“Hitting the ground running..”

That pretty much sums up the last 2-days of being back in Warsaw.

Church services on Sunday were incredible! The sense of “newness” was evident as our new Pastor “J” broke open God’s Word and shared with us – these are GREAT days for Warsaw Wesleyan!

After church on Sunday we found out that Jess’ Buick was sitting “dead” at the Sweeny residence after refusing to start for them on both Saturday morning and Sunday morning.

I had the car towed to Henry Goble’s who returned Miss Buick to us this afternoon with a brand-new battery, fixing the “she won’t run” problem! When I asked Henry how much the battery cost – so that I could pay him back – I found out that a certain Sweeny family “picked up the tab” – how blessed are we???!!! Thank you Dave & Renee!

Today I met the “Junior Bible Campers” at the church and had prayer with them before they headed down to Fairmount for the week. I then spent the next 2-hours cleaning my VERY lived-in office. Almost two trashcans full of “junk” later, the job was done.

After a few hospital visits, I enjoyed the company of one of my teens – Adam Stewart – and a meal at “mi lindo acupulco” – my favorite Mexican restaurant in town. Good times over fajitas!

Tomorrow will bring my first staff meeting with our new pastor! Looking forward to learning more about his leadership style and seeing how my God-given skill-set continues to morph and collaborate with his as we minister here at Warsaw Wesleyan!

Today, Ella had her (a little late) 2-month check-up with Dr. Pitts. We found out that she is 13lbs., 3oz and is 24-inches long! We praise the Lord for continuing to bless our little one with health and growth! Ella is such a blessing to us – tonight she provided some stress-relieving comfort to me when she acknowledged (as she does so well and often) my saying, “I love you” continuously to her!

Finally – I found time this afternoon to upload some photosets to Flickr.

Here is a listing of what you may enjoy:

07.04.06 – July 4th Photos
07.05.06 – Ella @ her first Fish Camp
07.06.06 – Story Family Reunion – Winston Salem, NC
07.07.06 – Newspring Church & Visiting the Wilson Family
07.07.06 – Last Day in SC
07.08.06 – Finishing the trip to IN

We’re home and BOY DOES IT FEEL GOOD TO BE HOME!

Wow! Our home welcomed us with open-arms, a seriously-grown garden, some new cobwebs, 6-dozen (or so) loads of laundry-to-be-done, and of course our own bed – the same bed that is calling me to come and pass-out on!

Ella did TERRIFIC yesterday and today. After my morning visit to my friend Ken Wilson in Anderson, we didn’t leave SC until after 4PM on Friday. We ended up somewhere just South of Lexington, KY and spent the night in a hotel. We slept in a bit, enjoyed a Cracker Barrel breakfast and got back on the road for the last-leg of the trip this morning. We stopped in Ft. Wayne for dinner with Mom & Dad Garrett at O’Charlie’s – good stuff.

Ella is VERY road-worthy – she learned to sleep SOUNDLY for up-to 4-straight hours at a time while we traveled this past week!

Some pictures (and videos) have been uploaded this evening – a full vacation recap can be expected sometime this coming week.

Big day tomorrow – Pastor J’s first Sunday as Warsaw Wesleyan’s new Senior Pastor!

Must sleep – eyes are crossing…

Dad’s doing great. Antibiotics will cure the ear-infection and he should have full hearing back in a day-or-so! Thank you ALL for praying! We were ALL on edge about the whole situation. Our prayers were answered for sure!

We left for North Carolina sometime after lunch time. We had a GREAT night tonight – I will attempt to upload some pictures tomorrow for sure!

Jess and I head back towards our home in Indiana tomorrow afternoon. I have coffee with my web-buddy Ken Wilson tomorrow morning as well as a tour of his church – Newspring! Can’t wait!

A few days ago my Dad had a pain in his ear that wouldn’t stop. He has since had nothing but problems from this ear – losing partial hearing (worsening over the last two days) as well as occasional bleeding.

We have finally talked my dad into going to the doctor this morning – despite his desire to get us all to the Family Reunion in North Carolina.

Dad will be the first one in the doctor’s office this morning – we’ll see about heading to the family reunion this afternoon.

Please pray for Dad, his ear, and for us as a family to make a wise-decision about this afternoon.