Ashley and I had a fun day at one of my favorite churches: First Baptist Atlanta! We arrived at the church around 8:30am to man our booth.
We enjoyed getting to see our partners and meeting new friends at church.
After church, we met with the leaders of the teams hosting Impact Atlanta next weekend on April 25. We’ll be covering 15 locations simultaneously. I shared how to tell the groups about the Easter story as well as how to host a Great Candy Throw! It’s always a hoot to describe what goes on when you start throwing pieces of candy to a hoard of children, and adults!
Good stuff!
And now. . . .more Stoooory Tim! Where I describe what’s it’s like to visit a post hurricane area. Hugo to be exact.
I spent this morning working on logistics.
I called the 16 managers where we’ll be serving next weekend and gave them the same message: “HOWDY! This is Tim! I’ve got GREAT news! Next Saturday, the 25th, we’ll have a team come to your complex to have an Easter party for your kids! They’ll have a cook out, with lots of games and then have an Easter Egg hunt. This Sunday, I’ll have someone come by your complex to put up a couple of posters. The residents are going to LOVE this! Let me know if there’s ever anything I can do to help! Bye!” Or something similar to that. I’ve done the same conversation probably a thousand times over the last nearly 14 years! There have probably been at least 2,000 people that have come to Jesus because of these simple events!
This afternoon I had the carpet cleaning guys come to our house. I thought Germaine did a good job.
Took my sweet ol’ Sugar dog out for a 4 mile run. I had neighbors call out, “Who’s pulling who?” “It’s pretty even,” I’d reply. Actually, I was doing most of the pulling today.
Normally we have pretty much the same pace. Slow. I’m really not into racing, just get in the mileage!
The flowers and blooming trees continue to impress me. Even the tiniest flowers have such beauty!
The goldfinches have enjoyed coming to my birdfeeders. I fed them all winter long. The difference is a month ago they looked drab brown.
Now, they’re POW yellow! Awesome!
Just finished watching “Fly Boys” a movie about WWI flyers with Kathy. It was based on a true story. We enjoyed it!
Every day (for the most part) I have three things I do:
I upload the pictures I’ve taken.
I write my blog (you’re reading it!)
I check on my Facebook account.
And submit a few one liners to Twitter.
People ask me, “How do you get all that done?” I tell them, “I sleep less.” True dat.
Fun day!
And now. . . you know you want it! Stoooory Tim! Where I share one of the most powerful events I ever covered: the soldiers arriving home from Desert Storm!
Today was a GREAT day because I had Jesse AND Ashley with me! Woot!
It was also terrific because I got to see some of my best buds!
UNITE is a gathering of evangelical churches and ministries working together to help change our city. Today we met to talk about the Compassion In Action outreach in the fall. Never too early to start planning!
After the meeting, we went over to First Baptist Atlanta to set up the Whirlwind Missions display for the local Missions Fair this weekend.
We set up the exhibit and had some fun with one of the signs!
Then over to meet with another of my favorite partners: Derrick Posten. He’s the local missions director for the FBA. He’s done a wonderful job of organizing Impact Atlanta. This year we’re hosting two events, one on April 25 and another in the Fall. We’ll be covering 15 apartment complexes around the metroplex.
Derrick and I worked on the master list of the materials we need for the event, then Jesse and Ashley and I went over to the local Kroger to place the order. We have to get them the list early because the store doesn’t normally have hundreds of packs of hotdogs and buns! The managers were real friendly and excited to help with the project. I gave them the list of what we need with a buggy full of one of every item. I’ve learned over time that that really helps them make sure everything is right. We’ll pick up the stuff next Thursday and sort it out the following Friday.
I have to make sure everything is sitting on dead ready for the event because I’ll be speaking at a conference in Detroit that weekend. It’s very important to me that I never become a “choke point.” I want to make sure that if something ever happened to me, everything would keep running smoothly. Weekends when I’m away are tests for me to see if what I’ve set up actually works. I’m confident it will.
After setting up the supplies, we went over to the mall to look for some short pants for Jesse. Ashley is good at getting her brother to accept new things. . . like shorts and flip flops! Otherwise he’d wear his blue jeans and black boots all year long. That’s ok for most of the year, but in the summer you have to dress for the heat! And let me tell you, they don’t call it Hot ‘Lanta for nothin’!
Went by the mission to check on the kids. They were all fine.
Came home and worked on my email on my iPhone outside. It was beautiful. Haven’t seen my doves. Hope they’re ok.
My new case for my phone came in tonight. It’s called a Clarifi case. It has a little lens that goes over the lens on my phone so I can take close ups of things, in particular business cards. I’m looking forward to working on that! It’s all about having a system and being disciplined to actually use the systems you set up!
Ashley went to a Salsa Dance at her school tonight. She covered it for the school newspaper.
She’s a beauty!
And now. . . I nearly get burned alive! Stooooory Tim!
This morning Jesse and I went over to the Kroger and Subway to pick up the supplies for the manager’s meeting this afternoon.
It was a good meeting! Chuck Vogt, my partner from Metro Lawns, made a presentation.
Chuck helps refugees start their own business. Also had Jouvens give out some fliers for his cleaning business.
It was good to see those guys in action.
Ian also came to the meeting to get to know the managers and the principals from the local schools. Groovy!
I liked this bumper sticker.
