The other family members

I think it is time for an update on the two smallest members of the family.

Bugsi is in your left, Missi is on your right.

Missi and Bugsi were condo dogs in Santa Rosa. We took them on 4 scheduled walks a day since we did not have a yard in which they could roam, sniff, play and poop. We tried to make one of those walks a longer one for exercise, but our gang was always on the leash as we tagged our territory with pee so that all the other dog gangs would know that this was OUR hood.

Things are different here in Charlestown. Oh, we still tag our hood up so that all of the homies know whose turf they are on, but we often do so without leashes. First of all, lets talk about the yard. We have one. There is no fence, so we just don't let our gang outside without supervision, but they do not need a leash. Come to think of it, hardly anybody out here has fences, but that may be a topic for another day. Bugsi has been known to run after a cat, but for the most part they stay close and come when called. We live on a culdesac (which sounds much better than "dead end," even if you are not French) so there are no speeding cars going through our gang's neighborhood. When we are outside, Bugsi loves to fetch a tennis ball and Missi loves to fetch Bugsi. Missi is a herding breed, so when Bugsi gets too energized Missi tries to put him in his place. Kayla will sit outside after school sometimes and the dogs will join her. Missi and Bugsi like laying in and sometimes nibbling on the grass while they are out there basking in the sun. Another feature of our yard is that it is attached to Marie's yard. Marie is an animal lover, and has welcomed our dogs to the hood. Sometimes when we get home from a drive in the car, Missi gets out and goes over to Marie's house first.

Whenever we take an actual walk, we put on the leashes. Legally we could go without if our gang was under total voice control, but Bugsi is not quite there. He loves to go after birds, squirrels, cats and bugs. He would never go too far from Karen, but "not go to far from Karen" probably does not fit the legal description of "voice controlled." We have a park in our complex and will let them off leash to run and explore there too.

The other thing that the dogs enjoy (which is a total understatement) is going to Nana and GP's house. We were uncertain of how much mom and dad would would want the dogs over at first. We thought about simply having them stay outside when we were there. They do love their yard too, and often play "Fetch the Bugsi" while there. But inside is where the magic happens. Apparently Mom and Dad love the dogs more than we do. They play the role of grandparents very well. Missi actually cries when we get close to their house because she is so excited. The only other circumstance she has ever done that is when we were arriving at Chris and Kathy's house (or is that Kodi and Thor's house) in Santa Rosa.

Here is a picture of Missi's "Can we go to Nana and GP's house please" face:

While there, they always get a "Hello" treat and a "Good-bye" treat and often get "just because we like to spoil you" treats in the middle of the visit. Karen has to pay attention to how much they get so that we can feed them a little less dinner accordingly. GP also knows how to get Missi in a playful and feisty mood. In addition to the treats, they get lots of loving over there. Between Nana, GP, Lori and Jadon they get almost non stop attention at the magic house across the railroad tracks. And last but not least, there is "the runner." Bugsi was Jadon and Lori's dog in southern CA for a little while before they moved here and Bugsi moved to Santa Rosa. Jadon understandably has a sweet spot for Bugsi. They are a perfect match. Jadon is a very good runner. Bugsi is a very good runner. They go out in the back yard and do their thing. Often, Missi will sit there and play "Fetch a Bugsi" for just a moment as they run their laps in front of her. When we went on a hike last week with Jadon, Lori and the dogs it was quite a show. Jadon and Bugsi would run ... stop and wait for us slow folks ... run ... stop and wait for us slow folks ... run ... well, you get the point.

Overall, it has been a good move for the dogs. Like the rest of us, they miss KJ, Amy, Chris, Kathy, Kodi and Thor. But the Live Free or Die state seems to suit the mutts just fine.

Legal blogging

There is a little known law in New Hampshire. Blogging is illegal in the months of July and August if you have lived in the state for less than a year. Live Free or Die obviously has its limits.

Time to play some catch up.

July and August in 2 pictures each:

Here is a shot taken on the 4th in the evening. We were at a local fireworks display, and Kayla dressed for the occasion.

Now for the shed. Kayla helped me to assemble it. I don’t have a picture of the finished product, but trust me, it looks very shed-like.

Pre Irene picture: The smallmouth bass I caught before the local fishing dock was destroyed.

Post Irene picture: My cute 13 year old playing in a puddle during a lull of the storm.

OK, time for some verbiage:

The last two months have been very full. It has obviously been good to have Karen, Kayla, and the dogs here. The house does not feel so lonely. It is great to come home to a soft and friendly place, rather than an empty makeshift bachelor pad. It has been so comforting to have my partner of 25 years by my side again.

On the more difficult side, missing Katherine, other family, and our church family in Sonoma County has been more difficult. That was hard before, but I think that most of my “missing you” energy went towards Karen. Now that she is here, I feel the sadness of the other losses even more.

I knew that I would miss having in depth conversations and spending quality time with people that I have known and loved for years, but I did not think about something more subtle. It did not occur to me that I would miss out on brief, casual interactions that only take a few minutes. I was at Spring Hills Church for 16 years, and in Sonoma County for over 20 years. Hardly a day would go by in which I would not see somebody in passing that I knew. Sometimes we would only say hello and shake hands with a casual “howzitgoin,” sometimes we would talk for just a moment more than that. On Sunday mornings, I would would greet dozens of people that I knew to varying degrees. Obviously some of these greeting would lead to more meaningful conversations, prayer requests shared or humorous stories shared. These bigger conversations are probably more important, but there is something to be said for the casual, quick interactions with people you have known for a long time. I do not have that anymore, and I miss it.

