Those in FL are jealous

Our white Christmas of 2009 began just a little late, with the snow fall beginning on Christmas day in the mid-afternoon and continuing to fall for the next 48 hours, leaving us with 8 inches on the ground. This post is mostly for friends and family in FL. Envy and jealously are such ugly things, but we understand those of you who don't get snow when you feel such things. Must stink to have swimming as your only outdoor fun activity.

Erin, our snow and cold loving daughter, wasted little time in getting into the snow on Dec. 26th and built herself a sweet fort. It's size will guarantee that it will be around for quite a while. It was built with the temps in the low 20s, just low enough to make her cheeks rosey, but warm enough to be comfy. You Floridians are sure missing out. Do any of you even remember the refreshing sting of single digit temps on your face (we awoke to 2 deg. today)? How about the the below zero wind chills that make you feel alive? Jumping into your screened pool you never use when the water temp is below 80 degrees just doesn't compare. Again I feel sad for you and sense your envy.

I know, mostly because it makes the national news, FL (northern and maybe even central) can and does get a freak snow on occasion (frost and ice don't count as snow). Its those moments that I again feel sad for you. You see, I know your only hills are for entering and exiting highways and/or interstates. I also imagine that the Florida Highway Patrol makes a frowny face everytime they see a transplant or snowbird, desperate for a little non-swimming action, trying to sled down a ramp on a blow up pool toy, and shoo's them away (shoo's is a word isn't it?).

I have been to FL, both sides, up and down, many times. I have seen the South American and Germen men in their thong swimsuits everywhere. Not a pretty sight. Here in Illinois, men like Jon and Troy only wear thongs in the privacy of their own homes, far from my family and camera. When men in Illinois lay on each other on an inner tube (you Floridians might recognize this device, you use it drag thong wearing men sitting on each other with your boats in alligator infested lakes), they bundle up, so as to be modest, safe from harmful UV rays and to not overdose on the refreshing cold air sting. And when they fall off at the end of the ride they happily land (see the smiles) on frozen farm ground, rather than in the jaws of the alligator that recently ate your neighbors Shitzu, Mitsy.

Now, there are similarities to our outdoor activities. We tested the old saying "Its not the size of the dog in the fight, its the size of the fight in the dog" in the video below. Only we raced, rather than fought, using one of your Florida tubes, a big dog (Craig), and a smaller, healthier, seemingly faster dog (Josh) on an actual sled built for the snow. We found, and this video proves it, that the larger size dog wins in sledding. Just like I assume a similarly "bouyant" large dog (S. American/Germen thong wearer) in water might swim faster than a small dog. The similarities end there though. Our large dog stopped in a marginally graceful way (the small dog gets points for his ending), without being torn to pieces by an alligator (or bull shark if you prefer the ocean).

Of course, sometimes the small dogs don't stop soon enough and think they have broken their leg on a frozen mound of earth. The Floridians who have survived shark and alligator bites know what he felt like I suppose.

one of my all time favorites

I am probably going to pass on doing this, mostly because we don't have cliffs around Chillicothe, but partly because it is a little dangerous I suppose. But I sure like to watch these guys. Wait till the summer scenes for this video to really get your attention.

Merry Christmas 2009

In the 18 year history of the Rick and Pam Lingenfelter union, there has been just one Christmas family newsletter. That was 2004. It was a classic though, full of rotten and exciting news, produced on old fashioned paper and mailed via the USPS. How 90's.

From 2005-07 we sent cards that just said "Merry Christmas" and had a pic of our kids. In 2008...nothing. Yet all the while many of our friends and family sent wonderful holiday greetings with lots of details and wonderful photos, even though we hardly reciprocated. For years now we have planned on scheduling that family photo, the professional one that would replace the last one we had taken in 1999. A photo that would actually have Erin in it with us and be appropriate for sending along with a Christmas letter full of info. And each year we have neglected to get around to it.

