A new house?

Thinking hard about buying a house! Meeting with the bank, checking back with the realator, deciding if we really want to pull the string, Making an offer low enough for us, but good enough to be accepted, its all very frustrating at times!

I'll keep you updated

I decided to take a different way home yesterday and stumbled upon this field of deer. It was fun to just sit and watch them! There were about 10 in all! Some of them didn't appear until they got up from laying in the grass!

I am not a big outdoors/hunter guy, but it was fun to stumble across this field last night.

Night of Adventure

Tuesday Night I went to see Borne Ultimatum with a friend. It is an amazing flick! Just make sure to sit toward the back of the theater because it features the "Borne shaky cam." All in all a great flick though!

During the movie it dawned on me that I locked the keys to the apartment in the garage. Long story short, my friend had to shimmy up the deck pole, and go in the deck door. Thanks Nate! I guess I am not used to having Katie and Caden gone.

Time to hit the hay. Kate and Caden are in Wadena. I am going to see them tomorrow night, actually early Friday morning. I am so lucky I get to spend my anniversary evening with the elders of our church at a meeting! How romantic!

Later!
Chris

Fun Sunday

Got to spend Sunday afternoon with a bunch of college friends at Luke and Ali's place! It was a fun day of grilling, playing Wii, boccie ball in the yard and just plain connecting with friends that I had not seen in a long time. Thanks for a great day Petersons! It was a blast!

Hope to do it again soon

Cambodia

Today as I sit and read stories about the 35W bridge collapse, I am thinking about just how lucky I am. I don't get into the cities a ton, but any time I do, I pass over that bridge. I was at twins game and crossed the bridge on the way there and on the way back. Life flashes before us so fast!
Thank GOODNESS we live in a country where we all have the opportunity to hear the Gospel and are free to respond to it. I do not know the lives of those who died in the River yesterday, but I think it would be safe to say that they have had the opportunity to respond to the Good News of the Gospel. I don't know if they had accepted it, but I do know that they probably had the chance to.
I was just reading an article on the CMA website as I was investigating different locations for an upcoming mission trip. Cambodia has mad it illegal to share the gospel of Christ unless it is done within the walls of a government approved Church building. It is also illegal to convert a Buddhist to Christianity through food distribution or service to the poor. This is a major setback to the work that is taking place in Cambodia!
I am glad to be in a country that allows me the privilege to hear and respond to the message. Unfortunately, some, even though they have heard, do not respond.

Twins, beep ball, and the Wii

Last night I was able to go to the twins game with my grandpa. Its alway nice to get to a game, but even better to be able to go with gramps. It was a great game with amazing pitching! Even almost got to see Tyner hit the long ball! 3-4 with a single, double, triple isn't a bad night though! Especially when he is now trying to fill the shoes of Castillo! What a dumb trade! Anyway it was a great night at the ballpark!
Before the game, we were able to watch about 20 minutes of Beep Ball. It is baseball designed for blind people. The ball beeps so they know where it is. There are 2 bases, one down each foul line. Once the ball is hit, one of the bases beeps. The hitter runs to that base. If they can touch the base before the fielders control the ball, it is a run! It was so much fun to watch! I am so glad that those guys get the experience of playing baseball! It reminded me how lucky I am to be able to enjoy watching and playing baseball!
And finally, I can add two more 300's to my record! for some reason I just figured out how to bowl on the Wii! Its fun stuff! Especially since Kate and I will be in a friendly couples bowling tourny in September (hopefully). Fun times, fun times!

300!

So today I was sitting at home, waiting for Youth Group. Its boring sitting around your apartment when you wife and kid are up having a good time at Big Sandy Camp. So... I decide I have time for a couple games of bowling on the Wii. I do my usual warm up of a couple games of tennis and then it is on to bowling. The first frame, strike, second, strike, third, strike, forth, strike. At this point I am getting nervous. I am used to getting 3 and even 4 in a row, but over that is a big deal! I go all the way through to the 9th frame... STRIKE! 10th frame, strike, strike, 9! Are you kidding me? a 299 for the game! I was upset!

I thought to myself, you know, I should try one more game. Strike, Strike, Strike, Strike, Strike, Strike, Strike, are you kidding me? 9th frame, strike, 10th, strike, strike, STRIKE! A perfect game! Lets just say I was so excited I did a celebratory belly flop into the lovesac! It was a good time. Too bad I was in my apartment all by myself! I actually had to leave the Wii on, go to church, get my camera and take a picture. Then drive back to church to blog about it because our camera cable is up at camp with Katie for caden's blog.

Anyway, I just had to share! It was good times for sure!
Anyone wanna play!?

its hot out!

SO... We just had to pick the hottest week of the summer to spend up at camp! I guess it is never a bad time to be up at camp, but wow is it hot! At least we are in Loon with the air conditioning! That makes things much better, especially with Caden!
My favorite part about being "camp pastor" is just being able to hang out with the staff and pray for the week at camp. I firmly believe that being at camp can be a monumental time in young people's lives, but its also just one week. One of the recurring prayers I have had is that what is being communicated and experienced is not just a week long experience, but a beginning to a lifetime commitment.
I love camp, especially Big Sandy! Its just good to be a part of it!