On a more positive note, some good things are happening out here. We were expected to get hit hard by Irene, and our town did not. The surrounding areas did get hit hard, but not so much here.

Kayla has started school, and we are very proud of how she is doing. She has not been in a traditional school setting since starting home school in the 3rd grade. Going in to a new school, in a new town, will all new friends in the 8th grade would be hard for anybody, even a person who had not home schooled for so long. Kayla has been adjusting very well, and making friends along the way. She is still very sad about leaving her friends and family in Santa Rosa, but she is making the best of it and growing along the way.

Karen has been busy getting the house settled, getting to know our new neighborhood and being a superb support for Kayla and I as we go to school and work. She and I have had a light hearted argument over the years in which she incorrectly tries to take credit from me for first coming up with the name of the Spring Hills class “Jam Packed.” Well, I have to give her full credit for being the first to suggest what is now the name of our new church … “Hope Mountain Church.”

Hope Mountain is still a home church at this time. We meet each week in my in-laws’ living room. We have grown, and not just because Karen and Kayla moved out. Kayla invited two of her friends, who have been coming and we invited our wonderful neighbor Marie, who has been joining us too. Marie lives right next door to us, and has been a great blessing to us in many ways.

Prayer requests (since that 1/2 the reason for which this blog was originally created):

Hope Mountain - please pray that we will find the right place to grow, have the right timing in our “launch,” and for wisdom regarding the official structure and organization of our church.

Health - Please pray for dad (Richard). He had a bout with cancer recently and is still getting his strength back. In the mean time, he had a new growth that had to be cut out last week.

Kayla - Please pray for her as she continues to adjust to her school work and social environment.

Katherine - Please pray for her to have wisdom and strength as she juggles college, work, ministry at church and her social life.

Thanks for your prayers. Now that we are out of July and August, I will be allowed to blog on a regular basis again.

My "Charge" to Katherine

A few people had asked for a copy of what I said to Katherine at her graduation party two weeks ago. She said that I could post it here:

In the book of 1 Chronicles, when Solomon was about to step out on his own, David gave him some final instructions. He gave Solomon a charge that I think is appropriate for today. He said to his son, “… learn to know the God of your ancestors intimately. Worship and serve him with your whole heart and a willing mind. For the Lord sees every heart and knows every plan and thought. If you seek him, you will find him.” (1Chronicles 28:9)

Katherine, you are an amazing daughter and a wonderful young woman. I am proud of you and I am confident in you. I have loved you for over 18 years now, and i love the adventure that it is being your father. I appreciate your passion, your vitality and your “spiciness.” Your love of the Lord, your family, your friends is evident. Your are beautiful, funny, intelligence and wise beyond your years.

Back in the day I prayed for a long time that you would entrust yourself to the Lord some day, and when you decided for yourself to follow Jesus it was overwhelming and joyful. Since that time I have prayed that you would commit yourself totally to God, remain faithful to Him, and be willing to be used by Him in whatever way he sees fit. I have seen evidence of these prayers being answered for quite a while.

You and your friends have repeatedly called your mom and I “the strictest parents we know.” You no longer have to be worried about that. You have handled your growing freedom better than many others your age, but you are entering an critical chapter in your life. The choices you make as you begin your adulthood are immensely important.

I will continue to pray.

Similar to David’s charge to his son Solomon, there were a few times that Jesus gave a charge to his disciples. Here is one of them, found in John chapter 15

What he said to them is very directly applicable to you. He said, “You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. Yes, I am the vine: you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:3-5)

I am sad that we will not be nearer to you during this time in your life.
But I am glad that you have the support of your church, family and friends here.
Use that support. You will have our help also, but make sure you stay connected to the people here who love the Lord with their whole heart.
Hold on to the Lord when you are doing well and when you are struggling.
When you mess up, keep turning to him.
Abide in him, keep looking to him. Stay faithful to him.

Wherever you live, wherever you go to school, wherever you work, stay connected to the vine and I promise you, you will thrive.

Getting settled

We arrived in Charlestown on Thursday evening. We were very tired, and glad to not be professional truck drivers. After Karen and Kayla had the tour of our place, Lori and Jadon came over. Mom and dad followed shortly behind. It was very nice to be off the road. It was a bit sobering though to "arrive home" and not have Katherine here.

We have spent the last two days unloading and unpacking. It is both fun and hard work. We still have boxes everywhere, but we have a place to sleep and sit. Kayla has done a good job of settling her room. Perhaps I will post some pictures after all everything is done.

The dogs seem to be adjusting. They travelled fine, but have been a bit nervous. Missi seems convinced that the new place is out to get her though. She has been bonked on the head and almost stepped on a few times as we were negotiating boxes. She also discovered screen doors. We have one on our back door and she was not familiar with the concept. She got a sudden strong desire to go inside and bashed her head through the screen full force. Being a relatively small dog, she did not get all the way through but bounced back on to the steps after breaking the screen. She and Bugsy do like the yard though. It is their first experience of being able to go outside of our home without a leash and play in the grass.

