Solids

Israel got her first bites of rice cereal today - and she LOVED it! She did really well, too, as far as keeping it in her mouth, swallowing, etc. And her tummy must be good and full because she's been sleeping for a loooooong time this nap. :)

Mark Sathe

Our dear friend Jono's dad died today. He had been fighting cancer for years. The good news is that he is home now. He is with Jesus in glory, no longer in pain.
Thank all of you who have been praying for him. Please continue to pray for Jono, his mom, sister & the rest of the family.

Identity Theft

I am sorry to say that JP and I were the victims of an identity theft scam. Everything is ok now, but it sure has been a pain.
The day we were leaving to go camping, we got a call from our credit union saying there was some weird activity on our card. I went in and found out that someone had tried to make a couple of Western Union transactions in JP's name. A small one went through for about $26, but a larger one for about $279 was denied and we were contacted. There was also a weird $1 AOL charge that I didn't recognize. We got those taken off and our cards were canceled.
Today I got a letter in the mail from AOL saying that my payment was late because the card information we had given them was out of date. Funny thing is...we don't use AOL. The letter referenced an email account with the user name JAMESCHAR100. Using the information on the letter, I was able to access that email account. In it I found four emails from Western Union. So, basically, whoever got our information set up an AOL email account in JP's name and sent the bill to our house.
I called Western Union to see if I could find out where the money was trying to be sent. Of course they wouldn't give me that information, but told me to contact my local authorities so they could subpoena the information. I called the police today and got them started on that investigation.
Then I finally figured it all out. A couple weeks ago JP got an email from PayPal saying we needed to update our account information. He forwarded it to me, I foolishly clicked the link and updated the info. When this all went down, JP suspected that email may have been a scam. I changed the cookies on my browser and went back to that site. A message appeared on the screen that said the web site was suspected of Web Forgery. They're called Phishing attacks - fraudulent web pages and emails imitate sources you trust to get your info. I was not careful. There were numerous signs that - looking back - I could have picked up on.
All I can say is praise God that it wasn't worse. We didn't end up losing any significant money or have to go to great pains to get things rectified. Just be careful out there, people!

Back to Work Update

Monday was my official first day back on the job at WCCO-TV. Last week I went in a couple time to learn some new stuff they had changed since I left, but didn't actually produce the show. But yesterday I was back at it and so far things are going really well. I'm finding that it is kind of like riding a bike - stuff is coming back to me easier than I had thought it would, and Rae is doing great with her new situation. She is loving the time with her grandparents, and it is fun to come home to her because she gets so excited.
Thanks for all of you who have been praying for a smooth transition. One week out of eight is already done!

Not My Will, But Thine

It is so hard to pray "Not my will, but Thy will be done." It seems like everywhere I turn, something difficult is happening to someone, and I just wish I could pray for the outcome I think would be best. But only God knows best.

A baby dies. Not my will, but Thine.

A friend's parent loses his fight with cancer. Not my will, but Thine.

Another struggles to get pregnant. Not my will, but Thine.

Another faces relocation, far away. Not my will, but Thine.

Father, if you would but take this cup from us! Nevertheless, not our will, but Thy will be done.

Family Camping Trip, Fall 2007

We had our annual fall family camping trip this past weekend at Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park, about a half hour south of Rochester. It was amazing. The weather was incredible, and the site was OUT OF THE WORLD AMAZING. The only down side was that Amber & Pete weren't able to be there the whole time because Amber is too close to having her baby! But they came up and visited on Saturday.
Here are some highlights.

Ants on a log

Wagon Ride

I call this one, "Ninja Mist." This picture encapsulates the essence of a Harpel family camping trip.

She couldn't pick up her toys because of her mittens

The other kids playing in the water

Bundled up to go into the Mystery Cave
In the cave

Gotta love Malachi's shirt

See the fishes?

Back to Work

A couple weeks ago I got a call from my old boss at WCCO-TV asking if I would be willing to come back as a freelance producer on a temporary basis. Apparently they are really short-handed right now and just need some help as they fill a number of open positions. He basically told me I could pick my own schedule - they'd take anything they could get.
After talking it over, JP and I decided that I could help out for a little while. So for the months of October and November, I'll be producing the noon show on Mondays and Tuesdays. Rae's grandparents are going to take turns watching her during this time.
I'm a little bit nervous to go back. After almost 9 months at home, I'm obviously rusty. And I've never had the desire to go back to work. It makes me sad to think that I won't be here when Israel wakes up. Of course it's only two days a week, and I'll be home by lunchtime...but STILL! :) I'll also have to get back into the habit of getting to bed on time.
We'll see how it goes. It may be nice to have the extra couple bucks in time for the holidays.

