Since Markus and Bjorn were both home today (Memorial Day), we decided to have a 'family day'. Instead of staying home and each doing our own thing, we opted for a local excursion of the penisula. We started off with some disc golf at NAD Park, and then went downtown Bremerton to check out the new fountain park. It is really a cool little park. The fountain stacks are shaped like submarine turrets and they sporadically spout like whales. The rocks are uniquely carved out and polished to provide warm places to lay down. The landscaping is very nice as well. Next, we went to Port Townsend, a favorite spot for both Esther and I. After browsing the shops and the marina, we enjoyed ice cream cones on the waterfront. Then it was off to Fort Worden and Port Hadlock. We finished up with supper in Silverdale. A good family day.
Monday, May 28, 2007
On the edge of the plunge
Aging has a way of sneaking up on a person. It often seems most evident when you get together with 'old' friends whom you don't see that often. Simple deduction leads one to the realization that if they are old, then you are old too! This past weekend we went to Whatcom County and spent some time with the Mulders and Vissers, who were very close to us in our early years of marriage. Mulders came from Montana and Vissers live in Belingham. It was great catching up on eachother's lives as well as that of our children. Of the six of us gathered, five of us will turn 50 this summer. Fortunately, none of us are grandparents yet, but the conversation did include retirement and midlife crisis toys. No Harley fans here, but Dan is going to trade his horses in for a Mazda Miata! We had a busy couple of days visiting other friends and family in Lynden. Today will be spent enjoying our immediate family as all three boys are home.
Monday, May 14, 2007
the blodgett blog
This past weekend, we went down to Blodgett, Oregon to visit Jenny's family and make some plans for the wedding. The Christensen home is nestled on the edge of Oregon's coastal mountain range. No other homes are visible from their panorama view of the rolling hills. The twenty acres include open spaces, woods and a stream. Over the years, Greg has converted a neglected horsefarm into a hobby farmer's dream property. Though the weather was unseasonally cold, we enjoyed exploring the Blodgett area. Jenny's brother Jeff and wife Whitney, and Jenny's sister Jill and boyfriend Mike joined us for an (indoor) barbeque Saturday night. On Sunday, we went to Newport to celebrate Mother's Day and check out motels.
Monday, April 30, 2007
Congratulations, Bjorn
This past weekend was a busy one. It began with moving Bjorn's stuff to Lynden in the pouring rain in an open bed pickup (not fun!) Friday evening was a nice baccalaureate service in Trinity’s gym with all graduates and faculty. Bjorn’s actual graduation on Saturday was one of three separate ceremonies. They were divided by academic departments so we didn’t see Jenny walk. Bjorn received a bachelor of science degree in computing science and Jenny received a bachelor of arts in Christianity and culture. We ended the day with a graduation party at Homestead restaurant in Lynden. Then on Sunday, Jenny brought her family over to Lynden to meet the Eide half of Bjorn’s family. Last, it was over to Aaron and Jenn’s for a birthday party for mom, as well as a baptism party for Dylan (Aaron and Jenn’s baby) By the time we got home at midnight, we were partied out, though not exactly raring to start a week of work.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Surviving the Island of Grace
I recently came across this book in the used section of the Armchair Sailor bookstore in Seattle. It was written by a college classmate of ours. There weren’t very many married couples at Cedarville, so we quickly got to know she and her husband, Duncan. There is one interesting connection to Duncan. He was inadvertently responsible for us attending Cedarville College. He happened to be flying to Ohio from Alaska one year and sat next to my dad, who flying to Chicago. Dad was impressed with this ‘Calvinistic’ Baptist young man. That set us on a course to drive across country and attend Cedarville, sight unseen. The book by Leslie is a well written memoir of her journey of transition from a New England teenager to summer set gillnetting fisher on a remote island off from Kodiak, Alaska. For thirty summers, she and Duncan have returned to the Shelikof Strait to set nets and pick salmon for endless hours in harsh conditions. Leslie tells her story with skill and candor, as she relates her struggles to adapt to a life of near solitude and primitivity.
