We did have the memorial this weekend. Thanks again for those people who followed along online. We have the DVD edited and ready to burn.
Grandma Audrey’s memorial/celebration was convicting. A life lived for Jesus is a beautiful thing and I hope that legacy will continue with our generation.
Once again we had the guys of the family grab a shovel and fill in the dirt. Death is so not-talked-about in our culture, sometimes to what I feel is an unhealthy distance, that there was something very real, very tangible, very transitional about leveling off the final shovelfuls. Thankfully I know that something similar to Luke 24:5 is being enacted, so the shoveling is more for us.
My wife did a great job of making sure that my youngest’s birthday was not forgotten this weekend. She and a friend unfolded an entire Dora story arc for the toddlers and their amigos.

Dora and Boots
Let’s give the toddlers blunt weapons and promise candy:

The setting was farm-ish (if The Map, The Map, I’m the Friggin’ Map is to be trusted), so bring on the cute photos of kids holding baby chicks:


And then the still cute, if yet frightening, re-enactment of Act V of MacBeth:

Some loving, if yet crazy, members of Christ’s Body decided to show us love in a very appreciated way by cleaning our house while we were at the memorial. I’m still overwhelmed and learning how to accept grace. My youngest, though, has learned how to accept a Memory game. She says thanks!

In the midst of a birthday and a memorial, we had cousins over.


The Polly Pocket/Beast wedding was going well until Vader showed up. Thankfully Beast has a wookiee for a best man.
Yep. It was a good weekend.

Robert C. Girard, Born January 22, 1932 – Died June 19, 2007. Born to Colby and Viola Girard in Aberdeen, South Dakota on January 22, 1932, Robert went to be with his Lord on Tuesday, June 19th, 2007. He was a graduate of Miltonvale Wesleyan College in Miltonvale, KS, and was an internationally recognized speaker and best selling author of seven published books, including “Brethren Hang Loose” (1972), the Bible Commentary Sunday school curriculum for Scripture Press/David C Cook Publishers, and his most recent A Smart Guide To The Bible- The Book Of Acts, released on June 19th, the morning he died. Selah. During his 50+ years in ministry, Bob shepherded several churches in 4 different states. In 1965, he packed up and moved his family from Minneapolis, MN to Scottsdale, AZ where he lived for 14 years and founded Our Heritage Wesleyan Church (now Scottsdale Wesleyan). While at Our Heritage, “Pastor Bob” impacted thousands of lives through his devotion to Jesus Christ and His Word, his creative and innovative approach to ministry, and his fierce commitment to the body of Christ, his fellow believers. In 1981 the family relocated north to Lake Montezuma, AZ. There Bob strapped on a set of nail bags, built his family a home with his own hands, and settled in to the new community. He loved his new life, where some of his favorite activities were chopping wood to heat his house, driving the local school bus, and singing with his wife and family in various community and church events, where his signature deep resonant voice moved listeners to ponder just what God might sound like. He enjoyed especially his years as fireman and engineer for the local volunteer fire department. Bob is loved and respected in the community and was scheduled to be co- Grand Marshall of this year’s Fourth-of-July parade in Lake Montezuma, along with his wife, Audrey. Bob finished out his professional ministry at Montezuma Chapel in Lake Montezuma, where he pastored for over for 17 years and has remained an elder since retiring in 1998. He is deeply loved and will be dearly missed by his wife of 55 years, Audrey, of Lake Montezuma, his children- Christine Poehls and her husband Vern of Chandler, AZ, Charity Worden and her husband Scott of Lake Montezuma, and Bobby Girard and his wife, Meghan, of Brush Prairie, WA, thirteen grand children, three great-grand children, his step-mother Leila Girard, and 8 brothers and sisters- Carol Gregg, Wendell Girard, Tommy Girard, Charlotte Girard, Marilyn Jacobson, Susan Quattlebaum, Darlene Komora, and Colby Girard, Jr. Bob is now joyfully reunited with his children who preceeded him in death- Dixi, Jean Marie, and Billy. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to Montezuma Chapel (PO Box 5053, Lake Montezuma, AZ 86342). Services will be Saturday, June 23, 2007, beginning with a viewing at 2pm at Montezuma Chapel at 3450 Rusty Spurs Road in Lake Montezuma. Memorial Service will follow. Bob will be interred at 7pm at Middle Verde Cemetery. Dad loved sunsets. Bueler Camp Verde Funeral Home assisted the family.