Part Two of Nora Continuing to Laugh at Her Parents

Nora Continues Laughing at Her Parents

In the continuing saga of Nora laughing at her mommy and daddy (see posts of Jan 30 & Feb 16), here is Part One of her laughing at mommy on the swing set, with Part Two not far behind.

Larry Norman Was Only Visiting This Planet

He was called the father of contemporary Christian music. Larry Norman died this past Sunday, February 24th at the age of 61. Just before his passing, Larry said, "I feel like a prize in a box of cracker jacks with God's hand reaching down to pick me up. I have been under medical care for months. My wounds are getting bigger. I have trouble breathing. I am ready to fly home." Larry's influence in my life was huge. As a young (25) just-beginning radio host, I was playing his music Saturday afternoons on KNIS, when CCM was just in it's youth. With so much more to say, I'll let Larry say it himself.

Nora Laughing at Mommy

Daddy is not the only one who makes Nora
laugh! (See January 30th post.)

Blogging is Good Weight Loss Secret

I am increasingly empathetic to people who have difficulty losing weight. I believe it takes more than just will-power, desire or whatever. It really is a combination of factors. This story of Lynn Bering is a good example of someone who acknowledged some of the elements ("you're eating bad food for a reason"), found success through the struggle, and used her blog as part of the process.

What is Wrong with Heaven?

Well, nothing is wrong with heaven. In fact the Apostle Paul says in Philippians 3:20, that "our citizenship is in heaven and we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ." But in an interview with Time Magazine, Biblical scholar and theologian N.T. Wright says our understanding about heaven is all wrong. He even says Arnold's wife is wrong! Take a read of what Tom has to say, and give us your thoughts. I'd love to read your comments!

And a Train Horn

Notice some contrast with my last entry? While the Tata Nano will sell for about $2,500, this baby goes for $200,000! This XUV comes with hardwood floors, custom captain's chairs, a 42-speaker sound system, two 16-inch TVs that drop down from the ceiling and another 42-inch plasma screen TV. Oh yea, it also has four computer workstations...and the train horn.

What is a Tata?

My grandchildren call me "Tata." What is a "Tata?" This is a car made by the Tata Motor Company. This is the standard version. It is called the Tata Nano. That sounds almost like Tata Nana. Nana is what they call my wife, their grandmother. Am I named after "The Peoples Car" manufactured by the largest company in India? Hmmm.

Hannah Gets Her Ears Pierced

For her 3rd birthday, Hannah had her ears pierced! And she loved it! Now she would like to share the pictures with you!

Prince Caspian Trailer

Speaking of the Superbowl, amid all of the interesting commercials, be sure to look for the Prince Caspian trailer, especially produced for this event. You can find it on the Disney web site, along with the longer version.

This is Just Gross!

Beware Superbowl Party attenders! Undergrad students at Clemson U. are studying "double-dipping," the process of putting your chip back in the dip after already having dipped it once. "They found that three to six double dips transferred about 10,000 bacteria from an eater's mouth to the remaining dip sample." That's just gross! Okay, I'll never double-dip again, I promise!

Griffith Stadium

I don't know if it's because I want Spring to be here, or because the Rockies start Spring Training this month, but I recently thought about Griffith Stadium. Once the home of the Washington Senators, this was my stadium growing up. And the Senators were my ballclub. And Harmon Killebrew was my favorite player. My first memories of going to ballgames were here. I would go with my dad to the stadium, we'd park on the street in the older neighborhood, and sit in the stands watching the games. It was a good memory.

Little Star

Wonderful article in today's Denver Post about former tennis great Andrea Jaeger, and her love for helping sick children. Her foundation is called Little Star. Andrea will be inducted into the Colorado Tennis Hall of Fame on Friday, "largely for her contributions as a humanitarian."

"My injury was, in a strange way, a blessing," Jaeger said. "I had a tremendous natural athletic gift and instincts, but I wouldn't do anything to win like so many others. For whatever reason, God said, 'This one is not going to get ruined by sports. I'm going to take her.' "

Nora Laughing at Daddy

Baby in a Box

I just laugh when I see the expression on Reece's face. The title is a reference to Farrell and Farrell's song, "People in a Box" from the '80's. This picture is from our April 2007 vacation to Southern California.

