The Mongoliers

Welcome to our new house! Here is a look at our kitchen. As with most rooms in the house, they are mostly completed! :) All the paint colors are new, and in this view the center island, stove, and cabinets are all new. The original walls are still intact with just a little repair. We actually took out and opened up the pantry and put the refrigerator into the wall. What a space saver that turned out to be! Got the painting at the thrift store for a song.

Our kitchen looking the other way. I got to install the floor over a couple days. I really enjoyed that a lot! It is a Mohawk brand, snap-together laminate floor. Jessica spent endless hours refinishing the original cabinets and they really turned out great! You shall say nothing of the dishes unless you intend to come help! :)

There's Mommy and Claira sitting in the new living room. Virtually everything you see here is new or greatly fixed up.

Ezra has his own corner in the dining room for his new train table. He really loves "Playing trains." The beautiful wall hangings were given to us by our lovely Mongolian students at the end of the year, just before I left.

Here is the dining room. Jess has really made it look great, especially the "nature corner," and yes, that is a tree branch in the corner! :)

Here's a look at our new bedroom. Everything is new, from floor to ceiling. The amazing quilt was made by Jess' mom for our wedding. We love it!

And speaking of the new ceiling...this project kept me out of trouble for a few days!

Just a few more reminders of our dear Mongolian friends. The vest was given to me at our ELIM 20th anniversary party by my school's administration. The shirt on the right was a gift from a number of our students who met me at the airport to say goodbye and present one more round of gifts. Sadly Jess wasn't able to experience some of these end of the year moments as she was already in the States.

The other side of our bedroom. Being that it is an old farmhouse,a all of the upper level rooms have the 45 degree walls. Our sweet Claira sleeps with us. Did I mention how sweet she is?

Here's Ezra's room minus a few finishing touches and decorations.

Here's some of Claira's things on Daddy's rug from the Mongolian National Intelligence Academy. Those are not actual pictures of Claira, but hopefully we can update it as the months go on.

You can see that not all things are complete yet. This is the plaster falling off the lath in the upstairs hallway...we're getting there!

But our house is starting to become filled with life!

Like our Ezra...sporting his Mongolian booties from our students!

More to come in the future!

Much love...

Ahhhh, one of the most beautiful places I know...Lake Superior. In the land of 10,000 lakes, at the harbor city of Duluth begins the largest freshwater lake in the world, indeed, the largest of all the Great Lakes. Every year an old friend of mine named Mike takes a group of men on a sailing trip from Roy's Point, Wisconsin into what is known as The Apostle Islands. This is our worthy vessel, "Gypsy Spirit." Thankfully I got up just as the sun was.

Around the marina is a beautiful array of fantastic flora and I cannot resist. I must examine its beauty and praise the Great God who made it all. Every year I find new things to capture and every year I am moved again to praise! Please click to examine closely and you, too, will be amazed at the exquisite intricacy and the delightful detail.

You must not pass through life too quickly or you will miss the beauty of the things that have been made. I invite you to put down everything mobile for a moment and I will attempt to entertain you with picture and prose.

In the thousand words a picture shares

I wonder if we stop to care

and notice little things.

For this kind man,
as the day began,
he marveled at what it might bring.

A delicate flower...

Men without a shower...

and a dingy to follow behind.

A noble man named Justin Zoss

He laughs at the sea, though it does toss

the Gypsy to and fro.

A beautiful palette
A tranquil scene
Something hidden
Do you see what I mean?
Just look below
And you will see...

A bee!

Do not underestimate this blackened rope, for without its strength we'd have no hope of clinging to the dock.

"But the pine cone," you say, "It surely wasn't there." Let's just say, "Your assumption is fair." At least its more believable than a rock.

Our captain, the man, he is worthy indeed. He can sail any sea, he is mighty in deeds of fearlessness and faith. His name is Miguel Montesinos and he is my friend from of old.

My brother Brian,

Tom,

and Okoboji too,

this is the rest

of our lackluster crew

These are the days
When up was what we threw
Out the window only water
This is the typical view
on such a windy day.

Upfront I will tell you,
       what at first glance you will not see.
My heels are getting wet,
   at the edge of the sea.
And I doubt you will appreciate,
   and least not to degree,
Our boat is heeled over,
   at 35 degrees.

After a day of sailing
the Whitewatered Sea
We went ashore,
Looked around,
and stopped to take a pee...

...via our dingy!

And a fine vessel it is.

Often times

the best of shots

are not

the distant view.

More often than not

the best of shots

are right down at your shoes!

He leaves the sand

upon the land

so as not to bring aboard

Upon the boat

though still it float'

the sand is quite abhorred.

Hi Tom!

Ahoy my students!

Remember Summer Samplers gone by
From whence we learnt how airplanes fly
Don't forget, by and by
How this great ship moves...
Do you know why?

The hint is there before your eye...

And the wind was NOT behind us!

Great reward
Should I return
If you can remember
What we did learn

Sunny day
Windy day
Pulled along
We sailed today

Upon the deck
I took a trek
The heaving lake
I had to check

The splashing tells of unseen swells ere now you did not see.
I held on tight with all my might as not to join the sea.

And as the joyful Brits do say

in their own joyful, jovial way,

"I wish you could have been."

Beneath the surf the bow did tip
And on my shirt were more than drips.

The main furled away

The jib slightly reefed

Too windy to play

With sails set to peak.

Ahoy good Sir Duck!

Three times now I've seen this mighty tree above

Lifting its hands to heaven, praising the Creator far above

Who made Earth and Heaven and the stars far above

Have you received, through Jesus Christ, his gift of eternal love?

What great beauty there is to see

In this land we call, "Up North."

It is no wonder that many leave the city far behind

And venture hither forth.

Someday when all the saints in light

Gather 'round the crystal sea

I will look here back and thank my God

For this glimpse of eternity.

Do not underestimate
this little bricken house.
For without its light,
far to many a women
have lost their beloved spouse.
Its light shines forth
for ships to see,
to far avoid the rocks.
If a captain
does not heed its warning,
he could end up in the stocks.