Witch's Hat Tower

There is a beautiful, mysterious, and overshadowing tower known to many as the "Witch's Hat Tower." This tower is located on University, between the St. Paul and Minneapolis campus. I have many a time driven by this tower and longed to climb it. It is said that Bob Dillan wrote a song inspired by the Witch's Hat Tower (he may have even written the song while inside the tower itself)! I recently learned that the tower used to open to the public most any day. As a matter of fact, Lauren told me that her parents went on picnic dates in the tower back in the day! The tower was closed to the public a while ago, and is now only open once a year for the community to visit and climb. I was fortunate enough to go this year with some good friends of mine! Lauren was still in Africa, but I was able to w/ Caleb, JB, Liz, Taylor, and Amy Brown! It was a beautiful view as you can see in the pictures! Such a perfect day! I guess I don't have too much more to say except enjoy the photos!

A Whole New World

Today marked the beginning of many new adventures.
This morning, Charles, Jamey, Tom, and I met at Caribou coffee this morning to being our first official prayer group meeting together for our company. Nothing out of the ordinary happened this morning, but after our prayer meeting was over, I believe we all had a renewed spirit and an encouraged heart. I hope and pray that meetings like these will continue on for our company, and that lives will be changed because of it.
At work, Charles and I developed a prayer blog so employees can pray for other employees and for our company. I believe we have many other employees within our company that would be willing to contribute to this effort. We also know that when we take a step forward to pray in any instance, the evil one is not far behind. So we must be diligent in what we do, lest are efforts become vain.

Later this evening, Charles and I stopped back to CSF to change, then ventured out to Maple Grove, amidst heavy rush hour (we were an hour late) to visit Caleb's new place! It is quite nice and very welcoming. JB, Katie and Amy were here (along with Aaron who showed up much later). We ordered pizza, watched a couple movies (that we spent finding at Blockbuster for an ungodly amount of time...and Katie's membership didn't work there which is weird).

Charles and I are spending the night here since it is no use driving home, only to drive back out here for work in the morning. Caleb is definitely one of the most hospitable friends I have (not to mention among the wisest and godliest), and I am quite honored to be his friend and to speak of him in this manner.

Shalom,
Micah

Time with others

It's been nice spending time with friends during this school break (for everyone that is still in school that is)! Seeing the Sound of Music with Caleb, Charles, Lydia, Hillary; spending time with family and friends for New Year's Eve, random hang-outs, etc.

And now I'm excited to see those who are coming back from vacations and holidays! Today Amy and Taylor get back! Yes, it's such a big deal that I'm actually blogging about it! How about that!

I also wanted to put pictures up from a bunch of us (Krystal, Charles, Caleb and Lydia) making dinner and hanging out at Hillary's the other day - but alas, I didn't take any pictures! Our memories will have to suffice!

God bless,
Micah

Christmas Day!

Christmas morning we spent together at home in Andover. Charles came over around 9am and we ate a hearty breakfast together - which was a first in the McLellan household on Christmas day! Normally we open presents and then MAYBE eat after that!!
Anyway - the present time was really fun. We were all pretty creative with what we gave each other - and Lydia really outdid herself with her talents!
I also got a GPS unit for my car!
Later in the day we went to Grandma's to see the rest of the family! I picked up Nigel as well (he's from South Africa) and he spent Christmas with the family :)
Later on I went back to CSF (when someone in my extended family started watching a gay movie - Blades of Glory or something) and I spent some time with my next-door neighbor Janet, and her kitty Ziggy!
Here is a slideshow of this exciting day! As always, the videos will have to be clicked on in order to view! God bless!