Sunday, April 22, 2007
the bridal tea party
Esther reported that the bridal tea party was a success. Jenny's college friends came down to Lynden, where Marti and Esther hosted the event. Three courses of delectable goodies kept the girls smiling. After a TP wedding dress competition, the future bride was pampered with gifts. The party moved to the patio for games and a toast. The event was one of the final activities for these college friends of four years.
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Pete's Auto Body
For about two years I have had these fender flares bookmarked on the internet as part of a facelift for my aging truck. Since the truck is parked this month while I break in the Tercel, I decided to order the flares. Esther is up in Lynden this weekend, so I took the opportunity to play auto body shop. I was pretty impressed with myself. It was actually more work taking the old trim off than putting on the new. I haven't decided whether to put mudflaps on or not. I finished the job just in time before the rain came. I am anxious to hear how Jenny's bridal shower went. I sent a camera with Esther, so we'll see if she comes back with photos.
Saturday, April 14, 2007
southworth in watercolors
A couple of months ago, we noticed in a ferry newsletter that the Washington State Ferry poster for this year was a water color of Southworth. We were quick to note that both of our houses were included in the painting. We had been planning to purchase one of the posters before the end of the season. Yesterday our neighbor Howard came over and said that he had an extra one to sell us. We jumped on it. The artist is Alex Young. Since 1984, he has been painting all 20 of the WSF terminals. Southworth is the final one. Here's what the artist says about Southworth: "I think Southworth still looks like a rural area. It's not filled up, like Fauntleroy or Edmonds, where you have a lot of buildings in the background. It's one of the few that's still in such a nice setting." - I would concur to that! If you take a close-up look at the painting in the link to the left, you will see that the artist has hidden all of the names of his grandchildren in the painting. We are going to have to frame this one as a keepsake.
Sunday, April 08, 2007
Easter dinner at the Eide compound
On our way home today, we stopped at John and Kay's for a great outdoor Easter dinner. The rain stopped long enough for us to enjoy ham, potatoes, salad and crossants. The deLacys got the chance to see the Eide compound, and we got to meet the new Russian family on the Van Dyk Rd. It was a great conclusion to a wonderful week.
village walk
Part of the Whistler experience is strolling the village walk at night. Streets are filled with people and lights. Most conversations are in a foreign language. Bjorn and Jenny joined us for an afternoon of snowboarding and an evening village walk. We were fortunate with the weather. The morning we left it started to rain.
Friday, April 06, 2007
warm whistler wonderland
60 degrees with gloves, helmet and winter jacket. I need to do some laundry tonight! The weather was wonderful and the snow wasn't too bad considering the temperature. Sometimes we would hit a pocket of snow that felt like cement- almost doing a pitchpole. We rode Blackcomb today and enjoyed it very much. I did the glacier for the first time. The surroundings were awesome, but the ride wasn't all that special, especially when we got to the uphill cat tracks. We had enchiladas for supper and a balmy evening stroll in the village. Lest you think all the shops are overpriced, Tim and Josh found demo skis and bindings for $99.
Thursday, April 05, 2007
We are spending four days at Whistler with the deLacys. The whole party hit the slopes today. The weather was pretty good - calm, no rain, but maybe a little too warm. By afternoon, it was quite slushy. Ben had his first day on skiis and did exceptionally well. I don't understand why his father insists on passing on such an archaic sport to his sons. The condo is very comfortable, and is in the village. It's great to park the car and leave it alone for four days.
