This morning I did a briefing with my team from Oak Hill Baptist Church.

What a terrific group! Had a lot of fun!

We served at three locations around Lawrenceville. Cherokee Courts.

Olde Salem.

And Alexander Mill.

Terrific!

This evening K and I picked up Ashley. She came back from Texas tonight at 8:30pm. GREAT to have her home!

Beautiful sunset on the way home. Perfect end to a great day!

This morning I put the finishing touches on the maps for the team bus drivers. It’s all about logistics, baby!

Spent some time on the phone with Ashley. Sent her the maps I drew so she could update our online maps. She sure is good with that stuff! Hard to describe exactly what you want over the phone. “Now move the Sturbridge Square mission closer to Jimmy Carter and make sure that Holcomb Bridge has a wider angle between where the intersect. And it can’t be too close to JC because we don’t want people to think they can get to SS from JC,” kind of stuff! Good thing she’s a genius!

Went to Walmart with K and J.

I needed to pick up a few small things for him before he leaves Friday. In particular a new pair of sun shades and an air mattress that doesn’t deflate over night. I think we have them squared away now!

We enjoyed a Chinese food supper with Jesse and his friend J this evening.

Sure will miss him.

But we all need to follow our dreams!

Enjoyed watching Burn Notice with K this evening. Go, Michael, GO!

This morning I got up early and shot out the door to run. It was pleasant as long as you go early enough. My last run on Monday was just rough.

Even my shoes look tired.

Squared away all my car repairs. It’s nearing my birthday so all the emissions have to be working properly. Ashley’s Expedition had the big bill since the ball joints wore out. She has about 155,000 miles on her car.

That’s average for our family! Cost us nearly $1,800 for that repair.

The other three had little things needed work on. Another $550 for that. Ay caramba! At least everything is running now!

I’m spending time going through the maps for the teams next week and the following week.

Three buses with 13 teams next week. From Valley Ranch BC in TX.

Two buses with 11 teams the following. From FBC Hattiesburg, MS

That’s just the buses! I have other teams in town too! But the buses are the hard ones to figure out.

I also turned in my financial report to my treasurer this morning.

Finish up my admin duties now.

Jesse and I met up with Ian for lunch then went on an extensive dry run of the missions in preparation for the teams coming next week.

We pretended we were a Greyhound sized bus and made all the twists and turns to see if the logistics I set up are ok.

No matter how much thought you put into something like that, the only way to REALLY see if it’ll work is to physically go in a car and drive the route. Sometimes multiple times, just to make sure.

There are some difficult parameters to deal with, primarily that big buses don’t make right turns well–they need lots of space.

I think we should be good to go now.

Ian feels comfortable with being able to drive with the team leaders and the bus driver so they can get to their locations safely.

J and I also went over the third bus with another five teams that I’ll be working with. So we covered 18 locations today.

I had some great conversation with the managers. It’s always good to physically go and shake hands with people and look them in the eye. I try to use the phone most of the time just because logistically it’s hard to go there.

It was another super hot day. My car thermometer said over 100 again. We pray for clouds!

Also went over to meet with a manager about a huge service project my team from Salado, Texas is going to work on. Holy Moley what a job that’s going to be!

These guys are real go getters so I’m expecting the best from them.

This evening I’ve been working on my financial report. Just about got that all done.

Also been setting up my iPhone and iPad to make sure it syncs correctly with “the cloud” of computers where all my contacts and calendars are stored.

I have precious few days left with Jesse to be able to come and work on this stuff for me.

I’m pretty good with computers. I think of myself as a technogeek. But compared with my son, I feel like a retard. Thank God for the beta version of myself!

J will be heading to New Hampshire on Friday morning. Sad. But I’m happy for him!

I thought this was funny.

This morning I worked on admin duties than went for a 4 mile run. I should have run first. The temperature was supposed to be about 84 degrees. Felt like 184. I was doing ok until this guy called out from his car, “Hey bro, it’s really hot out here. Be careful!” The rest of the time I kept telling myself that I was cool, cool, cool. Didn’t work. I’ve gotta start getting up early to exercise.

The best news was that my iPad got here!

Yeah! What a super cool device! I feel like I’m in Star Trek. Jesse sure is a generous son! He helped me set it up. It’s working great.

