I was asleep when automatic weapon fire rang out at the Latah County Courthouse - about a mile and a half from my home. People who were still awake at 11:30 pm in the neighborhood recount hearing the shots. It would take more than that to awaken me!
When the radio came on at 6:15, the announcer was telling of a several block area that was closed due to a shooting. By then, the shooting was over, but the news was delayed in getting out. Then the phone started ringing, wondering if Sue had heard - and wondering if we would have church. Our church is only a couple of blocks from the scene, though according to the news reports we were just on the outskirts of the closed area.
At 7, Sue tried to get to the church - and was turned back - 8 blocks away. She came home and made the decision to cancel Sunday School. We would wait and try worship at 10:30. As it turned out, she must have just missed the opening of the barricades at 7. We held worship - though attendance was slim. Our Presbyterian sisters and brothers were far more traumatized, with their church sexton shot in the head in the office - as he talked to 9-1-1; and the shooter taking his own life in the sanctuary.
Ultimately, First United Methodist ended up hosting prayer vigils at the request of the Presbyterians. Sue and I were present each night to help as we could. And the Campus Christian Center (where I work) turned over our offices to the Presbyterian staff - since their church was closed as a crime scene.
In the end, four lost their lives - including the shooter. He killed his wife, Moscow PD officer Lee Newbill, and the Presbyterian church sexton. Throughout the week, there were many prayers, tears, - and MUCH confusion. Not in OUR peaceful little town! But, as our police captain noted later - "I knew we were not immune."
The week also contained a true sense of commUNITY - and grace, forgiveness, and yes - even humor. One of the local radio stations referred to the Presbyterian Church "sextant" - and Sue and I wondered aloud if they had lost their sense of direction!
We still wrestle with this violence - and wonder about things like appropriate access to firearms. The shooter had a fully automatic AK-47 - and one must wonder if the framers of the Constitution had such a weapon in mind. Perhaps the "right to bear arms" should apply only to muskets...
We continue our healing - and our innocence has been taken. Even in the small town - we are not immune.
Unfortunately - neither are you.
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Friday, December 01, 2006
Fall / Winter 2006
We have snow - and lots of it. As I keep saying, "Where are the 'Global Warming' people when you need them???!!! It has been COLD and snowy here.
We have a new resident in the parsonage. He is from Zimbabwe, and is in Moscow to earn his Masters in Music Education. He's a neat guy - Tendai. Just like it sounds. :) He has left wife and children for two YEARS to earn this degree. Poor guy, I think he's traumatized by the snow and cold! We enjoy being able to share this bug house with another human.
We have a new resident in the parsonage. He is from Zimbabwe, and is in Moscow to earn his Masters in Music Education. He's a neat guy - Tendai. Just like it sounds. :) He has left wife and children for two YEARS to earn this degree. Poor guy, I think he's traumatized by the snow and cold! We enjoy being able to share this bug house with another human.
Thursday, May 18, 2006
Kiwanis
I find I need a social outlet - and - since I was invited - I have selected Kiwanis. www.kiwanis.org This is a great community-minded group of men and women that work together to laugh and work to serve. The Moscow group is pretty cool.
Today I helped out at a pcinic for the Head Start program. Kiwanis provided hot dogs and chips, and Head Start did everything else. It was fun to watch kids eat the "dogs" - and participate in all the fun activitites Head Start had provided.
I enjoyed.
Today I helped out at a pcinic for the Head Start program. Kiwanis provided hot dogs and chips, and Head Start did everything else. It was fun to watch kids eat the "dogs" - and participate in all the fun activitites Head Start had provided.
I enjoyed.
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
Spring - again
It is indeed spring - in 06 this time. Gosh, I LOVE this season! It's cool - yet mostly sunny.. We have the occasional snow shower. (We ARE at 2500 feet!) Anyway, I LOVE opening the window at night - and feeling the "cool of the evening breexe."
Monday, March 28, 2005
Spring
My last post was about Fall in the Palouse. I've rather intentionally missed winter - my least favorite time of year. I have lots of memories from winter - some good memories - some not so good. What with family and all - I simply get overloaded during that time of year.
But, Spring has arrived. And finally we have some moisture. We had an incredibly dry winter - most unusual for this wheat-growing region. Our soil here is rich - loess from volcanoes thousands of years ago. And most places do not require irrigation - with a wheat ranch of 4,000 acres - irrigation would be a daunting task! Yet finally we ahve our rain - mixed with snow. Any moisutre at this point is welcome. At times we have been down to under 40% of normal precipitation. We're above that now - yet I would guess still under 50%. it will be a dry year - and that menas range and wild fires. I'm not looking forward to a hot, dry summer.
But, Spring has arrived. And finally we have some moisture. We had an incredibly dry winter - most unusual for this wheat-growing region. Our soil here is rich - loess from volcanoes thousands of years ago. And most places do not require irrigation - with a wheat ranch of 4,000 acres - irrigation would be a daunting task! Yet finally we ahve our rain - mixed with snow. Any moisutre at this point is welcome. At times we have been down to under 40% of normal precipitation. We're above that now - yet I would guess still under 50%. it will be a dry year - and that menas range and wild fires. I'm not looking forward to a hot, dry summer.
