December 2008

If you know anything about the McPhersons, you know that from about middle of November on, we are in full Christmas mode. The entire month has seemed like a holiday with parties, family and friends. We had the most amazing party weekend with a huge turn out the 2009 McPherson Christmas Ball. The following day, the girls and boys both hosted separate parties. Everyone had a blast, there was food, singing and dancing. From there it Polar Express week. The kids really have a great time being in the Christmas production that the Crossing puts on. It went off wonderful. Then we had a great little private dinner with some close friends... really special time with good friends. (we are thankful for friends to share life with). Then we were off, first to floyd, AR for some short time with the Pikers and then to ATL to spend Christmas with my family. It was so cool to be here this year. The kids have had a blast and we have been able to spend some great time with all of the family. Very awesome to see Jeremy, Sue and family as well as Mendi and Dave and the kids. Our 7 really like to get together. (perhaps they should travel to AR?) We have shopped, stayed up late and slept in, gone on dates, goofed around all week and now we must begin thinking about going home. What a great december.

December in Mena

We have just had the greatest McPherson Christmas Ball ever. It was so much fun. Now we are involved in all sorts of craziness and the churches production of the Polar Express for the whole weekend. Should be great!

Nashville Trip and Thanksgiving

Jennifer and I have just had a wonderful time at the Youth Specialties National Youth Workers Convention in Nashville, TN. As always we learned alot and we challenged. Best of all we really enjoyed ourselves and had the best time being off together. Here are some pics from the event. Now we are in Searcy, hanging with family and getting ready for the big thanksgiving bash. Looking forward to the Christmas Ball next week.

great weekend

This weekend was really fun. First of all, it was the first weekend in a long time that we didn't have alot to do. That was great. The kids had friends over on friday and we had a house full. That didn't matter because it was really a good night. There was some indian leg wrestling and a few laughs.

On Saturday, we chilled and worked some on the plans for the Christmas Ball. (set up the website...http://www.blogger.com/www.mcphersonchristmasball.blogspot.com). That evening we went with friends to Raspberry Manor for a birthday dinner. Very laid back and very cool. Here are some pics from this weekend.

Fastlane Rally & Into November

After the Changing of the Colors Rally, we had a very exciting week with all of our CMA friends and leaders from the countries that make up CMA International. Translation: A week of meetings. But it was very good to hang with some old friends, mainly Ramon and Natalie Changuion from South Africa. We were able to make some new friends as well and also greatly enjoyed having Judy here at the house with us.
From that week, we headed straight into preparations for the Fastlane Rally, Carving the Ouachitas IV. This is a great event that features mainly incredible riding. I learned alot in the off-road riding school for two days and then enjoyed riding the KLR. I also spent Saturday in Wolf Pen Gap on an ATV. All in all a very cool weekend and we also had some time to spend with some friends and that is always great. In the middle of all that was halloween. And the kids really had some fun, we did some trick or treating and had a good time.
One thing that I always look so forward to is spending a week on sabbatical in the beginning of November. I have been very blessed to be able to do this for the past few years. It is always such an important time. This year was no different, except that I spent my sabbatical at home with the kids and jen took off and spent the week alone, just relaxing and reflecting. By the weekend we were dying to see each other, but both of us really enjoyed our week.
Now fall is here, the leaves and weather have changed and we are working, going to school, hanging with friends, and getting prepped to head to Nashville next week for a conference.

New Muzzleloader Shirts

We have had a few Muzzleloader shirts over the past few years, but we have recently come out with a new shirt. Here is a picture of Abby wearing it. My friend and bass player extrodinaire has agreed to print more of the shirts as we need them. If any friends want Muzzleloader shirts, please leave a comment or send me an email (jerod@cmausa.org). The cost is simply $10. We can do kids sizes or adults, just let me know.

Changing of the Colors Rally 2008

We have just finished up with a great week of fun here on Iron Mountain. We had a great leadership meeting for all of the state leadership across the United States. It is always a joy to hang out with friends that we have made in all of our travels. We were able to spend a good amount of time with our CMA Youth Movement Leaders that were able to attend.

The student events at the rally were awesome. There were good crowds and the teens that were there really had many moments to connect with Christ. We witnessed some really cool things. Here are a few pictures from the event.

Muzzleloader played with the students and then for all of CMA at the CMA Family Service. It was alot of fun and we caught some good pictures. (Ashley George put together some photos that she took as well.)

This week were are involved in CMA's International Leadership Meeting with around 70 leaders from the different countries where CMA is active.

We are very much looking forward to the fall and to all the fun that it will bring. It won't be anytime until the holidays, plays, hanging with family and of course, the McPherson Christmas Ball.

Having fun, enjoying life

Over the past few weeks we have been really having a good time going to the boys football games and doing all of our other home town things. Both Zeke and Joby are very busy with youth group and jr. high football. They have been having games 2 nights a week and half of them are over an hour away. Last night, I rode the bike out to Zeke's game, which they won 15-14, and when it was over we rode back home together. Got back late, but it was a very cool time. Also Abby and I had a special lunch yesterday at the local chinese restaurant. Everything is moving ahead and we are all looking forward to the Colors Rally coming up in October. If we could just get the Razorbacks to win...

Labor Day Fun and Back to Work

We really had a great weekend. It was fun to go to Floyd and hang with Jennifer's parents and family. We always have a great time, lots of playing games, cooking and chilling out. It was also special to spend Sunday Afternoon with her grandparents and the evening at their church. Here are some pics of the typical holiday do nothing exercises...playing cards and laughing.

No Borders Trip and Finally Back Home

Recently returned from a long ride and a good trip, but have never been happier to be back home. As mentioned in the earlier post, we rode a long way to the town of International Falls, Minnesota on the Canadian Border. It was a very good ride with really nice weather on my new KLR. The CMA No Border Rally was a good event and was good to see some old friends. Mike Holder and I hung out for most of the event and really had some good laughs. Here are some pics from the CMA Parade in downtown International Falls.

While I was gone Jen and the kids started school and had some good times as well. Here is a pic of Jen holding Eden (Mika and Jeremy's newest). Also the girls had a great time at Bethany's (one of their friends birthday tea party).

The ride home was one of those days that you won't forget. I woke up a little before 5 and decided to get rolling. The night before I had made my arrangements to leave by myself. I was on the road by 5:30. When I left it was 40 degrees and I had not planned for that cold of a ride. I rode for more than an hour to the first little town and stopped at a McDonald's for coffee. I sat there in that McDonald's in full gear and held onto a cup of coffee completely shaking. But I didn't sit long, and I kept rolling and once it warmed up a little, I really made good time. By late afternoon, I was in Kansas City and contemplating going all the way home. I hadn't stopped too much and the weather was great and so I kept rolling. By dark, I was in Neosho Missouri and within 200 miles of home. So I decided to go all the way home. I made 1100 miles in one day, and slept in my own bed that night. I had alot to come home to.

There are also some pics here from a recent chapter meeting in McAlester Oklahoma. The Dipsticks are a Youth Movement Chapter for CMA and are doing a great job in involving students in ministry.