A TRIBUTE TO LOVE

I spent time thinking about my birthday. It is a celebration of life. Life is a gift of God because He is love. My life was also made possible because of the love that my Dad and Mom share. So my meditation concluded that birthdays are really a celebration of LOVE.

I celebrate God's love: Thank you God for giving me life... and for "abundant life."

And I celebrate the love that my parents have given to each other and to me: Thank you Dad and Mom for your example of love - thank you for making your children the most special people you know. I love you. And now here is me, a product of love.

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Let it be known that all 27 were taken care of in 1 breath. The little boy inside said.. climb on the underside of a bridge over a river.

And a good old fashion upside down smile!

CELEBRATING LIFE & HONORING THE FALLEN

Eight days after Mt. St. Helens errupted I came. And today I celebrated that with some food and friends. From my heart, I have the privilege of calling some of the best people on planet earth my friends.

(TO MY AUNT PEGGY WHO FAITHFULLY READS MY BLOG - TELL UNCLE JACK THAT THESE VEGGIE PATTIES TASTED PRETTY GOOD OFF THE GRILL )

The afternoon wouldn't have been complete without a game of croquet. This game has found a spot on my list of fun.

I give a public apology to my teamate Staci - because of my wayward shots we came in last.

And to those who are remembered on this day for giving their life- I SALUTE you.

PHOTOS THAT SAY SOMETHING

TODAY I FEEL...

Can you empathize?

Yesterday while digging out some boots I found a pair of shorts. These shorts have a story: About six years ago while I was living in Mexico I had a friend come down and visit me. The system at the laundromat is that you take your clothes drop them off and pick them up later - much like our drycleaning arrangement up here. While there my friend had his laundry done and after opening his bag back in our room discovered an extra pair of shorts that weren't his. So he kindly put them on my bed thinking they were mine. When I returned I "kindly" put them on his bed thinking they were his. Since then those same shorts have turned up in the most unusual places both at his house and at mine even though we have lived in different states. Well I have had the shorts now for about a year in my closet. I will be seeing this friend this week... I am thinking it is time to return them to their "original" owner. Since he doesn't read my blog the secret is ours.

I SAW JESUS TODAY ON THE PLAYGROUND

I am doing a week of prayer at an elementary school this week. And that is both a lot of fun and a blessing. I explained to them this morning how we would have a prayer box that no one else would look in, and we could fill the box with prayer requests before we burned it at the end of the week. After I was done a little girl raised her hand and asked if she could even put in a request to Jesus about her problem. "Yes," I replied to her while quietly whispering thanks for her reminder to me.

After the chapel service I played softball with the kids. There are only about 30 in the whole school and so they combined all the grades to play one game. For the first two innings I watched a 2nd grade girl wonder around the outfield with no glove and no place to be important. I must tell you that although these kids were great sports this game at recess held a world series style importance. After about the second inning the little girl wondered off the field on the first base side, she sat down and put her head between her knees. From the other side of the field a 6th grade girl that was playing third base came over took the 2nd grade girl by the hand walked her over to third base and took her own glove and put it on the small hand of the younger girl. After which she whispered reassuringly in her ear and then took several steps back giving up her important position on the base. That's when I realized Jesus was playing too.

THE SUN AND A DISK

This shot was taken by by a friend this week while at the beach one evening. (I am in the distance preparing to receive the Unidentified Flying Object which is in fact a frizbee.) However this picture was made possible by an incredible God.

Everytime I see a sunset a phrase runs through my mind -spoken by God: "Micheal if I can do this (the sunset) I can do anything." And I can only reply... hallelujah.