Back home

We're all back home and as of today all back to work. The girls are getting up earlier after 2 weeks of staying in bed as long as they wanted and Ilm back to church. After Colorado Springs we spent a day with my Dad's oldest sister in the Nebraska panhandle.

Our last 2 free days were in Hot Springs South, Dakota. We were coming back to the hotel after the lighting ceremony at Mount Rushmore when we saw a buffalo on the highway in Cave of the winds National Park. As we slowed to go passed one buffalo we saw two others silouetted by the moon on a ridge 40 feet to our east. I sure wish I'd had the presence of mind to slow down and get a great picture.

Back in Colorado Springs

We're pretty regular visitors to Colorado Springs. My sister lives here so it's not unheard of for us to spend a week or two here each year.

One of our new stops in Colorado this year was at Santa's Workshop at the North Pole. It's located just west of Colorado Springs on US 24.

It's a great amusement park for families with kids under 10. There were very few rides that weren't right for our whole family.

On Thursday we left the Springs with our niece joining us for 3 nights of travel and headed to Denver and then west up I70 into the mountains.


My beloved's cousin lives in Frisco. She gave us a tour including a stop at a top notch play ground and a small mountain pond called Rainbow Lake. One really fascinating and disturbing part of our stop was all the devastation that we saw happening in the forests in Summit County and Grand County. The Pine Beetles are wrecking huge stand of timber in a matter of 5 or 6 years depending on who you ask. Some estimate that up tp 90% of the Ponderosa and Lodge Pole Pine will be gone after this infestation runs its course.

After Frisco we headed to Winter Park for a night and then to the YMCA of the Rockies and to Snow Mountain Ranch for a reunion of my wife's family.

Vacation posting

We've covered some real ground this week.
We started with the prairie of Southern Minnesota, Northwest Iowa, Nebraska, and Northeastern Colorado. Most of these photos are from the arch at Kearney, Nebraska. Its a great view of travel across the prairie from the Native American hunters who followed game trails, the prospectors and pioneers who came across in covered wagons, the Pony Express. Notable to our girls were all the things left behind as people crossed to the west because they didn't want the furniture, books, or other items they had thought necessary to pack for their trip.

vacation on the road

What happens when 4 people get in a van and drive west? Vacation.

we've covered a lot of miles, and a nifty wireless web device makes posting possible. We've had 2 good stops all 4 of us would recommend.
1 Wells Dairy Visitor Center in La Mars, Iowa. it's a top notch ice cream shop in the middle of Northwest Iowa. We headed downn the road next to US 20. The road winds through Nebraska's beautiful Missouri River Bluffs. Even West of Kearney the whole state has been green from this years considerable rainfall.
2. Our second notable stop was the Great Platte River Archway Museum just east of Kearney. It's a neat museum complete with life size wagons, welcoming costumed staff, audio accompaniment, and ok special effects.

Open to the Spirit

Regular readers know that my partner in ministry decided to retire earlier than expected this Spring after a year of part time ministry and disability leave.

I'm getting my mobility papers/resume ready. It's to be open to the Spirit not only for the church I serve today, but all churches that might be looking for a new pastor.

I'd appreciate your prayers as.

pax,

unlikely

T Ball Season Game 1

It was a beautiful blue sky and puffy white cloud evening on our edge of the prairie and the Hiawatha Valley. The local t-ball fields were hopping. Dozens of mini-vans and increasing unpopular SUV's were parked along side the soccer/t-ball fields as we arrived at 6:45 for practices before the 7:30 games.

The dog and I spend time in solitude running in this park on the edge of town almost every morning; but tonight the place was chalk full of 4 to 6 year old kids in there color coordinated team t-shirts and oversized batting helmets. There were a lot of spectators too; parents, a few grandparents, and siblings who just came along for the ride seemed to enjoy their chance to cheer.

There are 8 t-ball teams currently fielded in town. Our kids are on an as yet un-named team dressed in dark blue t-shirts. They're coached by three outstanding women who all know much more about playing ball than I can ever hope to learn. Even ushering at the Metrodome for 4 Twins seasons didn't prepare me to teach my kids how to play. My daughter said simply, "Dad you're supposed to be good at this, as I muffed a ball with a borrowed glove during practice.

The rules of t-ball are simple for a 4 or 5 year old, if your up to bat, just hit the ball, not the parent who bravely puts it on the tee, and then run to a base. If the next person in line gets a hit then run to second.

If your out in the field the game is a little more challenging. It's tough for these kids not to be distracted by the birds, clouds, weeds, mud, water, and other kids out at play. A favorite moment was watching our minute older daughter who was playing first base give a big hug to a boy who had just reached base from the other team.

pax,
Unlikely

A good old meme

Here it is. Days after the invitation I've completed this meme.
Hope all is well

Rules:
The rules of the game get posted at the beginning.
Each player answers the questions about himself or herself.
At the end of the post, the player then tags five people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know they’ve been tagged and asking them to read your blog.
Yadayadayada

Ten years ago:
Ten years ago at this time of year, I was living in St. James, MN finishing my internship year at Augustana Lutheran Church. I was enjoying the end of my first full year working in a church. I had a lot to learn still (and still do) about all that is involved. The relationship I was in was ending and I was even thinking about my last year in seminary.

Things I'd do if I was a billionaire:
-give it all away as fast as possible. My wife might want a bigger house but I'd rather keep the one we've got than just spend until we had everything in the world. I think I could give it all away in less than 10 days and not feel bad about it and then go back to being a pastor.


Three bad habits:
never getting my council report or newsletter in by the first deadline at church
staying up to late watching tv with my bride
not picking up after I finish projects (my desk always has open books that just need to be closed)


Five places I've lived:
Lauderdale, MN
Neenah, WI
St James MN
Kenyon MN
Winona MN


Five jobs I've had:
boy scout camp commissary staff
usher at the Metrodome
art model
teaching assistant
book store shipping clerk

I'm tagging Habs at Armed and Gregarious
and Dr John