Today we will be doing some more unpacking, but not too much. I head back to work on Tuesday.

Happy Father's Day everybody.

A hard day and Barn Men to the rescue!

Saturday was a hard day. We said good bye to our beautiful graduate, Katherine. We are half way through Nebraska; she is still in California.

My very short trip to Santa Rosa started with a sweet reunion on Wednesday. After graduation festivities on Thursday we spent the whole day Friday running errands and finishing up things around the house.

On Saturday, the task of loading up the truck was a big one. Dave Meekins lead the crew consisting of members of our family, a few of our friends, and several Barn Men.

For those of you who don't know, the Barn Men is a group of guys who do much more than study the Bible together. They frequently spend their time serving others. I was very grateful for their help and for Dave's excellent guidance in packing the truck to the gills.

Thank you all helping us get through the physical part of a very difficult day.

OK, so it is after 2AM. Why am I still awake and blogging from my cell phone?

It is for the same reason my cousin Jon and I could not sleep the night before going to Disney. Heck, we even tried running laps in the house to get tired. It just got us more amped up. Eventually we conked out.
Here I am 30+ years later and TWO nights before the big event. I am too exited to sleep. I am posting from my phone because it at least allows me to stay in bed and act like a person who is sleeping. Fake it till you make it?

A week full of mixed emotions

This is my beautiful 18 year old daughter Katherine.

She is small for her age.

My wonderful Kj has officially moved out of the house. I have missed her for the last 4 months, but somehow I miss her more now. I am glad that I get to see her, Kayla and Karen in just a few days. Very glad.

But it is also hard to know that Katherine is not coming with us.

Let me tell you about her:

She is what we call "spicy." She always has been. She has been full of life and passion and determination since she was an infant. She is never ever boring. She is smart, but more importantly she is wise. I do not know many 18 year olds with the wisdom she has. Sure, she still has some growing to do, but she is ahead of many people I know that are 10 years older than her.

She has been saying for years (mostly when we were playing our "the strictest parents I know" role) that she was going to move out when she turned 18. She was not saying it disrespectfully, just factually. We would often remind her that she was still going to be in High School when she turned 18. That did not stop her. My lovely girl moved out of the house on Friday. She graduates this Thursday.

While I wish she were moving with us, I more than understand why she is not. If she is not going to be with us, there is no better place on the planet for her to start her adult life than in Santa Rosa. With family and friends and Spring Hills nearby, Karen and I know that she will have a lot of local support. We are also happy with the place she is staying.

I am having a hard time seeing the computer screen right now, so I will just say that I am so proud of my girl. I cannot imagine being more proud. She loves the Lord, she loves her family, she loves her church, she loves her friends. And as always, she is passionate.

Embarrassing Fluff

My wonderful in-laws feed me well every night for dinner. I eat prison food most of the time for lunch. I am sure, however, that you have been loosing sleep wondering about my breakfasts as I live here alone in our trailer awaiting Karen and Kayla’s move to New Hampshire. Allow me to alleviate your concerns.

For the first several weeks I ate balance bars or granola bars for breakfast. I then decided that peanut butter and jelly would be better. However, several weeks ago while talking to Kayla I had one of most shameful moments in years.

It is all about the Fluff.

Kayla asked me if I had been eating any Fluff. I was so embarrassed.

For those of you who do no know Fluff … I am sorry for you. I grew up on the eastern seaboard eating Fluff and peanut butter sandwiches. Fluff is the ultimate in marshmallow cream. You who live on the west coast and have only eaten marshmallow cream have not truly lived. Fluff is a completely different genre of food from the generic marshmallow cream. To say that the two are the same would be like saying Prime rib is the same as Salisbury steak.

Our friend Katherine Hagler (who has a New England supplier of the white and creamy drug) and our family here in New Hampshire would periodically bless us with a supply of Fluff. Because I am such a loving husband and father I would allow my girls to have some too.

I was quite ashamed to say that I had not thought of buying myself a beautiful tub of the perfect peanut butter companion until Kayla asked. I went out the next day and atoned for my sins. I am now on my third tub. I have peanut butter and Fluff nearly every day for breakfast.

There, now you can relax. I have all three meals taken care of.

This reminds me of a Jam Packed video we made a few years ago:

A fine young couple.

Let me introduce you to Bill and Karen Krulish:

They are young and in love. Today, May 24th, is there wedding day. They have committed themselves to each other for life. They have promised to encourage each other in their relationship with the Lord, support each other through highs and lows and to pursue the whole relationship package referred to in their vows as “this intimacy” only with each other.

They first got to know each other working with a Christian bus ministry two summers ago, between Bill’s freshman and sophomore year of college. They easily became friends and really enjoyed each other’s company. On one hand, Karen was very interested, on the other she was a bit nervous. So nervous that when Bill asked her out on a date towards the latter part of the summer, she simply said “no” and did not talk to him much for a while. Bill was crushed, but he survived the few weeks it took her to change her mind. She did not even run away when he showed up for their first date wearing totally geeky clothes and driving a borrowed car with a bad starter. He even had to jump start the car after stalling it out in the middle of the intersection. But Karen could tell that Bill was a big spender; he used a whole week’s pay at dinner that night, a whopping $20!

