Still snowing...

This picture was taken on January 3rd.  The chainlink fence is three feet tall.  

This picture was taken today (1.13.09).  The chainlink fence is under the snow and still three feet tall.  

In the news

The headlines and one-liners of the local newspaper make me smile. Below are a few excerpts from the sports pages.

M-L-S defense locks down Ray
The M**** High School gym could have just as well been a penitentiary Tuesday.

Honkers pressure halts Maroons
Pressure, pressure and more pressure.

Coyotes get the worm
M**** High School held its annual Early Bird Wrestling Tournament Saturday...

We like Autumn

The Family of Blacks enjoys Autumn! Last week we harvested our first home-grown pumpkin but the sub-freezing temperatures didn't help its longevity. As soon as I see the witch flying into the tree we will know that the seasons are changing and the best pagan holiday of the year is just around the corner.

The leaves change a bit more quickly in Nearly, Canada. Our days are getting shorter. This evening Ezra and Asher enjoyed a run through the fallen leaves. Ahhh...for our enjoyment and for His glory.

Real Laws in Nearly, Canada

• Golf cart owners now have permission to drive their carts on city streets from home to the golf course, if they don’t travel on a federal, state or county highway. (HB1476)

• Restaurant patrons who buy a bottle of wine with their meal may take home any leftover wine if the bottle is sealed and the restaurant provides a receipt instead of having to leave any leftover wine at the restaurant. (HB1346)

• The name of any new or renamed school district may not be longer than two words, not counting the words “school district” or “public school district.” (HB1261)

• The State Historical Society’s budget includes $10,000 to promote Nearly, Canada's status as the “snow angel capital of the world.” (SB2018)

• Doctors, nurses and other health care providers who express sympathy to a patient’s family when something goes wrong may not have their statements used against them in a medical malpractice lawsuit or licensing hearing. (HB1333)

• Only barbershops may display barber poles. A business is not allowed to display a barber pole if there’s a chance it might mislead someone into thinking the business is a barbershop when it is not. (HB1477)

2 years

Today marks the 2 year point of living in Nearly, Canada and involvement in full-time ministry. I have learned more in the last two years about being a husband, father, pastor and friend than I have learned in my lifetime. As much as I have learned - I have 100 times more to learn. I thank God for His grace and mercy and I thank my friends and family for their patience!

Now that's impressive!

Hey kids guess who's on the map now!? This was headline news last evening.

The Guinness World Records have confirmed it, North Dakotans are the most angelic of all. North Dakota officially holds the mark for the most snow angels made all at once, in one place.

State Historical Society curator Marilyn Snyder got the official certificate from Guinness today. She says she was surprised to get it so soon.The event was held on the state Capitol grounds on February 17th.

A total of 8,962 people got down in the snow and flapped their arms and
legs.

We are proud of this good use of time and State land.

North Dakota

Last week an acquaintance (one who is a life-long North Dakotan) sent me the following list of ways to know if you live in the great Peace Garden state. The statements are to the tune of Jeff Foxworthy's comedy routine. After living here a little over a year we understand most of these statements.

If "vacation" to you means going shopping for the weekend in Grand Forks, Fargo, Minot or Bismarck, you might live in North Dakota.

If parking your car for the night involves an extension cord, you might live in North Dakota.

If you're proud that your state makes the national news primarily because it houses the coldest spot in the nation, you might live in North Dakota.

If your local Dairy Queen is closed from November through March, you might live in North Dakota.

If you have worn shorts and a parka at the same time, you mightlive in North Dakota.

If you think that ketchup is a little too spicy, you might live in North Dakota.

If you measure distance in hours, you might live in North Dakota.

If you often switch from "heat" to "A/C"in the same day and back again, you might live in North Dakota.

If you can drive 65 mph through 2 feet of snow during a raging blizzard, without flinching, you might live in North Dakota.

If you see people wearing hunting clothes at social events, youmight live in North Dakota.

If you've installed security lights on your house and garage and than leave both unlocked, you might live in North Dakota.

If the largest traffic jam in your town centers around a highschool basketball game, you might live in North Dakota.

If there are 7 empty cars running in the parking lot at Wal-Mart at any given time, you might live in North Dakota.

If there are more people at work on Christmas Eve Day than on the opening day of deer gun hunting season, you might live in North Dakota.

If you design your kid's Halloween costume to fit over a snowsuit, you might live in North Dakota.

If driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled with snow, you might live in North Dakota.

If you consider Fargo exotic, you might live in North Dakota.

If your idea of creative landscaping is a statue of a deer next to your cottonwood, you might live in North Dakota.

If the sunbelt to you means Bismarck, you might live in North Dakota.

If you find 0 degrees a little chilly, you might live in NorthDakota.