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
a visit from sister and mother
Ellen is also on spring break from her teaching in Sacramento. She flew up to visit mom, and brought her down to Southworth for a visit. We had a couple of beautiful sunny days to enjoy our time together. Mom took a liking to Esther's 'puppy chow mix' (sweet snack), and we sent her off with a bag full. It's always fun to swap school stories with Ellen and hear the latest in the Burton saga. Tomorrow it is off to Whistler with the deLacys.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
the parent rap
I always enjoy the week of parent conferences. It's great to touch bases with the parents. As a multiage, we get to see the same parents for two years. I love to report the progress that we have witnessed from the beginning of fourth grade to the end of fifth grade. They really do come out as different students. Part of our conference is student-led. Students pick their best work from the trimester to include in a portfolio which is then shared with the parents. The spring conference also gives me a chance to give a detailed description of the upcoming trip to Neah Bay.
Sunday, March 25, 2007
whoever acknowledges me. . . I will also acknowledge
Calvin was baptized today. It was special to have 'John the Snell Baptist' baptize Calvin, as he has now baptized all three of our sons. John's spiritual impact on our family has been immense. We appreciate him so much. I'm not sure what Calvin's namesake would say about this afternoon's ritual, as he reportedly condoned the persecution of the anabaptists of his day. Bjorn and Jenny made a quick trip down from Canada to witness the event. Wedding planning is in full swing, and Esther and I needed to cough up an invitation list for them. In another month, it will be graduation day!
Saturday, March 24, 2007
playin in the mud
How do you like to spend your soggy Saturday morning? Well, Tim deLacy asked me to lend a helping hand at pouring the foundation walls for the new outdoor shed that he is building. Tim is an engineeer, and this shed has a foundation that would put some skyscrapers to shame. Having nothing more important to do besides sleep in, I joined the muddy party. The challenge of a foundation pour is to 'row' the mud through the forms until the walls are filled with cement. Tim, myself and his two boys, Josh and Ben, got our donned rubber gloves and paddled away. The pour went well, and the driver was pleasant to work with. What amazed me was that after thirty years, nothing has changed in cement truck technology. The equipment and procedure was exactly the same.
Sunday, March 18, 2007
Markus home on break
Our neighbors never have to guess when Markus is home; it is always pretty evident by the pile of cars in front of the house. The gang has once again converged on the Bulthuis house. Last night they canoed over to Blake Island and spent the night. -hot dogs and frozen waffles-roasted over the fire. The ranger wouldn't believe that they didn't have any alchohol for the night and kept checking on them. Today they have been hanging out here. I'm going to have to chase them out sometime tonight as Calvin will need his brain sleep for WASL testing tomorrow. My weekend has been spent balancing yardwork and report cards. Esther is finally recovering from a nasty lingering cold. Only trouble is I'm starting to battle it now!
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Lynden High School - make it two!
Last night Esther and I went to Tacoma to watch her alma mater win the boys 2A state championship. The game wasn't even close. After charging ahead to a 15-2 lead, they never looked back. It was fun, just the same, watching the well-tuned dutchmen dominate the game over a previously undefeated rival. This is Lynden's second boys state championship this year. They also won the football state championship, with several of the same players. This is now the third time that the school has taken both championships in the same year--Must be that unpasteurized milk!
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
spiritual reflections of a college student
One of Markus’ assignments this quarter at SPU was to trace his spiritual formation. He chose to compose a series of blog entries to express his ‘life map.’ He did a great job of expressing his perspective on his emerging faith. If you have a few minutes, it’s worth the read. You can find it at http://markuslifemap.blogspot.com.Saturday, March 03, 2007
another toyota for the Bulthuis'
After casually searching craigslist and autotrader for the last couple of months, I came across this 96 tercel with 100,000 miles. I drove to Seattle two nights checking it out, and brought it back to my mechanic for an inspection. We ended up paying $3500 for it. This is actually the first vehicle that we have purchased for the boys to drive. We were fortunate to have two uncles donate cars to their nephews, providing the rabbit and 200sx. This vehicle has by far the least miles of the Bulthuis fleet. Our five vehicles together have almost a million miles!
