Spent the morning going through my email and finishing my financial report.

Ran 5.2 miles. Twisted one of my ankles a little bit.  Still finished the run ok.

Caught up with all my phone calls.

Starting to print more calendars to take to Georgetown.

Peace.

Worked with Ashley today!  Yeah!

We decided we need to make more calendars for our trip to Georgetown, Texas for Christmas with my parents.  If you want a calendar, send me an email and let me know where to mail it.

Our first assignment was to take a load of 4 computers, monitors and hardware over to Liberty Baptist Church in downtown Atlanta.  Some of the Deacons came and helped us unload the gear.

Then we went to eat at 6 Feet Under–a famous fish place across the road on Memorial Highway from Oaklawn Cemetery.  We had an order of Alligator bites (tough!  Not nearly as good as Nile Crocodile we’d eat in Madagascar!), I had fish and potato chips.

Next stop was the ZOO!  Our family is a member of the zoo so we get in as many times as we want.  We hung out over there for about an hour.  The lion was really roaring.  Sweet! The baby orangutans are so cute you can’t believe it.  Mei-Lan, the baby panda is about four foot long now.

From the animals we raced north across the Chattahoochie River up to Roswell.  We went to the office of Concept 21–Roswell, where we have a mission.  I needed to sign the new lease.  The had most of the paperwork ready.  We had to wait for about 15 minutes for them to finish up the last page.  At least they had it!

What’s a day with Ashley, without . . .shopping!  We looked for some sweaters for her.  She found some cute stuff.  We also got a device to sync up her Mac with a larger external monitor.  We needed to get that so we can use her computer to make presentations.

After shopping we went to Azalea to check on the kids.  Everybody had finished their homework.  We hung out for a little while then piled back into the car and headed to my office at FBC Doraville.  I talked with Bill Hickey who was working on repainting the metal pole fence around the educational building of the church.  Also picked up the mail–always bills to pay.

Good day.

Peace.

A zoom zoom day today.

Worked on my email this morning then went to a board meeting of Communities in Transformation.  Toni Branyon is a partner of mine and is the director of CIT.  We’re trying to help create a workable program for her.  Focused on her PowerPoint presentation this morning

Had lunch with Nicholas today.  He came up from La Grange to check on possibilities of doing ministry.  Looks like he may work in one of our Baptist wilderness camps.  Didn’t really know we had that stuff.

We ate lunch at Torerros–my usual hang out.  Or what I call “mi oficina dos.” I sat down with Toni, Nicholas and Jean White and the guy sitting next to us turned around.  Richard Simms!  He’s a another buddy of mine who is also an apartment manager.  I immediately asked him to join us.

He asked me if I knew someone who could do maintenance?  I told him “Of course!” and shared with him about Bill Hickey—who I had a meeting with an hour later.  Bottom line, I picked up Bill (he’s 60+ and rides a bicycle), took him to meet Richard.  Offered him the job on the spot!  I took Bill over to Marietta where he had to take a pee test.  No drug use.  That’s always good to know.

Then we went to Lowe’s to pick up some supplies for a project over at FBC Doraville.  Bill is going to clean and repaint the metal rails around the main building.

We also went over to Clatie Lewis’ house to pick up four computers.  Then to Azalea to check on the kids at the mission and pick up 4 monitors.  Then to FBC Doraville to drop off the paint (hard to ride a bike with a heavy can of paint!) and supplies and get him a key to the outer door.

End up by taking Bill back to Huntington Terraces.  Like I said, zoom zoom.

I’m at home.  Just finished working through my email.  Kathy is crashed out.  I can hear her snoring as I type.  She hasn’t been feeling well.  Pray for her.

Peace.

This morning I finished up writing my newsletters and getting them in the mail. That was a big job. I’m glad we had the holiday weekend to get it together.

After lunch I went to the Dollar Store and spent about $150 on gifts for the kids at Gwinnett Crossings. I just got back from delivering those gifts to Stone Mill Church. I got to visit with Tito and Lester briefly before coming on back to Chamblee.

Working on email and making phone calls now. Just got off the phone with a young man who wants to do missions. I set up a meeting with him for tomorrow after a board meeting I’m a part of with Communities in Transformation.

Called my contacts at FBC Atlanta to check on how the other Christmas gifts are coming along.

Left a message with another partner from Parkview Church that’s interested in doing a Christmas party for the kids at Huntington Village.

I had a meeting with Tito Ruiz and Steve N. yesterday to discuss work at Gwinnett Crossings. We’re going to have a large Christmas outreach over there on Christmas day with the help of Tito’s church.

Worked on getting the envelopes labeled for our Christmas mail out. I made copies of the articles, got the stamps and had the kids help me put them together. Kathy and Ashley are helping me write the letters.

Preston Chase may let us keep the mission. I talked to the manager again yesterday. Gave them information about how to get proof of our liability insurance.

Writing newsletters, it’s a way of life. . . ..

Peace.

Ashley and I have been focused on the mailout for this next Outreach Update going out in a few days.  We’ve been printing calendars and laminating them.  It’s a huge (223) and time consuming project.  The laminating has to be really watched and when printing this many you have to make sure it doesn’t run out of ink.  They are really turning out great!

Ran 4 miles yesterday  Hope to work out on weights today.

Need to write my article for this issue.

My hands are cold, it’s 62 in my room.  45 outside.

Peace.

We just got back from a fun Thanksgiving dinner at my brother in law David Doverspike’s house. We had a delicious lunch and good family fellowship.