Saturday, November 13, 2004
Fall is here
Fall is here on the Palouse. For those who thinkt hat only the deciduous trees turn colors - you have never seen the tamarack - or Western Larch. They are "needle" trees - virtually indistinguishable much of the year from the Douglas Fir and Lodgepole Pine in this area. But in the fall - for three weeks or so, the tamarack tunrs a glorious gold. So, in the midst on an "evergreen" forest, there are spires of gold. They are truly an amazing sight! It is my favorite sight of the fall.
Yet all around us, the trees are in full color. At this time of year, we do not get much sunshine - it's often cloudy or foggy. When the sun is out, the trees glisten - almost gaudy in their glory. We see ring neck pheasants often in our back yard, scratching for food. The California quail send their clear call from the rooftops - and occasionally visit the feeder on the deck for thistle seed. The other dya, I counted 24 of them in the back yard. Their ridiculous plumes on top are distinctive.
I am employed as the office manager of the Campus Christian Center on the campus of the University of Idaho. The web site is http://www.cccenter.org. It is not terribly up-to-date. But that will be my job - and you can expect updates soon!
The Great and Gloriosu Grandchildren were Superman and an Angel, respectively. We continue to be amazed at how old thet get! I hope pictures are attached to this post.
Yet all around us, the trees are in full color. At this time of year, we do not get much sunshine - it's often cloudy or foggy. When the sun is out, the trees glisten - almost gaudy in their glory. We see ring neck pheasants often in our back yard, scratching for food. The California quail send their clear call from the rooftops - and occasionally visit the feeder on the deck for thistle seed. The other dya, I counted 24 of them in the back yard. Their ridiculous plumes on top are distinctive.
I am employed as the office manager of the Campus Christian Center on the campus of the University of Idaho. The web site is http://www.cccenter.org. It is not terribly up-to-date. But that will be my job - and you can expect updates soon!
The Great and Gloriosu Grandchildren were Superman and an Angel, respectively. We continue to be amazed at how old thet get! I hope pictures are attached to this post.
Friday, October 15, 2004
Update 10/15/04
My goodness - been a long time, eh? But FINALLY Verizon decided to sell DSL themselves in Moscow instead of going through other ISP's. So, I have broadband - again. Finally! So, I hope to be a tad more regular.
Still no job - not that I've had time to look for one! Sue's folks have been ill a lot. She notes the "parent alert level" ahs not dropped below yellow since we moved here. I'd agree - except "yellow" lasted about 3 days. Other than that, it's been orange or red!.
We've moved them into an assisted living apartment, and both are having their meds monitored by staff there. Charlotte (Sue's mom) is now been prescribed a walker, which she is not happy about. I refer to it as her "racing walker". It has wheels at all four contact points and hand brakes! I told her we need to paint it red and put NASCAR stickers on it. Maybe we could get her sponsored by Ensure! Both parents are doing much better. Today we drove Ted to Steptoe Butte. This is a state park that is about 3600 feet high. It is literally an "island" of quartzite in a sea of lava and loess (dirt). On a clear day, one can see 200 miles from the top - we saw perhaps 20 today. Lots of smoke in the air from field burning.
Tomorrow I clean - big time. We have the parsonage open house on Sunday afternoon. That lets the congregation - who own the house - see what they own.
Moscow is a wonderful place to live! It's Fall now, with highs in the 60's and lows in the 30's. The trees are turning. With sunny days and cool nights, it is all that Fall should be! There are two home college footbal games tomorrow in our area: the University of Idaho VANDALS and the Washington State University COUGARS. I wish I could go to one or the other - but, alas, I must clean.
Still no job - not that I've had time to look for one! Sue's folks have been ill a lot. She notes the "parent alert level" ahs not dropped below yellow since we moved here. I'd agree - except "yellow" lasted about 3 days. Other than that, it's been orange or red!.
We've moved them into an assisted living apartment, and both are having their meds monitored by staff there. Charlotte (Sue's mom) is now been prescribed a walker, which she is not happy about. I refer to it as her "racing walker". It has wheels at all four contact points and hand brakes! I told her we need to paint it red and put NASCAR stickers on it. Maybe we could get her sponsored by Ensure! Both parents are doing much better. Today we drove Ted to Steptoe Butte. This is a state park that is about 3600 feet high. It is literally an "island" of quartzite in a sea of lava and loess (dirt). On a clear day, one can see 200 miles from the top - we saw perhaps 20 today. Lots of smoke in the air from field burning.
Tomorrow I clean - big time. We have the parsonage open house on Sunday afternoon. That lets the congregation - who own the house - see what they own.
Moscow is a wonderful place to live! It's Fall now, with highs in the 60's and lows in the 30's. The trees are turning. With sunny days and cool nights, it is all that Fall should be! There are two home college footbal games tomorrow in our area: the University of Idaho VANDALS and the Washington State University COUGARS. I wish I could go to one or the other - but, alas, I must clean.
Sunday, August 29, 2004
Oooops...
My beloved sister has reminded me of the blog. *Sigh* I hate it when she's right. Unfortunately, that's usually!
