ThanksGiving in San Carlos, Ca

How beautiful are these two redheads? Danielle spent her third west-coast T-Day with Aaron's family. They'll be spending Christmas in SD with our whole fam!! Yippeeee!!

*Taking an off-handed poll: yeah or nay on D's new doo? I love it. Very festive for the Holidays. My favorite story about the rainbow color is her managing editor, Eric, razzing her about the splashy color asking, "What would your mother think?" Then he backtracked mid-sentence, "Oh wait, your mom's hair is just as crazy!"

byob

Bring your own ball to the kindergarten room! After doing her research, our fabulous K teacher, Donna Elliott, ditched the chairs and blew up the balls.

Mayo Clinic says the exercise bouncers are better for posture and help release pent-up energy throughout the day which leads to better concentration. Can we really expect 5-year-olds to park it for 4 hours in a hard chair? Give me a break!!!

My college roomie, Cyn, says after guest-teaching for kindergartners, "Those dat-gum k'ers will kill ya!" Obviously they don't have bouncing energy-expending balls in Cali!

The crux of the matter

Cork it, Wilma!

After a dusky 12-miler, the endorphines were firing! But so was the verbage! The only answer to the motor-mouth dilemma...tape. So excited the mom was with the geese squawkin' overhead, the full moon and the perfect ride as the sun was setting. Who wouldn't be runnin' off at the mouth with all that Joy? But it was too much for Gabers and Elissa.

ThanksGiving 2007

Just for the love of it

A Gabers~Morgan photo.

The clamoring crowd

The natives are a bit restless, hankering for a New Post on the murch blog. Apparently the earthquake seisometer has grown tiresome. Predictably, it is the dat-gum journalists who started the rumble; earth shaking news has a short shelf-life.

However, I admit to marginal boredom myself with the murch blog of late; always waiting for Holy Inspiration before plunging headlong.

NEWS: I just spent the weekend with JoyFul and Nathaniel in FarGo eating, movie watching and hand holding during church. (Of course, we neglected to take photos.) We saw "Into the Wild" which lingers as an after-taste in the mind. Troublesome and fascinating, all at the same time.

THANKSGIVING THOUGHT for 2007 from the Heidelberg Catechism: “What is our only comfort in life and in death? That we are not our own, but belong- body and soul, in life and in death— to our faithful Savior Jesus Christ.”

I daresay if this gem was brought before the mind intensely, the Glory of it would work transformation. Now that's a long shelf-life.

Happy Blessed ThanksGiving to all

Earthquake in Cali!

Chelsey and I (Danielle) survived our first California earthquake tonight - 5.6! We were sitting on our couch when our condo began to sway. The couch moved a little and the window blinds shook, but nothing too bad. Shira (roommate #3) came home a few minutes later to inform us that we have an earthquake safety kit in the closet! So we busted out the flashlight, granola bars and blanket - none of which was really needed. You never know though ... we hear the aftershocks can be pretty intense. Chel's still rolled up in a fetal position in our front yard. I'll lure her in with some chocolate ice cream. We've made counseling appointments to face our recently developed illness: seismophobia (fear of quakes). Here's the Chronicle's article about the quake:
http://www.sfgate.com/flat/archive/2007/10/30/chronicle/archive/2007/10/30/BA19T3RCD.html

Father God as Christmas decorator

Just when we earth-dwellers think we have a corner on the decorating market! Isn't this the most gorgeous photograph taken at Mt. Diablo's Curry Point? Just beautiful! Not sure what kind of tree would produce such luscious buds, but I am rethinking my holiday decorating; Au natural, I say!

Thanx to our Favorite Paparazzi, Glenn Moore of Tracy Press fame, for his superb photographic skills. And to God our Father for delighting all the God-noticers.

Hoping we'll all become God-noticers this holiday season. Let all the earth Rejoice!

St. Olaf weekend

Laura Wilde - Carmen - possessed the stage in all her sultry glory; her large Voice rich as custard. "Viva Vox!" I told her. Living Voice! She said it will mature in her late 20’s. As Gabe would say, “That Voice is going to grow up to be Something!!”

I didn’t want to leave St. Olaf’s with it’s rainbow trees. The center quad featured a ringing singing chime fest, each bell commemorating a student or teacher who died during their tenure at the college. Being one of the finest music training schools in the nation, I guess no one should be surprised that the lives live on in song. "All Life Matters" read the pogoda caption. I stood underneath and let the music rain down on me. I didn’t want to leave.

The chapel reminded me of Notre Dame. The minstrel students meandered back in to resume rehearsal for their Vesper’s concert. The freshmen male choir sang back and forth from their balcony perch ”We have seen thy salvation, O Lord,” with the vesper’s choir responding from the stage. Back and forth they sang. I was enraptured and never wanted to leave. I wondered if they served meals and a person could just dwell there.