After the summer was over, Bill and Karen worked on friendship. They were both going to school and serving on the Campus Ministries Leadership Team. The more time they spent together, the sweeter things were. But they were just friends. At least that is what they told each other repeatedly to help keep things in perspective. They never referred to each other as boyfriend and girlfriend, simply as “best friends.” Sometimes their other friends would laugh at that, because they knew that this was not your typical friendship, but they would go along with it.

In November of Bill’s junior year, the friendship went to the next level. They skipped from “just friends” to “just got engaged.” Bill tried to be all slick with the proposal, thinking that he could really surprise Karen. After all, he had told her at some point in the last year that he was not planning on getting married for quite a while. They had not directly talked about getting married and had not hinted around it either. After all, they were “just friends.” So Bill was confident that he could surprise her when they went to the sit at the beach. When he popped out the ring, she was surprised just enough to be speechless for a few moments. Bill got worried and finally asked “you can take time to think about it if you want.” But apparently she already had been thinking about it, and because Bill can’t pull anything over on her, she already suspected that he was going to pop the question. Thankfully, she said yes before Bill had a nervous breakdown right there on Palm Beach.

So here we are six months later. The summer before Bill’s senior year of college. Don’t expect an fancy ceremony or an expensive reception. These two are young and have no parental bankroll. In fact, there will simply be mints. nuts, punch and cake at the reception (much to the chagrin of a few hard drinkers in the crowd). The ceremony itself should be nice, a friend has written a song, Bill and Karen wrote their own vows, and a great group of people will be gathered. They are driving off after the reception for a week long honeymoon to secret locations (OK, I will tell you that they are driving to various places in their current home state Florida to relax and enjoy each other’s company). After that, they will be back to work and school, and will move in their third story apartment in the seedy part of town.

Please pray for them. They want to honor God in their marriage. They want to strengthen each other. They want their newly formed family to be healthy and have a positive impact on the people they encounter.
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Special note to Karen from Bill: (The rest of you may read it also but don't get confused. I am not calling you babe.)

Hey babe, if you see this before I get off of work today, Happy 25th Anniversary! I wish we could be together but I am glad we will be soon. I look forward to finally being reunited with you in TWO WEEKS FROM TODAY! We will have a belated celebration of our first 25 years. I am looking forward to the next 25 my love.

Newt Buswell's clippers

Last year when I realized that I would be leaving my beloved Spring Hills to pastor my own church I had no idea where I would end up. I knew that I did not want to be within driving distance of my home church because it would just be odd for me to pastor so close to my family of 16 years. I knew that I did not really want to go to the Bible belt, they have plenty of pastors there. I also knew from our good friend Melissa that Alaska was not necessarily the place for me. Other than that, the whole country was fair game.

I looked in Arizona, Nevada, Pennsylvania, New England, other parts of California and several other places. For years I had thought it would be nice to move to Karen's old stomping ground in Southern Vermont or New Hampshire, but I did not think that it would be practical. When I came here to do Grammie Buswell's funeral in October it hit me like a 2x4 upside the head that this was where I needed to be. I was overwhelmed with the need for a healthy church here.

I moved here because I knew it was the place for me to start a church, but the heritage of Karen's family means a lot to me. This is the area where my wife became a Christian. It is the area where her grandfather and her great great grandfather pastored a church. It is the area where the awesome Newt and Ina Buswell lived.

These are Newt Buswell's clippers:

Newt and Ina were very important figures in Karen's childhood, much like my grandparents were important in mine. I am so grateful for all that they did for her and all they meant to the rest of family. My respect for both of them is immeasurable.

I used Newt Buswell's clippers to trim the grass around our mobile home today. A weed eater is not a good idea against the skirting that surrounds our home. As I crawled on hands and knees snipping away I felt very satisfied. Using his tool on my home in the town he lived in his whole life felt just right.

I hope I can be half the man he was.

Bill Krulish, Poo flinger

Happy Mother's Day all of you maternal units.

Today I had fun flinging poo. Dad has a good sized garden in the back yard. I rototilled it, then we rototilled the garden at the Stone House (where I stayed for my first month here). I then proceeded to use a pitchfork to fling lots of cow poo all over and I rototilled it again. I hope to fling more poo in Dad's backyard this week. Between pichforking poo, rototilling and taking an axe to a tree I will get in shape in no time.

There, I got my Junior High moment over with. I will go back to being an adult now and will spare you a picture of cow poo.

Dandelion Greens and Sheds

Last weekend I had a new experience. Dad, Jadon and I went to a nearby field and picked Dandelion greens. Dandelion greens are quite controversial. Some people hate them and refuse to eat them, and other people are reasonable and wise.

Here is a dandelion:

Now I am a very reasonable person. I had only pulled Dandelions in the past to get rid of them as a weed. I got wind of the fact that many New Englanders prize them as "spring tonic" and I was intrigued. Apparently my wife's grandmother loved them, but her mother does not. My father-in-law loves them, but my sister does not. Some of the locals celebrate when brought a bag of these leafy seasonal treats and others consider them to be cow food.

