Partay

Just a few Halloween pics for you...

Katie was up from Louisiana and it was so great to see her. Here we are as Pippi and Kenneth (from the show 30 Rock) and Katie.


Hot geisha (Meg), Mario (Jove) and Pippi:


Pippi waits for the train.



More to come soon.....

Lovely fall weekend

Our new friends (and neighbors) Trent and Jeanne joined us for a confirmation retreat at Wesley Woods on Lake Geneva this weekend. Here is Trent leading songs around the campfire:


The weather was perfect and the lake gorgeous, as always.


Today I had the opportunity to facilitate a conversation about roots of migration (why people come to the US from other places) with University Church's adult Sunday School class. The church, a merger between UCC and Disciples of Christ congregations, is on the University of Chicago campus. Because we rarely get down to Hyde Park, a fabulous neighborhood, we thought we'd spend the afternoon enjoying the incredible weather and the local architecture. So, after a great lunch at The Medici on 57th, a favorite place of some of the "locals" we met at church, we began to wander. It is a truly beautiful campus.

An old gate leading to what I would guess is the original main campus area:


We forgot for a bit that we were in the middle of a huge city. It was just us, the rustling leaves, and a few students here and there in this enclosed courtyard area.


Here's Goose in front of the Robie House, one of Frank Lloyd Wright's most famous buildings and the original "prairie style " house. The FLW Preservation Trust calls it "one of the most important buildings in the history of American architecture."


Considering the fact that the house will be turning 100 pretty soon, I'd say those preservation folks have done a pretty nice job.

As this weekend draws to a close, I'd like to say to this dear season, "I love you, fall. Please stick around a little longer."

Skylar Anne

We had a chance to visit with Matt and Erin last Thursday and hang out with Skylar, who is still so tiny and new!


We are so happy for them!

Michigan

We spent last weekend in Michigan. The leaves up north were so incredible but we were enjoying taking in the beauty so much that we hardly ever thought to take pictures when we were out walking around (which is a good thing). In the ones we did get, the camera just did not do the colors justice. The camera also failed to capture the rusty smell of crunchy just-fallen leaves that float around your ankles as you shuffle through the woods. Sorry--you'll just have to go yourself!


This one I touched up a bit on Photoshop:


Back in Holland, we joined my mom for the annual Alzheimer's Association Memory Walk. We started at Kollen Park and enjoyed the calmness of Lake Macatawa before we set out.



My mom was a regular tour guide along the route. She's helpful that way.


It was a perfect fall day for the farmer's market and we were inspired to buy some crispy Michigan apples and this lovely pumpkin. Oh, and some homemade jam, of course.

B.S. Flag

Eric Here. My friend Mike Moore (different one) has entered a contest. If you view this video, it helps him win $5,000. I know you're not in the business of helping my friends win contests, but hey, if you've got time to read my blog, then I think you've got some to spare for aspiring seminary filmmakers! Just don't watch the other videos that pop up on the bottom, because much of the contest is based on the number of views. Feel free, however, to watch "Everybody Loves a Scotsman" over and over so you can really get into it and offer some critical advice!

U2 Eucharist

Holy Covenant's U2 Eucharist last Sunday was a joyful celebration and a challenging invitation to examine our faith journey and behold the grace within and around us.


The music is always spectacular.


The table at which we share a messy meal:


Folks were there to share about ONE: The Campaign to Make Poverty History. It was a great way to spend one of the last hot mornings of the year.

What the %#^@^ is Whirlyball?

Last weekend was the Lewis's 3-day birthday extravaganza and we joined him and many other fans of Lewis for Whirlyball on Friday night.

The golden boy:


Because these things are difficult to steer, impossible to stop, and ridiculously slow, pretty much everyone is bad a this game. I guess that's what makes it so fun. Oh, and ramming into people for no reason is fun, too.


Pretending to be in on the action.




Mark was up from St. Louis for the weekend and joined us for Whirlyball as part of his pre-marathon preparation.

Michelle and Korey!

My Albion roomie, Michelle, married Korey in Grand Rapids on Saturday, and we were delighted to celebrate with them!

It was a beautiful ceremony:


It was great to see lots of Albion folks -- we even did The Io* in the hall before taking a picture, though I am apparently a huge nerd for remembering all the words.

Seems like just yesterday we were putting pretzels in the shape of our initials (MW) on our dorm room door...sigh.

Justin and Andria, our hosts that night, had spent the day at Hope College's Pull , a ridiculously intense tug-of-war that has taken place annually for 110 years. Pretty cool. We hung out on their enomous couch in their new-old house and watched Pull videos from years past.

*The Io (pronounced "Yo.") is Albion's traditional cheer:

Io Triumphe! Io Triumphe!
Haben Swaben Rebecca le animor
Whoop te whoop te sheller de-vere
De-boom de ral de-i de-pa
Hooneka henaka whack a whack
A-hob dob balde bora bolde bara
Con slomade hob dob Rah! Al-bi-on Rah!