wishing wells. I love the idea of a wish becoming a sort of Blessing to Someone You Love.

I'm assuming everyone reading this is a friend, but if not, by the time we make a wish-blessing for one another, perhaps we'll become friends.

Courting Dulcimer: The courting couple placed the dulcimer between them and they each had a set of strings. They played the dulcimer together and if the music waned, the couple was snatched bald-headed off the porch into the one-roomed home with the rest of the family. Their courting days were behind them - at least for that visit. I say it's the best idea I've heard for radically lowering the teen-pregnancy rate! Maybe we should start making music together.

This whole music-making reminds me of my favorite memories with Robert; notes floating between us as he strummed his guitar and I 'played' keyboard or percussion stuff. Sometimes the mountain dulcimer strings rang under my fingers while Robert's were strumming his red 12-string. Thanx Grandma Marge! Singing too.

Worship it was, always winding our way to the Throne Room in search of the King. I miss the musical courting that fired between Robert and me all of our married life.

But then, I think, all roads rightly traversed lead to Adoration and Gratitude -- so maybe we still sing the same songs only in different hemispheres. I'll keep making music cause the King is worthy -- and I know Robert is singing to beat the band!

Jesus said to take the narrow path, the one less traveled

THE ROAD NOT TAKEN

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
-Robert Frost

What is your Christmas wish? 30 Dec 06

Why have I been loved all my life? When so many have not?

Perhaps the Father knew I would be His midwife, coaxing through Divine Envy others into His Gladsome Kingdom. I'd like to be the first to greet - this year - some who enter. May I be the First to Welcome them into the shadowed recesses of the Eternal Beginning-Today-with-White-Flag-Surrender Realm of God's Good Rule? May I be one of the first to greet them: "Welcome Good Friend. Welcome."

I will not bury the one, the five, the ten talents. No I will rather plant them, fertilized with the Blood of the Lamb.

Oh please Dear Lord help me to be patient; allowing these births to come as You will in due season.
"(we) shall bring forth fruit in due season." Ready and ripe.

Grant me wisdom...and patience above all else.

I love you with my whole being Dear Lord Jesus. Thank you for saving me, extending Your hand in invitation -- "Won't you Come, my Daughter? Won't you come?" Yes I will come. Lord, I come.

New Years Wish 2007

Dedicated to my Aunt Katy Kleyn with great love

My heart is not proud, Oh Lord, my eyes are not haughty. I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me. Enough for me to keep my soul tranquil and quiet like a child in its mother's arms, as content as a child that has been weaned. O Israel, put your Hope in the Lord both now and forevermore. Psalm 131

All my love Aunt Katy and Uncle Herb - care

What's the rush already?

I just noticed a silly subject-line on a christianbook advertisement (yikes, not a fan of the rabid Christianeze retail!) in my azielle email account: "Read the Bible in 90 days!" WOO HOO!
Now why would a person want to FLY through Scripture reading -- in 90 days which is probably a zillion chapters a day - rather than mozying with the journey for at least a year or two? We are so ENAMORED with speed. Slurping wine like it's a Dairy Queen slurpee ruins it. Some things must be savored. Scripture, like a good wine, is one. Goodness Sakes!
Gabe seems to be learning this: He's savoring a slow journey of a few chapters a day. And loving it. Good lad!

Ode to friendships -- of all kinds

"And the lion shall lay with the lamb." Scripture gives that foretaste of Glory Divine; someday when "right shall triumph over wrong, and Truth shall be extolled."
But until then, we'll Rejoice that there is a family of deer that are starting the New Heaven and New Earth early. No more fear for the deer!

All bring a thread to the tapestry

How can a quantitative value be placed on friendships? Rich friendships that, if you didn’t have them, would render you poor as Job’s turkey. The kind of friendship that gets you out of bed each morning after your husband has left for Better Worlds. The friends that you know you could move in with for as long as necessary until your heart healed and you could be Home Alone.

