Found in the Attic

We cleaned out our attic a few weeks ago. I found a bunch of my old cassette tapes. I decided it was really time to get rid of them. I did take a picture of them first though.

At the Fashion Farm in 2002 & 2008

Kylee

2002..........................2008

Makenna
2002..........................2008

The Stand

It's not my favorite blog, but I do enjoy reading Stuff Christians Like. And back in July when I read #2 on Jon's list of "Hand Raising Worship - The 10 Styles," it kind of made me mad. Then I read #10 on the list and I sort of got it.

Which was cool, because not too long after reading that post we started singing The Stand at church, and for this song, at least, I've become a YMCAer.

The Stand

You stood before creation
Eternity within Your hand
You spoke the earth into motion
My soul now to stand

You stood before my failure
Carried the Cross for my shame
My sin weighed upon Your shoulders
My soul now to stand

So what can I say
What can I do
But offer this heart O God
Completely to You

So I'll walk upon salvation
Your Spirit alive in me
This life to declare Your promise
My soul now to stand

So what can I say
What can I do
But offer this heart O God
Completely to You

So I’ll stand
With arms high and heart abandoned
In awe of the One who gave it all

So I’ll stand
My soul Lord to You surrendered
All I am is Yours

10 Things I Like, 5 Things I Don't Like

10 Things I Like:

• maps
• knowing stuff
• our furnace
• good deals
• the Internet
• gadgets
• reminiscing
• Tivo
• our driveway
• the heated floor in my bathroom

5 Things I Don't Like:

• when mildew grows in my shower
• debt
• when Internet Explorer freezes
• not being able to figure something out
• when leaves get on our porch in the winter

Book Review - Blue Like Jazz

It's amazing how much reading I can get done when there is no TV to watch or Internet to surf. Kristi and I spent the weekend at a couples getaway at Life Action. There was no TV or Internet to be had.

It took me a few months to get to page 102, which is where I was when we got to Life Action on Friday evening. By Sunday morning I was on page 232. I finished up the final chapter of the book last night.

I loved this book. It shouldn't have taken me so long to read it, because I really enjoyed the time I spent reading it. It is one of my very favorite books I have ever read. The author, Donald Miller, describes the events and happenings in his Christian spirituality journey. He's a GREAT story teller. Very few books make me laugh out loud, but Blue Like Jazz did a number of times.

Mostly I think I liked the book because I could just understand where Donald was coming from. I think that I think like him. (I wish I could write like him.)

Sometimes, if I read something I think is really good, I take it to my Sunday School class and just start reading it to them. It probably drives them crazy, but they're a polite bunch and they oblige me. Blue Like Jazz has a part that I think I will read to my Sunday School class. It's in chapter 11 and is a story about a confession booth. It's a great story, but I won't tell you more about it because I don't want to ruin it for you if you read the book.

Here is one excerpt though:

Sooner or later you just figure out there are some guys who don't believe in God and they can prove He doesn't exist, and some other guys who do believe in God and they can prove He does exist, and the argument stopped being about God a long time ago and now it's about who is smarter, and honestly I don't care. I don't believe I will ever walk away from God for intellectual reasons. Who knows anything anyway? If I walk away from Him, and please pray that I never do, I will walk away for social reasons, identity reasons, deep emotional reasons, the same reasons that any of us do anything.

I think Blue Like Jazz is a fantastic book full of thoughtfulness, humor and points to ponder. I highly recommend it to anyone. But here are some people in particular that I think would love this book:

• Stephanie
• Rocki
• Jamie
• Chris
• Hope

Family Camp - Couples Getaway Weekend

It's a "Couples Getaway" weekend for Kristi and I at Life Action's Family Camp.

Pumpkin Stew

My mom has an annual fall tradition of making Pumpkin Stew for the whole family. This year we enjoyed this special treat on Election Day. Awesome stuff! Thanks mom!

An Amazing Final 2008 Miles Biked Update

We haven't ridden our bikes very much recently due to the onset of cooler temperatures and darker evenings. So this will be my last 2008 update.

Steve 557.1
Kristi 449.3
Kylee 360.0
Kenna 360.0

After all those miles, Kylee and Makenna ended up riding the exact same distance this year.