Where would I stand? Two weeks ago, I tried one raw. It was growing in the front yard and I gave it a shot. Not bad! Sort of like a salad green with a twist. We picked 6 grocery bags full last weekend. Dad delivered 4 bags to eager weed lovers. We had cooked greens twice this week and I loved them. I put a little vinegar and oil on them, but they would be good with butter, salt and pepper too. Apparently the key is to get them before the flowers come out. That way they are not too bitter. They are reportedly among the most healthy greens for your body. I am hooked. I just wish you could get them all year round. Oh well, there are some frozen ones waiting for Karen and Kayla to try when they come East.

Sheds: Our new home is a mobile one. We live in a very nice trailer park in Charlestown. I can't believe what a nice neighborhood it is, and the price was amazing. We have been fixing up the trailer in order to get it ready for the girls. We actually have the same usable square feet in the mobile home as we did in the Santa Rosa condo. There is more cupboard space, but less storage space. We have an extra bedroom, but I felt the need for some storage space. Lawnmowers, snowblowers and yard tools need a home too you know.

Enter the shed. I was planning on building one from scratch, and hope to do so in the future. But dad found one in the paper yesterday that was too good to pass up. A metal shed (8x10) that is only a few years old. We went to pick it up today at 9am. It was not quite ready as we expected. We had to wait 45 minutes for the guy with the key to get there, and another 30 minutes for it to be unloaded. We negotiated the price down a bit, then spend 2 hours dismantling it. It is in pieces on the side of my home now and will probably take 2 days to put back together, but I am very pleased. Now, to get a lawnmower.

2 for $5 and countdowns

According to a study at George Mason University, New Hampshire is the most free state in the union. They examined several things that ultimately put the "Live Free or Die" state at the top of the list. I won't go in to all that here, but I was reminded again tonight of one of the freedoms to be found here in the state that has the lowest government expenditure per capita than any other: Sales tax.

We are having a pot luck lunch at work tomorrow. My wife is on the West Coast and I was concerned that if I tried to cook something they would make me stay in prison for a night or two. I signed up to bring chips. I have mad chip buying skills.

I browsed the shelves of our little Charlestown grocery store where Karen's great grandfather used to be a delivery man and found a deal on chips. Two bags for $5. Probably a different price structure than it was in great-grandfather Buswell's day, but not to bad a deal. I went to pay and it was an even $5. Not 5.48 like it would be in other places, but an even $5. It was odd handing the cashier a 5 spot and being done with it. Live Free or Die baby! (Edit - Food items are actually not taxed in most places. When I bought this one item the lack of sales taxes stood out. The same thing would happen if I had bought a pair of socks too, but I couldn't very well bring socks to the pot luck.)

Countdowns: At the right you will see my countdown. We hit the half way point of our separation last week. I have mixed feeling about the countdown because it seems way to stinking long, but I have to say it is better to be on the downhill side at least.

I thought I would share both Karen and Kayla's countdown method with you.

Here is Karen's:

Those are packages of Starbuck instant coffee. Not bad stuff. When I boarded the plane Karen decided to go without coffee for a month or so. She had counted out the "Via" packets remaining and did not start drinking coffee again until the amount of packets matched the amount of days left. She took this picture a week or two ago and I have been meaning to post it. I forget how many packets are in each of these boxes, but you get the idea.

Now for Kayla's:

These are post-it notes on the side of a filing cabinet. Kayla does not yet drink coffee and my creative little redhead decided that she needed a visual countdown too. This picture was taken a few weeks ago. Apparently with all the packing that Karen has been doing, Kayla's countdown is tucked away behind some boxes. Still reachable for counting but not much for taking pictures.

44 days left as of this post. Hey, that's Willie McCovey's number!

Another edit: Karen sent me this picture today. The dogs have a countdown too!

A Sunday hike

My sister, nephew and I took a nice hike last Sunday. We walked along an old Railroad Bed that has been converted in to a trail for hikers, bikers, snowmobilers, ATV riders and the equestrian types. I don't like to ride horses, don't have a bike or ATV, and the snow was melted. So we walked. It really was beautiful. Since I am not addicted to shopping at malls, it is great to have great hiking available around here.

We paused along the way and contemplated 12 different passages of scripture having to do with the great outdoors in one way or another. Here are a few of them (from the NLT):


Job 12:7-10   “Ask the animals, and they will teach you. Ask the birds of the sky, and they will tell you. Speak to the earth, and it will instruct you. Let the fish of the sea speak to you. They all know that the LORD has done this. For the life of every living thing is in his hand, and the breath of all humanity.


Psalms 42:1   As the deer pants for streams of water, so I long for you, O God.


Romans 1:20 From the time the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky and all that God made. They can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse whatsoever for not knowing God.

And just because I was in the mood I threw this one in the mix: Genesis 27:3 Take your bow and a quiver full of arrows out into the open country, and hunt some wild game for me. (Hmm, am I allowed to take this out of context and call it a commandment?)

Jadon and I with an old covered Railroad bridge behind us.

I Samuel 12:23

1 Samuel 12:23   As for me, I will certainly not sin against the LORD by ending my prayers for you. And I will continue to teach you what is good and right. (NLT)

Been thinking about this verse a lot. It seems like a good life verse for a pastor or an old prophet who can kick some tail when needed.