This season the cards and photos started coming again. Even a newsletter or two. Fear began to settle in that once again the world was finding out how great all these other families are and wouldn't know how fantastic our kids are or how old they have become. So today I decided that I would right this yearly wrong I have done and I would declare to the world through this newsletter just what everyone needs to know about our kids and family. Here you go....

Dear World,

Josh is fantastic and he is 13.

Dear World,

Erin is fantastic and she is 9.

Dear World,

Pam is *fantastic and she is younger than Rick.

*OK, fantastic can be defined in Pam's case as having the ability to battle cancer yet again (recurrance Nov. 08) with grace and strength and beauty while relying on her unwavering faith.

Constant treatments (chemo, radiation and drug) from the beginning of 09 to the end and continuing beyond. It takes three photos to catch you up on Pam (January (ish), May, November).

To get the full story on Pam, check out her blog... http://www.dyintoserveocho.blogspot.com/.

Dear World,

Rick is fantastically overweight, out of shape and old.

Peace to your family from ours.

Rick, Pam, Josh and Erin.

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave is only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life."

Ohhhhh the time has come

NEED..........

...........MORE............

....................COWBELL!!!!!!

Need some boots?

Need a low mileage pair of boots for this winter. Check out just a few of these specials we have going.


How about these boy's blue and black Itasca snow boots in size youth 6?





Do you know a little girl who might enjoy these fluffy DC Shoe Co. boots in size (youth?) S?










Be confident that your young girl or boy will have warm dry feet in these waterproof Columbia boots, size youth 2.









Since these are Pam's boots, you know they are low mileage. These classic Timberland boots are womens size 6.5.








These low rise Timberland boots have a few more miles than those above, but you'll hardly notice. Womens size 6.5.








Another cherry pair of Pam boots. These late model North Face boots are waterproof and scream "cool"...I mean "warm/dry." Womens size 6.



Here they are, the Rolls Royce of our snow boot expo. These Merrell boots were purchased in Dec. 2008 for Josh. He wore them during one season, and not that often. We expected to get more than a year out of them, but of course he went from size 8 to 10 in these past 12 months. So, are you interested in these mens 9 boots? I hope so. (These seem to run just a bit smaller than a true 9).

Email me rlingenf@hotmail.com or call 696-3388, if you are interested. The prices are free, but that is negotiable.

DLmail 12/7/2009 Mary didn't do it

You had to be there. It was one of those moments. It all depends upon what the meaning of the word "it" is. It was one of those unexpected classic moments in Discoveryland that you kind of had to be there to appreciate. Words that flew straight over the kids heads and hit the leaders on their funny bones.

Another great night in Discoveryland. I could go for having Rick (#1) in the room every Saturday night. Although I was a bit annoyed that I am now referred to as "Rick #2" (or Mr. Rick #2) by most of the kids in my small group.

Have any of you noticed that it is December? And with the positioning of the 25th on a Friday, the main stage Christmas production will begin on the Friday prior (18th) and wipe out our Saturday serving on the 19th (encourage your small group kids to bring their families to one of the nine services). So this coming Saturday is it for DL for this year basically. Hope to see you all there. Here is your small group info for the weekend (choose 2-5 for the material). Our memory verse for this month is John 3:16, you all know it, so I won't type it. Our Bible story for our continuing study of the virtue Compassion is found in Luke 2:8-20. Our bottom line is - God gave great news, who will you tell? If you want to hear Tim Reist's message from last weekend, click here.

We missed Em and Tim last weekend. But we did get to see Monica with baby Joshua for a while before they exited for the mommy/baby quiet room (and I mean really quiet...no sound on the monitors, Monica had to lip read the whole service). We also were blessed with Rachel White programming in place of Keith. Sorry Keith, but that's a good trade for us.

A little bit of snow today, that's good. A lot of snow possible tomorrow night...that's GREAT! Remember, if you get stuck in the snow, please don't hesitate to call me and I'll help you get out (I love playing in the snow). I will leave my phone on 24hrs a day during the snowy times. 696-3388.

That's it for this post. No guessing games for Sammy to win. Sorry.