Story about Mrs. M

Who is great at hugs? Mrs. M. She teaches math and reading excellently to me. Mrs. M thinks cookies are delicious. My teachers always compliment me walking down the hall. Her voice sounds pretty. Also she enjoys riding bike on the bike trail. Sometimes she is sad and sometimes she is happy.


I asked Dustin about the sad/happy reference and he said with trepidation, "The time you got the flowers. You cried." That was last Valentine's Day when my student, Stacey, sent flowers to school. I told the children how much it meant to me. Tender-hearted Dustin remembered how choked up I was. What a Dear!

Chello...then goodbye

Morgan was not happy when at the 11th hour we announced that we had to go home. She went limp as a dishrag hugging Aunt Suz and I was weepy when Morgan said, "Care, why do you have to go? It's important that you stay with me."

Stick a fork in me, I was done...

3 day weekend in SpearFish

Walking down the street with 1000 balloons singing "I love a parade" ~ now that was fun. I got to hand out balloons to some chilluns during the Black Hills State Homecoming parade while greeting all the folks. Like my Daddy, I never met a stranger I didn't adore.

The flaming maple tree center stage at Spearfish Park touted the brightest and best fall colors I've seen so far this season. Morgan made a leaf angel and then we ran rings around that glorious tree. WhEEE!!

Robert's Red Guitar

Unlike my midborn daughter and my new left coast best friend, Cheri0, I almost never hanker for a camera around my neck. But today I did; during worship, of all things.

Nathan, our new worship leader, says with his humble demeanor, "I'm going to romp at the Throne. Want to join me?" Today he accompanied the invitation with Robert's red 12-string. I wish I'd had a camera.

It had been 2 years since the harp-like instrument was used for leading. Greg, Robert's closest flying friend, practiced with the guitar and frankly, I wasn't ready to display it in our home like a museum piece. I was thrilled that Greg was using it. Robert, after all, had been instrumental in both Greg and his brother, Tim, joining the Cornerstone worship team. So who better to safeguard Robert's Red Guitar. In fact, it was Greg who encouraged Robert to buy the 12-string in the first place. Robert played it only a year or so before his sudden departure to join the Forever Worshippers.

So when I gave it to Nathan to be used "for God's Glory and our delight," I was pleased and grateful that he grabbed the thing. I know Robert would have been very pleased to hear the strings singing, "Won't you come?"

Robert called his guitar(s), "My ax." Meaning, the tool he used to bring down the kingdom of darkness and usher in the Kingdom of Light.

Scripture says, "Every knee will bow; every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord." Blessed are those who lead in that declaration here and now. Thank you Robert, Greg, and Nathan ~ all leading us in the Holy Romp.

This entry dedicated with great love to my baby, JoyFul, on the occasion of her 22nd birthday, September 30, 1985. Thanx for being a worshipper. You make me and your Daddy proud.

Danielle's blast from the 60's past

Great Honk, D! Going to hookah in a handbag!

Did we ever think Dani0's move to the left coast would come to this? Apparently her paparazzi, Glenn, snapped this while Danielle was reporting on a new Afghan Restaurant which features the waterpipe smoking of flavored tobacco mixed with dried fruit. It's called hookah and at 8 bucks a bowl, the price will doubtless head-off the habit. She'll stick to vino in the California sun.

Carmen the Wildebeast

Laura Wilde, Watertown's favorite - and only - aspiring opera diva this month will be performing the starring role as Carmen at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota.

I'll be the one in the front row shouting, "Bravo Viva Vox, Laura Wilde!!"

Congratulations to Sarah and Peterson

While thinking of you 2 becoming one in matrimony, I remembered this question: "Together will you make more of an impact on the Kingdom than you would apart?" Yes, indeed.

Love and richest blessing to you both. care

At the stroke of midnight ~ 9/19/50/2007

Reflecting on the two most important days of my life: The day I was born and the day I found out why.

Today 57 years ago, I was born.

Why? To walk with others across the bridge.

"Behold the handmaiden of the Lord; be it unto me as You have spoken."

The faces of Care

Put on your Sunday best, Care! You've aged yet another year! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

May we become as little children

One day, a wise mother took a most favored 'friend' away from her 4-year old. The blankey was called "White Baby" and the child loved it.

After learning her lesson, White Baby reappeared to play with the child again.

"Why has White Baby given me a second chance?" moaned the little one.

That question, although unanswerable to our satisfaction, is on all our lips? "Why are we given a second chance?"

May we become as little children, asking all the Right Questions.