Rafting the Payette

On Memorial Day we went rafting down a stretch of the Payette River in Idaho. Hiwot is a student at BSU studying electrical engeering. She is living with us for the summer. Bill and Brittan are Larry's nephew and son visiting from Austin, Texas. As soon as we put in, dark clowds rolled over the mountains and it rained on us most of the way down, giving new meaning to the term "wet suits". Although we were soaked at the take out, a good time was had by all. Hiwot was quite adventerous. Although it is difficult to tell from the video clip, she was standing on the front of the raft, holding on to a rope while we were spinning the raft around in the water...thus, riding the bull. It is what you do when you get bored on a quiet stretch of river. With all of the snow runoff, the river is running fairly high so the rapids were class 2 and 3. Plenty of thrill for me! Lorna

Make a Smilebox postcard

My brother Tim and I ran the Bloomsday Race in Spokane, Washington on Sunday, May 4th. Here are a few sights and sounds for you to enjoy. Lorna

Make a Smilebox postcard

23rd Psalm with (commentary)

This reading of the 23rd Psalm was part of the liturgy last week. We read it responsively with the pastor reading the psalm and the congregation reading what is in parenthesis.
THE LORD IS MY SHEPARD (Thats Relationship!)
I SHALL NOT WANT (That's Supply!)
HE MAKETH ME TO LIE DOWN IN GREEN PASTURES (Thats Rest!)
HE LEADETH ME BESIDE STILL WATERS (Thats Refreshment!)
HE RESTORETH MY SOUL (That's Healing!)
HE LEADETH ME IN THE PATHS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS (That's Guidance!)
FOR HIS NAME'S SAKE (That's Purpose!)
YEA, THOUGH I WALK THROUGH THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH (That's Testing!)
I WILL FEAR NO EVIL (That's Protection!)
FOR THOU ART WITH ME (That's Faithfulness!)
THY ROD AND THY STAFF THEY COMFORT ME (That's Discipline!)
THOU PREPAREST A TABLE BEFORE ME IN THE PRESENCE OF MINE ENEMIES (That's Hope!)
THOU ANOINTEST MY HEAD WITH OIL (That's Consecration!)
MY CUP RUNNETH OVER (That's Abundance!)
SURELY GOODNESS AND MERCY SHALL FOLLOW ME ALL THE DAYS OF MY LIFE
(That's Blessing!)
AND I WILL DWELL IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD (That's Security!)
FOREVER (That's Eternity!)

Pretty cool, huh? Oh dear, it's snowing yet again. Surely spring will prevail. (that's moisture!)
Blessings all, Uncle Wayne

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DORI!!!!

Dori, Andrew, and Mate Makes Three

These are our adopted kids Andrew and Dori McCall with their son Mate. We feel very blessed to add them to our family along with our awesome biological progeny...Heidi and Luke. We were able to visit them in Hungary in January 2007. They live and work in the city of Sarbogard, Hungary where they pastor a small fellowship. Andrew is developing his skills as a master woodworker/skateboarder/vinedresser. Dori keeps the family going and works for the Calvary Chapel Bible College in Vajita, Hungary. I've included a link to their blog. The photos and video are great, but the posts are in Hungarian...so good luck with that one.

Crazy Days at Brundage Mountain McCall, ID

OK, OK....I know I said that I wouldn't post yet another ski video this season....but I felt it was important to document Wayne's return to the slopes. He was in fine form and a good time was had by all. It was Crazy Days and I posted another short video of a contest they held to see who could ski down a slope and across a small pond without falling in. They had 400 inches of snow at Brundage this year and are extending their season. Today it was very warm and the snow was melting fast. I have to turn in my leased ski equipment on Tuesday...so absolutely no more skiing videos! Lorna

Good Food/Good Book

From the experiental kitchen of Wayne Brown we have this amazing soup recipe. Literally, I was cleaning out the fridge and came up with this.
1 small onion chopped
2 stocks celery sliced
Several cauliflower flowerets
2 T. olive oil
1 14-16 oz can of tomatoes
3/4 cup cooked brown rice
5 cups chicken broth or bullion
1/4 - 1/2 t. red pepper flakes
1 can kidney beans rinsed and drained
1 t. tarregon
1 t. thyme
2 t. white wine vinegar
1 t. worchestershire sauce
2 smoked sausages cut lenthwise and sliced
4 - 5 T Pinjur (this is the ingredient that makes the soup. We got Pinjur at Trader Joe's. Its a mix of eggplant, red peppers, onion, tomato concentrate, sunflower oil, garlic, salt, parsley and hot peppers. Some sort of greek or macedonian condiment. It give a nice subtle flavor and some body to the soup.

1. Slice onion, cauliflower, celery and sausage and saute in oil till onion turns opaque
2. Add rest of ingredients and bring to a boil. Cover and simmer for 10-15 minutes. Leave a little "crunch" in the cauliflower and celery.
3. Top with grated parmesan cheese and serve with some crusty bread. Pretty dang good!

ON TO THE BOOK
The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
This is a memoir of growing up in a remarkable family - remarkable for their brilliance, creativity, itinerancy, dysfunction, neglect and poverty. The amazing thing is that the sins of the father and mother were not passed down to the next generation. In 3 of the 4 children the neglect and poverty resulted in adult lives that were productive. Once again it proves that we don't hold all the cards with respect to how our kids turn out - for good or not so good. Very fast read. You won't want to put it down!