tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36632592007-12-07T11:06:27.139-05:00M5 Williams UpdatesMichaelBlogger304125M5WilliamsUpdateshttp://feedburner.google.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3663259.post-7436011617682781322007-12-05T15:45:00.001-05:002007-12-05T15:45:32.555-05:00Money & Moral BalanceI recommend listening to an excellent audio program from Speaking of Faith (a NPR Program). It's about keeping some semblance of financial perspective through the holidays. Very good!Money and Moral Balance [Speaking of Faith® from American Public Media]MLWtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3663259.post-29954994932609874022007-12-04T00:57:00.001-05:002007-12-04T00:57:33.840-05:00Coming to a mailbox near you...2007 Christmas CardMLWtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3663259.post-45924803734712108692007-12-04T00:53:00.001-05:002007-12-04T00:53:06.066-05:00Winter in Malibu2007-Q4-Webster Jog-a-thonThe jog-a-thon this year was winter themed rather than the more traditional Halloween theme. It was a blast (although I missed it this year to grade term papers). They actually had snow at Webster! Someone brought in a snow-blower and they made snow all over the place. They had a little sledding hill and an igloo full of snow for snow-ball fights. The kids had a MLWtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3663259.post-23667352564214623972007-12-04T00:48:00.001-05:002007-12-04T00:48:57.733-05:00Matthew's Big DayMatthew was chosen by the Malibu Optimists as a Malibu Young Leader! It was such an honor. He was honored at a breakfast attended by adults from the community, then a Sheriff's Deputy took him and other leaders (2 from each public school in Malibu) for a day with City Officials. He met the Mayor, City Council, and the judge. It was a terrific day for Matt and an honor for all of us. Be sure MLWtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3663259.post-57037970950241691752007-12-03T13:23:00.001-05:002007-12-03T13:23:51.086-05:00Long-delayed update...
Sorry it's been so long since the last update. Here are the final photos from our day avoiding the fires. While this fire was much less damaging to Pepperdine, it was much more damaging to Malibu. Somewhere around 50 homes were completely destroyed. One of Madison's friends lost her home completely. They didn't get a thing from the house, not even a purse. One of Matt's friends also lost MLWtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3663259.post-14357759651878730262007-11-24T22:06:00.000-05:002007-11-24T22:13:54.753-05:00Another day in Malibu...For the second time in a month, we were awakened early to evacuate for nearby fires. This time the fires were on "our side" of the campus. As you can see from this photo, the fires were right behind our house. We later learned that these fires were still a mile away, but they looked very close.
We left the house the first time at 5am and came home about 8:30. Then they relocated us again at MLWtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3663259.post-2112162663424075172007-11-24T15:42:00.001-05:002007-11-24T15:42:30.206-05:00We just left the house again. This is right behind our house.This message was sent using PIX-FLIX Messaging service from Verizon Wireless!To learn how you can snap pictures with your wireless phone visitwww.verizonwireless.com/getitnow/getpix.To learn how you can record videos with your wireless phone visit www.verizonwireless.com/getitnow/getflix.To play video messages sent to email, QuickTime? MLWtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3663259.post-7551853880790092422007-11-24T09:48:00.001-05:002007-11-24T09:48:27.191-05:00Another fire in Malibu. We'reAnother fire in Malibu. We're fine but in the caf. Will post more later.MLWtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3663259.post-3292408295669836962007-11-15T13:21:00.000-05:002007-11-15T13:23:02.340-05:00Birthday photos...Here are some birthday photos from yesterday's celebrations...MLWtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3663259.post-36837972497588814502007-11-14T15:46:00.001-05:002007-11-14T15:46:56.738-05:00Happy birthday, Marcus!Today is Tater Tot's 5th Birthday! It's hard to believe my baby boy is already five years old. Today at 3pm we're having a big Transformer party and our whole block is invited for cupcakes and games. Should be fun! In view of this big day, here are a few links to Marcus' first days of life...Day OneDay TwoDay ThreeDay FourDay FiveDay SixMore...Powered by ScribeFire.MLWtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3663259.post-3751226768471630562007-11-08T19:30:00.001-05:002007-11-08T19:30:54.069-05:00Illegal filesharing and UniversitiesIllegal filesharing is a problem. One of the biggest centers for this type of activity is university campuses. My alma mater, Indiana University, recently sent an email to all students alerting them of a new policy. According to a policy going into effect January 1, 2008, any student who is notified by a copyright owner that they have violated copyright policy by downloading illegal content (MLWtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3663259.post-70423340037819844142007-11-02T17:43:00.001-04:002007-11-02T17:43:09.133-04:00Rediscovering Reinhold NiebuhrOne of my favorite books from seminary was "Christ and Culture" by Richard Niebuhr. This week I've enjoyed an audio program dealing with the current relevance of Richard's brother Reinhold Niebuhr for understanding the role of morality in struggling with the immorality of political realities. While politics is "a good", it is inherently flawed compared to the perfect outcomes of grace. Thus, MLWtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3663259.post-56394675089999002952007-11-01T22:36:00.000-04:002007-11-01T22:39:16.435-04:00Fire Damage
There's evidence everywhere of the fire damage from a few weeks ago. I keep meaning to bring my camera out and snap some photos of the blackened trees, rocks, and hillside. I hope I do it before it gets washed away.