It’s been a really nice, relaxing day. This morning I enjoyed watching Armageddon–an old Bruce Willis movie where he blows up an Earth killing asteroid. Fun

Yesterday, I worked on our Christmas mailout. Ashley and I figured out what we’re going to do and how it’s going to look. We’re going to do a 12 month calendar with some big pictures at the top of the page and then the months at the bottom.

I ran 4 miles and worked out on weights. Fantastic weather, in the 70s!

Peace.

Had a great day today!

I met with Dr. Sherman Pelt the pastor of Liberty Baptist Church.  He’s a great guy and really interested in reaching his community for Christ. I also got to see my partner Doug Allison from Midway Macedonia.  He’s been helping Dr. Pelt get moving in the apartment complexes in the area.  We talked to leasing people in two different complexes.  Both meetings went great!  They are very interested in working with the church!  Excellent!

We also enjoyed fried catfish at 6 Feet Under–located just across the street from OakLawn Cemetery. It’s noted as the best fried fish in Atlanta.  Not sure if that’s true, but it was good!

After meeting with the Pastor and Doug I spent a few minutes walking around Oak Lawn.  I really like cemeteries, especially the really old ones.  My favorite is Bonaventure in Savannah.

Finished working through my email and made my phone calls.  Teams for next summer are already getting organized.  Sweet!

I’m headed over to Azalea to check on the kids at the mission.

Peace.

Catching up on Admin work. Answered my missed calls and just finished wading through about 70 emails. Several people interested in bringing teams or in working with us.

Went over to Walmart to pick up some supplies for the office.

I’m headed over to Azalea now to check on the kids at the mission.

Thursday through Sunday the 18th

Kathy and I were in Chattanooga at our little retreat place. We biked for miles and miles and enjoyed hiking in and around Chatta. It was a lot of fun. We also went to Calhoun on our way home to watch ultralights fly at their airport. Cool!

I stayed up late last night editing video for First Baptist Atlanta. I have that on line now under our mission videos.

Worked on admin emails this morning.

Had lunch with Bennett Ekandem and a new MSC partner–Kevin Riley this afternoon. I’m trying to help him get plugged into the team. I’m excited about what he brings to the field.

Finished up my financial report. I’ll take that over tomorrow morning to my treasurer. We had our Board Meeting last night, but this report is our regular bi-weekly expense and donation info.

I’m headed over to check on the kids at Azalea.

I’ll pick up the van this evening. It needed some new tires. I have my mechanic scheduled to do some repair work on one of the CV joints tomorrow morning. K and I are getting out of town for a few days. I need a break.

Peace.

Just got back from the meeting with my Board of Directors for Whirlwind Missions. Have you noticed how I like to capitalize things?

It is always a pleasure to see my brother Tito Ruiz, Jon Paul and Carl Barrington. These guys are all super smart and have wonderful ministries. It’s a blessing to see what’s been going on in their lives. Whirlwind Missions is doing great! It’s good for me to really crunch numbers every once in a while. I could hardly believe that we’d mobilized over 2,900 volunteers so far this year!

Went out to Marietta this afternoon. I’d received a letter from the manager telling us that we had 30 days to get out. Things like this happen when they change owners. I talked to the main leasing person. Her name is Judith. When I told her that we may be moving she was very upset and told me, “My little boy goes to school there. Those ladies have helped him a lot! Your teams have done a lot of good in the community. You need to come down here right now and talk to the manager. The owner is here, maybe you could talk to him.”

“You really think I should come?”

“Right now.”

So I did. I drove over to the apartment complex and went in and said hi to Judith. She shared with me how things had been going with the new owners. She said she thought things were getting better. I was really impressed with the new manager, William. He seemed genuinely interested in what we were doing. He asked me to send him a proposal. I told him that wasn’t a problem. Overall a pretty positive meeting.

Then check this out.  The Director for the After School Program is named Kathy.  I couldn’t find her number and wanted to tell her about what was going on at Preston Chase.  After I had the meeting with the manager, she called ME!  She said that she had read on my blog what was going on at Preston Chase.  So she went into the manager’s office this afternoon (about two hours after I had already been there!) I told him how much “I love working with your kids.  They are just the sweetest ever and they have been a big blessing to me.”  Kathy went on to describe how the program worked and how the children had benfitted.

She had no idea this was the new manager she was talking to.

Later, William came over to the mission to see what was going on.  They were goggle eyed at the level of organization.  The kids were doing their homework.  The manager asked the kids, “Would you like a snack?”  and the kids said, “We have to do our homework first.”  It was a beautiful thing!

Again, she didn’t know that William was the new manager.  He was really impressed.

So hopefully, they’ll rescind the  decision.

I went over to Azalea to check on the kids. Jouvens and Bubba were helping the kids with their homework. My little kids all grown up and helping the other little kids. Does make you feel good. I guess a lot can change over 11 years in one apartment complex. 8 to 19 is a pretty big change.

I had a great time at the Board meeting. Kathy and Ashley both attended. I really appreciated them doing that. Today is Ashley’s birthday!! Probably wasn’t the best planning on Dad’s part to put the board meeting on her birthday. That’s putting it mildly.

I guess I’m so old these days that birthdays are kind of a non event.

Did I mention I turn 50 next July?

I look at that number and think, “That’s not possible.” And at the same moment think, “My shoulder feels a little stiff.” I guess it’s possible.

I haven’t run in 4 days. That’s rare for me. Felt like I needed to rest. That Impact Atlanta had an impact on me.

Read Ashley’s blog!  She rocks!  My little girl is all grown up.