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
vanity makeover
In my spare time this last week, I refinished the vanity in our main floor bath. The birch plywood cabinet is solid and well built, but still sported the dark 70's stain. I sanded down the faces of the drawers and doors, followed by a couple of coats of verathane. The hardware was spray painted black and now match the counter accessories. The result is an improvement over what it was. (check my photostream for the 'before' pic) I still have to do something with the louvered bifold doors, but I'm not sure what.
Saturday, February 24, 2007
Sidney Glen boys take district championship
Today was a marathon of basketball in South Kitsap. All ten elementary schools in the district battle it out for bragging rights in a boys and girls tournament. It takes place on two Saturdays, and today was the final day. The Sidney Glen Dolphins did great. The girls went undefeated until their last game, and the boys dominated with an undefeated record. They played five games just today. Coach CJ was proud of his talented teams, though a little disappointed that the girls didn't make it a perfect Sidney Glen sweep. One contributing factor to our school having good teams is an extensive after school basketball program. Each year CJ organizes the program and teachers volunteer to coach. Four of the boys on the school team have been on teams that I coached; and two of them are former students. It was fun to watch them do so well. They played hard and worked as a team. Way to go boys and CJ!
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Big White weekend
We are spending President's weekend with the Eides at Big White. The chalet this year is very nice. It has a large open framed living area, with dining, kitchen and living room all in one great room. It has good ski in/ski out access. We had one less day for the weekend as we had school on Friday this year. We are trying to pack in as much as we can. The snowboarding has been good. The runs are nice and long, and the snow is dry. It's too bad the vacation is so short.
Sunday, February 11, 2007
foggy day of snowboarding
Yesterday Markus and I went snowboarding at Stevens Pass. I picked him up in the morning at SPU and headed up for some father/son snow carving. We had a good time together, but the conditions were less than ideal. The snow wasn't too icy, but there was a band of clouds that hung on the mountain all day. Visibility is important when you careen down a mountain! The crowds weren't bad and we put in a full day. Markus broke in a new pair of bindings, and I wore out an old pair of legs.
Saturday, February 03, 2007
a new lense to capture life
Five years seems to be the critical point for me to upgrade my technological toys - excuse me, TOOLS! It was five years between my iBook and my MacBook. And it was five years ago that I entered the digital photo world with my Canon Powershot S110. Yesterday, I purchased a Canon Powershot S3 IS for the exact same price as the S110. I debated long and hard whether to get another compact click and shoot or the bulkier feature rich camera. I have really enjoyed the convenience of the pocket camera, but have been frustrated with it's lack of perfomance, particularly in low-light and indoor settings. I reasoned that I could still use my small camera, when on the dash; but utilize the more powerful S3 when I wanted to do more serious photograhy. The new S3 has a 12x optical zoom and strong image stabilizing features. Stay tuned for hopefully better pictures on this blog.
Thursday, February 01, 2007
a quick project
Earlier this school year, I donated four hours of labor to a fundraising auction. A fellow teacher got the high bid and wanted me to build some shelves for her mother. Tonight I made good on my promise and built these shelves in their newly constructed garage. They are 3/4 inch plywood shelves; sixteen feet long, eight feet high, and 30 inches deep. She will be able to fit a lot of stuff on those shelves! I had to be a little careful working in the garage with a fully restored 57 Tbird next to me!
Sunday, January 28, 2007
We finally get a daughter!
Bjorn popped the big question yesterday to Jenny. After a romantic day at Deep Cove, he used his computer to communicate his love. For a detailed account, check out Jenny's blog.myfairlady.
Saturday, January 20, 2007
a warm winter's day
Sunny January Saturdays in the Northwest are not to be taken lightly. This morning, I quickly finished some inside painting and then absorbed some sun on the roof, while taking down all the christmas lights from the gutters and face boards. Next it was a relaxing canoe ride in the Sound. I saw a couple of bald eagles and two seals, along with scores of grebes and buffleheads. The Olympics were showing off their new blanket of snow. Boating traffic was almost non-existent, a beautiful afternoon for a canoe ride. I finished the afternoon off with a five mile run on dry roads. After all the stormy weather of the past several weeks, it was great to enjoy the Northwest outdoors.
