We bowl about once every two or three years, so I guess it’s something to document!  A staff family fun night of sorts was organized at the bowling ally which proved to be a great time to just play together.  Below are a few shots of the night….the scoreboard pic is to prove to Sarah’s family that she did indeed have a sweet score, and was indeed beating Steve at one point—wow!

So, due to the prompting of a dear friend who encourages us to continue going on dates, assures us that it is okay to spend a bit of money on ourselves, and reminds us to make our relationship with one another a priority, we wanted to prove to her (by posting it on our blog) that we went on a date.  And it was great.  We headed off to Eau Claire to run errands together and to find a Mexican restaurant.  We came upon a newly acquired taste and appreciation for seafood stuffed tacos!  (Can’t go back to a bland ‘ol bean burrito..we’re spicing it up folks…)

Yep, that’s right, many warned us that after purchasing a home, comes maintaining it and fixin ‘er up.  While I see it as somewhat overwhelming, Larry’s up for tackling all sorts of endeavors.  One thing that we really wanted to do before winter was to run electricity to the garage. (Call me a wimp, but it can be kinda dark and scary at night…)  After digging a trench, learning a whole lot more about electrical work, and lots of help from a wonderful dad, we are thankful to have the basic project complete!  Special thanks to mom and dad Den Hartog for their hours of help! 

Our dear friends Rick and Becky came for a visit this month.  Their visit brought with it a lot of firsts.

Very First Cheese Curds                                                  
 

First Time at Culvers

At the Largest Dairy Farm in the State

First Time Carving Pumpkins for Rick

First Snowfall of the Year (Yes it is only October)

It was a very encouraging time for us to all be together.  It was also very relaxing as we just hung out as friends.  We played, laughed, talked, and prayed together.  We look forward to their next visit or the next visit from friends on the East Coast.

One year ago today (October 1st 2008) we officially joined staff at Camp Forest Springs.  I remember the initial support raising process (over a year) when I knew getting to camp was a tangible thing, yet it seemed so elusive.  I can’t forget feeling truly blessed beyond what I could have conjured up for us to be here.  I can remember unpacking boxes a year ago as we gradually began to figure out what it meant for us to serve in various capacities.  This past year has been a year of learning.  Learning a new position, learning a new community, learning new relationships, learning new aspects of leadership, learning more about others, ourselves, and God’s grace. 

Looking back, it has been full.  Well, yes the days have been full—full of plenty to be done, full of conversations to be had, full fun, and full of challenges.  We’ve often felt overwhelmed, often by feelings of our own inabilities.  Sometimes issues, time, logistics, and problems have seemed insurmountable as we get lost in the hurts of others and pain of life.  Yet the joy through tears as a counselor shares the ways she has seen God work in her life and the life of others, hearing what a family is learning through their time on the high ropes course, seeing growth in the lives of others is what makes life here full. 

Thank you to so many who have been loving us well—praying for us, supporting us financially, supporting us with your friendship, visits, e-mails, phone calls, and care.  We love where God has us in this season of life!

Our anniversary started at 5:30 a.m. when my alarm went off, signaling that it was time to rise and hit the road on the way to the Boundary Waters (Northern Minnesota).  Our first stop was for a romantic breakfast for Flapjacks and Egg McMuffins at McDonald’s.  I know what you are thinking, “Not exactly a great start Larry.”  Well it only got better from there.  By 1:00 we were safely into our canoe for the first leg of our trip.  A mere 75 degrees with no clouds in the sky, (to an East Coaster you are saying “so what”, but for Northern Minnesota that type of weather in late September is rare).  We even had the wind at our backs the entire day.  After about 5 miles of paddling and 5 portages we finally made it to our campsite.  A great campsite it was, nestled on top of a little ledge overlooking the lake.  We had a great anniversary dinner meal of Laura’s favorite “hot-dogs”.  After dinner we sat quietly taking in the sunset and being thankful for the day, all that we have, and thankful for each other.  Sunset’s like that don’t last forever, so we enjoyed it while we could.  I know that all the great times I have had with Laura in year 4 were not going to last forever, but I still took advantage of enjoying every last bit of our memories together.

That night we sat together under the moon and stars, listening to the loons on the lake, and reminiscing about where the Lord has taken in the past year.  It is a tradition that Laura and I always ask each other the highlights of the past year and what we have learned together in the past year.  Other anniversaries in the past we went to nice restaurants or a hotel, so I thought we would switch it up this time and spend a night at the 2-man tent.  For us it is not about the food we eat or about where we stay (though those things are nice and important at times), but this year was about being still before God by that sunset and just enjoying being together and being quiet after a fast pace transitional year.  Four years down and many more to go with my beautiful wife!!!