Fall is Official

At least in my world it is. I absolutely LOVE this time of year and the cool, crisp air! We have been getting outside just about every chance we get. Of course, Israel gets bundled up.

Rae is changing every day. She now has three bottom teeth and is working very hard on the fourth one. I can feel it with my finger but can't see it yet.

She is also learning to crawl. Actually it's more of a "scoot." She was doing really well at it, then yesterday she started going backwards when she wanted to go forward. I found her almost completely under the couch yesterday from scooting backwards.

And of course, fall wouldn't be fall without football! We had our friends the Gills over for the Vikes opener on Sunday. They brought their almost one-month-old, Abigail, and she and Rae were both donning their Vikings garb. It was pretty cute.

Our adventures really begin next weekend when we will be packing up for the annual Harpel Family fall camping trip. We are going to Forestville State Park this year. This is the best time of year to camp. I am so excited!

The Swing

How do you like to go up in a swing,
Up in the air so blue?
Oh, I do think it the pleasantest thing
Ever a child can do!

Up in the air and over the wall,
Till I can see so wide,
River and trees and cattle and all
Over the countryside--

Till I look down on the garden green,
Down on the roof so brown--
Up in the air I go flying again,
Up in the air and down!

-Robert Louis Stevenson

Two Months Later, $200 Cheaper

So, yes, it is true that two months after the release of the iPhone, the price has dropped by $200. I guess it's a bummer, but you knew it was coming, right? However, many people were so upset about it that they wrote Steve Jobs nasty letters...and he has responded in the form of a $100 gift card to anyone who bought the $599 iPhone (that's us!).
This Letter is the reason why we are Apple people. Steve Jobs is the man, and he's taking care of his most loyal customers. He is by no means obligated to throw us all a bone, but he did it anyhow in order to maintain a good relationship.
By the way - JP has been thrilled with his iPhone.

MN State Fair 2007

Today ends the 12 days of fun known as the Minnesota State Fair, and this year I did more than my share to contribute to the success of the fair. In all, I ended up visiting FIVE TIMES this year. Don't get me wrong, I love the fair, but I am definitely ready to be done with it until next year.
Still, I had fun, and here are my pictures.
On Thursday, Rae and I met up with Scott, Nicole & Beckett. Here is Beckett with a little lamb at the Miracle of Birth Center:

And Nicole as a Mountie:

We were given free tickets to the BB King Blues Festival on Thursday night!!! Etta James opened - she is an amazingly talented but surprisingly DIRTY woman!!!

Next was the Rev. Al Green - our favorite part of the show!!! He even got his preach on...

And of course, the King of Blues, BB King:

As I mentioned in my previous post, Rae and I went to see Bill Carlson at the fair on Friday morning. This is him greeting the crowd:

Friday night, we went back to the fair with James and Alyssa Knoblauch, but I didn't get any pictures of that.
Sunday, we went with JP's dad, step-mom, sister, brother-in-law, and our niece Ava. Here she is eating sweet corn:

Ava and Scott actually went down the giant slide, but Rae just got a picture.

You'll notice the Sweet Martha's stand in the background. :)

Israel and I were on TV

Israel and I were in the background of some video WCCO shot for their noon program on Friday. We were at the fair to visit Bill Carlson and ended up on the air when they showed video of him making his appearance that day.
You can watch it here.
Please keep Bill in your prayers. He was cheerful and wonderful, but very obviously tired and weak.

For Bethany

Are You Ever Disturbed?

Today's reading from Oswald Chambers' "My Utmost For His Highest" is excellent.
You can read it here.

Two Years

August 19, 2005 - a day I will remember the rest of my life.
I love you, JP, and I thank God for every day, every moment that He gives us together. You truly are the best man I know. I give you all my heart, forever, and I look forward to many more years of blessed marriage to you. Thank you for being you.

I, Audra, according to the Word and will of God, submit myself to you, JP, as the church submits to Jesus. Today, I covenant with God and with you to be your wife, to be your helper, suited to you in everything. I will follow you as you follow the Lord, respecting you, bringing honor to you, and loving you. By God's Word and by His Spirit, I vow to live by faith and pursue holiness, to minister grace and peace to our home, to comfort and encourage you, giving preference to your needs above my own, as unto the Lord.

