They first met in the singles ministry of Galilee Baptist Church in Denver, when Carol moved into the group following graduation from High School. They got to know each other through a singles' Bible Study taught by Tom on Thursday nights. They were married on November 2, 1979 at Gahlee Baptist Church in Denver Colorado. Since then they have lived in Aurora, CO; Mission Viejo, CA; Denver, CO (7 mos.); Sioux Falls, SD;  Chanhassen, MN (including stays in Richfield and Eden Prairie) and currently reside in Chanhassen, MN. Chanhassen means Sugar Maple in Native American (Don't know which tongue!).

Prince or The Artist Formerly Known as Prince who is now Prince again lives across the street from them. They haven't met him, but have dodged his speeding sports car a few times. One of his drummers lives up the street and Tom has talked to him in the past. His state of the art recording studio is a mile from their house. Did you know he is now a Jehovah's Witness?

Minnesota is not the land of 10,000 lakes. It's actually more like 11,000! They live about 2 miles from Lake Minnetonka that is a large and popular lake. The town where Carol works, Excelsior borders the lake at one point. The Minnehaha, a steamboat, is on the take and makes many tourist runs all summer. It was originally a link between the train/trolley lines on either side of the lake. When it was no longer needed, it along with several other similar boats, were scuttled out in the lake. A few years ago it was discovered and restored. Some of the Bell family have taken a ride on it.

They live in a house with an unfinished basement. There are three adults and one "child'. Tom and Carol, and Carol's dad Frank. Frank is 93+ and still drives his own car, walks the dog most days, rakes the leaves (says that if it were his house there wouldn't be a tree for 10 blocks!), mows the lawn most weeks and does most of the snow removal. This isn't slave labor! It's by his choice since he has little else to do. Our "child" is Murphy the 3-year old golden retriever. He's all boy and about 100 lbs.! His third birthday is Super Bowl Sunday. One interesting fact. They also had about 45 mice live with them during their 6 years in the house and some chipmunks. Lots of deer (up to 10 at a time), chipmunks, squirrels, ground hogs, raccoons, a weasel and over 35 varieties of birds including the feared Piliated Woodpecker (of the Woody the Woodpecker variety) are in and about their yard.
 
 

Frank Perry

Murphy at Rest

Murphy at Play

 2002 Year in Review

2002 "Year in Review"

The year has gone by so quickly.  To think back to the earlier months is not easy, so we’ll highlight several experiences through the year.

Carol had an experience she could only dream about before.  She and two girlfriends went to London for a week.  The husband of one of the women gave all three of them the trip.  He paid for airfare, hotel, shows and some meals!

They stayed at the Reubens across from Buckingham Palace.  They “did tea” at Herrods, The Savoy, Brown’s, etc.  They got to see Les Miserables and the Buddy Holly Story and did lot’s of antique shopping.  This was Carol’s first intercontinental experience.

The three of us men left them at the airport and went out to enjoy a Valentine’s dinner together!  What a sight!  We made sure we explained it all.

Tom had his first sabbatical ever this year.  March and the first two weeks of April provided time for reading and taking a video course from the American Association of Christian Counselors.  There was also time for some relaxation.

Part of the sabbatical was to go to Denver and check out some multi-site or two campus churches.  We drove to Denver with Frank and Murphy.  It was pretty uneventful but once we got there, Frank ended up in the emergency room twice.  He was dizzy, dehydrated and had gout.  He saw his sister one day and we visited with a friend in a multi-site church (saw both campuses) and within three days headed home.  Four days of driving for most of three days there.

Frank spent about five days in the hospital for gout and staph infection in his leg.  At 93+ things begin to catch up with you.  He’s doctored off and on since and has gotten steroid shots in his knees twice.  That seems to help.

Carol continues to work at D B and Company in Excelsior.  She’s doing retail and teaching tea seminars for them.  Usually it’s three days a week with an occasional Saturday or Sunday afternoon.  She and her friends continue to “do tea” as often as they can.

Tom continues at Wooddale Church.  He’s now in his eighth year.  In addition to Pastoral Care (his primary role) he’s been dabbling in multi-site, multi-campus church possibilities for Wooddale.  Wooddale has been considering a video venue as a second campus.

One day sitting in Champps restaurant in Eden Prairie he hatched the idea of doing a service there.  It’s a restaurant and bar with good food and a clientele that is about 20—40, married and singles.  They have over $400,000 worth of AV equipment already in place!  “Barwood” here we come!
We did two preview services and are ready to launch Church at Champps on January 12.  We hold services from 9:00—9:45 a. m. and encourage people to stay for brunch at 10:00.

Murphy will be three years old on Super Bowl Sunday.  He’s all boy at about 100 lbs.!  He’s either “on” or “off” and is our biggest cuddler ever.  We love him lots but do hope he begins to calm down.  He’s anxious to meet his cousins!

Carol has been struggling with pain recently (two months) from a ruptured ovarian cyst and simultaneously a herniated disc in her back.  The tests show impingement on the S1 nerve and narrowing of the spinal column at L5 if that makes sense to you Bells with bad backs!  The medications seem to be working now—we’ll see.

Carol had an MRI to check on her back.  Since you can’t have any metal on your body for the test, she changed her headband.  When she laid on the table for the test, the magnetic field tore the new headband off her head—whoosh—and into the machine!  Oops!  The leather covered metal not plastic!  Oh well, you have to enjoy something!

Tom about has the basement organized and much of it is emptied.  The thrift center is better off!  With some vacation around Christmas and New Years the plan is to do some trim work on the house.  Put up some crown molding and casing some openings.  Maybe a deck next year!

We wish you all a very special Christmas.  May you have a good time together as a family and with friends.  Leith suggested in his sermon on Sunday that the angel’s announcement to Mary interrupted her life.  He suggested that we might interrupt our celebration with the reading of the Christmas story so that we focus on the true meaning of the day.  Hope that works for you too.

Tom, Carol, Frank, and Murphy