What about friends that happen to be neighbors? Neighbors that nearly come to blows over who gets to mow your lawn! (An exaggeration, of course, but I have a couple of wonderful neighbors who look for reasons to be outdoors, even if it means messin’ all day with someone else’s lawn, for Goodness sakes!) Neighbors who pray for snow so they can grab their power snowblower and blast out your driveway. Those kind of neighbors.

Now you know who you are: Christy and Peter, Al and Michelle, Dave and Dori. You know who you are my Good Neighbors - Larry and Audrey, Bill and Terra, Greg and Val, Rock and Shawn, Tim and Diane, Windy and Barb, Bill and Marge. Don’t be shy!

The folks who said “Call me day or night, anytime, it doesn’t matter!” And they mean it!
"Kaija I love you so" - One time I took her up on it and called her plum in the middle of the night. Actually, come to think of it, ALL the Graves Rock!

Kim0 who’s like a best friend and baby sister and daughter all at the same time, thanx for spurrin' me on to crank up the Blog. Rock too for putting up with our shenanigans!

Now Amy, has a place all by herself cause she saved me my first year without Robert. We hung-out day and night like a couple of college preppies and I loved every moment cause she makes me laugh like none other (although throw my Danielley in that bag, cause she gets me goin' too!) Plus the Good Dear Lord answered our many-months prayer for the Desire of her Heart to be fulfilled: And his name is Hugh Michael Weber.

Since we’re at McKinley with Amy, how about my L.C. buds with their patience as I ventured those first baby steps without Robert and fell headlong into their arms more than once. Denise, Tammy, Jill, Kristi, Deanna, Shari, Londa, KimO, Linda, Kathy, N-Dawg, Paula and Mrs. V for goodness sakes!

Now I’ve named the Nazareth dwellers; the ones who are near. Jesus said the ones who live close aren’t always Cherished as they should be. Perhaps it’s true that “familiarity breeds contempt.” So we tend to idolize those far and take for granted those who serve and love us day in and day out. Not me, I will never take for granted those near who have loved me through the dark tunnel into the light.

The worship team musicians who let me bang the bongos with them, I thank you. Together we invite Adoration of the King. Is there anything more sacred? Thank you to my Pastor and his Beloved Joan. You feed sheep. It is God’s work and He is pleased.

And now my long-distance friend, Cheri0. Is there anything better than discovering the heartbeat of new friends? Learning their storyline and what makes them cackle with delight and weep with sorrow. You ignited a dormant wick, cm; writing that restores the soul! And don’t look now, there’s a bloomin’ prairie fire ablaze. I’m having a blast!

My far-away Cali family and friends - the Kleyns, Sissy lala Suzan, Mary Heinz and Marcie and Cyn my #1 Roomie - who single-handedly kept us in-touch for all these years - & her Cute Dan, and Sara and Sam - fellow opera-lover! My cousin like a sister, Linda Jean. I love you so LJ!

Rocky Mountain High friends like Suzan and Dave, kids too, Laura Jean and Josh (kids too), Yockey’s and Kathy B and Shanti and Shelly, and the Wonderful Svensons. Carolyn - who has more friends times ten than all of us combined. She's a networker like Cyn. - and Ira, & Linda B - the three muscateers that came to celebrate Robert's life. Give me a break already! I’m going to talk myself into moving to Colo or Cali but then I’d leave my own Nazareth neighbors.

For all of you who saved me during my first couple of years without Robert, thank you. You prayed, cooked, made me laugh and cried with me. You made me know that my work on this earth matters. That we are to be “about the Father’s Good Business” of inviting folks back home.

And for my children - can words capture the love I have for you? You have rallied during this new season without your dad. Each of you Gabriel (Man of God), Danielle (Brave Adventurer), and Joyful (tender heart bear): I am more proud of you than I can say. Only Eternity, like a banner, will unfurl the magnitude of the trust you’ve shown. You’ve loved me and taken care of me every moment, and your devotion to your Lord is stronger than ever. Small wonder your daddy was so proud! Grandma too!

