Borchers Hay Ride 2011

The annual Borchers Hay Ride was this past Sunday. 

We had an absolute perfect crisp fall day to take a ride and play outside.

(click picture to expand)

Here is a closeup of Hayden's Grandpa Ed corrupting his mind.

I think Ed's persistence is starting to payoff as you can see Hayden 

is holding up the Cubs Frisbee. 

Here is the crew taking off from the farm and heading towards

Don and Treva's out of town. 

The kids had fun running and hiding in the meadow

 behind  Don and  Treva's woods . 

Halloween 2011

Last night was trick or treat in Russia.

Hayden wanted to be a mean looking jack-o-lantern.

All I can say is thank God Halloween is only once a year. 

Car seats were not meant for fat pumpkins.

GRACE IS 4 ! HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRACE !

Grace (My Godchild) turns 4 years old today !

(click on pictures to enlarge)

Here is a picture of us back  in 2009 that I came across.

Grace blowing out her trick candles with 

her Grandpa Jerry Bensman off to the side.

A very sad day in Maria Stein

Last night I attended the viewing of Aubrey Bruns the daughter of John and Becky (Kramer) Bruns. My heart goes out to the Bruns and Kramer families and I will keep you in my prayers.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

 ¹³ Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. ¹⁴ For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. ¹⁵ According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. ¹⁶ For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷ After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. ¹⁸ Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Nolan is ONE !

Nolan turned one this weekend and was not feeling too hot.

We had a nice party for him, but afterwards he slept for 13 straight hours.

Nolan getting ready to attack his birthday cake.

Big brother Hayden already has Nolan doing the grunt work.

Click the link to view the video.

http://gallery.me.com/pupman#100338/Nolan%20pushing%20Hayden

Gethsemani Retreat in Trappist Ky.

This past weekend I spent three days in Trappist Ky with the Trappist Monks. 

I can't put into words the life long effect this will have on my life. 

This is basically a silent retreat that allows you total freedom to do as much or 

as little as you want. If you want to attend all of their services and participate in the

 Psalms you can or spend hours upon hours hiking through the hills and

woods because they have over 1200 acres available to you.  

http://www.monks.org/index.html

Click on picture below to expand

Below is a schedule of a typical day with the Monks. 

DAILY SCHEDULE

Monday/Saturday                                  3:15 am Vigils                                  5:45 am Lauds                                  6:15 am Eucharist                                  7:30 am Terce                                  12:15 pm Sext                                  2:15 pm None                                  5:30 pm Vespers                                  7:00 pm Rosary                                  7:30 pm Compline                  Sunday                  3:15 am Vigils                  6:45 am Lauds                  10:20 am Terce                  10:30 am Eucharist                  12:15 pm Sext                   2:15 pm None                   5:30 pm Vespers                   7:00 Rosary         7:15 pm Benediction/Compline

I stood on a hill across the street and took the following pictures

to give you an idea of what the lay of the land looks like.

Picture of the Abbey

Here is a view from my resting place along the many trails available.