Makenna's

Kylee's

The President-Elect

Here is a picture of Kylee and Makenna "with" Barack Obama. President-elect Obama is on the stage wearing the white shirt. The picture was taken at McCuen Gym in Elkhart, Indiana on August 6, 2008.

Mr. Gall's Class Votes

My 2008 Electoral College Prediction

Intrade.com's state-by-state presidential election markets currently project the electoral college totals to be:

Obama 364
McCain 174

My electoral college prediction:
Obama 354
McCain 184

NCAA Fantasy Football Challenge - Week 10

My dad is demolishing me in our NCAA fantasy football league.

Brent Gall: 58,138 points
Steve Gall: 53,623 points

Searches for October Day - Most Interesting

Here are some of the more interesting searches that led people to this blog in October.

• love letter to my wife
  
  
• what is a good love letter to my wife
  (I hope my letter was helpful.)
  
  
• is edward tulane okay to read to second graders
  (Yes)
  
  
• amish bus accident michigan nuts
  
  
• mrs galls class read alouds
  (The kindergartners at school call me Mrs. sometimes, maybe it was one of them searching.)
  
  
• kristy and landen north carolina
  
  
• rocki stillson's cousin
  
  
• if you are 15 are you to old to read the charlie and the chocolate factory book?
  (No. It took me until I was 15 or 16 to read ANY chapter book in its entirety -The Call of the Wild.)

Searches for October Day - Chapter Books

In September, I posted about the chapter book read aloud rankings Kylee, Makenna and I did. That post has resulted in bunches of searches for chapter book information leading to this blog.

• age 7 kids favourite chapter books
• good favorite chapter books
• chapter book read alouds
• books to read aloud 6 year olds
• starter version the secret garden frances hodgson burnett ages 7 and up
• 5 year old chapter books
• chapter books to read to four year old children
• read chapters 3 and four of charlotte s web
• read alouds for the book secret garden
• list of good teacher read aloud chapter books
• beverly cleary socks chapter two
• a summary of 3 paragraph for ramona quimby age 8
• strang happenings read aloud
• read alouds 5 to 7 years old
• paragraph chapter 8 shiloh
• ramona chapter books
• 7 year old chapter books
• chapter 3 of poppy by avi
• edward tulane and coda (The coda really chokes me up.)
• read the story the lion the witch and the wardrobe chapters 7 and 8
• the book socks by beverly cleary information on chapter 3
• nine year old read aloud
• chapter books for read alouds
• best beverly cleary read alouds
• where the red fern grows chapter 13 page from the book
• read aloud chapter books for three
• winn dixie chapters book
• chapter books for 7 year olds
• practice quiz on line ramona the pest
• chapter three of socks by beverly cleary
• chapter 9-17 of holes by louis sachar
• first grade chapterbook read alouds
• read aloud to seven year old
• ramona and her father comprehension questions
• poppy avi chapter 16 read
• chapter books for 3 year old
• the book thank you squanto
• chapter books three to four years old

College Football Overtimes (& Bill Curry)

I used to hate it when there were ties in college football games. And I love the overtime rules the NCAA initiated in the 1996 season.

Today's Notre Dame - Pittsburgh game started out as a two-field-goals-in-the-first-quarter yawner and turned into a seven-field-goals-in-quadruple-overtime thriller.

Last year I was watching Boise State and Nevada play on ESPN. The game went into quadruple overtime. One of the announcers, Bill Curry, bemoaned the overtime rules reasoning that, "Some one's gonna get hurt out there." He said it over and over. How lame. He would be a lot of fun to watch a marathon with, "That Kenyan better take a break or he's gonna pull a hammy!" I'm glad Bill didn't get the opportunity to spoil today's exciting overtime game with his lame-o commentary.

Election Returns Site

CNN has an excellent election returns site. Users can easily track national, state and regional races. As the national map is moused-over, election totals for each state appear. The national map is also clickable, bringing up state maps, which are mouse-overable by county. Tabs across the top of the page provide easy navigation for various race categories. In past election years, these maps have been updated as returns come in.

Trick or Treat

I'm A Wild and Crazy Guy

I may not be Steve Martin, but a wild and crazy guy nonetheless.

