The wedding in Fargo

Laura and Ben's wedding.
The ten High School Friends together again.

Still crazy after all these years

Cuttin' a rug
or
whip lash?

Danielle in FarGO

My gorgeous girls together

Mid-day refreshment with her favorite brother-in-law.

The GrandBabes wishing a HaPPy bday to Gramma Care

Morgan's idiom references had me rolling:
"Sure hoping you don't have 'fish to fry.'"
"Goodnight!"  Wink.  

Hilarious.

Auntie and Niece reunion

As Robert would say, "Mother and child reunion."
Danielley is the aunt - not the mother - meeting her beautiful niece for the
first time.

Deadwood or bust!
Good times in South Dakota, Sept 2013.  

Who knows where Morgan is.
Probably on the Red Slide.

At the risk of neglecting MJ & Isaiah Robert,

Danielle is bonding with her niece.  

Amelia Margaret helping Danielle
check her email.

Saddle up, Partner.  I've got these reins.  

Clearing brain clutter

Jennifer Fulwiler of Conversion Diary fame, wrote the most insightful article - The Mental Neat Freak - on the varying activities that reboot mental stability.  She was flummoxed and dismayed that two hours getting a massage or haircut did not calm her in the long run.  Short term, yes, the activity was fun and enjoyable.  But she discovered, after some introspection, that writing and reading are the activities that center her knowledge that "All is Well."  It's fun and productive to figure out what settles the soul.

For me, biking and quiet contemplation, do the deed.  I am an idea person, so time to ponder and wander is crucial for a sense of peace.  As extroverted as I am by nature, renewal comes with the balance between people interaction and time with the still, small Voice.

Here's the link to Jennifer's article:  http://www.conversiondiary.com

Sometimes the truth is funny as a crutch

http://youtu.be/hfP6LmJiSec

A day at the zoo

Thomas Sowell's wisdom strikes again

http://jewishworldreview.com/cols/sowell073013.php3#.UfgFcxafcy4

MacMurchy family, circa summer '13

This would be the perfect MacMurchy family photo
if Mama MacMurchy was front and center.
But somebody has to click the pic, for crying out loud!

Amelia Mimi Margaret.
Doll baby

Morgan loves her brother.
Isaiah Robert loves his sister.

As Elissa says, "Who doesn't love a boy in a fedora?"

Elbert Guillory: "Why I Am a Republican"

Come unto Jesus. And rest.

http://andyunedited.ivpress.com/2013/05/remembering_dallas_willard.

Dallas Willard went to be with his Lord this morning. Many people will miss his strong, gentle wisdom, remembering him as someone who was soaked in the presence of Christ. He was a beloved friend and writer to many. We enjoyed publishing a number of titles by Dallas (1935-2013), especially one of his signature books, Hearing God.

Perhaps twenty years ago I was with Dallas as he led a two-day retreat for a dozen or so of us. In particular I remember his talking about practicing the disciplines of solitude and silence, something he tried to do for thirty minutes a day. I asked him what he meant by that. And he told us.

"And do you pray?" I asked.

"No."

"Or meditate or read the Scriptures?"

"No."

"Then what?"

"Nothing. I just sit. In the presence of Christ."

What made very little sense to me then has come to mean more and more to me as the years have gone by. As the pace of life has become more abuzz with activity and stimulation and distraction, I have more and more craved time to just sit, and do nothing, except be in Christ's presence. It has become a centering, still point in a topsy-turvy world. It reminds me what is important and who is important, what is a crisis and what is not.

As Dallas taught so many, the Sabbath and Sabbath moments like the ones he described are ways of acknowledging who is in charge of the world and who is not. It reminds us that we are dependent on God and not ourselves. Our activity, our work, our intensity are not god. And by resting from those things, we acknowledge who is.

By giving away money we at once blaspheme the god of Mammon and worship the true God. By giving away time we at once blaspheme the god of Activity and worship the true One.

These I gratefully carry with me, gifts from Dallas Willard.

Posted by Andy Le Peau at May 8, 2013 11:36 AM

Early morning, we will rise up and seek You

THE LORD's PRAYER

Dear Father always near us,
May Your name be treasured and loved,
May your rule be completed in us-
May Your will be done here on earth
In just the way it is done in Heaven.
Give us today the things we need today,
And forgive us our sins and impositions on You
As we are forgiving all who in any way offend us.
Please don't put us through trials,
but deliver us from everything bad.
Because You are the one in charge,
And You have all the power,
And the glory too is all yours - forever -
Which is just the way we want it!
Dallas's rendition

Sad but true

http://www.themorlockrevolt.com/2013/05/how-obama-gets-his-news-true-story.html

Dallas thought provoker

Willard appeals to those haunted by the question: Why don't Christians look more like Christ?

Introducing Dr. Dallas Willard

"Dallas makes goodness attractive."

DW thoughts

Dr. Willard's Vampire Christian insight:
"I'd like a little of your blood, please. But I don't care to be your student or have your character. In fact, won't you just excuse me while I get on with my life, and I'll see you in heaven." 

One of Dallas's earliest childhood memories was his mother's funeral.  The wee lad was 2 years old and tried to crawl into his mother's casket.  The sinuous knot entwining a mother and her child in The Circle of Sufficiency compelled the child to be near her.  Mother Willard's last instruction to her husband  was to "keep Eternity before the children."  

Why does my heart swell to bursting with the mother's plea?  Those would be my last words as well.  To my children and my children's children for a thousand generations until Jesus returns, please keep Eternity before you.

Two Dallas Willard memories shared by Pastor Mark Roberts:
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/markdroberts/2013/05/08/remembering-dallas-willard-part-1/

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/markdroberts/2013/05/09/remembering-dallas-willard-part-2/

    

Timely quote of the scandal-riddled day

If you are on the wrong road, progress means doing an about-turn and walking back to the right road; and in that case the man who turns back soonest is the most progressive man. 

C. S. Lewis 

Little Man turns the page to Three

Sweet Morgan Jo proudly carrying her brother's
birthday cake.  

Mama Elissa made a dirt loader cake
that 3-year-old Isaiah Robert can play in.
Nothing better!

Sweet shy little laddie savoring his moment of birthday
specialness.
Taking his sweet time gliding through the Traditional Birthday Tunnel.
I love him in his fedora and spring duds. 

This photo speaks a thousand:
Dad overseeing the safety of his family in the face of fire,
while trying to be taken seriously in a bday hat.
Mom enjoying the joy of her children being celebrated.
Big Sis taking her candle-lighting task so seriously.
Birthday boy waiting patiently.
Thunder Thigh Mimi along for the happy ride
while holding up 1 finger indicating her upcoming
First Birthday.