North Shore Vista (view of Lake Superior from Mount Oberg) (2010-01-02)

Today I am grateful for:

1. I-Pod Fun
2. Midnight Snowball Fight
3. Arden Hills 2012 Ball Drop!

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Friday: 4.7 miles.

R E S P L E N D E N T
(Bill Mallonee)

How much of this was meant to be?
How much the work of the devil?

How far can one man’s eyes really see
… in these days of toil and trouble?

- Bill Mallonee, “Resplendent” (Audible Sigh 2000)

Today I am grateful for:

1. New Toys
2. Helpful Friends
3. Family Movie Night

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SKIN – Vincent Van Gogh
(Bill Mallonee)

Look at yourself in the mirror
… you’re all rumpled red, stubbled, and gaunt
You walk a dead end path in a dry corn field
… and now this morose response

Your princess she don’t wanna see you
… no your princess she don’t wanna hear
So Vincent he picked up the blade
… and he put it to his ear

-Bill Mallonee, “Skin” (Blister Soul – 1995)

]]> http://bloggingturtle.wordpress.com/2011/12/13/he-put-it-to-his-ear/feed/ 1 D-Monk http://bloggingturtle.wordpress.com/2011/12/13/gratefulness-journal-176/ http://bloggingturtle.wordpress.com/2011/12/13/gratefulness-journal-176/#comments Wed, 14 Dec 2011 03:28:39 +0000 dmonk http://bloggingturtle.wordpress.com/?p=2178 ]]> Today I am grateful for:

1. Happy Running
2. Morning Prayer
3. Laughter w- Friends

The child, in danger of the fire, just clings to the fireman, and trusts to him alone. She raises no question about the strength of his limbs to carry her, or the zeal of his heart to rescue her; but she clings. The heat is terrible, the smoke is blinding, but she clings; and her deliverer quickly bears her to safety. In the same childlike confidence cling to Jesus, who can and will bear you out of danger from the flames of sin.

+ Charles Spurgeon

Today will be somewhat cooler that yesterday but there will be plenty of sunshine. The end of the month comes tomorrow and it will end as it began….dry. The month of November brought just under a third of an inch of moisture when we average about 2″. (kstp.com)

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Current Temp: 39 (4c)

A TURTLE’S DAY

It was a marvelous and wonderful Thanksgiving break for this turtle and his family! Thank you, Lord, for the many blessings you give to us!

http://letsplayhistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/WampanoagPlaceSettingSm.jpg

Thanksgiving Day itself was simple and fun. We went to my sister’s house for the big meal and were joined by my parents and my other sister. We had all the fixings: turkey, dressing, cranberries, “killer” potatoes, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, and: pie Pie PIE! This year’s pie choices included pumpkin, pecan, and french silk. This is where the tough Thanksgiving decisions have to be made … what kind of pie do I want???

After celebrating the celebrated three F’s of Thanksgiving – Family, Food, and Football – we decided to make a go at Rampant Consumerism. My wife has long wanted to put a tv on the main floor of our house and make that the main family gathering space. After looking through the Black Friday ads, we found an incredible deal on a 46” flat screen tv at Target – one of the “door busters.” Of course there would be a limited amount of these tvs and this year Target was opening at midnight (instead of 5 or 6 am on Friday). Our son Braxton told us he wanted to go stand in line with some of his friends. Paul also volunteered to go. So we dropped them off at 7:00 and they were fifth in line.

Beth and I went to Target to get in line at five minutes to midnight. At that point the line stretched all the way across the front of Target and then for about another two blocks around the corner. Fortunately it was one of the warmest Thanksgivings we have ever had and it was still around 50 degrees at midnight. Ir was amazing to me (a non-shopper) how many people were pouring into Target’s parking lot at that time of night.

Everything was well organized. Target had maps for the people standing in line showing where the door buster items would be located. The people in line were calm and respectful – nothing like some of the mob scenes I have seen on tv. Then, starting at midnight, Target let in groups of 30 people every fifteen seconds. The boys were in the first group and it took us about fifteen minutes to reach the front door. We saw people leaving with some of the big-ticket items before we were halfway through the line, but when we finally did get inside, the boys were waiting with our new tv on a big cart!

Beth and I got home at about 1:00am and the boys, who shopped a little longer, were home by 1:30. I was too wired to sleep right away!

Saturday was an even bigger day! Paul & Gretchen’s high school football team (the Rocori Spartans) was playing at the Metrodome for the Class 4A State Championship. Because Grecthen is on the school’s dance line, she got to perform on the field at half time. The game was close, but the Spartans ultimately prevailed 24-17. Pandemonium!!!

Finally, Sunday brought the start of what is going to be a killer theater week for Emma and Zoe. Sunday was the tech rehearsal for The Ultimate Santa and ran from 2-4. Starting tonight, they will run through the whole play every night until the opening (Friday, December 2nd). This means that Emma’s gonna have a lot of work this week and not much sleep. Hang in there, Teenie!!