Birthday Dutch Blitz!

On Monday (my birthday), my family had me over for pasties and birthday cake. Actually I should say birthday brownies with chocolate ice cream, chocolate sauce and chocolate chips! I do have a picture that I should upload at some point.

Well, after all the wonderful food, we played a couple games: take 2 and Dutch Blitz. While playing dutch blitz, we thought it would be fun to take video clips of the games to see how fast we were playing. If you like fast card games and have never tried Dutch Blitz, you should definitely try it. It's much like nerts, but uses special cards. I learned the game at a summer music camp 12 years ago, and it has been a family favorite since then.

It's a bit long, but fun (to me) to watch. Thanks Anna for putting the video together!

Camping Pictures

3/25/08 Update - The rest of Elijah's pictures are here!

2008-03 Camping Elijah Camera - Part 2

3/20/08
At last - I've uploaded many of the camping pictures taken last weekend. For those of you who were not there, looking through 300 or so pictures will probably not appeal to you. But for the rest of you, take your time and enjoy!

2008-03 Camping - Miriam's Camera

2008-03 Camping Elijah Camera - part 1

2008-03 Camping-Lydia's camera

Camping Statistics!

I don't have the camping pictures uploaded yet, but keep checking back since I hope to load them tomorrow afternoon. It's been a long time since I've posted on here. My main reasons have been the business of work (we're almost done with a physical plant move from one location 8 miles away to another plant), and the lack of internet at home (I use my neighbor's wireless connection and he doesn't know what's going on with his internet right now).

Camping was a lot of fun. I had a great time with the people who came and we had great weather as well. I took a lot of pictures which turned out really nice thanks to the new camera that John gave me for my birthday - thanks again! It has an awesome zoom which I greatly enjoyed while taking pictures of ultimate frisbee.

As goes with my nature and my genes if you consider how my grandma Lofgren used to count the number of socks she washed each week (so I've been told), I do like statistics. So, this morning over sibling breakfast, Anna, Jubilee, Lydia and I calculated the number of people who were a part of the camping trip. Here are the numbers:

66 - Campers who camped both Friday and Saturday night
19 - Campers who camped either Friday or Saturday night
85 - Total Campers

33 - People who came out for the day on Saturday or Sunday

118 - Total people associated with our camping trip this weekend!

28 - Different families represented with the 118 people!

Well, lunch time is over, so more camping info and other posts will just have to wait. I was pleased to see on my blog statistics today that not everyone has given up on this blog!

Spring Camping Countdown - Only 2 Weeks!

I can't believe how time has flown by! Two weeks from this moment, I'll probably be on my way to our spring camping trip once again. Camping (as those of you who know me realize) is something I do enjoy . I took a look at some of last fall's pictures and picked out a couple fun ones to share today.
Volley ball is almost a constant game while camping. I like this picture because in it you can see the "big kids" and "little kids" playing together. Look at the boy behind Ben - he's ready for that ball if it comes to him! Of course it's rare if a ball gets past Ben :)


This is another fun picture since it's girls (not the guys) who are collecting the daddy long legs. And they're having a great time with them!

Fun with family whether it's eating, hiking or hanging around on trees is something that always goes with camping.
Camping meals can be easy and still tasty. Our family prefers to play and spend a minimal amount of time cooking. Somehow we still end up eating well - doesn't food just taste better camping? Others take time to do some time-intensive meals which are also great tasting. Dad tends to be one of the ones that everyone knows is usually willing and able to help others finish up the left overs.
Each group is a little different. Last fall's group was large - over 100 people (not all in the picture) came last spring. It's hard to know how many we'll have this year. Many families are already making plans to come. I've given out invitations at church and work. I can't wait!

Why Would People Put Themselves in Danger?

Here's an excerpt from an article written by Michelle Cantrell (click here to read the whole thing), a missionary to South Africa:

"I could faithfully serve Christ and the gospel in another country. But I wouldn't expect to reap the same amount of fruit as in a desperate place like Africa: “God chose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him.” (James 2:5). People here see their need for the Great Physician. People are suffering. We have the cure that they are asking for. The gospel (a biblical worldview) is the ultimate cure for AIDS and poverty and crime. In more western countries, people are deceptively self-sufficient and hardened to the gospel. Why not stay where the harvest is ripe and the workers are few?"

Many people are concerned about their children, and she answers that too:

"But what about our children? Isn’t their safety and future success more important than our fruitfulness or fulfillment? Yes, our children are our first and foremost disciples. Their safety is our responsibility. But their souls are our biggest concern. Do we want to teach them to run away from trouble or to run to the battle? Do we want to teach them that life is all about how much stuff you can accumulate and how comfortable you can be, or that life is about serving others, building Christ’s church, and giving up your life to find it? “For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s shall save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? (Mk 8:34-36).

I want my children to follow the examples of people like Jim Elliot who said, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” As I think of protecting my children, I need to remember that there are other dangers beside physical ones. I would rather that they lose their lives than their souls. As they follow God and seek first His kingdom, He will provide for their needs (Matt. 6:33, Mark 10:29-31, Phil. 4:19). If they have a strong Christian character and work ethic they will not usually have trouble providing for their family wherever they live (Proverbs 10:4). I choose to stay because I don’t want to rob myself or my children of crowns that they can lay at the feet of our risen Lord."

The article ends with a challenge: "Where are you called to die?"

Reading this article causes me to again look at my life and consider what my priorities are. I want to follow God wholeheartedly. What has he called me to do? I don't think it's life as a missionary right now. It seems more to be a faithful engineer who does drawings and paperwork and other duties as needed. But, will I remain open to His call? Am I doing all the He has for me here? Am I willing to put myself in danger for Christ? These are questions that I am pondering today.

I walked right into one today!

My coworker was messing with me this morning by telling another guy how he should watch out for me since I can get so angry and upset at people. He told the guy that the way to know if I was mad was to watch if I got up and walked around our building. I agreed that was true. He then told the guy that’s why you could find me out walking first thing every morning! I just had to laugh!

I do walk or run in the mornings, but it’s not because I’m mad at the world. I like to think that I am a very calm and typically easy going person. It’s pretty hard to get me emotionally upset at someone or something. But there was one time in the 5 ½ years that I’ve worked here that I got upset at a guy who wouldn’t stop talking. He was unwilling to listen to what I said and just kept going on and on about whatever it was he thought I should do. Finally I just got up, left my office and walked outside. I took a short walk around our plant. By the time I got back I think he had gone back to his office. The walk really did help - so I would definitely recommend it if you are frustrated while talking with someone!

Tornado Today in Prattville

We were very blessed as the Church escaped with only minor damage. The sign was destroyed, but that seemed to be the only major problem. As you can see, the neighborhoods and busineses accross the street and down the road had major damage. A few minutes before 3pm, the power went out in the church. Then we saw debris swirling in the air and Pastor Tony told us to run inside. We went inside to one of the classrooms and heard the strong winds. Soon the winds stopped and we went outside to see that the basketball goal had been blown across the parking lot and into the church sign. Later on, we walked down the street to see the terrible damage to the neighborhoods and businesses. Power is still out and a curfew is in effect right now. We thank God for how he spared us. There are currently no reports of fatalities!