Lane's last day

Lane and I Christmas '08 after one of our biggest shipping days: over 150 UPS + USPS

Friday was my co-worker Lane's last day. I'm going to miss his humor and the great entertainment he provided. He could make work interesting. Now the only other person in the warehouse beside me is Mr. Bjorn who comes in really early so I only see him till 11:45AM and then I'll be alone the rest of the day. At least I'll be able to use the big speakers to play messages on and not have to wear earphones anymore.

With Lane being gone I'm completely taking over shipping. Besides shipping, I do the photography for the website, Amazon sales, and help Raph with marketing or other projects. Occasionally I give Mr. Bjorn a hand in receiving and warehousing.

1949 Winchester 94 30 WCF

This weekend is the gun show in Lynden at the fair grounds. I stopped in this morning looking for one thing and found it: a good priced old Winchester .30-30. This is a pre-1964 so it has the old style action which is stronger and smoother. Even though it's 61 years old it feels like a new action. It has been re-blued but the stock is all original. It is stamped ".30 WCF" rather then the newer ".30-30".

".30 WCF" stands for .30 Winchester Center Fire. Marlin did not want to put the name of rival Winchester on their rifles when they were chambered for the cartridge soon after its introduction so the -30 was added in place of WCF. The -30 stands for the standard load of 30 grains of early smokeless powder, which was on par with IMR/DuPont's 4064. Over time Marlin's variation on the name stuck, though ".30 WCF" is also used.

Joseph's 10th Birthday!

“Assault Weapon” Ban Being Considered in Olympia

As you will recall, NRA-ILA has informed you about Senate Bill 6396, legislation that would bring California-style gun-control to the Northwest and ultimately ban many semi-automatic firearms commonly owned by Washingtonians.  SB6396 was heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee but no action was taken.  

SB 6396 is more far-reaching than it appears on the surface and will absolutely impact a gigantic swath of Washington firearm owners, including concealed pistol license holders, hunters and competitive pistol shooters.  As examples, consider the following restrictions that flow from the provisions of this horrendous piece of gun control legislation:

• Every semiautomatic AND PUMP-ACTION rifle or shotgun that has a detachable magazine and has a pistol grip located rear of the trigger (yes, that is just about all of them) is defined as an “assault weapon” and is banned under SB 6396!
  
  
• If you and your child/children are out in the woods plinking with his or her Ruger 10-22 and there are more than 10 rounds in the magazine, you are a FELON!
  
  
• If you are a Concealed Pistol License holder and your semi-auto self-defense pistol contains more than 10 rounds, you are a FELON!
• The use of firearms defined as “assault weapons” (see first bullet point) are banned for use in hunting!
  
  
• Competitive shooters will be impacted as any semi-auto pistol that has a detachable magazine and is equipped with a muzzle brake or compensator is defined as an “assault weapon!”
  
  
• If you own a firearm(s) defined as an “assault weapon” on the date this bill becomes law, you can keep it if you are willing to allow your Sheriff to come into your home once every year to ensure you store your firearm(s) appropriately!

Senate Bill 6396 is proof that the gun-ban groups and politicians are not interested in only banning semi-automatic firearms that happen to look like military firearms.  This bill shows where they really want to go with their agenda!  This gun ban scheme will only punish law-abiding citizens and will do nothing to curb crime or keep criminals from obtaining firearms illegally.  This is not only another attack on our Second Amendment rights in Washington State, but an attack on your Fourth Amendment right against unreasonable searches of your home!

Evan

My boss's son.

Love

I could not even start to do justice to this topic but two men who speak very well on it are Voddie Baucham in chapter three of his book Family Driven Faith and Norm Wakefield in his fifth message in the Equipping Men Series called Equipped to Love. After hearing what these two men and others have had to say I've been thinking about it quite a bit. Here are a few thoughts.

I thought it would be interesting to start with how the world might define love.

Wikipedia: Love is any of a number of emotions related to a sense of strong affection and attachment. The word love can refer to a variety of different feelings, states, and attitudes, ranging from generic pleasure ("I loved that meal") to intense interpersonal attraction ("I love my husband"). This diversity of uses and meanings, combined with the complexity of the feelings involved, makes love unusually difficult to consistently define, even compared to other emotional states.