For those I call “my children” and you don’t even know: Nathaniel (Gift of God), Elissa (Set-apart for God), Morgan, Amy the Beloved, Hugh the Wise, Chelsey Lyn, and Kristin G. I pray for you often. Amanda - Worthy of Love - too and you don't even know. My prayer = "May they be Ruined for the Ordinary."

Robert's family who have carried on with faithfulness. I love you and am proud of you. Robert would be too.

As Robert would say, "Can a person hug the Help?" Well Huge Hugs to my very own Pastor of Pain, Dr. Ben Rall and his Megan; thanx for stretchin' me taller! I've told tens of thousands about the righteous work you do. May you reap 100 fold, my Friends.

You each one bring a thread to the tapestry. It is beautiful and when we turn the thing over, it will be Glorious with Purpose beyond Believing.

It is not a question of who gave or did more? This is not a quantitative pursuit. Because everyone has left a thread in my tapestry, it is lovely. I thank you.

P.S. Now I know I’ve missed mentioning folks. If you thought, “Good night, where am I?” then you qualify as a thread-bearer. You wove one too. Jesus saw and that’s all that matters.

The Shepherd's Voice

I recently finished a most picturesque book, "The Divine Embrace" by Ken Gire. Insights into hearing and knowing the Father's inimitable Voice caused me to wonder.

I was thinking of how I don’t know the sound of my long-distance Friend, Cheri. If she called, she would have to identify herself because to my ear, her voice would ring no bell. But I know her Voice -- some of the things that play her soul-strings. I know some of her stories.

Is it similar with the Dear Lord Jesus? He leads in our Dance; I’m learning to follow. I’m learning to fix His gaze, to be disciplined with a Love so sublime that I’m changed by the very encounter. I’m learning to hear His winsome whispers, "Come away, my Beloved, in the cool of the evening. Walk with Me." I have known the yearning ache for His Friendship that restores and fulfills beyond imagining. The Relationship I was made for.

"The sheep know the Shepherd’s Voice," we’ve heard.

I wonder, would I need to ask, "Who is this?" I think not. Jesus My Friend has a Voice so distinct, so familiar that it will be like my own Mother calling me Home...for feasting and for rest.

Longing for home

Like a child anxious to open the

Big Surprise, I edge my toes over

Everyday:

"Is it time? Can I see today?"

* * *

Since Robert slipped silently

beyond the veil, my longing to

"know and be known"

is even stronger. Now I have

all four; Daddy, Mother, my baby

Brother Daniel Brown and

my Robert whispering

Welcome Home messages

night and day.

"But we see dimly.

And we wait."

the mom with chilluns

Here we are together at the beautiful Fargo - albeit freezing - Country Club on Gabe's leave from Iraq. Again, Robert is behind the camera. I wish he was in front.
Oct. 04

Joy and Nathaniel

How cute are they?
Autumn 06

Gabriel Home from Iraq Feb 05

Gabe landed in Watertown safely and was greeted by family and many joy-filled friends.

Oddly, Robert often took the pics and is in very few. Short-sided on our part, but so strange that this photo represents our family now without Robert and Mother.

Gabriel with his dad home on-leave from Iraq Oct. 04

Pearl Our Pearl

Ay Lord, if I know anything
tis that You seek the hearts of those
who'd find their home in Thee.

So many ways You show Thy hand and heart;
upward our gaze, the stars arranged
in the expanse of Heavens.
As we gaze - we see Thee.

Tiny hand so frail in mine,
the child at birth reveals
Your Hand of Design.

In sorrow, comfort like the wind
blows through our tortured thoughts
and lo, we see the Son.

Reveal, oh God of Heaven and Earth,
Lord of all that is to come - Reveal.

Place a stumbling block of Love
to point us to the way.

All trials point to Thee.
Each delight great and small
sings a glad decree: We're Home.