October 31, 2004

It's Halloween today.

We are away from HCC for the weekend as we went "up north" to be with family for a long weekend. A little busy trying to do an see everything/one, but it's nice. Taking Monday off work to give us an extra day to get home.

Gonna take the kiddos out trick or treating tonight in Doris home town- East Jordan. Should be fun. Spencer as Special Police Agent, Will as a Cow, and Anna is going to be a Pumpkin.

Last week I was in the woods a couple times and had chance a nice buck but missed it. Just had a few seconds where I could had squeeze a shot of at 35 yards or so, but elected to hope for him to come in a little closer. Didn't happen, but it WAS exciting. Hoping to get out in the same spot again this coming week with Wade. Maybe one of us will get another chance at him.

I'm expecting all the friends and relatives to be doting over Anna at church and over lunch today. Should be a full day. I'm kind of a recluse, so the parties and get togethers make for a long day for my type. That's ok though.

Headed out to church at Ellsworth Wesleyan today. Gonna enjoy the overhead projector, hymnal, pews, and 3-point sermon. God has a way of doing his thing, no matter the format!

Praying for Rodney, leading at HCC today.

Signing off.

D-Fresh

October 25, 2004

Work's been going well lately. Just had my annual review last week with my supervisor. She seems pleased with my performance, so that feels good. I'm thankful for a job that I enjoy and is flexible in allowing me time to serve at church more than many people could.

Had Kevin and Michelle Fletcher over last night, our youth pastor. Good time. Dinner, dessert, and a movie after the boys were put down to bed. I made the cheesecake! Pat-myself on-the-back good. The movie was called "Run Away Jury"(Gene Hackman, Dustin Hoffman). Good movie with a complex, twisting plot. If you are one of those people that like to figure out the plot before it unfolds, you would like this one. My wife is one of those people. There weren't any real "fleshy" scenes either as most good movies feel compelled to include, so Doris appreciated that too.

Anna is growing so fast. I must confess, she is the cutest baby girl I've ever seen.

Wrestling a bit internally with wanting God to spell things out "next steps" for us at HCC. Feel like we could/should be doing more, but don't want to "build the house" for the Lord. Spiritually, Wade is one of the best things that has ever happened to me. I'm wrestling still, but, it's good exercise!

A corny Kindergarten joke I heard this week:

-Why did Tigger put his head in the toilet?

-Because he was looking for Pooh.


D-Fresh

October 11, 2004

Had a good week. Sorry for not bloggin' much lately. Starting to wonder why I do it at all.

I took an average size doe with my bow on Saturday morning. Struggled trying to decide if I wanted to take a doe or wait for a nice buck, but decided to put some meat in the freezer. Made a decent shot and didn't have to track it far at all. I went home and brought Spencer back with me to help me find it and bring it home. It was fun for him, and I look forward to sharing the hunting experience with my boys in coming years. If I take another deer this year with my bow, I'm going to wait for something with a decent set of antlers. It was funny though on Saturday. After I shot the doe, I had more deer come in all around me that just hung around for about another hour. Two were bucks with smaller racks. I let them go, hoping they grow for next year.

Had a good Sunday yesterday. Wade's sermon from Jonah was a good personal check:

Jonah 2: 7-9

7 "When my life was ebbing away, I remembered you, LORD , and my prayer rose to you, to your holy temple. 8 "Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs. 9 But I, with a song of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. Salvation comes from the LORD ."

How much grace have I forfeited in my life (in total)? How much grace today? Why is it so easy to love and give worth, energy, devotion, time, interest, passion, talent, to things other than the self-existant, all powerful, all knowing God above all other gods- my LORD?

LORD, be my LORD today!

Vacuum packed,
D-Freshness

October 04, 2004

It's been a while since I bothered to stop and consider taking a few minutes to sit down a come up with a blog entry. After all, it's just my random record of thoughts that very few people will mull through. Mostly, it's a brief record of what's on mind at the time.

Life has been full. With the addition of child number three, I find very few moments at home that are not consumed by paying attention to the needs of someone else. It's a good lesson for me to practice selflessness. I try to keep my priorities straight, but, if I'm completely honest, it's an inner battle, especially when I'm tired.

Bow season (deer hunting) started on Friday, and I took the day of work to go out in the woods. I did not have any shooting opportunities, but I did see 13 deer including a buck that could be considered "a shooter" for me this year. I'm not going to be too choosey this year as I expect that my actual hunting time is going to be limited this year. I LOVE to bowhunt! When October comes around, I get really wierd. It's almost like I experience the RUT myself (clarification- I get crazy for bowhunting. Actual RUT- Buck's get crazy for Doe's).

Anna is growing fast and she looks different almost everyday. She is doing very well I think, but it's always a challange trying to figure out what the noises she makes mean- 1) she's hungry, 2) She pooped, 3) She needs to poop but hasn't yet, 4) Gas, 5) She's wet, 6) She's sick and needs immediate medical attention. She's already let us know that she prefers being held while walking than being held while rocking.

The boys are doing well with the adjustment I think. I have noticed more now how Will is just moving ALL the time. He loves to kiss his sister, and does so often and forcefully. Spencer, is obviously proud of Anna and enjoys holding her whenever possible. The newness of the additional family member is wearing off some and they are beginning to notice that Mom and Dad seem to have less time to play than they used to.

I'm still reading primarily in the OT right now. Got through Genisis a couple times, and now working through Exodus. Just finished the 10 plagues in Egypt and Moses took the Isrealites across the Red Sea. God's people are complaining already. We are so selfish. I am so selfish. God, it seems, is almost impossibly patient with us.

D-Fresh