We went to FBC Doraville to check on the grills and the order ready for the Spring Impact Atlanta on the 25th. I need to get everything completely set up because I’ll be out of town that week speaking at a conference in Detroit. Sure I’m glad to have Ashley and Jesse helping me with that!
J and I also got some wood glue and a clamp to repair a guitar for one of Jesse’s students.
We took the food that was left over from the meeting to the kids at Azalea. J and I helped the kids with their homework.
Several of them had practice tests for the CRCT coming up.
We came home after we finished up with the kids.
Ran 4 miles. Felt like I ran all the way to Savannah. The lighting on the trees and flowers was stunning!
Working on email and the financial report next! Up again till after midnight!
And now. . . .what you’ve been waiting for . . . Stoooooory Tim!
Where I’m nearly killed by a bottle. Silly intern. . .
This morning we went over to his oral surgeon to make sure his wisdom teeth surgery (he had them extracted on April Fools day–I still think that’s funny!) went fine.
Doctor said it looked great. Excellente!
Then over to Walmart in Chamblee to pick up supplies for the manager’s meeting that I’m hosting tomorrow.
Also needed to pick up a new belt. My old one was about to bust in half. Actually 7/8ths.
We had lunch with Ian and Ruthie North.
Three of my favorite people on the planet, counting Jesse! After lunch we went to the bank. Money is tight at Whirlwind Missions. We sure appreciate YOUR generous donations to keep up going!
To the office to check on mail. No bills are good bills!
We had our quarterly meeting with Dr. Evans, Jesse’s psychiatrist today. Dr. Evans if very happy with J’s progress. It was very encouraging. The flowers outside the office were beautiful!
Then to Azalea to see how my kids were doing.
Mustak had some homework. Mainly we just sat around and talked with the kids. I’m encouraging Miguel to look into being a nursing assistant. I think he’d be good at that. Hope he’ll get a chance to talk with my partner Cathy Wilson about that on Wednesday.
Jesse teaches his guitar class in Clarkston on Tuesday afternoons.
Normally I don’t have him with me, he works with Ashley on Tuesdays. It was fun to see him working with his students. My kids and I are a lot alike. We don’t do anything half way. They work very hard at everything they’re interested in and their work is always excellent! I’m very proud of having them on our team.
It was also fun to see the other music classes going on at the mission at Willow Branch.
Bennett Ekandem is one of my favorite missionaries. I’m so glad we’re on the same team! Pray for his mission as it’s in a transition time with a new owner coming on board.
Kathy is feeling better this evening. She’s been running a fever. I told her that she shouldn’t work with the refugee babies until she’s healed up. She’ll probably work with them tomorrow. I know she really misses working with “her” babies!
I did see one of my doves this morning. He was in the garage sitting on my bicycle tire. Hope he finds his mate and that they’ll be ok. I have a lot of other wild doves in the area. Plenty of food for the Ring Neck doves too.
And now, another wild rock ’em and sock ’em tale from my world of shooting news: PUNCHED!
Woke up with a terrible headache. Last couple of days have been miserable. I guess it’s all the pollen. Kathy has been sick too. She’s feeling a little better this afternoon. She’d had a fever.
The flowers are beautiful. I reckon the pollen is just part of it!
In my quiet time this morning, I read where Jesus told his disciples that they had to “count the cost and carry their cross.” He said how we have to “love Him more than our own wives or children.” That’s heavy! On this special day when we remember how He gave up even his own life, our dedication seems pretty insignificant. Lord, forgive me when I take your love for granted!
This afternoon K and I went to eat lunch with Kathy’s brothers and sisters. It’s always fun to see the whole family together.
Came home to rest and take more tylenol.
Jesse, Kathy and I just got back from a few days on Tybee Island.
I love the Savannah area! I spent 5 great years there covering news with WTOC-TV/CBS. I’ve been over nearly every foot of that island and city and I still see things that amaze me! I got to spend an afternoon with Jim Carswell.
We covered hundreds of stories together. I won three separate Associated Press awards working with him. We always spurred each other own to do our best!
The beach was so beautiful. I love the lighthouse–which is the oldest in Georgia!
We had a couple of cold days there, but we still loved it.
I went into Savannah several times. I always take my bike and just ride up and down the historic streets.
I imagine Ben Franklin and George Washington strolling around the squares. And of course the Pirates!
Savannah has the largest historic district in America. It really is one of the most beautiful cities in the country. It is also the home to Bonaventure Cemetery–my favorite!
This time of year the azaleas are just awesome. The best time of day is about an hour before sunset. The lighting is just incredible!
It was great to get home to see our sweet Ashley!
I had my iPhone with me, so I actually stayed caught up with work.
Rest day. I was exhausted from all activity yesterday at the mission!
I worked on my Story Tim video project. I now have 50 stories in honor of my 50 years! I’ll work on editing and posting the final ten this evening.
Kathy and I are going to get out of town next week. PTL! I have an assignment tomorrow afternoon, but after that I’ll come home, pack the car and skedaddle outta here! I spent some good time with Jesse today.
This afternoon we went over to the Bird Sanctuary at Stone Mountain.
It was quiet, except for the song birds! Beautiful, even though it was cloudy and had been raining.
Spent time with Kathy’s brother Paul and his son Luke. Great to see them again.
Jesse and I played a game of Settlers of Catan. It was fun!
Working on my video project and going through my email.
Pray for our safe trip tomorrow!