Brief thanks for the prayers

I was at about 80% yesterday and at about 85% today. Thanks for all the prayers everybody!

Pretty Tombstones and Reactive Arthritis

I stopped by a church and took this picture while driving up north this week. Before I decided to go to the Charlestown area it was a church that I had considered pastoring. Seeing the nice church building reminded me of what I have thought many times since coming out here.


A lot of these church building are like pretty tombstones.

I want to be clear, I am not singling out any one church, especially not this one. I got a sense that this one is alive and well. But, most of the churches in pretty buildings out here are not alive and well. Most of them are either not committed to God's truth or uninterested in reaching out effectively to the community. Some are doing neither, they are like lifeless buildings with a rich history and great architecture.

I suppose it could be a depressing thought, but it actually inspires me. I am so grateful for my 16 years at Spring Hills. I am glad that I got to be a part of a live and healthy church both before and after we moved in to our own building. Any church that looses touch with why it exists will die. I pray that when our new church is going that we will always stay focused, alive and healthy, no matter where we meet.

Reactive Arthritis: Well, my old friend is back. I have been without an episode since November. I was thinking that I might actually be done with this annoying pest.

For those of you who don't know, I will give you a short summary. Back in December of 2009 I got Salmonella. No problem, my immune system kicked in an vanquished this foe in a day or two. About 10 days later I developed what is called "Reactive Arthritis." It is similar to Rheumatoid arthritis, but happens in reaction to a major immune system event. My immune system essentially goes in to overdrive and attacks cells it is not supposed to attack. Inflammation take over. For the first few months I was miserable. I missed 6 weeks of work, had such pain in my joints that I could barely walk or get off the couch, had very red eyes and had great pain in my chest.

After the initial hit, things settled down, and since Easter of 2010 I have simply gone in and out of minor episodes. These basically consist of inflammation in the lining around my heart and lungs, accompanied by chest pain and extreme tiredness. These have been kept under control by prayer and medicine, and usually only last a few days. I had not had an episode since November, and even though the doctor said that it is something that I will have on and off for the rest of my life, I thought that it might be all over with.

I was wrong.

Oh well, it is not what I would prefer but I can live with it. Many people I know and love have much worse things that this. This life is temporary and inherently painful since sin entered the world. I know that someday I will be totally healed. I would love that to be on this side of heaven, but if it is not until I get to see Him face to face, so be it. There is too much to do in this broken and temporary home to get too wrapped up in it. I will admit though, that I miss having my girls here to wait on my hand and foot when I am sick. I am so spoiled.

Hiking and the random R

Quick post, as I am on my way to bed.

Went for a hike (ok really just a walk) this weekend. Was going to write about it, but Lori beat me to it. Here is a link to her post about it.

The random R:

It may not be news to you, but people here talk a little different than most of us. The most fascinating thing about New England accents is what I call the Random R. It is random, because there are no rules that I can figure out. Smarter people might be able to decipher the code, but not me.

For instance, they remove most of the "R's" from the end of words and many from the middle of words. The become long H sounding things.

Car = Cahh
Yard = Yahhd

They even take the R out of hamburger, which is Hamburg

There are many other examples, but I am sure you know what I mean. The thing that surprised me though is when I realized that they were taking those "R's" and randomly inserting them elsewhere.

Spatula = Spatuler
Idea = Idear
Wash = Warsh

Not everybody here talks like this, but I get to smile several times a week as I hear one of the true New Englander's speak. I did notice that the dropping of the "R's" happens more often than the adding of the "R's." Do you think they send the extras to Spanish speaking countries so that they have enough "R's" to roll?

Sugar on snow & times, they are a changin

Sister Lori, nephew Jadon and I went to Putnam Brothers Sugar House last weekend. I am in a different time zone now, so by law I had to wait until now to post this.

While I was there I learned all sorts of New Englandy terms about how to make Maple Syrup that I have already forgotten. The essentials though are that they no longer use buckets on the side of a tree like the picture below shows. They now use miles of plastic tubing, which feed in to big vats. I was able to see the raw sap flow in to a vat. It is then brought in to a something that draws out moisture and in to another machine that boils it. Fancy physics involved there, really there is.

I was able to sip what the nice syrup guy called "the good stuff." Don't worry, I did not get drunk off of it, but it was a warm sweet shot glass of freshly made maple syrup. It beats Mrs. Butterfield any day of the week.

Jadon and I then had Sugar on Snow. They take pure maple syrup and pour it on snow (or in this case crushed ice). You then consume this with a fork; my sister taught me to swirl it like spaghetti, delicious. I have taken part in a great New England tradition, so I guess I have to start talking funny.

Time:

I have not worn a watch for years. I have used my cell phone in order to keep track of time. In fact, I callously referred to watch wearers as "old people." Well, I have repented of my mean ways. I now wear a watch every day to work. I cannot have my cell phone in prison. Apparently people in prison have been known to get a hold of them and misuse them, go figure. Here is the big change; I forgot my watch yesterday and looked at my empty wrist about 15 times. Times, they are a changin.

Country Music and pants

Most people who know me know that I love the Blues. In my twisted brain the Blues are a great reminder of how painful life is, which always keeps me focused on eternal things instead of temporary things.