Monday, January 15, 2007
I finally hit the slopes
I'm a little ashamed to admit that despite the abundance of snow in the mountains this year, today was my first snowboarding of the season. Calvin and I went up with the church snow van. The conditions were great! I was a little worried about the crowds and ice, but neither one was a problem. Evidently, even though there hasn't been any fresh snow for a few days, the dry and cold kept the snow from forming ice. It was a spectacular clear day and it wasn't too cold. I'll take a snow day like this anytime. I feel like I've redeemed the extended break from school this weekend. I think our whole house is actually anxious for school to get back to normal tomorrow, though they are predicting snow tonight :(
Friday, January 12, 2007
Velvet Elvis
One of the many books I received this Christmas was the thought provoking Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell, pastor of the large emerging church, Mars Hill of Grand Rapids. (not to be confused with the Mars Hill Church in Seattle.) The author uses the term ‘velvet elvis’ as a metaphor for the outdated and irrelevant painting of the Christian faith by today’s evangelicalism. In its place, he presents a ‘fresh’ repainting of the Christian faith. While I appreciated many of his ideas, there were others that reminded me of classic neo-orthodox theology. Among the ideas that I enjoyed were his emphasis on the ‘nowness’ of eternal life and the utilization of Jewish Mishnah for an understanding of Jesus’ teachings. However, his approach to the nature of the bible and its interpretation troubled me. The historicity and factuality of the bible don’t seem to be as important as its existential impact on the individual. Two examples are a questioning the virgin birth and a spurious homily on the ‘stench’ of Lazarus’ body as representative of our sinfulness. The book is a fast read and very provocative, but must be read critically, even as Rob suggests on the back cover.
Thursday, January 11, 2007
an unplanned school break
Including today's school cancellation, we will have a five-day weekend. They have just decided to cancel school tomorrow as well because of the threat of icy roads. All I can see is our summer days being eaten up. There is some consolation in the beauty of the scenary, the crystal clear skies and bright sunshine. I enjoyed a cold walk on the beach this afternoon. Now, I just have to think of some worthwhile activities to fill up the long weekend.
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
the iPhone is here
There is much enthusiasm in the Bulthuis family today. The long anticipated iPhone was announced and demonstrated at Macworld today. Bjorn has been yearning for this thing since it was first hinted at a couple of years age. He has refrained from buying a cell phone all these years. There were some rumors of this breakthrough device being announced, but no one imagined how radical it would be. The best way to describe it is to say that it is a video iPod, a cell phone, a palm pilot and a mobile web browser, all seamlessly linked to your computer. It won't be shipped until June, but if Apple's track record has anything to say, it will soon be the envy of every tech geek. To see an excited Bjorn, check out the video on Jenny's blog at myfairlady.
Saturday, January 06, 2007
Southworth gym
When the gym is in your bedroom, it's hard to find excuses not to exercise. Esther and I gave eachother a treadmill for Christmas. She is hoping the convenience will encourage a steady use. I plan to use it in the winter months for my bi-daily run, when the weather is lousy or it's dark (which is constant, lately) I have used it several times now, and it works great. The machine is sturdy enough to take the pounding of a long run, and the incline and pace features allow me to simulate my outdoor course quite well. After some research and debate, we decided on a Smooth Fitness 5.25. It has a lifetime warranty on the frame and motor. So far, I've been impressed. Now it's hard to tell whether the upstairs room is a bedroom, a library, a den or a gym.