That being said, I have made my way back to St. Croix Falls for our final youth group night of the summer! It will be a hot one, that is for sure! I am excited as we spend out last night together before taking August off to give our volunteers a break, and for our leadership team to gear up for next fall! I am so excited for September! It will mark our first annual Yuck Fest! Should be a great time!

Time for me to get to bed,

Chris

So I guess it is that time again...

Its been far too long since I have updated this blog. So long, that to be honest, I am probably writing to myself at this point. In any case, I am glad to be back to the blog and sharing my thoughts and adventures with you... even if "you" is just me.
Kate and I have stayed very busy with Caden. I think that he has officially logged more miles in his car seat than an over the road trucker! He has been everywhere! We are so glad that he is a great traveler! Good thing, cause we will be hitting the road again this weekend!
Speaking of hitting the road, if you are a reader of cadenfolkestad.blogspot.com, you know that we were up at Big Sandy on Monday. It was a quick trip, but well worth it! The best part about the trip was being invited back to spend the entire week up there! So Monday morning we will be heading back up north to spend the week with our friends at Camp! Should e be a good time.
Caden's blog will be updated often while we are there.
Thats enough rambling for now, talk to you later.

Chris

I'm back and ready to blog

Just not yet. I will blog about LIFE, Caden, the Twins and other stuff soon.

Chris

Things I am looking forward to doing with Caden

So I can't wait to start traditions with Caden. Twins games on the couch are currently our favorite. There will be things like catch in the backyard, Twins games, road trips, fishing trips, sonshine trips, so many things.... but this father took it to a new level! click the link to read the article.

I can imagine the dad as he is flown away in the helicopter spitting out and yelling, I WIN!

Crazy!

This just might be my favorite picture of Caden so far! I like it because he is so often NOT like this! He doesn't throw big tantrums! But this night, he thought that he would. He posed great for the first couple pictures (cadenfolkestad.blogspot.com) but then freak out! If anything says STOP this picture and face does! Gotta love it!

Matt Roth

One year ago today, Matt Roth went to be with the Lord. I continue to miss him. I am also encouraged by his story.

I'll never forget his smile, his laugh and his love for his friends and family. I will also never forget about what he taught me about ministry, faith and death.

caden's own blog

Caden doesn't like to share. He started his own blog at cadenfolkestad.blogspot.com. From now on, that is were the pictures of him will be. He has an attitude already! Sarcastic like his mother! Go check it out, he is lonely over there.

Chris

more pics of the little man

sleeping after a big meal

posing in the Love Sac. I think he could get lost in this thing!

Here is more pictures of Caden. This picture is the "vital statistics" of Caden. I prefer to call them stats. Vital statistics sounds like an obituary! Its fun stuff for sure!








Grandma was upset that she didn't get her picture up here too. She wants everyone to know that she came to visit. Like she wouldn't! She is a proud grandma!









Grandpa and Caden sitting in the chair. I think that he is a Grandpa's boy! Or maybe I should say, Grandpa is a Caden's boy. However you put it, its fun to watch!

Caden says "any girls wanna date me?"

Here are some more pictures for you to look at! There will be plenty more to come!

He's HERE!

Caden Glen Folkestad was born on May 25th at 11:58pm. He's a cool dude who is the greatest kid ever to be born. I may be a bit bias on that one though.
All is well with both Caden and Katie.
This daddy is tired, I will post more tomorrow!
Chris

Wii Update...

Kate had a doctors appointment today. Here is what the doctor ordered:
1. Continue to play the Wii, the bowling lunges are good for you.
2. Bring the Wii to the Hospital, it will give you something to do.
a. I am not sure if she wanted Kate to bring it so Kate could use it, or so she could.

Its doctors orders, I guess we got some Wii to be playing tonight! Kate has turned into the Wii salesperson!

If this doesn't get labor started, what will?

So, Kate is ready to have this baby! She said that she would do about anything to get it over with. So I suggested that we possibly make an investment into something that just might help. So we bought a Wii. Actually that isn't really how it happened but it sounded better than, chris wanted a Wii and Golf Clubs, Katie said he could have one of the two. But either way, we now how a Wii and BOTH of us love it!

In fact, we had to take a break from it for a while because our arms hurt so bad. I have to be honest Kate is good at bowling. She has some practice times set up for today for her golfing and tennis, but as far as bowling goes, she is good! (I beat her still though!)

So, anyone looking for a fun evening with the Folkestad's, look us up! The Wii is always on!

Here are a few photos for you to enjoy of our first night with the Wii! It was a special night for sure! I just have to see if the doctor will let me bring this to the hospital room! It would sure help the time go by!

Thats all for now
Chris