So what is the Biblical definition of love?

Deut. 6:5 "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength."

The three Hebrew words used here (translated heart, soul, and strength) provide a clear biblical definition of love:

love is an act of the will accompanied by emotion that leads to action on behalf of its object.

Biblical love is a choice. While emotion is a large part of the love equation, it must not be the sum total. Although love is accompanied by emotion, biblical love is not led by emotion.

Love leads to action on behalf of its object. John 14:15 says "If you love Me, keep My commandments."

Therefore, if a man says he loves his wife you should be able to tell by his actions as well as his words.

Biblical love is not a random, overwhelming or an uncontrollable force. Neither is it sensual.

Biblical love keeps giving even when there is no return. This kind of love I've seen portrayed in a elderly man who must care for his sickly wife, and does so cheerfully, day in and out, with no breaks.

Mythical love won't endure hardship, overcome adversity, or triumph over disaster.

Often we use the word love with out thinking. If I say I love my car what do I mean? I love it because of what it gives me? I guess as soon as it stops giving I stop loving it? God forbid that this kind of love be applied in relationships!

Biblical love is volitional, transferable, secure, and it satisfies.

Think about what true love means. Watch how you use the word love.

My two cents. Thoughts?

Inventory

I just finished doing inventory on our chess books. You'd never believe how many books there are on chess! Pictured is about 1/3 of our stock.

Uncle Chuck

Uncle Chuck (Uncle Don's brother) fishing in Canada's Yukon Territory. He gave us a calendar with this picture blown up on it.

Understanding Computer Technology

Click to supersize. I like the "backup system".

Aunt Judy

Aunt Judy with grandson Ian

Aunt Judy: Family Pictures

Dunham family

Uncle Don, Aunt Judy, Lisa, and Warren

Uncle Don and his brothers: Herb, Cal, and Chuck

Uncle Don and Aunt Judy

Aunt Judy

Photography

New product: giant checkers. Working with my camera and photoshop. Raph was quite happy.

Northwest Washington Mother/Daughter Tea / Event!

Come join the Mothers and Maidens of Virtue for an encouraging tea/event in Lynden, WA!

The Maxwell ladies from Titus 2 Ministries (Titus2.com) will provide two sessions: Homeschooling with a Meek and Quiet Spirit and Keepers at Home.

Time will be allowed between sessions for fellowship and refreshments. Although there is no charge for this event, love offering boxes will be located on the book tables to help with the Maxwell's traveling expenses.  

Date: February 9, 2010
Time: Check-in 12:30pm, Event 1:00 - 4:00pm
Location: New Life Fellowship
                810 E. Pole Rd.
                Lynden, WA 98264

Please RSVP to Julie Clark by email at sevenclarks@yahoo.com or by phone at (360) 354-2672

Composting

Last year I started our composting operation. I made my own compost rings using wire fencing in a 3' circle. I stapled 1"x4"s on the ends and put hooks on to keep them closed. This method is very efficient but the wire fencing can be expensive and they aren't the prettiest to look at especially in a small yard.

I've heard of and see a few people using old pallets, wiring them together to make a bin. This is a great idea since you can usually find old pallets for free.

This morning I was running errands with the boys and we were keeping our eyes open for pallets. I was quite pleased when we drove by Versa Cold there were some old pallets sides used for storing cherries. I loaded up two of them and they work perfect for my compost bins! They look better then pallets too.

I turned our compost finishing off one bin for the year and moving them out of the way of our garden.

My sisters have been great in helping me with the compost. Aside from grass clippings, leaves, and stuff from our garden we're composting just about anything biodegradable that we'd normally put in our trash. This has helped us cut way back on our garbage bill and our garden will benefit in the coming years.

Aunt Judy

Please pray for my Aunt Judy who has stomach cancer. Last night they decided to put her on Hospice status.  We don't know much more right now other then she's being kept sedated and comfortable, but able to talk at times. Pray also for grandma who is staying with her.

Good handwriting

After the 1960s, it was argued that the teaching of cursive writing was more difficult than it needed to be. With the advent of typewriters and computers, cursive as a way of formalizing correspondence has fallen out of favor. Most tasks which would have once required a "fair hand" are now done using word processing and a printer. Most ladies now have kept it up but rarely do you find a man with good handwriting.

