This morning I continued to work on editing the videos for the two teams from last week. To complete the process for the team, I edit video, upload to YouTube, burn a DVD, post an email to the team with all the links to the video and photo galleries and send the dvd with a thank you to the teams. Takes time!

Went to Stone Mountain to help Kathy get into her car. Then to the Village of Stone Mountain to look at interesting things while my bbq sandwiches got made at Crazy Rons. Always something beautiful to see and the bbq is worth the wait!

This machine is from the 1890’s. It’s designed to crank and give people shocks–for their own good. I’m fascinated by this stuff, but it’s a bit out of my price range.

I thought these mushrooms growing from the tree stump were cool.

I saw a snake in the road. Parked my car to get it out of the road. Too late! Car ran over it. Not exactly sure what I’d planned to do when I found out it was a juvenile copperhead. Probably run away.

Picked up Kathy and Jesse and drove to Lawrenceville to see Michelle Barrington get married to Ben Leget.

It was a beautiful ceremony. I thought Carl Barrington did a great job–especially his song!



It was fun to see friends and fellowship.

Turns out that Ben’s uncle Tim served in Uganda as a journeyman with Kathy while she was in Kenya. Fun connection!

I thought my girls looked pretty today!

Came home to rest and work on editing video.

Looking forward to time with Kathy this evening.

Friday morning I enjoyed resting. I was really tired after working at the missions all day and then speaking in Jonesboro. Didn’t get home till after 10pm. Trying to rest my voice which is already sounding pretty rough.

Made phone calls to partners at Ashford Apartments and Columns at Bentley Manor. I’m trying to get Ashford to let us have teams there. Ashley did a great job laying the ground work!

I’m trying to ramp up work at Bentley Manor again.

I’m hoping to get ESL classes there. Called the manager and then sent them an email with a ESL flyer in English, Spanish and Portuguese. Most of the residents are Brazilian.

Went for a 5.14 mile run. Getting warm around here! Enjoyed the beautiful flowers.

This tree would make a great sermon illustration.

I thought this sap was interesting.

Enjoyed a fun lunch with Jesse.

He’s one of the best people I know! Never too much Jesse!

The cheesecake I got there may have been one of the best I’ve ever had!

After lunch, we stopped by Goodwill for me to check on tshirts and then to a thrift store to look at antiques. I liked this little Arab man.

As you know, I love flowers and plants.

I’ve been working on getting into Venus flytraps again. Yesterday, I mixed up the special soil and got the cups ready to plant them in.



Silica sand.

Final mixture.




The Styrofoam cups are to help insulate the roots.

Kathy has been at her Aunt Orene’s house for the last two nights taking care of her after her surgery. Sure was glad to have her back home! We watched Saving Mr. Banks together then some episodes of the Middle.

Thursday I went over 50,000 downloads of my podcast Verbal Surgery! I’ve gotten a lot of very positive feedback. I really think that it’s some of my best work, and well worth listening to.

I’ve recorded over 275 episodes. At 30 minutes each that’s over 135 hours or five DAYS of listening to me non stop. Ay, Caramba!

Ashley and I enjoyed briefing our teams from Shades Crest and Huntingdon BC.

I’ve added a new piece of our presentation where we “hold the rope” and pull people out of an imaginary pool.

We had our commitment time where the teams sign the landing pad.

Then took them to Plaza Fiesta. Always fun!


Our final day with the team is always a special one.

The kids love them at the missions.

Left Chamblee and headed to the Cafe on Main Street in Jonesboro, GA. Had a great time with the college students there. I got mighty wound up, for sure.

Ashley and I enjoyed briefing the teams on Islam and Hinduism today.


We always enjoy a good bubbleation.

After our prayer time, we visited Al Madina, the Middle Eastern grocery store.

Always something interesting to see.

My friend Ali was the manager of the store. He just had open heart surgery. I sent him a prayer text over the phone when I heard about it.

The new owner is named Aiyed. Seems like a nice fellow. He was interested in our teams coming to visit.

Also went to see the Hindu temple at Global Mall.

They were in the middle of a service when we came in. It was very interesting and very eyebrow raising to the teams who saw it.

Ate a delicious lunch with the folks from Shady Crest BC. Indian food is one of my favorites. Most of the team seemed to really like it.

The teams went on to work with the kids at the mission, while Ashley and I did a recon of the missions where we’ll have teams next week. It’s always good to give the manager a heads up. We drop off a little card that Ashley designed that has when and what will happen.

Then to the missions to check on the teams. They seem to be doing really great!




Got home a little earlier tonight. I’ve been really getting home late and just exhausted.

Kathy is spending the night with her Aunt Orene this evening. I miss her already.

Ashley and I had fun briefing the teams about Buddhism. Big bus with a big group.

Then we took them to Asian Square to see where the Buddhists buy their idols, to the Vietnamese pharmacy and the the Hong Kong Bakery.



After lunch, we headed over to the missions.

We spent time taking pictures and greeting the team members.

Had a burst water main at Huntington Creek.

I rode out to Sandy Springs to confirm four of the locations for next week. Seems like a great area. The managers were super positive about us coming. Excellent.

Stopped by Lowes and Walmart to do the shopping for the week.

I’m going to start growing Venus Fly Traps again. I’m getting supplies together for that project.

