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79 days ago
Recently, I participated in a men’s fishing retreat in Minnesota. I would love to share some reflections with you all. Hi, folks. How are you? I am doing well. I have just gotten home from, first, a fishing trip to Grand Rapids, MN. and secondly from a campout at Saylorville Lake, here in Iowa. It was a trip that, no matter how many times you go, can change a person. It was not just a bunch of hairy, smelly men, fishing day and night, (although those of you who know me, I did produce some rather malodorous emissions, so as not to disappoint ;0) ) it was much much more than just that. Relationships were made based on a commonality, that could only be discovered in such a venue as Wildwood Resort. We were 8 hours away from wives, and children, though, they were never far from our hearts and thoughts. Much “man food” was consumed. Maybe someday, I will write a wilderness (satirical) guide for “bachelor for a week" men. I went up there, thinking “maybe I will know a couple ...
108 days ago
Howdy, Hello, Aloha, Hey, SSSSUP! What’s shakin?, Hi, and any other greeting you find comforting. Fast fact: early Christians would greet one another by saying “He is risen” and the response was “he is risen indeed”. Wow! What it must have been like to exist in those early days. The sense of tragic loss, yet the immense hope the true believers had been given. And those who had realized what they had done, what they had participated in. Though, at that time they were few. I hope, when I get to heaven, there will be stories from those days. The miracles they had witnessed. The feeding of 5,000 men, which would then include the wives and children beyond that number, with a couple of fish and a few loaves of bread. Wow. Well, as you know, we made the pilgrimage to Rochester for my first annual heart checkup. We left Des Moines on Sunday, to get up there and relax in the pool and the hot tub before my appointments began Monday morning. Caitlyn is in Florida (actually as I write ...
116 days ago
Hey, it’s me. Yes, I am still here, in fact, I am doing quite well! I know I haven’t written much since May, but I have been busy witnessing miracles, and acts of God on a daily basis. How often can you meet someone, who genuinely loves his/her job? It seems, as though, everyone who spends any length of time out here (Jordan Park Camp, West Des Moines, IA – www.jordanparkcamp.org) gets so infused with the history, and beauty of this place, that they never want to leave. I often awake in the middle of the night, dreaming about this place. I want to share a little on the miracles out here, and for those of you who are skeptical, well… The first miracle…Duh! I wake up every day, full of energy, okay, but at least I am highly functional. I feel great. I walk around with a big ole’ smile on my toothless face. Sometimes I even pop my dentures in and smile bigger than life. It is funny, just to sit and ponder on what an incredible journey I/we have been on. If you told me this ...
194 days ago
Hi folks, what’s shakin’? Not much here…HA! I am crazy busy, and lovin’ it. But this isn’t about me, This is a goodbye. Monday, May 11, We lost a great man. His name was Robert Williams. I cannot say, that I am sad, although, I am saddened. I will miss Bob, because Bob was… just Bob. Let me clearly state, that, Bob would kick my behind, if he knew that I referred to him as “Great”, but, that was what made him so worthy of that adjective. He was, and will remain a hero to generations of people, from, soldiers, to transplant recipients, to his students and mentee’s, and most importantly to his wife and children. If you Mayo nurses recall, Bob was the guy who would call me up, day or night, and make me laugh, during some of the most scary, painful moments imaginable. He was the alter ego to Sherrell, as they would collaborate, and implement the “good cop, bad cop” routine on me. Sherrell and I have shed many tears, in the last several days. Speaking for myself, ...
242 days ago
Howdy! I want to get right into this one, as everything is still fresh in my mind. But first things first. (Author takes a deep breath, followed by, a slow, satisfied exhale, please, join me…) Hi. How have you people been? So very much has happened since I last sat down to write you. So, where do I want to begin? The perfect place to begin, is to ask, that we all take some time, to pray for my good friend Bob. I am not going to say a lot, as, I haven’t asked his permission, but, he is in a fight, and he knows, he can’t do it alone. I spoke with him, on the phone, today, and he sounded really great, but he is just that way. So, let’s just say some prayers, and send some love his way. Get well soon, Bob. Now that your lakes are full, I want to come down, and teach you how, to quit foolin’ around with the bait, and catch the real fish. Okay, I really have to get ya’all up to date. I have been working my buns off. Oops, I just checked, and it seems as though, I ...