Memphis

This past week, Israel and I joined my parents in a road trip to Memphis, TN. The purpose of the trip was twofold: 1.) to introduce Rae to her great-grandmother (aka: "MeMaw") and great-aunts, great-uncles, cousins, etc. and 2.) to check in on my Uncle Dave (dad's younger brother) who was very sick in the hospital. His liver was failing him.
We packed up Monday morning and drove off at about 6:15 am. The trip down went smoother than any of us expected with a 6-month-old in tow. Israel was amazing the whole ride down. We made it to Memphis and my dad dropped us off at MeMaw's, then headed directly to the hospital.
When he arrived at the hospital around 9:00 pm, he found out that his brother - my uncle - had died at 6:30 am, just minutes after we had left Minnesota. This was a huge shock to all of us. We knew he was sick and had been in and out of the hospital. He had recently been diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver amongst other things. But we did not realize that his liver was literally falling apart inside of him, or that his time was so limited.
My dad was so sad that he hadn't made it there for David. There were a number of issues that we had in dealing with the hospital he was at that would have made the world of a difference...but I won't get into all of that. The bottom line was that we weren't there soon enough, and Dave died alone. This is so heart-wrenching.
Our trip was transformed from a chance to help David out to a working-out of the details for a funeral, which was held on Friday afternoon. Dad took care of all of the arrangements. The service was beautiful, and we were blessed by all of the family and friends who showed up to honor Dave. He is healed now.
The other part of the trip was an absolute joy. MeMaw was SO happy to meet Israel and show her off to all of her friends in the senior community where she lives. Rae was so sweet the whole time and stayed almost perfectly on schedule. She was amazing. And the trip back to Minnesota was equally as smooth. Praise God! And thanks to all of you who were praying for us because it WORKED!
JP didn't come with us to Memphis because he has been in California helping his oldest friend move back home to Minnesota. He flew out to San Diego on Sunday and should be home late tomorrow night. They went surfing, snorkeling (in caves with SHARKS!), visited Six Flags in L.A., and visited other friends before hitting the road. Once they DID hit the road, however, their car overheated and they were forced to drive through the desert with no air-conditioning in 110 degree heat! They have since fixed that problem and are slowly making their way across the nation, back to my arms! Please keep them in your prayers!
Here are some pictures from our journey to Memphis!

Car Seat??!!?? Who wants to stay in a car seat for 13 hours???

Four Generations - Lynn Harpel, Ruby "MeMaw" Screws, Me, & Israel

MeMaw and her "little precious"

Israel with her Great Aunt "Nini" (Anita) and Great Uncle James

Rae with my cousin's sons, Dane & Tatum

Feed on His Faithfulness

Ps 37:3
Trust in the Lord, and do good; Dwell in the land, and FEED ON HIS FAITHFULNESS.

I read this verse this morning and the last line really stuck out to me - Feed on His faithfulness.
There are many times when I feel burnt out, like I don't have any faith yet. I feel spiritually weak and in need of nourishment. My heart is not in my devotions or in the prayer I pray. I feel discouraged. What the Holy Spirit ministered to me today is that in those time we should FEED ON HIS FAITHFULNESS. Think back to all the times that He has been faithful to you, and let that encourage and nourish you. It's the word of your testimony -- "They overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony."

Rachel

This week my dear friend Rachel came up to visit me from Lexington, KY. She came in just in time to see the bridge collapse on Wednesday and left tonight.
Rachel is such a wonderful friend, and we barely ever get to see each other. The last time I saw her was at her wedding a year ago, and before that it was my wedding two years ago! So any time we get together is precious. She had also never met Israel, so it was wonderful for her to get to do that. We had a fun relaxing week of sleeping in late, getting pedicures, going to the farmer's market, and shopping. I know, I know...life is rough. :)
I love you, Rachel and I am so blessed that you came up to see me! I miss you already!


The University of Kentucky pacifier Rachel left as a souvenir for Israel.

Great Insight from John Piper

Click here to read and excellent article by John Piper regarding the 35W bridge collapse.

I-35W Collapse

By now you have all seen the bridge collapse on 35W. We were about half a block away from there when it happened, at our church on 10th and University. We were inside practicing for worship when the lights flickered. A couple people heard a boom (I didn't) and went outside to check it out. When we saw what was happening, we walked down to the 10th Ave bridge and watched it all go down. We were there before the authorities were. Praise God everybody from my family and our church was safe - it happened about 10-15 minutes before most people would have been coming over the bridge for church.
This is probably the #1 craziest thing I have ever seen first-hand in my life. I have never seen a tragedy of this magnitude up close. There were cars in the water, cars on cars, cement on cars, people climbing out of windshields, people lying out on the ground...it was crazy. Our regular church service switched into a prayer meeting for the victims, rescue workers, and families and friends of those involved. Some people from church brought water coolers out for the rescue workers and prayed for people on the street. My brother was on standby with the fire department to gone down there and help with the rescue, but at about 11:00 pm last night they sent him home. He may need to go relieve other workers out there today, though.
Here are a couple pictures I got on my cell phone.