We are settled in Moscow, ID. http://www.moscow.com for those that want to see what all the fuss is about. We have a lovely home with a view of the Palouse Range. The Palouse Range is really just a long ridge, peaked by Moscow Mountain at slightly more than 5,000 feet. Still, it's ver peaceful to sit on the deck and look at the trees.
Our birdfeeder is visited regulary by the local avian population. This morning I counted 8 mourning doves together, along with a large number of what we refer to as "LBJ's" - Little Brown Jobbies. Wrens, or some such, I suppose. Our most interesting visitor thus far is an immature flicker, who is able to actually get INSIDE the feeder. There's less competition in there than outside!
Anyway, dear sister, here is an entry. More will come...
We are settled in Moscow, ID. http://www.moscow.com for those that want to see what all the fuss is about. We have a lovely home with a view of the Palouse Range. The Palouse Range is really just a long ridge, peaked by Moscow Mountain at slightly more than 5,000 feet. Still, it's ver peaceful to sit on the deck and look at the trees.
Our birdfeeder is visited regulary by the local avian population. This morning I counted 8 mourning doves together, along with a large number of what we refer to as "LBJ's" - Little Brown Jobbies. Wrens, or some such, I suppose. Our most interesting visitor thus far is an immature flicker, who is able to actually get INSIDE the feeder. There's less competition in there than outside!
Anyway, dear sister, here is an entry. More will come...
Friday, June 18, 2004
Taize
We went to the St. James Cathedral in Seattle tonight (6/18) for the Taize service. While we are not Roman Catholic, we have enjoyed the music of Taize for some time. To find a "real" service was a true blessing for us. We've gone at least once during each liturgical season since being introduced last September. Each time, it has been worth an hour plus drive in Seattle traffic. The cathedral is magnificent. It is circular, with four seating areas and a huge marble altar in the center as the focal point. When it is dark - the spots hit it and it absolutely GLOWS.
We attended last on the Friday before Pentecost - and they asked me to read the scripture. I love reading aloud - and, frankly, I'm good. But to read in a cathedral - with all of the natural resonance... well, it was an awe-inspiring experience. Tonight, Sue and I were asked to move the cross. A cross (really an icon) is moved to lay on the floor so people can come and kneel and touch it while praying. It was deeply moving - and an honor. Tonight we thanked one of the folks in charge for asking us. It was undoubtedly our last time there - and the service was glorious. Taize is at once quiet and reflective - while soaring to new heights. If you want more information, just "Google" Taize and hit "I feel lucky". You can do the same for "St. James Cathedral" and find great info about this spectacular worship center in Seattle.
The move is coming fast - I'll post some pictures of the new church soon. I go off to our United Methodist Annual Conference next week to help with the book table by my employer.
We attended last on the Friday before Pentecost - and they asked me to read the scripture. I love reading aloud - and, frankly, I'm good. But to read in a cathedral - with all of the natural resonance... well, it was an awe-inspiring experience. Tonight, Sue and I were asked to move the cross. A cross (really an icon) is moved to lay on the floor so people can come and kneel and touch it while praying. It was deeply moving - and an honor. Tonight we thanked one of the folks in charge for asking us. It was undoubtedly our last time there - and the service was glorious. Taize is at once quiet and reflective - while soaring to new heights. If you want more information, just "Google" Taize and hit "I feel lucky". You can do the same for "St. James Cathedral" and find great info about this spectacular worship center in Seattle.
The move is coming fast - I'll post some pictures of the new church soon. I go off to our United Methodist Annual Conference next week to help with the book table by my employer.
Wednesday, June 16, 2004
Moving again
Not that most folks care - but we're moving. Again. After only a year in Monroe, WA, we are moving to Moscow, ID. Sue is a United Methodist pastor, and the understanding is that she will go wherever the Bishop says. That is generally in a specific geographic area. In our case, that means anywhere in Washington or Northern Idaho.
This was really a request. While we both love Monroe (I ESPECIALLY prefer Western Washington for its marine climate), her parents live in extreme Eastern Washington. In Moscow, we'll only be 8 miles from them - a local call, even. So that is to the good. The climate will be different - but Moscow is at 2500 feet elevation, so it will be cooler in summer. And colder - and snowier in winter. I won't like the snow/cold part - but I truly suffer over heat. And one can always bundle up or stay inside!
So, I'm looking forward to the move. I'm sad to leave another job I enjoy - but I feel like this is the "right" thing to do. I can't explain that - but I feel it to be so. Keep us in your thougths and prayers.
This was really a request. While we both love Monroe (I ESPECIALLY prefer Western Washington for its marine climate), her parents live in extreme Eastern Washington. In Moscow, we'll only be 8 miles from them - a local call, even. So that is to the good. The climate will be different - but Moscow is at 2500 feet elevation, so it will be cooler in summer. And colder - and snowier in winter. I won't like the snow/cold part - but I truly suffer over heat. And one can always bundle up or stay inside!
So, I'm looking forward to the move. I'm sad to leave another job I enjoy - but I feel like this is the "right" thing to do. I can't explain that - but I feel it to be so. Keep us in your thougths and prayers.
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