Wow, what a two-days it has been!

Highlight? Lunch @ Fazoli’s! Yay!

District Conference photo set here.

At 2PM, we left conference (early), picked up Jess’ sister, Jaymie, and headed East to Montpelier. The family viewing of Grandma Payne was at 3, and after visiting for a bit, I took a bit of a photo-opp stroll through the town of Montpelier, Indiana.

I found an Indian.

Full Montpelier photo set here.

The viewing yesterday and funeral this morning were both beautiful events. The pastor in charge of today’s funeral was Rev. Steve Criffield. After the burial, I was introduced to him and found out that he’s the Pastor at the Southern Wells Community Church – where Grandma Payne attended – and also a graduate of Indiana Wesleyan as well as an ordained Western Michigan district Wesleyan Pastor! What a small world (at least a small Indiana) it is! We had some good conversations about how he looks a lot like Adam Sandler.

The funeral home where we spent much of Friday and today was quite the interesting place. It’s been there in Montpelier forever, I guess, and had some neat antiques through much of it. They had a “break/rest area” where I spent some quality time reading and investigating every open door I could find. They also had a VERY interesting antique hearse. Yes, the keys were in it. No, I did NOT try and start it up. (but I did open the back door and snap two photos)

Tonight we shared dinner with the staff and LBA and our Pastoral Candidate and family here at the church. It was a delicious dinner with many sweet meatballs nearly swallowed whole by yours truly. (they were just that good)

Mom and Dad arrive tomorrow afternoon sometime and we’ll be practicing a song for tomorrow evening to be sung by the “Sheets Quartet”. Should be a blast.

Pray for Warsaw Wesleyan tomorrow – for God’s direction in the church and with Rev. Jerry Lumston and his family!

It’s early.

Too early for a Friday morning.

And yet I’m up, dressed, needing only to brush my teeth before heading out the door.

I’m so thankful I don’t have FEET of hair to wash, dry, and curl every morning!

Yesterday afternoon Jess and I headed to her 1st Grade Classroom to move some furniture and then to Applebee’s for a dinner date with Steve & Rita Zerbe.

They seem to be doing great – we saw some great updated pictures of their three grandchildren and got a great update on Steve’s new job up in Portage, Michigan.

They’re still trusting God in the sale of their home here in Warsaw, though they’ve been without a solid offer as of yet.

In a few moments we’ll head out the door and head to the church to pick up our delegates and then head to Lakeview Wesleyan in Marion for a day-full of “good ‘ol” District Conference.

For, District Conference is a struggle between “good and evil”. On one hand I’m supposed to be an “example” to the delegates from our church, the folks around me, etc. I AM an ordained Wesleyan minister. On the other hand, District Conference is WAY TOO LONG and oftentimes BORING – so I struggle with wanting (needing?) to try and “disturb” by calling fellow bored youth pastors on their cellphones, causing them much embarrassment when they’ve left their “secular” ringtone on! I struggle with wanting (needing?) to put “John Wesley”, “George W”, or similar names on ballots as they pass.

I’m hoping I’ll ALWAYS struggle with such wants (needs?) as I continue to “mature” (get older) and continue attending these wonderful district events.

(this post could probably get me into a lot of trouble, i.e – “He’s that guy that wrote John Wesley down for District Superintendant last year!”)

Last night’s BOX (our youth group) was a breath of fresh air. This summer has been so “scattered” that it’s been difficult to schedule regular weekly meetings like we do throughout the school year. Last night we had a good crowd with a good response and a great time of Worship.

Today is “get new tires day”. I will head to WalMart and get four brand new tires on the Neon. I have an appointment Monday scheduled at “Smith Tire” to get an alignment to make sure these new tires last longer than the last four!

Today is also “help my wife day”. I think we’re heading to her classroom to move some furniture as she prepares for school to start in just a few weeks! (Aug. 18th)

Tomorrow we leave the church at 7:15AM to head down to Marion for a full day of Indiana North District Conference. A lot of voting and waiting will take place in those hours.

Jess and I will have to leave conference at around 2PM tomorrow to head to Montpelier. Jess’ great-grandmother went home to be with the Lord yesterday morning. Grandma Paine was a dear lady with a heart of gold and more specifically a heart for God. It will be a difficult funeral for those involved, however, it will be a celebration that a child of God was called home! The viewing is on Friday afternoon and the funeral will be Saturday morning. We’ll crash somewhere in Marion on Friday night and head back to Warsaw on Saturday afternoon.

Saturday evening we have a staff dinner with the Lumston family (the candidate from North Carolina). And Sunday we have a full day of services and my parents arrive from South Carolina. Rumor has it that we will be singing with Mom and Dad on Sunday evening!

Dad and Mom will be here Monday and Tuesday, leaving for home on Wednesday.

Now that I’ve typed out this “schedule of events” I am sure glad that I took this morning’s opportunity to sleep in until 9AM!

Time to put my “game face” on and get things done.

On another note, I don’t think today will be the maiden flight of my R/C helicopter. I need more than just a couple hours to do flight checklists, and pump myself up enough to fly such an amazing machine! Stay tuned for a later update on her maiden voyage.

Tonight after a great softball game where we won despite two nasty errors on behalf of me, we came home, set off a couple “Works Bombs” to celebrate and then it started to rain.

It didn’t just “sprinkle”. It POURED. Not your typical 2-minute pouring rain, NO – we’re talking a full 20-minute downpour with rain gutters creeking and nearly busting at their welds!

Well, being 26 going-on 14, I decided to stay in the rain, take of my shoes and softball jersey and enjoy God’s creation a bit.

It was while I was enjoying this rain that my wonderful wife came out and joined me for a few minutes.

Sure she worried about her outfit. Sure she worried about her hair. But still she came out with me in the rain to the side yard where we waved at oncoming traffic. Being the devout Wesleyan minister that I am I declined her invitation to “dance” in the rain, and remained motionless. (she was raised in a Baptist church…)

When is the last time you held your wife in the rain, gentlemen? When is the last time you thanked God as you kissed your wife in the rain? When is the last time you stopped worrying about everything else and just rememberd the gift from God that has been placed in your life to be your help mate?

I love my wife more and more everyday – and I think that’s how it’s supposed to work! Thank you God for placing Jessica in my life for moments like tonight!

Okay. I’m done now.

Looks like it might storm some more this afternoon.

It just got done pouring a few minutes ago – secretly, I’m praying that this means we won’t have a softball game tonight.

I’m just that tired.

Set up two new computers in the office today. They’re sweet. Just like our new one at home, too.

A couple minutes ago I headed back over to the Yellowstone webcam and watched Old Faithful erupt with a WHOLE BUNCH of other folks – the walkway was PACKED this time! It was a good eruption, even though I only saw it in 30-second increments.

It will happen.