Monday, January 01, 2007
Dead Sea Scrolls
Jenny and her dad joined us for New Years Eve and Day. It was great meeting Greg and getting to know him. On N. Y. Day we all went to the exhibition of the Dead Sea Scrolls in Seattle. It was very interesting and Jenny and Bjorn were excited as two professors from TWU do much of the talking in the recorded tour that everyone listens to. I have to say that I was expecting to see a lot more manuscripts. The actual Dead Sea exhibits were limited to a dozen or so fragments. I was surprised at how flat and smooth the fragments are (almost looked like photographs) My favorite pieces were the fragment from the Psalms and the coins that we on display. If you haven't gone, you still have six days left.
Saturday, December 30, 2006
one year bible blog
I have probably read through the entire Bible several times in my life, but I had never read it systematically in one year - until tomorrow. Not that I haven't tried before. With the help of a blog and it's link to an online Bible, I was able to faithfully keep up on daily bible readings for one year. I have been wondering if the fact that I could do my reading on my Mac laptop encouraged the discipline. :) Even though it's internet based, you can save previously loaded windows, and read them on vacation days, even when you can't fing a wireless internet link - i.e. camping in the Grand Tetons. I enjoy using this blog because each day the author of the blog posts some background comments on the reading and lots of pictures that go along with the readings. I really appreciate the pictures, particularly if they are some old paintings of a biblical scene. There are also daily comments from other readers who have read the same thing that day. I usually didn't read all the material availble, but it was nice to have it there, if I wanted a little more background or discussion. I have looked for other internet daily bible reading sites for next year, but I haven't found anything I like better, so I'll go with this one again this year. If you are thinking of using an aide like this, I recommend it. Check it out at www.oneyearbibleblog.com
Thursday, December 28, 2006
the bulthuis gathering
My nephew Aaron and wife Jen played host to the Bulthuis Christmas gathering on Wednesday. Aaron and Jen, along with their two sons recently moved to Lynden as Aaron is now principal of Lynden Christian Middle School. It was great to get together with my siblings and their families. Karen and Brian are home for a few days from New York. Ellen has been staying with mom in her new home in Meadow Greens, but will come home with us for a few days before flying home to Sacramento.
Monday, December 25, 2006
Christmas Eve with Eides
Celebration of Christmas this year was shared with the Eide family (Esther's two brothers and families.) The weekend was filled with eating, talking and playing the Wii. All of the adults took their turn at flinging the Wii remote back and forth through the air. Meals included among other goodies: oyster stew, clam chowder, sausage egg balls, peppermint jellow and pork tenderloin. We appreciate our large house with fourteen bodies spending the three days together.
Friday, December 22, 2006
A shopping day in Seattle
Jenny has been staying with us for a few days, and was able to join us on our pre-Christmas Seattle shopping day. Little did she realize what she was in for. After shopping stops at Capital hill, Queen Anne, Greenwood, Northgate, Universtiy Village, Southcenter and Tacoma Mall, she learned how serious Bulthuis pre-Christmas shopping can be. Jenny and Bjorn enjoyed American Apparel and Urban Outfitter on Broadway. Calvin relished a stop at Gary's Games and Hobbies in Greenwood. Markus was able to pre-order his WOW game at Northgate. Esther's enjoyment of Universtiy Village was cut short by a power outage, but rescued by an unexpected find at World Market in Tacoma. And we all enjoyed a hefty burrito at Gorditos. With Santa's bags now almost full, we need a recoup day in sleepy Southworth!
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
the nativity story
Last night our family went to the theater to see 'the nativity story'. We all enjoyed the experience. I particularly appreciated the 'earthiness' of the sets. Though Nazareth and Bethlehem may not have been as primitive as the movie depicts, I am sure that they were simpler and dirtier than my common perception of them. I was disturbed by Mary's melancholic spirit and the lack of any romance in the betrothal. I have always envisioned a more cheerful madonna. Joseph seemed more in keeping with my perceptions. In any case, it was a good experience and I recommend it to your holiday agenda. The sacred events surrounding our Savior's advent never cease to capture my amazement and emotion. We wrapped up the evening with a trip to Starbucks. It's great to have Bjorn home this week.