Today at school we had "mismatched outfit day." I went wild and crazy! On my right foot I wore an older Merrell moc and on my left foot I wore a newer Merrell moc.

Quiz Stats

Missionary Church North Central District individual quiz stats for October are online here.

National Anthem Rendition

This is an awesome rendition of The National Anthem.

Trunk or Treat

Our church, Wakarusa Missionary, hosted a Trunk or Treat event this afternoon. We decorated a trunk with Rocki. At our Webkinz themed trunk, the trunk-or-treaters spun our homemade Wheel of Wow to discover how many pieces of candy they received.

My Most Significant Spiritual Moment Since My Salvation

This post is in response to Rob's, Posts I'd Like To See....

So, what is the most significant spiritual moment since my salvation? I know when it was, but am not so sure I can describe it sufficiently. As a matter of fact, I didn't seem to be able to describe it very well when I journaled about it on April 11, 1991. Here's what I wrote:

"I think it is important to say that in the past few days I have just completely rededicated my life to Christ. I realize that I just haven't been living my life the way God wants me to."

Not much of a description, but actually, probably pretty accurate.

On April 1, 1991 Brent Warren and I went to the NCAA basketball championship game in the Hoosier Dome. We had a good time, but I know for certain that I didn't demonstrate to Brent that I was someone who was at all concerned about living my life for Christ. Why not? I wasn't that concerned about it.

So something happened between April 1 and April 11. And I probably lack the ability to describe it because I'm not sure exactly what did happen. But, here's a glimpse of what happened: a number of people had spent years praying for me, some Christian friends peaked my interest in what a closer relationship with Christ could be like, God moved in my heart, I didn't resist.

Just a few days after going to the NCAA championship game, my friends Jamie Prenkert and Lori Holdeman (future sister-in-law) arrived at Anderson for a college visit. Jamie, Lori, Debbie (Jamie's future wife, fellow Anderson student and friend) and I spent a number of hours over a long weekend discussing Christian spirituality, my interest was peaked.

At the beginning of the next week I spent hours in the Anderson library reading the Bible, God was moving in my heart. Late one night that week, I found myself sitting in an empty classroom in Hartung Hall. It was just God and me. I was praying, humbling my hardened heart, listening and telling God that I want Him to be Lord of my life.

It's Fab-u-lous

Kylee, Makenna and I saw High School Musical 3 this afternoon. We all enjoyed it. I thought it was way better than High School Musical 2, but still not quite as good as the original, which I thought was a great movie.

I enjoy upbeat musicals in general and while this one doesn't have a terrific story line, the songs are highly energetic and, I thought, a lot of fun. A movie doesn't have to have violence or adult oriented themes to entertain me. This one doesn't have either, and it certainly did entertain.

Unbelievably Blessed

Long before I had any children, I wanted twins - twin girls to be more specific. I never expected to get them, but I did. They are just the kind of kids I always wanted.


I love this picture of Kylee and Makenna, taken in April 2007 at a mall in Nashville, Tennessee. It hints of them venturing out into the big, wide world, but doing it together. Cool stuff in this photo: holding hands, no one else being around, their jean pockets and especially their instep stride with identical peaks at the bottom of their shoes.

Makenna

My daughter, and fellow blogger, Makenna, recently posted the 100th entry to her blog.

Bible Quiz Team

Kylee and Makenna are on the Bible quiz team at our church. This is their third season quizzing. This past Saturday was their first meet of the year. Their team won 2 and lost 2 on Saturday. Makenna did record her first "perfect quiz out" ever on Saturday. A perfect quiz out is when one quizzer answers five questions correctly during the 20 question, 8 competitor quiz without getting any questions incorrect.

There are about 150 questions per month to memorize. This year the questions will be based on Exodus 1 - 20.

Here's Makenna sporting her perfect quiz out medal on Saturday. We spent about a half an hour on Sunday afternoon looking through leaf piles for this medal, only to have Landen find it this morning behind one of our living room chairs.

Kylee had a perfect quiz out last season. Here is a video of that event (about 4 minutes.)