The 10 Most Redeeming Films of 2007

For a much better commentary on this article and these films, you should keep an eye on Phil's blog, for his thoughts. But I also like films, so I read the article, and found myself unfamiliar with half of them. I've seen "Amazing Grace" (wonderful!), heard about "Kite Runner" (Laura has read the book), and would like to see "Juno" (the inexpensive internet service? Uh, no.) But the one that most stood out to me, was the one we watched on our recent flight to see Hannah and her sisters (only one sister, Julia), and their parents. And that film was about a rat. A rat is in (no, he's the star!) one of the top 10 redeeming films of last year? Yes, he is. And he's quite a wonderful rat, with an extraordinary sense of smell, and a great cook! And he understands his calling and pursues his passion (which is a great thing for rats, as well as for people.) I know, this film came out last year, and I'm just now seeing it? Yes, I'm slow about some things. But I'll still probably have to buy a copy of "Ratatouille." It's the kind of film the grandkids will always like, and I'll find inspiring, especially since I love to cook.

My Molecular Level is Looking Younger!

After returning from my workout this morning, I was delighted to read the results of a new study, suggesting that the act of exercising may actually protect the body against the aging process. The Washington Post article says, "Physically active people have cells that look younger on a molecular level than those of couch potatoes." I love young looking cells, don't you? Now if they would just make their way to the surface of my body, so I would actually look younger, that would be good. (Oh yea, they look younger "on a molecular level!") Well at least I know that exercising several days a week is a good thing, not only because it makes me feel better, but also perhaps it will help me live longer. And all that on a morning where I found myself reading Romans 12, about presenting my body to God as a living and holy sacrifice. Good news!

The Watercolor

The picture is a beautiful watercolor from Claire. The scene is a river on highway 74 between Evergreen and Morrison. It was May 2007, the water was cold, and Hannah and Julia were (are) cute! Claire has a wonderful talent from God, she uses it freely, and our family is a blessed recipient. We are grateful. And so is Hannah.

Prince Caspian

Kellen and I were playing the Disney version of SceneIt last night, while Reece concentrated on a couple of puzzles. (here's Kellen with Nora, left, and Reece with Nora, below.) One of Kellen's game questions related to a 2005 movie version of one of C.S. Lewis' The Chronicles of Narnia. While we both agreed we needed to watch "The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe" again soon, it reminded me of the upcoming premiere this spring of the next installment, Prince Caspian. PC comes to theatres May 16th. (No doubt you'll read more about this on "Food and Flicks".) Because of this I think I need to read the story again, before the movie comes out. I think I'll enjoy the movie more, beside, I find myself not remembering PC. L,W,W stuck with me, probably as with most people. It seemed the most memorable. But the other six are equally as wonderful to read! I neeed to start that right after we return from Minnesota. "Once there were four children whose names were..."

What do you do when you get married?

That's the perceptive question that former president Bill Clinton received yesterday from the press. Only "the press" was 5-year old McKenna Chance! It's a tough question for any of us really, if we're honest about it. What do we do when we get married...aside from the usual stuff? Mike Mason wrote in The Mystery of Marriage, "There is no one who is not broken by this process [the process of marriage]. It is excruciating and inexorable, and no one can stand up to it. Everyone gets broken, at least a little, on the wheel of love, and the breaking that takes place is like nothing else under the sun." Maybe that's why the psalmist said, "Unless the Lord builds the house, it's builders labor in vain." (Psalm 127:1)

Encouraging Widows

A week ago our small group experienced the loss of a dear friend, and one of our men, lost his wife to cancer. We "weep with those who weep" as Paul says in Romans 12:15, grieving with Bob, while knowing that Kay is with Jesus, and no longer suffering. But this side of eternity, we still groan, longing for the eternal life that we were made for. Often we don't know how to love those who have experienced the severe loss of a loved one. In this article, Miriam Neff offers some suggestions for encouraging widows (and widowers), some "do's and don'ts" as it were. I think these are good. God's Word is also good, as Psalm 116:15 says, "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints."

Welcome to CT!

Believe me when I say that I come to blogging, kicking and screaming (it feels more like flogging!). But it's time that I had an outlet for my thoughts, even if I'm the only one who reads them! It may also be an outlet for photos, both personal and otherwise.

I'm grateful to son Philip who has been blogging for some time, and evidently not injured by it in anyway that I can tell. He didn't make me start this, but I know that since he opened the door for my writing on his blog, I'd better find another outlet pretty soon...

I always welcome comments on what appears here.

So, that's about it as far as a welcome is concerned. (Does that mean everything from here on is an Unwelcome?)

Oh yes, the picture. My side of the family taken this summer at Red Rocks. Handsome aren't we? Can you pick my family out? I already told you, they are all my family!