Sunday, December 17, 2006
babysitting greegio
The sounds of my childhood are haunting me these days. Our neighbors are enjoying a week in Mexico, leaving us the opportunity to look after their pets. With the power off, we thought it best to bring 'Greegio' home to some heat. My entire childhood was shared with an African Grey parrot. These tropical fowl have a pecular habit of piercing the quiet with shrills and human sounding whistles. Greegio doesn't seem to be the talker that our 'Aku' was, but he would give him a whistling challenge. We have altered his diet of pizza and muffins to fruit and nuts, but he seems to be surviving. Well, we are back in the land of the 'powerful' today and enjoying anew the conveniences of electrons.
Saturday, December 16, 2006
powerless in Southworth
Yes, we are one of the many victims of the windstorm that hit western Washington Thursday night. Most of Kitsap County was knocked powerless by the storm; and school was cancelled (our last half-day before the break) We have been staying somewhat warm with a gas stove and fireplace. The deck has become our new kitchen. It is frustrating to see the ferry parking lot all lit up with their backup generator, and us with no power day after day; though we did benefit a little this morning. I went down to the expresso stand with my coffee grinder and used their power to grind my coffee. And like a good Dutchman, I didn't even buy a latte. Last night, we all went to Tacoma to escape the endless candlelit evening. (I know, we aren't very hard core!) This afternoon, I stopped at the library to get my internet fix. Markus and Calvin are spending the evening at 'powerful' friend's homes. Esther and I will enjoy a candlelit night with Oscar, Bowser and the neighbor's African Grey parrot (another blog)
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
end of finals celebration
Markus is the first of the family to savor this year's snowpack. He and some SPU friends celebrated the completion of finals with a trip to Whistler. They had two for one coupons and spent two days carving up the slopes. Many of the higher runs were closed due to high winds, but there was plenty of powder to plow through. Esther, Calvin and I are sliding through the last few days of school before the break. The wild weather with power outages at home and at school are making this week interesting. We are looking forward to Bjorn being home next week.
Sunday, December 10, 2006
getting ready for the season
The last couple of weekends have been filled with domestic holiday preparation. Last weekend it was outside lights and a christmas tree. This weekend I have been painting the basement and the main bath. Esther has been busy both weekends decorating the inside of the house with christmas cheer. Friday night we picked Markus up from finishing his finals at SPU. He took off again Sunday night for a couple of days of snowboarding at Whistler with college friends. Bjorn still needs to finish up finals at Trinity, but should be home next Sunday.
Friday, December 01, 2006
Fleeing Fundamentalism
A couple of weeks ago I came across this title in a bookstore. After browsing through the contents, I discovered that it was a story of a minister's wife of an evangelical church in the northwest, whose husband’s hypocritical lifestyle of control, pornography and strip clubs pushed her to a divorce and a rejection of the Christian faith. I was curious enough to order the book later and begin reading. The more I read, the more identification I made with people and places. Imagine my surprise as I slowly realized that the church which provided the setting for this tragic narrative was the very church that I pastored in Everett in the early 90’s! A preceding pastor and his wife were the characters of this sad chronicle. The parsonage that we lived in was the backdrop of the deceit and heartbreak. The parishioners who we served were the characters in the sordid plot. Of course, the names of everyone were changed, but their identity is undeniable. I recalled stories of this very strong pulpiteer that preceded me. His preaching was well respected by everyone. There were allusions to their troubled marriage, and there were a couple of bizarre incidences; but I never suspected what had happened. The sad thing is that the author has ‘thrown the baby out with the bathwater,’ and rejected the Bible completely. She is currently a producer for KCTS and her ex is a popular speaker in Unity churches. I am still processing the implications of this shocking story.