A Great Political Add

I think Mitch Daniels has been a pretty good governor for Indiana. He has clearly worked hard on bringing new companies and jobs to Indiana as well as improving Indiana's business friendliness. While I don't think daylight savings time has any sort of significant impact on Indiana's business climate, I must admit that I have kind of liked the extra daylight at the end of the day.

I think the lease of the Indiana Toll Road was a great idea and a great deal for Indiana. I do think that the toll-road-area Republican legislators should have withheld their "yes" votes until more of the money was funneled to the toll road counties. But I can't blame Governor Daniels for their lack of political savvy.

The Governor's education ideas are vastly different than what I think are the best policies for having successful public schools. In my opinion, he is not a friend of public education. Too bad.

Regardless of any agreements or disagreements, this is one GREAT political add.

The Digital TV Conversion

Kristi's Grandma Alice is 89 years old. About a month ago I hooked up the digital converter boxes on her two TVs. Since this time, Alice has had some trouble knowing which remote to use for what, which station to keep the TV on, how to change the volume, etc.

When I saw this video, I had to think of Alice.

Miles Biked Update: October 16, 2008

Total number of miles biked in 2008.

Steve 549.8
Kristi 441.7
Kylee 355.2
Kenna 355.0
Landen 32.8

Landen's bike computer broke about two weeks ago. (The wire wrapped around the handle bars twice and snapped.) So, that's his final total for the year, which he rode in about 6 weeks.

After about six months of bike riding this year, Kylee and Makenna's mileage totals are within .056% of each other. Pretty typical for our identical twins.

The last few times Kristi and I have jogged, Kylee and Makenna have pulled Landen in his bike trailer behind their bikes.

Favorite Shirts

Me and Landen in our favorite shirts.

Two Beautiful Parks

The beauty of Nappanee's Stauffer Park is sort of like that of Montana's Glacier National Park.

I took this first picture on July 1, 2007, a little after 5:00 AM, from the front porch of the chalet in which we had spent the night in Glacier National Park. The moon is just getting ready to set behind Heaven's Peak.

I took this second picture this evening, standing beside a ditch in Stauffer Park. The moon is rising, just above the Nappanee Sledding Hill.

Dread Apple Soda Box

I read on the BevReview blog today that Jeff Stillson of Nappanee got one of his photos on the box for Jones Soda - Dread Apple Soda.

Where Are The Visitors Linking From?

During the month of September here's where visitors who linked to this blog came from:

Search engines: 123
Rob's blog: 120
Shelley's blog: 96
Paul's blog: 21
Rocki's blog: 9
My Class site: 9

NCAA Fantasy Football Challenge - Week 7

Brent Gall 38,968.0
Steve Gall 37,816.0
The Guy in Third Place 35,744.0
The Guy in Tenth Place (who has used all of his trades every week) 31,908.0

I Ride My Bicycle

Today I put the gas can in our old bike trailer and headed off to the filling station. I saw Rocki in her driveway on the way. I stopped to chat. She said that I really look like an Amishman -pulling my gas can behind my bike.

When I got to the gas station, the only other person there was an Amishman who was also filling up the gas can he had pulled to the station in his bike trailer.

Here's a little fun that will cost nothing but a little bit of my pride. Just try picturing me riding my bike while you listen to the song embedded below. I bet you can't do it and not laugh at me.

I Ride My Bicycle

Round and round the town we go on our bicycles,
Round and round our pedals go, moving fast, moving slow,
Up and down the hills we go, huffing, puffing as we go,
Riding to the greatest places you could want to go.

I ride my bicycle to work every day,
And I take my bicycle, home every night,
Dealing with cars, who get in my way, and,
Dealing with potholes left and right.
And, when I ride, my bicycle at night.
I use a handle bar head light.
So I can see where I'm going.

I ride my bicycle to the grocery store,
And I take my bicycle, when I run my chores,
Dealing with drivers who yell, get out of the way,
Because they think I ride my bike real slow.

I try to ride, my bicycle really safe because,
I don't think that roads are safe for race.
I watch out for cars, cuz cars are dangerous,
I watch out for trucks, cuz trucks endanger us,
I keep my eyes upon the road.