Don't try to make sense of it, just accept it.

But this post is about Country music. I cannot listen to Blues in my car. The Upper Valley inexplicably does not have a blues radio station and my car's CD player does not work (yes all the cool local people call this area "the upper valley"). I listen to Country Music while in the car.

I have had an "on again, off again" relationship with Country music over the years and Karen and I would often listen to it at home. Apparently the people of the Upper Valley appreciate Country music more than the Blues because I can get 4 country music stations on my car radio.

Unlike the Blues, Country music is depressing.

I can do fine with songs of sorrow and woe. The country music songs that talk about getting done wrong, being broke, and "my baby left me" are just fine. That it like the Blues with a different tune. It is all the stinking love songs that are killing me.

When your wife and daughters are 3000 miles away, try this on for size:

Got a baby girl sleepin' in my bedroom
And her momma laughing in my arms ...

Every stoplight I didnt make
Every chance I did or I didnt take
All the nights I went too far
All the girls that broke my heart
All the doors that I had to close
All the things I knew but I didn't know
Thank god for all I missed
Cause it led me here to this (meaning his relationship with his wife)

Thanks a whole stinking lot Darius Rucker

Or how about:

So, we planned it all out for the middle of June
From the wedding cake to the honeymoon
And your momma cried when you walked down the aisle
When the preacher man said say I Do
I did, and you did, too
Then I lifted that veil and saw your pretty smile
And I said...

Are you gonna kiss me or not
Are we gonna do this or what
Look at all the love that we've got
And it ain't never gonna stop
Are you gonna kiss me or not

Shut up Thompson Square.

Country Music is depressing. Give me some Muddy Waters, Robert Johnson or BB King please.

Pants:

For the last 24 years I have worn Jeans to work almost every day. Part of the joy of Spring Hills Community Church is that even the pastors do not have to get all dressed up. In my private practice I was the boss. The boss said that I could wear jeans. Sometimes I would go all high class and wear black jeans, but unless it was a funeral or wedding I was in denim.

I cannot wear jeans to work anymore. I don't have to dress up all the way (no ties) but I cannot wear jeans.

The adjustment has not been as bad as I thought. I found some inexpensive business casual trousers (don't you just love that word) at Walmart that are comfortable, and I barely notice the difference.

The only problem is what is missing in the front right pocket of my pants. Ever since I got out of high school I have had a knife in my pocket every day, everywhere I went except for planes and courthouses.

For some reason they don't think I should have that inside of a maximum security state prison. So I wearing high class new pants every day but I feel naked. My knife is the first thing I grab when I get home, then I go look for something that needs opening.

40 hours and Blue Walls

One of the things that has been odd but nice is the length of my work week. When I first interviewed for the job the boss told me almost apologetically, "Now I want you to understand, it is only a 40 hour work week. You wont be able to get any overtime. You have to stop after 40 hours."

I was glad to hear this because I moved in order to start a church, and this job (whether I do it for 2 years or 20 years) is mainly a rewarding way to pay the bills while I do what I came for. I am enjoying the job very much, but I would not have taken it if I was expected to work much more than 40 hours.

But now that I am doing it, working only 40 hours is very strange. I have been either a salaried employee and/or self employed for over 20 years. There have been times that I worked about 60 hours a week in addition to being on an electronic leash at only one job. For the last 5 years I have worked at two jobs and I have worked 6 days a week for most of the last 10 years. Thankfully I loved both my job at church and my private practice in Santa Rosa.

Working 40 hours a week almost feel like cheating. It is like a working vacation, but what kind of idiot takes a 15 week vacation without his beautiful girls!

I guess I expected the 40 hours thing to be approximate. I expected that I would work until the job is done, but simply aim for 40 hours a week. I was wrong.

When Friday comes we have to know what we actually worked that week and leave early rather than even work 1 hour of overtime.

I will probably be leaving early every Friday.

Blue Walls: I saw something when I first arrived here, but noticed it again when I was traveling upstate for some training last week. On the side of the highways I often see thick ice formations cascading down the sides of mountains. These formations are right at the side of the road and are a so thick that they are a beautiful shade of blue. I do not have a picture to share. You can get away with a lot in the "Live Free or Die" state, but I do not think using my freedom to die by taking a picture while driving down the freeway is a great idea.

First "Church service" ... and my new friend

We had our first "Church Service" this week.
Sort of.
I decided to begin a small family devotion time for me and the 4 family members we already have out here. I am still working on the strategy for starting the new church, but they have not had a church to go to for a while and I wanted us to have something.

It was more like a small group than a church service, but we all got a lot out of it. I started off with the following questions (which I put on pieces of paper in a cowboy hat). We all answered two of them, with everybody else getting to add there own answers if they wanted to.

The time I felt closest to God was…
The time I felt the farthest from God was…
If I could ask God one question it would be…
I feel encouraged when…
My favorite book/verse/story from the Bible is…
My least favorite book/verse/story from the Bible is…
I feel discouraged when…
The kind of person in Charlestown that I can’t wait to see in our church is…
The kinds of person in Charlestown that will be hard for me to have in our new church is…
My favorite way to express my worship to God is...