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Mike, Sarah and Annika get a new house
Saturday was a busy day: dropping off Ellen at the airport, going to a family wedding and helping my niece and her young family move into their new house. Mike and Sarah purchased their first home. Mike works at the REI headquarters in Renton, and Sarah is an occupational therapist in Bellevue. They have been renting in the Kennydale area for a year and like the vicinity. After a lot of searching, they came upon a great house in the neighbohood and snatched it up. The previous owner did many upgrades inside and it is very comfortable. It has a great fenced in back yard for their daughter Annika; and the house is on a dead end street. In the evening, we went to Esther's cousin's son's wedding in Tacoma. It was good to spend some time with some of the Eide relatives that we don't see that often.
Friday, November 24, 2006
have turkey, will travel
My siblings and their children battled the Puget Sound traffic to join us for Thanksgiving dinner. The delay of bridge traffic for my siblings was matched by a power outage in Southworth. The power went out at about 11, so we started hauling the turkey and other dishes up to the church kitchen. By the time that all the dishes were settled in the ovens, the power came back on at home, and it was time to haul all the food back home. Now Esther has a Turkey story to share. Dinner was a little late, but very delicious. Jon, Angie and baby West arrived midway through the meal. It was great to see everyone. Mike, Sarah and Annika interrupted their house moving to join us for the day as well. We introduced everyone to the joys of Wii sports. Ellen will stay a couple of days with us before heading back to Sacramento.
Sunday, November 19, 2006
what do Wii have here?
Calvin has been anticipating this weekend for many months. In July, he forewent his birthday gift for a contribution towards this day. He spent about 16 hours waiting in line at the local Fred Meyer for his Wii. His only regret is not being able to share it with his brothers this weekend. The next best thing is dad. So I played a little Wii tennis. It's great! Now I don't need to find an opponent and drive eight miles to enjoy some racquet action! For those of you not familiar with the system, it has a sensor in the wireless handheld wand that interacts with the game. It can distinguish between forehand and backhand. At least kids will be moving a little more playing with this system.
Saturday, November 18, 2006
a long overdue project
After three years in this house, I finally put a shower over the soaking tub on the main floor. The main reason it took me so long was that I couldn't get myself to rip out the unique tub and put in a basic tub/shower unit. It would have just look out of place in the big room. The next problem I had to solve was how to make a shower over the existing tub without putting up a bunch of walls. After searching the internet, I finally pieced together an oval curtain rod and sliding bar hand shower that should work. All the material is good quality, so it will hold up well. I couldn't resist trying my new creation out, even without the curtain, which will come this week. It worked great; just need that curtain. Now the boys and guests won't have to use the master bath.
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
armchair traveling
Instead of our usual sit at home fall evening, Esther and I went to a travelogue. A local dentist from Manchester and his wife took seven years to sail around the world after retirement. Shortly after they departed, their son was killed in a flash flood in Nepal. After much consideration, they decided to continue the trip, which took them through the South Pacific, New Zealand, Australia, Southeast Asia, India, the Mediteranean, the Caribbean, Panama Canal and Mexico. The presentation focused more on the land adventures than the sailing experience, which was to be expected. I have not read the book yet, but plan to add it to my library of circumnavigation chronicles.
Sunday, November 12, 2006
bavarian break
This weekend was a getaway weekend for the Bulthuis family. Calvin went to a church retreat; Markus went to a college dorm retreat; and Esther and I took a belated anniversary trip to Leavenworth. The forecast for the passes was a little iffy, but we decided to go for it. We have spent at least half a dozen anniversaries in Leavenworth; usually, the last of September. We have always stayed at B and B's, but we stayed at the Enzian this time. It was nice to be able to walk to town, and the brunch was great. I had never been in their fourth floor dining room and was surprised by its great view of the valley. Esther enjoyed several hours of shopping while I found the bookstore. Dinner was at Visconti's. A great weekend - refreshed for a new week.
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