We went by Best Buy later this afternoon so I could get a case for it. I have a case, but I needed a case for my case. Just in case.

Actually, I needed a shoulder bag that I could carry it in. Can’t leave it in the car because it gets way over 100 degrees in there.

In fact, when we were driving, it said 102. Ay caramba!

Whenever it’s hot, I always ask him to check the temperature in Keene, NH where he’s moving to for the Summer. 71! Suh weet! Further north in Lancaster it was 57!

J and I also went to Azalea to check on the kids.

They seem bored. I think they kind of secretly miss school. We’ll have a team in town next week to hang with them. I know they’ll enjoy that!

Jesse’s last day is Wednesday. I was glad he got to say “Goodbye” to the kids. I know they love him, too.

Came home to work on my financial report and get ready to watch Lie to Me, my favorite show. K’s so tired she’s going on to sleep.

K and I enjoyed a great morning of worship at Clarkston International Bible Church with one of my favorite Pastors Phil Kitchin.

He spoke on the Holy Spirit in our lives guiding our mouths. That’s an important lesson!

It’s really important to watch what we say. Not only to others but also to ourselves.

Do you ever say to yourself, “I can’t remember names (numbers or whatever?) If you say that enough times to yourself, guess what, it comes true!

Be in the building people up business!

Took Kathy to lunch for Vietnamese. Love the grilled pork at Pho Truc!

Enjoying a restful afternoon. May try to run later. Sure is hot!

Got word from Ashley. Her presentations at church went great! I expected that.

This morning I spent mowing our yard. Talk about breaking a sweat!

The yard looks better, and I felt like I actually did something while I got exercise.

Sometimes I wonder why I run or lift weights. Mowing actually seems practical!

By these pictures look like I mow more dirt than grass!

Jesse helped me pick up some gifts from Bruce and Karen Miller today.

They had a nice desk, chairs, school supplies and a trumpet we could have! What a blessing!

This evening I watched New Moon with Kathy. It’s the sequel in the Twilight series. Didn’t like it as much as the first one. Still pretty much a chick movie.

Today I spent setting up four locations for our team that will be serving in the Roswell Road area.

We’ve had on going work there in the past, but it all goes up and down depending on the volunteer labor.

I’m glad that we’re able to provide a week of camp for the kids in that neighborhood.

This afternoon I worked on admin duties.

This evening K and J and I went to Lawrenceville to celebrate my brother Lester’s birthday! What a great guy and a super family!

It was great seeing my other brother Tito, too!

As the children get older, we realize we’re getting older too!

Next Friday at this time, my son Jesse will be rolling towards New Hampshire for a few months. Not looking forward to that. But I reckon it’s all a part of growing up.

Got some heavy rain yesterday!

Didn’t last long though.

Still working on setting up locations for the teams coming in a week! Have almost all of them nailed down now. PTL!

Looks like we’ll be adding another team to the mix. Wow! I’m glad I have some extra time to make sure everything is perfect for them!

I heard from Ashley today! She made 5 thirty minute presentations at Main Street BC’s VBS today. MAN! She sounded pretty tired.

We had a good lunch with Keith Harrell and the manager from Huntington Village, Claudia Aguilar this afternoon. Good to spend time with them.

She wants us to take over the facility and run the program for her. I have another partner currently doing that. Have to be careful to lay the groundwork properly so no one gets their feelings hurt.

Keith, Jesse and I also went by a few locations to talk with the managers to make sure everything is good to go. Looks like we’ll be ok.

Came home and ran 4 miles.

Enjoyed watching Burn Notice with Kathy tonight.

This morning we had the sadness of wishing Ashley a “Bon Voyage!” on her trip to Texas. Our loss is my folk’s gain! She’s going there to speak to our supporters. Always good to have the personal touch!

Had a fiesty group to share with at the North American Mission Board today! Good bunch of candidates!

Jesse and I picked up some sound equipment from our partners at Open Table church today. Heavy.

Also got to see Ruthie North. She’s doing a great job with Refugee Beads!

Still working on the logistics for the big teams coming a week from now. Got most of it squared away. We’ll have teams at 34 complexes that week. Amen!

Enjoyed watching Castle with Kathy this evening! I record the shows on our DVR so we don’t have to watch the commercials.

I liked this Anole lizard.

And this from a carving on the merry go round at North Point Mall.

Just a tad creepy.