SD's next congressWoman

Roll Call's Stu Rothenberg,who wrote about the race and interviewed Noem, (says), 'She's a terrific candidate -- personable, articulate, attractive, not easily ruffled . . . very polished."

Zer0 alive and well

What's black with a face only a mother could love and a fetish for Joy's dinky undah-wear?  Z-dog, of course!


It all started with a late Sunday night phone call from JoyFul: "Zero is really sick, Mom.  I'm going to take him to the clinic." 
The x-ray revealed a cloudy something-or-other in the tummy that was pretty much going to cost the grand-dog his life.  Joy was crying so hard I could not understand her the next morning.  She was fully prepared to say "GoodBye" to her 2-year old pug.  


The reasons for Joy's affection are clear:  Zero was a down-on-his-luck canine that the Kids discovered a year ago.  Joy has always pulled for the under-dog which may explain Z's love of underwear. 


Upon learning the cost of the surgery, Nathaniel said, "Let's have the surgery."  Nathaniel likes Zero but pretends he doesn't.  I don't think he is as smitten as Joy over the pug.  So why did Nathaniel say "Yes" to the surgery on their budget?  Because he had recently earned some extra scratch and Nathaniel loves Joy.  


Thankfully the PugSter is home, new neck-ware and all.  He is a couple of pounds lighter after the removal of 2 - or three - pair of Joy's you-know-what.  Under-dog eats underwear.  Go figure.  
Joy is never so happy to have Zer0 home and Nathaniel is never so happy to have Joy joyful again.  


This note from Joy is featured on the Navratil kitchen bulletin board:  "I love a boy.  He has red hair."  I can see why. 

Where's A-man?

It makes no sense

Remember Chad Arnold who was languishing with chronic liver disease?  Chad was edging toward death before his brother, Ryan, stepped in to offer his healthy liver to replace Chad's battered one.  

Today my hair-cutting gal, Tammy, asked me how Chad was doing.  Although Chad's health is tenuous, he is alive while his younger brother is not.  Ryan's heart failed the third day after surgery.  A vibrant healthy young man placed himself in harm's way to assure that Chad would live.  

"How does Chad live with the guilt?  He is alive while his brother is not.  And what about Ryan's wife.  Is she angry at Chad?"  Tammy inquired.  

The answer is beyond this world:  It involves 2 facts ~ our lives do not stop when we cease to breath and a whisper from another realm reminds us that in loss, there is gain.  In sorrow, there is comfort.  With guilt - warranted or false - there is redemption.  Ryan's wife, Shannon, assured Chad that he was released from condemnation over the death of Ryan.  This brave and beautiful woman offered Grace.  Chad is released to live.  To love.  Shannon is released through her kindness.  

We will all gather again.  Until then, on this shore, Grace abounds.  

The GrandSon is 6...mos

Happy blessed 6-month birthday Little Lad
You are loved.  Both of you.

the best movie ever

The movie's theme: diligent perseverance.
Sometimes the flip of a coin can mean the change of a lifetime.
"Oh Happy Day, when Jesus washed, He washed my sins away."
 

Hap-Happ-Happy 25th, Sweet Lovie

Is this cute or what?  Look at JoyFul workin' the pipe.

I like weather

Feisty weather reminds me that God is the weatherMan and not me.  Rain and sleet humble me.  God is in control; that is the most peaceful thought imaginable.

Remember, it was during a raging squall that Jesus aroused His slumbering self and said, "Peace.  Be still."  His Twelve learned Who was in charge.  It was Jesus and not them.

September 19th online Verse of the Day

"One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple." Psalm 27:4

As usual before rolling out of bed this birthday morn, I checked the NIV verse of the day.  I was astonished to find that it was Psalm 27:4, my life verse.  Highlighting that particular verse among the thousands of verses in Scripture was the Father's birthday gift.  Because He cares for me.  Astonishing

One decade closer to Eternity

Not the best picture in God's great green globe, but at least we can see the birthday candles gleaming from my jacket.  What in the world?!  


Joy, Nathaniel, and KimO at the Silver Moon Supper Club.  These booths are a splash from the past reminding me that Frank Sinatra may appear at any moment.


We missed Daron like crazy but they provided the beyond-scrumptious vino:  Seghesio Old Vine Zinfandel 2007.   I am very thankful that Gabriel and Elissa brought Morgan and Isaiah to meet Noy over Labor Day.  We celebrated the big Bday then and last night we were still ringing in the next decade of my joyous life.


Thanx to all who gave a shout-out, sent a gift or phoned.  I am loved beyond reason.  Thank you

1/2 Daron's bedroom

New fall color splashed on the entryway half of Aaron and Danielley's bedroom.
Danielley said it looks like the mom's latest hair color.
"Dat-gum, it does look like the Doo!"

the Father's attention to detail

"See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven."   Matthew 18:10

Remembering the declaration of war

While watching again the September 11, 2001, story of Tower One being hit, then the second tower, the Pentagon and finally United Flight 93 burying itself in a Pennsylvania pasture to avoid the Capital, I was struck with this reality:  These acts were a declaration of war.  


2 Corinthians 10
 3For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.  


Ephesians 6
10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

Peter said last night that he would have jumped from the tottering towers.  "I am not afraid of heights but would hate to be burned alive.  I would have jumped."

Oh God, may none of us ever face that heinous decision.  

