Advancing

A Montana Thanksgiving

Our first Thanksgiving in beautiful Bozeman was blessed with the arrival of special guests.  Our associate pastor, Don Murray, sledding face-first below, and family celebrated the holiday with us.  Ryan Solberg, one of our AF youth workers and Suzi Brown, a guitarist in our praise band, joined us as well.

We played games (inside and outside!).  We watched a great classic movie about the great Scotsman, Dr. Peter Marshall, who influenced many American lives through his powerful gospel preaching.  Marshall (1902-1949) also served twice as chaplain of the U.S. senate.  Great food, great friends, great God!

Hello, From Bozeman!

This is my hot wife.  It's pictures like this that get a man back on the blog shizzle.  Have you missed me?  Missed who?  :  )  That's OK.  I can honestly say that while many of you bloggers have broadened my worldview and tickled my funnybone, I've really enjoyed the last year off.  In fact, I don't know if I'll be posting much, even now.  Publishing my thoughts for anyone to read isn't always inviting.  I have experienced the privilage of getting to know, and even meet in person, some really cool people.  I'll be leading worship early tomorrow so...I'm calling it a night.  God bless.

Weekend Rendezvois

On Sunday, Grace Harvest Church prayed over our family, sending us to Bozeman with an outpouring of faith and affection.  Afterwords, my lovely bride and I escaped to Leavenworth, WA for a romantic weekend together.  We had a blast.  Here's a pic of the room we enjoyed for a couple days.  The picture above was taken Monday afternoon during a 4 mile hike.  Hot Mamma!

Well...this is it!  I'll be traveling to Bozeman by myself Thursday morning and will start work on Monday, the 9th.  Please pray for the quick sale of our home so our family can be together.  I'm lost without my wife and kids. 

Sabbath

This morning the fam hopped in the van (Beezus).  After stopping for a few picnic entrees at our local grocery store, we drove an hour north to Summer Falls.  We were in need of a break.  This move has taken a physical and emotional toll on everyone.  Today was Sabbath, a day of rest and recreation.  Please pray for my wife, Deea.  Pray for opportunity and funds to remove a problem tooth.  Above:  Cassia didn't know I took this shot with my Treo 700! 

Christopher and Malinda chillin' in a fictional world of space and time!

So....one more time....where is the heavy artillery aisle at Walmart? ...

The 12th Man!

What a game!  Christopher was rewarded for all the hard work he's been putting into our transition to Bozeman, MT.  With the oversight of our church youth pastor, Raul Figueroa, he spray painted our house.  He's also helped with painting the trim, been "Mr. Fix It" on several small items and much, much more.  68,121 strong (New Quest Field Record!) left it all on the field as the Seattle Seahawks spanked the New York Giants 42-30.  It was 42-3 in the 3rd.

Above:  We left Moses Lake early so we could enjoy some Seattle sun!

Below:  Lunch at Red Robin on Puget Sound

   

Groto Falls

Our family just returned from a fantastic vacation.  We drove nine hours east on I-90 into the beautiful state of Montana.  The picture above was taken about 15 miles from where we camped, just outside of Bozeman, home of MSU. 

My apologies for slacking on this blog.  I'm in a time of reevaluating why I'm doing this thing.  It's been a great way to work on my writing and communication skills.  I've also built some new friendships with bloggers outside my little eastern WA world, 2 of whom I've had the privilege of meeting personally.  The rub comes down to time and motivation.  Thanks to everyone who has been interested in what God has been doing in my life.  Much love.      

Gunpo Or Bust

These suitcases have traveled many miles.  My wife, Deea, and son are in Gunpo, South Korea participating in this year's sister city exchange.  Deea just wrote an article that hit the front page of our local newspaper.  She was hired by the county a few months back to help coordinate this year's trip.  They get back Saturday.  We're excited to hear what happened.  We miss them big time!

A Field Trip For The Ages

Since our youngest daughter, Malinda (far right), was about 7, she has been facinated by archaeology.  Well, last week she was introduced to a similar dig gig:  paleontology.  Her grandmother, Linda Schafer, treated she and her mother (second from left) to a very special trip:  Wyoming's Dinosaur Safaris.

The Billings Gazette's Ruffin Prevost had this to say about Malinda:

For Malinda Paul, a 13-year-old accelerated home-school student about to enter the 10th grade, science and fun are the same thing at the dig site. With her mother, Deea Paul, she made the trip to Wyoming from her home in Washington state specifically to dig for dinosaur fossils.

"I've wanted to be an archaeologist for a long time," she said, figuring the digging, though closer to paleontology, was still good practice for a future career. "This trip was a surprise 13th-birthday present from my grandma."

 

Bozeman Sunrise

Deea took this gorgeous pic yesterday morning in Bozeman, MT.  Click on it.

A Reason To Bare Arms

We left for Spokane a bit early on the 4th so we could do some shopping at Valley Mall. The girls tried on some dresses at Maurices. Beautiful. Just like their momma!  As they blossom into womanhood the blessedness of the 2nd Amendment brings me comfort.  Message to guys:  You'll be going through me!