Sunday, December 30, 2007

Another Gathering, Some Exciting News

Yesterday was the annual Deur/Terlouw Christmas gathering. Here's our traditional pic of the cousins by the tree that has been taken for the past 25 years or so.


Over time, the group has expanded to include friends, spouses, and children.


We learned yesterday from Amy & John that their family is going to expand a bit more in July of this year. Uncle Awesome had better get ready for another reader on his lap!


Again, a great time was had by all, plenty of food was consumed, and it left me reflecting on the tremendous blessings we enjoy every day. I hope I never take them for granted...

Merry Christmas, for the final time in 2007.

Saturday, December 29, 2007

A Classic Iowa Winter Day

If ever there was a demonstration of late December Iowa during a presidential elections cycle, yesterday was it.

As I stood in my office yesterday morning, Fred Thompson's bus came by on its way to bring Fred (best movie line ever - "Russians don't take a dump, son, without a plan" [Hunt for Red October]) to Smokey Row for a speaking engagement. At the same time, Mike Huckabee's bus came the other way down Main Street for a similar - and better attended - event at the Pizza Ranch.

I attended Gov. Huckabee's (most unusual presidential candidate name since Millard Fillmore) event, and the room was packed out. I liked what he had to say - he seems to be the real deal, and tracks with my p.o.v. on both social and taxation ( see fairtax.org) issues. As a matter of fact, you may see my face in some video and photos of this event, since I was just behind and to the left of the Gov.

I've given much thought to my criteria for a national leader, and here is how I filter them out:
1) Are they now, and have they historically been, pro-life? This filter catches pretty much all of the D side, and a few on the R slate.
2) Are they yet married to the bride of their youth? Now, admittedly, if we were to elect Sen. Thompson, we would have the hottest First Lady ever, but I believe that standing up for traditional families and marriage begins at home...(sen. Thompson supporters, let me know if the circumstances of his current marriage are anything other than what appears to be a "trophy wife" deal).
3) If they claim to be people of faith, does it affect how they live? Are they answering to a higher authority than themselves?
4) Have they ever run anything (state, company, etc.) of significance?
5) Do they understand what a train wreck we are headed for if we don't get entitlements under control? And, if yes, what are they going to do to make our government fiscally accountable?
6) Is the rule of law going to occur in their administration, especially when it comes to illegal immigration issues? My ancestors had to follow the rules, I don't think that is too much to ask.
7) Do they understand that simply pulling out of Iraq will not solve any problems - and will likely make the whole terrorism issue worse? Should we also pull out of Germany, where we have had a presence for over 60 years?

Note I said nothing about our standing in the world. Frankly, I couldn't care less. When countries need help, to whom do they come? I believe if we get our own house in order, how the world perceives us will be a non-issue.

There it is. More politics than you ever wanted to know, or than you even care about. I was just feeling kinda political this AM.

Thursday, December 27, 2007

Yet More Christmas...

Well, it seems that most of the pics I took yesterday were of Charlotte opening gifts. Big surprise. We did have a good day together as a family (except the part where Scott

needed to go to the dentist to get started on a root canal).

Many gifts were exchanged, much fun was had, great fellowship, and great food. Here, Charlotte gets us started...


And then she places a bow on "Uncle Awesome"


Playing with the marble race that "papa" made for her...



Enjoying the exquisite softness of the new jammies that nana made for her...



I hope you all had as great a Christmas time as we did.

Wednesday, December 26, 2007

Mo' Christmas

Yesterday, the Deurs gathered in our ancestral hometown - Peoria. Great food, great fellowship, and grab bag gifts.

I scored a cordless Dremel, Kathy a basket of foo-foo girly bath stuff.

Jana got a cookbook, Jeff got a Starbuck's gift card.

Scott got a cribbage board.

And, Charlotte got a talking barn!


It was our first Christmas gathering without Dad. He greatly enjoyed these events; nothing was more fun for Dad than a noisy houseful of kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids.

I believe that yesterday's gathering would have met with his approval for quality and quantity of food, noise, and fun.

A good time was had by all.

Today is our family Christmas. More to come...

Tuesday, December 25, 2007

Merry Christmas!

And this is all the Christmas I require...

The kids home.

A warm house.

Snow on the ground.

Gathering with family and friends to celebrate the birth of Jesus.

And, of course, some gifts for Charlotte!

A very Blessed Christmas to all of you.

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

December Ice Storm

War zone II. And, by the way, no power AGAIN this morning.


Our Grill took a fatal hit.



Lookin out our front door...



Just when we had given away most of our firewood produced by the last storm...