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.

So, to test it out, I headed for the bathroom. Yep – the darkest spot of the house during daylight hours.

I first played with matches, and then got creative and grabbed my manual flash and tried some “twin” photos. I’ll get the hang of it soon enough and inspire the masses!

Enjoy the photo set here.

Had a great time with my accountability group tonight – tonight was SUPPOSED to be the maiden voyage of my ESKY Electric Helicopter, however, due to some circumstances (I’m scared out of my brain!), I have yet to fly my newest toy! This week, however, SHOULD be the first attempt at lifting off the gym floor!

Also – this weekend at Warsaw Wesleyan Rev. Jerry Lumston will be speaking. He’s our pastoral candidate! Dad and Mom are still heading this way this weekend, though Dad will have to speak for me another time!

I am SO excited about having Rev. Lumston here on Sunday. I pray God’s will will be made known in this situation!