Here is a photo I took with my mobile phone today. It's a tree by the parking lot at the kid's school. You see this effect on trees all over here right now. If you MLWtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3663259.post-54243883920873058992007-11-01T19:49:00.000-04:002007-11-01T19:51:43.262-04:00
Choctoberfest!
Michelle and Liz hosted their first Choctoberfest (props to Cindy Lou Who!). Here's a great photo of it.
While men weren't invited, I heard it was fun for all!MLWtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3663259.post-54777870789943754052007-11-01T02:18:00.001-04:002007-11-01T02:19:08.093-04:00Happy Halloween!
2007 Q4 HalloweenMLWtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3663259.post-30260795463037376352007-10-30T11:15:00.001-04:002007-10-30T11:15:55.721-04:00Happy birthday, grandmotherI am so fortunate to have three of my grandparents alive and well as I approach middle-age. My paternal grandmother had a milestone birthday last week...I think it's 90 (I lost count somewhere along the way). I was not able to go to the celebration, but here are some photos from "my favorite cousin", Shanon.
Powered by ScribeFire.MLWtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3663259.post-60558982464740108612007-10-27T23:48:00.000-04:002007-10-27T23:48:30.132-04:00Three Generations
We bought a new computer this weekend, and it came with a scanner. So, we pulled out some old photos to scan. I haven't seen this one in about eight years. I love it. It's my now ten-year old Matthew and me with my only living grandpa, and Matt's only living great grandpa.MLWtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3663259.post-51543389876480667122007-10-27T23:24:00.000-04:002007-10-27T23:32:39.874-04:00Happy Halloween!
We had a pumpkin carving party at the poolhouse tonight. Lots of friends were there and there were many, many pumpkins carved! Fun, fun, fun! Here are some photos.
From 2007-Q4-Pumpk...MLWtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3663259.post-45690257080242783992007-10-26T00:30:00.000-04:002007-10-26T00:33:44.425-04:00What happens when you mix "funnest" and "hardest"?
With all of the "indoor" time necessitated by the smoke in the air here, we've been looking for cheap fun indoors. So, this week we taught Matthew and Madison to play "Nertz". Nertz is like a group game of solitaire where everyone is allowed to play on the Aces in the middle. I think it's a common game, but it goes by different names in differentMLWtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3663259.post-24267205592986743232007-10-23T19:50:00.001-04:002007-10-23T19:50:33.854-04:00We're home!!!We're finally home. As you can see from this photo, the fire was dangerously close to campus. I'll post some more photos later. But there is evidence of the fire all around. The top of the ridge surrounding campus is black and the brush over by Baxter is completely burned up. My friend JA says that the fire was burning about five-feet from the Payson Library and that at one point the fire MLWtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3663259.post-761465431781324342007-10-23T14:48:00.001-04:002007-10-23T14:48:01.772-04:00We are still fine. WeWe are still fine. We are having fun in Ventura. Hope to be home tonight.MLWtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3663259.post-7426180599839921092007-10-22T17:07:00.003-04:002007-10-22T17:07:25.467-04:00We are still fine. RoadsWe are still fine. Roads in & out of Malibu are still closed. Hope to be home tuesday.MLWtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3663259.post-15786419349509941082007-10-22T17:07:00.001-04:002007-10-22T17:07:09.992-04:00We are still fine. RoadsWe are still fine. Roads in & out of Malibu are still closed. Hope to be home tuesday.MLWtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3663259.post-34850242728459380342007-10-21T22:04:00.001-04:002007-10-21T22:04:22.136-04:00The Latest NewsWe are still fine, but not back home yet. Pepperdine allowed faculty/staff/students to return to their homes about 2pm this afternoon. However, they are still encouraging people to stay off the roads nearby. So, we're at the La Quinta Inn Ventura for a few days. We've spoken to several friends who stayed on campus and I think they are out of danger for now. The fire is still nearby, and MLWtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3663259.post-69063458298847614242007-10-21T13:51:00.000-04:002007-10-21T13:53:29.163-04:002007-Q3-Pepperdine Fire
This morning at about 6:45 am we were awakened with news of a fire near campus. We evacuated by 7:20AM to Camarillo. Now we're at a friends house in the Conejo Valley. Here are some photos of the smoke over campus on the way out.MLW