Enjoyed watching part of 300 with Kathy.

Admin duties now. Tired.

Kathy and I had a great time at Clarkston International Bible Church on Sunday.

Pastor Phil is preaching a series of sermons from Acts. Promises to be good.

Enjoyed Sunday lunch with Kathy and Jesse at Al Madina.

Came home to record a podcast and catch up on some creative writing/recording deadlines. That includes one of my favorite things: Verbal Surgery! I always have fun recording those sessions.

Had an early night in preparation for the first big teams of the Summer! We have about 80 people working with us. Ashley and I enjoyed the briefings.

Then took them to the Buford Highway Farmers Market.

Then to the missions!

We’re covering fourteen locations this week. Always good!

Went to Walmart to do some shopping. Our microwave wasn’t working any more. Got another one today. Got a few groceries for my family and Ashley’s.

Admin duties now. Want to go to bed early. Tired.

Last night I spotted a raccoon outside my window.

I finally figured out what happened to my missing suet box. While I was watching him eat, he nearly pulled the whole cage for the suet off the nail! He was intentionally trying to get it loose. So that’s where the other one went. Mystery solved.

Nearly 1/4″ of rain yesterday.

This morning I mowed the yard.

And blew the front driveway.

Also mowed the back yard. That’s 1.02 miles of mowing.


Then went for a 5.03 mile run.

Always something beautiful and interesting to see.

Jesse moved back to our house for about two weeks. We have the Atlanta Chinese Christian Church working at Azalea until June 11th. Never too much Jesse!

We ate lunch together along with K. Then to see Maleficent. I liked the story twist.

I’m really looking forward to Lucy.

I thought this sign was cool.

I liked the chocolate and caramel splashes.

Used the hot glue to repair a chair, the right handle on Kathy’s bike and the material inside Jesse’s Altima.

Back home now to work on admin duties.

Finished editing, posting, and burning the DVD for the video I shot for the team last Saturday. Always great to get a job completed!

Kathy and I had a wonderful “TK” time together!

Glorious!

Before we left, I had to check out and service the bikes.

We went to Rome and enjoyed great food, interesting antiques and even an air show!




I picked up this pink Cadillac! Awesome!


I love my new rocking chair! Over 75 years old. And still smiling.

I think this is beautiful.


The historic downtown area was fun too.





We always like checking out the cemeteries.



Never could figure out what this says.

Hmmmm.

Cruised over to the little town of Cave Spring to see their cave and the second largest swimming pool in GA!

We also hiked up Cave Spring Hill and enjoyed looking at the antique stores in the area.

Always something fun and interesting to see! The spring water tasted great!



We liked the geese family.

And Mallards.

Beautiful country!






I liked the sound of this.

Came home early Friday morning. My awesome daughter had already confirmed all the sites for the next couple of weeks. What a go getter! That allowed K and I to enjoy and extra day away.

Back in Stone Mountain now. I’m planning on cutting the lawn later this afternoon.

Admin duties now.

Kathy adding sunshine to the trip!

After my marathon session with the team on Saturday, I decided to rest on Sunday.

Had a fun time recording a podcast!

Are you encountering a challenge that you just can’t figure out? Then you need to listen to “Push/Pull!” Sometimes you’re going in the out door! Just click on the title and groove!

Spent most of the day cleaning the house.

Vacuumed the floors.

Then mopped.

Everyone gave me such a hard time about me getting a skateboard. After I mopped, the floor was so slippery that I fell and took a tremendous whack on the knee. Housework can be deadly.

Scrubbed the dark pits of my tshirts with Oxyclean. Seemed to get the stains out pretty well.

Ate lunch with Jesse! Always fun! Also filled up Kathy’s truck. Ouch.

Had a restful afternoon. I was still tired and had a nap.

Enjoyed supper with Kathy and Jesse in the evening. I liked the neon.

I saw this raccoon who seems to be living in the eves of my neighbor’s house. He likes the suet I let fall on the ground. Cool!

I liked this sticker I saw at the restaurant.

K and I enjoyed watching Philomena. Great movie.

Worked on admin duties.

K and I are going out of town for a couple of days before the Summer teams start. Then it’ll be no rest for sure.

Monday morning I wrote and produced my newsletter and got that over to our friend Joel Harrison at the Atlanta Metro Baptist Association who prints them for us. Got all the labels done.

Still need to edit the video for the Asbury Team and pack the car. Kathy is enjoying a bike ride now. She feels better after she exercises! Don’t we all?!

Had a fun Friday which included a 5.04 mile run! Plenty of beauty to see!

Also cleaned my fish tank.

And got the emission on the Altima done. Passed!

And paid bills.

Did the grocery shopping.

And cut my hair. Decided to let the birds use it to line their nests.

Saturday I got up early to join Ashley in working with our team from Asbury United Methodist Church in Madison, Alabama.

It was fun briefing them, our first Summer Team!

Took them to the Buford Highway Farmers Market, where we also ate lunch.



Then to Cumberland Court, Buford Heights, Marquis at Lenox and Highland Knoll.




They also did a concert a Highland Knoll. They really sang well, especially for a middle school team!

Ate a late supper with Jesse. Always good!

Then home to work on admin duties and rest. Long day, baby!