DLmail 12/4/2009 helpful hints

Jeannine is doing an excellent job of communicating the specifics of our coming weekends serving via email, so I am taking a break from in depth info delivery and I will dwell in the shallows.

It got cold yesterday. Which brings me to helpful hint #1...don't walk with your hands in your pockets, wear gloves. It only took me two falls to figure this one out. If you don't break your fall with your hands, you'll break it with your head, face, shoulder or tailbone. Skin and hair from my head are still clinging to the brick wall of the Chillicothe Post Office from my hand-in-pockets stumble of 2007. Whether you are running along a trail with your buds carrying a rifle or just "running into" the post office, be careful.



Helpful hint #2...keep track of your keys. I am so old that I remember when you could go to the hardware store to have another key for your car cut for about $1. After 2+ weeks of looking, I finally gave up on finding the key/fob to Pam's car that "I" lost ("I" is in paratheses because last time I lost a key it ended up being discovered in a co-workers purse 6 months later...I don't want to name names, but Corky remembers that). So this hint is...don't lose your keys, they cost more than makeup ($42.50 for 1.7oz.). This week I called the Ford place to inquire about getting a new key and fob. No problem, new key $40!?! New fob, $45!?! That's alot. Then they told me I had to have a service appt. to have the key synced to the vehicle or it would not work. I did it, new key, out the door, $152.80.

Hint #3...um, well, that's kind of it.

In summary, don't walk with your hands in your pockets and keep track of your keys. Enjoy this Friday and I look forward to seeing Em, Kevin and Pam tomorrow evening when we serve. Tim and Gail Thorson reported that they will be absent this Saturday. Didn't give a reason, but I am guessing its family stuff.

ups and downs

Winter hasn't closed in yet. In fact, we had just the right weather for one last afternoon of ballooning on this Black Friday.

The Lingenfelter family took their regular position as crew and chasers. The launch was beautiful and in the cool 42 degree air, the hot air took the balloon (with Kathy, Deb and Brianna) to great heights. Like 4700+ ft.

Then the winds began to spin them like a top. I, for one, was glad to be tucked safely in the Jeep.

Now, balloon pilots have some control over their craft, but mostly up and down. Really good pilots somehow manage to put the balloon down where they want. Kathy is really good. After about 30 minutes at great altitudes and many miles, she landed the balloon at our church, Northwoods. The fabulous crew of Clydescope (humble group) even managed to arrive ahead of the balloon and assist in a most gentle landing.



Much to the surprise and joy of Josh and Erin, they were chosen for what was most likely to be the last flight of 2009. Larry was added as the co-pilot and off they went, expecting to land somewhere near the village of Dunlap before the sun set.

Josh brought a camera along to capture the sights from high above the earth. Here is his first shot looking north. Allen Road is running to the horizon.

In the photo to the right you can just make out two of the Chillicothe water towers (center of the pic all the way to the left). Thats the IL river on the horizon.

Hickory Grove Road intersects with Allen Road in the bottom of the picture to the left. The little black dot in the center of the pic is Pam and me in the Jeep.

In the pic to the right the kids are over Green View Nursery and looking NE.

Pam and I parked along Cedar Hills Drive as the kids flew over. They took a pic of us stopped at the intersection pretty close to the time we took this pic.

It was a race against the sun (and moon) to find a suitable place to land.

Sometimes we as chasers can get ahead of the balloon and assist the landing. Sometimes we can't. This time we couldn't. With power lines looming beyond a tree line, Kathy and Larry dropped the balloon suddenly. We chasers lost the chase.




A small tree, sent by God himself, reached out and grabbed one of the ropes. It tied the rope tightly around one of it's branches and stopped the balloon from getting tangled in a much larger tree. It tied the knot so tightly that Larry had to climb the tree to free the balloon. The landing was exciting and fast, a total plus for a 13 and 9 year old.

What a great afternoon.

We even stopped traffic for a little while as we packed up the balloon.

A great day with great friends.