Cold Canada

From 2011 Oct-Dec

For the first time, my son-in-law Michael was able to join us for a little Fall foray to Ontario’s magnificent Lake of the Woods. October crappies were calling our name but a strong NW wind and cool temperatures kept us from our usual haunts on the north side of Miles Bay. The gap near Mylie’s found us battling six-foot swells. Yikes! But what a ton of fun and a decent fill of walleye. Nearly bagged our limit.

Friends and Family

From 2011 Jul-Sep

So very grateful to have our extended family to the cabin for a weekend of relaxation and shopping junkets to Nisswa. I am reminded this is indeed one of my life’s greatest blessings … to have our children marry into such wonderful, Godly families. Families who love one another and enjoy a good round of late-night scrabble (more coffee please …). Terrys, Zazuciks, Groves – we love you!

Wedding #3

From Jordon & Ashton ~ Stephanie Drake Photography ~ HiRes

Well, it’s happened again. God has joined yet another of our children to a wonderful family. Welcome aboard Ashton and your groovy parents, David and Mary! We love you all and so look forward to watching these kids blossom before us. The ceremony was lovely, meaningful and fun! Thank you Lord for being front and center in these proceedings.

Great American Road Trip 2011

From 2011 Apr-Jun

After a couple-year hiatus, found ourselves once again heading west on an RV-trailer convoy to the Black Hills of South Dakota. The faces have changed a bit (welcome Jenna!) but the fun remains the same. Forever grateful to my parents for once again providing the “mother-ship”. Hope you had as much fun as we did. Most “interesting” event? We were nearly shot by wild-west reenactors in Hill City! True story.

Surprise! It's your 16th birthday!

Stacked directly against our return for Perdido Key, our older kids, friends and relatives did a terrific job of getting things ready for Mariah's suprise 16th birthday celebration. Is was hectic, but it was an amazing event for her. In the morning she got her driver's license, and after a made-up trip to Target with mom, she returned to a house bursting with well wishers (forty-plus as best I could tell). She didn't have a clue and thoroughly enjoyed the evening. Thank you to every one who came to wish her well, and a second thank you to all that helped with decorations, food and cake! A video highlight is posted below. Find additional photos posted here.

Beach, Eat, Sleep, Repeat

Although the crew was smaller this year, we are once again thankful to spend some time on God's shoreline, Perdido Key. This was our 11th spring break in the area as best I can recall, and we were thankful to see that ill effects of last year's BP oil spill were no where to be found (although FEMA crews still regularly patrol the beaches). The area also seems to have now fully recovered from the devastating Hurricane Ivan of September 2004. Surpisingly, with spring break already concluded for regional universities, things were very quiet on the Key. No lines, sparse traffic, it was great! Best of all, record setting warmth greeted us every day but one, with sunny highs nearing 80 degrees day after day. Never seen such great weather. Thank you Lord. Nothing too exciting, but I've posted three short videos below. Find additional photos posted here.

State Champions!

Our Maranatha Christian Academy Mustangs pulled-off a historic tournament surge to win the Class A Minnesota State High School Girls Basketball Championship. It was a memory of a lifetime for these girls, Coach Hammond, his assistants and the entire Maranatha family. Cool thing, our Mariah is a student manager for the team, and she got to be a central part of this amazing ride. God was given the glory over, and over by this wonderful school that we call home. We are so proud of you!

MCA Winners! Final Seconds

Let’s do it again!

Every year I’m somewhat amazed at the continued interest in these old machines and the people that built them. Scorpion Homecoming started in 2005 on a bit of dare … would anybody even show-up? Well show-up they did, and here we are seven years after the fact, with no end in sight. Kudos to the wonderful people we’ve met along the way. Together, what was once lost, has now been found. Thank you!

Pop the question Jordon!

After many months of careful planning, our second son Jordon finally popped the question to his lovely girlfriend Ashton Elizabeth Terry. It took some doing. Ring paid-off: check. Everything set at Saint Paul’s romantic Rice Park: check. Brandon and Jenna devising a scheme to divert Ashton's attention: check. Only problem, a flat tire nearly made this the engagement that wasn’t. What a great memory, and what a beautiful setting. Oh, and she did indeed say yes. We are very proud of you both. An August 19, 2011 wedding is being planned.