We then went on to talk read about the first passover from Exodus, the Last supper from Luke, and we had communion.

It was a sweet beginning. We will likely invite other people to join us in the coming weeks, and might move it to Saturday evenings. We will see how it all pans out.

Now for my new friend. Here is his picture:

For those of you who have never been out of Santa Rosa, he is a snow brush and ice scraper combo. Very handy guy to have around.

By the way, did you know that you can get a ticket for driving with several inches of snow on your roof?  I don't know from experience, but I have seen the reason for this first hand.  I saw a guy put on his breaks a little at an intersection and all of the snow on his roof cascaded down on to his windshield.  He was totally blinded for a bit. This can happen to a car in back of you when you step on the gas too.

Mr Snow brush is indeed a good friend.

Snow!

It has been a very busy week.  I have said good-bye to loved ones, travelled 3000 miles, said hello to other loved ones, worked my first two days in a prison, eaten great New England food, and spent a lot of time walking and driving in snow.

Snow has been something that I have only played in.  I played in it as a child in New Jersey, until I moved to Florida at age 9.  I played with it as an adult when I went on vacation.

This is not play.

Snow is amazing and beautiful.  I keep looking out at it in disbelief.  I cannot believe that I am living in the stuff.  So far, it has not been as bad to get around in snow than I would have thought.  It is definitely a challenge, but not overwhelming.  I know that there will be times when it will be impassible, but even with all we have had this week, that is not the case.  I had one instance that could have been problematic.  I was unable to make a turn because I could not slow down fast enough.  I did not miss it by much, and there was nobody in front of me.  I am still adjusting.

I took a walk with my nephew yesterday.  I took a picture of a graveyard with my mobile phone.  It did not really capture the beauty, but you can get a little sense of it.

I also took a picture of the home I am staying in temporarily.  It is a stone house built in the 1830's.  I am staying in a room that is behind a door that is hidden in a book case.  The books on those particular shelves are appropriately mystery books.  This is just one angle of the house, I may post more later.

Lastly.  In addition to the many important good-byes that I said.  There was one that was less important.  I said good-bye to my Jeep.  I had always wanted one, and finally got one when I was in my late 30's.  God provided by allowing me to keep it all the way until the last day I was in Santa Rosa.  Sold it for cash, which was great since that banks were closed that day.

My much loved jeep was replaced yesterday with a 2002 Chevy Blazer.  Due to paperwork type issues, I will not pick it up until Wednesday.  I am very pleased with it, and Karen will enjoy the heated leather seats!

The next step

It is happening right now.  I am posting this on the bus as I head to the airport.  I am officially leaving California after almost 24 years.

It was hard when we left Florida to come to Golden Gate Seminary in the summer of 1987.  My marriage was just over a year old at the time, and we were leaving behind family, friends, and everything that I had known since I was 9 years old.  There were a lot of tears during those days.

There have been a lot of tears during these days.

The tears of 1987 and the tear of 2011 have a lot in common.  Back then Karen and I were leaving so very much behind in order to follow God's calling to seminary.  It was very difficult, but was clearly the right thing to do.  It is the same thing now, only on steroids.  I am even more clear now that this is what God is calling me to do, I am even more clear now that it would be less painful for me to slam my head in to wall while shoving bamboo shoots under my fingernails and having my pinky toe stepped on by an elephant.

We had had a wonderful sendoff that has lasted a couple of weeks.  I have said good-bye to my friends and colleagues at Christian Counseling Associates, to my remaining clients, to many good friends, to our church family and to family that we love more than words can say.  The best one word description for the last two weeks would be "full."  They have been full of appreciation, joy, hope, excitement and sorrow.   It will only happen through God's strength and wisdom, but I am determined to make sure that the sorrow has not been in vain.  I cannot wait to see how God is going to work in the hearts of the people in the Charlestown area.

Spring Hills gave us a wonderful good-bye reception.  We were showered with encouraging words, thoughtful cards and gifts and great food (well, we did not actually shower with the food).  I will try to post some pictures of that soon.

Bitter Sweet

This past month has been very bitter sweet. As I prepare to leave Santa Rosa after 22 years and Spring Hills after 16 years, I am quite sad. I love my church, and have been blessed to know so many wonderful people as I have seen it grow from about 200 to approximately 1500 in average weekly attendance.

I have had the privilege of working side by side with the best church staff on the planet and the most wonderful group of volunteers in any organization I have ever seen. It is very hard to say good bye to family, friends and co-workers at both Spring Hills and Christian Counseling Associates.

That was the sad part. The sweet part is what lies on the other side.

When I first realized that the Lord was calling me to pastor a church, I had no idea that he would call me to such an awesome little town like Charlestown, NH. There is a great need for a healthy church there, and God has given me an overwhelming passion to reach that community for Christ. It has been very sweet to have that vision grow so strong and to have the support of my family and friends as we get ready to launch.

I am also very grateful for the job He has given me. For those of you who don't know, I will be doing mental health counseling in a prison in order to pay the bills. I expect this job to be both exciting and challenging, while also allowing me the time I need to launch the church.

Please pray for the Krulish Clan as we adjust to this new life. We will do our best to keep you up to date on life in a small town and on what God is doing as we begin this new work in the "Live Free or Die" state.