Christmas Eve

As tradition follows - I celebrated the birth of Christ on December 24th at Grandma Sonia's house, along with my family, the Pike family, Check, and Charles! Enjoy the slide-show and movie clips (if I can get this to work)
note: even though it looks like I wasn't paying attention to my brother reading the Christmas story, I really was! The camera lies! Also, to play the video clips, I think you have to click on the image - and you'll know it's a movie clip by the icon in the lower left corner!

busy but enjoyable

The past couple weeks have been quite eventful (to say the least) but at the same time - very much enjoyable, fulfilling, and exciting!
My mom took me and my friend Larissa (from Ukraine) to Disney World last week. We spent two entire full days in all four parks, while spending an additional day in Downtown Disney. We were all exhausted at the end - but it was a really fun trip, beautiful weather, and good times!
Last weekend I had the honor of attending Jake Larson's wedding in Nisswa, MN. To make things even better, I had the privilege of taking Karin with to the wedding! It was a fun drive up on Saturday. It rained for most of the trip, but stopped when we stopped for pizza (at an AMAZING little spot in Brainerd) and stopped completely when we got to Nisswa for the wedding! The ceremony was beautiful, with a godly message and some cool things I haven't seen/heard at a wedding before. For example, the pastor asked the parents if they were willing to release their children from the responsibility they currently had as a parent, and now change into a different responsibility as councillors to their children if needed. It was pretty neat.
Sunday was amazing - with a good message from Pastor Randy, and a good college group discussion.
Evensong was also incredible. It was Dave and Cheri's 29th anniversary - so that was really exciting! Dave talked about how to apply what we learned a couple weeks ago from II Peter 1:3-10ish - on the fact that God has given us power to overcome this corrupt world.
I took the day off on Monday to relax and catch up on chores at the house. I hung out w/ some friends of mine as well.
Tuesday I worked, but then hung out more w/ friends :)
Yesterday I took the day off again (haha) and spent the day with friends cleaning up CSF, hangin' out w/ Zeb, eating pizza, and getting ready for this fall. Later that night I went to Andover to pick up some break pads for my car (since I'm going to Chicago w/ Caleb and JB this weekend), and on the way up, JB called, so I met him and a couple of his friends at Applebees. When I got there I got a call from Mike Agnew's wife (Mike is a VP for Moody Bible Institute) and she invited Caleb, JB, and me to their house this weekend! That was pretty exciting!
After I hung up w/ her I got out of my car to see JB and his friend chatting it up w/ 2 cute Mormon girls! Sister something or other and her sister friend. They were really friendly, and it was perfect God-timing! JB and I tag teamed and talked about our faith and how it doesn't fit in with the Mormon ideas. We came to a basic agreement of the plan of salvation however - which is cool - but I'm still not sure where their hearts are. In any case they still need prayer.

That's quite the long post - but like I said - a lot has been happening lately! Now it's time to get back to work and keep planning this trip to Chicago! :)
Shalom,
Micah (6:8)

Tyrd :P

Yesterday was awesome! I worked (which was 'ok'), then drove up to Andover to check on the house, since my parents are still in Florida. Afterwards I called Al to see what he was up to. He was gonna be busy cleaning, and wasn't sure if we were gonna be able to hang out. As I was driving home on 35W, I TOTALLY saw Al driving home as well! He called and we laughed about it!
After I got home I talked to Caleb and Karin. Caleb came over after work to hit up a game of tennis w/ Sam. Karin biked over from her place to hang out as well. We played "Take Two" Scrabble style (Thanks Karin for that)! We looked at pics and videos from Sonshine (including Charles' 'yellow man dance')! Later on we all went to Applebees to eat dinner (appetizers and a blondie)!
Caleb had work in the morning so he had to duck out after that (totally understandable...I had work too - that's where I am now as a matter of fact!) - but Karin and I went to see Bourne Ultimadum at AMC (after taking a solid 45 min nap since we were wiped out). My bro and friends were there so we met up w/ them. We ended up sitting next to Craig, Heath and friend! It was awesome! They all knew Karin somehow as well! What a small world! The movie was quite entertaining as well! After an intense scene, Matt Damon (I mean Jason Bourne...I mean David Webb) got a round of applause from the audience! How funny!!!
After that....I passed out! Good times! Now I'm at work where we're gonna grill for Evelyn's baby shower, then after work I'm going to Albert Lea w/ Caleb to look at a car for him! Then maybe chill w/ my aunt this weekend!