Hate-filled Islam followers would destroy America if given an open door.  Beware the open door.  I'm not going to type a caveat such as "Some Muslims are peace-loving and mean no harm." Those do not worry me.  The reality is that some would rather kill themselves than see me live.  

God protect Americans - one and all - and defend us against those who abhor God and His peaceable ways.

Dallas Willard's insight is worth listening to:
http://dwillard.org/resources/Audio/FrankPastoreShow-2009Sep11.mp3

What the Honk photo book

Click here to view this photo book larger

Isaiah Robert's baptism

without guile

Guile ~ insidious cunning in attaining a goal; crafty or artful in deception; duplicity.

Dallas willard says that children are incapable of "managing their face."  They are without guile.

That's a very good thing.  May we be the same.

Little Isaiah Robert is our teacher.  He is without guile.

Scripture references:

Ps. 32:2

Ps. 34:13

Matt 7:15

I Peter 2:1

I Peter 2:22

I Peter 3:10

Rev 14:5

In God we trust ~ in spite of our misgivings

The unthinkable happened when Ryan Wesley Arnold suffered heart failure on the transplant floor of the University of Colorado Hospital in Aurora, Colorado.  The code blue alert sounded throughout the facility early morning on the third day after surgery.  Sunday, August 1, 2010.

The surgery progressed without a blip with on-track recovery following.  The intricate process of transferring 2/3 of Ryan's liver to his brother was going along without a hitch.  Then the unthinkable happened.

Ryan's high school days:  Robert thought the world of Ryan during his tenure with us in youth group, Watertown, SD.  Robert viewed his time with Ryan - shaping and training - as an investment that would pay high dividends.  Ryan was focused and intentional in his young walk with Jesus.  He knew where he was headed and never looked back.

"Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you get neither."  C.S. Lewis

******

Those left behind struggle with swirling questions:  Why pray?  What is the good of leaving a young wife with three boys under age 6?  What sense does this make?  Why pray?

Rock Arnold likes to recount C.S. Lewis' insight that Christians are the most dangerous when they cannot see God in the midst of daunting circumstances; yet they still believe.  They still follow.

Peter the Feisty One said it best in scripture, "(Great honk,) where else do we have to go, Lord?!  Who else has the words of eternal life?"

This is default faith:  The first words out of the mouth of a Christ-follower is "Oh God!  Dear Jesus!"  My first words audibly spoken after the 2:52 am phone call that Ryan was code blue, were not, "God Almighty, you've failed us!  I am finished with following you!"  Or "Buddha save us!"  No, by default, I cried out in trust in the Living Lord who at that very moment was an enigma to me.  I knew that He could stop the heart failure but was not.  Yet I still cried out "God!  No God!"  

Kim0 uses the analogy of marriage and our hand-in-hand walk with the Savior:  Sometimes we do not 'feel' affection and devotion to our spouses but nevertheless, we continue with one another out of sheer commitment.  Commitment, spoken and sealed at the altar of marriage, is the tie that binds.  It is the same with our God-walk; we have given our stories to the Master Storyteller and we do not get to write the ending.  We wonder, we doubt, we shake our fist in anxious sorrow ~ but we go forward hand-in-hand.  It is the covenantal commitment that keeps us.  

The End of the Story is written already and we know that it ends well:  The Lamb wins.  


King David after foregoing food for a number of days while beseeching the Father to save the infant son of Bathsheba, went forward after his child died.  "He will not return to me," David said, "but I will go to him."  David knew that he would be reunited with his son.  


Until then, let us eat and drink and raise our children and grandchildren in the sometimes enigmatic wondrous ways of the King of kings and the Lord of lords.

Elisabeth Elliot's "Difficulties are Proof Contexts:"  http://www.elisabethelliot.org/devotional.html

Back and forth email with Ryan Wesley Arnold

27 July 2010, two days before Ryan's surgery to give his brother, Chad, 2/3 of his liver

Dear Ryan ~ Saturday after a long ride, I peddled over to your place to greet you before your Colorado departure. The lights were on but could not rouse anyone.  I suspect that you were out for a walk together.  This morning I visited with your Mama at home before she and Janelle leave later today for Denver.

A few days ago I remembered a conversation your Mom and I had years ago when you were in high school.  You were such a responsible and focused young man.  One time after you rescued Becky Dearborn from a car situation on some lake back road, your Mother was telling me how much you enjoy rescuing folks. She said that you had always been quick to grab the 4-wheeler to pull a stuck snowmobile out of the lake or answer a dame in distress.  "Help is on the way" seems to be your motto, Ryan, and you respond out of the core of your character.  You seem to be wired to help. "Private Ryan Saving Chad" fits.  

Thank you for becoming the full man God intended when He shaped you from the beginning.  You fulfill His good intentions as a conduit of help for others.  Just like your Daddy, I might add.  

May the Lord be near ~ caren m

Ryan’s response:  

Thanks Caren for your encouraging words. It's great to hear from you again. 

It's at times like this I am reminded of the influences of my past. You and Robert were a huge part of that. I am excited to see what God has in store for my family in the future as well. 

Thanks for your prayers. 

my last email:

Bless you Buddy.  It will sure be good to see you tooling around the neighborhood with your family.  Hurry home!  We miss you already...

You know, Ryan, that Robert thought the world of you.  His confidence in you has not been misplaced.  

Love to all, especially your brave bride ~ care


You did hurry home, Ryan.  And we do miss you

Lessons learned around the lake

50% of the time you buck a head wind.   But keep peddling, the tail wind is comin'