I was inspired one day when I was looking at some of the founding father's writings. It seems like they all had amazing handwriting! Why can't guys today learn to write like that? 

When I was in school I learned the basics of cursive writing but never did very much. After seeing those writings I determined to work on my handwriting. I have a long way to go. Any other guys with me?

Saying Goodbye to Thomas

Thomas and I were having fun playing together before the Murphys left this evening. He didn't want to smile for Sarah.

Counterfeit Gods by Timothy Keller

This evening I finished reading Counterfeit Gods by Timothy Keller. Success, true love, and the life you've always wanted. Many of us placed our faith in these things, believing they held the key to happiness. The Bible tells us that the human heart is an "idol- factory," taking good things and making them into idols that drive us. In Counterfeit Gods, Keller shows us how a proper understanding of the Bible reveals the unvarnished truth about societal ideals and our own hearts. A idol cannot just be torn down but must also be replaced. We often replace them with another worldly idol. To find true happiness it must be replaced with God. A top 10 book.

ChessHouse Crew Dinner

Clockwise: Sharon Reimers, Raphael Neff, Jo Neff, Even Neff, Eric Bjorn, me, and Krista Bjorn. Krista Bjorn cooked a great Indian dinner.

Loyal Cromwell Bradrick

Peter Bradrick - I am speechless with gratitude to the Lord, 8 days after his birth mama and baby are now finally safe at home after an amazing week in the hospital. On the morning of the 11th (2 weeks before her due date) we discovered Kelly had a prolapsed cord and rushed her to the hospital for an emergency C-section. 19 min after arriving our third son was born.

Another Beef Recall... when will they get it?

There are few details this morning about a massive recall of some 390 tons of ground beef produced and distributed in California. The problem – potentially deadly E. coli bacterium.

The Department of Agriculture says the beef was produced by Huntington Meat Packing Inc. of Montebello, California and shipped throughout the state from January 5 to January 15.

A regular safety check found the contamination problem.

Additional problems were found with products shipped as long ago as February through May, 2008.

Return Home - May 2007

After four nights in ICU and two in a regular room I was able to return home.

Photos after the accident - April 2007

A year after the accident Adam, Phil, and I returned to the scene and ended up talking with some of the witnesses who lived on that block. One had taken several photos and gave them to me.

In the Hospital - April 2007

These are the only two pictures I have now from the hospital. I think I have at lease one more which I'll add soon.

 

Junkyard Photos - May 2007

After I got out of the hospital I got to see my truck in the junkyard in Sumas. Dad took several pictures and he and Phil helped salvage the rear tires. Phil also recovered my High Standard Riot shotgun which was behind the seat. It was not an easy visit.

Fort Apache - 1948

This last weekend we watched Fort Apache, a 1948 western film directed by John Ford and starring John Wayne, Henry Fonda, Shirley Temple, and John Agar among several other great actors.

This is one of our favorite movies. The story takes place at Fort Apache after the Civil War. A different twist is there with John Wayne and Henry Fonda playing reversed roles. We like the old fashion gentlemanly conduct and the woman's dress styles. Packed with good humor.   

The new commander, Henry Fonda, feels pushed aside when assigned to Fort Apache but intends to whip his soldiers into shape and make a name for himself fighting the Apache. Though his men disagree with his tactics they're duty-bound to obey - even when is means almost certain disaster. Filmed in John Ford's Monument Valley.

One thing we do not like in the movie is Shirley Temple's attitude toward her father (Henry Fonda) in not wanting to obey his wishes but continually disobeying to get what she wants.

Nikon D40, Photography

As many of you know, I really enjoy photography. Sarah was interested in it before me and had bought a Nikon D80. We teased her about her big "flash-bang" camera arguing it was so big and impractical compared to our small point and shoots which we thought took just as good photos. I've since changed my ideas. Sorry Sarah for all the teasing and thanks for being a good sport!

I bought my Nikon D40 last spring. It takes great photos and I've been very happy with it. The two lenses I like to use most are the...

...Nikkor 55-200mm VR 

and the Nikkor 18-55mm VR.
 

I do a lot of studio photography for work but I most enjoy taking outdoor photos.