Thursday, June 28, 2007

Found House in Elk River

So we (N., and Mommy) drove all over last weekend, and looked at a dozen or so houses. We finally decided on a home in Elk River, 5 bedrooms, 4 baths, 3 garages. I liked the grassy lot to the left and woods behind. N. liked the playscape, and playhouse. Mommy liked the kitchen, but had reservations because of the lack of a formal dining room. It has a nice office and big mudroom - which should be required for families of boys.

They were queasy on Tuesday, and postponed their trip home by one day. They stopped by the office Wednesday - and I walked them to the LRT. I return home Tuesday as well. I can't tell you how excited to go home and I haven't seen by other boys in far too long.

The house in Ct. is listed as well - but a dearth of pictures and a few typo's. Will resolve when I get home.

Sunday, June 17, 2007

Father's Day

So I took the rental car for a ride - To fill the day. I realized my sense of direction needed more data. So I went South - down to Red Wing, where there was a car show, and lunch was a hot dog and a soda for $2.50. Then I crossed the state line to Wisconsin, and down along the Mississippi and Lake Pepin. Then down to Winona, and back into Minnesota - and figured I could touch Iowa before going home. The lake had a sidewheel paddleboats, and tugboats and barges and Locks.

North of Rochester I saw a herd of Carabou. And passed through Elko (where I'll see houses this week). It's 25 miles (40 ish minutes) from downtown. It was nice to see countryside all day - and hills.

So - I heard that I was in the sermon in Bakersville today - about change. If I'd known my letter would be part of that I'd have spoken about the ministries that have touched me that need to be carried on. There is a sense that BUM needs to nearly succumb, and be reborn, that there is very little to repair, and much to rebuild - more like a Pheonix, and not just a tweak. Aventura and CCTD - I feel that Aventura may be on the way back again, Tres Dias on the other hand still loses it's way - not buttressing Christian leaders, but getting non-Christian projects.

But I think of the literally hundreds of brothers and sisters walked with me nearly forever - I'm better and stronger, for what God has led me through with them. It's not really a Christian ID card - but the brotherhood does make it easier to "Rejoice in what we have in common, and respect where we differ"

Good night.

Saturday, June 16, 2007

Initial Entry - To Minnesota

June 14, 2007

I’ve accepted an offer in Beautiful, Downtown Minneapolis to work for Bullseye. I started the 11th of June, and am in temporary housing until August at the latest. The city is clean and full of bikes and buses and light rail. I’ve just started looking at houses, and so far they all look like Arbor Ridge, new construction, smallish lots.

It’s lonely here, but cool. The buildings are connected by walkways – I walk the three blocks every morning inside on the second floor of Saks and Macys to reach my building, City Center. You can Google earth downtown and actually see 90 s 9th St, and City Center.

They offered a good salary, and a relocation package. So that’s why the house on Prospect St. looks so much nicer – It should be on the market this week. If it doesn’t sell by the end of July, They'll buy it. Everyone else is still home, and the big guys are going on the Troop canoe trip with Grampy, and going to Camp the first week of August. Cindy and Nate are flying out to visit next weekend.

My Mom and MIL are working on an open house July 8, at Bakersville Church.

I’ve lived in Connecticut for the last 30 years. My family, my Church, and for the last 9 years my Pack and Troop have all been there. But we prayed for an open door, and in a furious week weighed a couple of offers, and prayer crystallized this one. So off we go, but not as far as Kevin. 2:50 by airplane, for about $400, or a brisk 1250 miles, 21 hours by car.

It’s time to stop resting on relationships founded ten years ago on team, or because we went on the bike trip together or ‘cause I’m the boss at camp. It’s occurred to me lately that our self image is an amalgam of us over time, and no one new sees us that way – I’m watching the movie of my life and everyone else is taking snapshots. It’s time to make friends again, to find a church, and a troop, and Nathan a Tiger den.

Mark and Dave will help out DanB at the Troop, Jorge and Heather will lead the Pack, and Jenn Merrill-Pecora is handling Cub Camp and the other district wide outings.

I love you all, and I always will.