Round and Round the country we go, on our bicycles,
Round and round our wheels go, clicking, ticking as they go,
Up and down the hills we go, building muscles as we go,
Riding to the greatest places you could want to go.

Lyrics By Greg Spence Wolf and Paul Glover
Music By Greg Spence Wolf

Indiana - A Blue State?

As I type this, the Intrade.com futures market for Barack Obama to win Indiana is higher than the one for John McCain. I do not participate in these markets, but if I did I think I would be buying McCain to win Indiana.

The market to win the election: Obama 79.0, McCain 20.7. For that market, I would be buying Obama.

Here's a screen capture of the current market, followed by an interactive map of the now current markets.

Heartbroken

I was so shocked to hear that Lisa Lengacher passed away on Monday that my blog has been put on hiatus ever since. I wanted to post a tribute to Lisa, but knew that my feeble writing attempt would fall far short of the proper commemoration that her life deserves. And indeed, this post does fall far short of providing a suitable tribute to the life of service led by this dear servant of Christ.

During the summer of 2006, Lisa led a work team from our church to help with the recovery in New Orleans from Hurricane Katrina. I was a member of this team along with Lisa’s daughter Chelsea and another NorthWood student, Josh Stouder.

I had seen the devastation left in the wake of Katrina and I sincerely wanted to go to New Orleans to serve people in need. And sure, I got to do a little of that. But do you know what happened on my trip to serve others? I was served.

I was served spiritually by Lisa.

During that week, I saw Lisa pour herself into service. And it wasn’t so much her service to the rest of our team or even to desperate New Orleanais, but her service to her Lord and savior, Jesus Christ.

I learned from Lisa that week.

I learned what it sounds like when someone prays with their whole being. I learned how it is possible for someone to be so focused on serving Christ that it simply encompasses who they are. I learned more about where I should be headed as a follower of Christ. I learned more about what it means to live a Christ-like life. All of this by her example.

When we left for the trip that week, Lisa provided each member of the team a journal. She had written on the first page of my journal when she gave it to me. I dug that journal out this week. Here is what she wrote:

July 8, 2006

Steve –
I’m so excited to be going on this trip. I have been praying for you and will continue to be praying for you, and your family, throughout this next week*. It will be a joy and privilege to serve alongside you, a brother in Christ!!
-Lisa Lengacher

*Romans 5:4 – 5 & Romans 5:2

P.S. If you would, could you please journal your thoughts, experiences & what God reveals to you this week - - so you have something to share with church once we’re home and so you can always remember what you did w/ God and what He did w/ you this week

I am heartbroken for Lisa’s family. I am blessed to have known Lisa and am grateful for the example she set.

Landen is Funny

Having a two year old around the house can be pretty funny too. The girls are on the quiz team at our church. The quiz questions this year are on Exodus, so a lot of the answers are "Moses." Yesterday, Kristi was studying with the girls and Landen was in the room playing with his cars. Hearing so much about Moses must have gotten to him because pretty soon he piped up and said, "Moses is driving a car!"

Last night 30 seconds after Kristi had tucked him into bed, Landen wandered into the hall and announced, "I had a bad dream."

Two Short Stories

Landen, our two year old, usually spends Wednesday, Wednesday night and Thursday at his Grandma and Grandpa's. During our evening without "the Buddy." Kristi and I make it a point to spend some time focusing on our seven year old twin daughters, Kylee and Makenna. We usually head to LaFogata or Mancino's for supper. I love these evenings.

During the past few weeks we've had a couple of good family laughs during these meals. You probably "had to be there" for these, but here goes anyway.

At Mancino's the four of us share two of the daily specials; a turkey grinder and a pop. A few weeks ago Kylee and Makenna were sitting across from us sharing their pop, each sucking through their own straw at the same time. Kristi said, "Take it easy girls. . . you're starting to look like conjoined twins." After a few seconds, I added, "Yeah, joined at the cup." This tickled both of the girls, and soon, Kylee's pop was dripping out of her nose, which made the event even funnier.

Last Wednesday we were back at Mancio's. Kristi noticed they had a "Now Hiring" sign posted. I said, "That's something you don't see very often in Nappanee right now." Makenna then added, "Yeah, it's usually 'Now Firing." Not bad for a seven year old.